After Sheng Jun Chapter 32 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 32 Solving Someone's Troubles (part 1)
Jiang Xingzhi had thought of many ways to repay the other party, but he never expected it would be this kind of request.
Words could lie, but heartbeats couldn't pretend.
Zhong Ming's heart was beating rapidly and heavily. He had one arm around Jiang Xingzhi's shoulder and the other circling Jiang Xingzhi's waist. His movements contained no impropriety, only pure and fervent affection.
Jiang Xingzhi seemed to stammer a bit as if he had been scalded, with one hand raised in mid-air. "Y-you should, choose something else."
His genie lamp wish was worth its weight in gold—who would ask for a hug like Bai Mu did?
"But this is all I want," said Zhong Ming.
He was incredibly stubborn, yet what he asked for wasn't much.
Jiang Xingzhi's resisting hand paused.
He felt he couldn't bring himself to push the person away harshly—not because of any so-called "promise," or because the other person had been injured while saving him. It was for some deeper reason...
He couldn't explain it himself, nor could he understand it clearly.
It felt as though if he pushed Bai Mu away now and hurt his feelings, he would definitely regret it.
So Jiang Xingzhi lowered his hand, silently consenting to the other's request.
After embracing for a while, the heartbeat pressed against his gradually calmed down, transitioning from surging waves to lingering warmth. A deep voice asked him, "How are you doing?"
"What do you mean, how am I doing?"
"You weren't right just now. You even put down your sword."
At the mention of this, Jiang Xingzhi felt a lingering fear. "I don't know, maybe it was an acute stress response." He figured the other wouldn't understand even if he explained, so he ended the topic, "I'm fine now."
Zhong Ming's thumb stroked Jiang Xingzhi's back twice, as if cherishing him. "That's good."
The image of a figure trembling on the verge of collapse under earth-shattering thunder flashed through his mind again. He felt he might develop psychological trauma himself.
For a moment, neither spoke, and silence returned between them.
After holding him for a while, Zhong Ming turned his head from Jiang Xingzhi's shoulder, and a luminous white earlobe fell into his view. He seemed to develop an obsession with this earlobe that had almost slipped away. He stared at it without blinking for a moment, then suddenly leaned in slightly—
The distance closed, but his lips stopped just before making contact.
However, his warm breath couldn't be held back and was exhaled directly.
Jiang Xingzhi shuddered and immediately detected the man's secretive little movement!
"Bai Mu," he turned his head away and questioned, "What are you doing?"
The slender neck, due to the evasive movement, was instead completely exposed under Zhong Ming's gaze. At such close distance, he could even see the fine blue-red blood vessels beneath the cold white skin, like exquisitely carved jade.
Zhong Ming's hand on Jiang Xingzhi's waist tightened slightly. "Nothing, just checking your vital pulse."
Jiang Xingzhi: "......"
He stretched his neck very long, not believing this lie. "Since when did you become a divine doctor?"
Zhong Ming: "......"
Seeing him starting to take liberties, Jiang Xingzhi extended his hand and pushed him, "Doctor Bai, have you had enough of hugging?"
"No," Zhong Ming buried his head back.
Jiang Xingzhi choked for a moment, just about to pick up this thick-skinned man, when a stream of light fell from above.
With a "clang" at their feet, it was unmistakably the bright Tingxue Sword.
As the sword returned, the desolate scene around them dispersed.
The two returned to the great hall, facing the enormous faceless deity statue. The statue gleamed with golden light, though its true appearance couldn't be discerned. Only a trace of familiar essence was concealed within it.
Jiang Xingzhi's breath suddenly held, his full attention drawn to it.
The moment he had waited for so long was finally about to arrive.
Now it was his turn for his heart to race.
…..
In his complete concentration, Jiang Xingzhi even forgot to tell Zhong Ming to let go.
The "thump, thump" heartbeat transmitted from their pressed chests to the latter, pounding like an awl into Zhong Ming's heart, making even his tongue taste bitter.
The hand embracing him finally loosened.
Zhong Ming thought bitterly: What use was holding him tightly? Jiang Xingzhi's emotions were still entirely moved by "someone else."
He took a deep breath and stood up, saying, "Are you still sitting?"
Only then did Jiang Xingzhi come to his senses, picking up the Tingxue Sword and standing up.
His heart was impatient. He walked two steps toward the deity statue, then turned back to instruct Zhong Ming, "Bai Mu, step back and wait for me."
Zhong Ming looked at him. "Alright."
Jiang Xingzhi steadied himself, channeled his spiritual power, and in the next moment, his blue figure dashed forward rapidly!
Hiss... At the instant of passing through the deity statue's protective barrier, a burning sensation reached straight to his sea of consciousness. Jiang Xingzhi precisely found that opportunity, grabbed it with a wave of his hand, and flipped back to the ground.
Thud—his figure steadied.
Disregarding the lingering pain, he was about to focus his mind and explore the depths of that opportunity—snap! His wrist was suddenly gripped. Jiang Xingzhi turned his head to meet Zhong Ming's gaze.
"What's wrong, Bai Mu?"
His tone was urgent, as if he couldn't wait a moment longer.
Zhong Ming stared at him for a breath, then lowered his eyes and released his hand. "Go ahead, I'll protect you."
The urgent feeling paused for an instant.
Jiang Xingzhi's fingertips moved slightly. "Thank you." After saying this, he closed his eyes in meditation, his consciousness sinking and merging into the golden opportunity.
The inheritance opportunity was both tangible and intangible.
It was like a perception force, or like a heavenly cord.
The moment Jiang Xingzhi's divine consciousness entered it, he quickly discovered that this opportunity was somewhat different from the one that had caused his soul to scatter a thousand years later—it seemed to still be in its nascent stage, not yet fully formed.
That subtle sense of strangeness that had given him unusual perception couldn't be found.
His heart grew anxious. His divine consciousness extended outward, carefully searching for any clues.
One hour passed, then two hours...
Zhong Ming stood right beside Jiang Xingzhi, with a protective barrier of a Mahayana Peak surrounding the two. His gaze fell on Jiang Xingzhi, his degree of tension no less than the latter's.
The Kongxuan Secret Realm would remain open for seven days.
Time in the hall seemed to flow silently like fine sand.
Zhong Ming estimated that the seven days were about to end and was about to call out to wake Jiang Xingzhi when the latter's eyelashes trembled slightly.
His eyes opened, with a thin mist still covering the amber-colored eyes, clearly not having fully returned to consciousness.
"...Jiang Xingzhi?"
Hearing the voice from beside him, Jiang Xingzhi slowly came back to his senses.
For a full six days, his soul had merged with the opportunity, trying to find the reason for his soul scattering and rebirth a thousand years earlier.
But he just couldn't find it.
This opportunity was fundamentally different from the one a thousand years later. He felt like he was endlessly wandering in a newly born chaotic world, with anxiety and bewilderment filling his heart.
After an unknown amount of time, a voice finally came from the void: Wait.
Wait for what? How long?
How could he understand when nothing was explained! Anxious feelings occupied his heart. He wanted to ask but couldn't make a sound.
Then he was pushed out by an irresistible force.