Chapter 334: Xue Meng's Blind Date: Tea-Selling Little Sister 4

Mei Hanxue: "..."

Xue Meng's cheeks were flushed like the glow of dawn.

Mei Hanxue couldn't help raising an eyebrow. "That's it?"

"Oh..." Xue Meng pondered for a moment, recalling another puzzle. "Also, how did you manage to prevent Gluttony Wolf and Xuan Ji's disciple from fighting?"

Mei Hanxue: "...."

Forgive him, he had overestimated the young man.

Even with his extensive experience in judging people, he had never encountered anyone as uniquely extraordinary as Xue Meng.

Indeed, Sect Leader Xue had truly earned his solitude through strength.

Despite these thoughts, Mei Hanxue maintained his patience and instructed him on how to navigate the delicate balance between the disciples of Greedy Wolf and those of Xuan Ji. They began to exchange insights on taming beasts.

"You must train cats, for they grow unappreciative if you indulge them too much," he said.

Mei Hanxue smiled softly, her gentle face and amiable tone somehow conveying an ethereal aloofness as she said, "So, Sect Leader, you shouldn't spoil it just because it's cute. You need to keep it under your control, bully it often, and make it understand that it can't outsmart you. Then this fluffy little creature will naturally become obedient."

"But... won't it run away?"

Mei Hanxue chuckled. "Won't you chase after it?"

"What if it hides?"

"Wouldn't you search for it?"

"What if it bites?"

"Wouldn't you discipline it?"

As they continued their question and answer session, Xue Meng watched her smiling face and suddenly felt a chill down his spine. Swallowing, he asked, "…Have you ever hit Cabbage before?"

Mei Hanxue giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "Sect Leader Xue, you're such a straightforward person. I was just joking with you. I'm the type who lets others take the bait willingly; I would never force someone to do something."

Xue Meng breathed a sigh of relief. Otherwise, he really would have found this Empress a bit frightening.

After Mei Hanxue finished laughing, he lifted his light-colored eyelashes, revealing deep, captivating eyes. He coaxed, "But Headmaster, speaking of which... Peach Bud Manor actually has a unique method for petting cats. Are you interested in learning about it?"

As an enthusiast of martial arts, Xue Meng was extremely curious about anything labeled "unique." Mo Ran once suspected that if he wanted to lure the innocent Xue Ziming into reading explicit books, all he had to do was title them "The Unique Spring Affair Illustrations" or "The Unique Intimate Record," and Xue Ziming would eagerly fall for the trap.

Mei Hanxue chuckled. "So, do you want to learn?"

"..."

"It's a very rare technique. If not for my admiration for you, I wouldn't easily share it with others."

In the end, Xue Meng couldn't resist the allure of the cat's white belly, the word "unique," and his own curiosity. Reluctantly, he climbed aboard Mei Hanxue's boat, pretending to maintain his dignity as he coughed. "Ahem, since you're so sincere in asking... then... then I'll learn."

And thus, Mei Hanxue's lesson began.

"Firstly, cats have a natural instinct," Mei Hanxue said, looking at Xue Meng with meaning. "As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. All cats have a weakness: their insatiable thirst for knowledge, without regard for danger."

Xue Meng widened his eyes, eager to learn. "Is that so?"

"Yes," Mei Hanxue replied, raising a slender, elegant finger. "Look, when you extend your finger in front of them, nine times out of ten, these little fellows won't be able to resist coming over to sniff. Then, you seize the opportunity to grab them, pinning them down, lifting their legs. At this point, they'll let out a soft mewl..."

Mei Hanxue had deliberately spoken those crude words to provoke Xue Meng into a reaction.

Unfortunately, the wise can still overlook something, and the innocent Xue Meng was completely oblivious to Mei Hanxue's playful intentions. He listened intently and asked, "Won't it be unhappy?"

"..." Mei Hanxue didn't succeed in his tease but remained undeterred. He smiled and said, "It will."

"What should we do then?"

"Hug it."

Xue Meng waved his hand and said, "That won't work. It doesn't understand human language."

Mei Hanxue replied, "Words are meaningless. Once you start moving, if the cat enjoys it, it won't resist. Instead, it'll look at you with desire, adjusting its position to match yours and even emit a contented purr... Have you tried it?"

Xue Meng stroked his chin in thought and said, "Purring?"

Looking at Xue Meng's ignorance, Mei Hanxue felt an increasing urge to tease him. He couldn't help but laugh and say, "Yes, that's how cats purr."

