After Sheng Jun Chapter 31 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 31 Fulfilling Promises (part 1)
Zhong Ming's gaze was unwavering, as if looking through his eyes into his soul.
The Beauty Ghost suddenly moved behind him.
Jiang Xingzhi instinctively placed his hand on his sword hilt, about to turn around, but was pulled back by Zhong Ming to face him.
Zhong Ming looked down insistently, "Don't move."
After speaking, he swung his sword-wielding hand, and pure sword energy cut through the air toward the Beauty Ghost.
Amidst melodious laughter, a layer of petals was sliced off the surrounding red spider lilies. With a sharp sound, they scattered everywhere behind Jiang Xingzhi, flying in all directions.
Falling into Zhong Ming's eyes, it truly appeared like unparalleled beauty between heaven and earth.
He said, "See, this will work."
Jiang Xingzhi didn't dare joke with the other's life, so he had to let him be, "Then be careful."
Zhong Ming stared at him, the corner of his lips curving slightly.
Seeing this, the Beauty Ghost gently clicked her tongue, "What an unromantic one."
The response was a sword light cold as ice.
Zhong Ming looked up, directly meeting the soul-capturing technique in those enchanting eyes, yet what flashed through his mind was only Jiang Xingzhi gently biting his Adam's apple in the illusion.
All his romantic feelings were reserved for the person before him.
The sword light was cold and merciless, slashing toward the Beauty Ghost—
Each strike deadly, leaving only afterimages amid the sea of flowers. The Beauty Ghost, seeing that he was clearly lucid yet pretending to be in danger before the young man, couldn't help but snort lightly:
This hateful man has two faces indeed.
As she thought this, she couldn't help but follow Zhong Ming's gaze to focus on Jiang Xingzhi—she really wanted to know what was so special about this person that could make that cold and detached sword cultivator so devoted.
With a blink of her enchanting eyes, the soul-capturing technique dissipated, replaced by soul-searching.
Several scenes flashed by, and the Beauty Ghost suddenly exclaimed, "Oh?"
In that moment of distraction, a cold sword energy left a cut on her arm, the killing intent penetrating to the bone. Yet the Beauty Ghost suddenly laughed, "Hehehehehe..."
Jiang Xingzhi was facing Zhong Ming and couldn't see what was happening behind him. Just hearing this laughter, he felt an ominous premonition.
The next moment, he heard a coquettish voice ask, "Not affected by my bewitchment... then how about this?"
The hand gripping Jiang Xingzhi's arm suddenly tightened!
Seeing the man before him freeze completely, Jiang Xingzhi turned his head without hesitation—
His pupils suddenly contracted.
He saw that the alluring figure on the water's surface was gone, replaced by a familiar silhouette.
Indigo long robe with silver-edged waistband. Black hair tied high behind him, the Chu Ji sword hanging at his waist—it was unmistakably Jiang Xingzhi before his heavenly tribulation at the Mystic Platform.
Against the surrounding sea of flowers, it was a crimson red as bright as blood.
Jiang Xingzhi was stunned.
The figure ahead suddenly turned around.
A face identical to Jiang Xingzhi's turned toward them, looking directly at Zhong Ming. Across the short distance, amber eyes suddenly activated the soul-capturing technique!
Jiang Xingzhi's heart leaped, "Bai Mu!"
The man beside him trembled. Jiang Xingzhi immediately swung his Tingxue sword, sword intent sharp as frost—whoosh! Simultaneously, another powerful aura surged from his side, like a swimming dragon wrapped in flowers and water, "Boom!" rushing toward the Beauty Ghost who had taken his form.
"Ah!" The Beauty Ghost never expected to be hit. The illusion scattered, and she reverted to her original form, splashing into the water.
Only ripples remained on the water's surface.
Jiang Xingzhi quickly turned to look at Zhong Ming, "Are you alright?"
Zhong Ming's brows were furrowed deeply. When he opened his tightly closed eyes, there was lingering redness in his eye sockets, but his gaze was clear.
