Chapter 339: Xue Meng's Blind Date: Go Balls to The Wall, Wanning!

Beneath the moonlight, the disciples of Peach Bud Manor stood in rows, showing great respect to the steps before them.

Aside from a tiny bee lying on the stairs, a fairy bird with lustrous white feathers and a vivid green tail was perched there – it resembled a crane, a phoenix, and even a peacock. In any case, it was an animal that did not exist in the mortal world.

In fact, such a bird didn't exist in reality.

It was their Sect Leader Jiang who had transformed into it.

Jiang Xi's avian form had a graceful elongated neck, eyes like lustrous jade, and pupils that shimmered like a sheathed frosty sword or moonlight on a lake. Its soft feathers glimmered with a silvery glow, radiating a mesmerizing iridescence akin to frost. Its body was tinged with a pale silver hue, with only the tips of its tail feathers displaying a light shade of verdant blue, resembling a vibrant emerald beauty frozen in snow.

"Looks quite similar to what Sect Leader Jiang usually wears," someone whispered in the crowd.

A female cultivator also murmured quietly, "Such beautiful feathers, I wish I could pluck one to keep as a keepsake."

Only Xue Meng, a straightforward and earnest child, looked at Jiang Yi Chen solemnly. After a moment, he posed a soul-stirring question, "What breed of chicken are you?"

"..."

In response, Jiang Yi Chen shot him a fierce and icy glare.

"Or... a duck?"

If anyone else had dared to ask such a question, they would have been silenced. But it was Xue Meng, and Jiang Xi had no choice but to give him a cold glance. He didn't want to bother with these foolish mortals any longer. With his luminous wings spread, he flew away from Peach Bud Manor in silence.

It seemed he had no intention of returning.

Perhaps he never wanted to set foot in Peach Bud Manor again in this lifetime.

Everyone watched Xue Ziming with reverence, as if he were a hero. Xue Meng, however, was confused. "Is he planning to fly all the way back to Solitary Moon Night like that?"

The female cultivator, captivated by his beauty, exclaimed, "Ah ah ah, Sect Leader Jiang is so enchanting! Silver-greens sparks trail behind him as he flies!"

Her sister reminded her, "That could be the hem of his robe. Didn't you notice how elongated Sect Leader Jiang's sleeves are... Hmm, do you think he might trip over them while walking?"

Amidst the rustling, Solitary Moon Night's two loyal henchmen, well-versed in their master's temperament, issued a stern warning to those in the courtyard, "Not a word of tonight's events is to leave this place, or else should any of you find yourselves with some unsolvable ailment in the future, don't bother coming to Solitary Moon Night for help—just lie down and await your demise!"

With that, he led his entourage of Solitary Moon Night followers in a rustling rush, following Jiang Ye Chen as they left Peach Bud Manor and returned to Solitary Moon Night in Yangzhou.

It was unforeseen that the headmaster of the world-renowned sect, Jiang Xi, would fall to the Scroll Demon's hands. Although the Scroll Demon couldn't truly harm Jiang Xi, how many people in this world could inflict such humiliation upon him?

The crowd couldn't help but feel anxious. Among the nine major sect leaders, both Ma Yun and Jiang Xi had already been defeated. These two were not weak leaders by any means. So now... As their juniors, could Xue Meng and the Mei brothers really subdue this demon smoothly?

It seemed uncertain...

Peach Bud Manor was instantly shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere. Even the bee that Master Ma had transformed into drooped its wings, unable to muster the energy to flutter again.

Just then, Mei Hanxue, who was examining the items left behind by Jiang Xi, suddenly burst into laughter.

Xue Meng turned back. "You're still in the mood to laugh? What's so funny?"

"Come and take a look."

Xue Meng wasn't too keen on dealing with Mei Hanxue, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he approached.

Mei Hanxue laughed, his green eyes shimmering as he held up a piece of paper. "I've never seen such a method of cross-dressing. Venerable Jiang is truly an extraordinary person."

"What is it... dressing up as a woman with a piece of paper?" Xue Meng took the paper from Mei Hanxue's hand in confusion and looked down, leaving him speechless.

What was this supposed to be!

Jiang Xi had unexpectedly taken out a scroll from Solitary Moon Night's Medicine Sect, on which he had written two flamboyant lines of cursive script:

Hereby certified, this person is female.

Signed, Jiang Xi, the Sect Leader of Medicine Sect, Solitary Moon Night.

Below it was stamped a bright red seal of the sect leader.

Xue Meng: "..."

Mei Hanxue tried to suppress his laughter, looking as if his ribs were about to burst from the effort.

"Damn it," Xue Meng crumpled the scroll in frustration, "Is Jiang Yechen a pig?!!"

Mei Hanxue smiled, raising his slender index finger to his lips, signaling for Xue Meng to quiet down and not be so agitated. He chuckled, "He's a celestial bird, not a chicken, a duck, or certainly not a pig – you just saw that yourself. Besides..."

He paused, his smile fading slightly as he looked thoughtfully at Xue Meng, "Why do I suddenly feel... that you and he resemble each other a bit?"

"!!"

Xue Meng sprang up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his head shaking fiercely like a rattle-drum. "Y-You, you're lying!! I have nothing to do with him! Absolutely nothing!!"

"Is that so?" Mei Hanxue's green eyes grew even deeper. After a moment of silence, he didn't continue but instead smiled mysteriously. "I wonder what kind of bird you'd turn into if you lost to that scroll monster?"

"..."

Just for that look in Mei Hanxue's eyes, Xue Meng felt that he couldn't fail no matter what – he imagined Mei Hanxue plucking out his feathers to please some girl! Yes, Mei Hanxue was definitely capable of such a thing!

