After Sheng Jun Chapter 21 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 21 It Was Him (part 1)
Jiang Xingzhi's hand trembled at that call.
What in the world was this "lamp lamp" thing?
Across from him, Chu Yun clicked his tongue in amazement: such an intimate way of addressing someone—even he, a grown man who had lived for over a hundred years, felt his face flush hearing it.
Jiang Xingzhi pulled his sleeve from Zhong Ming's fingers, tucking both hands under the table. He coughed casually, "...Ah Zuo, don't be mischievous."
Zhong Ming smiled good-naturedly, "Alright, I'll listen to you."
Jiang Xingzhi: "..."
Chu Yun: tsk tsk tsk tsk
Sensing the lingering gaze from beside him, Zhong Ming changed the subject appropriately, "Would you like more to eat?"
With Chu Yun still sitting across from them, Jiang Xingzhi looked at the mess on the table and said with dignity, "I think I'm done."
Zhong Ming heard the hesitation in his voice, "Didn't you just say it was a 'halftime break'?"
Jiang Xingzhi: "..." Don't expose me like this!
He added hastily, "I'm saving room. We'll get snacks later when we go out."
Zhong Ming made an affirming sound, seeming satisfied with the plan. Noticing that Chu Yun was still sitting there steadily with no sign of leaving, he asked, "Did Sect Master Chu come with companions?"
Chu Yun hadn't expected Zhong Ming to initiate conversation with him. He nodded, "We came for a small drink here, and later we're going touring on a painted boat."
Jiang Xingzhi followed his gaze toward the waterway outside the window, where the delicate music from the boats drifted into the building.
His eyes revealed a sense of longing, "What a nice place."
He had snuck into such places before to listen to music and watch performances, but eight times out of ten, he would run into Xu Jian. He had no mood for enjoyment then, and just kept pestering Xu Jian instead.
Now things were different.
Xu Jian wasn't around—a rare opportunity.
Chu Yun said, "If you don't mind, you could join us later. I'm sure my friends would welcome your company."
Jiang Xingzhi turned back, "Who else is with you?"
Chu Yun replied, "I enjoy making friends. Though they aren't famous venerable ones or immortal lords, they're all people with unique talents."
Jiang Xingzhi leaned forward eagerly, "How talented?"
"For instance, among today's companions, there's an Extreme Yin Constitution, a Divine Calculator, a Sword Spirit Constitution..."
"Sword Spirit Constitution?" Jiang Xingzhi's eyes lit up. "A natural-born sword cultivator."
His eyes shone brighter than the sunlight outside the window. Not only Chu Yun, but even Zhong Ming could see his interest in the "Sword Spirit Constitution" person. Zhong Ming's heart beat a little faster as he looked at Jiang Xingzhi, "You like sword cultivators?"
"I..."
Jiang Xingzhi was about to say "like" when he suddenly remembered that Bai Mu was also a sword cultivator. He changed his words, "No, it's just that I have a friend who is also a sword cultivator."
For a moment, Zhong Ming thought he was referring to himself. He blurted out, "Your friend—"
Halfway through his sentence, seeing Jiang Xingzhi's gentle expression, reason suddenly returned: he wasn't Jiang Xingzhi's "friend," and wasn't there a young sect master from the Xuantian Sword Sect who had a good relationship with Jiang Xingzhi?
The one called "Lin He."
Jiang Xingzhi asked, "What about my friend?"
Zhong Ming tried not to sound too sarcastic, "I suppose his swordsmanship isn't much."
Jiang Xingzhi frowned: what nonsense, Xu Jian was excellent.
But Bai Mu was also formidable, perhaps even Xu Jian's ancestor... never mind. His brow relaxed again, "In my heart, he's the best."
Zhong Ming's back molars made a "crunch" sound.
Seeing the conversation heading toward mutual destruction, Chu Yun quickly smoothed things over, "If Divine Lamp is interested, those friends are next door. Would you like to meet them?"
Jiang Xingzhi hesitated.
Suddenly, a voice fell beside him, "You came out with me today." Zhong Ming's thin lips were pressed into a straight line, looking as if he'd been neglected, making one feel sympathetic.
Jiang Xingzhi withdrew his thoughts, "That's true."
