Chapter 98

Chapter 97: Uncomfortable Nanlan

Although the few bandits did not fully understand the meaning of Song Qingshu's words, the sarcastic tone in his voice was evident. They could not help but become furious and swung their knives to attack.

Song Qingshu slapped the table, and the chopsticks in the bamboo tube were all jolted into the air. With a wave of his sleeve, the chopsticks were imbued with his internal energy, shooting towards the bandits like arrows.

Several cries of pain echoed as the bandits' hands were pierced by the chopsticks. Whether from pain or fear, they were drenched in cold sweat. They exchanged glances and fled in disarray.

Tian Guinong's eyes lit up. Although he was not a top-tier expert, his discernment was sharp. Seeing Song Qingshu accurately pierce each person's palm with the thin bamboo chopsticks, he was amazed by the internal strength and precision. He thought to himself, "This person's martial arts might even surpass Miao Renfeng."

"Your name is Tian Guinong. Thank you both for saving me, cough, cough..." Tian Guinong could not finish his sentence, as he started to cough violently, clearly aggravating his internal injuries.

Song Qingshu extended his hand in front of Xia Qingqing, "Give it to me."

"What?" Xia Qingqing was taken aback and asked in confusion.

"Fuling Shouwu Pills. I don't have any healing medicine on me," Song Qingshu said with a smile.

"Hmph, you're really not being polite," Xia Qingqing said, but seeing how badly injured the man was, she took out a pill from her bosom.

"Madam, I have a miraculous healing medicine here. Please help your husband take it," Song Qingshu handed the Fuling Shouwu Pill to Nanlan, speaking softly. Xia Qingqing, seeing him offering his medicine to the beauty, almost exploded with anger. She coldly snorted and turned away, out of sight and out of mind.

Seeing his handsome face and recalling his graceful movements in repelling the enemies, Nanlan's heart skipped a beat. She quickly bowed and said, "I thank you, Sir, for saving my life. I have yet to ask your esteemed name."

When Nanlan took the medicine, Song Qingshu's hand slipped slightly, and his fingertips brushed against her delicate fingers. He thought to himself, "Smooth and delicate, Tian Guinong is truly blessed."

Nanlan was startled by the tingling sensation in her hand. She turned her head and saw Tian Guinong in a semi-comatose state, and the woman looking the other way, clearly not noticing the scene.

Feeling somewhat annoyed, she looked up and saw Song Qingshu with a serious expression, wondering if it was just an accidental touch and if she was overthinking it.

"You can call me Song Qingshu, and this is my friend You You," Song Qingshu did not dare to reveal Xia Qingqing's real name to them. Tian Guinong was an underling of the Prince of Bao in Shengjing. If this were to reach Emperor Kangxi's ears, he would be in deep trouble.

"Originally, you are Master Song and Miss You You," Nanlan smiled and nodded while helping Tian Guinong take the pill.

"May I ask your name, Madam?" Song Qingshu moved behind Tian Guinong and used his internal energy to assist in healing him.

Nanlan's face turned awkward, thinking to herself, why is he being so abrupt? But considering he was her savior and was currently treating Tian Guinong's injuries, she had to say, "My name is Nan, and my given name is Lan."

"Nanlan?" Song Qingshu repeated, praising, "What a beautiful name."

Nanlan's face turned slightly red, and she said shyly, "Master Song is too kind."

Xia Qingqing, unable to bear seeing Song Qingshu taking advantage of the situation while her husband was unconscious, asked, "Who inflicted such severe injuries on your husband?"

Nanlan was taken aback, recalling how she betrayed her husband Miao Renfeng and eloped with Tian Guinong, only to be pursued by Miao Renfeng. Tian Guinong, unable to defeat him, was about to die, and she desperately shielded him. Miao Renfeng, heartbroken, left in despair...

But how could she explain this to others? Nanlan vaguely said, "He was injured by a great enemy, but fortunately, we managed to escape."

At this moment, Tian Guinong woke up, feeling a warm sensation in his abdomen and a strong flow of true energy from his back. He immediately knew he had been saved by a high-level expert and hurriedly asked for Song Qingshu and Xia Qingqing's names.

