Chapter 140: Miao Miao, We’re Here

In front of Li Suping’s grave.

When Meng Yingxing arrived, he saw the golden dog, which had been keeping vigil for its master for seven days, still lying prone before the small grave mound.

Since before Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing left, the golden dog had maintained this posture.

Time seemed to have frozen here.

However, the withered branches that had only sprouted recently now bore tiny leaves, indicating that time was still marching forward as always.

Spring had arrived; it was the time for all living things to begin anew.

“Miao Miao, we’re here.”

Carrying the Summer Sword on his back, Meng Yingxing stood behind Miao Miao.

Xiu Qingcheng had not taken human form at this moment, watching as Meng Yingxing called out in a low voice to the golden dog in front of Li Suping’s grave.

Hearing Meng Yingxing’s voice, the golden dog’s pointed ears twitched slightly, and a low growl rumbled in its throat.

“You were meant to come.”

“Yes, so we came.”

Meng Yingxing nodded. In his line of sight, Miao Miao moved its massive body, propping itself up on all fours to stand.

Perhaps due to lying on the ground for so many days, Miao Miao staggered the moment it stood up, but soon stabilized its stance thanks to its excellent limb performance.

Miao Miao turned its dog head around. The demonic eyes glaring at Meng Yingxing emitted a clear and innocent stupidity, completely different from the mermaid Li Li.

“So, can you tell us your answer?”

Meng Yingxing smiled slightly and spread his hands towards Miao Miao, sincerely asking for its answer.

Whether it chose to leave with him and Xiu Qingcheng, or whether Miao Miao chose to leave alone, he would respect its choice.

The golden dog stared with its demonic eyes at the young man with an inexplicably friendly face, then turned fully to face him.

“I want to confirm one more time.”

The golden dog’s tone sounded very serious, so Meng Yingxing’s expression also became serious, and he nodded steadily.

“Speak.”

“Is it really true: sleep early and wake late every day, unlimited supply of dog food and toys, endless spiritual elixirs and heavenly treasures to eat, and a huge, comfortable dog house?”

The golden dog said such incongruous words in such a serious tone.

Meng Yingxing suddenly fell silent.

He thought Miao Miao was going to say something serious, but it turned out to be this.

This wasn’t something he had said, but a pie in the sky painted for Miao Miao by his master.

“Master, this…”

Not knowing what to say, Meng Yingxing immediately sought help from his master.

Xiu Qingcheng lightly scolded him, “Stupid!”

She immediately materialized beside Meng Yingxing, cleared her throat at Miao Miao, and walked up to it.

“Of course!”

“The Tianfeng Sect is originally a blessed land of heaven and earth. Whatever you want, we have it! As long as you come along, you’ll have all of these!”

As Xiu Qingcheng spoke, she patted her chest in front of the golden dog, looking completely confident.

“Master, we don’t have any of that.”

After thinking about it, Meng Yingxing felt it was necessary to privately remind his master not to make promises she couldn’t keep.

“We will have them in the future!”

“You have to learn to paint a pie (make empty promises)!”

“But to gather popularity, this pie must eventually be baked.”

Xiu Qingcheng huffed lightly in the private channel with Meng Yingxing, instructing her little disciple on how to win others over to his use.

Of course, Xiu Qingcheng had never practiced this herself; she was just saying it based on feeling.

Right now, in front of Miao Miao, Xiu Qingcheng was purely a big swindler, describing everything and envisioning the future with it!

Seeing Xiu Qingcheng so confident and assured, Miao Miao’s demonic eyes lit up instantly.

Being simple-minded, it naturally believed Xiu Qingcheng’s words.

“Delicious food… heavenly treasures… a comfortable and warm place to live…”

Miao Miao’s style suddenly changed. It stuck out its tongue like a pug, already starting to fantasize about the happy life following Xiu Qingcheng.

“Yes, yes, that’s right, we’ll have it all! Good doggy.”

Xiu Qingcheng smiled with narrowed eyes, her mouth full of delicious empty promises, and reached out to stroke Miao Miao’s fluffy, soft tail.

Meng Yingxing remained silent, but he deliberately glanced at Li Suping’s resting place, then shifted his body to block the view of this wall-straddling dog who had suddenly immersed itself in fantasy.

Its lack of ambition was so infuriating he wanted to punch it twice.

