The Yellow-Robed Maiden was taken aback: “What debt do I owe you?”
A smile played at the corner of Song Qingshu’s mouth as he mimicked her tone from back in the Jin palace: “If you can rescue those sisters of mine, I… I’ll let you ki$$ me…”
Her face flushed bright red: “Nonsense! I… I didn’t say it like that!”
“The meaning’s about the same. What, you’re not going to welch on the deal, are you?” He leaned in close.
“Didn’t you just say you can’t remember things well?” She glared at him hatefully. She had indeed made such a promise, but back then rescuing her sisters from the Laundry Courtyard seemed nearly impossible, so she’d agreed readily. Now that they were saved, that promise was far too embarrassing to actually fulfill.
Song Qingshu chuckled: “Depends on the thing. Some things I forget, others I’ll never forget…like helping someone take off their cl0thes…”
“Shut up!” She was both mortified and furious, reaching to cover his mouth.
As he dodged, he exclaimed exaggeratedly: “No need to resort to the Nine Yin Bone Claw just for that!”
“Your mouth is too filthy.” She stamped her foot and moved faster.
“You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want,” he said, dodging her increasingly quick attacks. “My mouth isn’t filthy at all…want to smell it?” He puckered his lips and leaned toward her face.
Flustered, she switched from offense to defense, dodging aside: “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Didn’t you owe me several ki$$es? Since you don’t seem inclined to pay up voluntarily, I’ll have to collect myself.” He blurred into motion, appearing beside her in an instant.
Knowing he was the type who’d actually do it, she frantically used the evasion techniques from the *Nine Yin Scripture* to escape. But Song Qingshu knew the *Nine Yin Scripture* inside out too. In a few breaths, he appeared in her path and caught her in his arms.
“D-don’t mess around.” The Yellow-Robed Maiden was a formidable martial artist, exceptionally beautiful, and her status as a princess added an air of nobility. As the holy maiden of Jianshan Academy and martial arts instructor to the imperial guards, she was the most popular woman in Lin’an. Her aloof nature made her the unattainable goddess of the capital. Yet now, with rosy cheeks and a flustered expression, she had none of her usual cold elegance.
Caught in his arms, she panicked. When he actually leaned in to ki$$ her, feminine modesty made her instinctively pull back. Song Qingshu was in no hurry, patiently seeking openings.
They went back and forth…one dodging, one advancing…in a lively tussle.
“Ahem…” A cough sounded from nearby.
Song Qingshu looked over and his heart tightened…an old man in a black cloak stood in the shadow of a rockery not far away.
It was none other than Huang Shang!
*This man truly is a persistent ghost,* he thought grimly, tensing his guard.
The Yellow-Robed Maiden saw him too. Two faint blushes appeared on her usually icy cheeks as she quickly pushed Song Qingshu away, then bowed in embarrassment: “M-master.”
Song Qingshu blinked, remembering she’d mentioned this back in the Jin palace.
Huang Shang said nothing, simply studying Song Qingshu quietly. Seeing his build, a hint of doubt flickered across his brow.
Song Qingshu’s heart skipped a beat. Though he’d worn a mask during their two previous encounters, his physique and bearing were hard to change. For an expert of this level, it wouldn’t be easy to hide.
The Yellow-Robed Maiden, unaware of this, thought her master was angry and quickly introduced them: “Master, this is Song Qingshu… Song Qingshu, this is my master Huang Shang…you must have heard of him if you’re from the martial world.”
“Song Qingshu?” Huang Shang finally spoke, his voice hoarse. “This is the Song Qingshu you’ve been praising to the skies ever since you returned?”
Her face, already flushed, grew even redder. She stamped her foot: “Master! I never praised him that much!”
“I’ve heard the Golden Serpent King Song Qingshu is peerless in martial arts, the most outstanding figure in recent years. But seeing you now, you’re nothing but a smooth-talking lecher.” Huang Shang’s voice turned cold.
“Master!” She couldn’t understand why her master had such a poor impression of him, and grew anxious.
Huang Shang shot her a glance: “What, were you willing just now?”
“I…” She was at a loss. How could she answer that? Neither her feminine modesty nor her proud aloof nature would allow her to say those two words.
Song Qingshu smiled wryly. He knew that if he’d raised a cute little girl into a perfect goddess, only to see another man embracing her, he’d also feel like a cabbage painstakingly grown had been rooted by a pig.
“Your bullying of Yingluo just now was nothing but relying on superior martial arts. Let me see if your skills are truly that formidable.” With that, he threw a punch straight at Song Qingshu’s face.
Prepared, Song Qingshu deflected the blow to the side, dissipating its force.
“Flying Fluff Force?” Huang Shang exclaimed in surprise, pressing his attack. Seeing his relentless assault…not at all like sparring with a junior…Song Qingshu focused with full concentration.
Huang Shang was surprised because Song Qingshu had just used the “Flying Fluff Force” from the *Nine Yin Scripture* to deflect his attack. They’d fought before, and he worried his moves might reveal something, so this time he used different techniques. Since his knowledge of the *Nine Yin Scripture* had been exposed at the Lion Slaying Assembly, it was hardly a secret.
Using *Nine Yin Scripture* techniques against its author was clearly counterproductive. Fortunately, Song Qingshu’s cultivation was high enough that every move conformed to the fundamentals of martial arts, allowing him to barely hold his own. But true experts could see that in another ten moves or so, he’d be at a disadvantage.
Seeing Song Qingshu struggling, the Yellow-Robed Maiden feared her master might actually hurt him. She leaped into the fray, spreading her arms between them: “Master, Young Master Song has done great service to our dynasty…it wouldn’t be good to harm him.”
“Women really do turn outward.” His beloved disciple was blocking his attacks, so Huang Shang had no choice but to stop. With a cold snort, he turned and walked away.
His figure soon disappeared. Song Qingshu said wryly: “Your master doesn’t have feelings for you, does he? Why else would he be so angry?”
“Young Master Song, mind your words!” Her jade-like face turned cold. “My master is a man of honor…how dare you think such things!”
“Fine, fine, I was wrong.” Song Qingshu remembered that in this world, people held their masters in high regard…unlike his previous life where he could joke about anything on B!libili.
Her expression softened. Looking in the direction her master had gone, she also seemed puzzled: “Master isn’t usually like this. I don’t know why he’s taken such a disliking to you today.”