After Transmigrating as an Immortal Master, I Hold a Group Meeting - Chapter 93

Ning Mingmei followed behind Xiang Wuxing and Bai Ruoru. Below the main hall of Eternal Crest Peak was the armory.

As expected of Eternal Crest Peak, even the swords in its armory were a size larger than those on other peaks.

Ning Mingmei held the black frozen pear in his hand and glanced behind him at Chang Feichang, who was also carrying his frozen pear the entire way… Then, he saw the gray-clad youth expressionlessly and swiftly stuff the pear into his mouth.

?

“Junior Brother Ning,” came Xiang Wuxing’s thunderous voice. “Why aren’t you eating your frozen pear? It’s delicious! Here, let me show you how to eat it properly…”

Ning Mingmei: …

He let his guard down.

Chang Feichang! You’ve betrayed your fellow I-type!

Under Xiang Wuxing’s enthusiastic gaze and instructions, Ning Mingmei reluctantly bit into the pear’s skin… and step by step, finished eating it. Throughout the process, Xiang Wuxing continuously encouraged him with all kinds of praise and concern.

Ning Mingmei: …

Now he finally understood why Chang Feichang had stuffed the pear into his mouth so quickly.

Xiang Wuxing beamed. “Ah, Junior Brother, you finally learned how to eat it! It’s just that the last step wasn’t quite right. No worries… Look, I’ve got another one for you. Here, have another!”

Ning Mingmei: …

The system: …This is a rare sight. Ning Mingmei is forcing himself to go along with something.

With Xiang Wuxing’s straightforward nature and Bai Ruoru’s warmth, the two of them watching him eat a pear… Ning Mingmei understood why the two people were so close. It was as if the entire extrovert gene pool of the Supreme Clarity Sect’s direct lineage had gathered in them.

Ning Mingmei finally finished his second pear. Before Xiang Wuxing could speak again, he quickly said, “Senior Brother, let’s pick a sword first.”

Xiang Wuxing smacked his forehead. “Ah, right! I completely forgot about that!” He glanced up and down at Ning Mingmei and Chang Feichang before saying, “Judging by your builds, don’t bother looking at the swords past the fifth cabinet. Just pick from the first few.”

Ning Mingmei thanked him.

Chang Feichang, dragging his words slowly, said, “I don’t need a sword. Senior Sister Bai just brought me along…”

Xiang Wuxing waved it off. “No need to be polite! Since you’re here, just take one. No dawdling!”

Ning Mingmei glanced at Chang Feichang, who seemed to be swallowing something; probably choking from eating the pear too fast. He adjusted his glasses and added fuel to the fire, “Exactly, Senior Brother Xiang already said so.”

Xiang Wuxing laughed heartily and threw an arm around Ning Mingmei’s shoulder. “Little Bai was right. You’ve really opened up after all these years! Good! Very good!”

…I’m just trying to take advantage of you, why are you so happy about it?!

Ning Mingmei had been planning to grab a good sword and slip away before dinner, but unfortunately, Xiang Wuxing clearly wasn’t going to let him go.

Crude hospitality was not his way of hosting guests. Xiang Wuxing handed him a sword. “Try this one. I saw you eyeing it earlier. The material suits you and it’s sharp!”

+1 sword in hand.

Xiang Wuxing continued, “Now try this one too. You’ve got a sharp one, so take one with good flexibility as well. A good balance will last you longer.”

+2 swords in hand.

Xiang Wuxing: “Take both of those and grab this one too. It’s also a good sword…”

The dishes have been served; might as well throw in some scallions while we’re at it.

Xiang Wuxing: “Oh, and this one…”

…

If Xiang Wuxing were in the modern world, he’d be a top-tier salesman.

Ning Mingmei, now holding seven or eight swords personally selected by Xiang Wuxing, said, “Senior Brother, this is enough. Really, it’s enough.” If he took any more swords, he’d miss his chance to escape before dinner.

Bai Ruoru smiled. “Don’t be shy. Your senior brother has plenty of swords, and it’s not like he’s using all of them. Feichang, do you see one that suits you?”

It was truly the first time Ning Mingmei had been in the middle of taking advantage of a situation, yet still wanted to run away halfway through. Although he hadn’t managed to escape just yet, at least the attention had shifted to Chang Feichang, which gave him some small comfort.

That was until Xiang Wuxing noticed him standing alone, seemingly left out, and came over again. “Why don’t you try the swords beyond the fifth cabinet? Let’s see if you can lift them.”

…

I really don’t need you to think I’m being neglected and come back to talk to me again.

As time passed, minute by minute, Ning Mingmei could feel dinnertime drawing closer, making his heart race with dread. He kept his face expressionless, dragged his feet over, and picked up a sword hilt, pretending he couldn’t lift it.

Xiang Wuxing frowned. “Your grip is all wrong! You can’t hold it like that. Look, switch your hand position like this and it’ll be much more stable.”

