Chapter 8: Trouble Arises Unnoticed

  After entering the Cold Mansion, Master Cold took Meng Xuan's hand and led him directly into the inner mansion. The big shots of Sicheng saw this and were shocked, their jaws almost dropping. Those who didn't know Meng Xuan whispered to each other, asking who that young man in green was, and how he deserved Master Cold to personally come out and welcome him, even holding his hand all the way into the mansion. Those who knew Meng Xuan were even more baffled, completely unaware of what merits this abandoned son of the immortal sect had, to be so valued by Master Cold.

  Without allowing Meng Xuan to explain, Master Leng arranged for him to sit at the wine table in his inner hall. There were only four people sitting at this table: one was Master Chengdeng of Dazhen Temple, one was Water Moon Goddess of Qingqiuling, one was General Liu Yunfei, the guardian of Siling City, and the other was Master Leng himself. Even Xiao Yufei and the masters of various families in Siling City did not have the qualifications to sit here.

  As soon as Meng Xuan entered, he became the sixth person. Leng Daoshi not only pulled him to sit down here, but also made that old beggar sit down.

  At the same time, a horse-drawn carriage arrived outside the Leng family gate. Meng Shan got down from it, pulling a cart full of heavy gifts. It turned out that he had been thinking about it and felt that Meng Xuan losing face at the Leng's wasn't a big deal, but if it caused the Lengs to be dissatisfied with the Mengs, then it would be troublesome. Therefore, he ordered people to prepare several large gifts and came to congratulate them in person. This was to avoid the Lengs' dissatisfaction and also to see Meng Xuan's embarrassment.

  But just as he was about to leave, a small episode occurred.

  He had just stepped out when he ran into Jiang Yuechen, the young master of the Jiang family, who still had a swollen face and was accompanied by many people. There was also a majestic young master following him, with eyes as sharp as swords. He glanced at Meng Shan and scared him so much that he couldn't even breathe.

  Jiang Yuechen saw Meng Shan and stopped, looking at him with a hint of a smile. "Meng Da Shao, that day you said the Meng family and Qiao family have nothing to do with each other, and won't ask about Qiao family matters again. Does this count?"

  Meng Shan broke out in a cold sweat and hastily said: "The Qiao family is the Qiao family, the Meng family is the Meng family, of course there's no relation!"

  Jiang Yuechen sneered and said, "Alright, if your family's Meng Erlang dares to interfere with my affairs again, I won't show any mercy. Don't say that the Jiang family doesn't give face to the Meng family!"

  Meng Shan nodded repeatedly, saying: "I understand, I understand. Don't worry, Jiang Gongzi, I scolded him severely yesterday, he absolutely dare not interfere with the Jiang family's affairs again. Moreover, the hundred taels of gold for medical expenses that were promised yesterday, Meng will personally deliver to your mansion..."

  Jiang Yuechen coldly smiled and led the way to the alley where Qiao's tofu shop was located, Meng Shan wiped a cold sweat, his heart even more resentful towards Meng Xuan.

  "Miss Shui Yue, how is your sister's illness now?"

  At the banquet, General Liu asked in a low voice.

  "It's still like that, getting heavier and heavier!"

  The Fox Fairy of Qingqiu Ridge, Shuiyue Niangniang, sighed and said: "Last month, thanks to the General's kindness, I was able to buy that White Jade Gan Wang for my sister to use. It could have prolonged her life by ten years, but unexpectedly, she couldn't hold back her cultivation a few days ago and broke through another layer, making her condition even more severe. Faced with such a strange illness, I'm also at a loss. To be honest, the reason I came to visit Master Leng this time is to ask if he knows of any divine doctors who can introduce us to Qingqiu Ridge!"

  A few people sitting at the main table were all famous figures, and they naturally didn't have any foolishness. Although they were somewhat curious about why Leng Dashi was so polite to Meng Xuan, an ordinary young man, since neither Leng Dashi nor Meng Xuan explained anything, they also didn't deliberately ask questions, but instead pretended to be nonchalant and started discussing some family matters.

  "My illness has suddenly taken a turn for the better on its own, and it's not because of any divine doctor's treatment. I'm afraid it will disappoint Water Moon Goddess!"

