After Sheng Jun Chapter 15 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 15 Acting All the Time (part 1)
Jiang Xingzhi put on the red Moon-Holding Pearl.
To avoid suspicion, he deliberately hung it around his neck. Against his blue-based clothing, it was quite eye-catching and rather ostentatious.
Early the next morning, the three Yuhua Sect members noticed it.
Fei Yin's eyes brightened immediately. "Oh? Immortal Lord Jiang, you have a jade pendant just like that too!"
As she spoke, she leaned forward to look closer, only to be pulled back by Ping Lan. Ping Lan smiled apologetically at Jiang Xingzhi, "Excuse our rudeness."
Lin Kuo also looked over, his gaze moving back and forth between the matching jade pendants at their waists a couple of times before withdrawing his gaze with slight disappointment.
Jiang Xingzhi emphasized strictly, "The colors are different."
Zhong Ming stood behind him, the blue Spirit Gathering Pearl shimmering with light in the sunshine, strikingly bright. Fei Yin glanced at it a couple of times: Yes, the colors are different—since ancient times, red and blue have been... those who know, know.
She asked again, "Why did Immortal Lord Jiang only start wearing it today?"
Jiang Xingzhi looked at Zhong Ming: Explain quickly, you instigated this.
Zhong Ming looked back at him and smiled.
Jiang Xingzhi: ???
What did that silent smile mean?
Fei Yin watched as these two exchanged meaningful glances, playing all the little games that couples do.
Since Zhong Ming wouldn't speak up, Jiang Xingzhi could only improvise, "I calculated with my fingers that wearing jade in the past few days would have brought great misfortune."
Everyone fell silent simultaneously, with three gazes instinctively focusing on Zhong Ming.
Zhong Ming stared at Jiang Xingzhi's earnest face for two breaths, then took his arm and walked toward the lake. "Time to go into the water."
Jiang Xingzhi asked, "In such a hurry?"
"To wash out your brain."
"..."
With their backs to the three, walking to the lakeside, Jiang Xingzhi temporarily skipped over the previous topic and said to Zhong Ming, "Based on my observation, the local customs are simple and honest."
These young men and women showed no signs of greed in their eyes. Especially Fei Yin—he didn't know if it was his imagination, but she seemed eager to lock these two jade pendants onto them.
Zhong Ming said, "Time reveals a person's heart."
Implying they should continue wearing them for a few more days. Jiang Xingzhi replied, "That works."
…..
After going into the lake several times before, they were now quite familiar with the routine. Especially Zhong Ming, who led the way, moved smoothly and skillfully, leaving Jiang Xingzhi no space to contribute.
Jiang Xingzhi trailed behind him like a pendant, beginning to question his purpose for entering the water. "Bai Mu, what am I down here for?"
Zhong Ming, examining the flower bud, didn't even turn around. "For safety, to protect the unfortunate me."
Jiang Xingzhi: "..."
Returning from the lake bottom to the shore, Jiang Xingzhi felt completely empty inside. He pondered for a moment, then patted Zhong Ming who was drying his clothes. "The lake bottom can be left to you alone. I'll go do something else for the next few days."
Zhong Ming paused in arranging his clothes and looked up. "You want to leave? Where to?"
Jiang Xingzhi felt the other's gaze seemed somewhat dangerous, as if afraid he would abandon him and run away. He explained sincerely, "To visit the major sects and check on their progress."
Zhong Ming continued to look at him without speaking.
Jiang Xingzhi thought for a moment. "Are you afraid I'll run away, leaving all of you trapped in this valley?"
After a moment, those pursed lips opened, "Yes, I'm especially afraid."
He had countless dreams where he and Jiang Xingzhi walked side by side in the wilderness, but when the nine heavens' tribulation lightning struck, he turned his head to find the person beside him gone.
Jiang Xingzhi then promised him, "If I abandon you all and run, at worst you can level this valley to the ground. Then capture me and deal with me however you wish."
After he finished speaking, he saw the man across from him fall silent, seemingly imagining such a scenario.
Who knows which stage he was thinking about, but in the end, he slightly curved his lips, looking at him deeply, "Alright."
"..." Jiang Xingzhi's tailbone inexplicably trembled, feeling as if he had accidentally activated some switch. Not dwelling on it, he turned to leave. "Then I'll go first, I leave this place to you."
Zhong Ming agreed, "Go ahead."
****
Jiang Xingzhi left like a gust of wind.
With one fewer person by the already sparse lakeside, the three Yuhua Sect members immediately noticed.