He, Xue Ziming, could not lose!

.

Aside from himself, there were also the elders and disciples of Peach Bud Manor who believed that Xue Ziming must not lose and must not turn into an animal.

After all, Xue Meng was their last card, and they couldn't risk him easily.

Thus, Elder Chen Xuyuan spoke, "Your Three Excellencies should refrain from acting rashly. This scroll monster has taken form based on Sect Leader Xue and Immortal Mei's preferences. To cater to its tastes, perhaps both Immortals need to give it some thought. What kind of girl would you consider most pleasing, someone who could win the scroll monster's heart at first sight?"

Mei Hanxue replied, "In my opinion, all girls in this world possess their unique beauty. If this monster is truly so picky, then it's unlikely to be drawn to me." With that, he turned to Xue Meng. "I'd still like to hear Sect Leader Xue's perspective."

Xue Meng pondered for a moment before saying, "The best woman in this world is my mother."

Mei Hanxue's smile faded at the remark. With his eyes like twin emerald lakes lowered onto Xue Meng's profile, he sighed softly in his heart.

Actually, he had disguised himself as the Lady of Longevity to accompany Xue Meng because he knew that the latter had been in a gloomy mood. Although Xue Meng would occasionally revert to his old boisterous self, the shattered pieces of his heart could no longer be mended.

He had intended to bring joy to him, to amuse and mend him, as a token of their friendship.

But it seemed that Xue Meng's wounds were still too deep to heal easily.

Mei Hanxue secretly shook his head and raised his hand, saying, "I agree with that."

Elder Chen Xuyuan found himself in a dilemma, "But... Madame Wang..."

As the conversation dug up painful memories, Mei Hanxue interrupted, turning to Xue Meng, "Speak of someone else."

"... Someone else? There's no one else. None are better than me."

"Then think carefully. Even an imaginary person will do," Mei Hanxue suggested. "Tell us your requirements. We can alter our appearances."

Xue Meng was left with no choice but to start thinking seriously.

After much contemplation, he finally began to list his desired conditions: "First, they must have fair skin."

"Mm."

"Second, they should have big eyes."

"Alright."

"Third, they have to be more attractive than... um, at least more attractive than that person." He felt a bit awkward as he said this, "More attractive than Shi Mo... more attractive than Shi Mo."

As the crowd listened to Xue Meng's criteria for a partner, initially, some elders were diligently jotting down notes, preparing to find a girl who met these requirements later. But after hearing a dozen conditions, these elders ceased their foolish endeavor.

They started to suspect that what Xue Meng might want was not a woman.

Perhaps he sought a Buddha.

Only a Buddha could possess the broad-mindedness to accommodate Xue Ziming's youthful infatuations – did a man in his twenties truly speak like this?

Did he have some fundamental misunderstanding about women???

And he's still going on and on??

"Twenty, sincerely admire me."

"Twenty-one, be thrifty, don't waste too much soap when washing clothes."

"Twenty-two, simplicity is a virtue, I hope she eats less, no more than two bowls per meal."

"Twenty-three, I'm not fond of girls with heavy makeup, it's best if she doesn't wear any."

"Twenty-four, but she must be pretty, with naturally rosy lips, fair skin, and a natural flush on her cheeks."

"Twenty-five, she needs long legs."

"Twenty-six, but she absolutely cannot be taller than me."

Finally, a disciple with a fiery temper couldn't hold back anymore. Amidst the group of people trying their hardest to suppress the urge to roll their eyes or yawn, she blurted out, "Oh my god, enough already!! Why don't you just marry a red-crowned crane home?!!"

Xue Meng crossed his arms and turned to stare at her, "…"

Times have changed. In the past, female cultivators dared to challenge Xue Meng, but now that he's the sect leader, one of them, with her life on the line, licked her lips and shrunk back, whining, " Sect Leader Xue, I was wrong! I was just talking in my sleep, sob sob sob!"

Xue Meng turned to add, "Rule 27: No talking in one's sleep."

The female cultivator: "…"

By the time Xue Meng reached rule 370, Mei Hanxue finally interrupted him. Everyone sighed in relief; they felt that if no one stopped him, Sect Leader Xue might keep speaking from dusk till dawn. Mei Hanxue, too, seemed to have had enough, though his expression remained cold. A hint of irritation had crept into his eyes.

"Xue Ziming, that's enough."

"I'm not finished yet."

Disregarding whether Xue Meng was done or not, Mei Hanxue asked indifferently, "Do you know Nuwa?"

Xue Meng was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"Did you drive her to her death?"

"…"

Seeing the two of them about to argue again, Mei Hanxue raised his hand helplessly with a smile. "Alright, let's not be so fiery. Let me ask – Xue Ziming, is there anyone you would never disdain, never bicker with, and never leave easily upon seeing?"

He paused and explained with a smile, "I think this might be easier than finding a wife for Sect Leader Xue."

The group, who had suffered through an hour of Xue Meng's antics, nodded in agreement.

Xue Meng shot him an unenthusiastic glare. "Anyway, someone like you wouldn't work."

Mei Hanxue didn't take offense and replied with a smile, "I know, right?"

Xue Meng pondered for a moment before suddenly standing up straight with wide eyes – he had indeed thought of someone he would never look down upon –

"I got it! I got it, got it, got it! My master, Chu Wanning!"

A female cultivator, who had been dozing off while listening to Xue Meng enumerate his conditions, jolted awake and frantically wiped the drool from her sleep. "Eh?! What's there? Who's there? Grandmaster Chu has something?!!"

All the disciples: "…"

She lifted her head to find Xue Meng staring at her as if she was a ghost. The female cultivator let out a startled gasp and silently curled up into a ball, hugging her knees in the farthest corner.