Chapter 55

Chapter 54: The Sword of Flirtatious Glances

The woman was surrounded, with swords and knives coming from all directions, yet she showed no sign of panic. Her steps were graceful, and the guards' weapons all missed, while each of her strikes took the life of a guard.

Wei Xiaobao was already alarmed, with Zhang Kangnian and Zhao Qixian drawing their swords to protect him. Wei Xiaobao watched in fear, "Quick, quick, this woman is out to get Xiaobao's life. Zhang Kangnian and the others are good at flattery, but what good are they when she really attacks?"

Turning back, he saw that Song Qing had come to his side, and Wei Xiaobao felt a bit more at ease. Despite the shock, the woman's stunning beauty left no ripple in Wei Xiaobao's heart; he only hoped that those around him could protect him.

More guards arrived, and the woman realized that the situation was hopeless. She decided to leave early. Song Qing saw her intentions in her movements and smiled in understanding. Just as he was about to help her, he noticed a pair of archers approaching.

Song Qing was startled. He hadn't expected the governor of Jinling to go to such lengths. After all, the most effective weapon for soldiers against martial arts experts was the bow and arrow. Unless you were a godlike expert, a rain of arrows from the army would turn even the most skilled martial artist into a pincushion.

Song Qing couldn't bear to see this fairy-like figure meet her end here. He quickly raised his hand and drew the wooden sword from the pillar, shouting, "Rogue, don't run!" as he charged forward.

The woman also noticed the archers and was anxious. Just then, she saw the young man with unfathomable martial arts skills rushing over. Her heart sank, realizing that today's outcome was likely to be dire.

Recently, her martial arts had greatly improved, and she had learned that Wei Xiaobao had no top-tier experts under him. She thought she could kill one person every ten steps and leave no trace over a thousand miles. She planned to finish her task, brush off her clothes, and hide her identity. But she had run into Song Qing and was trapped.

Song Qing's wooden sword was wielded with incredible skill, and the surrounding soldiers watched in admiration. Zhang Kangnian and Zhao Qixian explained to Wei Xiaobao:

"Lord Wei, Song Daxia's sword technique is truly miraculous. Ordinary sword moves can force the enemy into a panic..."

"Yes, yes, the woman's sword is no ordinary weapon, but it can't even scratch Song Daxia's wooden sword, showing how extraordinary his internal strength is."

"It's not just his sword technique; the wooden sword never touches the woman's sharp blade. He always finds a weakness and strikes at her vital points..."

Wei Xiaobao wiped a bead of sweat, "Damn, this mission is really unlucky. I'll have to go to the temple and make more offerings to ask the Buddha for protection. Fortunately, I have a good fortune and a long life, and I've met Brother Song..."

The conversation between Zhang and Zhao reached the ears of the soldiers in the courtyard, who nodded in agreement, even more admiring of Song Qing, who was fighting with just a wooden sword.

However, the woman in the midst of the battle had a different experience. At first, she thought like everyone else, but as the fight continued, she noticed that whenever he was about to strike her, his sword technique would suddenly change. Because of his speed and the seamless flow of his moves, no one else in the courtyard, with their lower martial arts skills, could see the flaw.

The woman realized that he was holding back. She remembered how he immediately jumped in to fight her when the archers arrived, protecting her...

Sure enough, Song Qing took advantage of a moment when they passed each other and whispered, "Miss, when the time comes, use your full lightness skill to run. I'll help you."

He then found a weakness in her defense, used the wooden sword to deflect her blade, and made a few complex hand gestures with his left hand. A palm strike, as powerful as a thunderclap, hit her shoulder.

The woman saw the palm strike coming like lightning, but when it hit her, it felt like a gentle force. She felt herself being pushed toward the courtyard wall. Realizing his intention, she quickly used her internal energy to force a mouthful of blood into the air and turned back, saying angrily, "Your kindness today, I will repay twofold in the future." She then used her lightness skill to disappear into the night.

"Quick, chase her!" Wei Xiaobao shouted anxiously, thinking to himself: Brother Song can't protect me day and night. If this highly skilled woman keeps thinking about Xiaobao's life, it would be very bad.

The world is vast, and this parting might be forever. Song Qing also wanted to chase her but, hearing Wei Xiaobao's voice, volunteered, "Brother Wei, I'll go after her." He then leaped in the direction where the woman had disappeared.

The woman moved gracefully, her feet lightly touching the ground, and she floated several yards, like the goddess Luo's steps, leaving a trail of dust...

Suddenly, she stopped and turned to look warily at the man behind her, her heart racing. Her divine lightness skill was among the best in the world, yet he had managed to catch up.

"Your lightness skill is truly extraordinary. I've met many martial artists, but your skill is the best," Song Qing said, putting the wooden sword behind his back to show he meant no harm.

"Thank you for your help earlier," the woman's expression softened, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. "But why are you chasing me?"

"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" Song Qing didn't wait for her response and continued, "The lie is that Wei Xiaobao wants to catch the assassin who keeps him awake at night, so I volunteered to chase you."

"And the truth?" The woman smiled, her eyes fixed on Song Qing.

"The truth is that I don't even know your name, and I don't want to forget you in this world of martial arts." Song Qing's words made the woman's heart skip a beat. She hadn't expected him to express his feelings so directly.

The woman was silent for a moment, then asked, "Your martial arts are so high, and your sword technique is that of a master. Why do you serve a Qing official, aiding the enemy?"

"Although I don't like the Qing, they still have something I want. Besides, I quite like the little trickster Wei Xiaobao." Song Qing was clear about his plans: he wanted to use Wei Xiaobao's good fortune and was also interested in the treasure in the Forty-Two Chapters of the Sutra.