Nanlan pouted, "Guinong, when you were unconscious, our savior already told us his name. This is Master Song Qingshu, and this is Miss You You."

"Song Qingshu?" Tian Guinong was stunned and hesitantly asked, "Are you the first-class guard in the Forbidden City?"

Song Qingshu was surprised, wondering how he knew him, and asked, "Do you know me, Brother Tian?"

"Recently, you swept through the martial arts world in several provinces of the Qing Dynasty. At the Jade Emperor Peak, you defeated the head of Zhenwu Temple, Daoist Chongxu, with a single sword, and then defeated the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance, Zuo Lengchan. As a martial artist, I have naturally heard of your reputation," Tian Guinong's face was somewhat unnatural, thinking about the Prince of Bao's suspicions about Emperor Kangxi's intentions and his mission to investigate. He had fallen in love with Nanlan, the wife of his old friend Miao Renfeng, leading to their current predicament...

Hearing about the battle at Mount Tai, Xia Qingqing's face darkened as if a storm was brewing. Song Qingshu quickly changed the subject, "I heard from your wife that you were injured by a great enemy. Do you need my help?"

"There are some things we must face ourselves. Thank you for your kind offer," Tian Guinong instinctively refused, thinking that since Miao Renfeng had spared them that night, he would not continue to pursue them. On one hand, he was eager to return to Shengjing to report to the Prince of Bao, and on the other, he was wary of Song Qingshu's intentions regarding the secret of the King of Chaos's treasure, so he did not dare to involve him.

"Brother Tian, I will remember this day. If you ever come to Shengjing and visit the Heavenly Dragon Sect, I will welcome you with open arms," after resting for a moment, Tian Guinong felt much better and hurriedly got up to take his leave.

"Oh?" Song Qingshu raised an eyebrow and stood up to return the gesture, "If there is an opportunity, I will definitely visit Brother Tian and Madam."

Tian Guinong was not particularly affected, but Nanlan felt extremely strange. Recalling his actions and the look in his eyes when he said "and Madam," her woman's intuition told her that he might have some special feelings for her...

"The people are gone, what are you still looking at?" Xia Qingqing said sourly.

"Heaven has been kind to me. One great beauty has left, but another is still here with me," Song Qingshu turned to look at Xia Qingqing's slightly angry face and said with a smile.

"Hmph, you never say anything serious," Xia Qingqing's expression improved slightly and asked, "When are we going to Huashan? I don't have time to accompany you to each sect to take hostages."

"Since Madam has spoken, I will naturally accompany you to Huashan immediately," Song Qingshu thought, since Emperor Kangxi did not set a time limit, he could go to Huashan first and then deal with the other matters.

"You make it sound like I'm forcing you," Xia Qingqing said, but a smile crept onto her lips.

A few days later, the two arrived at Huashan. As they passed a cliff, Xia Qingqing suddenly stopped, hesitated for a moment, and turned to Song Qingshu, "Do you like me?"

"Your directness is a bit hard to handle," Song Qingshu was startled and looked at her in surprise.

"Tell me quickly," Xia Qingqing pressed.

"Average," seeing Xia Qingqing's face turning dark, Song Qingshu quickly changed his answer, "I like you, I like you!"

Xia Qingqing said, "Since you like me, will you do whatever I say?"

"Of course, as long as You You says it, even if it means climbing a mountain of knives or diving into a sea of fire, I will not flinch," Song Qingshu spoke without any hesitation, thinking that saying something nice wouldn't hurt, and naturally showered her with sweet words.

"Alright, I want you to jump from here," Xia Qingqing pointed to the cliff a few steps away, a sly smile on her lips.

Song Qingshu peered over the edge, his face showing hesitation, "This cliff is bottomless. Jumping down will surely mean certain death."

"Afraid?" Xia Qingqing sneered, "Who said they would brave any danger for me? If that's the case, you might as well put away your thoughts and we can still be friends."

"I just thought no one would be there to bury my body, which makes me a bit sad," Song Qingshu said with a melancholic smile, "After I die, if you can occasionally think of me in the quiet of the night, I will be content." With that, Song Qingshu leaped off the cliff.

