Chapter 326: Xue Meng's Blind Date: Wayward Young Lady 1

The day agreed upon for the rendezvous with the Cold Palace Fairy arrived swiftly.

This time, Xue Meng approached the meeting with the intention of making friends and offering guidance to a wayward young woman, not out of a desire to compete or show off. Thus, his approach to this blind date was entirely different from his encounter with... ahem! That lying, deceitful bastard, Jiang Xi.

Impermanence Town was part of Xue Meng's territory, and he knew every nook and cranny of it, including which restaurants served the best food, which taverns offered the finest drinks, and which teahouses were the most genuine. He chose a casual eatery he often visited. The stir-fries and hot pots there were exceptional, but the location was somewhat secluded and required some effort to find. Just as he was about to send a message to the Cold Palace Fairy to give her the exact location, he heard a slightly husky yet magnetic feminine voice coming from the corridor: "Hey. Innkeeper, I'm looking for Wang Xiaoxue."

"Wang Xiaoxue?"

The impatient voice replied, "Yes, a guest."

Before the innkeeper could respond again, Xue Meng lifted the half-drawn curtain to take a look—

There, standing beside the elmwood liquor cabinet, was a tall female cultivator in her late twenties. Her long, inky-black hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes were an indigo-black hue, with eyelashes as delicate as smoke. She possessed extraordinary beauty. Dressed in a black-gold mage robe that accentuated her slender waist and long legs, she exuded confidence and a wild, untamed energy with every glance she cast.

Although her appearance and voice had been modified by the Illusory Shape Scent Pouch based on the original features and tone of the Cold Palace Fairy, one could still discern that she was originally a strikingly beautiful woman with exceptional height and looks.

Xue Meng waved at her, and Cold Palace cast him a fleeting glance before striding over majestically, lowering her eyelashes to look at him. "You're the one who asked me here?"

"It was me."

"Very well, you have good taste."

With an air of grandeur, she sat down across from Xue Meng, crossing her legs and folding her arms, adopting a posture that exuded strength and authority.

Xue Meng had expected her to come in a sorrowful and aggrieved manner, but her resolute demeanor caught him off guard. To be honest, Xue Meng wasn't skilled at dealing with weeping women. Seeing that Cold Palace, despite her emotional wounds, remained unyielding, he felt a newfound admiration and respect for her.

However, Xue Meng was not one to readily lavish praise on others. Throughout his life, he could count the number of people he had praised on three fingers: his father, his mother, and his master. Thus, after much effort, he managed to stammer out, "You... You're very strong."

"..." After sitting down, Cold Palace had been gazing out the window with her arms crossed. Hearing this, her purple-black eyes shifted slowly, fixing Xue Meng with a piercing gaze like an eagle locking onto its prey.

After a moment, she said, "You can tell that?"

Xue Meng thought to himself: After being dumped, you still walk with such dignity and presence, with a heart as hard as steel. Only a fool wouldn't notice.

So, he nodded in response.

Cang Gong casually stroked her prominent nose bridge, smiling proudly and chillingly. "That's right. You all are like that. Either you're after this, or it's about status and wealth."

Sitting back in her chair, she stretched out her arms behind her, lifting her chin slightly.

"Order your food."

There was an air of arrogance and dominance in her words, as if those three simple syllables, once touched by the tip of her tongue, were now imperial decrees. This made Xue Meng feel both intimidated and annoyed.

Xue Meng glared at her.

"What are you looking at?" Cang Gong's gaze was cold but intriguing, with one leg crossed and a pale finger impatiently tugging at the tight collar of her robe. "Are you trying to proposition me?"

Xue Meng was stunned!

"W-What?!"

The fallen woman, Cang Gong, remained calm and composed as she launched a second mental assault on the innocent young man, Xue Meng. "I asked what you're staring at me for. Are you asking me out?"

Xue Meng felt suffocated.

His face flickered between white and red, then back to white again before he suddenly lifted his head. "Y-Y-You... You're shameless! Y-Y-You... Respect yourself!"

