Chapter 553: Chaos Unfolds

Qinghai Yixiao, the Hawk of Qinghai never expected Mu Wanqing to strike so suddenly. Fortunately, with years of experience in the dark underworld, he managed to narrowly evade the attack despite being caught off guard.

Looking down at the torn gash in his robe, Qinghai Yixiao realized how close he had come to disaster. If he had been even a fraction slower, it would have ended badly. Enraged, he shouted, “You wretch!” and drew his sword, thrusting it toward Mu Wanqing.

Mu Wanqing let out a defiant snort and raised her sword without hesitation. She had taken the initiative and was now pressing her advantage. Although her opponent’s martial skills surpassed hers, for the moment, she was holding her ground.

Song Qingshu watched as the two fought evenly, deciding not to intervene just yet. Mu Wanqing wasn’t in immediate danger, giving him time to ponder who Qinghai Yixiao truly was.

After a moment of thought, he remembered the name. Qinghai Yixiao was a villain featured in “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer”. Zuo Lengchan, in his ambition to unite the Five Sacred Mountain Sword Sects, resorted to coercion and underhanded tactics. One such scheme involved sending Qinghai Yixiao to ambush the head of the Mount Tai Sect, forcing him to resign. However, the sect leader, Daoist Tianmen, refused to surrender, ultimately crippling his own meridians to break free, dragging Qinghai Yixiao to death with him.

‘Both Mount Hua Sect and Qinghai Yixiao appearing now… Could Zuo Lengchan be making a move again?’

Song Qingshu frowned. Since defeating Zuo Lengchan at Mount Tai, the two had become bitter enemies.

Recently, Zuo Lengchan had even sent someone to seize the title of the new Golden Serpent King, only for Song Qingshu to thwart the plan.

Over the years, Zuo Lengchan had recruited over ten thousand secular disciples for the Mount Song Sect and gathered many notorious underworld fighters. His ambitions were clearly far greater than merely becoming a leader within the martial world.

With the Golden Serpent Camp’s influence expanding rapidly in Shandong and the Mount Song Sect nearby in Henan, conflicts of interest were inevitable. As the saying goes, “two tigers cannot share the same mountain”. A confrontation between the two factions was unavoidable.

While Song Qingshu was lost in thought, Mu Wanqing’s movements started to falter. Though skilled for someone her age, she was no match for a seasoned villain like Qinghai Yixiao.

As the fight progressed, Qinghai Yixiao gradually gained control. His gaze fell upon Mu Wanqing’s sweat-dappled brow and rosy cheeks, and a wicked gleam lit in his eyes. It had been a long time since he encountered such a beautiful woman, and he intended to indulge himself today.

“Ah!” Mu Wanqing cried out, having tripped over a table leg in her haste to evade. She stumbled, falling directly into Song Qingshu’s arms.

“Well now, young lady, you’re quite forward. You’ve got me feeling a little embarrassed,” Song Qingshu teased, though his hand subtly pressed the end of her sword’s hilt.

Qinghai Yixiao saw an opportunity to strike but stopped abruptly as Mu Wanqing’s sword shifted slightly. If he had continued his attack, it would’ve been like running straight into her blade.

With a startled cry, Qinghai Yixiao withdrew, glaring suspiciously at the two.

Just then, a cold voice sounded from the side: “Qinghai Yixiao, you’re a renowned martial artist, yet you stoop so low as to bully a young girl. Have you no shame?”

Qinghai Yixiao spun around to see Li Mochou leisurely sipping tea. “Li Mochou, we’ve always kept to our own paths. Are you really going to interfere?”

Though Qinghai Yixiao wasn’t necessarily afraid of her, Li Mochou’s fearsome reputation wasn’t one to take lightly. He preferred not to provoke someone like her unless absolutely necessary.

“Song Qingshu once did me a favor. How could I stand by and watch while his woman gets bullied?” Li Mochou said with a sneer.

Before Qinghai Yixiao could respond, Mu Wanqing jumped out of Song Qingshu’s embrace, her face flushed with embarrassment. “Hey! What nonsense are you spouting? I’m not his woman!”

Li Mochou smiled knowingly, choosing not to argue. As a woman experienced in the ways of the world, she could easily see through Mu Wanqing’s real feelings. Though she claimed to hate Song Qingshu, her actions—risking her life to protect him—revealed otherwise.

Meanwhile, Yue Lingshan whispered to Lin Pingzhi, who had finally let go of her hand. “See? With that witch standing up for her, Qinghai Yixiao won’t dare harm Mu Wanqing. You can relax now.”

Lin Pingzhi nodded. He had been prepared to draw his blade and assist Mu Wanqing, unwilling to let Song Qingshu’s benefactor suffer.

Yue Lingshan noticed Lin Pingzhi’s lingering gaze on Mu Wanqing and felt a twinge of jealousy. “What, you think she’s pretty, don’t you? And here I thought you knew your limits—rushing in would’ve only gotten you killed with your half-baked skills.”

“I… I…” Lin Pingzhi stammered awkwardly, finding himself at a loss for words.

“Lingshan, martial prowess isn’t the most important thing for us in the righteous path. It’s the spirit of chivalry that matters most,” Yue Buqun interjected. “Lin Pingzhi’s impulse to help is commendable—a true display of our ideals.”

The surrounding disciples nodded in agreement, admiring their master’s wisdom. Even Ning Zhongze looked at him with admiration. None of them, however, knew the sinister thoughts brewing in Yue Buqun’s mind.

‘So, Lin Pingzhi must’ve gained confidence from mastering a new sword technique. But where did this mysterious sword art come from? He only knew some basic moves when he joined Mount Hua Sect, and he hasn’t even finished learning our entry-level techniques…’

Yue Buqun’s eyes narrowed as a chilling thought struck him.

‘Could it be… the “Violet Mist Divine Skill manual”?’

The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning.

‘Yes, that must be it! The Lin family’s sword art was famous, but Lin Zhennan’s poor aptitude likely prevented him from mastering it. Lin Pingzhi, being the sole heir, must’ve inherited the manual. He must’ve finally grasped its secrets after practicing our techniques…’

‘What a schemer!’

Yue Buqun thought bitterly.

‘He tricked me into believing the manual was still hidden in the Lin family’s old house, all the while mastering the art himself! If not for his slip today, I might’ve been completely fooled.’

Yue Buqun cast a sharp glance at Lin Pingzhi, already devising a new plan.

Meanwhile, Qinghai Yixiao’s anger flared after hearing Li Mochou’s remark. “Surnamed Li! I tried reasoning with you out of respect. Don’t think I’m afraid of you!”

Li Mochou’s expression darkened. “Respect? I’ve always punished the faithless and despicable. Do you think someone like you is worthy of being compared to me?”

“Hah! You wiped out the entire Lu family. Even I was shocked by your ruthlessness. And now you play the heroine?” Qinghai Yixiao sneered and spat on the ground.

Swish!

Li Mochou’s white whisk swept through the air, slicing a nearby table in half.

Qinghai Yixiao, having suffered under Mu Wanqing’s earlier attack, dared not let his guard down now. Fully alert, he narrowly evaded Li Mochou’s sudden strike.

“You really want to fight, Surnamed Li?” Qinghai Yixiao growled, his expression darkening as the tension between them escalated.

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