Wang Taigang made quick progress up the hill, fitting for someone who looked like he went to the gym 14 times a week... Once at the small flat area Lin Songmei, Yan Mingqing, and Han Youhong had set up camp though, he unloaded a pile of camping supplies on the other side before walking over and greeting them.
“Nice to see you again, Youhong!” Wang Taigang laughed, offering a firm handshake that Youhong returned with a reluctant smile. “How you doin? It’s been a few weeks since we last talked!”
“I’m... doing okay. How are you?” Youhong sighed, his energy disappearing just as fast as his lychee jellies.
Songmei couldn’t help but agree with Youhong though... For context, this level area was halfway up the slope that became the tall walls of the ravine. Wang Taigang, even after walking up this far, wasn’t winded at all! In fact, he looked better!! He looked like he was full of energy, beaming even with the small bit of sweat that could be seen on his forehead.
“I’m doing GREAT! Thank you for asking! Today’s a wonderful day to be out and about! I enjoy these wilderness missions every time!” Wang Taigang exclaimed while spreading his arms out and pointing to the natural scenery that stretched out before them. “Anyway, nice checking in, we can catch up more later! I just want to go greet your new party mates, so be back in a sec!”
Looking over towards Mingqing who had stopped leaning against her, Songmei suppressed a “hot damn” before turning back towards Wang Taigang who was walking towards them with a wide smile.
Mingqing’s face was frozen! Like... ice cold, absolute zero TUNDRA! The literal complete opposite from sunboy here...
As he neared, Songmei also realized how... built, Wang Taigang was. Wang Taigang was probably a full head taller than her, and maybe half a head taller than Mingqing? Mingqing and Youhong were about the same height, maybe Youhong a little taller so... Wow, Wang Taigang was tall.
To sum it up really, Mingqing was tall for a girl, Youhong was average for a boy, Songmei was average for a girl, and Wang Taigang was tall for a boy.
At least it wasn’t some crazy, super exaggerated height difference.
Shaking Wang Taigang’s outstretched hand, Songmei’s eyebrows creased a touch as she had to exert strength just to not have her hand crushed. Thank the heavens she had managed to open her fourth meridian a while back, coming in clutch now... “Nice to meet you, I’m Lin Songmei.”
“Nice to meet you too, I’m Wang Taigang, nice to meet you!” Wang Taigang chuckled with an emphatic nod. “I’ve heard a lot about you, amazing cultivation speed! Very few in history could match up to you!”
“I-... t-thank you... I’m... I’m honored.” Songmei stammered, giving a few nods before choking out “Y-You’re amazing too, I’ve heard a lot about you,” with an awkward smile.
“Thank you, absolute pleasure to meet you,” Wang Taigang assured, giving one last firm shake before walking over to Mingqing.
With Wang Taigang walking away, Songmei had an epiphany... well for one, all the other muscle gym bros that Wang Taigang had brought with him were all finding excuses to not come over and greet them. Some were setting up tents, some were making a fireplace, some were even doing partner yoga as a “cooldown” from their “strenuous” hike.
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But... was it because of Mingqing?
Songmei watched as several of them whispered, glanced, and pointed towards Mingqing, fear clear in their eyes.
She could understand why they felt like that though... Mingqing had a high status, was in a top sect, and seemed like she’d rip anyone who misspoke to her apart...
Turning to watch Mingqing and Wang Taigang meet... or reunite? Songmei noticed the... awkward... atmosphere between the two.
In all honesty, for how much Yang cultivation and sun stuff that Wang Taigang did, Songmei still didn’t think that he could melt Mingqing’s frozen tundra. At least for now... Especially not with this many other people around.
“It’s an honor to meet you again,” Wang Taigang greeted with a light bow, before offering a handshake that Mingqing took. “It’s been a few years since we’ve last met, but glad to see you’re well!”
“Mhm. It’s good to see you too.” Mingqing nodded, her sentences freezing over and dying moments after she began them. Even now, sitting a decent distance from Mingqing after Mingqing had moved, Songmei could feel the chill.
With the conversation fizzling and dying after a few moments, Songmei watched as the two gave each other a nod before Wang Taigang left once more, going back to exchange a few more words with Youhong before returning to the area of the cleaning where he had decided to set up camp.
--------
Over on the other side of the flat area of the slope, the clearing, there were 7 other disciples, all direct disciples of other sects, second tier sects that were scattered across the four continents. Of course, second tier sects were still beyond respectable, revered even in certain areas. After all, sects were generally organized into 5 different tiers based on their size, so the second tier was still leagues above what the general public even saw...
Songmei for one, growing up, never in her wildest dreams would’ve thought of going to these sects! She was planning on going to a local sect if she could. Scrape by, make a decent living going to a small city-sized sect.
These 7 other disciples, though, ranged in height and in looks, but had one thing in common: massive muscles!
As of now, each of them had a mix of apprehension and longing on their faces. It was understandable, if she was in their position, Songmei would also be soiling her pants like a small child...
Faced with disciples of two continent level hegemonic sects, of course they’d have some jealousy, wishing that they could be one of them. But more so, they... probably felt a touch of fear as they felt the golden eyes of Mingqing pierce into them from afar, as if bringing an invisible judgment onto them.
“Damn... she’s pretty though, bro.”
“She is, she is...”
“I mean, some people are into that... but not me... the other girl is more my type. What’s her name? Lin Songmei? She seems like... she seems like she’d be really nice to you and treat you well...”
“For sure... did you hear, though? There are rumors that all four of them broke through and opened their fourth meridian.”
“Holy heavens... amazing bro...”
“I barely even opened my third...”
“Third already? I’m still on the cusp of the third, peak second meridian gang, you know?”
“Yeah... and the rumor is that Lin Songmei opened her meridian the first out of everyone over there!”
“Really?!”
“Damn...”
Songmei didn’t have the faintest idea about these murmurs or these rumors. If she had to guess, she would’ve guessed that these disciples were just whispering to each other about their newest protein shake or how they could execute partner yoga better...
But unbeknownst to Songmei, the origin of these rumors lay in Xueli. Xueli had gone around bragging about her beloved and treasured disciples. Because of that, through the web of elders, the news had spread, making its way onto the internet.
Fancy stuff really.
Songmei would’ve known about this if she read those gossip sites... but... what was the point in that?
She never even knew about those sites growing up anyway, they were just a waste of time...