Having Eight Discount around really felt like he had a new companion. Wang Meng playfully tickled Eight Discount's chin. Most sparrow demons would docilely enjoy the attention, but Eight Discount immediately turned its head away, its small, fiery-red beak opening slightly.
"Aw, you're shy, little guy?" Wang Meng's interest was piqued. He hugged the fiery-red sparrow demon, kissing and petting it. "Eight Discount, we're family now. We should be more affectionate. Don't be shy. Ah, could you be a female?"
Wang Meng studied it for a long time but couldn't tell if the sparrow demon was male or female. "Come on, let's see what our Eight Discount's complete form looks like. It's gotta be stronger than Fatty's Qiuqiu, right?"
He grasped Eight Discount's claw and began channeling Elemental Power into it. The Second Layer of Life Mark should be more than enough to make a Little Demon reveal its true form…
They stared at each other, wide-eyed. Eight Discount didn't react at all.
Even the weakest Sparrow Demon would show some kind of change when infused with Elemental Power, like growing a little larger or its feathers puffing up and becoming more vibrant. But Eight Discount still showed no reaction, merely tilting its head and giving the human a sideways glance.
Wang Meng lovingly stroked the little sparrow demon. "Eight Discount, it's okay. Don't be discouraged. Even if you're the weakest Sparrow Demon in history, I won't abandon you. People need to have some backbone, and demons need to have some Demon Qi! We'll work hard together from now on!"
Only heaven knew if he was encouraging Eight Discount or himself. In any case, Wang Meng truly didn't mind. He tossed aside his sweaty clothes. "Eight Discount, you stay put. I'm going to take a shower. I'll take you out for a walk and get you something good to eat later."
With that, Wang Meng went to take a shower, humming a little tune. It seemed his mood would be great for the foreseeable future. As for the challenges ahead, he only found them exciting.
The previously scrawny and listless Eight Discount suddenly perked up. It shook its fiery-red feathers, a little surprised itself. 'That Elemental Power was pitifully weak, but its quality was very high. It actually helped me recover a bit of strength.'
WHOOSH…
A faint flame erupted from Eight Discount's body. Its eyes grew incredibly sharp, and the Fine Steel Foot Chain on its leg instantly vaporized. After a glance at Wang Meng, who was still humming away in the bathroom, it smashed through the window and escaped.
CRASH.
Wang Meng rushed out of the bathroom to an empty table. He let out a furious roar. 'Dammit! What kind of heartless, soulless bastard steals a forty-coin Eight Discount! They must be fucking desperate for money!'
Wang Meng charged through the broken window and looked around, but there was no one in sight. He couldn't help but yell, "Which shameless bastard stole my Messenger!"
The courtyard was empty. In a flash, Wang Meng leaped onto the roof. 'What the hell? How could they be so fast?'
There was no one there at all. He felt something strange above him. Wang Meng looked up and saw Eight Discount, wreathed in flames, soaring high into the sky.
"Eight Discount! Eight Discount! Eigh—"
Wang Meng felt a little dizzy. Forty coins had just flown away like that. 'What is this nonsense? The chances of a tamed Little Demon escaping are extremely low. Of course, it had to happen to me. I should have beaten it up first.'
Wang Meng sullenly lowered his outstretched hand. 'Well, that's that. Back to being all alone. And here I thought I'd finally gotten a companion. Sigh… Fatty's the only one I can count on!'
"Pervert!"
"Who is that? Why is he naked on the roof? Is he crazy?!"
WHOOSH~~~
The wind was a bit chilly. Only then did Wang Meng realize that while one "bird" had flown away, another "bird" was now on display.
His face flushed red. Wang Meng immediately clamped his legs shut and scurried away. Just then, the red dot in the sky returned.
In the instant Wang Meng was stunned, he felt something enormous and overwhelming envelop him, and then he was floating lightly as he was carried away…
"Brother Meng! Brother Meng! Wake up, wake up!"
