Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 973: Injuring the Western Poison in One Move

Yin Zhiping had been pierced through the chest by a sharp sword, sustaining a fatal wound. He was not yet dead, but only clinging to the last thread of life after being rescued and laid aside by his junior sect brother. His breathing was as faint as a gossamer strand. 

In his dazed state, he suddenly heard a soft, delicate voice ask, “Where is Yin Zhiping?”

Though spoken very lightly, these words crashed in his ears like peals of thunder. From somewhere, he summoned a surge of strength, abruptly turned over, and stood up, crying out, “Miss Long! I am here!”

Xiao Longnu gazed at him for a moment, taking in his blood-soaked daoist robes and deathly pale face. A wave of utter despair washed over her. Her voice trembled as she said, “Big Beard, could you do me a favor?”

Song Qingshu largely guessed what she was about to ask and nodded. “Miss Long, just name it. Even if it’s a monumental task, I will help you.”

Xiao Longnu’s eyes remained fixed on Yin Zhiping as she murmured, “My purity was defiled by this man. Even if my injuries heal, I can no longer stay with Guo’er forever. Could you kill him for me?”

Her heart was as clear and open as the wind and the moon; she felt there was nothing she could not speak aloud. Thus, even before hundreds of people, she straightforwardly voiced her sorrow.

Song Qingshu’s expression turned peculiar. The Joyful Meditation art he practiced made him a master of the principles of Yin and Yang energy. He could tell at a glance whether Xiao Longnu was a v!rgin or not. Moreover, back at the inn, he had learned about the grudge between her, Yin Zhiping, and Zhao Zhijing through Bing Xue’er’s questioning. He knew that Yin Zhiping, incited by Zhao Zhijing and blinded by lu$t, had drngged Xiao Longnu’s tea. Fortunately, the martial art Xiao Longnu practiced was one of pure heart and desirelessness, so the drug failed to cloud her nature, and she had not been taken advantage of.

So why was Xiao Longnu now claiming her purity had been defiled by Yin Zhiping?

It turned out that Xiao Longnu had only a vague understanding of matters between men and women. She believed that being drugged that night equated to being defiled. Furthermore, she mistakenly thought that Yang Guo’s intention to marry Guo Fu was because he despised her for this very reason. Thus, overwhelmed by despair, her words came out confused and inaccurate.

When these words from Xiao Longnu reached Yin Zhiping’s ears, his heart felt as if being sliced by a knife. He reflected that a moment of foolish desire had led him to commit a grave mistake. He revered Xiao Longnu as a celestial being, yet he had caused her a lifetime of misfortune…a crime for which even death a hundred times over could not atone. He shouted loudly, “Master! Four Uncles and Masters! This disciple’s sin is immense! You must not, under any circumstances, make things difficult for Miss Long!”

With that, he leaped up and threw himself onto the eight or nine long swords still pointing upwards from the ground. Several swords pierced through his b0dy, and he died instantly.

This sudden turn of events took everyone by surprise, and they couldn’t help but cry out in shock.

“Zhiping!” Qiu Chuji, seeing his beloved disciple meet his end, was both furious and distraught. His True Qi inevitably became sluggish. 

Ouyang Feng, a master of seizing opportunities, immediately capitalized on this, channeling the full power of his Toad Style Martial Art. A raging, torrential palm force surged towards his opponent.

“Pfft!”

The Five Masters of Quanzhen all spat blood, collapsing to the ground listlessly. It seemed they were severely injured.

Having heard Xiao Longnu’s words and witnessed Yin Zhiping admit his guilt and take his own life, the daoists concluded that Yin Zhiping must have violated their strict precepts and defiled Xiao Longnu by despicable means. The Five Masters were all virtuous men of strict discipline. Realizing the fault lay with their own side, they were deeply ashamed. Moreover, now that they had lost all ability to resist, and contemplating the imminent destruction of the Quanzhen Sect’s foundation, Qiu Chuji and the others were filled with utter despair.

Song Qingshu then said to Xiao Longnu, “Miss Long, the man surnamed Yin has already taken his 0wn life in admission of guilt. Let us descend the mountain first.”

