Chapter 597: A Name of Beauty
Song Qingshu’s eyes narrowed as he swiftly caught a strange golden centipede hook between his fingers. Before he could say anything, a flurry of fine cow-hair needles shot toward him like a storm.
Song Qingshu’s hair stood on end. He knew that such thin needles were specialized weapons capable of penetrating True Qi defenses. Not daring to take them head-on, he immediately summoned all his strength and shifted sideways by a few feet, narrowly avoiding the deadly barrage.
The attacker was clearly shocked that someone could evade her concealed weapons at such close range, causing her to momentarily lose focus.
Taking advantage of the moment, Song Qingshu removed the mask from his face and said, “Stop! It’s me.”
The woman before him had enchanting phoenix-like eyes and delicately arched brows. Her complexion was as smooth and pale as jade, glowing with a soft luster. Her long hair fell gracefully over her shoulders, framing a face of rare beauty. However, the most striking features were her soft, alabaster hands and the ten sharp fingernails painted with pink balsam, a stark and alluring contrast. (G: Balsam is a fragrant, oily, resinous substance that comes from plants.)
This woman was none other than He Tieshou of the Five Poisons Cult. Back when he defeated her at the Golden Serpent Camp, Song Qingshu had secretly approached her, promising to help her become the sect leader of the Five Poisons Cult. He instructed her to wait in Yanjing City. After some hesitation, He Tieshou agreed and had been lying low ever since.
“What kind of concealed weapon is that? It’s terrifying!” Song Qingshu asked with lingering fear as he glanced at the nearby wall, now riddled with holes where the cow-hair needles had struck. The corrosive poison had turned the surrounding area black, making him shiver.
“This weapon is called Innuendo,” He Tieshou said apologetically. “I didn’t realize it was you. But I must admit, the fact that you managed to dodge it is truly impressive.”
Song Qingshu laughed heartily while wiping cold sweat from his brow. “I’ve always been lucky to escape death…”