Chapter 87: Demonic Mischief?

‘Demonic mischief? Is that the Xu family’s deduction?’

Xiu Qingcheng leaned against the boat railing, propping up her chin. A cold wind brushed her face, but it held no chill for a sword spirit.

“A demon that preys on women? Hmm… A beautiful fox demon coveting human women? A leech spirit that drinks women’s blood? Or a fish demon that feeds on young women?”

She ticked them off on her fingers, as if reciting a familiar list. These were all things she had seen or heard of in her past, all related to demons causing women to disappear.

“They didn’t mention the specifics, so we’ll probably only find out when we get there.” Meng Yingxing finished speaking, deeply inhaling the cold air into his nostrils, invigorating his spirits.

Xiu Qingcheng glanced at him, then reached out and plucked at Meng Yingxing’s hair.

“Disciple, are you scared?”

“You’ve already faced the Huang Cang Demon King; surely you’re not afraid of these little nobodies?”

Meng Yingxing winced slightly, protecting the small clump of hair his master had pulled.

“But the Huang Cang Demon King was dealt with by you, Master; it had nothing to do with me. You speak as if I’m not protecting you now.”

Xiu Qingcheng reached out again and vigorously ruffled Meng Yingxing’s head.

While this seemed like an affectionate gesture, Xiu Qingcheng was actually doing something mischievous in her heart.

She’d heard that constantly having one’s head rubbed could stunt growth, and she wanted to see if it would work on Meng Yingxing.

This sword spirit truly had a heart full of mischief.

“Actually, it’s not that I’m afraid of demons, it’s mainly my first time undertaking a mission to help others… I’m afraid I won’t be able to help them properly and will disappoint them.”

Meng Yingxing tightened his fists.

After all, it was about investigating disappearances to help people, not just simply fighting demons.

If it were just fighting demons, Meng Yingxing would still have some confidence.

“Don’t overthink it; just do your best and go all out. Don’t live to meet others’ expectations.”

“If there’s really a problem, you still have me. And not to mention that loyal dog brother and Mo Kaiming aren’t far from Zhongyang Town, your Elder Mu Xin even told you that if you encounter something you can’t solve, you can send them a thousand-mile sound transmission.”

“Just go ahead and do it without worry.”

Xiu Qingcheng felt that by staying with Meng Yingxing, she would eventually become a master of psychological counseling. It was just a pity she felt her own psychology wasn’t normal either.

Meng Yingxing continued to stare at Xiu Qingcheng’s forehead, nodding vigorously.

With his master by his side, it was like having the strength of a hundred people; he had nothing left to fear.

“One more thing!”

Xiu Qingcheng suddenly reached out and called out to Meng Yingxing, who naturally listened attentively.

“These are all things you need to experience and comprehend firsthand. If you keep asking me to step in, I won’t listen to you.”

“Along this entire journey, you’ll handle all the demons, monsters, and people yourself.”

“I won’t make a move unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’m just here to enjoy the scenery; don’t count on me.”

Although Xiu Qingcheng considered herself a good master, she wouldn’t spoil Meng Yingxing excessively. If she really nurtured him into a mama’s boy, she’d be the first to clean up the sect!

Only through continuous tempering and experience could one become a true powerhouse.

“Understood, Master!”

At this moment, Meng Yingxing felt a surge of eagerness facing the unknown mission.

From Yongning City in Changle Prefecture to Zhongyang Town in Qizhou, besides flying on a sword, walking was the fastest way.

It would probably take more than half a day.

On the river, a cold wind howled, whipping up layers of white waves.

Though the sun was still in the sky, its light had grown faint, seemingly unable to penetrate the thick cloud cover.

Distant mountains were covered in snow, a misty expanse.

Nearby tree branches were laden with ice crystals, forming a world cloaked in silver.

Occasionally, birds flew by, their calls adding a touch of life and vitality to the cold scene.

The boat carrying Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing floated quietly in the middle of the river, its bow slightly uplifted in the cold wind, like a roc soaring through the breeze.

Their boat wasn’t small, but perhaps due to the weather, not many people were aboard.

Apart from the master and disciple, others stood scattered on the deck, either meditating with closed eyes or leaning against the railing like Xiu Qingcheng, gazing at the scenery.

As noon approached, Meng Yingxing took out his Qiankun Bag, used for storing items.

The Qiankun Bag had been given to every new disciple by the Tianfeng Sect not long ago, as part of their initiation gifts. For Meng Yingxing, it was already a very fine treasure.

Money, clothes, and food could all be conveniently placed inside.

Xiu Qingcheng had been very curious about the space inside the Qiankun Bag and had demanded Meng Yingxing stuff her in to see for herself.

Meng Yingxing initially refused, as such an act sounded extremely dangerous, but under Xiu Qingcheng’s strong insistence, he eventually relented.

Meng Yingxing tucked the Ting Tian Sword into the Qiankun Bag, then pulled it out a moment later.

Emerging from the Qiankun Bag, Xiu Qingcheng visibly shivered as if startled, prompting Meng Yingxing to grip the Ting Tian Sword’s hilt and shake it worriedly.

