The disciples in the audience were already shouting, “Senior Sister Meng Ying, look over here! Look here!”
The girl in white turned her head, revealing her face.
Instantly, the eyes of the inexperienced new disciples around widened.
Zanxing also sighed inwardly, She’s so beautiful!
Unlike the delicate and charming beauty of Liu Yunxin, Meng Ying’s beauty, as described in the original work, was the kind that was admired from afar but not to be trifled with. Like the woman by her side, there was a vermilion mark between her eyebrows, but Meng Ying’s demeanor was not as dignified as hers. With peach blossom-like features and an ethereal aura, standing there, she seemed like a goddess from Mount Wu, leaving people at a loss for words to describe her.
Yet, she was not just about beauty. She also wore a black long sword at her waist. The presence of the sword abruptly broke the ethereal atmosphere around her, but it also added a hint of solemnity to this beauty.
Zanxing thought, Yes, this is Meng Ying.
In the original work, Meng Ying was the pride of the Taiyan Sect, groomed as the future sect leader. However, the male protagonist, Mu Cengxiao, gained attention from the elders and even received praise from the sect leader due to his outstanding performance in the sect’s assessments. Meng Ying, feeling disdainful, believed Mu Cengxiao’s success was merely due to luck. It wasn’t until they ventured into a secret realm together and Mu Cengxiao saved her that she gradually changed her opinion of him. Furthermore, as Mu Cengxiao repeatedly defended the Taiyan Sect’s honor against provocations from other sects, her feelings evolved from disdain to admiration, eventually leading to her becoming part of his harem.
Meng Ying’s romantic storyline with Mu Cengxiao in the original work was relatively fulfilling compared to the other wives. Nevertheless, Zanxing found it somewhat unsettling. Especially now, seeing Meng Ying looking so beautiful, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret. Such a celestial beauty being involved in merely an eighth of a romantic relationship was truly disappointing, to say the least.
Considering that, it wouldn’t be long before Meng Ying officially noticed Mu Cengxiao, Zanxing speculated. Once Mu Cengxiao made a splash in the inner disciple assessment, dazzling everyone, Meng Ying would likely begin her journey with him.
However… Zanxing glanced at the red marks on her palm, pondering. The storyline seemed to be in turmoil already. Would Mu Cengxiao still shine brightly in the inner disciple assessment this time?
“Junior Sister Zanxing!” A loud greeting rang in her ears. The next moment, Tian Fangfang’s arm draped over Zanxing’s shoulder, and he familiarly exclaimed, “So, it’s you here… Wow! Who’s this fairy sister? She’s stunning!”
Zanxing felt her shoulder ache from his pat and just managed to move his arm away when she looked up and met Meng Ying’s gaze.
It might have been Zanxing’s imagination, but she felt that Meng Ying’s gaze carried a hint of scrutiny. However, it quickly shifted away as Meng Ying said something to the older woman beside her, and the two of them left together.
As they watched the two of them disappear into the distance, Tian Fangfang turned to his fellow disciples and asked, “Hey, brothers, who were those two just now?”
“That was Master Yue Qin and her disciple, Senior Sister Meng Ying,” the junior disciple blushed, speaking with admiration. “Senior Sister Meng Ying is like a fairy, isn’t she? Even fairies might not be as beautiful as her. Did you see? It looked like she glanced at me just now…”
“Nonsense! She was clearly looking at me!”
“Was she looking at you? It seemed more like she was glaring at you!”
Zanxing: “…”
She didn’t say anything, but Meng Ying’s final gaze had left her somewhat concerned.
*
On the other side, Meng Ying walked with Yue Qin towards the Frost Moon Hall.
The white-clad girl spoke softly, “Master, I just saw Yang Zanxing.”
Yue Qin paused, asking, “You mean, the female disciple who found the ‘Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff’?”
Meng Ying nodded, then looked into the distance again, her voice ethereal, “For so many years, I’ve been to the martial arts hall many times, but I’ve never found the ‘Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff’.”
“Yingying,” Yue Qin stopped walking and looked at the girl beside her, disagreeing, “You practice swordsmanship. Even if you find the ‘Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff’, it’s different from your cultivation method. Now that you’ve reached the Nascent Soul stage, why are you still fixated on this?”
Meng Ying fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, “Master, the sect master once told me that the future of the Taiyan Sect will be in my hands, so I must work hard.”
In the cultivation world of Duzhou, it was rumored that Meng Ying was the future sect master of Taiyan Sect for this generation. This rumor was not unfounded. From childhood to adulthood, she has indeed been groomed as the successor to the sect master.
“Master said that if Fairy Qinghua hadn’t had any mishaps back then, the position of sect master would have been hers.” She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, stunningly beautiful as she continued, “I think, perhaps only by finding that ‘Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff’ and gaining Fairy Qinghua’s recognition, will I be qualified to shoulder the burden of Taiyan Sect.”
“And now…” she sighed, “Fairy Qinghua has chosen Yang Zanxing, and Zanxing is…”
“It’s impossible,” Yue Qin interrupted Meng Ying’s words sternly, seeming to realize her tone was too harsh. After a moment, she softened her voice, “I’ve asked Xuan Lingzi and learned about Yang Zanxing. While she may have had some adventures, she only reached the first stage of Qi Refining at seventeen, which has already delayed her for many years. Recently, her performance in the sect’s tasks has been nothing remarkable. While Fairy Qinghua chose her, there may be some purpose behind it, but you shouldn’t doubt yourself because of it.”
“Meng Ying,” Yue Qin looked at her, “Since the Great War between humans and demons, our Taiyan Sect has been severely weakened, not as strong as before. Now, with sects like Chihua Men and Yin Feng eyeing us… and the condition of the sect master’s health worsening… In short, the future of Taiyan Sect still needs you to lead the disciples forward. Your breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage is a good thing. Given time, you may even surpass Fairy Qinghua.” She patted Meng Ying’s shoulder, “I know you carry a heavy burden in your heart, often pondering too much. Sometimes, I hope you realize the importance of hard work in cultivation. Other times, I hope you remain unaware and find myself wishing for you to live without worry.”
A tinge of guilt and reluctance appeared in the woman’s eyes, making Meng Ying feel ashamed. She hurriedly said, “Meng Ying will remember Master’s words. I won’t belittle myself anymore. After the inner sect assessment, I will lead my junior brothers and sisters to the secret realm of the country of Li’er. After the sword trial, I will focus on cultivation and strive to break through as soon as possible.”
Yue Qin smiled and nodded, then looked at the white-clad girl in front of her, feeling a hint of bitterness.
If it weren’t for the current situation of the Taiyan Sect, Meng Ying’s talent should have been sought after by major sects, but not in the current predicament.
Speaking of which, it’s all because of their sect’s incompetence, that made them unable to match their past glory.