After Sheng Jun Chapter 14 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 14 Dense Nerves (part 2)
Soon, the two surfaced and returned to the shore.
The first time was unfamiliar, but the second time became easier. This time, Fei Yin and the others didn't make a fuss, but greeted them pleasantly, "You're up~"
Her tone carried a little wave at the end, like a small lark soaring joyfully in a valley. Ping Lan gave her little junior sister a smiling look, and the two began to exchange glances again... the atmosphere turned pink and rosy.
Jiang Xingzhi, "......"
Are all people in love like this?
He sat down nearby, sighed long and short at the pink bubble, and seeing Lin Kuo staying alone to the side, called him over, "Are you bored?"
Lin Kuo jogged over to sit in front of Jiang Xingzhi, "I don't want to disturb them."
Zhong Ming, sitting on Jiang Xingzhi's other side, shifted his gaze over. Lin Kuo suddenly felt a cool breeze blow past his side, and he looked around the valley in confusion before rubbing his arms.
Jiang Xingzhi didn't notice the undercurrent, and asked, "So you still went down the mountain with your senior brother and sister for the assessment?"
Lin Kuo was dejected, "It's not what I wanted, it was arranged by the sect."
Jiang Xingzhi pondered silently: It seems that in his future "Guixue Sect," he should allow free grouping to fully care for the mental and physical health of each disciple.
Following the other's lead, Jiang Xingzhi asked a few more questions about the Yuhua Sect.
Not touching on secrets, Lin Kuo honestly answered each one:
He said Yuhua Sect had been established for a long time, divided into technique and martial factions. The three of them were disciples of the technique faction under the Sect Master, while their martial uncle was the head of the martial faction.
Yuhua Sect was once one of the Upper Sects, but gradually declined, and now was a medium-sized sect.
Lin Kuo spoke clearly and methodically, with Jiang Xingzhi occasionally adding a comment or two. The entire conversation could be described as pleasant.
—Except for a certain man on the side who wouldn't settle down.
Jiang Xingzhi didn't know what was wrong with the usually noble and cold person today. One moment he was checking his wrist asking "Are you cold?", the next moment he was lifting his hair saying "It seems messy." His presence was becoming increasingly noticeable.
When the other reached over for the fourth time, Jiang Xingzhi finally couldn't help but turn to look at him, "Bai Mu."
"Hmm, what?"
Zhong Ming leaned back, appearing to be at the other's service, seemingly unaware of any abnormality in his behavior.
Jiang Xingzhi examined him carefully for several moments, then suddenly grabbed his hand.
With a "pat," the cold jade-like hand gripped the wrist crossed with blue veins. Zhong Ming was stunned, his back stiffening. On the other side, Lin Kuo, seeing the posture of the two, had one hand clutching his knee, not quite recovered.
Zhong Ming held his breath, allowing Jiang Xingzhi to feel his slightly quickened pulse, "What's wrong?"
"Shh." After a moment, Jiang Xingzhi withdrew his hand seriously, carefully gauging the other's expression, "Tell me honestly, did you suffer some aftereffects from going into the lake just now?"
This mental excitement was like hyperactivity.
Zhong Ming, "......"
Lin Kuo, "......"
Zhong Ming took a deep breath and withdrew his hand, restraining his century-old habit of not drawing his life-bound sword. He closed his eyes, unwilling to see the concerned face of the former, and his lips moved, "I'm going to meditate. Don't disturb me."
Jiang Xingzhi, "Oh."
…..
Unlike Jiang Xingzhi, Zhong Ming didn't look approachable. Therefore, during his meditation, Lin Kuo wisely slipped back to his sect members and stayed quietly with his senior brother and sister.
Only Jiang Xingzhi remained, sitting relaxed very close to Zhong Ming, taking out a storybook to read.
The pages turned with loud "whoosh" sounds, and occasionally when he found something amusing, he would let out a few ethereal, self-forgetting laughs that echoed throughout the spacious valley, never ceasing.
The three Yuhua Sect disciples watched with trepidation, fearing that the meditating man would open his eyes and get angry at him.
But Zhong Ming didn't get angry; even the low pressure around him gradually rose.
Finally, as dusk approached, he opened his eyes.
Just as the round sun was being swallowed by the continuous mountain range, those pitch-black eyes faced the mountain peak at the junction of dawn and dusk. A dazzling golden light burst forth at the moment he opened his eyes—reflecting on the distant mountains and secluded lake, even outshining the sun and moon.
The three Yuhua Sect observers froze in place. Even their souls seemed to be stunned by this gaze, with a moment of blankness in their minds.
A blue figure flashed in the field of vision, blocking that golden light.
Jiang Xingzhi stood up to block the trace of true elemental power leaking from Zhong Ming's eyes, to prevent the three juniors behind from being unable to withstand it.
