After Sheng Jun Chapter 33 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 33 A Hall Full of Flower Intoxication (part 1)
"Drinking?"
"I asked Wu Jie about a tavern," said Zhong Ming. "That tavern is specially opened for cultivators of the Three Realms, called 'Undrunken Immortal.' Would you like to go see it?"
Jiang Xingzhi looked at the moon in the sky. "Now?"
"Drinking under the moonlight, isn't that perfect?"
"I..." Jiang Xingzhi was about to decline, but when he turned his head, he met Zhong Ming's gaze. In the depths of his eyes, there seemed to be concern for him.
He paused, then changed his mind, "Let's go then."
Zhong Ming's lips curved into a smile. "Good."
The two figures flew toward the bright moon.
...
The "Undrunken Immortal" that Wu Jie mentioned was located in the Central Plains, an exquisite tavern floating in mid-air.
They arrived shortly.
Jiang Xingzhi stood outside the building when a few flower petals suddenly floated down from above, landing on his shoulders. He looked up and saw that under the silver disc of the moon, a flourishing peach tree extended from the roof of "Undrunken Immortal." Even though it was already early autumn, the peach blossoms were blooming as if it were March.
Zhong Ming noticed his gaze. "Like it?"
Jiang Xingzhi nodded, and Zhong Ming said, "Noted."
...Noted? What did he note?
As the two of them were now following a waiter into the tavern, Jiang Xingzhi cast several suspicious glances at Zhong Ming and transmitted a message: "Bai Mu, don't get any strange ideas."
He still remembered how the other man had casually flicked ancient phoenix blood into his Moon-Holding Pearl, and he feared that this person might dig up someone else's peach tree as well.
Zhong Ming seemed to have seen through his thoughts. "Rest assured, I brought you out to relax, not to cause trouble for you."
Jiang Xingzhi hurriedly expressed his trust. "Of course."
Following the waiter upstairs, the building was quiet, with gauze curtains fluttering and gentle music playing. The private rooms were set far apart, not disturbing each other.
Zhong Ming ordered a jar of peach blossom wine and entered a window-facing private room with Jiang Xingzhi. The carved window was open, and a few peach blossom petals spiraled in on the breeze, landing on the windowsill.
Jiang Xingzhi's attention was drawn to them again.
Just then, the waiter brought in the wine. "This is the peach blossom wine the Immortal Lord requested, called 'Three Thousand Intoxications.' Please enjoy."
After saying this, he withdrew.
As soon as the door closed, Zhong Ming grabbed the wine jar with one hand and took hold of the still distracted Jiang Xingzhi with the other. "Let's go."
Jiang Xingzhi turned his head in confusion. "Go where?"
His answer came in the form of the force on his wrist.
When he regained his senses, Zhong Ming had already taken him out through the window, leaping toward the moon. With a whoosh! Their robes billowed against the wind, and Jiang Xingzhi was startled. "Damn!"
They quickly flew to the roof, their feet landing on solid ground.
A massive peach tree suddenly entered their view, dreamlike under the moonlight. The visual impact left Jiang Xingzhi momentarily stunned.
Zhong Ming turned back and called to him, "Lamp Lamp."
Jiang Xingzhi came to his senses. "Hmm?"
Zhong Ming declared, "Since you like it, this place is now our territory."
"Good..." What a bandit.
After speaking, Zhong Ming sat down under the peach tree with the wine jar and popped open the lid with a "bang." Wisps of rich aroma rose from the opening, intoxicating even before drinking.
Seeing his domineering and unreasonable demeanor, Jiang Xingzhi's heavy heart unexpectedly lightened.
Never mind, don't worry about anything today, just indulge for once.
"Protector Bai, pour the wine," he commanded with a wave of his hand as he walked over and sat down on the ground, leaning against the thick trunk of the peach tree.
Zhong Ming poured him some wine. The delicate cup held the clear wine, and Jiang Xingzhi took it and sipped. The taste was rich with a sweet aftertaste.
Such wine usually had a strong kick.
He sipped the wine and asked, "What if I get drunk later?"
Zhong Ming sat beside him, holding the wine jar and looking at him. "That would be perfect. Getting drunk is the best way to forget your troubles."
"That's true." Jiang Xingzhi quickly finished a small cup and waved it under Zhong Ming's nose. "Come on, fill this Lamp's cup!"
Zhong Ming let out a laugh.
With his power and status, probably no one in the Three Realms would dare to order him around like this, but he found Jiang Xingzhi's manner quite endearing. Referring to himself as "this Lamp" with such an arrogant air.
Like a cat extending its claws, scratching at his heart, causing waves of tingling.
He picked up the wine jar and refilled the cup, indulging him. "Alright."
The wine gurgled into the cup, and Jiang Xingzhi's well-defined hand gripped it, his slender fingers resting on the rim. A few drops of clear wine splashed up and wet his fingertips.
Mixed with the wine's fragrance, Zhong Ming suddenly felt himself becoming intoxicated as well.
"Drink slowly," he put down the wine jar and cautioned, "'Three Thousand Intoxications' is different from mortal wine. Spiritual power can hardly dispel it. Be careful of a hangover headache when you wake up."
As he spoke, Jiang Xingzhi had already downed the cup in one go, licking his lips as he looked over. "What?"
Zhong Ming: "..."
Still just a selectively deaf, gluttonous cat.
Jiang Xingzhi extended his cup again. "A little more."
Zhong Ming resignedly poured for him. As he was pouring, Jiang Xingzhi asked, "Why aren't you drinking?"
"If I get drunk, who will carry you back?"
"Have some confidence!" Jiang Xingzhi frowned disapprovingly. "We're both at the peak of Mahayana after all. Can't we fly back together?"
"..." Zhong Ming looked up, thinking he must already be tipsy.
Seeing that he wasn't drinking, Jiang Xingzhi didn't press him. "How's your alcohol tolerance? Have you ever been drunk?"
The hand resting on the jar's rim paused. Zhong Ming lowered his eyelashes, his fingertips feeling the rough texture of the jar's inner wall. "Not sure. I've only drunk once, and I got drunk that time."
Jiang Xingzhi said, "Then your tolerance must be poor."
Zhong Ming neither confirmed nor denied, softly saying, "Just drink yours."
The person before him obediently continued drinking, the previous topic easily forgotten. Under the rustling peach blossoms, Jiang Xingzhi's neck arched in a beautiful curve, his Adam's apple bobbing with each swallow.
Zhong Ming watched him from the side: this person probably couldn't imagine how much he had drunk that one time.
It was when he first realized he had fallen for Jiang Xingzhi. The unfamiliar emotion came unexpectedly, powerful and aching. The usually restrained Zhong Ming touched alcohol for the first time, drinking cup after cup, yet the tide of emotions only grew clearer, his eyes and dreams filled with Jiang Xingzhi.
This image had occupied his mind for hundreds of years.
.......
The gaze from beside him was too intense. Jiang Xingzhi put down his cup, cleared his throat to change the subject. "So what are you like when drunk?"
Zhong Ming said, "You wouldn't want to know."
As he spoke, a hidden fire lurked in his eyes.
Jiang Xingzhi choked a little, gripping his cup as he coughed. His lips, moistened by wine, shimmered with a glossy luster, parting slightly with each cough.
Zhong Ming stared for a moment before turning his gaze away. If he were drunk, he certainly wouldn't hold back like this.
His longing for this person was nearly maddening, restrained only by a thread of rationality.