"But every time I touch its belly, it doesn't like it. The most I can do is stroke its chin."

"That's because your technique is incorrect; you haven't attended to it properly." Mei Hanxue's delicate eyelashes fluttered slightly. After a moment, she spoke gently, "Would the Sect Leader mind if I were to teach you personally, albeit rather forwardly?"

"Uh..."

While it was generally improper for a man and woman to be too close, exceptions were made for imparting knowledge and resolving confusion. Besides, Xue Meng found Miss Shouhou to be gentle, composed, and dignified, appearing to be a decent person. Thus, after a moment of hesitation, he nodded in agreement.

However, just as Mei Hanxue raised her hand, Xue Meng hastily called out, "Wait! Wait!"

"What's wrong?"

"I, I just want to make it clear: I'm learning from you how to stroke a cat, not taking advantage of you!"

"..." Mei Hanxue chuckled. "Mm."

"I have no intention of being disrespectful to you!"

Mei Hanxue tried hard to hold back her laughter, her eyes shimmering with amusement. "Why are you so nervous? I am, after all, a disciple of Peach Bud Manor, from a reputable sect. I have no plans to set a trap or imply that a few touches would require you to take responsibility for me. Why must you react so strongly, Sect Leader?"

Xue Meng cleared his throat awkwardly. "Cough, alright... let's begin then."

Mei Hanxue shifted aside to create space for Xue Meng, saying, "Patriarch, please come a bit closer." Mobile version on NovelTV: https://m.biqugetv.com/

When Xue Meng approached, Mei Hanxue lifted his hand and spoke with a serious tone, "See, when petting a cat, you need to approach it slowly, allowing it to curiously sniff your fingertips first." As he spoke, he extended his fingertip in front of Xue Meng's nose, pausing for a moment before moving downward to Xue Meng's chin, "Then gently scratch a couple of times."

Understanding Xue Meng's personality, Mei Hanxue didn't make too much contact, just a slight touch was enough. He chuckled inwardly, surprised that Xue Meng hadn't struck him.

Not only did he not strike, but due to Mei Hanxue's convincing portrayal of the "Shouhou" role, Xue Meng didn't suspect anything and even cooperatively raised his hand to touch his own chin several times.

"Is this how it's done?"

"Apply a bit more pressure."

"Like this?"

"One cannot always apply force. There's a technique that says, 'Nine shallow, one deep, irresistible desire.'"

"…What kind of technique is this? I've never heard of it."

Mei Hanxue held back his laughter, explaining, "This refers to an advanced skill that's not found in ordinary martial arts manuals."

Xue Meng was displeased. "What a joke. As the head of Death and Rebirth Peak, haven't I experienced all sorts of profound skills?"

"...Indeed, you have not."

Xue Meng immediately became indignant, raising his black brows. "How do you know that I haven't? Try it on me! Let's have a match!"

Mei Hanxue replied, "I am indeed proficient in this mental cultivation method, but to use it on the head without caution might be disrespectful."

After a pause, seeing that Xue Meng still had an unyielding, combative look, Mei Hanxue feared he would reveal too much if he continued. So with a smile, he advised, "But Head, there's no need to take it to heart. This Nine Shallow, One Deep technique is quite niche, not suitable for everyone. Some people are simply not born with the right physique for it. I believe that your Master, Grandmaster Chu, has experienced such high-level moves many times, but due to his nature, he probably can't practice it himself."

Hearing this, Xue Meng reluctantly gave up, though he still grumbled, "Since my Master doesn't learn it, it can't be an impressive technique."

Mei Hanxue chuckled. "Grandmaster Chu doesn't practice it. But I'm sure Grandmaster Mo is well-versed in it."

"?" Xue Meng's eyes widened slightly. "Mo Ran? How come I've never heard he knows this move?"

With a mischievous glint in his eye, Mei Hanxue said, "Those who possess valuable treasures don't show them easily. Next time, you can ask him. Ask him if the feeling of executing this technique is incredibly delightful."

Xue Meng was skeptical but still secretly noted the matter in his mind, deciding to ask Mo Ran about this mysterious Nine Shallow, One Deep technique the next chance he got.

The duo practiced the cat-stroking technique for a while longer. Xue Meng scratched himself a few times and roughly grasped the right pressure, beaming as he asked, "Not bad. I've got it. What's next?"

"Next," Mei Hanxue's fingers, as white as jade, slowly descended until they rested on Xue Meng's waist and abdomen, hovering above the silver lion-head waist armor. "When the cat is content from your stroking, it will lie down and expose its white belly to you. That signifies that it's beginning to trust you."