Zhong Ming closed his eyes again, his eyes returning to normal.
Jiang Xingzhi reminded, "Public place."
Zhong Ming looked past him at the three who were still standing in a daze, "There won't be after-effects."
"But there will be psychological trauma."
"......" Zhong Ming said, "I'll be careful next time."
The three Yuhua Sect disciples recovered under Jiang Xingzhi's shielding. Fei Yin was still in shock from being intimidated by a single glance and ran over pulling Ping Lan.
The little bell jingled all the way over, and Jiang Xingzhi turned back, "Are you okay?"
Zhong Ming's gaze followed, and Fei Yin immediately assessed the situation and started praising profusely, "No problem! Immortal Lord Bai is amazing, don't you think so, Immortal Lord Jiang?"
Although Jiang Xingzhi didn't quite understand why she called on him to praise someone else, he still cooperated by clapping and complimenting, "Really amazing, one look to last a lifetime." Truly well-deserved.
That cold sharp gaze softened considerably.
Fei Yin: Hehe~ She knew it.
After successfully obtaining permission to stay here, Fei Yin didn't forget her purpose for coming over, and she tugged on her eldest senior brother, signaling him to speak.
Ping Lan gave a salute and inquired, "May I ask how long you two plan to stay here?"
Zhong Ming looked at Jiang Xingzhi, obviously leaving the decision to him. Jiang Xingzhi said, "About five or six days. Are you in a hurry to leave?"
"Five or six days is not urgent," Ping Lan explained. "We were afraid we might stay for ten days or half a month, and we weren't sure."
Jiang Xingzhi asked, "Have you contacted your sect?"
Ping Lan shook his head, "The Sect Master is in closed-door cultivation, so during this time, it's all being handled by Martial Uncle. If we send a message back now, we'd be walking into a trap."
Jiang Xingzhi, "After a few days, I'll take you out, and you can contact your sect."
"Why?" Ping Lan and the others exchanged glances, "We planned to wait until Master comes out of seclusion before returning."
"Wandering outside isn't necessarily safe." Jiang Xingzhi smiled slightly, amber-colored eyes with flowing halos, as if surrounded by a layer of Buddha's light, "Take me along, and I'll keep you safe."
The others: ???
Zhong Ming transmitted, "What are you planning to do again?"
Jiang Xingzhi regretted, "I haven't figured out how to do it yet."
Zhong Ming, "......" Meaning it's already on the agenda, but the plan still needs fine-tuning.
The Yuhua Sect disciples didn't stay there too long; Fei Yin dragged her two senior brothers away in time.
Before leaving, she swayed to a patch of azure blue and stopped, looking at the Moon-Holding Pearl at Zhong Ming's waist, "Oh? Immortal Lord Bai, this jade pendant is beautiful, it's also blue."
She said "also," making it clear what other blue she was referring to.
Zhong Ming rarely opened his golden mouth, "Mmm."
Ping Lan and Lin Kuo also looked at the jade pendant at his waist, but were quickly pushed away by Fei Yin, "We're going back to cultivate."
The three figures returned to the other side, arguing noisily, while Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming's side quieted down.
Jiang Xingzhi sighed, "Young people are so energetic."
After saying this, he didn't hear Zhong Ming respond. He turned to see the latter lowering his eyes to look at the Moon-Holding Pearl, "Bai Mu?"
Zhong Ming withdrew his gaze and then swept it toward the other's chest, "Where's yours?"
Jiang Xingzhi touched his chest, "It's lying on my consciousness, why?"
Zhong Ming lowered his eyes, "Take it out and wear it."
Jiang Xingzhi didn't understand his sudden proposal, "Why? We agreed that wealth shouldn't be flaunted."
Zhong Ming said, "It's precisely to flaunt it and see."
He relied on his thick skin and didn't explain. So Jiang Xingzhi stared at that flawless handsome face, carefully pondering, and reviewed the expressions of the Yuhua Sect disciples before they left.
After a while, he was somewhat surprised, "You couldn't be..."
Zhong Ming met his slightly widened eyes, his heart rate suddenly quickening.
He thought, if Jiang Xingzhi perceived his feelings, that would be good too, using this opportunity to make him reconsider their relationship.
After a few breaths of facing each other, Jiang Xingzhi leaned forward with one hand on the ground.
As the distance between them narrowed, under the rising moon overhead, Zhong Ming could see the other's long slender eyelashes and slightly parted lips just by lowering his eyes.
His gaze fixed, he softly made an "Mmm?" sound.
The red lips opened, and Jiang Xingzhi said mysteriously, "You couldn't be deliberately flaunting your wealth to test their character?"
Zhong Ming, "......"
Jiang Xingzhi, "Is that it?"
Zhong Ming was irritated and gave up, "Yes, yes, so hurry up and take it out!"