An older swordswoman

Only after a long while did Wang Chong give an awkward smile and say, "So you had already noticed that I know a little martial arts, Immortal Maiden."

Chu Qiuzi smiled with pursed lips. "Your eyes shine with divine brilliance, and the space between your brows is rosy-signs that your orthodox Xuanmen internal power has crossed the threshold into true attainment. Your footsteps are soundless, and your posture constantly makes minute adjustments to maintain perfect balance. That comes from a most advanced lightness-skill method. There are many other signs, but there is no need to list them all."

Realization dawned on Wang Chong. Transmigration is to blame again. After all, these martial arts came with me when I crossed over. I only know how to use them; there is plenty of basic knowledge I don't understand. He cupped his hands and waited for Chu Qiuzi to take the initiative, adhering to the principle that speaking more meant more mistakes, speaking less meant fewer mistakes, and saying nothing meant none at all.

A faint blush rose on Chu Qiuzi's face. Her heart thumped, her lovely cheeks warmed slightly, and she lightly bit her pearly teeth together before asking, "Young master, now that you have a guest, won't you even offer her half a cup of tea?"

By now, Wang Chong had also sensed that this second senior sister of the Qingcheng Sect seemed to mean no harm. He unhurriedly brought out the tea provided by the inn, poured himself a cup first, and took a sip to show that the refreshments were safe.

Seeing that he was not as overbearing as he had been yesterday, Chu Qiuzi grew gentler still. She had been raised as a well-bred young lady of a distinguished household, and certainly knew how to conduct herself socially.

Only after they had both sat down did Wang Chong ask, "What brings you here, Immortal Maiden?"

Chu Qiuzi's delicate face flushed crimson. Only after a while did she finish devising an excuse. "My fellow sisters and I came down the mountain to hunt the lecherous villain White Chrysanthemum. Seeing that you are highly skilled in martial arts and an upright man, I came especially to invite you to join us in ridding the martial world of this scourge."

How could Wang Chong dare accept Chu Qiuzi's invitation? Everyone in the world who recognized White Chrysanthemum was probably gathered in one place. If he still went poking his foot into trouble by joining the hunt for White Chrysanthemum, wouldn't that be a mouse becoming a cat's bridegroom-nothing but a dish served up for dinner? He could only talk around the subject and fob her off.

Seeing his reluctance, the Qingcheng Sect's second senior sister did not press him. But mentioning this scourge left her rather indignant. "This villain's origins are mysterious. No one knows who his master is or which school or sect he comes from. As soon as he entered the martial world, he killed two disciples of the Lushan Sect with Wudang Swordsmanship, making quite a name for himself. But this lecher is certainly no Wudang successor. What he excels at is the sinister martial art Ice Soul Finger. Its finger force is cold and vicious. Relying on his formidable martial arts, he has brutalized more than ten beauties of the martial world, one after another. His notoriety enraged dozens of sects into joining forces to hunt him down, including our Qingcheng Sect."

Wang Chong's heart pounded with alarm. I thought that with all these Wudang skills, even if I wasn't Mo Yuncong, I shouldn't be that lecher White Chrysanthemum. Who could have imagined that this lecher also knew Wudang Swordsmanship? Could I really be White Chrysanthemum? "Brimming with righteous indignation," he said, "For such a filthy villain, portraits ought to be drawn and the authorities made to issue a nationwide warrant for his arrest."

Chu Qiuzi said dejectedly, "This villain acts secretively and very rarely reveals his true appearance. Apart from those dozen or so sisters who suffered at his hands, hardly anyone has seen his face."

"As for the authorities, they issued a nationwide warrant long ago, along with a reward of six thousand taels of silver. They have even dispatched Heaven-Fighting Hand Li Qingge, one of the Three Divine Constables, to mobilize the government's experts in the south and bring him to justice."

On the one hand, Wang Chong was delighted. So there really aren't many people who recognize me. As long as I don't court death by carelessly exposing my own identity, I'll have nothing to worry about in the future. Then another thought came to him. Pah! I'm not necessarily White Chrysanthemum. Perhaps I really am Mo Yuncong?

The two chatted for more than four hours. From drinking tea alone, Chu Qiuzi's cheeks had taken on a faint flush, like a beauty drunk on wine, her glances misty and alluring. She showed not the slightest intention of leaving.

