After Sheng Jun Chapter 20 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 20 An Overnight Enlightenment (part 1)
After saying these words, Zhong Ming turned and went back to his room.
Jiang Xingzhi stared at that straight, pine-like figure as it merged into the blurry night, still sitting dumbfounded on the cloud plate stone for a long time, unable to come to his senses.
What other reason could there be for wanting to stay by someone's side?
Just like how he had persistently sought to pick fights with Xu Jian over the past few hundred years, wasn't it just------
But how could it be possible? Bai Mu still had a beloved who had ascended!
Jiang Xingzhi's entire mind was in chaos.
How could this person transfer his affections in just a short month?
What kind of damned charm did he himself possess!
The large cloak still wrapped around him, and through the thin layer of his inner garment, it felt as though the other's body heat was seeping into his own.
He hurriedly shook off the cloak.
The cold night wind swept over the observation platform, catching his snow-white, thin inner garment, turning up a patch of clear moonlight.
Jiang Xingzhi stood holding that cloak like a hot potato for a while, then glanced toward Zhong Ming's pitch-black courtyard, walked over in a few steps, and "whish" hung the cloak at the entrance.
Returning the item to its owner, as if nothing had happened.
He touched his chest, closed his eyes, and floated back to his own room.
This must be a dream, and after sleeping, everything would return to reality.
…..
The next morning, Jiang Xingzhi opened his eyes.
He first stared at the bed frame above him for a while, then lifted the quilt and got up.
The door creaked open, and Jiang Xingzhi turned his head to see that figure practicing sword in the adjacent courtyard.
The man had changed back into a fitted outfit, shoulders carved like sculpture, his sword dance reflecting the rosy light. Hearing the movement, the sword-practicing figure stopped, and Zhong Ming turned around, "You're up?"
Jiang Xingzhi carefully examined his expression, which seemed no different from usual. "Mm."
Last night must truly have been a dream.
Zhong Ming threw the tree branch in his hand to one side and walked around the courtyard toward him. Passing by the courtyard entrance, he casually picked up the cloak hanging there.
Jiang Xingzhi closed his eyes tightly, "......" It wasn't a dream!
Zhong Ming walked to him in a few steps, his gaze lingering for a moment on his thin inner garment, making to unfold the cloak. "Why are you wearing so little again?"
Jiang Xingzhi stopped his movement. "No need."
"Very well." The cloak was put away as Zhong Ming pushed him back. "Put on proper clothes, we're going out today."
Jiang Xingzhi was flipped like a salted fish. "Where to?"
"Taking you out for a stroll."
…..
Jiang Xingzhi changed his clothes in a daze, still unable to grasp the other's meaning.
He noticed Zhong Ming's attitude was no different from usual, as if those words from last night had dissipated with the night wind.
Could it have been just a momentary whim? Since the other didn't bring it up, perhaps he should observe further and reconfirm.
Jiang Xingzhi temporarily set his mind at ease, tidied his clothes, and walked out the door.
"Bai Mu, I'm ready."
"Mm." Zhong Ming stood before the observation platform, scanning his newly changed outfit. "Looks good on you. Where's your brush spirit?"
"What?" The topic changed too quickly, and Jiang Xingzhi automatically ignored the first half of the sentence. "In my storage pouch."
"You can't keep it in the storage pouch forever. Why don't you leave it in the courtyard?"
"What for?"
"Looking at its shape, it seems suitable for sweeping."
"......"
Jiang Xingzhi gave Zhong Ming a long look, never imagining there could be someone more exploitative than himself.
As soon as the storage pouch opened, Jiang Langhao immediately jumped out. "Ancestor, I was suffocating~"
Jiang Xingzhi pacified it with a few words, then pointed to the courtyard. "That's where the true body lives. You'll stay there."
Jiang Langhao: "Wooo~ Ancestor's ancestral shrine!"
Jiang Xingzhi: "......" He was still alive.
Zhong Ming frowned. "How can there be such an uncultured brush spirit?"
Jiang Langhao: "What did you say?"
Seeing the man and brush about to start arguing again, Jiang Xingzhi spoke up to end the battle. "We're going out for a while. You stay here and watch the courtyard. Don't run around."
Jiang Langhao: "I want to go too."
Zhong Ming grasped Jiang Xingzhi's arm and turned to the brush, speaking coolly, "The adults are going out. What business do you have joining in?"
Jiang Langhao had already seen through this man. It jumped up and squeaked loudly, "You just want to have my ancestor all to yourself! You don't want me following you!"
The thin voice echoed across the entire mountaintop. Jiang Xingzhi's heart, which had just settled down, became awkward again at this outcry. The place where Zhong Ming was holding him seemed to be heating up. He lowered his eyes and glanced down, attempting to withdraw his hand.
Just as he moved slightly, he heard the man's low chuckle by his ear. "Mm, so what if I do?"
"......"
Jiang Langhao was stunned by this man's thick-skinned response.
It froze momentarily in mid-air, only to helplessly watch as Zhong Ming took Jiang Xingzhi and flew away.
After a while, Jiang Langhao let out a pitiful cry: Ying!
****
Meanwhile, Jiang Xingzhi was being carried by Zhong Ming over the countryside.
The city quickly approached before their eyes. He withdrew his hand, rubbed the spot where he'd been held, and lightly coughed. "What nonsense were you telling Jiang Langhao?"
Zhong Ming looked straight ahead. "Otherwise it would insist on following us."
Jiang Xingzhi's heart relaxed slightly. So it was just an excuse after all.
Zhong Ming: "Besides, it wasn't nonsense."
Jiang Xingzhi: Damn!
He glanced at Zhong Ming's profile and found the latter's expression natural. He spoke such straightforward words without either enthusiasm or shyness. It made him doubt whether he had misunderstood.
"It's just ahead," Zhong Ming's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Jiang Xingzhi followed his gaze and saw an octagonal tower standing by the city's waterway. Delicate eaves hung with red lanterns, and people came and went in front of the building.
It was a popular restaurant.
Jiang Xingzhi's attention was instantly drawn to it. His throat moved, gulp.
Zhong Ming caught this from the corner of his eye, and his lips curved slightly. The two descended, their robes fluttering as they landed among the crowd.
Around them came a series of low exclamations, passersby marveling at "immortals descending." The waiter at the restaurant entrance saw this and hurried over. "This way, please, immortal lords!"
"A private room," said Zhong Ming.
"I'll find the best spot for you two right away!"
Jiang Xingzhi followed Zhong Ming into the restaurant, quietly remarking, "Such familiar phrasing." ------finding the best spot.
Zhong Ming was generous. "As long as there's enough money."
Jiang Xingzhi was shocked. "You have money!"
What answered him was a calm smile. Jiang Xingzhi's eyes widened. They were following the waiter up the stairs, the stairway narrow enough for only two people, naturally bringing them closer.
Jiang Xingzhi's face suddenly enlarged before him. "You have money yet you squeezed into one room with me!"
Zhong Ming didn't explain, just climbed the stairs. "Mm-hmm."
Mm-hmm? What mm------Jiang Xingzhi suddenly fell silent.
Wait, could it have been deliberate? But when they first shared a room at the inn, they had just met, hadn't they?
Jiang Xingzhi's gaze instantly became piercing: Just when did this person start having thoughts about him!
His stare was so intense that the waiter leading the way glanced back inadvertently and almost tripped. Zhong Ming turned to meet Jiang Xingzhi's gaze and reminded him, "Your eyes are very bright."
Jiang Xingzhi stared at him. "They're the interrogation lamps illuminating the truth."
Zhong Ming couldn't help but laugh.