Chapter 18: Going Down the Mountain

She had originally thought it would be a victory if Meng Yingxing could just withstand the pain of body tempering. But who would have thought this guy not only endured it but also had enough energy to run sword techniques!

What kind of trash is he? If not for his strange constitution holding him back, he would at least have earned the title of a genius youth!

This child’s willpower is terrifying! If not eradicated, he will surely become a disaster in the future!

Cough, cough, no, wait, isn’t he her disciple? Then it’s fine. Xiu Qingcheng was just getting a little too much into the villain’s mindset.

Meng Yingxing, completely unaware of what Xiu Qingcheng was thinking, was still immersed in the joy of his “apparent” strengthening.

Xiu Qingcheng lightly coughed twice, quietly reining in her rambling thoughts, and put on her master’s dignified air in front of her disciple. “Yingxing, don’t get complacent over such a small matter. We have much more to do.”

Looking at Xiu Qingcheng’s eyes, which seemed to be staring off into nowhere, Meng Yingxing reined in his earlier joy, a fire igniting in his eyes.

What they had to do was win a ranking in the Divine Weapon Trial, successfully stay in the Tianfeng Sect, and make people stop looking down on them!

Infected by Meng Yingxing’s intensely emotional gaze, Xiu Qingcheng’s heart also inexplicably grew hot: “That’s right, let’s burn this Tianfeng Sect to ashes!”

“Master, you mustn’t!” Meng Yingxing’s momentum deflated, and he firmly grabbed Xiu Qingcheng.

“Let go, let go! I was just kidding! You go take another bath first! You’re covered in impurities from body tempering, you reek to high heaven, sword!” Xiu Qingcheng struggled.

The entire day passed in Meng Yingxing’s cultivation.

The next day, it happened to be the day the Tianfeng Sect opened its gates.

“Under normal circumstances, Tianfeng Sect disciples are not allowed to go out freely. And ‘opening the gates’ means that once a week, disciples can freely go up and down the mountain to do whatever they want.”

After completing his morning cultivation, Meng Yingxing returned to his room, dug out the Condensing Jade Crystal Xiu Qingcheng had given him yesterday, and explained the meaning of “opening the gates” to Xiu Qingcheng.

“So Tianfeng Sect works six days and rests one? I don’t think that’s right,” Xiu Qingcheng rotated her sword body.

Meng Yingxing didn’t know what Xiu Qingcheng meant by “works six days and rests one,” but his master often spouted things he didn’t understand. He had gotten used to it over the past two days.

“Later, we’ll go down the mountain and sell this Condensing Jade Crystal,” Meng Yingxing said, wiping the crystal on his clothes, trying to make it look even more translucent.

Xiu Qingcheng had some questions: “Why not go now?”

Because time is precious, it’s better to go early and return early.

Absolutely, definitely, and certainly not because Xiu Qingcheng was curious about the human world now! What was there to see in the human world!

“Because…” Meng Yingxing’s voice paused. “Too many people are going down the mountain right now.”

Xiu Qingcheng saw a trace of loneliness on Meng Yingxing’s downcast face and knew that it held many bad memories for him.

She recalled Meng Yingxing mentioning in casual conversation that he was always bullied due to his strength and status within the Tianfeng Sect. Not daring to go down the mountain when there were many people was probably for this reason.

Such an anomaly would indeed easily become a target in the Tianfeng Sect.

However, with her, Xiu Qingcheng, looking out for Meng Yingxing now, she’d like to see who would dare to act presumptuously in front of him! They’d get what’s coming to them! Their tongues would be cut off and they’d be kicked off a cliff!

Xiu Qingcheng’s momentary silence also let Meng Yingxing know that she had already figured out why he didn’t dare to go down the mountain when there were many people.

Meng Yingxing smiled, “Actually, thanks to the Divine Weapon Trial these past few days, those guys haven’t been willing to waste time looking for trouble with me. Otherwise, I might have made a fool of myself in front of Master.”

