After Sheng Jun Chapter 19 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 19 He Was Jealous (part 2)
The untimely enthusiastic atmosphere finally concluded with the topic of the "secret realm."
Jiang Xingzhi's previous deduction was confirmed, and the time for the opening of the Kongxuan Secret Realm could be basically determined.
"Half a month later, at the center of Youpo Lake. I hope by then everyone will have prepared the offerings to open the secret realm."
"Naturally, we will spare no effort!"
While they were speaking, there was a commotion outside the hall.
Jiang Xingzhi looked up to see an elder of Nascent Soul stage entering the hall. Ping Lan, Fei Yin, and Lin Kuo accompanied him, showing respectful attitudes—presumably this was the rescued Sect Master of Yuhua Sect.
Xiu Yuan Zhenren had been imprisoned for over a month and was still somewhat weak upon seeing light. However, when he saw the many great powers of the current world in the hall, his emaciated back remained straight as an arrow, with the bearing of a sect master not diminished in the slightest.
"Xiu Yuan of Yuhua Sect thanks all venerables and immortal lords for the rescue!"
Jiang Xingzhi humbly replied, "No need for thanks, this lord didn't do much."
Zhong Ming thought to himself, indeed, you merely stirred up trouble everywhere.
"Sect Master, please be seated," Jiang Xingzhi said, and seeing that the other party seemed unsure of where to sit, he thoughtfully added, "We're seated according to the Hundred Family Surnames."
"?" Xiu Yuan Zhenren slowly sat down.
With all parties present, the hall entered the main topic.
Xiu Yuan Zhenren said, "I hear everyone is discussing the matter of the secret realm. As it happens, my humble sect has some connection to the secret realm. If needed, we shall certainly do our utmost to assist."
Jiang Xingzhi praised, "The Sect Master is most magnanimous."
Xiu Yuan Zhenren asked, "However... may I ask if disciples from my sect can go as well?"
"The Kongxuan Secret Realm is fraught with danger. Without strong leaders, entering would be merely throwing away one's life."
Xiu Yuan Zhenren felt disappointed: his Yuhua Sect had declined and indeed could not meet the threshold. But since records of the secret realm originated from their sect, it was hard to simply give up.
Just as he was worrying, he heard Jiang Xingzhi say, "If the Sect Master is willing, disciples from your respected sect can accompany us to the secret realm."
Xiu Yuan Zhenren was surprised, "Really!?"
Jiang Xingzhi nodded, "However, you need to bring along one more 'person'."
"...Who?"
****
As the sun set, the group bid farewell at the mountain gate of Yuhua Sect.
Xiu Yuan Zhenren stood at the entrance, watching with mixed feelings as the particularly noisy... brush spirit on Jiang Xingzhi's shoulder.
When Jiang Xingzhi said he wanted to bring the brush spirit along, he was concerned that the brush spirit, having been born and raised in the library pavilion, might not be willing to accompany them to the secret realm.
But as soon as he asked, the brush spirit "whooshed" out, its wolf hair bristling like fireworks, eager to follow Jiang Xingzhi immediately without waiting for the secret realm to open.
Talk about a grown child not staying home!
Now this brush spirit was affectionately nuzzling against Jiang Xingzhi's neck, a tuft of hair fluffing up, "Ancestor~ Are you taking me back to the ancestral shrine?"
Jiang Xingzhi replied, "There's no ancestral shrine, this lone one is a lone seedling."
"Then I'll come to add posterity for the ancestor~"
"......"
The surrounding crowd was stunned, and Zhong Ming's gaze suddenly turned dangerous. Jiang Xingzhi explained to them, "It means adding itself."
The atmosphere eased again.
Watching the father-son-like affection between the two "tool spirits," everyone thought that Jiang Xingzhi was indeed the divine lamp spirit, his identity now authenticated by another tool spirit.
Jiang Langhao, hearing everyone address him as "Divine Lamp Daren," thought that the ancestor indeed hadn't lied to it—he truly was an ancient spirit.
Only Shang Luxing, who knew the truth, stood quietly to one side, watching Jiang Xingzhi's divine status grow increasingly solid.
"Thank you all for your efforts today," Jiang Xingzhi bid farewell to everyone. "Contact me via message talisman if anything comes up."
"Divine Lamp Daren, take care."
After settling everything, Yuhua Sect's peachwood boat carried the two people and one brush, disappearing into the horizon against the slanting sun.
With the gentle evening breeze, Jiang Xingzhi's temple hair fluttered.
The tuft of wolf hair on his shoulder also fluttered.
Zhong Ming turned to see this person and brush, and after holding back for a while, he couldn't help but reach out and toss the bothersome Jiang Langhao aside.
"Ow~ What are you doing?!"
Jiang Xingzhi caught the somersaulting Jiang Langhao with one hand and asked Zhong Ming, "Why did you shove it?"
With the brush no longer between them, Jiang Xingzhi's face was clearly visible before his eyes. Zhong Ming looked at him and said, "I just casually picked it up, and it was completely defenseless."
"So?"
"A newly born brush spirit has low defenses and can easily be coveted by others. It's better to keep it stored away."
Jiang Xingzhi looked at the innocent Jiang Langhao. Yes, indeed, it could be easily deceived.
As his storage pouch opened, "Quick, come in."
Jiang Langhao, "......" Whimper!
That grand-disciple was just trying to compete for attention, what scheming intentions!
After putting the reluctant Jiang Langhao away, the surroundings immediately became much quieter. Zhong Ming finally had a chance to talk with Jiang Xingzhi, "Why must you bring it to the secret realm?"
Jiang Xingzhi said, "The Yuhua Sect ruins and the secret realm are intricately connected. This brush spirit is the oldest living being in the sect. Bringing it along might prove useful."