Wang Meng opened his eyes again to see a round, chubby face—the reliable Zhang Xiaopang.
Seeing Wang Meng's eyes open, Zhang Xiaojiang let out a sigh of relief. "Brother Meng, what happened? I came back and found you lying naked in the courtyard. You really scared my Hu Jing."
Hu Jing was the object of Zhang Xiaopang's long-standing crush. Her parents were influential nobles in Thunderlight City, but Hu Jing herself was carefree and straightforward, and she got along great with the two of them.
"Zhang Xiaopang, who's 'your' Hu Jing? Watch it, or I'll beat you up!" Hu Jing shot the damn fatty a vicious glare.
Then she looked at Wang Meng. "I heard you got into the Sword Sect. You stumble into a miracle like that, so what could possibly get you down? By the way, your physique isn't that great, so you should stop showing it off everywhere."
Wang Meng closed his eyes. His lifelong reputation was ruined, just like that. He couldn't help but grit his teeth. "You two better take this to your graves. If either of you dares to breathe a word of this, I'll silence you for good!"
"Huh? Where's Eight Discount?"
At the thought, Wang Meng twitched. "It ran away while I was in the shower. Why else do you think I'd be outside naked?"
"Brother Meng, don't tell me you were so heartbroken you lost your footing and fell?"
Zhang Xiaopang's mouth fell open in an exaggerated gasp.
THWACK…
Zhang Xiaopang immediately received a knock on the head—not from Wang Meng, but from Hu Jing.
"Damn fatty, show some decency. It ran away, so what? Wang Meng, congratulations on getting into the Sword Sect. I'll get you a Messenger as a gift."
Hu Jing said with a smile.
Wang Meng shook his head and climbed to his feet. 'Today has been so weird. First, I got chewed out by some strange old man, and then my Messenger ran off.' Wang Meng looked at the broken chain on the table. "What shitty quality. You get what you pay for."
"This should teach you to lock your next Messenger in a Demon Refining Talisman as soon as you buy it."
Wang Meng shrugged, chalking it up to bad luck. 'Who would waste a Demon Refining Talisman on a mere Sparrow Demon?'
"Anyway, we all became Holy Hall Disciples! That's something worth celebrating!" Zhang Xiaopang was the happiest of them all; nothing could get his spirits down.
Wang Meng nodded. "Hu Jing, congratulations on getting into the Talisman Sect. Though with your aptitude, that's pretty much a given."
Hu Jing was born with a Fifth Layer Life Mark, making her the most talented of the three. She also had a calm personality. In Wang Meng's eyes, there seemed to be nothing she couldn't do.
In fact, many people found their little trio strange. Hu Jing, a noble by birth, was a true paragon of beauty and wisdom. She also had a good personality, free of the haughtiness common among noblewomen. After it was revealed she possessed a Fifth Layer Life Mark, she became one of the most renowned figures in Thunderlight City. Yet, she chose to hang out with the indolent Zhang Xiaopang and the unknown Wang Meng. Zhang Xiaopang's family was merely wealthy, not truly influential. His only redeeming quality was his Fourth Layer of Life Mark, indicating decent talent, but judging by his physique and personality, even the best talent would be wasted on him.
As for Wang Meng, it wasn't that he had no reputation at all—it was just mostly for brawling and fighting. The three of them should have been like three parallel lines, yet somehow they had intersected and even become friends.
"In the path of cultivation, talent alone isn't enough. There are plenty of talented people out there. Wang Meng, I think you still have a great chance. The Sword Sect Elder has a good eye."
Hu Jing said. While she was happy for Wang Meng, her words were mostly meant as encouragement. After all, what kind of talent was the Second Layer of Life Mark?
"Hu Jing, what about me? Do I have a promising future too?" Zhang Xiaopang asked with a wide grin.
"You? If you were a bit more diligent, there might be some hope for you."
"Haha, I knew I was a genius! You all just wait and see! I'm going to sweep through the Arrow Sect and make a name for myself!"