Chapter 582: Past Emotions

Under the soft moonlight, a young man sat quietly at the bedside, gazing at her.

As Ren Yingying saw his face clearly, her almond-shaped eyes widened in shock.

“You…”

Before she could finish speaking, her vision darkened, and she fainted on the spot.

Song Qingshu was momentarily taken aback by her exaggerated reaction. Was he truly that terrifying in her eyes, enough to scare her unconscious at the mere sight of him?

Recalling that his Cosmic Absorption Technique required her cooperation, Song Qingshu couldn’t allow her to remain unconscious. He reached out, lifting her from under the blanket. A faint, sweet fragrance—neither orchid nor musk—wafted over, lifting his spirits. Indeed, the scent of a young woman was utterly captivating.

However, there were more pressing matters at hand. Song Qingshu quickly curbed his wandering thoughts and channeled a gentle stream of True Qi into Ren Yingying’s body.

After a short while, her eyelashes trembled lightly, and she began to stir.

“Why am I dreaming about that scoundrel again?” Ren Yingying murmured as she slowly woke, pressing a hand to her forehead in confusion.

“Um, is the scoundrel Saintess refers to… me?”

A voice suddenly sounded from behind her. Ren Yingying froze and only then realized she was half-lying in a man’s arms. Her face turned pale, and she scrambled to the other side of the bed.

“Why are you here?” she stammered, her voice trembling as she clutched the blanket tightly. Despite knowing it was futile, she instinctively tried to bury herself deeper beneath the covers.

“Passing through Pingding Prefecture, I had an inexplicable urge to visit the Saintess,” Song Qingshu said casually. “Though Blackwood Cliff has formidable defenses, they’re no match for me.”

Ren Yingying’s face grew even paler. She knew this man was shameless and despicable, and now, in the middle of the night, he appeared in her private quarters. His intentions were obvious.

“Help! Someone—” she began to shout, but her words were cut short as her vision blurred, and her body froze in place.

Song Qingshu retracted his finger after striking her acupoint. “Saintess, there’s no need to worry,” he said calmly. “I came here only to reminisce and ask for a small favor. If you agree to speak with me properly, blink your eyes.”

Ren Yingying blinked frantically. In her mind, having her acupoints unsealed was preferable to being utterly at his mercy.

Song Qingshu, however, didn’t release her immediately. Instead, he smiled slyly. “Miss Ren, let me warn you beforehand. If you start screaming again after I unseal your acupoints, don’t blame me for stripping off all your clothes.”

Ren Yingying’s face flushed crimson, and though she couldn’t speak, she cursed him countless times in her heart.

Seeing her continue to blink, Song Qingshu finally smiled, flicking his finger in the air.

Ren Yingying immediately felt her body loosen, though she dared not make any sudden moves, still wary of his earlier threat.

“That’s better,” Song Qingshu said approvingly. “Has the Saintess missed me these past days?”

“Shameless!” Ren Yingying replied coldly, refusing to engage further.

“But I recall hearing the Saintess dream about me every night,” Song Qingshu teased, watching her with a faint smile.

Ren Yingying’s delicate face turned deathly pale, but she stubbornly kept her lips sealed. She knew all too well that responding to someone as shameless as him would only lead to more humiliation.

“Oh? Not talking to me? Fine. I’m feeling tired anyway. I’ll just rest here in the Saintess’s fragrant boudoir for the night,” Song Qingshu said leisurely, lying back on her bed and even pulling a corner of the blanket over himself. ŔἈ

Ren Yingying couldn’t stay calm any longer. “Get out!” she said urgently.

Song Qingshu’s smile deepened. “I haven’t gone in, so how can I go out?”

Ren Yingying froze momentarily before realizing the indecent implication behind his words. Her face flushed with anger. “Scoundrel!” she hissed.

Song Qingshu chuckled. “Thank you for the compliment, Saintess.”

Realizing she couldn’t drive him out, Ren Yingying decided not to share the same blanket as him. She quickly got up, reaching for her clothes nearby. At the same time, she resolved to burn the blanket, the sheets—no, the entire room—once this scoundrel left!

Just as her fingers brushed her clothes, Song Qingshu flicked his sleeve, sending them flying out of reach. Startled, Ren Yingying darted back under the covers. “What are you doing?”

Though she loathed sharing the blanket, she was only wearing her thin undergarments. She couldn’t risk exposing herself.

Noticing her flustered expression, Song Qingshu chuckled softly. “Why so panicked? It’s just sleepwear, not a bikini. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Although she didn’t understand what he meant by “bikini,” she instinctively knew it wasn’t something good. Clutching the blanket tightly, she bit her lip and asked, “What do you want from me?”

Despite her initial panic, Ren Yingying’s confidence gradually returned. As the Saintess of her sect, she commanded numerous underworld powerhouses. She realized that Song Qingshu didn’t seem to have any ill intentions, which allowed her to breathe a little easier. Still, she vowed silently,

‘No matter what he asks for, I won’t help him!’

