Chapter 325: Xue Meng's Blind Date: Mystery Matron 4

Before entering the Long Night Club's grand entrance, Xue Meng still tried to put on a brave front: "Lead the way then!"

But once inside, he found himself struggling to cope.

What kind of shoddy place was this Long Night Club! It was corrupting people! Look at those attendants! What were they even wearing? And why did some of them dress up like fox spirits with nine tails? Their chests, legs, and waists were exposed in such a manner that he couldn't bear to look! Wasn't the head honcho in charge of Yangzhou City Jiang Yechen? Jiang Yechen, that scoundrel! How could he allow such a scandalous establishment to operate brazenly in the heart of the bustling city??

Ruo Ying seemed to sense his discomfort and smiled gently, "If Immortal Wang isn't accustomed to this, we can always explore elsewhere. There's no need to force yourself."

"Who, who said I was reluctant? Have you heard of the Confused Talk Chart?"

"I've heard a little about it."

Xue Meng, stubborn as a dead duck, retorted, "I, I, I am ranked number one on the Cultivation Casanova List!"

"...Isn't that Mei Hanxue?"

"That's because I prefer to keep a low profile. I had them take me off the list!"

"There's such a thing as removing your name from the rankings?" Ruo Ying sneered. "How much did it cost?"

"Mind your own business."

Xue Meng rolled his eyes and walked forward with an air of nonchalance, though his ears were slightly flushed and his steps unsteady.

The Long Night Gathering had three floors. In Xue Meng's estimation, the entire atmosphere could be summed up in one sentence: Mysterious ruffians in bizarre attire were hawking peculiar nonsense.

He didn't bother with the seductively dressed female vendors who seemed eager to expose even their behinds for attention. He kept his gaze lowered, trying not to let it stimulate him too much. The crux of the matter was that he couldn't understand most of the items being sold at the various stalls. Even the cries of the black market merchants were a mystery to him.

Venerable Xue understood each word individually, but when they were strung together, their meaning escaped him –

"The elite edition of Haitang's Anthology, nine dragons and one phoenix, two dragons. Entering the cave. The content is rich and solid. Don't miss it. The book comes with the signature of Han Mei Bingsheng, the author."

"Dear Mr. Da Gen, Mr. Da Gen, a radish refined into a mystical being. In our establishment, every Mr. Da Gen has mastered an exclusive magical technique, capable of transforming to the size of any renowned immortal lord listed in the 'Immortal Realm's Most Celebrated Youthful Heroes Size Chart.' Do you wish to experience the thrill equivalent to that of Master Chu? Long for a flight alongside the twins of Kunlun? Simply with one Mr. Da Gen, an unparalleled experience awaits, guaranteed to leave you longing for more."

Hear, hear!

What on earth is this?

Despite the turmoil in his heart, he maintained an air of utmost composure on the surface. Especially when Xue Meng stole a glance at Ruo Ying and found him looking back with a hint of mockery, Xue Meng's anger flared up even more. He simply strode over to a stall and assumed the demeanor of a regular customer.

"I want ten of your radish spirits," he demanded.

Shopkeeper: "...."

Ruo Ying: "...."

Xue Meng's almond-shaped eyes widened. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" He touched his nose. "Is there something on my face?"

The shopkeeper choked for a moment before earnestly saying, "Customer, our Sir Giant Root is refined based on the top ten of the 'Prime Years Heroic Rankings.' Once it's unsealed, its power is immense and very similar to the genuine article. If you're not as ravenous as a wolf at thirty or as fierce as a tiger at forty, I suggest you just buy one."

Xue Meng didn't understand at all. He looked down at the white, plump radishes in the brocaded box and had no idea what they would become after being unsealed. He also didn't know anything about the 'Prime Years Handsome Size Rankings' or what 'as ravenous as a wolf at thirty, as fierce as a tiger at forty' meant.

It was a good quality to be unafraid to ask questions.

Unfortunately, Xue Meng didn't possess this quality.

Xue Meng believed that independent thinking was a man's greatest strength. So he pondered independently for a while and somewhat understood — these Sir Giant Roots might be like thousand-year-old ginseng. Once unsealed, their effects would be potent, much like genuine ginseng. cultivators in their thirties and forties often encountered bottlenecks in their practice, just like tigers and wolves needing spiritual ginseng to replenish themselves. However, these Sir Giant Roots were very potent, so an ordinary person would only need one to unblock their meridians.

All the mysteries unfold!

Xue Meng cheered himself on silently, then haughtily declared to the shopkeeper, "How could one possibly be enough for me?"