Cold Palace raised one eyebrow slightly, pursed her thin lips, and gave a faint smile. A shallow dimple appeared on her cheek as she rested her fingers on the table, tapping lightly. "Isn't that why you sought me out? The Scroll of Worry-Free Slumber, a night with me could relieve a thousand worries."

"S-Such utter nonsense!" Xue Meng nearly jumped up. If this were an ordinary situation, any person who dared to speak to Sect Leader Xue like this would have already been challenged to a life-or-death battle. But Xue Meng knew about Cold Palace's tragic love wounds and her fragile spirit. With the heart to save a fallen woman, he managed to restrain himself from drawing his blade.

But he was still furious enough to almost break his nose. "How can you speak like that? I came here, n-n-not for that reason at all!"

"Oh, really?"

Cold Palace seemed even more intrigued now. She finally put down her crossed legs and sat up straight. "Excellent. Then we heroes see eye to eye. To be honest, I've recently lost interest in my profession. Even if you want me, I wouldn't bother."

Xue Meng covered his ears, not realizing that Cold Palace had invented a new term, 'Scroll of Worry-Free Slumber,' which he couldn't identify, allowing her to slip past gender reveal. "Aaaahhh!! Can't you stop using such vulgar language?!"

"Tsk, your flustered innocence reminds me of someone I know," Cold Palace said. "Alright then. Since you have good taste, I'll hold back if you ask me to. But you have to do me a favor."

Xue Meng looked up, nervous because of how terrifying this woman was. "What kind of favor?"

Cold Palace replied, "Be my lover."

"..." Xue Meng nearly flipped the table. "Didn't you say you weren't here for a blind date?!"

"Calm down. Why are you in such a hurry? Didn't you let me finish?" Leng Gong rolled her eyes. "It's fake. I want you to pretend to be my lover."

"Why?"

Leng Gong suddenly revealed a fierce glint in her eyes. She slammed the table, leaned forward, and whispered, "Because I want to drive someone crazy with jealousy."

"Who?"

"My real lover."

Xue Meng: "..."

Oh, so this person had been abandoned, alone in bed for years, suffering from mental instability, self-denial, melancholy, and obsession—yet still couldn't let go of that fickle man in the cultivation world, Chen Shimei?

Why would she bother with such a heartless man, dragging out their relationship, even going through great lengths to find someone to impersonate his rival just to provoke him? Was Miss Leng Gong really not in her right mind?

"Well, is that not possible?"

"..."

"I've met quite a few people these days. Some had ulterior motives, wanting to turn our pretense into reality. Others simply refused to help and ran away after hearing my request."

"..."

"If you're not up for it, then forget it. No need to continue this conversation. I'll find another solution."

What solution? Self-mutilation in desperation?

Xue Meng couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

He rubbed his temples, waved his hand, and opened the small bamboo slip with the list of dishes: "Fine, fine, fine. My father once said, saving a life is worth more than building a seven-story pagoda. I'll agree to help you, alright?"

Cold Palace's eyes lit up: "Are you being sincere?"

"A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. If I'm lying, may I be treated like a dog. Just don't do anything reckless out of happiness," Xue Meng sighed. "Shall we talk while we eat? Take a look at this menu. What would you like to order?"

But Cold Palace raised his hand: "No need to order."

Just as Xue Meng was perplexed by her intention to dine on air without ordering anything, she lifted her hand and snapped her fingers with a crisp sound.

"Shopkeeper, bring me your most expensive dishes – ahem, all of them for me!"

This time, it wasn't just Xue Meng's nose that twisted; his entire face did.

Where did this bandit queen come from? She was nothing but an uncultured, boorish country bumpkin!

Xue Meng shouted, "Don't you know it's shameful to waste food?"

"Cold Palace," she narrowed her eyes, "my beloved darling often says that. But I'm not in a good mood, so I'll waste it deliberately today. Don't you dare lecture me. Otherwise, I'll buy out this entire establishment just for some peace."

