Chapter 85: Rouge and Regrets

Perhaps it was due to Xiu Qingcheng’s hands-on guidance, but after Meng Yingxing held Xiu Qingcheng’s hand and observed the spiritual energy flow during her sword-riding, his next attempt at sword-riding was far smoother than before.

“Rise!”

Xiu Qingcheng watched Meng Yingxing let out a soft shout.

Spiritual energy appropriately surged forth and covered the sword, and the Ting Tian Sword slowly unsheathed, stably hovering in mid-air.

It no longer wobbled precariously as it had before, signifying that he had officially crossed a threshold in sword-riding.

“Master, it’s a success.”

Meng Yingxing’s eyes faintly showed joy, but he didn’t overtly express it.

He knew this wasn’t a major breakthrough, but merely proof that he was catching up to others, nothing to be particularly happy about.

But Xiu Qingcheng didn’t see it that way; her eyes revealed approval, and she still generously praised her disciple.

“A promising future awaits, my disciple, my disciple.”

Regardless of others’ achievements, for Meng Yingxing right now, this was a breakthrough, something worthy of praise.

Xiu Qingcheng was just that lenient with her disciple.

Meng Yingxing continued to maintain the Ting Tian Sword’s hovering state, and with effort, slowly flattened it to achieve a position for sword-riding flight.

Although the Ting Tian Sword swayed slightly during the process, it was all within an acceptable range.

In a short while, Meng Yingxing had the Ting Tian Sword completely horizontal and began to control it to spin around himself.

“Go, disciple~”

“Disciple is the best~”

“Disciple can do it!”

At some unknown point, Xiu Qingcheng, in her spirit form, sat sideways on the Ting Tian Sword, letting Meng Yingxing control the Ting Tian Sword to carry her around Meng Yingxing like a merry-go-round.

Meng Yingxing thought this was another test from his Master, but in reality, it was just Xiu Qingcheng indulging her playful whim.

With Xiu Qingcheng’s company, Meng Yingxing once again forced himself to manipulate the Ting Tian Sword without hindrance.

However, the spiritual energy Meng Yingxing consumed during sword-riding was quite high, completely insufficient to support a person flying very high or far.

‘You ask how Xiu Qingcheng knew?’

‘Because Xiu Qingcheng, as the first person to test Meng Yingxing’s sword-riding ride, fell off it, sword and all.’

‘Thankfully, she was just a sword spirit, otherwise her backside would definitely have been split into four.’

However, Meng Yingxing saw Xiu Qingcheng fall from mid-air and was greatly alarmed, immediately rushing over with a look of concern.

“Master, are you alright?”

“Master, are you hurt? Shall I rub it for you?”

‘If not for Meng Yingxing’s innocent expression, Xiu Qingcheng would have suspected he was saying that on purpose.’

“Doesn’t hurt. Sword spirits don’t have butts.”

Xiu Qingcheng emotionlessly refused Meng Yingxing’s offer.

Seeing that he had caused Xiu Qingcheng to fall, Meng Yingxing immediately stopped his sword-riding practice.

Moreover, he suddenly remembered something.

“Master, where’s the rouge I gave you?”

Ever since Meng Yingxing impulsively bought and gave the rouge to Xiu Qingcheng yesterday, Meng Yingxing hadn’t seen the jar of rouge again.

“I’ve hidden it well. Why would a sword spirit need to apply rouge?”

Xiu Qingcheng answered with a clear conscience; after all, she hadn’t done anything wrong, and her reason for not applying rouge was exceptionally sound.

‘It definitely wasn’t because her inner self was resisting such a girly item as rouge.’

“Why hide it? Doesn’t Master like it? I’m very curious what Master would look like with it on.”

But Meng Yingxing’s sudden barrage of three questions, coupled with his incredibly charming, pitiful appearance and innocent reddish-golden eyes, made Xiu Qingcheng feel a sense of bloodline suppression.

‘Damn it, has this dead disciple learned some evil art? I’ve truly been defeated by him!’

‘Meng Yingxing, at his age, already had a demonic appearance that appealed to both men and women. Xiu Qingcheng dared not even imagine what he would look like in two years when he fully matured.’

Xiu Qingcheng gestured for Meng Yingxing to come into the room, then took out the rouge hidden in the storage cabinet.

“I said I hid it well; not applying it is because I don’t need to.”

As she spoke, Xiu Qingcheng haughtily lifted her face.

Although she hadn’t completely reconciled with this body yet, she absolutely affirmed its perfect beauty.

‘Such a face, capable of overshadowing all other beauties, would be marred by even a single extra stroke.’

“Master indeed doesn’t need to apply it.”

Meng Yingxing nodded in agreement.

“But it’s a gift I gave to Master. Won’t Master really try it?”

A look of disappointment crossed Meng Yingxing’s face.

Xiu Qingcheng clutched the rouge jar, falling silent.

‘What was this feeling of being morally blackmailed? She shouldn’t be led by the nose by this foolish disciple, should she?’

“Then I’ll try.”

Xiu Qingcheng said, steeling herself, and opened the rouge jar.

A subtle floral fragrance quietly diffused into the air.

Xiu Qingcheng frantically gave herself a pep talk.

‘She was applying rouge now just to give her disciple a small favor, so that he would be grateful and offer her all good things in the future!’

‘A man can bend and stretch; what’s wrong with applying rouge!’

‘It wasn’t her fault, it was this world!’

Although Xiu Qingcheng didn’t know how to use rouge, she still dabbed a little on it with her other hand, certain that this first step couldn’t be wrong.

That tiny bit of reddish rouge revealed its true color from the jar, appearing even more like a vibrant blossom on Xiu Qingcheng’s snow-white fingertip, making Xiu Qingcheng’s skin seem to bloom like snow.

Xiu Qingcheng glared at Meng Yingxing, who was next to her, looking expectant.

“What are you looking at? Turn around!”

Meng Yingxing obediently turned away.

Xiu Qingcheng lowered her head, closed her eyes, hardened her heart, and applied the rouge to her face.

Her fingertip rubbed on her face, blending the rouge.

A moment later.

“Alright, you can turn back now.”

Meng Yingxing, with a certain expectation in his heart, slowly turned around.

The moment his gaze met Xiu Qingcheng’s face, he froze completely.

If his Master’s face before was like a blooming flower, then now, she was like a flower.

The red rouge was exaggeratedly smudged on Xiu Qingcheng’s face, covering a large portion of it.

And the colors on it were uneven, as if the powder had caked.

Even with Xiu Qingcheng’s divine beauty, under her divinely bad makeup skills, that face could still be painted on a New Year’s print to ward off evil.

Meng Yingxing’s expectation in his heart suddenly shattered into pieces.

Consequently, Meng Yingxing petrified, literally cracking open.

“Disciple!”

Xiu Qingcheng exclaimed.

From Meng Yingxing’s reaction, Xiu Qingcheng knew how terrible her application technique was, bad enough to make the jar of rouge come alive and shed a few tears for her.

Afterward, Meng Yingxing drew a basin of water and vigorously helped Xiu Qingcheng wipe all the rouge off her face.

Stripped of the exaggerated makeup, Xiu Qingcheng’s beauty returned to a level Meng Yingxing dared not look directly at.

“I told you, I don’t need to apply it.”

Xiu Qingcheng sat cross-legged on the chair, pouting.

‘Not “don’t need to apply it.”’

‘Just “can’t apply it.”’

Meng Yingxing silently dealt with the water in the basin, wondering if he should inquire about makeup techniques from someone in the future.

‘Never mind, with that effort, he might as well learn a few more dishes that Master loves to eat.’