After Sheng Jun Chapter 17 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 17 Overlapping Shadows (part 2)
When Jiang Xingzhi opened his eyes, that tall figure was still sitting at the table.
He was just propping himself up when he heard the other person speak, "Finally awake?"
The word "finally" revealed that he had slept for quite some time. Jiang Xingzhi responded with a "Mm," and straightened his sleep-rumpled clothes. "Has anyone from Yuhua Sect come looking for us?"
"They came once about half an hour ago."
Jiang Xingzhi was surprised, "How did I not notice?"
He never relaxed his vigilance of the outside world when sleeping, yet this time he had slept so soundly? Or was his skill declining with age?
He didn't dwell on it for now, instead asking, "What did the person who came say?"
Zhong Ming replied, "Nothing much. I told them you were still sleeping."
Jiang Xingzhi felt self-pitying, "Leaving an impression of laziness, how unfortunate."
"No one would think that way." His words seemed to carry deeper meaning.
"True." Jiang Xingzhi was nonchalant, "I'm delicate and frail, what's wrong with sleeping a bit longer?"
"......"
By now it was almost noon, and they should head out to attend to their business. Before leaving, Jiang Xingzhi changed his clothes, wearing a short robe on top and pants tucked into long boots, making his legs appear straight and long.
He walked out of the pavilion with Zhong Ming. As the midday sunlight leaped into their eyes, Jiang Xingzhi squinted and asked the latter, "How does this outfit look?"
Zhong Ming met his narrowed eyes, which in the golden sunlight looked like those of a lazy cat. "Mm, this outfit looks good too."
Jiang Xingzhi was content with the compliment, "You truly have good taste."
The other man chuckled softly.
The new day began with laughter and joy. They had just walked about ten steps out of the courtyard when they ran into Protector Qian.
Protector Qian stopped in front of them, "What a coincidence meeting you two. Where are you headed?"
Jiang Xingzhi replied candidly, "Going to have a chat with those few friends."
"Let me take you there."
The three of them walked side by side. Protector Qian glanced at Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming's practical attire, "Your outfits look very convenient for movement."
After these words, Zhong Ming placed a hand on Jiang Xingzhi's waist, "Couple's outfits."
Yesterday, Jiang Xingzhi had worn a loose outer robe, so their physical contact had been somewhat concealed. Today with tighter clothes, that waist was clearly visible, conspicuously held in the man's palm, and he even pulled him closer to his embrace.
Protector Qian's mouth twitched at the sight: in broad daylight, what a display of affection.
Jiang Xingzhi felt the heat from that palm through his side waist, and almost reflexively shuddered.
Taking advantage of Protector Qian looking away, he sent a voice transmission to Zhong Ming, "You're holding too tight. Just loosely embrace me, that would suffice."
Zhong Ming glanced at him sideways and suggested, "Why not just pretend then?"
"......"
The two of them arrived at Ping Lan's residence, still in an embrace.
Upon entering, they saw Lin Kuo and Fei Yin also sitting in the courtyard around a small stone table. They were initially delighted to see Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming, but their expressions suddenly froze when they noticed Protector Qian beside them.
Jiang Xingzhi greeted them naturally, "I've come to chat with you all."
"Immort—" Fei Yin's bell ornament shook, and she almost bit her tongue as the words reached her lips, "...sir."
Protector Qian stood beside them without leaving, discreetly observing everyone.
Zhong Ming ignored him, simply holding Jiang Xingzhi's waist as they walked over, "Excuse us."
Fei Yin hurriedly said, "Not at all, not at all."
Ping Lan saw the two showing affection without hiding their intimacy, much bolder than at Youpo Lake earlier, and couldn't help remarking, "I previously thought you two were a couple, but I didn't realize you had already become Dao companions."
Jiang Xingzhi almost choked on his saliva: The Grand Elder's faction was one thing, but how had this young man not realized they were acting?
And where did this misunderstanding about them being a "couple" come from!
Protector Qian was still standing there without leaving. Jiang Xingzhi took a breath and smiled with dignity, "We keep our love low-key."