  Leng Daishi listened to Huo Yao Shui Yue Niang's words and replied in a low voice. He had promised Meng Xuan that he would follow his orders, even if Meng Xuan was not present, he would not mention the matter of Meng Xuan treating him for illness, let alone when Meng Xuan was right there?

  Meng Xuan listened and smiled slightly, nodding his head gently.

  They all hope that their practice of the Great Sickness Immortal Art will not be known to others, fearing that it will bring unnecessary trouble.

  Shuǐ Yuè Niáng heard this and felt a little disheartened. She nodded lightly and said, "It can't be helped, it's all her fate!"

  Master Chengdeng said by the side: "Princess Shuimeng, don't worry, I have seen your younger sister's face before, she is not a person who will die young!"

  The Water Moon Goddess nodded slightly and said: "Thank you, Master, for your auspicious words!"

  "Shuǐ Yuè Niáng Niáng, I don't know what illness your younger sister is suffering from?"

  Meng Xuan suddenly spoke up and asked, and the few people at the table couldn't help but look over at him.

  The water moon girl slightly stunned, said: "I don't know who this young master is?"

  Meng Xuan smiled and said: "My surname is Meng, my name is Meng Xuan, I am a discarded disciple of the Immortal Gate!"

  "So it was him..."

  Several people on the table nodded secretly, they were all well-informed, and naturally had heard of this abandoned disciple of Xianmen before, but did not expect to be such a gentle and elegant young man. However, after learning about Meng Xuan's identity, they became even more curious. As the Cold Master, even if the elder of Xianmen came, he would only be treated as an equal, so why was he being so polite to this abandoned disciple?

  Even formal disciples of Xianmen are now sitting outside the door!

  Meng Xuan asked, but was also somewhat curious, wanting to know what kind of illness the younger sister of Shuǐ Yuè Niángniáng had contracted. Generally speaking, the higher one's cultivation level, the more effective the medicinal pellets refined from their body's pathogenic energy would be. However, even a master like Lěng Dàshī was only able to refine a single second-grade pellet from his own body's pathogenic energy. It was unknown whether the pathogenic energy of a fox demon would have an unusual effect, unlike that of humans.

  "It turned out to be Master Meng, Water Moon has paid her respects..."

  Shuǐ Yuè Niáng Niáng lightly saluted Meng Xuan, and didn't put on airs in front of him just because he was young and a discarded disciple of the Immortal Sect. She was cleverer than others, with a unique perspective, knowing that someone who could make Cold Master personally come out to welcome must not be simple.

  "My sister has been suffering from a strange illness since birth, and her body is extremely weak. When my mother was alive, she sought out famous doctors all over the world to treat her, but none of them had any effect. Later on, we could only search far and wide for spiritual medicine and elixirs to prolong her life. But unexpectedly, my sister's illness has a special characteristic - the higher her cultivation level, the more severe the illness becomes. And yet, she is incredibly gifted, surpassing me by who knows how many times, with an extremely fast cultivation speed... even when she doesn't meditate, she can still absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth..."

  "Is there such a strange illness?"

  Meng Xuan was taken aback upon hearing this.

  Whether it's a demon or a human, one must meditate and sit in stillness, or take spiritual medicine to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to nourish the true energy within. But this little fox demon can directly absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, indeed a rare cultivation genius.

  Shuǐ Yuè Niáng's eyes were filled with a deep sense of powerlessness as she let out a sigh, saying: "I also have no other choice. When the time comes, I can only ask my younger sister to disperse her cultivation and see if that will be enough to save her life. However... our Qingqiu Ridge is still counting on her growth, in order to counterattack against the wolf demons of Hei Mù Shān. If she really disperses her cultivation, then our Qingqiu Ridge will probably..."

  "It's not peaceful in the world of monsters either..."

  Meng Xuan let out a soft sigh. He also knew that in the Black Wood Mountain, there was a group of wolf demons who had achieved spiritual enlightenment. Qiao Yu'er's father had been taken away by them. He had thought that since both Black Wood Mountain and Qingqiu were demonic realms, they would have a good relationship, but unexpectedly, it seemed like there was some kind of irreconcilable conflict between the two.

  When they mentioned the illness of Shuixi Niangniang's younger sister, Mengshan had already been respectfully invited in by the Leng family.

