Chapter 530: Meeting Song Qingshu

Having won two matches in a row, Happy retrieved his token with joy and headed toward the second arena. Unexpectedly, he saw a familiar figure beneath it!
His steps halted; his joy vanished as he said, “…Song Qingshu.”
In the crowd stood the once-elegant young man, now dressed in a brocade robe, with a defiant and cold expression, his gaze dark as he watched the two fighters on the stage.
Song Qingshu had indeed arrived at the Hero’s Villa.
Happy was pleased—since Song Qingshu was here, Zhou Zhiruo must also be there, saving him the trouble of searching everywhere for them.
Compared to before, Song Qingshu seemed less arrogant and softer, yet more cold and composed.
Happy froze for a moment before noticing Chen Youliang standing beside Song Qingshu pointing in his direction. Song Qingshu glanced over with a frown, and the moment their eyes met, a clear murderous intent flashed in his eyes—a cold sensation that came and went swiftly.
Song Qingshu quickly hid that coldness and regained his gentle demeanor as he walked toward Happy.
“Young Hero Happy,” he said in a clear, calm voice, with a hint of false enthusiasm. Along with Chen Youliang, he approached Happy.
Happy was too lazy to deal with these two hypocrites, but thinking that the last page of the Nine Yang Divine Skill was in Zhang Sanfeng’s hands and he needed to persuade this troublemaker to return to Wudang Mountain, he forced a smile and replied, “So it’s Young Hero Song from Wudang. My apologies.” Meanwhile, he racked his brains for a way to bring Song Qingshu back to Wudang.
“Hehe… Young Hero Happy, that’s incorrect,” Chen Youliang laughed, staring into Happy’s eyes. “It seems Young Hero Happy doesn’t know that you’ve left Wudang and are living together with Zhou Zhiruo, the leader of Emei Sect, on Mount Emei.”
“…” Happy already knew this news, so he wasn’t shaken by Chen Youliang’s deliberate words. But sensing Chen Youliang’s intent to annoy him, his expression changed abruptly, and he raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Chen Youliang was very cunning.

Although it was clearly intentional, seeing Happy’s displeasure, he immediately put on an expression of realization and cover-up, pretending to have made a mistake and saying, “Could it be that Young Master Happy also has feelings for Master Zhou… I’ve said something foolish. It’s really shameful. The truth is, Young Master Song caused a huge disturbance at Master Zhou’s invitation.”

Song Qingshu, however, smiled and said, “Brother Chen, there’s no need to worry. Everyone in the martial world knows that I have admiration for Master Zhou. There’s nothing to hide. Young Master Happy knows this too, right?”

“It doesn’t matter if Young Master Song doesn’t care. What’s important is the reputation of Emei’s leader, Zhiruo!” Happy’s tone suddenly turned stern. “I certainly don’t want Master Zhou’s reputation to be ruined by the talk of certain people! Elder Chen! Young Master Song! There are things that shouldn’t be said—don’t speak recklessly. I’ve had quite a relationship with Master Zhou. If I hear such rumors again, don’t blame me if I’m not polite to you!”

His cold gaze swept over Chen Youliang and Song Qingshu. Chen Youliang looked embarrassed and wisely stayed silent. Song Qingshu finally couldn’t hold back his anger and snapped, “You…”

“Besides, Song Qingshu,” Happy suddenly turned cold and mercilessly continued to humiliate him, “Miss Zhou Zhiruo is pure and noble, and she’s the leader of Emei. You, Song Qingshu, are just an ordinary disciple of Wudang—a disloyal one who abandoned his sect! How dare you boast in front of others that you like Master Zhou? Even if you do, I think you’re not worthy. So, if I hear similar words again, I won’t hesitate to teach Young Master Song a lesson on behalf of Wudang’s elders.”

Men need their pride. Happy’s words not only belittled him greatly in terms of strength and status but also morally portrayed him as someone despised by the world. No matter how calm Song Qingshu was, he couldn’t stay silent!

“Shut up!”

With a sharp sound, his long sword was drawn, its sharp edge pointing at Happy. “I respect you for rescuing the masters of the six great sects and working for the righteousness of the martial world. But you’ve humiliated me in every possible way. I demand a duel with you!”

“In what capacity?” Happy remained calm, sneering. “As a traitor of Wudang? As an Emei disciple? Or just an ordinary martial artist?”

“Of course as an Emei disciple!” Song Qingshu replied through gritted teeth, not realizing this exactly matched Happy’s expectations.

With a cold smile:

“If you’re acting as a disciple of the Emei Sect, I advise you to take back what you just said.” After a pause, under the gaze of the gathered martial artists, he said with emotion, “During the battle at Wan’an Temple, Master Jiexie of the Emei Sect was saved by me. The current sect leader, Zhou Zhiruo, has ordered her disciples to treat me as a distinguished guest of the Emei Sect and show me respect. Does Young Master Song think he’s above the sect leader, or has he been spoiled by Young Master Song of Wudang and grown accustomed to ignoring the leader’s orders?”
“You…”
Song Qingshu clearly hadn’t expected Zhou Zhiruo to have such an order. His expression changed. “In that case, I’ll temporarily set aside my identity as an Emei disciple and challenge you as an ordinary martial artist.”
“An ordinary martial artist?”
Kai Xin’s smile grew even wider.
“If you’re just an ordinary martial artist, I wonder what contributions you’ve made to the martial world? What fame do you have? And who invited you to this Heroes’ Villa?” After a pause, a sly smile appeared on his face. “If not, why would I accept the challenge of some trivial person?”
Song Qingshu’s face turned green and then purple.
Kai Xin had indeed hit a sore spot…
Although he had also participated in the battle at Guangming Summit, Kai Xin had shone brightly there, while he had performed poorly, appearing like an ordinary passerby. As for fame, as an ordinary Wudang disciple with little experience in the martial world, what fame could he have? Wherever he went, people called him Young Master Song out of respect for Wudang and Song Yuanqiao.
“You don’t get to leave!”
Seeing Kai Xin about to leave, Song Qingshu quickly stepped forward to block him, shouting, “Stop wasting words! You humiliated me in front of fellow martial artists today. I must duel you!”
As Kai Xin and Song Qingshu confronted each other, on the second floor of a nearby tavern, Song Yuanqiao stopped two Wudang disciples who were about to go down to mediate. “Don’t go! Let Young Master Kai Xin teach this wayward son a lesson—it’s good for him.”