Just as the young noble d in brocade stepped through the door, a sh of silver light darted toward her. Before she could react, three venomous silver needles were already inches from her face. She hade to confront them, yet the moment she kicked open the door, she was met with an ambush.


    Ordinarily, the young noble would be surrounded by a cadre of skilled guards. While she might not have been able to react in time herself, her bodyguards would have easily intercepted the attack. However, considering that Song Qingshu and Li Mochou were rumored to be hiding in the room, she had imagined an indecent scenario and decided toe alone. Little did she expect this decision would leave her on the brink of death.


    Song Qingshu caught sight of the young noble’s face and was taken aback. Like an arrow leaving the bowstring, he darted forward, seizing the young noble and rolling to the ground to evade the needles. The Frozen Soul Silver Needles were exceptionally fast, and even with Song Qingshu’s Qinggong, he barely managed to avoid them. In his haste, he adopted an awkward, clumsy position, shielding the young noble as they tumbled across the floor.


    The two rolled together several times before the young noble finally regained herposure. Annoyed, she pushed the man lying on top of her away. “Get off me already!” she snapped. However, as she shoved Song Qingshu, her fair hand inadvertently pressed against the bare chest of the other. Startled as though burned by hot water, she quickly withdrew her hand.


    “Shameless rogue!” The young noble’s face turned red, her features—delicate and striking as a woman’s—flushed with indignation.


    Embarrassed, Song Qingshu quickly stood up. He wasted no time on exnations, rushing to Li Mochou’s side. He draped a thin nket over her exposed figure and asked urgently, “Are you alright?”


    As he spoke, he lightly ced his fingers on her wrist to check her pulse. His brows furrowed immediately. The Jade Heart Sutra was an extremely dangerous cultivation technique, requiring absolute focus without the slightest disturbance.


    Years ago, when Xiao Longnu practiced it, even a light brush of a tree branch on her face had nearly cost her life. Now, Li Mochou, at the most critical moment of her practice, had been startled into action, causing her internal Qi to reverse. Her injuries were now far more severe than before.


    Li Mochou coughed up a mouthful of blood but seemed indifferent to her worsening condition. Instead, she red venomously at the brocade-d noble standing at the door. “Don’t worry about me! Kill him for me!”Being seen unclothed by Song Qingshu could be rationalized in her mind with a few excuses. However, the thought of the young noble seeing her in such a state was utterly uneptable. Despite her critical injuries, her first instinct was to demand the man’s death.


    The noble nced at Song Qingshu, who was still undressed, then at Li Mochou, swathed in the nket. His irritation red as he sneered, “Adulterers conspiring to silence me, are you?”


    Song Qingshu felt his head throbbing. He understood why Li Mochou was insistent on killing the young noble but could only smile bitterly as he tried to reason with her. “He doesn’t need to be killed.”


    “He has defiled my honor! Why shouldn’t he die?” Seeing Song Qingshu unmoved, Li Mochou gritted her teeth and tried to climb out of bed. “Fine! If you won’t kill him, I will!”


    “Hah! Look at you, barely able to stand. Who kills whom is still undecided!” the young noble scoffed. Already displeased by the sight of Li Mochou and Song Qingshu together, and having barely escaped her surprise attack earlier, his temper red. Drawing the sword from her sleeve, she prepared to retaliate.


    “Enough!” Song Qingshu stepped between them, swiftly reaching out to remove the young noble’s hat. Instantly, a cascade of glossy ck hair fell across her shoulders like a waterfall.


    Turning to Li Mochou, he exined, “See? She’s a woman. Even if she saw you, it’s not a big deal.”


    Li Mochou froze, scrutinizing the neer. Her autumn-like eyes, arched brows, dainty nose, and cherry-red lips marked her as an exquisite beauty.


    The young noble, now a noblewoman, however, refused to back down. Raising her sword, she still advanced toward Li Mochou. Song Qingshu hurriedly blocked her path. “Stop! Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” R


    The noblewoman, Zhao Min, the Mongolian Princess of Prince Ruyang’s estate, red at him. “You promised me that after dealing with the Golden Serpent Camp, you’d apany me to ckwood Cliff. I waited for you for over a month and even prepared everything along the way to ensure yourfort. Yet here you are… here you are…!”


    Zhao Min was visibly upset. Having been poisoned by the Three Corpse Worm Brain Pill, she didn’t dare return to Mongolia before finding an antidote. For fear of political repercussions, she had hidden her condition, unwilling to risk rumors reaching her enemies or even her own subordinates. In her desperation, she had sought out Song Qingshu to help her find a cure.


    She had nned to mend their strained rtionship by treating him kindly on their journey, hoping he would help her wholeheartedly. However, her carefullyid ns had been upended. Along the way, Song Qingshu had been traveling with one woman after another—first Mu Wanqing, and now Li Mochou. The thought of her painstakingly prepared arrangements being used for his dalliances ignited a burning anger within her.


    Seeing the disarray in the room, Song Qingshu could onlyugh bitterly. From the outside, their situation with Li Mochou indeed looked incriminating. As he dressed, he exined, “Princess, you’ve misunderstood. Li Mochou and I were merely practicing an internal cultivation technique—nothing improper.”


    “Practicing? What sort of indecent martial art requires a man and a woman to strip and practice together?” Zhao Min retorted incredulously.


    Li Mochou was furious. “How dare you insult the supreme techniques of the Ancient Tomb Sect!”


    “I’ll say whatever I want. If you’re upset, why don’t youe down here and fight me?” Zhao Min taunted, knowing full well Li Mochou’s current weakness.


    “You…!” Li Mochou was so enraged that she coughed up another mouthful of blood, leaving her even weaker.


    “Enough!” Song Qingshu hurried to her side, channeling a stream of True Qi into her body. Turning to Zhao Min, his voice was cold. “Princess, do you realize you interrupted us at the most critical moment of cultivation? Because of you, Daoist Li has now suffered Qi deviation. Her condition may be beyond saving.”


    Zhao Min hesitated, her anger faltering. Although she often spoke harshly, she hadn’t intended to cause anyone’s death. Hearing Song Qingshu’s words, she felt a pang of guilt, though her pride wouldn’t allow her to admit it. “Hmph! She attacked me first. If she dies, it’s her own fault!”


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