Xue Meng was intimidated by this cold and wealthy woman. "…Are you from Peach Bud Manor?"

"No."

"…A prominent merchant from Lin Yi?"

"Not at all."

"…Yang, from Solitary Moon Night in Yangzhou?"

Cold Palace sneered. "What is Solitary Moon Night? Not even worthy of carrying my shoes."

Xue Meng: "......" Why does this sound so familiar?

The main dishes and the pot wouldn't arrive soon, but the appetizers were served quickly. Upon seeing the sliced pork tripe with chili peppers on a white porcelain plate, Xue Meng suddenly realized something. "You're from Lin'an, right? You don't eat spicy food, do you?"

"How could I not?" Cold Palace replied. "I love it."

After saying that, he took two chopsticks full and casually stuffed them into his mouth.

"So refreshing. Haven't felt this good in a while."

Xue Meng was puzzled. "If you like it, why don't you eat more?"

Cold Palace simply answered, "Because my beloved can't handle it."

"Oh? If he can't handle it, then you can't enjoy it?"

"Not exactly." Leng Gong stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment before his eyes took on a dreamy glint. "In fact, sometimes the more he can't endure it, the happier I am. I rather enjoy seeing him struggle to maintain his composure, especially when he tries to suppress his desires with that lofty demeanor, only to lose himself in the end. When he loses control, he'll groan and cling to me, and I just..."

Xue Meng didn't quite understand, but he could tell that Leng Gong seemed rather pleased.

Midway through his musings, Leng Gong suddenly became aware of his trance and shook himself back to reality, clearing his throat. "But it's true, I haven't had spicy food in a long time because of him."

At least that part made sense to Xue Meng, the lover of all things spicy.

He was indignant. "How outrageous! The least he could do is offer a Yin Yang pot!"

"It's not that he doesn't let me eat; it's that I don't let myself eat."

Xue Meng widened his eyes. "Why don't you let yourself eat?"

Leng Gong wanted to explain but realized it might be too complex to convey in a few words. Disappointed, he clicked his tongue and said grumpily, "Because I'm ill, overly sensitive."

There it was—the self-denial and self-doubt mentioned on the Scroll of Worry Relief.

"Never mind. Let's not talk about that," Leng Gong said. "Instead, let's discuss how you're going to pretend to be my fake lover to provoke my real one."

"Well, it could be…" Xue Meng said, "But what's the point of you provoking him?"

Cang Gong snorted, her face contorted with anger as she gritted her teeth. "Because he lost the sachet I gave him!"

Xue Meng thought to himself, Didn't he ignore you for years? You should be used to losing things he doesn't value by now...

But before he could voice his thoughts, Cang Gong added, "I gave it to him on this year's Qixi Festival!"

That's not much worse than being neglected by him...

As Cang Gong spoke, her expression darkened, and her tone grew more aggressive. "When have I ever given such a gift to anyone else? He wasn't happy with gold and jewels, found armor blueprints unoriginal. So, I reluctantly made a sachet by hand for him, yet he, this ungrateful wretch, didn't cherish it at all!"

Oh... That does seem a bit excessive.

Pausing, Cang Gong pressed her lips together, her face a mix of fury, embarrassment, and something too awkward to mention. After a moment, just when Xue Meng assumed her tirade was over, Cang Gong slammed her hand on the table in anger. "Losing my gift is one thing, but he still has the nerve to wear another person's sachet! What's his intention? To deliberately upset me?!"

Xue Meng was taken aback, then his eyes widened abruptly. "He accepted someone else's sachet? Could it be... he's fallen for someone else?"

Cang Gong was furious. "What else would make me angry? I must make him remember that there are countless people who... ahem, admire me. If he doesn't appreciate me, others will be lining up to take my place. I don't need him at all. If he doesn't come to appease me, I'll disappear from this world entirely, leaving him with that hypocritical scoundrel!