Qin Feng snorted coldly. "If you have something to say, step out and speak. Hiding in the shadows to taunt is no way for a hero to act!" With that, he casually swung his sword. An invisible sword qi ripped through the air with a howling sound, heading straight toward the crowd.
A white figure swiftly darted out from the crowd. With a single graceful motion, sword light flared, and another invisible sword qi collided with Qin Feng's. In a thunderous crash, the two forces vanished without a trace.
The white figure danced through the air, light and elegant, her white gown fluttering like a blooming lotus in the wind.
Qin Ren, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel his blood surge. His heart raced, and the scene before him seemed to play out in his mind like a painting. The words "She's like a startled swan, like a drifting dragon" echoed in his thoughts. The sight of that white figure had embedded itself deeply in his heart.
Even Qin Feng, usually as cold as ice, found his expression softening with surprise. Could there truly be such a beauty in the world?
The woman was dressed in white, with a flowing skirt and shoes as pure as snow, as if untouched by any speck of dust. Her long sword, wrapped in silk, fluttered behind her like a white flame in the wind.
Her slender hands, half-hidden by flowing sleeves, gleamed like jade under the sun. Her face was a masterpiece: an oval face, a delicate nose, lips like fresh rose petals. The most arresting feature were her eyes—eyes that seemed to harbor a spring of emotions, both gentle and deadly. The flicker of coldness within them made them even more captivating.
She wasn't just beautiful—she was otherworldly, as though a goddess descended from heaven.
Everyone in the crowd, stunned into silence, could only watch in awe.
Even Xiao Xiangyue and Liu Piaopiao, women of great beauty themselves, could not help but gasp in amazement. "Such a beauty truly exists in this world..." Their tone was full of admiration, not jealousy, and even they couldn't hate her for her looks.
Qin Feng's icy demeanor melted, a rare smile—genuine and warm as sunlight—spread across his face.
He wasn't a man driven by lust, his heart belonged only to his sword, yet he couldn't help but appreciate the rare beauty before him. Even a Sword Saint like him could admire such a perfect woman.
"This third brother of mine will probably fall for this girl," Qin Feng thought to himself, his expression a mixture of admiration and amusement. He glanced at Qin Ren, who smiled back, both brothers exchanging a silent understanding.
The white-clad woman descended before Qin Ren, her icy gaze fixed on Qin Feng.
Qin Feng sheathed his sword, offering a rare smile. "Miss, your skills are impressive. Your swordsmanship, lightness, and ability to hide your presence—I truly admire you."
The white-clad woman snorted dismissively. "There's no need for flattery, Qin Da Shao. If it weren't for my own skills, you'd probably have already turned me into a ghost under your sword!"
Qin Feng only smiled faintly, unbothered by her words. He turned and walked toward Qin Ren, muttering, "Women are more troublesome than enemies. This one is best handled by my third brother."
The white-clad woman's expression darkened. She was ranked the top beauty and martial artist in the Jianghu. Few men could even dream of meeting her, let alone speaking to her. But here, Qin Feng dismissed her without a second glance, as though she were nothing. Her anger flared.
"Did you think you could just kill so many people and walk away without a word?" she called out, her voice cold as ice.
Qin Feng remained silent, walking directly to Qin Ren. As he approached, the crowd parted, bowing in awe and fear.
Xiao Xiangyue and Liu Piaopiao immediately rose and curtsied. "Greetings, Qin Da Shao."
Qin Feng nodded slightly. He turned to Qin Ren and asked, "These two are...?"
Qin Ren, sitting comfortably in his chair, casually replied, "They're my women."
Qin Feng gave his third brother a thumbs-up. "Not bad, Third Brother. I heard you've only been down the mountain for a few days. Who knew you'd have two such beautiful women by your side already? Truly deserving of your title as the world's number one flower thief!"
Qin Ren laughed modestly. "You flatter me."
Qin Feng, in front of others, maintained his usual cold, stoic demeanor, but with his brother, he was carefree and playful. They could joke about anything, no matter how ridiculous.
Qin Feng gave a mischievous look to Qin Ren. "Third Brother, you handle this one."
Qin Ren shook his fan, smiling. "I see she's far more interested in you than in me. You take this one! After all, we brothers are one mind."
Qin Feng sighed. "You know me. I'd rather face a thousand martial experts than half a woman."
Qin Ren chuckled. "You've got it all wrong, big brother. The more distant you are, the more she'll stick to you. If you act like a hungry wolf, she'll turn away. But if you act cool and aloof, she won't leave you alone. You're in for some trouble!"
Qin Feng shook his head. "She's not my type. I'm all about the sword. The cool and distant personality just doesn't mix with hers."
Qin Ren grinned. "That's your mistake. But don't worry, I'll deal with her for you. Just sit back and relax!"
With that, Qin Ren made a motion to stand, and as he did, he gestured for Qin Feng to stay with Xiao Xiangyue and Liu Piaopiao. He then gracefully approached the white-clad woman, his fan swaying gently.
When the woman saw Qin Ren stepping toward her with a grin, her frustration deepened. She'd hoped that Qin Feng would speak with her, but instead, his younger brother, the one with a notorious reputation, was coming her way.
Qin Ren approached with exaggerated politeness, bowing with a flourish. "My lady, a humble greeting from me."
The woman blinked, utterly confused by his strange speech and dialect. "What's with this weird way of speaking? Where is this man from?" She frowned and coldly said, "What do you want? Go call your older brother if you have something to say."
Qin Ren smiled cheekily. "Ah, my elder brother isn't good with words, so he sent me to speak on his behalf. You see, he saw you and instantly fell for you. He's now asking about your name, age, family, and whether you're already married. Since he's too shy, he sent me to ask. If you don't mind, he's ready to send marriage proposals to your family!"
Even the cold-hearted white-clad woman couldn't suppress her shock at his words. She blurted out, "What did you just say?"