Chapter 29: Getting Triggered

“Yo, yo, yo, isn’t this Meng the good-for-nothing? Haven’t seen you in a few days, and you’ve gotten even more pathetic, huh?”

“You think this loser is actually training seriously because he wants to get a ranking in the Divine Weapon Trial? That’s hilarious!”

Unconcealed voices of ridicule came from outside the courtyard, causing Xiu Qingcheng, who was stuck in the ground, to frown.

Although those who could enter the Tianfeng Sect were more talented than ordinary people, wasn’t their arrogance a bit too much?

Moreover, the person least deserving of ridicule was someone as diligent and hardworking as Meng Yingxing.

Her gaze swept over to see three men in Tianfeng Sect uniforms standing lazily at the entrance of Meng Yingxing’s dilapidated little courtyard, staring at him practicing his sword as if watching a monkey show.

Meng Yingxing glanced at the troublemakers outside from the corner of his eye, and the movement of his hands paused for a moment.

“Don’t listen to them,” Xiu Qingcheng’s voice sounded in Meng Yingxing’s ear at the right moment. “The people the Tianfeng Sect recruits are indeed talented, but their personalities are worse than trash, one after another.”

“They’re just insignificant clowns. You don’t need to pay them any mind, my dear disciple.”

Xiu Qingcheng soothed Meng Yingxing, afraid that he would overthink things because of what this group of clowns said.

“Master is absolutely right.”

Meng Yingxing ignored the senior brothers outside, who seemed to have nothing better to do, and the movements of the Four Swords of Cloud’s Arrival in his hands didn’t stop for a moment.

“Hey, hey, hey, Meng Yingxing, what kind of crappy sword technique are you practicing? Is it any good?”

Seeing that Meng Yingxing was ignoring them, the troublemakers decided to push their luck, even stepping one foot into Meng Yingxing’s small courtyard.

They had just returned to the sect after completing a mission and happened to pass by Meng Yingxing’s place, so they thought they’d come over for a look.

As the famous good-for-nothing of the Tianfeng Sect, they naturally came over looking for some fun.

The reason? Having fun was the biggest reason.

“They just want to make fun of you. As long as you ignore them, they’ll get triggered on their own,” Xiu Qingcheng said to Meng Yingxing in a cold tone.

Meng Yingxing gave an imperceptible nod, continuing to focus his entire being on the sword technique in his hands.

“Not talking? Pretending to be a master, are we?” The man took another step forward, seemingly growing faintly angry that Meng Yingxing was ignoring him.

Seeing this, Xiu Qingcheng’s tone carried a hint of mockery, “Look, my dear disciple, someone’s getting triggered. I won’t say who.”

“That person’s cultivation is decent, but his mental fortitude is too poor. He’s petty and narrow-minded and won’t have much of a future. The Tianfeng Sect has terrible judgment.”

“Your master is the one with the truly discerning eye. You’ll be blessed by following me, you know that? Hmm?”

Xiu Qingcheng still remembered her goal. On one hand, she badmouthed the Tianfeng Sect in front of Meng Yingxing to weaken its position in his heart; on the other, she was ruthlessly PUA-ing him herself.

‘The world is full of suffering; only your master is both sweet and cool and treats you well!’

“Master’s judgment is naturally excellent,” Meng Yingxing’s very tactful compliment made Xiu Qingcheng feel as if her tail was about to curl up to the sky.

Meng Yingxing practiced his sword, move by move, his gaze fixed on his wooden sword, never wavering for a moment.

“Thank you for your concern, Senior Brothers. If there’s nothing else, please leave.”

Meng Yingxing had been hearing such taunts and insults since he was a child. He had long since cultivated a vast and unyielding state of mind, remaining calm even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him.

In the past, Meng Yingxing might have felt a bit of resentment for his own situation, but now with Xiu Qingcheng by his side, this resentment had long been easily erased by her words.

