After Transmigrating as an Immortal Master, I Hold a Group Meeting - Chapter 92

“The library project is progressing steadily. Under Xuezhu’s constant urging, the Eighth works late into the night, although he occasionally complains. The complaints mostly occur at…”

“Senior Brother Wen Siheng recently received a letter. His younger brother wants to try his luck at a small sect and is asking for some travel funds.”

“Last week, on a certain day, the Eighteenth was absent from the library. Turns out he secretly went out with some people from Violet Mist Peak. While Violet Mist Peak officially has no contact with us, their disciples have been privately inquiring about our work and methods.”

“Smoky Cloud Tower…”

Bai Bugui meticulously reported everything he had gathered over the past week, down to the number of times his martial siblings dropped their swords while practicing.

However, throughout it all, Ning Mingmei simply sipped his tea, making Bai Bugui increasingly uneasy.

Finally, Ning Mingmei looked at him and spoke slowly, “Bugui… I know that as a special recruit, you don’t have the same background as the other disciples. I expected that from the start. But honestly, I have to say, I’m a little disappointed in you.”

Bai Bugui felt a chill run down his spine.

“When I first accepted you into Misty Peak and gave you the rank of an inner disciple, it was actually above your actual abilities. I wanted to give you a chance; perhaps once you joined Misty Peak, you could push yourself and grow quickly. But even now, you’ve only just started to show a little initiative. A fourth disciple at this level; you can’t just stop here. You need to keep thinking about your core strengths, where your innovation lies. Only Misty Peak would give you this much time to grow.

“Don’t say I’m being harsh. In fact, I’ve been very fair to you. The reason I hold you to the same standards as a human cultivator is because I see you as one of us. The Supreme Clarity Sect is not like the Enchanting Fox clan. In the Supreme Clarity Sect, your personal achievements are determined solely by your own efforts. Only here can you receive such fair treatment.

“If it were anywhere else, they wouldn’t have the patience to give you so many chances. They’d just throw you onto the battlefield as cannon fodder. For example, I know a few Enchanting Fox cultivators… Their abilities aren’t that great, but they’re full of scheming tricks. But your skills… well, this might be the only thing you’re good at. So, you should specialize in it more. The Supreme Clarity Sect is incredibly strong and in comparison, your abilities only rank somewhere in the lower-middle tier.”

…Even after leaving Snow Ruling Hall, Bai Bugui was still lost in thought about that conversation.

Ning Mingmei’s words felt like a bucket of cold water, and at the same time, a bucket of warm water. They made him feel both sorrow and joy. He was happy because it seemed like he had finally found the right direction. But he was sorrowful because…

“Am I really that bad? And… are humans really that strong?”

For months, Bai Bugui had been isolated, excluded, and caught in internal sect struggles, sinking into a lonely, self-doubting abyss. Now, Ning Mingmei’s words were like a guiding light, the only thing in months that gave him a sense of accomplishment and connection to the world.

Even if that sense of accomplishment came wrapped in relentless pressure.

And when Ning Mingmei said he wasn’t as much a part of the Supreme Clarity Sect as the other disciples… Bai Bugui felt a little wronged.

How was he not the clarity of the Supreme Clarity Sect? No one else worked as hard as he did!

…He had to produce more results to show Ning Mingmei! This was now the last meaning of his existence!

As Bai Bugui walked away, Ning Mingmei poured himself a fresh cup of tea by the window. “His admiration for strength and self-doubt is making Bai Bugui seek validation from my group rather than from the Enchanting Fox clan. Soon, he’ll develop the same kind of fervent devotion as any other convert.”

The system: …

Ning Mingmei continued, “It’s about time for Little Ninth and the others to set up a radio station and start covering some news about the Enchanting Fox clan.”

With all pressing matters settled, Ning Mingmei was just about to lie down when a disciple came to report.

“Elder Chang is here.”

Chang Feichang and Ning Mingmei sat facing each other in the courtyard. Although they hadn’t met for months, Chang Feichang looked exactly the same, like a delicate-looking youth in gray robes.

Ning Mingmei said, “It’s been months, but Elder Chang, you remain as lazy as ever.”

…Although right now, Chang Feichang looked more exhausted than lazy. The gray-robed youth clutched his cup of hot tea, his drooping eyelids making him seem like he could collapse onto the table and die at any moment.

If Chang Feichang didn’t speak first, Ning Mingmei would never ask. He never gave out goodwill for free; that was his rule for life.