Besides, he needed to find an opportunity today to clear things up with Bai Mu.
"Then I won't disturb you any further," Chu Yun stood up to take his leave.
****
After Chu Yun left, Jiang Xingzhi also prepared to leave.
However, there was a small episode when settling the bill—Zhong Ming wanted to pay, Jiang Xingzhi insisted on paying himself, and in the end they compromised, with one paying for the food and the other for the private room.
When they both took out money to give to the waiter, the latter gave them a peculiar look: in all his years of business, he had never seen people split the bill this way.
Leaving the restaurant, they merged back into the bustling crowd.
Since his rebirth, Jiang Xingzhi had been constantly busy with work and hadn't had time to relax. Today was a good opportunity to look around.
Along the street were small stalls and shops. His gaze swept from osmanthus cakes to fried sugar desserts, then lingered on the flatbread at the next stall.
He was an adult now; he wanted them all.
Just as he was thinking this, a shadow moved beside him. Zhong Ming circled several small stalls and returned with his arms full of the snacks Jiang Xingzhi had been eyeing.
Jiang Xingzhi blinked.
Zhong Ming raised an eyebrow slightly, "What? Didn't you want them all?"
Damn, what kind of ancient mind-reading technique was this?
Caught red-handed, Jiang Xingzhi half-heartedly accepted them, "How much was it? I'll pay you back."
A hand picked out a fried sugar treat from the pile and put it in his mouth. Zhong Ming's tongue brushed against his canine tooth, "No need, otherwise people will think we're splitting the bill again."
"..."
The two walked forward with the crowd. Jiang Xingzhi's arms were full of snacks. He stopped at a miscellaneous book stall, bending down with interest to browse the newly arrived story books.
Zhong Ming stood behind him, watching, his lips curving up unconsciously.
Suddenly, someone tugged at his clothes. Zhong Ming looked down to see a large bouquet of roses thrust before his eyes.
Behind the lush roses appeared the face of a small boy with bright, intelligent eyes. "Immortal Lord, buy a bouquet for your dao companion!"
Seeing that Jiang Xingzhi was still absorbed in the story books and hadn't noticed, Zhong Ming crouched down and asked the boy, "Who told you that's my dao companion?"
The boy smiled mischievously, "I guessed. You look perfect together." And you've been staring at him the whole time.
"You guessed wrong," Zhong Ming said. The boy's smile faded. Then Zhong Ming took out some copper coins and handed them over, taking the flowers, "He's not yet. But I'll buy the flowers."
….
When Jiang Xingzhi finished looking at the story book and straightened up, a bouquet of roses was suddenly thrust before him.
The gorgeous red petals still carried dewdrops, blooming brilliantly and vibrantly. He was stunned for a moment, "...What is this?"
Zhong Ming: "A gift for you."
"I'm not a young girl, what do I need flowers for?"
"These flowers bloom nicely. Take them back to plant in your courtyard, so it won't look so desolate."
Jiang Xingzhi imagined the scene, feeling somewhat complicated, "It's like placing offerings in an ancestral hall."
"..." An awkward atmosphere instantly spread between them.
After a moment of silence, Zhong Ming tucked the roses under Jiang Xingzhi's arm, "Just keep them."
A cluster of roses nestled against his cheek, adding a touch of color to his pale complexion. With his arms full of snacks, Jiang Xingzhi could only hold the flowers awkwardly, "When we get back, I'll plant them in your courtyard."
Today was different; he couldn't accept Bai Mu's flowers.
Zhong Ming didn't press the issue, "Fine."
After all, the flowers were going back with them—did it matter where they were planted?
****
Not much further ahead, the street came to an end.
Beyond the street exit was the waterway they had seen from the restaurant. Large painted boats were docked at the shore, with people boarding them one after another.
Jiang Xingzhi felt tempted, "I want to take a look."
"Look at what?" Zhong Ming reached out to adjust the slightly tilted flower stems in his arms, arranging them at different heights, "To see which beautiful girl is dancing, or which handsome young man is reciting poetry?"
Jiang Xingzhi stared at the boats, "Both."
"..." Zhong Ming almost laughed out of frustration—what honesty.
"Coming with me?" Jiang Xingzhi was thinking about returning the favor, "My treat."
Zhong Ming's smile was cool, "Fine."