After Sheng Jun Chapter 19 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 19 He Was Jealous (part 1)
After Wan Xing finished shouting, he noticed everyone around him remained silent, with even the head of the merchant family taking a small step back.
He secretly rejoiced, thinking his threat had worked.
However, before his lips could curve into a smile, a figure suddenly dropped before him—Zhong Ming's cold and gorgeous face appeared right in front of him, with a rampant killing intent piercing deep into his soul like a bone dagger!
"Boom!" His mind went blank.
In the next moment, the Moon-Holding Pearl in his hand was snatched away.
The crimson spiritual pearl's aura flowed and reflected in the man's pitch-black eyes, tracing a hint of bloody dark light.
A chilling voice fell, "You're seeking death."
Wan Xing opened his eyes in terror. For a moment, he seemed to be standing in a desolate wilderness, seeing only a bleak and desolate sword cemetery. Perhaps in future midnight dreams, his consciousness would echo with the miserable screams of a hundred ghosts.
He opened his mouth, breathing soundlessly, "Hah... hah..."
Terrifying pressure poured out from Zhong Ming's body like a gale through a forest.
Thud! The overwhelming force seemed to weigh thousands of pounds. The martial sect crowd instantly fainted, and the powerful masters from various sects who were not far away all fell to their knees.
They raised their eyes in terror and saw the man's tall, straight back with slightly raised shoulders that seemed to be level with the sky, as if he was born to stand in the clouds for people to submit to.
The only ones still standing calmly in the scene were Zhong Ming and Jiang Xingzhi.
…..
This series of actions happened too quickly; Jiang Xingzhi was still dazed.
Seeing people around swaying and about to collapse, he kindly waved out a gentle spiritual power, which swept away Zhong Ming's oppressive pressure like spring breeze melting snow.
Everyone's shoulders loosened, as if having survived a calamity.
Jiang Xingzhi called out to stop someone who was still rampaging, "Bai Mu."
As this voice fell, the pressure around Zhong Ming finally dispersed. He threw the suffocating Wan Xing to the ground with a "thud," then pulled Jiang Xingzhi close and lowered his head saying, "Let me put it on for you."
Jiang Xingzhi keenly sensed that the other was in a bad mood, and didn't raise any objections. He only took the opportunity while they were close to ask quietly, "What are you angry about? That Moon-Holding Pearl wasn't really meant to extend my life. Wake up."
Zhong Ming lowered his eyelashes without answering, his fingers moving to secure it properly.
Not far away, the sect leaders and elders of several major sects had just recovered and straightened up, only to see the man who had been emanating terrifying pressure now raising his hand around Jiang Xingzhi's neck, carefully putting the Moon-Holding Pearl on him.
"......"
They didn't understand.
Shang Luxing had already seen through everything. Standing on the side with his hands in his sleeves, his fingertips involuntarily reached for melon seeds.
He had an urge to crack some.
The crimson Moon-Holding Pearl was once again properly hanging at Jiang Xingzhi's chest. Zhong Ming stepped back, and the surrounding temperature gradually rose. "Wear it well."
"Why?"
"As you said, it complements your complexion."
Jiang Xingzhi gladly accepted this explanation. "I told you that you have good taste."
He looked at the unconscious martial sect disciples lying on the ground and called to Ping Lan standing nearby, "Where is your sect's main hall?"
Ping Lan hadn't yet recovered from the complicated situation earlier. It wasn't until a disciple behind him called "Senior Brother" that he got up in a hurry and pointed to the north, "It's over there."
Finally, he asked, "What does the Immortal Lord need?"
Jiang Xingzhi stepped aside to reveal the crowd from the Three Realms behind him. Today, three of the Six Upper Sects were present: Mist Palace, Tianyan Sect, and Haosheng Sect. Besides them, there was also the wealthy Shang family, the righteous Chaoyang, the knowledge-keeping Biyun...
People from all corners were gathered here.
He said, "Since we've met by chance, justice should be served."
****
Led by Ping Lan, the group entered the main hall of the Yuhua Sect in grand fashion.
The Haosheng Sect Master Chu Yun followed two magic sect disciples to the interrogation room to hear Wan Xing confess his crimes and learn the whereabouts of the Yuhua Sect Leader.
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming were invited to the main seats, with the rest of the sects taking their places below in order.
When everyone was being seated, a small disturbance arose—
Everyone felt they should sit closest to Jiang Xingzhi, after all, members of the "same sect" shouldn't sit separately.
For a moment, the area in front of Jiang Xingzhi boiled like koi fish fighting for food.
He nestled in his seat and sighed, "It's a pity there's only one of me."
Zhong Ming's face remained expressionless. "One is enough." What would happen if there were more?
Jiang Xingzhi said, "That's true. Premium items are unique."
"......"
The former's casual demeanor, coupled with the surrounding noisy voices, made Zhong Ming's head hurt. Unable to endure any longer, he spoke up, "Arrange by the Hundred Family Surnames order."
Everyone immediately fell silent and took their seats.
Seeing their reverent gazes, Jiang Xingzhi congratulated Zhong Ming telepathically, "Now everyone knows you're the formidable lamp holder."
Zhong Ming glanced at him: In his mouth, he was still not considered human.
"It's all thanks to you."
Jiang Xingzhi: "How is it...well, that's true." Everyone had come at his call, so he did give Bai Mu this grand stage to display his abilities.
