Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 573: There’s No Time Like the Present

About a hundred miles away from the inn, a young nobleman dressed in fine robes wore a frosty expression as he glared at the subordinate kneeling before him. “What did you say?”

The subordinate, drenched in cold sweat, gritted his teeth and repeated, “The man has arrived at the inn we arranged in Xueyue Town. The young lady from before has already left, but according to our informants, he was carrying a beautiful daoist nun in his arms when he entered the inn. We believe she is none other than the Red Fairy, Li Mochou.”

The young nobleman waved his hand, signaling the subordinate to withdraw. He simmered with anger, unable to find an outlet for his frustration. “Li Mochou? He’d even involve himself with a woman as notorious as her? Truly blinded by lust.”

Time passed as the nobleman seethed, but a sudden thought made him calm down. 

“Could he have already figured out it’s me? Is he doing this deliberately to provoke me and test my reaction? Hmph, if you refuse to come to me, then I’ll go to you instead. Servants…”

*****

In the inn at Xueyue Town, Li Mochou sat pale-faced, gazing at the man beside her. 

“Is there really no other way?”

“This time, the backlash you suffered was due to the instability of your foundation. External forces can hardly help. That I’ve even managed to come up with two methods to save you is already the limit of my abilities. What other solutions could there possibly be?” Song Qingshu replied. “Of course, if you can persuade Master Yideng, his renowned One Yang Finger technique is said to bring the dead back to life. It might work for you.”

“Master Yideng?” Li Mochou smiled bitterly at the suggestion. “I bore grudges with the monks of Heavenly Dragon Monastery due to what happened with Lu Zhanyuan. Not to mention, Wu Santong, who harbors a deep hatred for me, is one of Master Yideng’s disciples. Even if Master Yideng’s virtuous nature lets him overlook the past, his One Yang Finger costs him so much energy that it leaves him incapacitated for five years. I can’t imagine I’d be important enough to deserve such a sacrifice.”
“Actually, there’s no need to worry too much,” Song Qingshu reassured her. “I’ve already stabilized the chaotic True Qi in your body. As long as you don’t use your inner Qi, you’ll be no different from an ordinary person. You could find a secluded place to live, and your enemies likely wouldn’t track you down.”

“Hide away in seclusion?” Li Mochou chuckled softly. “I, Li Mochou, have roamed the martial world for so long. How could I cower in a cave like a stray dog? Don’t try to provoke me into action with such words. Though I value my reputation, I’m not some stubborn village woman. I’ll go with the method you suggested.”

Song Qingshu, surprised by her decisiveness, rubbed his nose awkwardly. “Which method does Sister Mochou prefer?”

“What do you think?” Li Mochou’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she cast him a flirtatious glance. The subtle charm in her expression was breathtaking.

Song Qingshu’s heart skipped a beat. “If I say it, will you agree to that method?”

“That depends on whether Senior Sister approves,” Li Mochou replied with a teasing smile, looking at him knowingly.

Song Qingshu felt overwhelmed. The martial arts of the Ancient Tomb Sect might be debatable, but their ability to pick disciples was otherworldly. Every one of them was a stunning beauty capable of causing chaos.

Li Mochou, who once treated men with disdain, now exuded an enchanting allure, seamlessly transitioning from icy to playful. If one didn’t know her true nature, they’d easily mistake her for a natural-born seductress.

‘Women truly are natural-born actors,’ Song Qingshu mused. Though he was well aware that Li Mochou was merely leveraging her looks for greater gain, he couldn’t help but feel flattered.

“What if I choose the first option?” Song Qingshu asked with a smirk, determined to meet her challenge head-on.

Li Mochou’s face turned red as she spat, “Young Master truly isn’t a gentleman. Still, if you’re willing to sacrifice your cultivation, I wouldn’t mind a fleeting romance with you.”

Song Qingshu froze, staring at the smiling woman before him. He couldn’t help but admire her cunning. Her martial arts might not be top-tier, but her sharp mind allowed her to thrive in the martial world as the Scarlet Serpent Fairy for so long. She clearly understood that the first method was impossible for him and used this situation to earn his sympathy.

Realizing her ploy, Song Qingshu quickly adjusted his expression and replied seriously, “Sister Mochou, don’t joke about such things. Though I’m no saint, I could never betray your senior sister.”

Li Mochou sneered inwardly but maintained her smile. She still needed his help, after all. “It seems I misjudged you, Brother-in-law. You truly are a man of noble character. I’ll be sure to speak highly of you when I see my senior sister again.”

“What did you call me? I didn’t hear it clearly.” Song Qingshu leaned in with a grin.

Li Mochou cursed him inwardly but had no choice. “Brother… Brother-in-law.” Her face burned with embarrassment. She thought bitterly, ‘I’m older than you, yet I have to address you this way. How humiliating!’

“Ah~” Song Qingshu sighed contentedly, feeling as if he’d just eaten a heavenly fruit.

Seeing his smug expression, Li Mochou nearly lost her temper. Before she could lash out, Song Qingshu changed the topic. “Sister Mochou, we’ve grown close, but some things must be made clear. Saving you requires significant effort. Just calling me brother-in-law isn’t enough.”

“What do you want?” Li Mochou’s expression turned cold, like a mother leopard ready to pounce.

Song Qingshu sighed in frustration. “Where’s your mind going? I just want you to agree to a condition, that’s all.” Noticing her darkening expression, he quickly added, “Not that kind of condition.”

Li Mochou’s face softened slightly. “Tell me the condition, and I’ll consider whether to agree.”

Song Qingshu nodded. “When I infiltrated the Qing Palace, I gained Emperor Kangxi’s trust and helped him establish a secret intelligence and assassination unit called the Pole Arms Division. It’s incredibly valuable, and I plan to take control of it. I need capable individuals, and your skills would make you a perfect fit.”

Li Mochou shook her head. “I’ve always been a loner. I’m not accustomed to working under others.”

“Three years,” Song Qingshu countered. “After three years, you can leave without any restrictions. During this time, I won’t interfere in your personal affairs. Aside from completing assigned tasks, you’ll have full freedom. The organization will also provide resources, information, and protection.”

Li Mochou hesitated, then finally nodded. “I can agree, but only for one year. Otherwise, I’d rather endure my injuries than be controlled forever.”

“Deal!” Song Qingshu agreed readily, confident he could persuade her to stay long-term.

“When will you treat my injuries?” Li Mochou asked seriously.

“There’s no time like the present. How about now?” Song Qingshu replied with a cheeky grin. 

Get More Chapters onPatreon: From now on, FSM Level 2 will become the CN WN Bundle. The price will remain the same which is $10. Also, the price for the KR WN Bundle will also be decreased to $10 to match this bundle.

With this I have gotten rid of the level system. The reason I am doing this, is because I plan to add more chapters to the $5 Patron tiers. Previously the readers got 2 advance chapters when they became a $5 Patron, but now I’ve increased the chapters they will get to at least 5 chapters and more. So the current updated tier system will work like this:

The Individual Tiers ($5) will give you access to 5 chapters or more. The Bundle Tiers ($10) will give you access to all the chapters of CN or KR ReadNovelFulls. The Supreme Patron ($30) will give you access to all the ReadNovelFull chapters on Goblinslate.