Zhong Ming sat alone with his arms crossed on the other side. Except for going into the lake at fixed times, he remained as motionless as a rock.
Fei Yin secretly observed for a day or two, seeing that Jiang Xingzhi had not returned. As the pressure around Zhong Ming grew lower and lower, she couldn't help but muster her courage to approach him. "Immortal Lord Bai."
Those sharp eyes lifted.
Fei Yin cautiously asked, "Where has Immortal Lord Jiang gone?"
Zhong Ming replied, "He has business."
Fei Yin tried to warm the atmosphere, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"..." Zhong Ming finally turned to look at her. "What kind of relationship do you think we have?"
Fei Yin tapped her two thumbs together and gave him an "I understand" expression. "You're always protecting Immortal Lord Jiang, it's obvious."
Zhong Ming turned his gaze forward, the lake light settling in his eyes. "Is it that obvious?"
Fei Yin said, "Hehe~ Anyone with eyes can see it, unless they're blind."
Zhong Ming gave a short laugh. Indeed, Jiang Xingzhi was blind.
Not only could he not see his feelings, but he still thought about some "beloved" who appeared from who knows where.
The whatever-master from Western Mountain, some divine doctor from Medicine Valley, the Young Sect Master of the Sword Sect... one after another, all very suspicious. Especially that Young Sect Master, whispering with Jiang Xingzhi before his tribulation, who knows what they were talking about.
If it weren't for his slight friendship with the Sword Sect Master, he would have long since….hehe.
Fei Yin saw that the man opposite hadn't spoken, but the temperature around him became even colder. She quickly left with a "May you have a hundred years of happiness" and scurried back.
Zhong Ming closed his eyes again, his arms crossed in front with index fingers lightly tapping.
After the low pressure continued for several days, Jiang Xingzhi finally returned.
When he appeared by the lake wrapped in a fresh breeze, the air in the entire valley seemed to come alive. The three Yuhua Sect members who had been tense for days simultaneously relaxed. Zhong Ming stood up and walked over with large strides, stopping in front of Jiang Xingzhi. "You're back."
Jiang Xingzhi looked ruddy, clearly well-fed and content. He made a grand gesture with his hand, announcing to the world, "I'm back! Did you miss me!"
The three Yuhua Sect members remained timely silent, with only Zhong Ming standing before him, saying softly, "Miss."
His voice was deep and affectionate, with a hint of lingering attachment that made one's eardrum tingle.
Jiang Xingzhi was stunned for a moment: ...What's going on? The atmosphere wasn't what he expected?
But soon Zhong Ming interrupted his deep thinking. "Did you complete everything?"
Reminded of his great achievements this time, Jiang Xingzhi immediately put aside the subtle feeling from earlier. Mysteriously, he pulled Zhong Ming aside by his belt. "Hehehe, let me show you something good~"
The three Yuhua Sect members who were about to come forward to greet him: "..."
Zhong Ming's temple twitched. "What is it?"
Jiang Xingzhi pulled him to a place where no one else was, turned his back to the outside, and fiddled with his belt. He flipped open one edge of the intricate belt, revealing a bronze plaque underneath. "Look."
Long fingers reached over to lift the plaque. Zhong Ming looked at the symbol engraved on it. "Hao?"
Jiang Xingzhi said, "An honorary elder's identity plaque from the Haosheng Sect."
Zhong Ming's brow immediately furrowed. "You've become an honorary elder of the Haosheng Sect?"
Given Jiang Xingzhi's personality, it was impossible for him to bind himself to any faction as a community of interest. Not to mention he had already established his own sect; even if he were alone, his first choice should have been the more closely associated Shanglu Merchant Association.
"Why?"
"Hehehe~"
Jiang Xingzhi flipped his hand again, opening the belt even wider. Zhong Ming's pupils contracted slightly, his usually calm gaze showing rare ripples at this moment—
Under the palm-wide belt hung a neat string of bronze plaques!
The familiar "Shang" character was mixed among them, quite unremarkable among the crowd.
Zhong Ming: "..."
Jiang Xingzhi said, "I picked and chose a bit, selected a few decent sects to be an honorary elder for." He added with a shy smile, "After all, the Divine Lamp belongs to 'everyone'."
Zhong Ming opened his mouth then closed it, thousands of words stuck in his throat. When facing that spring-breeze-like face before him, in the end, it all gently transformed into one sentence, "You're not an honorary elder, you're a joint elder."