So, while waiting, Ning Mingmei simply flipped through a book, leisurely snacking on sweets.

After a long silence, Chang Feichang finally spoke. “Recently, my disciple, Mu Hanshan…” His voice was weak and breathless.

Ning Mingmei: “He gets along well with you.”

Chang Feichang: “…He’s been coming to Misty Peak a lot. And bringing disciples from Hidden Sage Peak with him.”

Ning Mingmei put on a look of sudden realization. “Oh. That’s not a great influence. I’ll talk to Mu Hanshan and tell him to go back to Hidden Sage Peak.”

Clearly, Chang Feichang was there to hold him accountable. After all, what kind of mentor lets their student spend all their time working for another instructor’s lab?

Chang Feichang swallowed hard, struggling with his words. “No, what I mean is…”

“?”

Chang Feichang: “Can they temporarily stay at Misty Peak and not go back for now?”

…That was a completely unexpected request. What kind of mentor sends their own students away to work elsewhere? If it were within his own company, or even someone else’s, he could at least profit from exploiting his students’ labor. But Ning Mingmei was absolutely not going to pay them.

Which meant that Chang Feichang was basically doing charity work.

Ning Mingmei set down his book and studied Chang Feichang’s appearance. Aside from looking even more sleep-deprived, there was no difference.

Ning Mingmei: “Why?”

Chang Feichang remained silent for a long moment. Just then, a bright female voice came from outside the door.

“I knew I’d find you here… huh? Feichang is here too?”

Ning Mingmei turned to look. “Senior Sister?”

Today, Bai Ruoru was dressed in her usual white robes, wearing a jade-green belt that matched her hair ribbon, giving her both an elegant and heroic air. She gave him a slightly reproachful look. “Did you forget? I told you yesterday that I’d take you to Old Xiang to pick a sword. He just got back, so we should go now.”

The last remaining member of the Supreme Clarity Sect’s F5, Xiang Wuxing, whom Ning Mingmei had never met, had finally arrived.

Ning Mingmei: “An invitation from Senior Sister is not something to forget.”

Bai Ruoru smiled and then turned to Chang Feichang. “Feichang, why don’t you come along too?”

Chang Feichang hesitated but eventually stood up to follow them.

Ning Mingmei was a little surprised by how familiar Bai Ruoru and Chang Feichang seemed with each other. But after a moment’s thought, it made sense. Not everyone was a cold and towering flower hiding in their cave all day. Someone as lively as Bai Ruoru had probably been an active member of various student organizations back in her disciple days.

Bai Ruoru was the direct disciple of the previous sect master, Spirit Master Indifference. Chang Feichang was the direct disciple of the previous Elder Swordbearer. Given their years as fellow disciples, it was only natural that they were familiar with each other.

Wait a minute. Direct disciple of the Elder Swordbearer?

Considering the vast yet limited size of the Supreme Clarity Sect… that meant Chang Feichang’s master had likely lived at Misty Peak in the past too?

Xiang Wuxing lived at Eternal Crest Peak in the north, not far from Ning Mingmei’s Misty Peak. On the way there, Ning Mingmei casually struck up a conversation with Bai Ruoru, trying to gather information about Xiang Wuxing.

Like Yin Xisheng and Qi Miancheng, Xiang Wuxing also came from a prestigious cultivation family. However, his family was quite different from the other two. The Xiang family had guarded the northern frontier for generations, stationed at the border where the cultivation world met the fiend realm.

‘The northern winds howl through the night, cold light shines on iron armor’ had always been the reality of the Xiang family’s life. They were the Great Wall of the cultivation world, a cold and unyielding defense line. People called them ‘fearsome’ and ‘battle-hungry,’ a clan of warriors who had long stood as silent sentinels at the Northern River, their sharp fangs and piercing eyes fixed on the fiend realm.

This upbringing had shaped Xiang Wuxing’s bold, sociable nature and his love for fine weapons. In terms of seniority, he ranked fourth among the Supreme Clarity Sect’s F5.

Now that he thought about it, Bai Ruoru’s family was in the south, near the border with the demon realm and fairly close to several fox clans…

Ning Mingmei made a mental note of that.

“Old Xiang went traveling a while ago. He, like me, can’t sit still in the sect. And since his family is near the fiend realm, they always have more issues to deal with. He was visiting his family not long ago,” Bai Ruoru spoke casually.

“Why did Senior Brother Xiang suddenly return?” Ning Mingmei asked, although he already had a vague guess in his heart.