Seeing her wary gaze, Song Qingshu could guess her thoughts but didn’t mind. “It’s like this,” he began nonchalantly. “A friend of mine suffered severe internal injuries from an accident. Their True Qi is in chaos. The symptoms are quite similar to those your beloved Brother Chong experienced back then… By the way, isn’t Linghu Chong here on Blackwood Cliff?”

“We’re not married. Why would he be on Blackwood Cliff?” Ren Yingying instinctively replied, but she regretted it the moment the words left her mouth. No matter what, she should have lied to him. At least that might have made him a bit more cautious.

“That’s great! If you were married, how could I have been so lucky?” Song Qingshu replied with a mischievous grin as he took in the sight of the renowned Sacred Lady of the martial world. Her fair skin was almost translucent, with a faint rosy hue glowing beneath. Perhaps it was the mention of her impending marriage to Linghu Chong that made a touch of shyness spread across her delicate features, making her beauty all the more captivating.

But the moment she processed his words, her anger surged. “What do you mean by ‘lucky for you’?!” she snapped.

Song Qingshu slipped a hand beneath the blanket and quickly grabbed hold of a slender, graceful leg. His face took on a pleased expression. “That fleeting glimpse of you in the water back then has left an impression I’ll never forget.”

As he held her leg, Ren Yingying’s face turned pale with fright, and she struggled furiously. “If you dare lay another finger on me, I’ll… I’ll bite my t0ngue and end it all!”

Tears threatened to spill as Ren Yingying wrestled with the situation. With her status and position, even a slight frown from her would typically send shockwaves through the martial world. But now, facing this scoundrel, whose martial arts skills were frighteningly strong and who displayed none of the decorum or dignity of a master, she found herself utterly powerless.

“What a unique threat,” Song Qingshu remarked with a chuckle, though he released her leg.

Ren Yingying’s face turned red, knowing full well how feeble her threat had been. She quickly changed the subject. “Are you after my father’s Cosmic Absorption Technique?”

“Miss Ren, you’re as clever as they say,” Song Qingshu praised with a nod. He mused to himself that these famous beauties of the martial world were rarely just decorative figures.

Ren Yingying turned her head away to avoid his gaze, which she found insufferable. “The Cosmic Absorption Technique is the foundation of my father’s martial legacy. Do you think I’d help you get it?”

“I think you misunderstand, Miss Ren. I don’t need your help to obtain the manual. Your father will hand it over willingly,” Song Qingshu said with a confident smile.

“You plan to use me to threaten my father?” Ren Yingying immediately deduced, her face paling.

Song Qingshu shook his head with a laugh. “Using hostages for extortion is too crude and beneath me. Have you heard of the Ancient Tomb Sect?”

Ren Yingying frowned. *If not through me, then what other means does he have?*

When she heard his question, she thought for a moment before replying, “The Ancient Tomb Sect has always kept a low profile in the martial world. However, with the infamous Red Fairy, Li Mochou, wandering the wulin and the spectacular display of martial prowess by Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu at the Xiangyang Martial Assembly, the sect has gradually gained some recognition. Why are you bringing this up?”

“My injured friend happens to be a disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect. She suffered a severe backlash from a dangerous inner cultivation technique…” Song Qingshu briefly explained the perils of practicing the Jade Heart Sutra, including the need for two individuals to disrobe, sit face-to-face, and guide each other’s inner Qi through physical contact.

Before he even finished, Ren Yingying’s ears were already burning red. She spat out, “Disgusting! What kind of vulgar martial art is that?” Her reaction mirrored Zhao Min’s from before. But then her expression abruptly changed, and she glared at Song Qingshu. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I plan to practice this so-called vulgar martial art with you,” Song Qingshu replied casually, though his words struck Ren Yingying like a bolt of lightning.

“Don’t even think about it!” Ren Yingying shouted angrily.

“You have no choice in the matter,” Song Qingshu said with a faint smile. “When you reach a critical point in your training, I’ll deliberately disrupt your flow, causing a backlash. Then your condition will mirror that of my friend. Even if your father doesn’t care about my friend, he wouldn’t leave you to suffer.”

“You…!” Ren Yingying trembled with rage. “Despicable, shameless, vile…”

Midway through her tirade, she suddenly leaped from the bed, channeling every ounce of her Qinggong. Like an arrow, she shot toward the window.

But Song Qingshu had anticipated her move. His figure blurred as he overtook her. Ren Yingying found herself crashing into a warm embrace, and her heart sank with despair.

“I warned you earlier. If you tried anything, I’d strip you bare,” Song Qingshu murmured as he carried her back toward the bed. “This works out nicely. We can start cultivating the Jade Heart Sutra right away.”

“No! Let me go! I’ll beg my father to give you the Cosmic Absorption Technique!” Ren Yingying pleaded in a hushed voice, knowing that shouting would only get her immobilized without achieving anything.

“That won’t do. How can I be sure the manual he gives me is genuine? My way is much safer,” Song Qingshu replied, unfazed as he continued toward the bed.

Goblin:

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