Although Li Mochou had never encountered such an odd custom before, some things were instinctive. Noticing Song Qingshu’s sincere gaze and the hand he extended toward her, her heart skipped unexpectedly, reminding her of the stirring emotions she once felt in her youth.
However, she certainly wasn’t going to take his hand. Instead, she averted her gaze, a touch of shyness in her response: “But… I haven’t learned this sword technique.”
Anyone familiar with Li Mochou would have been shocked to see her acting so coy.
“It’s fine. As long as you know the Jade Maiden Sword Technique,” Song Qingshu replied before turning to Zhang San and Li Si. “You wouldn’t mind if I brought a helper, would you?”
“Go ahead!” Zhang San and Li Si exchanged glances, each reading the other’s thoughts.
This man was too enigmatic, and even the two of them working together couldn’t guarantee victory. However, adding Li Mochou to his side actually improved their odds. After all, Zhang San and Li Si had trained together for years and shared a seamless synergy, achieving results greater than the sum of their parts.
Li Mochou’s skill, on the other hand, was far inferior to theirs, and since it was her first time partnering with Song Qingshu, mistakes were inevitable—opportunities they could exploit.
“We’ll need two swords for a duel,” Song Qingshu mused. Just then, Mu Wanqing offered her sword, her cheeks flushed. “You can use mine.”
“Thank you, Miss.” Song Qingshu’s smile made Mu Wanqing’s heart race. She thought to herself, ‘Hmph, I’ll deal with you after we drive off these foes.’
The other guests in the inn had been convinced by Song Qingshu’s explanations and had come to believe he was some kind of prospective son-in-law of the Ancient Tomb Sect. But Mu Wanqing, who had spent considerable time with him, knew his true nature. Initially, she didn’t suspect anything, but Zhang San’s reminder brought a sudden clarity, making her feel that the man in front of her resembled the one from her memories.“But there’s still a sword missing.” Song Qingshu glanced at Li Mochou, who had nothing but a fly-whisk—certainly no sword hidden on her.
As his gaze lingered on her, Li Mochou felt increasingly embarrassed and was about to snap at him when he approached the table of the Mount Hua Sect, cupping his hands respectfully. “If I may be so bold, I would like to borrow a sword from one of the esteemed Mount Hua Sect disciples, as it is widely known that Mount Hua Sect’s swordsmanship is second to none among the Five Sacred Mountain Sword Sects.”
Impressed by Song Qingshu’s skill and his praise of Mount Hua Sect, Yue Buqun felt as if honey had sweetened his heart. However, as a sect leader, he was hesitant to lend his own sword.
Just as he was wavering, Lin Pingzhi spoke up. “If you don’t mind, you may use mine.” He respectfully handed his sword to Song Qingshu.
In Lin Pingzhi’s eyes, even if this man wasn’t his benefactor, he must be close to him in spirit, so lending him the sword was almost the same as lending it to his benefactor.
“Thank you, Young Hero Lin.” Song Qingshu was about to accept the sword when Yue Lingshan interrupted, “No, Pingzhi! I won’t allow you to lend him your sword.”
“Why not?” Lin Pingzhi was puzzled, and a touch of irritation rose within him.
Yue Lingshan glanced at Li Mochou, gritting her teeth. “I don’t care—you can’t lend it to him. Use mine instead!” She then handed her treasured sword, ‘Greenwater,’ to Song Qingshu. “This sword is renowned among Mount Hua Sect treasures, capable of cutting through iron with ease. It’ll help you more in battle.”
“This…” Song Qingshu hesitated.
Yue Lingshan added, “I’m only lending it to you; don’t think of lending it to any other woman.” She cast a side glance at Li Mochou, clearly still bitter about her soiled clothing from earlier.
Song Qingshu chuckled. ‘So she’s jealous,’ he thought, realizing she was worried Lin Pingzhi’s sword might end up with Li Mochou.
Seeing Yue Lingshan’s insistence, Mu Wanqing felt a rush of urgency. But her lips pressed tightly together in stubborn silence. ‘If he truly cares, he’ll refuse on his own; if he doesn’t, why should I even remind him?’
Unaware of how his choice might influence someone’s perception of him, Song Qingshu still glanced back at Mu Wanqing, sensing her mood. He declined with a smile, “No need, I’ll use this sword.”
Leaving Yue Lingshan dumbfounded, he walked over to Ning Zhongze. “Madam Yue, might I borrow your sword?”
Ning Zhongze was momentarily surprised, but she quickly responded with a warm smile, “Of course.” She handed him her sword gracefully.
Seeing her fair, slender fingers, Song Qingshu’s mind wandered. ‘If I were to touch her hand just slightly, would she react?’ But he could only think about it. Everyone was watching, not to mention Yue Buqun was right there—it would be far too risky.
“Thank you, Madam.” Song Qingshu accepted the sword, sighing inwardly. ‘Is this my heart demon surfacing again?’
He handed the sword to Li Mochou, noticing her anxious expression. “There’s no need to worry, Fairy Li,” he reassured her gently. “In the upcoming fight, just follow my instructions and perform the Jade Maiden Sword Technique accordingly.”
Li Mochou nodded, gripping the sword, though she remained uneasy.
Seeing they were ready, Zhang San and Li Si exchanged a glance. “Be careful!” They launched their attack, directly targeting Li Mochou.
Zhang San and Li Si knew attacking Song Qingshu head-on would be futile, but striking at Li Mochou was a different story. Though infamous as the “Red Fairy” in the martial world, her skills paled compared to theirs. Their combined attack would overwhelm her.
Their move was a classic strategy: attack a vulnerable target to force the stronger ally to divert his defenses. No matter how skilled, one would inevitably expose a weakness while constantly protecting someone else. They were confident Song Qingshu would fall for the trap.
Song Qingshu was well aware of their intentions and calmly instructed Li Mochou, “Fairy Li, ‘Wandering the Horizon’!”
Li Mochou hesitated. She recognized the move from the Jade Maiden Swordplay, yet it was a bold offensive maneuver, one that would leave her defenseless and vulnerable to Zhang San and Li Si’s attacks. Despite her misgivings, she followed his lead, thrusting into the empty space at an angle, feeling the force of Zhang San and Li Si’s strikes approaching. Her face turned pale with fear.
With a slight smile, Song Qingshu executed his own move—’Wandering the Horizon’—in sync with her, though his version diverged in style.
Zhang San and Li Si felt a flash of fear as Song Qingshu’s sword point appeared unexpectedly near their vitals, forcing them to break off their attack and retreat hastily.
Li Mochou stared in astonishment, hardly believing she had just forced back an expert like Zhang San. She had long dismissed the Jade Maiden and Quanzhen sword techniques as lacking power, which was why she often resorted to her fly-whisk. But now, seeing how the Jade Maiden Sword Technique complemented Quanzhen techniques, she marveled at its strength.
“Fairy Li, shall we continue?” Song Qingshu smiled. “The ‘Moonlit Blossoms!’”
Onlookers watched, entranced, as their moves seemed to paint romantic scenes—like ‘Playing the Qin and Blowing the Flute,’ ‘Sweeping Snow and Brewing Tea,’ and ‘Chess Under the Pine.’ It was as if they weren’t dueling at all but rather performing an elegant dance.
Li Mochou’s face reddened, while Mu Wanqing, observing from a distance, shook with rage. ‘This flirtatious scoundrel! Even now, he’s shamelessly charming her!’
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