"Can I touch it then?"

"No," Mei Hanxue replied with a smile. "Be patient. You should do as I do, lightly hover your hand above its belly without actually touching it."

She softly and gently glided her hand over Xue Meng's waist and abdomen, sometimes close and sometimes distant. At first, Xue Meng felt somewhat tense, watching her hand, unsure when she would actually make contact. But after a while, as the girl named "Shouhou" continued her teasing motions, his guard gradually relaxed.

"Just like this," she said.

Xue Meng nodded. "Oh..."

But at that moment, Mei Hanxue suddenly grabbed his waist, pulling him closer with a laugh. "Then, catch it off guard and—"

Before Mei Hanxue could finish her sentence, something unexpected happened.

Startled by the sudden grip on his waist, Xue Meng lost his balance. As Mei Hanxue stumbled forward, he tumbled with her, crashing into her in a solid embrace.

"Damn it!"

"..." Mei Hanxue felt a heavy weight pressing towards him. Accustomed to being gentle and protective towards the fairer sex, he instinctively embraced Xue Meng, shielding him. As a result, they both lost their balance and fell to the ground together!

A muffled thud echoed.

Dust from the thin layer on the Book Collection Pavilion's shelves rose, causing Xue Meng to cough repeatedly with his eyes blurred. The aged wooden floorboards creaked beneath their bodies. Confused, Xue Meng resembled a bewildered cat, his face filled with bewilderment. It took him a while to realize that he had accidentally pinned Mei Hanxue to the ground.

Mei Hanxue: "..."

Xue Meng: "Pchoo-khk! Er, sorry about that!"

Waving his arms to dispel the dust, he propped himself up, only to notice the other's slightly disheveled clothes and scattered hair. A pair of faint-colored eyes, half-obscured by curled lashes, gazed at him with an odd expression, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

Xue Meng froze for a moment, immediately realizing something was amiss. He hurriedly tried to stand up.

But in times of urgency, mistakes are all too easy to make. His attempt to rise was clumsy, his legs weakening on the first two tries, causing him to inadvertently brush against Mei Hanxue several more times.

Mei Hanxue's eyebrows lifted slightly, his expression becoming even more enigmatic.

Struggling to his feet, Xue Meng's face was flushed red as he stammered, "Uh, umm, Sis, S-Sis, I-I'm so sorry!"

Silence.

Due to his personality, Xue Meng had never been particularly popular with women since he was young. Girls of his age tended to ignore him, while he found favor with older sisters and aunts. Thus, when it came to addressing females, his default terms were either "Aunt" or "Sis." In his nervousness, he had unintentionally referred to Mei Hanxue, disguised as a stunning young maiden, as "Sis."

Mei Hanxue regarded him with an enigmatic gaze, inwardly sighing. No wonder this man has never held a girl's hand!

What kind of nickname is 'Sis'?

When addressing girls, those over ninety should be called Fairy Aunt, those under five could be called Sweetie, and all others, regardless of their figure, should be referred to as beauties. How could Xue Meng, at nearly thirty years old, still not understand such a simple principle?

Xue Meng continued to stutter, "S-Sis, did I hurt you? I-I think I'm pretty light, and you seem quite sturdy..."

Silence. Mei Hanxue imagined that if she were truly a girl in front of Xue Meng, he would have been slapped by now.

Fortunately, Xue Meng seemed to realize the inappropriateness of describing a female cultivator as sturdy. He hesitantly corrected himself, "N-Never mind that. I just meant you don't seem fragile, you've got some muscle... uhh... I'll stop there. Are you alright?"

Mei Hanxue lay on the ground for a moment before sitting up with a complicated expression, "I'm fine. I just didn't expect such a strong reaction from you."

There was another awkward silence between them before Mei Hanxue asked, "Did I frighten you?"

"Scare me? That's impossible," Xue Meng blushed, unsure of what to say. After a long hesitation, he changed the subject. "Cough... So that's how you tame Cabbage?"

"Yes," Mei Hanxue replied with a faint smile. "Any beast I've tamed obeys my commands."

"Oh..."

"Did you learn that technique just now, Sect Leader?"

Xue Meng answered, "More or less..."

Mei Hanxue continued, "That's good then. As long as it pleases you, bumping into me like that was worth it."

Xue Meng remained silent. When such gentle words were spoken by a beautiful lady, any normal man would feel comfortable and at ease.