Jiang Xingzhi sighed in relief, "I thought you were affected."
"Won't be."
A hand suddenly raised, touching his jaw. Zhong Ming slowly recovered from that deeply affecting scene, his fingertips unconsciously brushing over Jiang Xingzhi's slightly cool cheek, as if confirming his existence.
Zhong Ming pressed his lips together, looking at him, "No one can replace you."
Jiang Xingzhi met his gaze, which concealed very heavy emotions. He should have avoided the other's hand, but found himself frozen in place.
After a while, he moved his lips and turned away, pressing his heart to calm himself, "Your eyes seem to have reflected the soul-capturing technique..."
Zhong Ming, "......"
As the two stood in wordless confrontation, the sound of water "splash" rose again.
The Beauty Ghost resurfaced, her wounds already completely healed by the nourishment of the red spider lilies.
Jiang Xingzhi immediately gripped his sword, his eyes vigilant.
The Beauty Ghost let out a loud "tsk!" clearly expressing her dissatisfaction. She waved her hand and said, "I won't seduce your man anymore, don't point your sword at me."
Jiang Xingzhi choked a bit, just about to clarify that he wasn't his man, when he heard the Beauty Ghost give a coquettish laugh, "But you're interesting too."
As she spoke, she casually picked a red spider lily, her form flickering to appear in front of Jiang Xingzhi, her delicate hand resting on his shoulder.
Zhong Ming's cold sword unsheathed in an instant.
The Beauty Ghost leaned half her body against Jiang Xingzhi, hiding behind the flower, giving Zhong Ming a coy look, "I won't mess with your beloved either, I just have something good to gift him."
Zhong Ming coldly looked over, his sword no longer drawn but not withdrawn either.
Jiang Xingzhi turned his head to avoid the Beauty Ghost, "Miss Yan, please speak properly."
Beauty Ghost, "......" Her surname wasn't Yan.
Skipping the correction of her title, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Red spider lilies, a gift for the departed."
Jiang Xingzhi was suddenly stunned.
The Beauty Ghost finished speaking, tucked the flower stem into his chest, and quickly withdrew before Zhong Ming reached his limit of tolerance.
Zhong Ming frowned, looking at the cluster of flowers in Jiang Xingzhi's chest, his eyes still flashing with the scene the Beauty Ghost had created.
The crimson red was glaring to his eyes.
He opened his mouth to tell Jiang Xingzhi to throw away the flowers, but before he could speak, that coquettish voice came again, "This is a treasure."
Zhong Ming and Jiang Xingzhi looked at her.
The Beauty Ghost pointed at Jiang Xingzhi, "This Immortal Lord's soul is damaged. Taking these red spider lilies out to find someone to refine them can fill in the missing pieces of his soul."
Zhong Ming remained silent, and Jiang Xingzhi asked, "Why give me the flowers?"
"Because you're handsome." The Beauty Ghost said, then seeing Zhong Ming looking ready to cut her down again, quickly added, "The Immortal Lord should remember my kindness. Next time we meet, please show mercy."
Next time? Jiang Xingzhi didn't understand her meaning.
As she finished speaking, the red spider lilies across the pool parted to reveal a water path.
The Beauty Ghost turned her back, her snow-white arms brushing through the flowers, gently tending to her precious blooms.
The parted water path led directly to the distant heavenly stairs.
Zhong Ming took the first step, calling to the still dazed Jiang Xingzhi, "Let's go."
"Mm."
Jiang Xingzhi responded and followed, but his mind was still pondering: which next time? According to the timeline, could it be the time he cut down ghosts a thousand years later?
But for him, these events had already happened, so why was there now a cause and effect?
The two walked away on the water, their silhouettes gradually receding into the distance.
The Beauty Ghost played with the flower petals, glancing in their direction.
Finally, they're gone, that disgusting couple, hmph!
The red spider lily in her hand was adorned with water droplets that slid down the slender petals onto the pool's surface, reflecting fragmented scenes in the air...