Chapter 3: The Martial Arts Alliance Leader Takes a Concubine [3]

"What a fine case of the mantis stalking the cicada only to be caught by the oriole behind; such exquisite scheming!" A smile curled at the corner of the concubine's mouth. There was nothing in this world she calculated for and failed to obtain; today, she would play along with these two juniors.

Hearing this, Feng Ming felt ashamed: "It is not that we are scheming, but that Songbao is scheming. If you must blame someone, blame your own terrible luck!" To think they had actually been outmaneuvered by a squirrel.

"Songbao?" To think there was such a meticulous person in this world; why had she never heard of them?

"Cut the nonsense! Either leave your life, or leave your bundle!" Mo Qingcheng didn't bother explaining; her sword was already unsheathed.

"Relying on just the two of you to stop me? You underestimate Chun Shiniang far too much." The concubine gave a light laugh and raised her hand to tear the human-skin mask from her face, revealing an even more enchanting and bewitching countenance.

"Chun Shiniang!" Mo Qingcheng and Feng Ming cried out in unison, Feng Ming's face turning particularly pale.

"Is that the 'Herb-Plucking Thief,' Chun Shiniang?!" Feng Ming's voice was somewhat somber as he gripped the Yuanhong Sword.

"Hehe, the Herb-Plucking Thief? I like that name. You two are assassins sent by the Dark Night Pavilion, aren't you? What, I just 'plucked' your Pavilion Master Ouyang Xiu yesterday, and today he sends you to seek revenge? He certainly moves fast!" Chun Shiniang shrugged nonchalantly and laughed.

Chun Shiniang was a peculiar flower in the current martial arts world. She possessed high-level martial arts and an eccentric personality, with a particular fondness for handsome men. Her targets ranged from renowned regional overlords to bloodstained practitioners of the demonic path. Every man she had "ravaged" was left with a chrysanthemum-shaped mark on their shoulder; while not life-threatening, it left them utterly devoid of dignity.

To say the Pavilion Master sent them for revenge was incorrect. Such a scandalous affair would surely be kept strictly under wraps by the Pavilion Master; even if he were to seek revenge, he would surely take action personally rather than delegating it to others.

Furthermore, they had received their mission three days ago. It had taken two days to scout the environment, lock onto the target, and determine the time for action; meeting her today was pure coincidence.

Seeing that her opponents had not moved, Chun Shiniang assumed her reputation had intimidated them. She twirled a strand of hair around her finger and sighed, "Actually, I went to the Dark Night Pavilion to find Feng Ming. I didn't expect to miss him, so I just 'plucked' your Pavilion Master on the way."

Beside her, Feng Ming's body shuddered. Mo Qingcheng glanced at him, only to see that his face had grown even paler, the veins on the back of his hands bulging, and a murderous aura erupting from his entire being.

"Chun Shiniang, if we used Feng Ming to exchange for the contents of your bundle, would you trade, or would you not?" Mo Qingcheng thought that this plan could kill two birds with one stone—obtaining the treasure while temporarily shaking off the organization.

"You!" Feng Ming felt a wave of regret that he had harbored a secret crush on her for so long. Even if there was no affection between them, she at least shouldn't betray him just to complete a mission easily. His face was filled with despair.

Mo Qingcheng comforted him in a low voice, "Don't worry, I was just asking rhetorically." Although this plan was clever, it was despicable—the lowest of the low strategies.

Unexpectedly, Chun Shiniang said with great interest, "Trade! Of course, I'll trade. Is he Feng Ming? He's actually quite handsome!"

"No! Feng Ming is a thousand times more handsome than him. Take my sword!" Mo Qingcheng drew her sword, and Feng Ming followed closely behind, their dual swords merging in seamless coordination.

The two's sword momentum was incredibly fast, like ten thousand points of starlight dancing like a coiled dragon. Their sword intent evoked the vastness of ocean waves, surrounding Chun Shiniang in a multi-faceted onslaught. Because the sword techniques changed so rapidly, it was dizzying to the eye.

After a fierce battle of a hundred rounds, Mo Qingcheng launched a single-sword strike, slashing toward Chun Shiniang's shoulder with incredible speed. The bundle on the woman's shoulder instantly fell to the ground.

Mo Qingcheng was overjoyed in her heart, thinking how wonderful it would be if the Pavilion Master arrived right now to seek revenge on Chun Shiniang. However, heaven favored Qingcheng; as soon as they spoke of Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrived.