Chapter 331: Xue Meng's Blind Date: Tea-Selling Little Sister 1

In the following days, Xue Meng went on to meet with another seven or eight suitors. But either they were far less attractive than expected once their scent pouches were opened, or they started bickering fiercely with him before they even got to that point, each wishing the other dead. As a result, Xue Meng's suspicions about Lord Heaven-Stepping's talismans grew deeper and deeper. It all came to a head when he met the eleventh cultivator, who cooed, "I really like Heaven-Stepping Lord. I want to be his empress. If not, then a concubine would do. I've heard that he adores children, and so do I. I think we're just perfect for each other. If he agrees to marry me, I'll give him a child every year until he's satisfied~" At this, Xue Meng completely lost it. He wasn't just distraught; he was furious. "You woman! D-Don't you know the relationship between Mo Ran and Master Chu?!" "I do," the woman said, covering her face in a blush. "But I'm virtuous and kind-hearted. I wouldn't get jealous of Master Chu at all. And I'd be willing to have children with him too, hehehe." Xue Meng flew into a rage and flipped the table. "Dream on, shameless wench!!" The female cultivator's eyes widened. "How can you swear at people?" "Not only did I just do that, if you keep talking about lusting after Master Chu, I'll hit you!" "You dare!"

"Why wouldn't I dare! Besides, are you out of your mind? If you like Heaven-Stepping Lord so much, why waste other people's time with that Worry-Relieving Scroll? If you have the guts, go and confront him at Southern Screen Mountain!"

The female cultivator flew into a rage. Rolling up her sleeves, she discarded her previous coquettish demeanor and appeared unusually fierce. "Damn it! Do you think I haven't tried? Do you know I laid in ambush on Southern Screen Mountain for seven days and seven nights?"

"…Are you f*cking insane?"

"You're the one who's insane! You have no idea the power of love!" Her gaze began to blur as she spoke. "Ah, you have no idea, during that twilight, when I finally waited for him, he stepped out from behind the fence and looked at me—our eyes met, and in that instant, my mind exploded like fireworks. I had already planned which sect our future child would join!"

The young woman narrated her story with fervor, seemingly lost in the sweetness of her memories. "Right then, I rushed over to him, ready to tell him—"

Xue Meng, in disbelief, asked, "Did you really just tell him straight up that you like him?"

"How could I? Look at your barren imagination; no wonder you ended up going on blind dates," the girl shot back with a roll of her eyes. "It needs to be impactful, thrilling, and use exaggerative language to catch his attention and spark his curiosity! Do you understand? So I told him—"

She took a deep breath and dramatically uttered four words, "I'm pregnant."

Xue Meng: "???"

"How does this involve Mo Ran???"

"Certainly. It was his gaze that impregnated me," she explained with empathy.

"..." Stunned by her madness, he was at a loss for words before finally asking in terror, "Did Mo Ran notice you then?"

"Of course! I succeeded in catching the attention of the Heavenly Emperor with those four words. He's so warm-hearted, completely different from the cold image people talk about. He even offered to take responsibility!"

Xue Meng was astonished again. "W-What? H-He... What did he say?"

The girl covered her face, blushing. "He asked if I needed an abortion. For ten taels of silver, he'd give me a kick, but I'm not allowed to tell Chu Wanning."

"..."

Xue Meng's lips twitched as he finally burst out laughing. "Hahahaha!!"

"What are you laughing at?! He's willing to kick me! Fate has brought us together! As long as my heart is sincere, I'll find a way to meet Heaven-Stepping Lord!"

Xue Meng stood up, smiling, and stretched. "Alright, come on, let me give you the second kick on behalf of Heaven-Stepping Lord right now!"

"Ahh—"

In the midst of such a gloomy and disastrous blind dating process, Xue Meng finally couldn't bear it anymore. Under the pen name "Tao Bao Mountain Villa Ruined My Youth," he consecutively left a hundred bad reviews on the "Cultivation Artifacts List" for the Worry-Relieving Scroll. Each bad review was accompanied by a detailed account of nearly a thousand words, recounting his personal experiences and accusing the artifact crafted by the host, Ma Lian, of causing him such distress.

Little did Xue Meng expect that his fervent and impassioned writing, so immersed in the world of immortal cultivation, would spark a fervent circulation among the cultivators, triggering aReading Frenzy.

Of course, with the intention of finding amusement.

There were even black market merchants who meticulously transcribed his negative reviews, compiling them into a book. As it was officially printed and sold on August 18th, the unscrupulous bookseller aptly named it "Gossip Eighteen-Eight."

The book's index is structured as follows:

"Eighty-One-Eight: My Handsome Father Figure"

"Eighty-One-Eight: My Barbaric Cousin"

...

Such instances abound.

Others' seemingly insignificant misfortunes piqued the curiosity of neighbors, making "Eighty-One-Eight" a wildly popular gossip book in the community. Many even joked that the "Peach Bud Manor" had ruined their youth, advocating for more matchmaking adventures from the valiant heroes to bring about more amusement to everyone's lives.