Bai Ruoru stopped walking. She glanced at Chang Feichang before saying to both of them, “Because someone crossed the border and entered the fiend realm directly. That person is the one you mentioned the other day…”

The Fiend Lord, Jiang Duo.

Bai Ruoru’s expression was solemn. The moment she spoke of Jiang Duo, Ning Mingmei could feel the air around Chang Feichang turn cold.

Judging from Bai Ruoru’s tone, the fact that that person’s movements had warranted Xiang Wuxing’s immediate return to the Supreme Clarity Sect to report and discuss meant that he was a figure of immense terror in the eyes of the world.

However…

Ning Mingmei: …

He remembered that he was the uncle who had given him a good beating.

“Junior Brother, you don’t need to blame yourself. Everything in this world follows its destined course. Even if you weren’t there, someone else would have eventually broken the Fiend Lord’s seal. In fact, the very fact that the Fiend Saintess Jiang Wu managed to seal him away, granting the human realm centuries of peace, was already a stroke of fortune.”

Clearly, Bai Ruoru had mistaken Ning Mingmei’s contemplation for self-reproach. Without hesitation, she immediately comforted him.

Ning Mingmei: “Thank you, Senior Sister.”

In reality, he felt no guilt at all. Not even a little. He was simply considering one thing.

According to Jiang Duo, the truth about Ning Mingmei’s origins and his supposed identity as an orphan of the cultivation furnace was more or less confirmed. He had to be the child of either the demon concubine Jiang Heng or the Saintess of the Joyous Pair Sect, Jiang Wu. Jiang Duo had been able to discern traces of their features on Ning Mingmei’s face… but was that only because he had spent years in close proximity to his two adopted sisters, honing his eye for such details?

Would others also be able to recognize the resemblance?

And when Jiang Duo returned to the fiend realm, would he reveal the existence of his nephew that appeared out of nowhere?

The system noticed that Ning Mingmei was deep in thought. It spoke up. [Maybe it’s possible that Jiang Duo is just the kind of person who acts on impulse without much thought.]

Ning Mingmei clicked his tongue.

Ning Mingmei: “This is exactly why I despise blood ties.”

The system was shocked. [That doesn’t sound like something you’d say.]

“If it doesn’t bring me any useful connections and instead forces me to avoid promotions due to nepotism concerns, what’s the point? And to make things worse, this so-called distant relative happens to be in an enemy faction. One strict confidentiality policy later and my entire academic career could be ruined.” Ning Mingmei sighed. “No wonder everyone prefers adopting sworn fathers these days. No blood ties to trace, yet the bond is still there.”

The system: …

So Ning Mingmei disliked Jiang Duo solely because their blood relationship was of no benefit to him?

Bai Ruoru saw the slight furrow in Ning Mingmei’s brow and assumed he was still blaming himself. A hint of tenderness surfaced in her gentle almond-shaped eyes. “Let’s not talk about this today. We’ll discuss it again once Senior Brother Qi wakes up.” She grabbed both of her junior brothers by the shoulders. “Come on, let’s pick out some swords!”

***

The layout of Eternal Crest Peak was distinct from the other peaks.

Each of the twelve main peaks reflected the personality of its peak lord. For example, Fang Wuyu’s White Cloud Peak was luxurious and grand; Yin Xisheng’s Jade Pavilion Peak was understated yet opulent. Before Ning Mingmei arrived, Misty Peak had been impoverished and sparsely furnished. After his arrival, the future Misty Peak was transforming into a large administrative hub.

Anyone who set foot on Eternal Crest Peak could immediately tell that its master was a bold, straightforward person who disliked trivialities and nonsense.

Bai Ruoru landed in the main plaza with the two of them. The disciples of Eternal Crest Peak bowed in greeting, appearing unsurprised. They were evidently well aware of the close friendship between the two peak lords.

However…

Upon seeing Ning Mingmei and Chang Feichang following behind Bai Ruoru, their expressions turned strange.

Bringing Ning Mingmei alone was already odd enough. But this time, Peak Lord Bai had actually managed to bring Chang Feichang along as well!

The disciples clearly had no idea that Chang Feichang had been dragged along straight from Misty Peak.

Bai Ruoru, familiar with the place, headed inside to look for someone. “Old Xiang? Where’s Old Xiang?”

“What’s with the ‘Old Xiang’ this and ‘Old Xiang’ that? No respect at all! I’m your senior brother, call me Senior Brother!”