Xiu Qingcheng wasn’t very good at comforting people. When Meng Yingxing said this, she, who was usually talkative to the point of being noisy, was momentarily speechless.

The one who finally broke the silence was the uninvited guest, Liu Chenxin.

“Junior Brother Meng Yingxing, it’s a beautiful day for opening the gates, let’s go out together! I need to buy some things!” Liu Chenxin still barged in without knocking, as always.

Meng Yingxing quickly hid the Condensing Jade Crystal in his sleeve, and Xiu Qingcheng quickly fell to the ground, playing dead. So, when Liu Chenxin entered, all she saw was the Ting Tian Sword on the ground.

Liu Chenxin didn’t think much of it and picked up the Ting Tian Sword, returning it to Meng Yingxing.

Meng Yingxing silently took the Ting Tian Sword, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

“How has Junior Brother’s cultivation been these past two days?” Liu Chenxin asked while looking around, her restless eyes seemingly searching for something.

“I’ve reached Star-like Lower-grade,” Meng Yingxing replied.

“You’ve advanced, congratulations, Junior Brother! To celebrate, I’ll treat you to a meal out today!” Perhaps it was Liu Chenxin’s nature; she was always so warm and enthusiastic towards people.

No matter who.

But this also brought a little warmth to Meng Yingxing’s heart in the lonely Tianfeng Sect.

Meng Yingxing checked the time; most of the disciples who were going out had already left. So, he accepted Liu Chenxin’s invitation and, with her, went down the mountain’s supposedly thousand-step stone staircase.

“Come one, come all! Freshly baked buns! So delicious!”

“Candied hawthorns, sweet and sour candied hawthorns, come take a look!”

“Wotou, one coin each, hehe!”

“Mingyanji Rouge, buy two get one free, ladies and young misses passing by, don’t miss out!”

Chang Lezhou, Yongning City at the foot of Tianfeng Sect Mountain. The streets were lined with all sorts of vendors and stalls, and the continuous shouts of hawkers intertwined into a bustling symphony.

Carriages slowly passed through the center of the street, and people flowed like weaving threads.

Compared to the Tianfeng Sect’s aloof and detached atmosphere, once one entered the mortal world, they would be captivated by these dreamlike bustling streets. Such is the “smoke and fire of the human world,” which most soothes the hearts of mortals.

Aiyoh, it smells so good! Xiu Qingcheng, who considered herself uninterested in the human world, was utterly captivated by the surrounding splendor, not even bothering to say a word to Meng Yingxing.

It was a classic case of the dazzling world captivating the eyes, completely forgetting the person beside her.

“Junior Brother, Junior Brother, that restaurant called Yumen Xuan is supposedly very delicious. I haven’t tried it yet. Shall we go try it together?” As soon as they got down the mountain, Liu Chenxin grabbed Meng Yingxing and went straight to the point.

However, Meng Yingxing was still carrying a valuable item on him. He was a bit worried about something unexpected happening, so he decided to deal with the Condensing Jade Crystal first. That way, with money, he could afford to dine at the seemingly high-end restaurant Liu Chenxin mentioned.

“Senior Sister, I have to take care of something first. Why don’t you go look around elsewhere? We can meet up later?” Meng Yingxing discussed with Liu Chenxin.

Liu Chenxin also expressed understanding, and the two immediately went their separate ways.

“Brat, you’re not going to use the money from selling the Condensing Jade Crystal to eat with this Senior Sister Liu, are you?” Xiu Qingcheng knew she must have been smiling, but her tone was anything but friendly.

“No, Master!” Meng Yingxing cried out, feeling wronged.

“You better not!” Xiu Qingcheng, still on Meng Yingxing’s back, applied a little force, making Meng Yingxing wince in pain.

“You are not allowed to use the money I gave you to support other women!”

“If anyone’s going to support Senior Sister Liu and eat with her, it’s going to be me!”