His own heart was complex. With Yin Zhiping dead, the truth was buried. From now on, everyone would believe Xiao Longnu had been defiled by Yin Zhiping. Such a matter was impossible to explain clearly, and he wondered how much gossip and slander she would face in the future.

Yet Song Qingshu did not bring this issue to Xiao Longnu’s attention. Partly, he had his own selfish motives: he wanted to use this to plant a seed of doubt in Yang Guo’s heart. Although, given Yang Guo’s nature, he likely wouldn’t mind even if Xiao Longnu had truly lost her purity. But as the old saying goes, ‘Repeated slander can melt metal and destroy bones.’ Moreover, Yang Guo was still a man; could he truly be completely free of any subconscious reservation?

Hearing that his prospective daughter-in-law had been violated by a wretched daoist of the Quanzhen Sect, Ouyang Feng’s old hatred merged with the new, igniting his fury. “The Quanzhen Sect feigns morality, but at its core, it’s full of thieves and lu$t! Since they produced such a shameless and vile disciple, how can the masters escape blame!”

No sooner had he spoken than he thrust his palm towards Qiu Chuji’s crown. This palm strike carried the sound of wind and thunder, its force terrifying. If it landed squarely, Qiu Chuji would surely die.

Unfortunately, Qiu Chuji was gravely injured and could barely move a finger, let alone evade. 

The other four masters were in even worse condition. They could only watch helplessly as Ouyang Feng’s palm descended upon Qiu Chuji’s head.

Sun Bu’er, the Serene Nun, even turned her head away, unable to bear witnessing the brutal scene about to unfold.

Song Qingshu frowned and was about to speak when suddenly a white shadow flashed past. 

In the nick of time, it appeared between Ouyang Feng and Qiu Chuji. 

A sleeve brushed out, deflecting Ouyang Feng’s murderous palm strike, followed immediately by a finger thrust aimed at Ouyang Feng’s chest.

Ouyang Feng hastily retracted his palm to block. 

As finger and palm met, Ouyang Feng’s face suddenly flushed deep red. He hurriedly retreated violently, only stabilizing his stance after putting several dozen feet between them.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Within the main hall, aside from Song Qingshu and Qiu Qianren, even Qiu Chuji and the others hadn’t clearly seen the exchange. They only saw a white shadow flash, and then Ouyang Feng retreating rapidly. Most people in the hall were left utterly bewildered about what had transpired in between.

From Song Qingshu’s vantage point, he could see Ouyang Feng’s hands, hidden behind his back, trembling slightly…clear evidence of serious injury. Filled with curiosity, he looked towards the newcomer, wondering who in this world could severely injure the Western Poison Ouyang Feng in the blink of an eye.

The figure was quite tall, dressed in a plain white robe. He stood with a natural, heroic air. Unfortunately, his face was hidden behind a mask, revealing only his head of snow-white hair, suggesting his advanced age. Despite the mask, everyone present felt instantly convinced of the dashing, peerless elegance this man must have possessed in his youth.

“Many thanks, Senior, for your righteous assistance. May I ask your esteemed name? The entire Quanzhen Sect, from top to bottom, will forever remember your grace,” Qiu Chuji finally managed to ask, cupping his hands. For some reason, he felt the man’s face looked familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

“The entire Quanzhen Sect, from top to bottom, will remember?” The white-robed elder seemed startled, as if hearing something amusing, then shook his head. “That is unnecessary. If you can hold fast to your master’s teachings and never yield to the invaders, Wang Chongyang would be deeply comforted, were his spirit watching from heaven.”

Hearing him address their master by his full name, Qiu Chuji grew surprised and wary. “Might Senior be a friend of our late Master?”

The white-robed elder remained silent for a long while before letting out a soft sigh. “You could say that.”

Meanwhile, Ouyang Feng’s heart was roiling with shock and awe. His expression grim, he stared at the other man. That demeanor, that martial prowess…others might not recognize him, but how could Ouyang Feng not?