Fortunately, Jiang Xi promptly banned the book.

Staring at the words "Beautiful Daddy," Jiang Ye's gaze turned extremely grim. "What nonsense is this? Burn it all."

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

Solitary Moon Night and his group of sycophantic disciples immediately bought up every copy of 'Gossip 818' on the market. They dug a hole on the outskirts of Yangzhou City and set the books ablaze.

While 'Gossip 818' was destroyed, the demand for the Distress Scroll skyrocketed. Frustrated, Xue Meng secretly sent an anonymous letter to Lord Ma, venting his anger with a ten-thousand-character tirade against our diligent, adorable, kind, and innocent Lord Ma.

But in essence, the message was simple:

"Host Ma! You damned thief! What kind of magical artifact is this? Aren't you causing harm? Let me tell you, if you don't give me a satisfactory explanation, the Peak of Life and Death will sever ties with your Peach Bud Manor! You'll never get your hands on my Master's blueprint for mecha suits again!! Ahhh!!"

When the diligent, adorable, kind, and innocent Lord Ma received the letter while happily counting his earnings, he nearly choked in shock.

How could this be allowed? !

Whether or not they severed ties was unimportant, as was the fact that the letter came from Xue Meng. The crucial matter was that someone was so dissatisfied with his masterpiece!

Heavens, so that "Eight One Eight" wasn't actually a fabrication by Solitary Moon Night to maliciously compete against him? There was actually someone in this world who hated him this much?

Master Ma was heartbroken, his voice quivering.

And he was also somewhat depressed.

He would never tolerate any guest in this world being dissatisfied with the "Sorrows Away Scroll" he had painstakingly refined! Never!!!

And thus, Master Ma unleashed his ultimate move – Posthumous Longevity.

The term "Shouhou" refers to the disciples, mostly female, from Peach Bud Manor who are known for their gentle dispositions, sweet voices, and captivating beauty. Their mission, as set by Lord Ma, is to "extend a guest's longevity with mere conversation and deepen friendships with a single smile."

In short, they are called Shouhous.

Given Xue Meng's evident anger, the serious and conscientious Lord Ma took it to heart and promptly instructed Elder Shouhou Bu Shenqi, a senior member of the manor, to personally attend to Sect Leader Xue. Her tasks would include serving tea, attending to his needs, massaging his waist, and soothing his legs – all in an effort to win back Xue Meng's favor and ensure the guest's satisfaction.

Unfortunately, the newly appointed Elder Shouhou Bu Shenqi did not share Lord Ma's profound understanding. She was a young, delicate, timid, and coquettish female cultivator who held an immense fear of Xue Meng, once ranked second on the Arrogance List. The last thing she wanted was to provoke Sect Leader Xue into a whiny fit.

Miss Bu, overwhelmed with turmoil, confided in a cultivator she had recently befriended on the "Worry-Relieving Scroll."

It was hardly surprising that Miss Bu shared her troubles with this celestial master named "Longing for Plums to Quench Thirst," as he exuded an extraordinary sense of reliability. He was gentle, composed, and witty without being frivolous. His flirtatious words struck a perfect balance—neither too greasy nor too bland, like a cup of tea precisely warmed to perfection.

Moreover, he was empathetic and eager to assist others.

Upon learning of Miss Bu's predicament, "Longing for Plums to Quench Thirst" sent her a message after a moment's contemplation:

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it for you."

Bu Shenqi was both astonished and deeply moved: "Really?"

In the jade slip, Master Longing for Plums' tone remained as tender and considerate as ever: "Of course, a gentleman's word is as good as a team of horses. Trust me with Sect Leader Xue, I'll make sure he's delighted."

.

That day, Xue Meng was personally dusting off the Red Lotus Water Pavilion when a disciple came with news:

"Reporting! Sect Leader! Someone from Peach Bud Manor requests an audience!"

The mere mention of Peach Bud Manor made Xue Meng's head throb lately. He wiped the file that Chu Wanning had left behind clean and threw it into a small bamboo tube, fuming, "Tell them to get lost!"

"It's... a woman!"

"What's wrong with a woman?" The series of matchmaking sessions over this period had led Xue Meng to reaffirm a truth—he found both men and women equally detestable when they were being so, "Tell the woman to scram as well! I won't be entertaining any more self-recommendations of magical artifacts from Tao Bao Mountain; let them abandon that notion as early as possible!"

Saying this, they began dusting off Chu Wanning's zither table with great care.

Furthermore, have her convey to Ma Yun that even if I am left with no choice but to conduct business solely with Jiang Yechen in the future, I will refrain from any association with his family! Just look at the unreliable things they engage in! Truly detestable!

The young disciple, with a pitiful expression, endured the Master's wrath and finally uttered in a submissive tone, "B-But they claimed to be a junior disciple from Peach Bud Manor."

"Disciple of the Longevity Sect?" Xue Meng furrowed his brow. "What do they do?"

The junior disciple replied, "I heard they're here to apologize..." Swallowing, they continued, "They'll submit to any treatment, smile through it all, be at your disposal for you to vent your anger on, until you're no longer upset, then they'll leave."