"That's fine." Zhong Ming agreed, raising no further objections.
****
Yuhua Sect was not far from Yunyang City, and they soon returned to Guixue Sect's territory.
After half a month, the distant mountaintop seemed more organized.
Stone walls with red tiles had been built around, shiny floor tiles laid beneath, presenting an orderly appearance. Jiang Xingzhi even suspected that if he returned two months later, Zhu Yan might truly build a palace.
Just as he was thinking this, Zhu Yan and Zhu Xu heard the commotion and hurried over, "Sect Master! Protector Bai!"
Jiang Xingzhi descended from the peachwood boat, and as soon as his foot touched solid ground, a hand lightly supported his lower back.
He hadn't realized anything was amiss until seeing Zhu Yan's slightly widened eyes, looking at their posture. Jiang Xingzhi came to his senses and patted Zhong Ming's hand: time to drop the act.
Zhong Ming naturally withdrew his hand.
Zhu Yan's gaze still lingered between the two, thoughts racing.
Zhu Xu, however, was quite composed—having glimpsed the "unspeakable" relationship between the Sect Master and the Protector, what was this small scene?
Jiang Xingzhi, unaware of their thoughts, asked, "Were there any strangers knocking on our door while we were away?"
At this, Zhu Yan's expression suddenly sobered. "Qijue Tower came by a few days ago, led personally by their third-rank expert, though they couldn't enter the barrier and left after lingering for a while."
"No hurry, we'll discuss it when the Tower Master of Qijue Tower arrives."
Zhu Yan seemed not to have heard clearly: What???
Jiang Xingzhi then pulled out handful after handful of flowers from Wuhuan Valley from his storage pouch, "Perfect, plant these flowers at the foot of the mountain."
The mountaintop was suddenly shrouded in clouds and mist, much like Zhu Yan's current state of mind.
Seeing the white mist about to spread, Jiang Xingzhi urged the bewildered Zhu Yan and Zhu Xu, "Hurry."
"Yes!"
The two left, soaring through clouds and mist.
Jiang Xingzhi turned toward the courtyard. After this journey, he planned to rest first, putting other matters aside temporarily.
He said to Zhong Ming, "I'm going to take a hot bath."
Zhong Ming stood at the doorway of his courtyard, watching him enter, "Go ahead, you're too cold, you should soak for a while."
Jiang Xingzhi contentedly hurried back to his room.
After returning, he enjoyed a comfortable hot bath, with spiritual energy keeping it warm, soaking for nearly half an hour.
Outside, darkness fell, and the mountain air grew cold.
Jiang Xingzhi stepped out of the tub, casually donned a middle garment, and pushed open the door to walk out.
A newly built observation platform stood in front of the courtyard, facing the direction of Yunyang City with an open view. At the edge was placed a smooth, flat piece of polished cloud stone, suitable for sitting or leaning.
A sturdy pine tree stood beside the stone, set against the vast night sky and wilderness, creating quite a beautiful scene.
Just as Jiang Xingzhi sat down on the stone, there was a movement behind him.
Footsteps approached, followed by a cloak falling upon him, and an additional figure appeared beside him. "Knowing you have a cold constitution, yet you don't even wear an outer garment?"
Jiang Xingzhi turned his head. Zhong Ming's eyebrows and eyes seemed to carry the cold mountain air, his gaze pausing briefly as it swept over Jiang Xingzhi's slightly open collar, then lowering his eyes as he reached out to gather the cloak, "You really are—"
"Whether I wear more or less, it doesn't make much difference." Jiang Xingzhi pulled the cloak around himself.
"The secret realm will open in less than half a month," Zhong Ming said. "Once we enter the secret realm..." His voice stopped. Once they entered the secret realm and found that opportunity, perhaps they could discover the reason for Jiang Xingzhi's damaged soul.
"What happens when we enter the secret realm?"
"Nothing, just looking for some warm and nourishing spiritual herbs for you."
"That's thoughtful of you," Jiang Xingzhi appreciated, "but never mind, I might not be able to use them even if you find them."
"Why not?"
"I might be going back to another place by then."
Everything began with that opportunity in the secret realm—first, the opportunity went wrong, causing his soul to scatter, and then he was mysteriously reborn a thousand years earlier.
If he could solve the problem at its source, would he find a way to return?
As Jiang Xingzhi said this, his eyes were bright. His lips curved up involuntarily, as if thinking of something joyful.
Zhong Ming's heart lurched, his breath halting for a moment, "...You're that eager to go back?"
To see that person.
Without any attachment to anything here.
"Mm." Jiang Xingzhi's tone was light, "Want to get back quickly." To get back the viewing fee.
Bitterness spread from his heart to his teeth, as Zhong Ming's lowered eyelashes trembled, anxious emotions churning in his chest.
Too fast. He hadn't yet made Jiang Xingzhi like him, and now he was about to let this person return to his beloved.
What did he have to do to make Jiang Xingzhi care about him a little more?
Jiang Xingzhi hadn't noticed the other's unusual state. He looked toward the vast wilderness and instructed Zhong Ming, "When the time comes, I'll need to act alone. You lead Zhu Yan and Zhu Xu inside."
"I'll go with you." His voice was hoarse.
Jiang Xingzhi turned to him, "Why?"
Zhong Ming pressed his lips together, then looked up, "If you're truly returning to another place, leaving here... before that, let me stay with you a little longer."
At this moment, with no one else around and no need to pretend, these words were uncomfortably intimate.
Jiang Xingzhi froze for a moment, all words caught in his throat.
His lips parted slightly, as if unsure, "Why?"
A hand picked up the red jade at his chest, and Zhong Ming spoke without concealment, "Why would someone want to stay by another's side?"
"Think about it yourself, Jiang Xingzhi."