Meng Yingxing then saw Xiu Qingcheng looking like she was enjoying stroking Miao Miao’s tail back and forth. He subconsciously glanced behind himself.

He sighed silently in his heart.

If only he could grow a tail one day too, then Master could just stroke his tail.

A moment later, the matter of Miao Miao following Meng Yingxing was settled.

Before taking Miao Miao away, Meng Yingxing did not forget his manners.

He stood before Li Suping’s grave and, accompanying Miao Miao, bowed respectfully to the departed Li Suping.

“Miss Li Suping, I will take good care of Miao Miao and let it… live a good life.”

Subsequently, Meng Yingxing took out a talisman from his Universe Bag. It was a standard issue from the Tianfeng Sect used for subduing spirits and demonic beasts. Driving it with spiritual power, he slapped it onto Miao Miao’s dog head with his palm.

He chanted a brief and obscure spiritual incantation. Xiu Qingcheng only heard Meng Yingxing shout “Collect,” and after a flash of light, the massive Miao Miao vanished in the blink of an eye.

Only the spiritual talisman that had been stuck on Miao Miao’s head slowly drifted down from mid-air and was caught in Meng Yingxing’s hand.

Xiu Qingcheng leaned in curiously, wanting to see what the spiritual talisman looked like.

The four edges of the talisman were written with a circle of incomprehensible incantations, while in the center, a roughly rectangular dog-shaped totem had been drawn.

“You got a Pokémon!”

Standing behind Meng Yingxing, Xiu Qingcheng patted his shoulder with slightly forceful hands, looking very happy.

Meng Yingxing smiled slightly and put away the treasured talisman.

“Master, you’d better think about how to get the spiritual elixirs, heavenly treasures, and the huge, comfortable dog house for Miao Miao.”

Meng Yingxing didn’t give Xiu Qingcheng any face right from the start.

Xiu Qingcheng crossed her arms and curled her lip in a huff. “Small matter, we’ll have them sooner or later.”

Indeed, they would have them sooner or later, but this kind of thing would definitely fall on his head.

Meng Yingxing knew this very clearly.

Done.

But since his master caused this, he naturally had to take responsibility for her without shirking.

At the same time, the disciple badge on Meng Yingxing’s body suddenly vibrated. He guessed immediately that Lin Yunchuan was contacting him.

Sure enough, as soon as the Thousand-Mile Voice Transmission connected, Lin Yunchuan’s voice came from the other end.

Meng Yingxing originally thought Lin Yunchuan was calling him to return to the Tianfeng Sect together, but hearing Lin Yunchuan’s cold and serious voice, he realized things were not that simple.

“Junior Brother Meng, urgent report from the sect. The three great demon clans—Huang Cang, Yi Ming, and Shi You—are besieging Yongning City and the Tianfeng Sect in full force. All disciples must return to the sect immediately!”

After ending the transmission, Xiu Qingcheng gave another nonchalant huff.

“Why is the Tianfeng Sect attacked by Demon Kings every other day? Last time it was just the Huang Cang clan, now it’s great, three major Demon King clans gathered together?”

“Disciple, I feel this Tianfeng Sect isn’t a good place; we shouldn’t stay long!”

Xiu Qingcheng continued to contribute to her disciple’s ‘career planning’.

Meng Yingxing’s face sank with some gravity.

“Let’s go back first. However, Master, our sword flight speed can be a bit slower.”

Meng Yingxing could still recall the day the elders of the various peaks selected introductory disciples.

He stood before the elders, only to see them look at each other, with no one speaking up for him.

Meng Yingxing had admired the Tianfeng Sect since childhood. Even though he had always been treated with cold indifference, he didn’t want to leave. He longed for the day he could openly and legitimately join the Tianfeng Sect, to repay that bit of upbringing grace.

But now that he had joined the Tianfeng Sect, his youthful admiration lay shattered on the ground.

Perhaps there was still a remnant of longing in Meng Yingxing’s heart, but there was certainly also unwillingness towards the Tianfeng Sect, built by the sect itself.

“I hope when we get back, the Tianfeng Sect will have been razed to the ground.”

Xiu Qingcheng gently patted Meng Yingxing’s shoulder, the smile on her face as warm as spring sunshine.

Yet, in the curve of her mouth, a hint of mischief showed through.