Chapter 92: A Master’s Outrage

‘Too modest, too modest, Disciple.’

Xiu Qingcheng mimicked a suave pose in Meng Yingxing’s mind—one hand braced against a wall, lips pursed, indicating that Meng Yingxing was being overly modest.

“From my current understanding of the Xu family, even though they are cultivators, they are closer to ordinary folk. With your pure cultivator status as a Tianfeng Sect disciple, you’re a cut above them!”

“How dare these lowly guards stop you! Hmph? Just barge right in! Do you need to be announced?”

Meng Yingxing merely gave Xiu Qingcheng a silent curl of his lips, saying, ‘Disciple notes it.’

Alright, Xiu Qingcheng’s teachings were still quite brash.

However, Meng Yingxing still had his own code of conduct. Having lived a life of being looked down upon, it was difficult for him to be as arrogant as Xiu Qingcheng suggested.

Perhaps it was simply his nature, but Meng Yingxing would adhere to his own principles while endeavoring to respect Xiu Qingcheng’s words as much as possible.

The two Xu family guards, hearing that Meng Yingxing was from the Tianfeng Sect and wished to see Old Master Xu, exchanged glances. One of them immediately entered the mansion to report.

Not long after, the man hurried back, opened the main gate wide, and respectfully gestured for Meng Yingxing to enter.

“Young hero, this way! Our master has been waiting for quite some time!”

Meng Yingxing followed the guard into the Xu family mansion.

“Audacious! What class! How dare they make us walk in ourselves! Shouldn’t someone important come to personally greet us?”

Xiu Qingcheng shouted somewhat exaggeratedly in Meng Yingxing’s mind, even a bit dramatically.

Only now did Meng Yingxing realize his master had such an imperious and domineering side, but he knew her heart was definitely still good.

‘Hmm… My master is quite cute,’ Meng Yingxing thought to himself.

As Meng Yingxing entered the Xu family mansion, he stepped into an exquisitely crafted courtyard, several times larger than the disciple residence courtyards in the Tianfeng Sect.

Winding stone paths meandered through the center of the courtyard, flanked by unknown varieties of plants and flowers that remained lush and vibrant, blooming continuously even in the desolate winter.

To one side was a large pond adorned with rockeries.

Meng Yingxing inadvertently glanced into the pond. The water was crystal clear to the bottom, yet not a single fish was kept.

The surface of the pond was still; a pool of stagnant water.

“This courtyard is truly magnificent, so grand! Look at the sky, the water, the vegetation!”

Xiu Qingcheng spoke excitedly, as if she truly hoped to live in such a large house someday?

‘…Hmm, it might be possible in the future.’

Meng Yingxing thought carefully. If he worked hard enough, he might indeed be able to afford such a house in the future.

“Drawing big pictures! I’m not buying it!”

Xiu Qingcheng made an X sign at Meng Yingxing.

Meng Yingxing chuckled inwardly.

Although cultivation should ideally maintain a clear mind and single-minded pursuit of the Dao, his master’s desires were truly great.

“Do you think I have many years under my belt and many desires?”

Xiu Qingcheng was like a mind-reading device installed in Meng Yingxing’s head, seeing through all his thoughts.

“Don’t think like that; all that talk about cultivators needing to be pure, ascetic, and desireless is utter nonsense!”

“Some cultivate for power over others.”

“Some cultivate to purge demons and monsters.”

“Those are all desires!”

“Only desire can drive people further and further down the path of cultivation! It’s just that desires differ in magnitude and nature.”

“Master is absolutely right.”

Meng Yingxing thought about how his constant cultivation and strengthening were entirely for the sake of what was in his heart.

He wanted to stop being bullied.

He wanted to become a qualified Ting Tian Sword Master.

He wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with his Master.

And what was in his heart, was desire.

“So, having desires is a good thing, Disciple~ As long as your desires aren’t bad, I, your Master, will support you!”

Xiu Qingcheng patted his shoulder, very pleased.

As Meng Yingxing followed the guard along the main house corridor, two women walked slowly past from a room on the other side, their heads bowed.

Meng Yingxing didn’t pay much attention, but Xiu Qingcheng tugged at Meng Yingxing in his mind.

“Disciple, disciple! Did you see those two women just now?”

Meng Yingxing paused, unsure why his master suddenly noticed those two women.

“They also have that uncomfortable feeling about them, just like that He Xueluo!”

Xiu Qingcheng’s voice grew a bit more solemn.

At her words, Meng Yingxing turned to pay more attention to the two women who had passed by, but he could only see their retreating backs.

‘What exactly made Xiu Qingcheng feel that they had the same unpleasant aura as He Xueluo?’

Meng Yingxing stopped the leading guard and asked about the two women who had passed by.

“I can’t remember. The master always takes concubines every now and then… it’s really hard to keep track.”

The guard scratched his head.