Shopkeeper: "Well, two is doable, but I wouldn't recommend purchasing the top three. I'm a black-market merchant, not an unscrupulous one. I'll be straightforward with you, esteemed customer."

Xue Meng, exasperated, said, "You...! I said I want it, so I do!"

"You, you're asking for too much," the shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Your body can't endure it."

"Hmph," Xue Meng said with a lofty air, "As if I haven't had them before. Let alone two, twenty would only last us three days."

The shopkeeper fell completely silent this time.

With a gaze filled with reverence, he glanced at Xue Meng's pale lips, his eyes then trailing downward, lingering on Xue Meng's...

"What are you looking at!" Xue Meng snapped, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "If we're doing business, then stick to the matter at hand and don't you dare ogle where you shouldn't!"

The shopkeeper swiftly averted his gaze from Xue Meng's lower half and cleared his throat delicately, "Esteemed customer, you possess remarkable natural endowments; this humble one is deeply, deeply admirative. S-Since that's the case, I shall wrap up ten Radish Sprites for you at once—would you require them all to be of Grandmaster Mo's size?"

?

What did Grandmaster Mo mean by "size"?

How could it be related to that dog, Mo Ran?

After some contemplation, Xue Meng relied on his exceptional comprehension skills to figure it out.

Did it mean the spiritual flow tolerance was the same as Mo Ran's? That made him somewhat indignant. If one were to compare the spiritual flow endurance of heroes in their prime, he wasn't much worse than Mo Ran.

He immediately replied with a stern expression, "No. I want the size of Sect Leader Xue."

The shopkeeper was taken aback, "Guest, you must be joking. There's no place for Sect Leader Xue among the Ten Great Immortals."

Xue Meng was even more stunned and, after the initial shock, became even more agitated,

"No Xue Ziming?!"

The shopkeeper was utterly confused, "?? Why would there be a need for Xue Ziming? ??"

Xue Meng's veins bulged in frustration. "Why isn't there Xue Ziming on this list!!!"

The two were talking past each other, shouting at the top of their lungs for quite some time. Nobody noticed that Ruo Ying, who had been standing aside as if watching the spectacle, had gradually furrowed his brows, the crease becoming deeper and deeper.

Her luminous, jade-like eyes intently scanned Xue Meng back and forth several times. Suddenly, she stepped forward and seized his arm.

Xue Meng turned his head, "Ladies and gentlemen should not have undue familiarity. Why are you holding me?"

"…Do you know what these radish spirits are actually used for?"

"Nonsense! It's like ginseng, it replenishes spiritual energy!"

Ruo Ying: "..."

Shopkeeper: "..."

Ruo Ying turned around and addressed the shopkeeper, "I'll unseal one of your enchanted creatures; the silver will be recorded under Solitary Moon Night's account." As he spoke, he lifted his hand and pointed imperiously at a brocade box, causing the sealing charm tied around it to snap open with a resounding pop.

The seemingly ordinary radish spirit suddenly emitted a radiant glow, transforming before everyone's very eyes into a... vividly lifelike... intricately detailed... exquisitely crafted... impressively large...

Jade... Intimacy.

The kind that moves on its own.

Xue Meng froze for a moment, his face instantly turning as green as a traffic light!

He pointed an angry finger at the shopkeeper, almost biting his tongue in the process: "Y-You-you—you pervert!"

The shopkeeper was both shocked and aggrieved: "You were the one who wanted to buy it. You even said you weren't full..."

"Aaaahhhhh!!!" Xue Meng was now unable to recall his previous words. His face, which had been green, suddenly turned bright red. After several cycles of this, he clutched his head and attempted to dash out, but collided with a solid figure.

It was Ruo Ying, blocking his path.

But how could this touch feel — not at all like a woman???

Ruo Ying regarded him with a cold, detached gaze: "Xue Meng?"

Xue Meng was greatly startled: "How do you know? Who are you?!"

Without another word, Ruo Ying seized the collar of his robe and dragged him out of the Long Night Gathering, ignoring Xue Meng's protests.

Once outside, they reached a secluded riverside pavilion. Only then did Ruo Ying release her grip, turning with a flick of her sleeve.

Xue Meng, nearly choked to death, clutched at his throat, coughing violently. "You dog king! You, you, cough—you're who?!?"

Ruo Ying raised a hand, a hint of emerald light flashing across her fingertips. Before Xue Meng could fully comprehend what was happening, the illusory gourds of Peach Blossom Manor hanging from their waists shattered into pieces.

Xue Meng looked up in shock, nearly slamming his head against the pillar of the pavilion.