Zhong Ming chuckled, and as their bodies pressed closely together, the vibration from his chest transmitted to Jiang Xingzhi's shoulder.
After observing for a while, Protector Qian couldn't discern anything suspicious and instead had been subjected to their display of affection. Unable to bear it any longer, he bid farewell, "I have matters to attend to. Take your time chatting."
That figure quickly exited the courtyard, leaving the five of them inside.
With the surveillance gone, Fei Yin and the others finally relaxed their tense nerves.
Ping Lan made room for them to sit, "Please sit, Immortal Lord."
After sitting down, Jiang Xingzhi felt a pulling force at his waist, and only then realized the other was still holding him. He patted Zhong Ming's hand on his waist, indicating that it was okay now.
That hand then obediently withdrew.
Fei Yin noticed Jiang Xingzhi's relaxed expression, and his precise intuition activated again, "The Immortal Lord seems to be in a good mood."
Jiang Xingzhi glanced at Zhong Ming, "Mm, I slept well last night." Bai Mu hadn't fought him for the bed.
Zhong Ming rested his chin in his hand and curved his lips at him.
The three across from them: ......damn.
Ping Lan turned to heat up some tea and handed it to the two, "Please have some tea, Immortal Lord." Let's talk about something pure and desireless.
"Thank you." Jiang Xingzhi accepted the tea Ping Lan handed him, and the hot temperature transmitted through the cup wall to his palm, making his whole body feel comfortable.
He exhaled comfortably; since his rebirth, his constitution had been inclined toward coldness, and he had increasingly liked being close to heat sources, as if it were a physical instinct.
With a cup of tea as a transition, the topic returned to the main point.
Jiang Xingzhi asked them, "Have you three been together since returning yesterday?"
Ping Lan said, "We don't dare to stay alone, fearing some misfortune. But if they really wanted to make a move, we probably wouldn't be able to resist anyway."
Jiang Xingzhi said, "Don't worry, before figuring out our purpose, they won't easily harm you."
"Then what about you—"
"Don't worry about us. Rather than us, you should be more concerned about your Sect Master and teacher."
"What's happened to Master?!" the three exclaimed in unison.
Jiang Xingzhi cradled the teacup and nudged Zhong Ming with his elbow, gesturing for him to speak. This kind of alarming inference was better coming from him.
Indeed, after Zhong Ming relayed yesterday's conversation and conjectures in his characteristically cold and sharp tone, the faces of the three opposite them turned pale, as if their Sect Master had already met with harm.
"Then Master truly was... by Martial Uncle..."
Jiang Xingzhi said, "That's just the worst-case scenario. To know what cards the Grand Elder holds, the only hope might be in the Forbidden Area."
Ancient records either remained in books or were carved on stone walls. He needed to find records about Youpo Lake, while Ping Lan and the others needed to understand the Grand Elder's motives.
Their goals aligned; if Ping Lan was willing to take them to the Forbidden Area, he wouldn't mind helping them out of their current predicament.
Ping Lan's face showed some conflict. The Forbidden Area was a place only accessible to successive Sect Masters. As the Chief Disciple under the Sect Master, he indeed knew how to enter, but...
The teacup, already cooled by five degrees, was set down with a tap. Jiang Xingzhi didn't rush him, just sat with his hands folded, waiting for him to think quietly.
Suddenly, the teacup by his hand was taken away. Jiang Xingzhi turned his head to see the man beside him quite naturally replacing it with a hot cup of tea, handing it to him.
He blinked, "You..."
Zhong Ming said, "Hold it."
Across from them, Fei Yin sighed with envy, "They say the person who understands you best in the world is either your opponent or your lover, and it's true. Ah, having a Dao companion is so nice."
Lin Kuo was also envious, "Mm." Understanding what the other needs with just one gesture, no wonder he could become Immortal Lord Jiang's Dao companion.
Jiang Xingzhi held the teacup, silently sipping the tea in small mouthfuls.
No, Bai Mu is neither; he can just read minds...
