novelraw Chapter 126 - 124: Please Go Out With Me
Chapter 126 - 124: Please Go Out With Me
Wangg Qing looked like the type of girl who was very serious, and quite proud too.
"Luu Yun gets incredibly jealous. You’d better not joke around like that!"
Zhou Feng glanced around as if he was afraid the wind would carry his words away.
Wang Meng smiled. "The Pill Furnace exploded. Now what?"
"It’s fine. You can start by reading up on some control techniques for a Middle-Level Pill Flame. I’ll go back and get another Pill Furnace. Looks like I’ll have to bring out my prized collection."
"Heh heh, I bet you’re just looking for an excuse to go back and see your lady."
"You’re getting cocky, kid. Believe it or not, I’ll introduce you to Wangg Qing!"
Wang Meng beat a hasty retreat. "You win. Go on, no need to rush back."
Zhou Feng scurried off triumphantly. He had to report back to the Ancestral Master on this trip anyway. In truth, the Pill Cultivator lineage in the Holy Hall was in decline. The only truly presentable one was the Ancestral Master, and then there was him and Luu Yun. Within the Holy Hall, they were better than some but worse than others. But the Ancestral Master was deeply worried. The Demon Cultivators, and especially the Evil Cultivators, had produced many alchemy geniuses.
And who knew if it was just the turning of the tides, but it seemed all the talented people nowadays were leaning toward the Evil and Demon Cultivators. Many from the Holy Hall had even defected after gaining experience out in the world. They felt that the ways of the Evil and Demon Cultivators were better suited for personal cultivation—that the Holy Hall was too slow, too pedantic.
As a Pill Cultivator, Zhou Feng wasn’t too concerned with how others cultivated, but he did hope to revitalize their own lineage.
’Wang Meng is the spark we need.’
After seeing Zhou Feng off, Wang Meng dove into the world of alchemy. After all, he had inherited so much experience from his past life. If it was just a matter of making a point or holding forth on theory, his knowledge was certainly vast. It was just like the pill he had refined at the Hundred Treasures Hall Meeting—in reality... the concept was there, but the technique... was garbage. It was just that Zhou Luodan had only been interested in the concept.
But to truly understand alchemy was as complex and vast as practicing the sword. It was a completely different path. Wang Meng didn’t demand that he had to find some great "Way" from it. ’The Way comes through serendipity. When you immerse yourself and focus, it might just appear. Forcing it will only be counterproductive.’
The morning passed in a blur. The Golden Rhinoceros nudged the door with its horn.
"You sure know when it’s time to eat, you rascal." Wang Meng had been so immersed in the world of Alchemy Skill that he had lost all track of time.
"Junior Brother Wang, it’s not time to eat."
Hearing this voice, Wang Meng didn’t register it at first. It sounded familiar, but not like someone he knew well.
When he opened the door, Wang Meng couldn’t help but freeze. It was Yang Ying.
"What’s wrong? Am I not welcome?"
Wang Meng smiled. "Of course not. The presence of the Holy Hall’s number one beauty brightens up my humble home. I was just taken by surprise for a moment."
Yang Ying smiled faintly. She was dressed simply today, but a beautiful person was captivating no matter what they wore. A white robe, a Long Sword... ’This must be the kind of Female Sword Cultivator I used to dream about.’
"So Junior Brother Wang has a sense of humor too."
"What brings Senior Sister Yang here?" Wang Meng asked, feeling a bit awkward as he glanced at his room. Talismans and Magical Bamboo Slips were strewn all over the floor in a mess.
Yang Ying, of course, saw it too. ’I’ve seen messy rooms before, but one this messy is a rare sight.’
Since he got straight to the point, Yang Ying was also direct. "I always feel like something is missing from my Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens and Green Fall Yellow Springs Sword. I went to Lingyin Hall a few days ago to spar with Junior Brother Tianyi, and guess what he said?"
Wang Meng shrugged helplessly. "That kid didn’t tell you to find me, did he?"