  Meng Shan arrived at the Leng family's gate, feeling anxious in his heart, fearing that the Leng family would look down on the gifts he brought. However, as soon as he handed over the visiting card, the guard immediately showed great respect and even went to invite Young Master Leng Chui to come out and greet him. Meng Shan was both surprised and puzzled, wondering when he had gained such prestige in Siling City.

  "Master Leng, I...I'll just sit here..."

  Meng Shan followed Young Master Leng, passing through layer after layer of courtyards, heading straight for the inner mansion. He was increasingly astonished and honored, as he had already seen many young masters from prominent families who were more dignified than himself, yet they only sat in the outer courtyard of the Leng estate. By all accounts, he should have been satisfied sitting with those people, but Young Master Leng actually wanted to invite him further in - that was where the heads of various aristocratic families sat!

  "Master Meng, you can sit here, but if my great-grandfather finds out, he'll scold me for not knowing how to treat a guest..."

  The cicada smiled wryly and dragged Meng Shan in with great difficulty.

  Today, Leng Chan was inexplicably scolded by Meng's family, and he didn't dare underestimate them in the slightest.

  He knew clearly that his great-grandfather, although having a bad temper and the habit of drawing his sword to kill someone at odds with him over one word, would not do so unless it was someone worth killing. Those gatekeepers who did something wrong would be dealt with by his descendants and disciples, but today he personally ordered their deaths, which only proved one thing.

  Those slaves, he deliberately killed them for the Second Young Master of the Meng family to see.

  In other words, Taiye was deliberately trying to curry favor with Meng Jia's second young master, which made Leng Chan think deeply and be terrified.

  "Master Meng's young master has arrived..."

  Leng Chan directly invited Meng Shan to the front of the inner hall door and respectfully said to Leng Zhu who was standing by the door.

  "Please..."

  Leng Zhu listened and didn't dare slack off, because this was his benefactor's older brother after all.

  Meng Shan was scared stiff and would have liked to run away, but he didn't dare, so he trembled with fear as he walked inside.

  As soon as the door was pushed open, he immediately saw Meng Xuan sitting next to Leng Dashi. He was so frightened that his eyes were wide with fear. It was also because he had never seen so many big shots before, and his brain couldn't turn around quickly enough. After being stunned for a while, he actually scolded Meng Xuan: "You... you this ignorant waste, how dare you be so disrespectful of your status, sitting there... Don't... don't hurry up and get out..."

  "Hmm? Where did this madman come from, daring to be rude to my honored guest?"

  Leng Daoshi's eyebrows and eyes condensed at the words, his double pupils shot out two sharp lights like swords.

  Now Meng Xuan is in his own house. If someone does not show respect to Meng Xuan, isn't that also looking down on the master of this house?

  "Master Cold calmed down his anger, this is my elder brother, he also has a good heart, afraid that I would offend Master..."

  Meng Xuan furrowed his brow, though somewhat displeased, still advised Leng Dashi a sentence.

  He was also afraid that this old man's killing intent was too strong and would not distinguish between good and evil, cutting him down with one sword.

  "Oh? Since you're his older brother, come sit down!"

  Leng Daoshi heard this and immediately retracted his killing intent, inviting Meng Shan with a calm tone.

  "I... I..."

  Meng Shan was shocked and at this time he also saw that Leng Daoshi was being polite to Meng Xuan.

  He simply couldn't understand why this useless younger brother of his could have such a big face in front of Cold Master.

  "If you're not used to sitting here, then go sit outside, no need to be constrained!"

  Meng Xuan said calmly, without intentionally showing off in front of his brother.

  "Old habits die hard..."

  Meng Shan hesitated for a moment and also reacted. Although he didn't know how Meng Xuan was valued by Leng Dashi, one thing was very clear: since Meng Xuan could sit at the same table as Leng Dashi to drink, his identity was naturally self-evident. To know that even the old master of his own family didn't have the qualifications to sit at this table, let alone him.

  Just as Meng Shan had just sat down on the edge of the chair with half his buttocks, he suddenly remembered something and his face turned deathly pale.

  "What's wrong?"

  Meng Xuan reacted sensitively and immediately caught the change in Meng Shan's expression. A bad premonition rose up in his heart.

  "When I... when I... arrived... Young Master Jiang he... he took people to Qiao's Tofu Shop..."