"Immortal Lord Jiang." Ping Lan suddenly looked up, bit his lip with determination, "I'll take you to the Forbidden Area."
Compared to the Grand Elder who was almost openly moving against them, it was better to take a gamble and trust these two outsiders who had saved their lives.
Inaction would only lead to a dead end, and he still carried the responsibility of being the Sect Master's Chief Disciple.
"But I implore you to save my Master and my sect."
Jiang Xingzhi smiled pleasantly, "I shall not betray your trust."
He patted the other's shoulder, don't worry, God loves all people.
****
They set the time to visit the Forbidden Area for that night.
This mission was covert; the fewer people, the better. Fei Yin and Lin Kuo stayed behind. Meanwhile, Ping Lan placed a wooden dummy in his bedroom to act as his substitute.
Jiang Xingzhi was amazed when he first saw the wooden dummy, "Is this puppet technique?"
"It's one type of puppet technique, one of the exclusive skills of the direct disciples of Yuhua Sect's technical branch." Ping Lan explained.
"Very useful." After complimenting it, Jiang Xingzhi also cast a barrier as a double insurance to conceal them from outside detection. "Let's go, we'll return before dawn."
"Yes."
After the hour of Zi, three figures swiftly descended onto the back mountain in the cold night.
(TL: Hour of Zi- the period of the day from 11 pm to 1 am)
Ping Lan led the way, pointing to a forest covered in prohibitive formations, "That's the entrance."
Jiang Xingzhi had just taken two steps forward when Zhong Ming pulled him behind himself. In the dim environment, the man in front had a broad back, like a towering mountain. "Don't run too fast."
Jiang Xingzhi followed him, "Alright."
Ping Lan, who had hurriedly rushed to the front: "......"
Passing through the overgrown weeds, the closer they got to the Forbidden Area, the more they could feel a profound repulsive force.
The three stopped in front of the forest, with misty fog obscuring the scene within. Beneath their feet, the grass showed sparse traces, evidence of someone having walked through recently.
Ping Lan's heart sank, "My Master went into seclusion a month ago."
Who had been here was self-evident.
Jiang Xingzhi asked, "How do we get in?"
"Inside is the Seven-Star Tiankui Formation." At this point, Ping Lan looked ashamed, "I only followed Master in once, and I don't remember it clearly."
Jiang Xingzhi said, "No problem, I've been through it."
In his past hundreds of years, he had broken through countless forbidden areas and secret realms. For the Seven-Star Tiankui Formation alone, he had traversed it three times with Xu Jian.
He turned his head, "Bai Mu, what about you?"
A steady voice came from beside him, "Been through it." He and Jiang Xingzhi had visited many such secret realms, too many to count.
Jiang Xingzhi was relieved, "That's good. Come, Ping Lan, I'll lead you."
Just as he finished speaking, he saw Ping Lan being grabbed by Zhong Ming, "I'll take him."
Jiang Xingzhi frowned, "Why? Do you look down on me?"
Zhong Ming: "I just grabbed him without thinking."
Ping Lan: "......"
Time was tight, so Jiang Xingzhi didn't dwell on who was leading whom. He took the first step into the array, and the straight trees suddenly began to move around him.
Zhong Ming followed closely behind, carrying Ping Lan.
Entering the formation, Jiang Xingzhi's feet lightened as he moved toward the northwestern eye of the formation, picking up a formation-breaking stone and throwing it toward the Gen Eight Palace position.
The moment the stone left his hand, he suddenly realized: the Seven-Star Tiankui Formation had three ways to break it, and he had instinctively done it his usual way. But Bai Mu wasn't Xu Jian, how would he know how to coordinate?
He immediately turned his head, "Bai Mu!"
The stone precisely passed through the rapidly moving branches, and with a "pa" sound, was firmly caught by a large palm.
The dark-colored figure came into view, and Jiang Xingzhi's heart suddenly suspended.
Standing at the Gen Eight Palace position, through the misty fog and changing branches, the side posture and the way he caught the formation stone were identical to the person in his memory.