Chapter 18: The Exchange Meeting

The Mount Mao disciples' subtle auras and flowing hair made it evident that their cultivation levels were quite impressive.

Wang Sheng initially thought they wouldn’t tolerate his senior sister’s shameless freeloading and had come to save face for their sect. Contrary to his expectations, they were surprisingly magnanimous; they did not even mention it at all.

One of the young female Daoists softly asked, “Greetings, fellow Daoists. May I ask which sect you belong to?”

The four Daoists from the Wudang Mountains then cupped their hands in response.

Meng Hong then warmly replied, “We have different masters, but we're all from the Wudang Mountains.”

“Oh, I see,” the young man leading the group said, his face flashing a hint of disappointment. However, he still smiled kindly and cupped his hands. “Please excuse us. Feel free to make yourselves at home. If you ever find our hospitality lacking, I hope you’ll forgive us.”

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Although Meng Hong found the interaction slightly puzzling, he merely nodded lightly. “It’s alright.”

What was that about? Were they just here to greet us for no reason?

Wang Sheng wondered.

However, as the four brushed past the five Mount Mao disciples, he overheard two of the young male Daoists whispering to each other.

“Why did they invite Wudang disciples? Everyone’s already focused on cultivating and comprehending the Dao while they’re still playing with swords and fists.”

“Don’t say that. Wudang’s teachings have their unique strengths. They’re just not aligned with the current trend.”

“Senior Brother Yunzhi wanted to spar with that talisman prodigy from the Celestial Master Sect. Looks like he’ll be disappointed.”

So they're looking for someone to spar with...

Wang Sheng smiled faintly, deciding not to take the two Mount Mao disciples’ discussion to heart.

However, he did feel that the leading young man looked somewhat familiar—perhaps someone famous he’d seen online in his previous life.

Before Wang Sheng could take another step, he detected a slight disturbance in the air nearby. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of two... steamed dumplings flying through the air?!

Hissssss!

“Agh!”

Along with sharp grunts, the two Mount Mao disciples stumbled forward. Clutching the backs of their heads, they turned around and glared.

“Who did that?!”

Wang Sheng glanced at his senior sister. Completely unfazed, Mu Wanxuan nibbled on a sweet potato. She even winked playfully at him.

“Let’s go," Wang Sheng whispered, urging her along.

Mu Wanxuan cheerfully followed behind her junior brother, while Meng Hong and Hao Ling were still looking around in confusion. When Wang Sheng hurried them, they quickly followed suit. Having caused trouble, it was only wise to run before a fight broke out.

However, they hadn’t gone far when the two Mount Mao disciples angrily shouted, “Who was it?! You dare act out but not show yourself?!”

“Attacking from the shadows—what kind of technique is that? If you have a problem with us, come forward and face us openly!”

The back of the head was a vital area. Moreover, the attack had almost knocked them to the ground. As Mount Mao disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage, they were considered the rising stars of their sect. Their elders often described them as “riding the tide of the times.” For them to be ambushed at the foot of Mount Mao was intolerable!

The two furious Daoists had their usually calm state of mind shattered. They angrily scanned their surroundings as they voiced their indignation.

Their group was led by a tall and slender Daoist—the very person Wang Sheng thought looked familiar. The young man had refined, feminine features—including peach-blossom eyes that gave him an air of elegance—yet there was nothing delicate or effeminate about him. His reserved aura and the Daoist essence that he radiated made it seem as though he had a natural talent for cultivation.

His surname was Liu, and his Daoist name was Yunzhi. He began training on the mountain at a young age. As a teenager, he followed his master across sacred mountains and rivers, tempering himself through cultivation. Afterward, due to the resurgence of primal qi, Liu Yunzhi’s cultivation advanced rapidly, surpassing many Daoists who had trained for three or four decades. He was now highly regarded by the senior members of Mount Mao.

Liu Yunzhi had always been one of the most outstanding figures among the younger generation of the Mount Mao lineage, and his master held considerable prestige within Mount Mao as well.

“Are you two injured?” Liu Yunzhi asked.

The two Mount Mao disciples, who had been drawing attention with their loud complaints, immediately fell silent.

“Not exactly. Something hit us. We nearly fell.”

Liu Yunzhi chuckled lightly. He glanced in the direction that Wang Sheng and his companions had gone and then bent down to pick up two dusty dumplings.

“You were hit with these.”

“Dumplings?”

A delicate-looking girl beside him softly remarked, “Such skillful technique. The dumpling skins didn't even break, and they didn't injure you either, senior brothers. The force was clearly dispersed in an instant.”

The two cultivators who had been hit exchanged awkward looks.

“Wudang disciples have remarkable talents among their younger generation.” Liu Yunzhi's eyes flashed with interest. He seemed tempted to pursue them, but he quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought.