"..."

In Xue Meng's mind, weren't they just like the wooden dummies in martial arts training fields?

Despite his inner grumbling, since they were there to apologize, Xue Meng reluctantly went out to meet her. Before leaving, he instructed the disciple guarding the Red Lotus Water Pavilion, "Hey, don't touch that zither table I was cleaning. I'll finish it when I come back."

Only after the guard disciple had solemnly guaranteed for the hundredth time that he wouldn't dare to so much as stir a grain of dust in the Red Lotus Water Pavilion did Xue Meng finally put down his cleaning cloth and depart with reassurance.

Upon entering the Heartcore Pavilion, he indeed saw an unfamiliar female cultivator standing in the central hall. Dressed in a gown of white-golden hue, her light brown tresses were elegantly coiled with a white jade hairpin, the ends naturally curled. Her skin was as fair as snow, radiating a gentle glow even under such dim lighting.

She was crouched, playfully interacting with the orange tabby named Cai Bao. This usually haughty fat cat, known for looking down on humans, unusually showed an immense fondness for her. Not only did it openly expose its white belly to her, but it also purred contentedly with half-closed eyes.

Upon hearing the commotion, Lady Shouhou turned her head. Upon catching sight of Xue Meng, she immediately rose to her feet and greeted him with a gentle and bashful smile.

"Ah, it's Sect Leader Xue, long have I heard of your esteemed name."

Xue Meng: "..."

Huh? Why does this person seem so familiar?

Xue Meng examined her thoroughly, ensuring she wasn't wearing any illusionary scent pouches that might be causing a hallucination. It was either that or he genuinely found her face recognizable.

She had fair skin, light-colored eyes and hair, and striking, deep features. Her appearance was originally breathtakingly ethereal and cold, but her eyes held a hint of mirth and affection, making her gaze alluring yet not overly seductive as it shifted around.

Xue Meng was an exceptionally picky individual. Since his birth, there hadn't been a second woman, apart from his mother, Madame Wang, who could be described as "beautiful" in his eyes.

Yet, when it came to Shouhou, one had to admit that, though she wasn't as good-looking as Xue Meng, she was still quite attractive.

They gazed at each other for a while. Just as Miss Shouhou was about to smile and proceed with her self-introduction, Xue Meng suddenly raised his hand, saying, "Hold on."

He then walked to the side and called out to the young disciple, "Come here."

As the young disciple approached, Xue Meng lowered his voice and asked, "Are you sure Shouhou is here sincerely to apologize?"

The young disciple was puzzled, "Y-Yes, I am."

Xue Meng spoke gravely, "Could it be that Ma Yun is attempting to use a beauty trap, employing despicable means to make me abandon my quest for justice on behalf of the Sorrow Relieving Scroll's victims?"

"..."

The young disciple thought to himself, Aren't you the only victim of the Sorrow Relieving Scroll? Everyone else is having a great time apart from you. Besides, 'Eight One Eight' is quite entertaining too!

Although these thoughts crossed his mind, he still valued his life and acted accordingly.

The young disciple clenched his fist, encouraging Xue Meng, "Master, justice may be delayed but it will never be absent. Don't even consider using a beauty trap, let alone resorting to all 36 stratagems. You, Master Xue, are an upright and incorruptible leader! Believe in yourself, you can do this!"

Inspired and deeply moved by the disciple's words, Xue Meng patted the young apprentice on the shoulder. "You're absolutely right! True gold fears no fire, and a righteous man is undaunted by a woman's persistence. I'll let her wear me down, but my resolve won't waver! I'll distance myself from her, be cold and indifferent, make things difficult for her, so she'll realize the challenge and leave the Peak of Life and Death sooner rather than later!"

Saying that, he turned around and addressed the Empress of Longevity with an intimidating aura.

"What is your name?"

"Me?" Miss Shouhou smiled faintly and replied, "My humble name is not worth mentioning. Sect Leader Xue can simply address me as Miss Shouhou."

"…Alright then!" Xue Meng waved dismissively, his guard up and patience waning. "There's no chance I'll change my opinion about the Worry Relieving Scroll. If that's your purpose, you'd better leave now and not waste our time."

To his surprise, Shouhou didn't seem to take offense. She smiled tolerantly and said, "Apologizing is just one part. With so many disciples in Peach Bud Manor similar to me, I proactively requested to come to the Peak of Life and Death not only for the Worry Relieving Scroll but also because…"

As she gazed at him with her pale eyes, Xue Meng suddenly felt that inexplicable sense of familiarity again. It was like being stared at by a cat, sending shivers down his spine, a foreboding feeling that he might be toyed with at any moment.

Just as he was on high alert, ready to send her down the mountain at the slightest issue, Shouhou broke into a charming smile, exuding an irresistible allure.

She purred, "Because Sect Leader Xue is the most outstanding, upright, generous, and spiciest…"

"What?"

"Cough, the most charismatic cultivator, then." She composed herself and changed her words, smiling as she said, "I've long admired you and have willingly come to accompany you this time."