Zhong Ming couldn't be bothered to pursue the matter further. After all, they were definitely not talking about the same thing.
During this brief exchange, the crowd below had already taken their seats.
Jiang Xingzhi first asked Ping Lan to explain the whole situation to everyone. As for the part about the secret realm, he would wait for the Haosheng Sect Master to arrive before explaining.
Soon after, Haosheng Sect Master Chu Yun returned to the main hall.
"Divine Lamp Daren, the Grand Elder of Yuhua Sect has confessed. The Yuhua Sect Leader was imprisoned by him in a secret room behind his main peak. He's injured but not in mortal danger."
Ping Lan was somewhat anxious. "Then..."
Jiang Xingzhi waved his hand. "Go see your master first."
"Thank you, Immortal Lord!" The blue and white figure quickly ran out of the hall.
After he left, Jiang Xingzhi said to Chu Yun, "Thank you for your trouble, Sect Master Chu. Please be seated."
"It's my duty, I..." Chu Yun suddenly paused, his gaze sweeping across the neatly arranged crowd in the hall. Since everyone was present, why not take the opportunity to declare his authority?
He cleared his throat and raised his voice, "We're all one family here, no need for formalities!"
The sound echoed throughout the spacious hall.
The atmosphere froze for several moments.
Zhong Ming glanced at Jiang Xingzhi from the corner of his eye and saw that the latter remained as steady as a mountain, except that his hands resting on his legs were fidgeting a bit.
Hmph, wasn't he enjoying himself earlier? Now he knows what discomfort feels like.
Zhong Ming remained silent, letting the person beside him fidget with his hands. If he protected him too much, this person would eventually become too arrogant.
During the brief silence, the first to break it was Ying Liuxian, the Palace Master of Mist Palace. She rose gracefully with her golden gauze shawl, her dress floating, "Sect Master Chu, enthusiasm is good, but relationships cannot be forced."
Since when had her Mist Palace elders become part of the Haosheng Sect's family?
After she spoke, the Tianyan Sect Leader, Venerable Mao Lin, also stood up. "Palace Master Ying is right, but 'one family' as Sect Master Chu says probably means we're all one family across the four seas."
Chu Yun just silently watched them go back and forth, with only pity in his heart: Look at these people, how sour they are.
Shang Luxing sat steadily on the side, observing the fire from across the river. No matter how much they argued, it was useless. Brother Jiang had already become an honorary elder of the Shang family, heh heh heh.
Within a few words, the atmosphere in the hall had been pushed to a climax.
Shang Luxing stood up at the right moment and proclaimed loudly, "Everyone! To be frank, Divine Lamp Daren has already become an honorary elder of my Shang family."
He smiled warmly. "Let's not damage our harmony anymore."
Everyone: .........
Everyone: ???
The hall exploded with noise. "What!?"
"Clearly he belongs to my Mist Palace..." "My Tianyan Sect..." "My Haosheng Sect..."
Several voices rang out simultaneously, then abruptly stopped.
Incredulous glances exchanged for a few moments, then shifted to the main seats—"Divine Lamp Daren?" "Daren, please say something!"
On the main seat, Jiang Xingzhi sat with forced composure.
Facing a sea of shocked, confused, and self-justifying gazes, he remained silent for a while before speaking with dignity, "Lamp Holder, you say it."
Zhong Ming: "......"
What was he supposed to say? Zhong Ming held back. He had already decided not to protect him anymore...
Jiang Xingzhi transmitted. "Save me!"
Zhong Ming's brow twitched, and words escaped from his mouth, "That's how it is. Any questions?"
His cold gaze swept across the entire hall. The residual feeling of being pressed to the ground by the pressure still lingered, and everyone's backs trembled slightly, instantly deflating their questioning courage by three points.
Haosheng Sect Master Chu Yun gathered his courage and spoke resentfully, "But Daren, how can you hold multiple positions at once..."
Jiang Xingzhi called softly, "Lamp Holder."
Zhong Ming closed his eyes briefly, seeming to loathe himself. Yet the cold words still came out of his mouth, "If you don't wish it, you can propose now to cancel the honorary elder agreement."
Jiang Xingzhi added, "Everything is voluntary. This lord is very reasonable."
With one playing good cop and the other bad cop, the previously boiling hall seemed to have had a block of ice thrown in, and everything settled down.
Break the alliance with the Divine Lamp?
They would rather share peacefully. The power of the Divine Lamp was so vast that even just the lamp holder could press them to the point they couldn't breathe. Only a fool would want to break ties!
Some ten-odd gazes reached an unspoken consensus through their exchange.
"Divine Lamp Daren, your words are too serious. Such divine grace should certainly benefit all beings of the Three Realms. How could one side monopolize it?"
Jiang Xingzhi was gratified. "Exactly. This lord only wishes for everyone's happiness."
"......" An eerie silence fell over the hall.
Even Jiang Xingzhi was shocked by his own words—why did they sound so scummy?
Zhong Ming supported his forehead with one hand, his teeth itching with frustration. Next time he absolutely would not protect him, absolutely not.
In the silence, Chu Yun was the first to play along. "Daren's vision is truly grand."
As he spoke, he began to clap, pat, pat, pat pat pat!
Others also reacted, and applause from all four directions converged together, resounding throughout the entire hall. Pat pat pat pat, pat pat!
Amid the enthusiastic applause, Jiang Xingzhi's face turned red with embarrassment: Stop it! Forced face-saving is most fatal.