Yang Ying smiled and nodded. It had to be said, Yang Ying was truly beautiful. She and Yanm Yuyue were what you would call universally fatal to men. It was just that Yang Ying was more radiant, while Yanm Yuyue carried a hint of melancholy—and it was precisely that hint of melancholy that could move a person like Wang Meng.
’I’m getting ahead of myself,’ Wang Meng thought.
"After you."
Wang Meng’s straightforwardness surprised Yang Ying a little. She had expected him to play hard to get or put on a show of humility, but instead, it was this simple—just like a normal sparring session between a senior sister and a junior brother.
There was an empty clearing right outside the door, with no one to disturb them. If this were happening at Thunderlight Hall, who knew what kind of uproar it would cause.
"Junior Brother Wang, please draw your sword. Shall we limit ourselves to the Tenth Layer of power?"
Wang Meng smiled, pulling out his Broken Heaven Edge. "Let’s make it the Fifteenth Layer. Otherwise, it’ll be hard to show our true strength."
Yang Ying smiled faintly, a little surprised. ’Is he at the Fifteenth Layer?’ she wondered.
"Please."
She still had her doubts about what Li Tianyi had said. If Mingren hadn’t said the same thing, she really might not have come here so rashly. It was clear that Lingyin Hall considered Thunderlight Hall a rival.
’Lingyin Hall is one of the Upper Three Halls. Do they really need to take Thunderlight so seriously? Or are they just putting on a show for my benefit?’
Regardless of the reason, Yang Ying wanted to test this Wang Meng herself and see if he was just a product of circumstances or if he truly had the skill.
The Flying Phoenix Sword left its sheath like a pool of autumn water, its tip radiating a chill. The moment she drew her sword, Yang Ying became incredibly serious.
"Junior Brother Wang, be careful!" Since this was a sparring match to test techniques, Yang Ying didn’t hold back. She also wanted to find out what he was really made of.
The Flying Phoenix Sword drew a wide arc, unleashing a wave of Sword Qi. Although Yang Ying had suppressed her Elemental Power, she only reduced its force; her skill was by no means diminished.
An average disciple, if their skill was lacking, would be completely bewildered by such a magnificent, arcing slash.
But Wang Meng was anything but bewildered. The Broken Heaven Edge in his hand thrust straight out.
Yang Ying paused. ’He’s not dodging?’
SHINK...
Wang Meng’s Sword Slash struck the crescent of Sword Qi. This kind of Sword Qi was meant to shatter on impact; even if blocked, one would still be injured by the shrapnel.
The Sword Qi scattered, but it shot past Wang Meng’s body at an angle, not harming him in the least. Wang Meng smiled. "Senior Sister Yang, it seems you don’t have much confidence in me."
"Junior Brother Wang is highly skilled, and quite bold too. In that case, I won’t be so polite."
"Phoenix Rises Through Rosy Clouds, Celestial Frost!"
With a soft cry, Yang Ying’s figure floated up, suddenly becoming swift. KILL~~~
In an instant, three streams of Sword Qi enveloped Wang Meng. He was using a broken blade, about the length of a dagger, which looked rather out of place. A normal Sword Cultivator would definitely be very uncomfortable with it. It was fine when attacking with Sword Qi from a distance, but in close combat, misjudging the distance would be suicide. Moreover, its awkwardness would be a huge hindrance.
This was also what puzzled Yang Ying. As the Sword Qi approached, Wang Meng didn’t retreat. His body swayed, and he passed through the streams of Sword Qi. The Broken Heaven Edge met Yang Ying’s Flying Phoenix Sword, erupting in a shower of sparks.
Yang Ying was still being very serious. Once she confirmed he had some real skill, she put True Power into every strike.
After more than ten exchanges, Wang Meng could already tell her style. The Sword Techniques of Flying Phoenix Hall were steady and deliberate, focused on finding a weakness for a single fatal blow.
BANG...
After a heavy clash, both were thrown back. It had to be said, Yang Ying’s form was very elegant. Sometimes, beauty and power were not mutually exclusive.
Yang Ying’s body flew diagonally upward. She executed a sudden, rapid spin, and in mid-air, the Flying Phoenix Sword unleashed a true killing move.
