Chapter 117: A Gathering of Masters

Murong Yueyin had no intention of stepping forward. Xin Lang was a formidable figure, revered as the "Martial Saint," someone who hardly needed her protection. However, seeing Hu Qingqing stand before Xin Lang, she refused to be outdone and positioned herself in front of him as well.

Murong Yueyin was unwilling to lose to Hu Qingqing and also wanted to leave a good impression on Xin Lang. She said firmly, “Zhang Liang, be wise and withdraw quickly! Otherwise, I’ll beat you to a pulp just like last time!”

Seeing Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing blocking his way in front of Xin Lang, Zhang Liang immediately felt the urge to retreat.

Zhang Liang, ranked ninth on the Golden List and a second-level Grandmaster, was outmatched by Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing, both ranked between seventh and eighth, with comparable strength. Moreover, both women were third-level Grandmasters. In a recent challenge, Zhang Liang had been soundly defeated by Murong Yueyin, losing several teeth in the process.

Facing Murong Yueyin alone was already tough enough, let alone with Hu Qingqing by her side. Zhang Liang immediately halted his attack, his face flushed red as he shouted at Xin Lang, “Xin Lang, hiding behind women—what kind of hero are you?”

“I…” Xin Lang was about to push past Hu Qingqing and Murong Yueyin, but Zhang Liang had already turned and retreated, shouting over his shoulder, “I, Zhang Liang, don’t bother with men who live off women. I’m letting you off this time!”

“Damn it! Who the hell’s living off women?!” Xin Lang roared in anger.

Whether Zhang Liang heard Xin Lang’s insult or not was uncertain, but he had already merged into the crowd. With his common features, it was impossible for Xin Lang to pull him out again.

Xin Lang’s fury was palpable. He had just lost a heap of experience points. Looking at Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing’s graceful figures, his anger deepened, wishing he could push them down right then and have his "brothers" below jump into a frenzy just looking at them.

Hu Qingqing turned to Xin Lang with a sincere tone, “We told you not to leave the school gate, but you insisted on coming out! Zhang Liang is only ninth on the Golden List; if it had been someone else, it would have been a lot more troublesome.”

Xin Lang was furious, especially since the upgrade device had just popped up a notification for a Red Diamond level secondary mission, offering 1,000 experience points—enough to elevate him to second-level Grandmaster.

“A Red Diamond mission! Just lost it like that!” Xin Lang lamented inwardly.

Red Diamond missions were Grandmaster-level quests, offering ten times the usual experience points.

“Who asked you to meddle? Now I look like I’m living off women! You two go to the pedestrian street; I’m going to the auction to clear my head!” Xin Lang said, gathering his inner energy.

Murong Yueyin knew Xin Lang was a "Martial Saint," so she didn’t dare to speak back when reprimanded. Hu Qingqing thought Xin Lang was just embarrassed by the accusation of "living off women," so she wasn’t angry either. She just stuck out her cute little tongue and smiled slightly, letting the matter drop.

The two women looked like little wives scolded by their husband—so adorable!

“Uh…” Three trainees—A, B, and C—watched in disbelief, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor.

“Looks like Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing really are Xin Lang’s treasures!”

“Yeah, those two heavenly beauties being scolded by him without any reaction means he’s been disciplining them a lot.”

“Uh… uh… my purest goddesses have actually become Xin Lang’s playthings!” Trainee A shouted, “Xin Lang, I’m coming for you! Neither of you can stop me—I’ll fight you to the death!”

“Tch!” Trainees B and C both made a contemptuous gesture, clearly unwilling to stop him.

Trainee A ranted for half a day, finally charging after Xin Lang disappeared into the crowd, pointing at his back, “Demon, don’t run! I must settle this with my purest goddess!”

Xin Lang, already far ahead, suddenly turned and asked, “Are you talking to me?”

“Uh…” Trainee A pointed at Xin Lang, his face instantly turning green with fear. He hurriedly said, “Haha, no, I’m just rehearsing the New Year’s Eve show! This is a classic line from the novel ‘Shadu Piyan,’ the part where Lobutou rescues Zhuzeye!”

“Lobutou rescues Zhuzeye?” Xin Lang scratched his head and asked Hu Qingqing and Murong Yueyin, “Have you heard of this Shadu Piyan person?”

“…”
“…”

Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing were speechless.

Xin Lang gazed at the bustling capital city of Xia, both familiar and strange. He remembered that after the Third Prince Huangfu Shaoqi ascended the throne, Xia City was rebuilt. Thus, the Xia City in his previous life’s memories was quite different from the present.

At least Xin Lang had no idea how to get to the auction house now, so Hu Qingqing had tricked him into the bustling pedestrian street instead.

“I said I want to go to the auction house! Why are you bringing me to the pedestrian street again?” Xin Lang said, slightly angry.

“Hehe…” Hu Qingqing defended herself, “I didn’t take you the wrong way. You have to pass through this street to get to the auction. We just haven’t arrived yet!”