"It's you?!!"

As the illusion dissipated, the man standing before him proved to be tall and handsome, wearing an opulent floor-length robe with threads of silver and blue. Upon it was embroidered a faint image of Solitary Moon Night's phoenix motif using the most extravagant peacock silk thread. However, even the finest garments couldn't compare to the man's innate aura. His delicate eyebrows, straight nose, and exquisite lips were complemented by almond-shaped eyes that seemed perpetually veiled in mist, exuding an innate air of arrogance.

"Jiang Yechen?!!!"

Who else could this Immortal Ruo Ying be but the headmaster of Solitary Moon Night and the wealthiest cultivator, Jiang Xi?

Madam Jiang... Oh, no, it was Jiang Yechen's first words that left Xue Meng speechless. "You have been a grave disappointment."

"{???"

If Xue Meng were not still struggling to catch his breath from being choked, he would have knocked himself out right then and there. How could someone with such delicate features so shamelessly spout such audacious words?

"You are the head of a prestigious sect, yet you idly waste your time instead of striving for progress. What kind of example are you setting?!"

This time, he had no choice but to regain his composure. Xue Meng coughed violently, removed his hand from his neck, and glared at Jiang Xi. "What right do you have to lecture me? Are you any better yourself?"

Jiang Yi's face darkened with fury. "You are still young, yet you do not seek to associate with reputable female cultivators in proper settings. Instead, you fall for the deceitful words of that unscrupulous merchant Ma Fangzhi and purchase scrolls that promote promiscuous relationships. Your behavior is utterly disgraceful!"

Xue Meng also retorted angrily, "Why don't you talk about yourself? You're already so old, and you even did something to my mother back then... Instead of properly managing your Solitary Moon Night, you use your youthful appearance to provoke juniors! Did it ever occur to you that your blind date might be younger than your son? Of course, I'm not saying I'm your son, but what I'm trying to say is that you're the one behaving improperly!"

Jiang Xi's anger escalated. He swept his sleeves dramatically and gritted his teeth, "I didn't come here for a blind date."

"Then why are you here? Oh, I see, to study Rival Sect Leader Ma's magical artifacts, right? You call him a deceitful businessman, yet you don't look at your own Midnight Assembly. You're shameless!"

"Am I the one who's shameless? A manly man like you named himself Xiao Xue. Who's face are you disgracing?"

"I disgrace no one's face except my own, certainly not yours!"

"You impudent!"

"You're the one spouting nonsense!"

"Xue Ziming!"

"Jiang Ruo Ying!"

A couple, an elderly man driving an ox cart and his wife, passed by them slowly. The old woman asked, "Dear, what are those two youngsters arguing about in the pavilion?"

"Old lady, your eyes must be failing you. They're actually brothers."

"Oh? Aren't those in silver and green clothes girls?"

"Nope, they're men. Their faces are delicate, but look how much taller the elder one is than his younger brother."

Xue Meng: "..."

Jiang Xi: "..."

Xue Meng stomped in frustration. "Look at you! You're so old, yet you never seem to age! Always taking advantage of others day and night!"

Jiang Xi replied coolly, "That's how we in the Medicine Sect have always been. If you disagree, you can always switch to my Solitary Moon Night's sect."

Xue Meng screamed in anger, "Ah! I don't want to see you anymore! That old lady was right when she said you were a woman! I named Wang Xiaoxue because of the mistakes with the Scroll of Worry Relief, but you naming yourself Ruo Ying is just overly feminine!"

"I named myself Ruo Ying because—"

"What? What is it?"

Because Du Ruo blooms abundantly, and I find joy in its prosperity.

But suddenly remembering that Wang Chuqing adored this flower, he feared it might lead to more misunderstandings, so he closed his lips without finishing his sentence.

"You see! You're being overly dramatic, yet you still won't admit it!"

Jiang Xi abruptly raised his hand, pointing at Xue Meng's nose as if he was about to teach him how to speak to elders with higher status and more years. But at the last moment, he realized it would be beneath him to argue with this fool by the river, so he put his hand down aggressively.

At that moment, an uncomfortable sensation welled up in his chest. Jiang Xi turned away, covering his mouth with his sleeve as he coughed repeatedly.

Xue Meng initially thought he was choking and felt a bit Schadenfreude, but as Jiang Xi's coughing worsened, even his almond-shaped eyes began to mist over with tears, making Xue Meng panic slightly. "Hey, hey... What's wrong with you?"

Jiang Xi coughed violently, his eyes reddening. With trembling fingers, he lifted the smoking pipe and took a few harsh puffs.

