Zhang Songxi tugged at Song Yuanqiaoâs sleeve and whispered, âIsnât she that mysterious woman in the yellow dress from the Lion-Slaying Assembly? Song Qingshu actually has a thing with her⌠Heh, Senior Brother, your son is quite something.â
Zhao Yingluo had made a stunning appearance at the Lion-Slaying Assembly, leaving a deep impression on many. No wonder even a middle-aged Taoist like Zhang Songxi couldnât resist gossiping.
âThey might not be that kind of relationship,â Song Yuanqiao replied uncertainly, though inwardly, he felt a surge of relief. Years ago, he had worried that his son would remain forever single, pining after Zhou Zhiruo while she was entangled with Zhang Wuji. Yet now, not only had his son married Zhou Zhiruo, but he also seemed to have ambiguous ties with several of the martial worldâs most outstanding womenâŚ
âShould I remind him to be more devoted?â Song Yuanqiao, being upright by nature, instinctively disliked his sonâs romantic entanglements. But then he reconsideredâhaving more wives to expand the Song family lineage wasnât necessarily a bad thing. Remembering Zhang Sanfengâs teachings about following the natural course of things, he dismissed the thought of lecturing him.
Noticing the odd expressions around her, Zhao Yingluo quickly realized the unintended implication of her earlier words. The thought of Song Qingshuâs father witnessing this made her pale cheeks flush with a delicate shade of pink.
âTake your time catching up. Iâll rescue them first,â she said coolly, knowing that explanations would only complicate things further. Deciding to cut the problem at its root, she prepared to leave this troublesome place.
âSister, these princesses of the Song Dynasty are still in my hands. Shouldnât you ask for my opinion first?â Zhao Minâs eyes sparkled as she took a light step forward, blocking Zhao Yingluoâs path.
With a cold snort, Zhao Yingluo signaled her hidden subordinates, who swiftly surrounded Zhao Minâs remaining battered forces. âOver half of your men are dead or wounded, and the Xuanming Elders are severely injured. With your current strength, you canât stop me.â
Zhao Min smiled sweetly and clung to Song Qingshuâs arm, pressing herself against him. âBut I still have Brother Qingshu.â
Watching her actions, Zhao Yingluoâs eyebrows twitched in irritation. ‘Mongolian women truly have no shame, flaunting their intimacy with a man in broad daylight.’
âDonât delude yourself, Princess. Young Master Song is my ally. Why would he help you?â Her voice was icy.
âThatâs not necessarily true. Youâre just allies, but weâŚâ Zhao Min deliberately trailed off, feigning shyness. âBrother Qingshu, are you going to help her⌠or me?â
Song Qingshu felt a headache coming on. âWhoever I help, can we focus on getting these women out of the palace first? The palace guards have been diverted, but enough time has passedâthe Jin Court will react soon. If they send reinforcements, none of us will escape.â
Zhao Min giggled. âSince Brother Qingshu says so, Iâm not an unreasonable woman. Fineâif you beg me personally, Iâll hand the princesses over to this pretty sister.â
âHow do you want me to beg?â Song Qingshu asked, exasperated. Even in such a critical moment, she remained playful. Yet, seeing her radiant, rose-like smile, he couldnât bring himself to be angry.
âSimpleâjust agree to one condition.â She tilted her head, blinking her large eyes at him.
Song Qingshu rubbed his temples. âNot another âIâll think of it laterâ condition, right?â
Zhao Minâs eyes curved into crescents. âBrother Qingshu is so smart.â
Zhao Yingluo frowned. âYoung Master Song, thereâs no need to indulge her whims. Her forces canât stop me anyway.â
Zhao Min released Song Qingshu and circled Zhao Yingluo, studying her leisurely. Unnerved, the latter snapped, âWhat are you looking at?â
âDonât worry, sister. I wonât make any troublesome demandsâlike forbidding Brother Qingshu from marrying youâŚâ Seeing Zhao Yingluoâs brows shoot up, she quickly added, âOf course, Iâd never make such a request.â
As Zhao Yingluo trembled with anger, Song Qingshu hastily intervened. âFine, I agree. Now release them.â
Delighted, Zhao Min gestured to her subordinates. âYou, you, and youâall of you, return to your posts. No need to follow me anymore.â
The Xuanming Elders looked aggrieved. âPrincess, how can you go unprotected?â
âIf I relied on you two, Iâd have died countless times already,â Zhao Min scoffed, tugging Song Qingshuâs sleeve. âNow that Brother Qingshu is protecting me, whatâs the problem?â
The Xuanming Elders exchanged helpless glances before slinking away with their men. For some reason, Ouyang Fengâs group made no move to stop them.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yingluo had already gathered the Song princesses under her protection. Learning her identity and their imminent rescue, the princesses wept with joy.
Song Qingshu glanced at them before turning his attention to Murong Bo. âElder Murong, if not for your son, my severed meridians might never have healed. I owe him, but that debt has been repaid. Now, we must settle the matter of your attack on my father and uncles.â
Unlike Song Qingshu, Murong Bo was a decades-renowned top-tier expert. Being challenged by a junior, even if wary of his skills, he refused to show weakness publicly. âI did it. What can you do to me?â
“Hmmph!”
Song Qingshuâs cold snort reverberated through the hall, shaking the minds of those present.
Weaker individuals felt nauseated, and even Murong Bo, despite his formidable cultivation, felt his spirit waver.
A seasoned veteran, Murong Bo knew his opponent would strike after this intimidation. He retreated preemptivelyâjust as Song Qingshu stepped forward.
That single step covered over a dozen zhang in an instant. Had Murong Bo not anticipated it, he wouldâve ended up as disgraced as Gongsun Zhi.
Yet Murong Bo felt no reliefâonly terror. Without time to ponder how Song Qingshu achieved such near-teleportation speed, he crossed his arms, unleashing the Murong familyâs ultimate deflection skill, ‘Great Cosmic Transformation’.
‘Great Cosmic Transformation’ was one of the worldâs supreme counterforce techniques, and Murong Boâs mastery far surpassed Murong Fuâs. He was confident he could contend with opponents twice his strength.
‘How could this young manâs decades of cultivation possibly surpass mine by that margin?’