Bai Ruoru chimed in, “Mingmei, listen to Old Xiang. He’s an expert in this area.”

…Damn it. This pair of overly enthusiastic senior martial siblings was in perfect sync.

Would this ever end?!

In the end, Ning Mingmei failed to escape before dinner. Xiang Wuxing’s second disciple came down to inform them that the stewed goose was ready.

Xiang Wuxing clapped his hands. “Alright, we’ll wrap up here for today. If you need more, just come by anytime.”

Following behind them, burdened with seven swords, Ning Mingmei said expressionlessly, “Thanks, Senior Brother. I’ll bring you some tea as a thank-you later. But these seven swords are too much; I should take them back to Misty Peak first…”

Xiang Wuxing waved a hand. “No need, I’ll have my disciples send them to Misty Peak for you. They can take a look around while they’re there. I just got back and heard that your peak has changed a lot. Everyone’s curious about what’s going on there.”

Bai Ruoru added, “My disciples are curious too.”

Hearing this, Ning Mingmei was suddenly wide awake. His glasses gleamed. “They’re very welcome. If Senior Brother and Senior Sister’s disciples are interested, they’re welcome to stay and practice swordsmanship at my peak.”

Xiang Wuxing’s eyes lit up. “You know, we’re always out traveling and with everything going on lately, we’re away for years at a time. Leaving our disciples on the peak without supervision is… If you’re willing to help us manage them, that would be a huge favor!”

Ning Mingmei adjusted his glasses with a single finger. “No problem. As long as you need… ”

I’m more than happy for Misty Peak to gain two more peaks’ worth of manpower.

With just a few words, Xiang Wuxing and Bai Ruoru settled the matter. Of the twelve peaks, Zhang Zhizhen and Chang Feichang’s peaks had already become Ning Mingmei’s colonies. Shen Liwan, Jiang Ying, and Zheng Heguang all had extensive manpower collaborations with him. Yin Xisheng’s peak was undergoing an internal revolution led by Jiang Yu.

And as for Qi Miancheng’s peak… well, he was his senior brother, so that one didn’t even need to be mentioned.

Now, the only peaks Ning Mingmei hadn’t touched were Fang Wuyu’s, Liang Jiansu’s, and Fu Weidao’s.

Three sword cultivators; three last, stubborn strongholds.

In other words, 76.92% of the Supreme Clarity Sect’s twelve inner peaks had already fallen under Ning Mingmei’s academic dominion. Soon, he could begin his Academic Exploration Age.

Ning Mingmei was now fully aware of the benefits of networking. As the saying goes, connections make everything easier. For example, with just a casual conversation, Bai Ruoru and Xiang Wuxing had handed over their peaks to him.

…And before he knew it, they had already walked into the dining hall.

There was no escaping this meal.

The copper pot on the table steamed as the goose stew simmered inside. Xiang Wuxing had his disciples send Ning Mingmei’s seven swords to Misty Peak and then turned to Chang Feichang. “Feichang, want me to send your sword back too?”

Chang Feichang: “…Just send it to Misty Peak as well.”

Xiang Wuxing: ?

Chang Feichang: “My disciples are probably all at Misty Peak by now.”

For a moment, Xiang Wuxing’s expression became very complicated. It was clear he hadn’t realized how, in just a few months, academic enthusiasm had exploded within the Supreme Clarity Sect like a Cambrian explosion.

However, Ning Mingmei could sense something else in his expression. He seemed surprised that Chang Feichang and Ning Mingmei had grown so close.

The four of them sat around the table. Xiang Wuxing drank and ate meat in large chunks and big gulps. Bai Ruoru, sitting beside him, slowly dipped her meat into chopped chili peppers. What kind of terrifying way of eating was that?!

Ning Mingmei glanced at Chang Feichang, who had also taken a dish of chili powder.

As someone who couldn’t handle spice, Ning Mingmei calmly picked at his food in small bites, playing along to keep the atmosphere lively.

After a few rounds of drinks, Xiang Wuxing leaned back, one hand on his knee. “This really feels great, just like when we were still disciples. Tsk, but back then, it was impossible to get everyone together for a hotpot. Old Yin was always sick and couldn’t leave his room. Old Fang showed up randomly. Mingmei, you never came out, and Feichang was always being watched by his master… Old Qi, though, never missed a single one. He came every time and each time he ate more than anyone else. That stinky guy, when will he finally wake up?”

Qi Miancheng always ate the most whenever he came.

After saying this, Xiang Wuxing lowered his head, his face slightly reddened from the hotpot steam. The one who most wanted to have hotpot with his fellow disciples at the Supreme Clarity Sect was always the one who had to guard the border.

Bai Ruoru sat beside him, uncharacteristically quiet. “I wonder what will happen with the Fiend Lord Jiang Duo.”

For a moment, only the sizzling sound of the hotpot filled the room.