Seeing him really jump down, Xia Qingqing was surprised, but her face showed no panic, only a complex emotion. She stood there for a while, sighing, "Could this be fate?"

She approached the cliff edge, looking down at the misty abyss, bit her lip, and jumped down.

In the blink of an eye, Xia Qingqing landed on a platform in mid-air and found Song Qingshu looking bewildered, a smile on her face, "Aren't you happy to have your life back?"

"Who would have thought there would be a platform down here," Song Qingshu looked up at the cliff top, feeling a myriad of emotions. He smiled inwardly, glad he had been to this Golden Snake Cave before, or he would have been fooled by Xia Qingqing.

"Stupid, you're usually not this obedient. Why did you jump without hesitation when I told you to?" Looking at Song Qingshu, Xia Qingqing's eyes showed a hint of indescribable emotion.

"Because you told me to," Song Qingshu stared at her with intense eyes.

After a moment of eye contact, Xia Qingqing felt a flutter in her heart and turned away, her face slightly flushed. She took a deep breath and said calmly, "Follow me inside."

Kneeling before the tomb of the Golden Snake, looking at the inscription "Yuan Chengzhi and Xia Qingqing," Xia Qingqing felt as if she had returned to the time when she and Brother Yuan had rebuilt her father's tomb. Those days were so carefree and happy, and her only worry was about Ajiu. Now, thinking back, her past anxieties seemed so foolish.

Chapter 98: Eyes as Swords

"Your directness is a bit hard to handle," Song Qingshu was startled and looked at her in surprise.

"Tell me quickly," Xia Qingqing pressed.

"Average," seeing Xia Qingqing's face turning dark, Song Qingshu quickly changed his answer, "I like you, I like you!"

Xia Qingqing said, "Since you like me, will you do whatever I say?"

"Of course, as long as You You says it, even if it means climbing a mountain of knives or diving into a sea of fire, I will not flinch," Song Qingshu spoke without any hesitation, thinking that saying something nice wouldn't hurt, and naturally showered her with sweet words.

"Alright, I want you to jump from here," Xia Qingqing pointed to the cliff a few steps away, a sly smile on her lips.

Song Qingshu peered over the edge, his face showing hesitation, "This cliff is bottomless. Jumping down will surely mean certain death."

"Afraid?" Xia Qingqing sneered, "Who said they would brave any danger for me? If that's the case, you might as well put away your thoughts and we can still be friends."

"I just thought no one would be there to bury my body, which makes me a bit sad," Song Qingshu said with a melancholic smile, "After I die, if you can occasionally think of me in the quiet of the night, I will be content." With that, Song Qingshu leaped off the cliff.

Seeing him really jump down, Xia Qingqing was surprised, but her face showed no panic, only a complex emotion. She stood there for a while, sighing, "Could this be fate?"

She approached the cliff edge, looking down at the misty abyss, bit her lip, and jumped down.

In the blink of an eye, Xia Qingqing landed on a platform in mid-air and found Song Qingshu looking bewildered, a smile on her face, "Aren't you happy to have your life back?"

"Who would have thought there would be a platform down here," Song Qingshu looked up at the cliff top, feeling a myriad of emotions. He smiled inwardly, glad he had been to this Golden Snake Cave before, or he would have been fooled by Xia Qingqing.

"Stupid, you're usually not this obedient. Why did you jump without hesitation when I told you to?" Looking at Song Qingshu, Xia Qingqing's eyes showed a hint of indescribable emotion.

"Because you told me to," Song Qingshu stared at her with intense eyes.

After a moment of eye contact, Xia Qingqing felt a flutter in her heart and turned away, her face slightly flushed. She took a deep breath and said calmly, "Follow me inside."

Kneeling before the tomb of the Golden Snake, looking at the inscription "Yuan Chengzhi and Xia Qingqing," Xia Qingqing felt as if she had returned to the time when she and Brother Yuan had rebuilt her father's tomb. Those days were so carefree and happy, and her only worry was about Ajiu. Now, thinking back, her past anxieties seemed so foolish.