Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 822: Brother-in-Law and the Unaware Sister

“D*mn it!” Song Qingshu swiftly dodged the furious strike from Zhao Yingluo. The marble floor where he had stood moments earlier was shattered into pieces by her claw Qi, leaving him wide-eyed in shock. Seeing her continue her pursuit, he hastily called out, “This is a misunderstanding!”

“What misunderstanding could there be? You just left this hall—who else could it be but you?” Zhao Yingluo’s face was icy, her attacks growing fiercer. “You lecherous, promiscuous scoundrel! I never thought you’d even prey on such young girls!”

Song Qingshu couldn’t help but retort, “Hey, hey, don’t make me sound like some villain. Sure, these two girls are a bit young, but strictly speaking, they’ve reached the legal age for marriage in this world…”

“You dare say more?!” Zhao Yingluo only grew angrier. The ”Nine Yin White Bone Claw”, normally sinister and eerie, took on an almost ethereal grace in her hands. Even as each strike sought his life, her movements were mesmerizingly beautiful.

Noticing Empress Pei Man quietly retreating toward the back of the hall, Song Qingshu fired a strand of finger Qi to immobilize her while evading Zhao Yingluo’s attacks. Seizing the moment, he insisted, “Stop fighting! You’ve really got the wrong idea!”

“A misunderstanding? Then who else could have done ‘this’ to them?!” Zhao Yingluo unleashed the full might of the ”Nine Yin Scripture”—switching seamlessly between the ”Nine Yin White Bone Claw”, ”Heart-Shattering Palm”, and ”Great Demon Subduing Fist”, all enhanced by the Scripture’s ”Qinggong”. Her timing was so impeccable that even Song Qingshu had to admire her mastery. ‘So this is how the Nine Yin Scripture can be used!’ Had he not been equally familiar with its techniques, he would have been thoroughly overwhelmed by her relentless assault.

“Okay, fine, I ‘did’ do this to them, but—” Song Qingshu let out a helpless chuckle.

“Then you admit it!” Zhao Yingluo flicked her sleeve, and a supple silk ribbon shot out from nowhere, twisting toward Song Qingshu at an unpredictable angle.

The ribbon coiled around his waist, but he made no move to resist, allowing her to pull him forward. However, Zhao Yingluo remained cautious—as he was reeled in, her wrist flicked again, and the ribbon wrapped around him tightly like an immortal-binding rope.

“Why aren’t you resisting?” she asked, surprised at how easily she had subdued him.
“You’re so furious. If I don’t let you vent, how will you calm down?” Song Qingshu replied with a faint smile.

Zhao Yingluo’s breath hitched. She snorted coldly. “I told you I’d kill you.”

“Then kill me. I’m right here.” Song Qingshu tilted his neck slightly, a teasing grin on his lips. “But I don’t believe you’d actually do it.”

“Don’t overestimate yourself.” Her expression remained frosty. With a surge of energy, her already pale fingers gleamed with a jade-like radiance as she pressed them toward the crown of his head.

Even as her fingertips touched his scalp, Song Qingshu showed no sign of resistance. Zhao Yingluo’s expression flickered before she withdrew her hand with a cold huff. “Don’t misunderstand. The only reason I’m sparing you is because I still need your help to rescue my sisters. Once they’re safe, I’ll settle today’s score with you properly.”

“Got it, got it. Now, can you take this thing off me?” Song Qingshu grinned.

“Hmph.” Avoiding his gaze, Zhao Yingluo flicked her wrist, and the ribbon slithered back into her sleeve.

“Hey, how ‘do’ you hide something that long?” Free now, Song Qingshu grabbed her hand and peered into her sleeve curiously.

“What are you—?!” She yanked her arm away, flustered and furious.

“I’m just wondering how you conceal such a long ribbon.” His mind flashed to images of Xiao Longnu’s flowing silk ribbons. ‘Seems like every so-called ‘celestial maiden’ these days has to master this trick.’

“None of your business!” Her cheeks tinged pink. Knowing his shameless antics, she ignored him and turned to the two girls. Seeing their disheveled state, she shot Song Qingshu a glare before retrieving a small vial from her robe and holding it under their noses.

In the martial world, where knockout drugs and smoke were common, well-prepared fighters often carried antidotes—pungent concoctions designed to rouse the unconscious.

“Cough—cough—!” 

The two girls stirred, coughing violently as the strong fumes jolted them awake. Zhao Yingluo quickly gathered their scattered clothes and draped them over their exposed bodies.

“Hu’er, Yuanyuan, you’re awake?” she asked gently, though inwardly she was fuming. ‘That b*stard Song Qingshu may be despicable, but what’s done is done. If he really helps rescue the others, I’ll have to play matchmaker and make sure he takes responsibility for these two…’

Still groggy, the girls shrank back at the sight of strangers—until Zhao Yingluo’s gentle tone reassured them. They looked up to see a stunningly beautiful woman gazing at them with concern. “Sister, you are…?”

“She’s your Nineteenth Sister, the one I mentioned earlier,” Song Qingshu chimed in.

“Ah!” The girls gasped, instinctively covering themselves as they noticed the unfamiliar man standing so close.

Song Qingshu sighed dramatically. “You two are so ungrateful. It’s only been a moment, and you’ve already forgotten me?”

Zhao Yuanyuan, more observant, recognized his voice. Hesitantly, she asked, “You’re… Brother-in-Law?”

“Yuanyuan, you’re the best—recognizing me right away.” His praise made her blush.

“But… Brother-in-Law, why do you look different now?” Zhao Huer stared at him in confusion.

“I was wearing a disguise earlier. ‘This’ is my real face.” He held up Xiao Xingguo’s mask for demonstration.

“Wow!” The girls gasped in amazement. Zhao Yuanyuan added shyly, “Brother-in-Law looks much handsomer like this.”

“Right? I think so too.” Song Qingshu laughed shamelessly.

Zhao Yingluo’s eye twitched. ‘These two heartless girls—why are they so friendly with that scoundrel but ignoring their own sister?’

Then it hit her.

‘Wait—why did they call him ‘Brother-in-Law’?!’

A terrible suspicion forming, she demanded sharply, “What did you just call him?”

“Brother-in-Law?” Zhao Huer replied matter-of-factly. “He’s our Nineteenth Sister’s man!” Then, realization dawned. “Wait—’you’re’ our Nineteenth Sister?”