Men disliked shopping, especially accompanying women, let alone two women.

“Damn! So many people on this street! How am I supposed to find someone in this crowd? If no one challenges me, how will I farm experience points for the upgrade device?” Xin Lang sighed.

The pedestrian street in Xia was famous far and wide. From snacks and small goods to large shops, everything could be found. Upon entering, Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing immediately showed their feminine colors.

They ate snacks while shopping frantically, spending money like water.

“Man, if a man doesn’t have some wealth, he really can’t keep a beauty.”

However, Xin Lang had no intention of footing the bill for Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing. Seeing their hands pile up with clothes and watercolors, he slipped away when they weren’t paying attention.

Xin Lang didn’t want to be their pack mule. As he put it, “I’m a man—a real man—not someone living off women!”

“I don’t need you to lead the way. I’ll find the auction house myself!”

The pedestrian street was not only prosperous but also very long. Xin Lang walked for a long time before reaching the end, marveling at women’s superhuman stamina when shopping.

As a first-level Grandmaster, Xin Lang had abundant energy and endurance, but after this long walk, he was parched and thirsty.

At the end of the street stood a serene teahouse. Xin Lang thought, “The owner really knows business. Anyone walking this street would be thirsty and want to stop for a rest.”

The teahouse was decorated in an ancient, simple style and packed with people. But everyone had formed a habit—each drinking their own tea quietly, speaking softly, nothing like the noisy, boisterous atmosphere of a tavern.

Xin Lang loved this peacefulness. He found an empty seat and ordered a light tea.

He usually didn’t drink tea. If possible, he’d have preferred a glass of plain water.

Sipping his tea, Xin Lang regretted, “It’s all my fault for acting late and letting Zhang Liang escape. A thousand experience points—that could have leveled me up!”

As Xin Lang was brooding, a faint, fresh fragrance drifted through the air, as tranquil and elegant as the teahouse itself.

Just as Xin Lang searched for the source of the scent, a woman dressed in white as pure as jade sat at his table.

Unlike taverns, the teahouse was a place for rest and cooling off. With many people and few seats, strangers sharing a table was common.

Xin Lang appraised the woman in white and found her to be the source of that fragrance. Upon seeing her face, he murmured, “Truly a woman as poetic and picturesque as a painting.”

The woman didn’t look at him. Her pale, jade-like fingers lightly clasped her teacup, and her tender, red lips sipped gently. Though her skin beneath the clothes was unseen, Xin Lang was certain it was even fairer than her jade-like hands.

This white-clad woman exuded a serene, poetic aura that no one dared disturb. Xin Lang couldn’t help but admire her a little longer.

Still, he only glanced twice. In his heart, no one could surpass the divine beauty of the Ninth Heaven Immortal Maiden, Hong Xiu—and that was a fact.

Under her influence, Xin Lang recalled bits and pieces of his past life with Hong Xiu—joyful times and sorrows alike.

The woman in white also observed Xin Lang quietly, confident she could attract the attention of this mission man. Yet Xin Lang only glanced twice, then looked away, his calm demeanor dampening her confidence. When she noticed the sorrow in his eyes, her heart trembled—she knew this man was undoubtedly a man with a story.

Yet she remained composed, quietly sipping her tea.

Her stillness gave the surrounding environment a peaceful feel, and Xin Lang was immersed in this serenity.

“I may sit here?” a rough voice suddenly broke the calm. Before Xin Lang could object, the man had already sat down.

Xin Lang, enjoying the rare quiet, grumbled softly, “You’ve sat down already—what the hell’s the point of asking?”

“Hehe, I was just being polite!” the man laughed heartily.

Xin Lang sized him up—a tall, robust young man, barely twenty, but with thick stubble covering his cheeks.

“Gulp… gulp…” the rough man drank two large cups of tea in one go.

The woman in white frowned slightly but said nothing.

“Brother, that’s not how you drink tea! Learn from this beauty here—sip slowly,” Xin Lang advised.

“Hehe! Whatever. You can tell me what to do all you want. As long as it quenches my thirst!” the rough man replied.

Just then, a young man in elegant clothes entered the teahouse. Seeing Xin Lang’s table, he approached and said, “What a coincidence! You’re all here!”

Xin Lang glanced at the young man, vaguely familiar but unable to place where he had seen him before. He asked the three at the table, “Do you know each other?”

“Sort of,” said the rough man.

“No,” said the woman in white, sipping her tea.

After being left behind by Xin Lang, Hu Qingqing guessed he would rest in the teahouse, so she and Murong Yueyin followed. But upon seeing the three at Xin Lang’s table, they were so shocked that the clothes and watercolors in their hands dropped to the ground.

“That’s Shangguan Ningyu, ranked fifth on the Golden List!”

“Oh my god! And there’s Ling Tian, third, and Long Zhan Yi, second!”

Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing were so stunned they didn’t know what to do.

P.S.: The brothers have been very generous with their support these past two days. Although there was no update today, this chapter is a thousand words longer than usual!