Seeing that their punches were landing on cotton, the troublemakers inevitably became exasperated, just as Xiu Qingcheng had described them: “petty and narrow-minded.”

“I don’t know what you’re so arrogant about! With your kind of talent, and that unknown piece of trash sword you brought out of the Divine Weapon Pavilion, you’re actually dreaming of getting a ranking in the Divine Weapon Trial? Don’t be ridiculous!”

Meng Yingxing’s brow furrowed. He turned his body and, seemingly unintentionally, executed the fourth stance of the Four Swords of Cloud’s Arrival—Flowing Rain Cloud’s Arrival—

Just as the tip of the wooden sword was pointing at the troublemakers outside the gate, it suddenly slipped from Meng Yingxing’s hand. Carrying the unretracted momentum of the Flowing Rain Cloud’s Arrival, it flew towards them with incredible speed.

“You brat!” Xiu Qingcheng exclaimed in shock, thinking Meng Yingxing had gone mad and was about to go down with them.

The wooden sword slammed into the wall next to the men, shattering into pieces.

“Meng Yingxing! What are you doing!?” The leader of the group was startled by the sudden turn of events. After he reacted, a towering rage to settle accounts with Meng Yingxing filled his chest.

Meng Yingxing slowly turned towards them, flexed his wrist, and put on an apologetic smile, “I’m so sorry, Senior Brothers. I’m too weak and can’t even control my sword properly. I almost injured you. I apologize.”

From this move, Xiu Qingcheng understood that her disciple had done it on purpose.

But the few at the gate were probably not idiots either and would definitely want to settle this properly with Meng Yingxing.

“Who believes you were careless? You were trying to strike me, weren’t you!? You’re looking for death!”

The leader at the gate was already furious. Rolling up his sleeves, he was about to rush in and teach Meng Yingxing a lesson. But before he could make a move, he was held back firmly by the others who came with him.

“Senior Brother Ji! Calm down! The sect rules state that we cannot fight with participants right before the Divine Weapon Trial begins. Regardless of whether we start it or not, it will be our fault!”

Hearing them say this, Xiu Qingcheng finally understood why Meng Yingxing had acted so impulsively.

So that’s how it is. He’s protected by the sect rules. It’s invincibility time!

However, Xiu Qingcheng felt that this rule wasn’t just aimed at the officially initiated disciples. After all, what fledgling participating in the Divine Weapon Trial would dare to antagonize an initiated disciple?

Only for Meng Yingxing, this rule was practically the best protective talisman he could have.

Although the disciples outside were furious, they still had some sense and could only leave, cursing and swearing.

“My dear disciple, aren’t you afraid they’ll look for trouble with you in the future?” Seeing the group that built their happiness on the suffering of others leave, Xiu Qingcheng shot up from the ground and floated beside Meng Yingxing.

Meng Yingxing shook his head slightly, “It doesn’t matter. They’ve been displeased with me for a long time anyway.”

“We would have become enemies sooner or later. Before they come looking for trouble, the only thing I have to do is become stronger.”

Meng Yingxing was quite clear-headed.

“Then there’s no benefit in making enemies now, though it’s all about the same,” Xiu Qingcheng swayed back and forth in mid-air.

Meng Yingxing didn’t speak for a while. When Xiu Qingcheng turned her sword to look, she found him staring straight at her.

“What are you looking at me for?” Xiu Qingcheng found it strange.

“Because they called you a piece of trash sword, Master.”

“So I couldn’t hold back.”

In Meng Yingxing’s heart, he no longer allowed anyone to speak ill of his master.

Although that group of people could not have imagined that by simply cursing a sword, they were cursing Meng Yingxing’s master.

So just now, Meng Yingxing did that… for her?

Xiu Qingcheng was stunned.

She didn’t think their words had any real bite. If she were the one doing the cursing, she could have made them all cry.

“The injustice done to me can be repaid later.”

“But not the injustice done to Master.”

Meng Yingxing said, just like that.