Chapter 493: Victory or Defeat - Flower Stealing Master

“Xu Zhu, who do you think will have the last laugh in this duel?” The two on the stage were evenly matched, and Xuan Cheng couldn’t discern the outcome. He asked Xu Zhu beside him, not because Xu Zhu’s insight was superior, but because Xu Zhu had fought Ah Qing and could provide a more direct judgment.

“Master Uncle, I believe Miss Ah Qing will ultimately win,” Xu Zhu said, his eyes fixed on the two on the stage, making his judgment.

“Oh, why is that?” Xuan Cheng asked in surprise. He knew Xu Zhu’s temperament and trusted that Xu Zhu’s confidence meant he had good reason for his opinion.

“I’ve fought Miss Ah Qing. Her innate sword Qi seems to be endless, while Song Qingshu’s controlled tangible sword is limited.” Xu Zhu didn’t need to elaborate; Xuan Cheng understood. The two on the stage were in a stalemate. As time went on, Song Qingshu’s control over his swords would diminish, while Ah Qing’s sword Qi could be replenished immediately. In the end, the winner would be clear.

Indeed, many sharp-eyed observers noticed that the silver-white giant python seemed to have shrunk slightly, and they thought that Song Qingshu might lose this match.

“Could it be that you will lose like this?”

Watching the battle, Huang Rong’s expression was complex. Suddenly, she recalled Song Qingshu’s ever-present faint smile, and her heart calmed down. She believed that Song Qingshu would find a way.

Nearby, Zhou Zhiruo also looked worried. She had seen Ming Zun in action before, and even the formidable Ming Zun had been defeated by Ah Qing. She couldn’t imagine how Song Qingshu could win this match.

“Ah Jiu, do you think Qingshu is going to lose?” Zhou Zhiruo’s voice trembled.

“No, Brother Song will definitely win,” Ah Jiu said confidently.

“How do you know?” Zhou Zhiruo was taken aback.

“Because Brother Song said he would win,” Ah Jiu smiled naturally.

Zhou Zhiruo felt as if a heavy hammer had struck her heart. She realized that, although she was Song Qingshu’s wife, she didn’t understand or trust him as much as the other women did. She felt immense shame, always focused on establishing her position as the main wife and resenting Song Qingshu’s interactions with other women.

“King Xiao, who do you think will have the last laugh on the stage?” Yelu Nanzhen couldn’t help but ask. Xiao Feng was the revered war god of the Liao Kingdom, and everyone in Liao had a deep-seated trust in him, including Yelu Nanzhen.

Looking at the battle on the stage, Xiao Feng’s eyes gleamed. “The current situation is indeed unfavorable for Brother Song, but he is good at creating miracles. Maybe he can turn the tables.”

“I think so too,” Yelü Nanzhen nodded with a smile, but then she suddenly remembered how Song Qingshu had placed his hand on her chest the previous night. Her smile froze. Why was she hoping he would win?

With a dragon’s roar, the two figures on the stage finally separated. Ah Qing looked at Song Qingshu with excitement. “Big Brother, what martial art is this?”

“Wan Jian Gui Zong,” Song Qingshu answered calmly. This was the first time he had truly used “Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Sect” since he created it. Despite this, Ah Qing remained unscathed—the only difference being that her surrounding sword Qi had dimmed, almost turning transparent, unlike the previous solid green appearance.

Song Qingshu looked much worse. Most of his controlled swords were broken, and only a handful of swords remained around him.

“Ah Qing is indeed the best in the Golden Serpent Camp!” Song Qingshu sighed inwardly. He understood that in a pure martial arts competition, he was not Ah Qing’s match.

“Big Brother, you are the most formidable person I’ve encountered since coming to the Central Plains,” Ah Qing said with admiration.

“Oh?” Song Qingshu was not surprised. He smiled slightly. “Ah Qing, you are the most formidable person I’ve met in my life.”

Hearing his words, Ah Qing blushed and said, “Big Brother, even though you praise me, I won’t hold back later.”

Song Qingshu smiled faintly. “The outcome is still uncertain.”

Ah Qing smiled at him. “You attacked just now; now it’s my turn.”

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone at the gathering felt a familiar pressure, this time much stronger than when she fought Xu Zhu. Even experts like Xuan Cheng and Xiao Feng couldn’t move.

“Is this the legendary domain?” Xuan Cheng, well-versed in Shaolin martial arts, found the situation matching a description in a scripture about the founder, Bodhidharma. He was horrified—was Ah Qing human or immortal?

Everyone felt as if they were under a spell, watching Ah Qing move her green bamboo staff towards Song Qingshu. Her speed seemed slow to the naked eye, but in the blink of an eye, she was in front of Song Qingshu. This paradox of stillness and motion made everyone feel nauseated, with many sustaining internal injuries.

Song Qingshu lost!

This was everyone’s thought, even Ah Jiu felt a tinge of despair.

Just as Ah Qing’s bamboo staff was about to hit Song Qingshu’s wrist, he suddenly moved. His wooden sword reached Ah Qing’s slender, white neck first.

Everyone felt a weight lift off them as the mysterious pressure vanished instantly.

Ah Qing’s face turned red, her eyes filled with disbelief. “How did I…”

Song Qingshu didn’t answer, only smiling as he slowly withdrew his wooden sword.

Ah Qing frowned, unable to figure it out after much thought. She sighed, “I lost.”

The crowd was in an uproar. Song Qingshu had managed to turn the tables under such conditions—how high was his martial arts level?

Xuan Cheng’s face turned ashen, filled with doubt. Even he couldn’t move just now, yet Song Qingshu could. Was his martial arts far superior to his own? Impossible!

Proud Xuan Cheng couldn’t accept this fact. He felt a sweetness in his throat and couldn’t help but spit out a mouthful of blood, clearly suffering internal injuries.

“Master Uncle!” Xu Zhu noticed something was wrong and quickly placed his palm on Xuan Cheng’s back to help him stabilize his chaotic Qi.

Xuan Cheng finally calmed down and recalled the earlier event. He was shocked: That person said practicing the seventy-two ultimate techniques forcibly could lead to Qi deviation—had it really come true?

Not only Xuan Cheng was puzzled, but everyone at the Golden Serpent Camp was also wondering how Song Qingshu managed to turn the tables.

“Did he use the Soul Capture Technique?” Huang Rong quickly dismissed the thought. The Soul Capture Technique only worked on those with weaker skills. Using it on someone more powerful could backfire, leading to control by the enemy. Given Ah Qing’s demonstrated prowess, Song Qingshu would never dare use it.

Huang Rong’s curious eyes stared at Song Qingshu’s back on the stage. “How did he do it?”