Xiang Wuxing said, “Forget it, let’s not talk about that! Let’s play a drinking game!”

Drinking game… huh?

Ning Mingmei, for once, didn’t refuse. But when it was his turn…

“…”

This was way too difficult for someone who had been rooted in science and engineering for over a decade as a doctoral advisor.

Bai Ruoru suggested, “In that case, how about performing for us instead?”

Xiang Wuxing chimed in, “Exactly! Get up and perform something!”

Even Chang Feichang spoke up, “I support this.”

…

Ning Mingmei muttered, “I knew I shouldn’t have felt sorry for them earlier.”

The system: ?

Ning Mingmei felt sorry for them?

He thought for a moment and Bai Ruoru reminded him, “Why not sing, then? Singing is easy.”

“Senior Sister, you’re putting me in a tough spot. I’m completely tone-deaf,” Ning Mingmei said.

Xiang Wuxing put down his wine cup. “Then, isn’t that all the more reason to sing?”

…Ahhhh!!

You extroverts.

Ning Mingmei was silent for a moment before saying, “There’s only one song I can sing in tune…”

Xiang Wuxing: “Stop stalling and sing already.”

Ning Mingmei clicked his tongue. He put down his wine cup, cleared his throat, and followed the melody as he began to sing.

‘Beyond the pavilion, beside the ancient road,
Green grass stretches endlessly.
The evening breeze brushes against the willows, the flute’s tune lingers,
Beyond the mountains, the setting sun fades.
At the ends of the sky, at the edges of the sea…
A jug of cloudy wine brings the last joy,
Tonight, farewell dreams turn cold.’

(From ‘Farewell’) |39|

As he sang, the other three fell silent.

Bai Ruoru kept the beat for him and said, “Junior Brother sings quite well… but it sounds a little melancholic.”

Ning Mingmei finished the last line and adjusted his glasses. “This is the only song I know well.”

Every year, when someone graduated, he would sing it for them. He raised a cup of wine to toast his three fellow disciples. Xiang Wuxing told him to use a bigger cup, while Bai Ruoru covered her mouth, laughing. Even Chang Feichang drank a few more cups than usual.

At that moment, Ning Mingmei glanced outside the window.

The moon shone over a thousand miles, the dark sky stretched high, and the mountain peaks extended endlessly. It was the boundless Supreme Clarity Sect. The small, lit window felt like a lone white speck in the frosty night sky, like a tiny boat floating in the vast ocean.

At that moment, he suddenly lowered his eyes and smiled.

“Tonight, farewell dreams turn cold…” he softly hummed the last line again.

The banquet continued, drinks and laughter filling the night, leaving no one unsatisfied.

As they cleaned up the aftermath, Chang Feichang had already drunk himself unconscious and was curled up on a cushion, asleep.

Xiang Wuxing called for the disciples to tidy up.

Bai Ruoru sat nearby and said to Ning Mingmei, “It’s rare to see Feichang this happy.”

Ning Mingmei asked, “Is he usually unhappy?”

“Ever since his master passed away, he’s always been like this.” Bai Ruoru lowered her eyes and said, “Back then, those who knew the truth said he killed his own master, that he betrayed his master and lineage… After that, even his foundation was damaged and his cultivation never progressed again.”

Those words landed like a thunderclap.

Ning Mingmei thought for a moment and, taking advantage of Bai Ruoru’s drunken state, murmured, “But back then… wasn’t he only in the early Divine Transformation stage…?”

Bai Ruoru said, “Back then, his master, the previous Elder Swordbearer, fell into evil corruption. The Elder Law Upholder was supposed to act and eliminate him, but he was a few steps too late. Just those few steps led to the deaths of several elders and fellow disciples… Later, it was Feichang himself who struck down his own master. After that, the previous Elder Law Upholder took his own life to atone. When Senior Brother Qi became the sect master, Feichang also became the new Elder Law Upholder.”

Ning Mingmei: …

If he remembered correctly, he was the current Elder Swordbearer.

“The previous elders who were still in position, where are they now?” Ning Mingmei asked.

“They are now cultivating in the Heavenly Cave, or traveling in search of ancient secret realms and legendary treasures. Even if they do not show themselves, they remain the pride of the Supreme Clarity Sect, holding the highest status. This is the tradition of the Supreme Clarity Sect. They only emerge in times of crisis, to save the sect from disaster.” Bai Ruoru frowned. “Now that Jiang Duo has appeared and Senior Brother Qi is unconscious… I feel like the time is near…”

Just then, a disciple rushed in and whispered something into Xiang Wuxing’s ear.

Xiang Wuxing’s expression changed drastically, his brows furrowing. “At this hour? What could this be…?”

The disciple shook their head firmly at him.

Ning Mingmei also frowned. Xiang Wuxing’s reaction was clearly unusual.

Just as he was about to ask, Xiang Wuxing turned to look at him.