Ning Mingmei: …

That was a thick northern accent.

As Ning Mingmei followed Bai Ruoru inside, he immediately saw a tall and burly cultivator standing in the courtyard. The man was draped in a fur cloak, arms crossed, while several disciples in front of him trembled as they practiced their sword forms.

Bai Ruoru called out, “Old Xiang, you just got back and you’re already watching them train?”

“I haven’t seen them all in years, so I figured I’d drop by for a surprise inspection. Look at those shaky arms. You’ve been slacking off again, haven’t you? What are you looking at? Don’t think you can get away with it just because we have guests!” The fur-clad cultivator raised his voice.

Eternal Crest Peak disciples: “Peak Lord Bai, please, can you put in a good word to our master for us?”

Bai Ruoru covered her lips with a smile. “I can’t help you with that.”

“Alright, alright, enough of this pitiful display. Get out of here.” The cultivator turned around and glanced at Ning Mingmei and Chang Feichang behind Bai Ruoru. “Two of you, huh? Perfect. Hey, Second Disciple, come here.”

Ning Mingmei: …

The system noticed that Ning Mingmei was slightly nervous. It asked, [What’s wrong?]

Ning Mingmei: “…Nothing. I’m just terrible at dealing with people like this.”

After all, Ning Mingmei lived a refined life, eating from small and delicate plates.

The system: ?

Meanwhile, the cultivator had already called his second disciple over. “Since we have so many guests today, go slaughter the two big geese I brought back. We’ll cook them in an iron pot for dinner to treat everyone. Oh, and none of you strictly follow fasting rules, right?”

Two big geese.

The system watched as Ning Mingmei adjusted his glasses. His expression resembled someone recalling a tragic social encounter (or multiple such encounters) from his student days.

Bai Ruoru asked gently, “Junior Brothers, do you strictly abstain from food?” Her voice was so soft that it was impossible not to respond.

Chang Feichang shook his head. “No.”

Ning Mingmei: “…Mm.”

Bai Ruoru was meticulous. “Then do you only eat vegetarian food?”

Chang Feichang shook his head. “No.”

Ning Mingmei: “…Mm.”

Xiang Wuxing nodded. “Alright, so this is your first time here, huh? There’s probably a lot you haven’t tried. Second Disciple, tell the kitchen to prepare some three treasure vegetables and sweet and sour pork too. Add some chicken stew with mushrooms, pork stew with glass noodles… and let’s get some cold noodles as well. Cultivators eat a lot, so we won’t waste anything. Oh, and make sure there’s plenty of crispy bread for the iron pot stew, Little Bai loves that… Actually, since this meal’s turning out so fancy, why not invite the others too?”

Xiang Wuxing’s enthusiasm reminded Ning Mingmei of a video he had watched before he transmigrated.

It classified people into introverts, the I-types, and extroverts, the E-types. If you invite 30 I-types to dinner, you might get 12 responses, but only 4 people will actually show up. If you invite 30 E-types, over 60 people will end up attending.

Bai Ruoru quickly put a stop to Xiang Wuxing’s social whirlwind. “Our junior brothers are visiting for the first time. Just focus on hosting them properly.”

Xiang Wuxing sighed. “Fine… A shame though, that Old Qi is still unconscious. He’s the best drinking partner.”

Ning Mingmei: …

Wait, Qi Miancheng drinking with Xiang Wuxing? That sounds like a horror movie scene.

To be fair, Xiang Wuxing was quite handsome up close, with thick eyebrows, striking features, and an imposing presence, the very image of a heroic warrior. Unfortunately, the moment he spoke, his overwhelming hospitality gave off a completely different impression.

Xiang Wuxing adjusted his clothes, gave a few more instructions to his disciples, and then led the group forward. As they walked, a disciple handed him something.

“Here,” Xiang Wuxing said.

Bai Ruoru took one first, biting into it. “Not spicy enough.”

…Coming from a Southwest native like Bai Ruoru, that was a serious statement.

Ning Mingmei silently stared at the item in Xiang Wuxing’s hand.

“You seem pretty introverted. Don’t be shy. Come on, let’s pick out some swords while eating frozen pears. You’ve never had them before, right? They’re delicious.” Xiang Wuxing stuffed the black object into Ning Mingmei’s hand. “Try a bite?”

Ning Mingmei: …

The system: [This Senior Brother Xiang is really hospitable.]

Ning Mingmei set a flag. “It’s fine. As soon as I pick out a sword, I’ll slip away before dinner.”