Cultivation wasn’t about competition. Aside from his personal disdain for an arrogant troublemaker from the Longhu Mountains, he saw no need to challenge others to validate his Daoist skills.

“If you hadn’t spoken so freely behind their backs, you wouldn’t have faced this,” Liu Yunzhi said softly. “Let’s go. We don’t want others thinking Mount Mao Daoists are petty.”

“You're right, Senior Brother,” the two Mount Mao disciples replied, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

Liu Yunzhi threw the two dumplings in a nearby trash bin and wiped his hands. He then quietly led his juniors back up the mountain.

***

They didn’t come after us?

Wang Sheng had thought they would face a duel right after breakfast. Surprisingly, though the other party shouted a few words, they didn't chase them. This unexpected turn of events left him a little bewildered.

Regardless, the fewer troubles, the better. It was always safer to keep a low profile.

After having breakfast at a porridge shop, the four returned to their hotel. By then, four or five delegations staying at the same hotel had begun gathering.

Whether intentionally or not, the Daoists from other delegations seemed to isolate the group from the Wudang Mountains. No one approached them to chat or mingle. Conversely, the representatives from other sacred mountain sects in the hotel greeted one another warmly, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

The exchange meeting was not held at Mount Mao's dojo. After all, the mountain’s serene environment was unsuitable for hundreds of people to gather and create a commotion. Hence, as per tradition, such events were usually conducted in a sports arena at the foot of the mountain.

On the bus, Mu Wanxuan noticed Wang Sheng’s solemn expression. Thinking he was upset about her earlier antics during breakfast, she held her phone up to his face. The screen displayed a pitiful-looking little girl.

“What’s that?” Wang Sheng asked, puzzled.

Mu Wanxuan swiped her finger across the screen. It now showed an image of the same girl tilting her head, accompanied by a string of question marks.

It was one of her favorite meme collections.

Wang Sheng smiled. “I was just thinking that today’s exchange meeting might bring us some trouble.”

Mu Wanxuan blinked, waiting for him to elaborate.

Zhou Yinglong and the others, sitting in the back row, overheard and joined the conversation, asking what kind of trouble Wang Sheng anticipated.

“I’m not entirely sure,” Wang Sheng replied, glancing at the Daoist masters in front of them. “I just feel like the Wudang Mountains will become the target of criticism from the other sects.”

Hao Ling chuckled, and Meng Hong and Zhao Zhao looked confused.

Zhou Yinglong shrugged indifferently. “You probably don't know this, Junior Brother, but a few sects did target the Wudang Mountains recently.”

Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow. “Oh? The Daoist sects trace back to the same roots two thousand years ago. This is a lawful society. what old grudges could they still have against us?”

Zhou Yinglong sighed. “Back when we couldn’t cultivate Daoist arts and could only train in martial arts, the Wudang Mountains enjoyed hundreds of years of glory. Naturally, it drew the ire of some Daoist lineages. It’s no big deal, though. At most, they’ll just make some snide remarks. Everyone still generally maintains a friendly front.”

That was new to Wang Sheng. However, when he thought about it, he realized it made sense. Wudang’s reputation in the martial arts world had always been extraordinary. Alongside Southern Wudang, it wasn't compared to sects like Mount Hua or Mount Mao. On the contrary, it had been known as equal to Northern Shaolin for centuries. Now, with the resurgence of primal qi and the revival of Daoist arts, the status of the Wudang Mountains was bound to decline.

No wonder the elders of the Wudang Mountains didn’t attend. Even Li Shiwu, who oversaw external affairs, had to turn to their master, who was merely a nominal Daoist master of Wudang.

Mu Wanxuan poked Wang Sheng’s arm and held her phone up again. This time, the screen displayed an anime illustration of a blood-soaked female warrior raising a broken sword. Wang Sheng couldn't help but notice that her eyes were filled with pride and a strong sense of collective honor.

Fine. His task today was to keep an eye on his senior sister and prevent her from impulsively attacking and slapping the esteemed elders of other sects.

After a ten-minute bus ride, they arrived at the venue, where hundreds of young and old men and women were gathering, all dressed in Daoist robes or martial arts uniforms. They made for a truly impressive scene.

The sports arena was open to the public for the day. Tickets were free, but spectators were required to remain quiet. Moreover, the north bleachers of the sports arena were divided into over ten sections. Several dozen Mount Mao disciples guided the various delegations to their designated areas in an orderly manner.

Wang Sheng and his senior sister blended into the Wudang Mountains' group, maintaining a low profile. Nevertheless, although there were many female cultivators around them, and Mu Wanxuan had tied up her hair and changed into Daoist robes, her radiant beauty and uncontainable aura still drew considerable attention.