“May I be so bold as to ask, your master… how many concubines has he taken?” Meng Yingxing asked.

The guard replied that he didn’t know either.

Hearing this, Xiu Qingcheng exclaimed, “Wow!”

“What an invincible stud! Is he trying to emulate an emperor with three thousand beauties in his harem? Isn’t he afraid all these concubines will burst his courtyard?!”

Listening to his master’s complaints, Meng Yingxing also found it similarly outrageous.

“Darn it! So envious!”

“? Master, what are you envious of?”

“Cough, I also want so many people to serve me!”

“I’ll consider learning doppelgänger spells.”

“Just kidding, no need.”

After winding through the corridors for a while, Meng Yingxing, led by the guard, finally arrived at the main house’s reception hall and met the key figure of this mission, Old Master Xu, Xu Jie.

Standing beside Xu Jie, presumably, was Mrs. Xu, Zhou Lanyi.

The moment they saw Xu Jie and Zhou Lanyi, both Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing were secretly surprised.

They had long heard that Old Master Xu and his wife had a daughter late in life and that despite being fifty years old, they possessed excellent youth-preserving techniques. However, they hadn’t expected them to look so young.

At first glance, they looked no older than thirty-somethings. What kind of youth-preserving secret art was this?!

“Disciple, I think I might be sick.”

Before she could finish her surprise, Meng Yingxing heard Xiu Qingcheng’s dull voice.

“Master?”

Meng Yingxing’s heart tightened.

“Now, even looking at Old Master and Mrs. Zhou, I feel an uncomfortable sensation from both of them…”

‘Even those two give Master an uncomfortable feeling?’

Meng Yingxing took another look at Xu Jie and Zhou Lanyi sitting in front.

The guard had already brought them in, saluted the group, and then closed the door as he retreated.

“I am Tianfeng Sect disciple Meng Yingxing. The Tianfeng Sect has received your plea for help, Old Master Xu, and has sent me here.”

Meng Yingxing respectfully bowed to Xu Jie as always.

Xu Jie squinted, sizing up Meng Yingxing from head to toe, then smiled kindly.

“Young Hero Meng, come, please have a seat! I’ve been waiting with eager anticipation!”

“Disciple, this Xu Jie was just probing your cultivation realm,” Xiu Qingcheng reminded him.

However, since Xu Jie had entrusted Meng Yingxing to investigate the matter, it was understandable for him to probe Meng Yingxing’s cultivation realm.

But Xu Jie, as a cultivator, was also at the Middle Star-Grade, consistent with Meng Yingxing. He didn’t show any disappointment when he saw that the person sent to handle his daughter’s disappearance was Meng Yingxing?

Xiu Qingcheng always felt something was strange. Could it be that he truly expected Meng Yingxing to be useful even for matters that he himself couldn’t resolve?

Meng Yingxing replied to Xu Jie, then unceremoniously sat down in a chair to Xu Jie’s side.

“Someone, bring tea!”

With Xu Jie’s robust shout, a woman with her head bowed, also emitting that uncomfortable feeling for Xiu Qingcheng, hurried in with tea, as if already prepared.

After placing the tea in front of them, the woman immediately bowed her head and left.

During this time, she made no sound. Even the angle and stride of her steps when arriving and leaving were identical.

Xiu Qingcheng frowned, instinctively thinking of He Xueluo, like a female ghost lingering, submerged in the past.

And though it was only for a moment, Xiu Qingcheng still noticed.

There was no light in that woman’s eyes; they were empty and lifeless.

Next, amidst Mrs. Xu’s sobs, Xu Jie very thoroughly described the specifics of why he sought help from the Tianfeng Sect.

Three days ago, his daughter had suddenly gone missing after going out.

Xu Jie immediately sent people to investigate, but they found nothing. In his helplessness, he could only turn to the Tianfeng Sect, with whom he had past dealings.

“Young hero must have heard that women occasionally go missing in the surrounding towns. I suspect it must be demonic mischief! This time, it has afflicted my daughter!”

“I implore Young Hero Meng to exterminate the demon and rescue my daughter! Restore peace to the surrounding towns!”

By the end of his plea, even Xu Jie’s own eyes were involuntarily tear-filled.

Although Xiu Qingcheng had repeatedly told him not to put too much pressure on himself, now that such a heavy task had fallen upon Meng Yingxing, Meng Yingxing still felt somewhat uncertain.

“Old Master Xu, forgive my directness, but my cultivation realm is only the same as yours, Lesser Star-Grade. Are you truly willing to trust me?”

The doubts Xiu Qingcheng had earlier, Meng Yingxing also shared.

Xu Jie waved his hand, “Although my cultivation realm is the same as Young Hero Meng’s, in the end, I am just an amateur. When it comes to fighting and capturing demons, you true cultivators are more skilled.”

“Therefore, I believe Young Hero Meng, you can definitely do it.”