Coming back to her senses, Xiu Qingcheng then said, trembling,

“Inside, inside it’s empty!”

Meng Yingxing was speechless; there had been nothing inside it at the time.

Later, Xiu Qingcheng explained that it was pitch black inside, nothing could be seen, a bit like her days in the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

Nothing in sight, only loneliness as a companion.

Meng Yingxing looked at Xiu Qingcheng, whose eyes showed a hint of loneliness, and silently made a decision in his heart: he would definitely stay by his master’s side and never leave her.

At this moment, Meng Yingxing took out the Qiankun Bag to retrieve the food stored inside.

It was now time for his daily scheduled feeding of his master. He had prepared the food in advance and put it into the Qiankun Bag precisely to prevent situations like this, where there was no place to eat.

Meng Yingxing was also thoughtful enough to heat the cold food with his spiritual energy.

Xiu Qingcheng’s gaze shifted from the river scenery outside the boat to Meng Yingxing, who was holding two steaming roujiamo in front of her.

He was looking at her expectantly, wanting her to eat them.

In Xiu Qingcheng’s view, Meng Yingxing was like a little dog asking for praise, just missing a wagging tail.

“Master, eat quickly!”

Xiu, the food-loving sword, disciple, treasure sword · Qingcheng, naturally wouldn’t be polite with her disciple. She directly grabbed the roujiamo from Meng Yingxing’s hand and took a big bite.

“Although this boat isn’t big, aren’t there food vendors at the stern? Why didn’t you go eat over there?”

Xiu Qingcheng asked Meng Yingxing casually as she devoured the roujiamo.

Meng Yingxing’s reply was: “The food made outside isn’t safe; they might put in things like Spirit-Scattering Powder. It’s safer for Master to eat mine.”

Xiu Qingcheng paused.

This explanation… Meng Yingxing was practically her good mother telling her, “Don’t order takeout anymore, takeout is full of additives and isn’t safe!”

Xiu Qingcheng suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled, but don’t misunderstand; it wasn’t because Xiu Qingcheng suddenly got angry, but because the roujiamo in her mouth had spurted out, which was a waste.

Such a statement was hilarious, especially paired with Meng Yingxing’s serious face, it was even funnier.

“Understood, Meng Mama.”

Xiu Qingcheng habitually teased Meng Yingxing.

“I want a boy-mama! I want a boy-mama!”

Meng Yingxing exclaimed in surprise, “Master, please don’t say that!”

“No boy-mama, no boy-mama!”

As noon approached, the boat had already entered Hanzhou territory.

The boat stopped at a ferry crossing called Yanling Ferry for a short rest; there was still some distance to Fenggui Ferry, Meng Yingxing’s destination.

“Are you going to Zhongyang Town?” the boatman asked as they started chatting.

“You can disembark directly here at Yanling Ferry, and head north to Zhongyang Town.”

“However, if you disembark at Fenggui Ferry, it’ll be a bit closer.”

“Zhongyang Town is roughly between Yanling Ferry and Fenggui Ferry.”

After hearing the boatman’s introduction, Meng Yingxing exchanged a glance with Xiu Qingcheng.

Then Xiu Qingcheng still decided to disembark at the later Fenggui Ferry.

Her reason was that she had no legs and would get tired from walking too far.

Meng Yingxing smiled at Xiu Qingcheng; whatever she said, it was so.

Just as Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing thought they could quietly spend some peaceful time at this sparsely populated ferry, a woman’s piercing scream suddenly cut through the air.

“Help… help me!!!”

Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing immediately looked in the direction of the sound.

Not far from their boat, three white-robed figures had cornered a girl wearing a pink headscarf. The scream had come from her.

Both the girl and the three white-robed figures had cultivation, but none were high; Meng Yingxing could handle them.

The three white-robed figures held sharp blades, clearly not benevolent.

The surroundings were mostly ordinary people, and no one dared to step forward to play the hero saving the beauty.

A glimmer of excitement subtly ignited in Xiu Qingcheng’s eyes.

“Here it comes, here it comes! The classic novel trope: snatching a maiden in broad daylight!”

“Disciple, it’s time for you to act righteously!”

“That girl will surely be smitten with you, then she’ll insist on marrying you and become your confidante!”

Xiu Qingcheng patted Meng Yingxing’s shoulder, having already concocted the entire scenario for him.

Although this girl didn’t meet Xiu Qingcheng’s standards, she thought she was more than enough to be Meng Yingxing’s confidante.

“Master, what are you saying? I’m not in the mood for such thoughts.”

Meng Yingxing felt helpless; he truly had no way to deal with such a master.

“So—slow—on—the—uptake—!” Xiu Qingcheng pouted; she was thinking for her disciple, after all!

But when it was time to act, one must. Xiu Qingcheng followed Meng Yingxing, taking two or three steps before leaping up. In a flash of white light, she transformed and was sheathed as the Ting Tian Sword in Meng Yingxing’s hand.

Just as the white-robed figures, in their struggle, were about to grab the girl’s hand, a cobalt-blue longsword cut across, its blade forcefully separating them from the girl.

The white-robed figures instinctively retreated a few steps, shouting,

“Who’s there!?”