She only felt that this Young Master Wang was graceful and charming, refined in speech, widely knowledgeable, well-read in poetry and prose, exceptionally talented, and handsome to boot. Romantic fancies could not help stirring within her, and she ventured a question. "Young Master Wang, have you married?"

Wang Chong pretended to blush scarlet and answered, "My family has fallen on hard times, so I have not married. I am now planning to go to the capital to study and earn scholarly honors." Only once the conversation reached this point did he belatedly detect something subtle. Though he was no master womanizer or Dragon King of the deep, he had at least had a dozen or so girlfriends. At last, he could tell that this Qingcheng swordswoman's romantic feelings were beginning to stir. He could not help feeling rather pleased with himself. It must be my elegance, like a jade tree in the breeze, my handsome looks, and my fine knack for copying poetry. I've radiated an incubus-like allure and attracted this ancient, romance-addled swordswoman.

If we could meet once in spring breezes and sweet rain, I wouldn't rule out pulling out my cock and turning heartless afterward.

Pah! How have I ended up back on the lecher's path again?

He wanted to ask what sort of person Wudang's Mo Yuncong was, but ultimately did not dare court death. If the girl in green had buried her trap deep enough, a single sentence could expose him, and then it would be alas and farewell. As for the lecher White Chrysanthemum, he dared ask no careless questions at all, for fear of arousing Chu Qiuzi's suspicions and having her see through his identity and erupt into violence. With a whole group of Qingcheng swordswomen ready at hand, they would probably gang-bang him on the spot.

No, scatter his ashes.

Either way, that was the idea. He would be utterly screwed.

Seeing the sky grow dark, Wang Chong steeled himself, cupped his hands slightly, and said, "Immortal Maiden Chu, you still have to travel tomorrow. Why not return and rest first?"

Chu Qiuzi nodded slightly, then drifted lightly into the air like a phoenix of dazzling colors and flew over the courtyard wall.

As her delicate feet touched the ground, she heard several junior sisters giggling. Sweeping her gaze over them, she saw all five waiting in the courtyard with lamps lit. Her lovely face flushed faintly despite herself. "Why haven't you junior sisters gone to bed?"

The fifth junior sister, Female Zhuge Luo Lingxi, laughed. "We were afraid you might not come back, Senior Sister, so we wanted to note the time, at least, to give Master an account."

Overcome with embarrassment, Chu Qiuzi did not trade quips with her junior sisters. With a sweep of her long sleeves, she returned to her room.

The Red-Sleeved Divine Nun had eight principal disciples. Her eldest disciple, Ye Yang, was the strongest in martial arts and had long since shaved her head and entered the Buddhist order under the Dharma name Qingxian. She was destined to inherit the Qingcheng lineage. Next came the second disciple, Purple-Cyan Jade Maiden Chu Qiuzi, who had already cultivated her master's Yin-Yang Mystic Qi Art to the fifth level and ranked among the martial world's first-rate experts. Yet the most gifted was the third disciple, Yellow-Faced Yaksha Chi Fang. Not only was this third disciple highly talented, but she also trained extremely diligently. She was almost unwilling to leave the mountain, remaining in seclusion on Mount Qingcheng to practice martial arts, determined to attain great mastery. Only because she had joined later did her martial arts still fall short of those of her eldest and second senior sisters. But everyone in the Qingcheng Sect believed that in another three to five years, this third senior sister would surely surpass the second senior sister and become the Qingcheng Sect's third-strongest expert. On this hunt for the lecher White Chrysanthemum, Chu Qiuzi had brought five junior sisters. Neither the nun Qingxian nor Yellow-Faced Yaksha Chi Fang had come down the mountain.

The fourth junior sister, Jade Balance Immortal Maiden Bai Lingxi, and the fifth junior sister, Female Zhuge Luo Lingxi, were both older and had long understood worldly affairs. They exchanged a glance and nodded slightly, the same thought arising in both their minds without prior agreement. Second Senior Sister isn't as gifted as Eldest Senior Sister or Third Senior Sister, and she doesn't want to become a nun. She has no hope of taking charge of Qingcheng in the future. She probably began thinking of marriage long ago.

But we've spent so many years studying martial arts, letting the years slip away, that we're already well past the hairpin age. What wealthy, distinguished household would marry an older swordswoman? Ordinary families don't catch our eye either. Young Master Wang is quite a good choice. His looks rank among the best, and his talent simply overflows. It doesn't matter if his martial arts are a little weaker. Only his character still needs observing.

...Wang Chong: Just who am I...?