The woman stared at him for a long time, trying to discern the truth in his words. Song Qing, wanting to break the silence, asked, "Why did you try to assassinate Wei Xiaobao? From what I know, he's cunning and unscrupulous, but he hasn't done anything truly evil. It seems unlikely that someone of your caliber would personally try to kill him."

As soon as he finished speaking, Song Qing's heart sank. Could it be that this woman had been taken advantage of by Wei Xiaobao's despicable methods... He shook his head, unwilling to think about this cruel possibility.

Chapter 55: A Triangular Love Affair

"He and I have no personal grudges," the woman's tone turned cold, "but the Qing have a blood feud with me. He is one of Kangxi's right-hand men, corrupt and power-hungry. If I kill him, it would be just."

In her heart, she added, "I received an invitation, and this is probably the last time I can help him before we part ways, likely never to meet again."

"A young and beautiful woman with a blood feud against the Qing?" Song Qing filtered through the characters in the original story, and a light bulb went off in his head. He bowed slightly, "Are you the former Ming Princess, Miss Ajiu?"

Zhu Meizhu's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Song Qing warily, "Who are you, and how do you know my identity?"

Song Qing looked at the beautiful woman before him with a sympathetic gaze. Ajiu was a tragic figure in the original story. Born into the last imperial family, she lost her country and family, and her own father cut off her arm. She loved Yuan Chengzhi, but he had already pledged his love to Xia Qingqing. After the Sunlight Peak incident, they agreed to meet in the snowy valley of Tibet in ten years.

Everyone knows the ending: for ten whole years, regardless of whether it was because of Xia Qingqing, Yuan Chengzhi never came to find her...

Feeling the emotion in Song Qing's gaze, Zhu Meizhu felt extremely uncomfortable and coughed lightly.

Song Qing came back to his senses and smiled awkwardly, "Miss Ajiu, don't be suspicious. I'm well-versed in martial arts lore, so I could guess your identity."

"May I ask your name?" Zhu Meizhu felt that her background was known to him, but she knew nothing about him, so she asked.

"I am Song Qing," Song Qing bowed slightly and asked, "Miss Ajiu, you have a blood feud with the Qing, but why risk a war between Song and Qing by assassinating a Qing envoy in Song territory? Is there something you're not telling me?"

Hearing the dissatisfaction in his words, Zhu Meizhu thought he was a citizen of Song and explained, "Lord Song, you misunderstand. Ajiu acted hastily and didn't consider the potential for war... I recently learned that Wei Xiaobao's mission was secondary. His main goal was to deal with the Jin Snake Camp in Shandong. I was worried... worried that the last banner of resistance against the Qing would fall, so I decided to assassinate Wei Xiaobao to cut off the root of the problem..."

"Miss Ajiu, you must be doing this for the current leader of the Jin Snake Camp, Yuan Chengzhi." Song Qing looked at her with a smile, feeling a deep sense of sorrow. Although he had never met Xia Qingqing, he imagined that her beauty and talent couldn't match Ajiu's. Yuan Chengzhi must have made a great decision to give up Ajiu... This was a tragedy for Ajiu but a great fortune for other men.

Feeling her thoughts exposed, Ajiu felt both shy and embarrassed.

"He and I have no personal grudges," the woman's tone turned cold, "but the Qing have a blood feud with me. He is one of Kangxi's right-hand men, corrupt and power-hungry. If I kill him, it would be just."

In her heart, she added, "I received an invitation, and this is probably the last time I can help him before we part ways, likely never to meet again."

"A young and beautiful woman with a blood feud against the Qing?" Song Qing filtered through the characters in the original story, and a light bulb went off in his head. He bowed slightly, "Are you the former Ming Princess, Miss Ajiu?"

Zhu Meizhu's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Song Qing warily, "Who are you, and how do you know my identity?"

Song Qing looked at the beautiful woman before him with a sympathetic gaze. Ajiu was a tragic figure in the original story. Born into the last imperial family, she lost her country and family, and her own father cut off her arm. She loved Yuan Chengzhi, but he had already pledged his love to Xia Qingqing. After the Sunlight Peak incident, they agreed to meet in the snowy valley of Tibet in ten years.

Everyone knows the ending: for ten whole years, regardless of whether it was because of Xia Qingqing, Yuan Chengzhi never came to find her...

Feeling the emotion in Song Qing's gaze, Zhu Meizhu felt extremely uncomfortable and coughed lightly.

Song Qing came back to his senses and smiled awkwardly, "Miss Ajiu, don't be suspicious. I'm well-versed in martial arts lore, so I could guess your identity."

"May I ask your name?" Zhu Meizhu felt that her background was known to him, but she knew nothing about him, so she asked.

"I am Song Qing," Song Qing bowed slightly and asked, "Miss Ajiu, you have a blood feud with the Qing, but why risk a war between Song and Qing by assassinating a Qing envoy in Song territory? Is there something you're not telling me?"

Hearing the dissatisfaction in his words, Zhu Meizhu thought he was a citizen of Song and explained, "Lord Song, you misunderstand. Ajiu acted hastily and didn't consider the potential for war... I recently learned that Wei Xiaobao's mission was secondary. His main goal was to deal with the Jin Snake Camp in Shandong. I was worried... worried that the last banner of resistance against the Qing would fall, so I decided to assassinate Wei Xiaobao to cut off the root of the problem..."

"Miss Ajiu, you must be doing this for the current leader of the Jin Snake Camp, Yuan Chengzhi." Song Qing looked at her with a smile, feeling a deep sense of sorrow. Although he had never met Xia Qingqing, he imagined that her beauty and talent couldn't match Ajiu's. Yuan Chengzhi must have made a great decision to give up Ajiu... This was a tragedy for Ajiu but a great fortune for other men.

Feeling her thoughts exposed, Ajiu felt both shy and embarrassed.