Thus, Xue Meng's resolve began to waver. Although he didn't think much of Ma Yun and his nonsense about the Worry-Free Scroll, he had to admit that Mei Hanxue, as one of his disciples, was quite impressive. She was composed, had a good temper, wasn't pretentious, and was serious about her work, always prioritizing the guests' requests.

Previously, Xue Meng had thought these delicate young girls were as fragile as the dolls made by Lurid Jade, easily hurt and prone to crying out loud. He imagined that if a man were to push them down carelessly, they would either grit their teeth and stomp, sob pitifully, or scream hysterically, "Indecent! You filthy scoundrel!"

But this Miss Shouhou, she was so eager to have him revise his negative review of the "Scroll of Worry-Free Solutions" that she didn't seem to mind being taken advantage of – though, of course, he hadn't meant to take advantage of her. Nevertheless, the kind-hearted Xue Meng couldn't help but feel a genuine pang of sympathy for this submissive girl who was struggling to make a living.

So he hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "…Well, after all that's happened, it's almost time for lunch. How about… I treat you to a meal?"

Mei Hanxue smiled and said, "You only bumped into me. There's no need to feel so guilty."

"No, it's also to thank you for teaching me your unique cat stroking technique," Xue Meng still blushed awkwardly. "As for revising the review on the Scroll of Worry-Free Solutions, we can talk about it… let's eat first, then we'll see."

He held out his hand to the pitiful tea girl, Miss Shouhou, planning to help her up.

But Mei Hanxue didn't move. Her gaze shifted from Xue Meng's palm to his face, and finally, she said, "Please go ahead, Sect Leader. I'll sit here for a bit longer."

Seeing her reaction, Xue Meng couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. "…Did I really hurt you just now?"

Mei Hanxue raised an eyebrow slightly, fell silent for a moment, then chuckled. "Not really hurt, but there's a bit of swelling. It's alright, as long as you don't bump into me again, it should go down in a while."

Upon hearing this, the kind-hearted Xue Meng felt even more guilty knowing that he had indeed caused the young lady some harm.

"Well then…" Xue Meng bit his lip, feeling rather embarrassed. "I'll get Elder Tulang to take a look at you."

"...No need. I'm not used to bothering others casually for this."

Xue Meng found her even more pitiful and sensible.

"Well then, where are you swollen? I have some medicine with me. Would you like me to apply it?"

"Or perhaps I could gently rub it for you, if you don't mind?"

Looking at Mei Hanxue's earnest expression, she appeared increasingly adorable to him. He almost couldn't hold back his laughter, remaining silent for a moment, fearing that he would burst out laughing, slapping his thigh in mirth if he spoke.

As a result, in Xue Meng's eyes, Mei Hanxue became a girl who pursed her lips, her eyes shimmering with unspoken words.

The girl gazed at him, her lips tightening further, her expression becoming increasingly peculiar.

Finally, she lowered her head and gave a soft cough. "If you touch it, the swelling might grow even larger."

Xue Meng: "?? Is my hand poisonous?"

"...No."

"Isn't that settled, then?"

Mei Hanxue had merely glanced at the risqué illustrations drawn by Mo Ran earlier, and his reaction was a normal one after being nudged. There was no deeper meaning to it. However, as he observed Xue Meng's innocent demeanor, the urge to tease him grew stronger within Mei Hanxue's heart. He even found himself longing to see Xue Meng either flee in fear or erupt in anger and curses.

With this intention forming, his eyes took on a captivating luster, shimmering with a bright glow as he pursed his lips and smiled, saying, "Well... If you insist on assisting me, it's not entirely out of the question. But I must be upfront with you about something, you see..."

Just then, the door to the Book Collection Pavilion was suddenly tapped on with a rhythmic knock.

Mei Hanxue raised an eyebrow and closed his mouth.

Xue Meng turned his head and caught sight of Elder Xuan Ji standing at the door in a blue robe, tapping on the door frame with a curled finger.

"Lord," Xuan Ji addressed, then, spotting Mei Hanxue behind Xue Meng, added with a smile, "Miss Shouhou is here as well."

Mei Hanxue smiled and nodded.

"Oh, I wanted to have a little chat with her." Unaware of the peril he had just been in, Xue Meng spoke casually. "What's the matter?"

Elder Xuan Ji reported, "Indeed so. Immortal Mei Hanxue of Kunlun's Treading Snow Palace has arrived unexpectedly, stating an urgent matter that requires your attention. He is currently awaiting your presence in the Hall of Danxin."

Mei Hanxue's smile instantly froze.