After Sheng Jun Chapter 16 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 16 Hints of Ambiguity (part 2)
After leaving Zunwu Hall, the paths in the sect branched in all directions. Yuhua Sect had been established early and had once been glorious, leaving behind numerous courtyards and pavilions.
Jiang Xingzhi noted the layout of locations along the way and casually struck up a conversation with Protector Qian, "Protector Daren."
Protector Qian, who was leading the way ahead, turned his head slightly, "What is it?"
Before Jiang Xingzhi could speak, the hand on his arm suddenly tightened, and a slightly displeased voice came into his mind, "Who are you calling 'Protector'?"
The tone was rather sour. Immersed in the role of "Dao companion," Jiang Xingzhi instinctively reassured him, "It's just to deceive him."
Zhong Ming gave an "mm" and the pressure of his hand slightly lessened.
After reassuring one side, Jiang Xingzhi continued addressing the other, "Thank you for your sect's hospitality during this time. Occasionally I'd like to go out for a walk. I wonder which areas of the sect are accessible and which are off-limits?"
Protector Qian casually pointed, "You can move around the front mountain except for Fenghe Tower and the Library Pavilion. The back mountain contains our sect's forbidden area—trespassers will meet certain death."
Jiang Xingzhi nodded, "Thank you, understood." Fenghe Tower and the Library Pavilion were places to visit, as was the forbidden area on the back mountain.
Zhong Ming seemed to curve his lips slightly.
Soon they arrived at Mist Pavilion in the west. The environment was secluded, with dense trees. The exquisitely built two-story pavilion, half-hidden among the vegetation, truly resembled a good place for recuperation.
Jiang Xingzhi clasped his hands gratefully, "The Grand Elder is thoughtful."
Protector Qian nodded and turned to report back, leaving several guards stationed outside the pavilion.
After the people left, Jiang Xingzhi stepped into the pavilion.
The door closed behind him, shutting out outside gazes. With the acting temporarily over, Jiang Xingzhi suddenly hesitated: Wait... what was Bai Mu jealous about earlier, and why did he feel the need to reassure him?
He'd gotten too deeply into the role, causing his mind to become confused!
Seeing that the other was still holding him, he reminded, "Time to drop the act."
Zhong Ming looked down at him for a few moments, then released his hands, and the two returned to their previous distance. Jiang Xingzhi walked to the round wooden table in the room and sat down, raising his hand to set up a barrier around them.
He got back to the point, "I have a not-so-good suspicion."
"What is it?"
"Just now the Grand Elder hastily made up an excuse, saying he needed to treat the Sect Master's illness. But do you remember that Ping Lan mentioned the Sect Master was in seclusion?"
Zhong Ming sat down beside him, "So you suspect..."
"I thought earlier that the Grand Elder's actions were overly bold." Jiang Xingzhi leaned against the chair back, his gaze falling on the carved lattice window of the pavilion. "If he secretly harms the Sect Master's disciples while the Sect Master is in seclusion, how will he explain when the Sect Master emerges?"
Zhong Ming continued, "Unless there's no need for an explanation."
Though he said it lightly, the pavilion suddenly grew colder.
The deep implication behind this was chilling. Jiang Xingzhi pondered for a while and reached a conclusion, "Since the purpose is to ensure people don't return, the Grand Elder's objective may not be at the bottom of the lake, but we can be certain he has records about Youpo Lake."
Zhong Ming asked, "Do you have a plan now?"
Jiang Xingzhi was momentarily stunned, realizing he was following up on his statement from a few days ago about "not having decided how to proceed." He marveled, "Your memory is really good."
Zhong Ming looked at him, "I remember everything you say."
The small pavilion instantly fell silent.
After a moment of eye contact, Jiang Xingzhi blinked in shock, "Have you been infected by Zhu Xu?"
"......"
****
Another ineffective conversation kept the inexplicable fire in Zhong Ming's heart burning until nightfall.
The second floor of the pavilion was the inner chamber for sleeping. A candle was lit on the desk, illuminating the entire room.
Jiang Xingzhi sat on the bed reading a storybook, glancing for the fifth time at Zhong Ming by the desk.
He saw the latter with a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, cold light dancing in his dark eyes, sitting with arms folded in this secluded small pavilion, looking exactly like the biggest spy in Yuhua Sect.
Jiang Xingzhi gently broke the silence, "Even the Grand Elder would probably have to concede."
A cool gaze slid over to him.
He promptly ended this topic, putting down the storybook and looking out at the dark sky through the window. It was past the hour of Hai, and the tall trees outside cast indistinct shadows through the paper windows.
(TL: hour of Hai - the period of the day from 9 pm to 11 pm)
Outside the pavilion stood five or six late Foundation Establishment stage guards, ostensibly "available for errands," but actually for surveillance.
"Later, leave a trace of divine consciousness in the pavilion, and we'll go to those two forbidden places on the front mountain to take a look."
Zhong Ming, who had been quiet for half the day, finally showed a reaction. He raised his eyelids and looked eastward from the pavilion, "We can't go out for now."
"Why......" Jiang Xingzhi stopped mid-sentence as his divine consciousness detected a figure rapidly approaching, "It's the Grand Elder."
It seemed he still had doubts about their identities and was coming to verify personally.
Jiang Xingzhi raised his hand, "Should I set up a barrier?"
"That would be like hiding something guilty, and would only make things more suspicious."
As Zhong Ming spoke, he rose from the table and walked toward the bed. His tall figure was outlined clearly and proportionally by the candlelight. He reached the bed and bent down, placing one hand at Jiang Xingzhi's side. "Let's fool him first."
The distance suddenly closed, appearing ambiguous in the flickering light of the bed curtains. Cold stars remained in Zhong Ming's eyes, with hidden heat.
Jiang Xingzhi's throat moved involuntarily, instinctively leaning back, "What do you plan to do?"
Zhong Ming seemed to laugh softly, "I'll do whatever I want?"
"Not exactly, it also depends on whether I can cooperate."
"Don't worry." Zhong Ming leaned forward, "I won't actually touch you."
Jiang Xingzhi then allowed him to approach, "Mm."
The tall figure leaned over him, broad and straight shoulders bearing the candlelight. Zhong Ming reached back to lower the bed curtains, and the delicate gauze fell, half-concealing the figures of the two.
Strong arms propped down on either side of Jiang Xingzhi, a slightly elevated body temperature approached his front, and the temperature inside the curtains seemed to rise sharply.
The two faced each other, at close quarters, breaths intermingling.
Outside the pavilion, the Grand Elder's figure drew increasingly near, and in moments would reach the courtyard.
The arrow was on the string; there was no time to delay.
Inside the bed curtains, Jiang Xingzhi stared at the man before him. The latter possessed a captivating handsomeness, with a quality in his eyes like a frost sword concealing its light. His thoughts drifted for a moment: Is this how all sword cultivators are? Xu Jian also has this quality...
Just as he was thinking, Zhong Ming suddenly raised his eyes to look at him.
His features had dissolved their coldness and frostiness, his eyes containing deep emotions, like molten lava rolling, wanting him to see clearly. Jiang Xingzhi was stunned. In their extremely close proximity, the face before him momentarily overlapped with the person in his mind.
A lowered voice called him, "Xingzhi."
Just these two short words from between his lips, heavy with emotion, just as if... he truly liked him.
Jiang Xingzhi's heart suddenly jumped, and he sprang up from the bed—Bang!