Xue Meng exclaimed, "Why are you smoking more when you're coughing?"

But Jiang Xi ignored him. After a few puffs, his condition seemed to improve. He caught his breath, slowly standing up straight. Turning to walk to the pavilion's edge, he silently watched the flowing water outside for a moment before saying, "Scram back to the Peak of Life and Death."

"The injuries you sustained during the battle..."

"There's no illness in this world that Dr. Jiang Yechen can't cure. You have no business meddling in my affairs."

The small spark of tenderness Xue Meng had just mustered was crushed by Jiang Xi's blunt words. Standing there for a moment, unsure whether to be soft or hard, his young face twisted in frustration.

Jiang Xi took a few more puffs of water pipe smoke, then raised his head and exhaled slowly. "Also, you're not exactly young anymore. It's time to find someone decent and settle down. But don't waste your energy on these showy matchmaking events. When marrying, you should know everything about your partner – their character, family background, magical abilities, and appearance – nothing can be overlooked." Pausing, he frowned and added, "It's certainly not something that Ma Fangzhi's Scroll of Solace can solve for you."

Xue Meng's eyes widened. "Jiang Yechen, are you confused? You're the one who said love is a disease. I can understand anyone else pushing me to marry, but what's gotten into you?"

Jiang Xi turned half of his cold face towards him. "Love is indeed a disease, but only for me."

"..."

"For you, it's different. For you, it's an infertility issue. You have to get married."

"???"

Xue Meng was grateful that his father was Xue Zhengyong instead of Jiang Yichen. He had never met a more inconsistent grandchild than Jiang Yichen, who would readily come up with excuses for himself but force others into marriage?

Jiang Yichen was indeed a dog!

Upon returning to the Summit of Life and Death, Xue Meng angrily marked an enormous cross on the leaf card labeled "Ruo Ying," then tore it into pieces.

He would play with Ruo Ying even if Jiang Xi forbade him!

He would never let the grand gift box from the honest businessman, Master Ma, fall into the hands of the wicked businessman, Jiang Xi!

With this determination burning in his heart, Xue Meng eagerly opened the leaf cards once again, starting to scrutinize the remaining mysterious individuals.

This time, he was more cautious, aware that the Worry-Free Scroll might recommend a male candidate. He resolved to thoroughly vet them and, at the very least, choose a female around his age!

Never one to back down, Xue Ziming refused to be defeated!

After careful consideration, the second card that the indomitable Xue Ziming flipped was for someone known as "Cold Palace."

Although the Scroll of Worry-Free Love transcended gender, if one had been cast into the cold palace, could they still be a man? This had to be a pitiful maiden.

The leaflet described Cold Palace as follows:

Cold Palace. Unpredictable temperament, straightforward, unconventional, and in possession of a treasure artifact.

Due to being abandoned in the cold of night, spending over a decade alone in an empty bed, Cold Palace Immortal had developed a unique obsession and madness towards love, even suffering from slight mental instability. They were prone to self-denial and self-doubt. Perhaps only the most tolerant and gentle partner could soothe their inner wounds and ignite the passionate flame within their heart.

Interests: Intense matters.

It must be said that Xue Meng was inherently a kind-hearted child. Most people would steer clear of such a matchmaking prospect, but Xue Meng chose her.

Apart from believing she was a woman, Xue Meng sensed a pitiable aura in the words on the leaflet.

Alone in an empty bed, obsessed and mad, denying oneself, wounded in the heart.

Look at her, what a pitiful maiden! That fickle man who abandoned her is so shameful and heartless! He's practically a second Jiang Xi! A scum of the cultivation world!

Xue Meng thought to himself, since he wasn't genuinely here for a matchmaking session, this maiden's poor conditions would surely deter any potential suitors, leaving her with even deeper emotional wounds and self-doubt – such a tragic tale.

She also seems to enjoy "intense matters," suggesting a rather extreme personality. One can't help but wonder if, in her extreme sorrow, she might resort to self-harm?

The more Xue Meng pondered, the more he felt he couldn't stand idly by. His father's words from years ago echoed in his mind:

"Pity the world's inhabitants, for their troubles are many. If one has the strength, they should exhaust it in aid."

Thus, driven by a sense of justice and empathy inherited from his father, Xue Meng made a noble decision – yes! He would be the beacon of warmth for this forgotten maiden!

Promptly putting his thoughts into action, Xue Meng utilized the Soothing Scroll to send a message to the forsaken maiden, inviting her to meet him in Impermanence Town in Szechuan three days hence, wearing an Illusory Shape Scent Pouch.