Flying Phoenix Hall’s famous Phoenix Return Slash!
This technique was inspired by the Body Cultivator’s Counterattack, but it was more graceful, and the surging killing intent that suddenly erupted from its gentleness was even more shocking.
Wang Meng infused his broken blade with Elemental Power. Facing the murderous Sword Qi, he parried strike after strike. His movements didn’t seem fast, and many attacks reached him, yet in the blink of an eye, he had neutralized all the Sword Qi while retreating more than ten steps.
Yang Ying did not pursue. She was still testing techniques. Once a Killing Sword Technique was fully unleashed, even she couldn’t control it, and she couldn’t risk taking his life for a sparring match.
"Junior Brother Wang, you are truly extraordinary. Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens, Green Fall Yellow Springs—please instruct me!"
’He could block the Phoenix Spin. Even though I wasn’t using all my Elemental Power, from a swordsmanship perspective, Wang Meng is skilled enough to be in the top ten Sword Cultivators.’
Wang Meng smiled, playing along. In truth, this kind of sparring was purely for demonstrating Sword Techniques. In a real battle, who would just give you an opening to unleash your ultimate move? The very act of launching such a move could create a fatal weakness.
But this was the way of the Holy Hall, completely different from the Evil Cultivators.
Yang Ying raised her Flying Phoenix Sword. She brought it down in a swirling motion, and the Sword Qi fanned out like a Peacock’s tail. But this was no Peacock—it was the fury of a Phoenix.
BOOM...
Dazzling!
KILL~~~
The Sword Qi blinded the eye. Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens—mortals, retreat.
Wang Meng’s sword vanished. At the same time, the dazzling sword light disappeared, leaving behind a stunned Yang Ying.
Wang Meng slowly bent down to pick up his Broken Heaven Edge from the ground. He remembered what Li Tianyi had said. ’Why even bother?’
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to let her finish her technique, but... he really couldn’t stand such amateurishness.
’Even for a Saint Cultivator, you can’t be so detached from reality.’
Looking at the dazed Yang Ying, her lovely and pitiful appearance made Wang Meng feel he had been a bit too harsh. ’I should have at least let her finish her move.’
"Ahem, my apologies. It slipped out of my hand just now. Let’s go again."
Wang Meng gave a terribly lame excuse, but it seemed to snap Yang Ying out of her daze.
Yang Ying retrieved her Flying Phoenix Sword, put it back in her Qiankun Bag, and stared at Wang Meng without blinking. "I always had my doubts about what Li Tianyi said. Junior Brother Wang, you are a true Master who hides your skills. I, Yang Ying, am impressed!"
Yang Ying bit her lip, wanting to speak but unable to find the words. Perhaps Wang Meng’s true strength was less than hers, but his understanding of Sword Techniques was truly astonishing.
Before Yang Ying could speak, Wang Meng spoke first. "Senior Sister Yang, I have an impudent request, if I may."
Yang Ying was slightly taken aback, then smiled. "I do too. Junior Brother Wang, please go ahead."
Wang Meng nodded. "I want you to be my partner."
Even with a mind that raced with a thousand thoughts, Yang Ying froze. It was both surprising and not. Surprising, because Wang Meng had chosen this moment to say it. Not surprising, because sooner or later, every man would be captivated by her beauty.
Seeing Yang Ying hesitate, Wang Meng quickly explained, "Senior Sister, please don’t misunderstand. I know you wouldn’t be interested in me. I just want to ask for your help. It would only be for a period of time. When you want to end it, I’ll cooperate completely. During this time, I won’t cross any lines."
Yang Ying looked at Wang Meng, remembering her own request. She didn’t refuse immediately. "I want to know your reason. If it’s reasonable, I might agree."
"I’m a heartless bastard, not a good person. There’s someone who’s too kind, and I don’t want to hurt her."
Wang Meng said helplessly. He hadn’t wanted to say it, but he also knew that if he didn’t, Yang Ying would definitely refuse. Even after saying it, there was no guarantee she would agree.