After Sheng Jun Chapter 34 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 34 He Is Not Happy (part 1)
When he said these words, his half-closed eyes were misty with fog, his cheek obediently pressed against Zhong Ming's palm.
Zhong Ming's other hand clenched tightly, his fingertips digging into his palm, causing a sobering pain. Jiang Xingzhi was thinking about that person again, thinking about that person from the Sword Sect...
He gritted his teeth, but couldn't bear to interrupt. "Who?" His fingertips brushed against the cheek, feeling its delicate warmth.
Jiang Xingzhi's eyelashes drooped. In his foggy mind, only that figure broke through the mist like a long sword, so clear it made his heart flutter. He slowly opened his mouth, "It's the person I've loved for hundreds of years, the most formidable sword cultivator in the world."
The hand on his cheek suddenly stiffened.
Zhong Ming's heart began to race for some reason. Although Jiang Xingzhi had said similar words before, this time felt different.
The air around them was mixed with intoxicating alcohol. Zhong Ming's mind was in chaos.
His throat moved as he asked hoarsely, "...And then?"
Jiang Xingzhi's lips curved slightly, with an expression of great fondness. "People say we are mortal enemies, irreconcilable... I suppose he hates me too."
Zhong Ming's mind buzzed loudly.
But Jiang Xingzhi continued, his eyes lightly closed, as if he couldn't distinguish between ages, between dreams and reality.
"Unfortunately, after fighting and killing each other for hundreds of years, I don't know how happy he'll be after I'm gone..."
"Mmm."
The fingertip pressing against his cheek suddenly applied pressure!
A hot tear dropped down, wetting Jiang Xingzhi's eyelashes, as if he was the one crying.
The fingertip smoothed away the tear traces, gently wiping his face, black hair falling beside his red lips.
Zhong Ming's eyes were red, his breath trembling, "He is not happy."
Gritting his teeth, word by word, "He is not happy, Jiang Xingzhi."
But the person cradled in his palm seemed completely drunk and didn't respond. The force on his hand was too strong, making Jiang Xingzhi frown and burrow deeper into his palm.
Zhong Ming could no longer hold back. He pressed one hand against those wet, soft lips and leaned down—
Just as he was about to kiss those lips, Jiang Xingzhi suddenly turned his face away and murmured hazily, "Xu Jian..."
Zhong Ming's movement froze, the surging emotions gradually receding, his heart suddenly softening.
He lowered his eyes and looked at the person for a long while. "Hmm."
Then he placed a kiss on the corner of those lips. Finally, he couldn't resist giving a gentle suck.
****
Jiang Xingzhi woke up in his own bed the next day.
It was already noon when he awoke, with bright daylight streaming into the room. He propped himself up on the bed, his head throbbing.
The power of "Three Thousand Intoxication" was indeed fierce.
...Wait, how did he get back?
Jiang Xingzhi rubbed his head, trying to recall, but remembered nothing. His memory cut off at the point when he had lunged to grab the wine jar—Bai Mu had been half-embracing him, coaxing him like a child, not letting him drink.
Damn! Jiang Xingzhi suddenly felt embarrassed.
What had he done in front of Bai Mu? Disheveled, drunk, leaning against him... Worst of all, he couldn't remember what happened afterward!
Jiang Xingzhi jumped off the bed with a start and rushed to the door.
His mind was in such disarray that he didn't even notice someone outside. The moment he pulled open the door with a creak, he almost tumbled out.
The soup bowl close at hand quickly moved away, replaced by a solid chest and steady arms.
Zhong Ming steadily embraced him with one arm, looking down and unable to suppress a smile. "What's the rush?"
His chest vibrated pleasantly, but Jiang Xingzhi was cradled with heart-pounding anxiety: had he done something last night that made this man happy?
He rose from Zhong Ming's embrace, carefully observing his expression. "Last night, I didn't act inappropriately, did I?"
Zhong Ming raised an eyebrow. "Don't remember?"
Jiang Xingzhi's hair was almost standing on end: the way he asked, it was as if he should remember something!
"...I can't remember it all. I didn't do anything, did I?"
Zhong Ming just looked at him with a half-smile.
Last night, he had carried the unconscious drunk Jiang Xingzhi back, and like a gentleman, tucked him into bed before leaving without doing anything else.
Of course, after returning to his own room, he couldn't sleep all night, repeatedly recalling the truths Jiang Xingzhi had revealed while drunk—which seemed as unreal as a dream to him.
For this reason, he had even knocked on Wu Jie's door in the middle of the night, paying triple the spirit stones to seek confirmation. In return, he got the response: "Protector Bai has too much money and nothing to do. This poor Daoist still needs to rest."
Only then did he return to his own quarters with peace of mind.
….
Jiang Xingzhi was unsettled by his half-smiling expression, and spoke with false bravado, "What are you smiling at?"
"Seeing your mood improve makes me happy too." Zhong Ming suppressed his upturned lips and asked, "So what do you remember?"
"It cuts off at the point where I tried to grab more wine."
So that's where the memory stops. Zhong Ming gave him a deep look... How convenient, not remembering a single word of his confession.
Oh, confession.
Zhong Ming thought about it and his lips curled upward again.
He carried the hangover soup back to the stone table in the courtyard and beckoned to Jiang Xingzhi, "Drink the hangover soup first, or your head will keep hurting."
Jiang Xingzhi's head was indeed hurting now.
What exactly happened last night? He felt that even if he had acted foolishly or embarrassed himself on someone's rooftop, it wouldn't matter much. What he feared was having done something intimate with Bai Mu!
And he couldn't shake the feeling that the other man's gaze today seemed exceptionally gentle, like calm rippling water...
He held the hangover soup, bringing it to his lips then moving it away. "Bai Mu, I didn't act inappropriately with you last night, did I?"
Zhong Ming almost laughed. "No, now drink up."
Jiang Xingzhi reluctantly relaxed, gulping down the hangover soup. He peered over the rim of the bowl with his eyes. "What happened after my memory cut off?"
"We drank and talked, chatting under the moon."
That sounded normal enough. "What did we talk about?"
Zhong Ming slowly replied, "You said the person you like is called 'Xu Jian.'"
Splurt! Jiang Xingzhi spat out a mouthful of soup. He coughed a couple of times, his face turning bright red. "Did I really say that?"
"You did. You also said you've loved him for hundreds of years." Zhong Ming watched Jiang Xingzhi's crimson face. "Is it true?"
Jiang Xingzhi's cheeks were burning with embarrassment: Heavens, what had he babbled about to Bai Mu last night... Had he analyzed his centuries-long unrequited love story?
Zhong Ming continued to question him, "Is it true?"
Jiang Xingzhi nodded honestly. "Mmm."
After answering, he thought: Bai Mu had taken him out drinking to cheer him up, but ended up having to listen to his confessions about Xu Jian. Wouldn't that be too hurtful?
"Bai Mu, you..." Jiang Xingzhi said as he looked up at the other person.
But he was surprised to find that stern face smiling at him, showing a row of bright white teeth. He thought: ???
Jiang Xingzhi was instantly alarmed. "Have you suffered some kind of shock?"
Zhong Ming quickly restrained his smile. "How could I?"
His lips flattened for two breaths, but couldn't help curling upward again.
Jiang Xingzhi: "..."
It's over, Bai Mu must have gone mad.
Jiang Xingzhi tried to counsel him. "There are plenty of fish in the sea; why fixate on just one? Love that can't be obtained is like sand that can't be held. Open your hand and let it go."
As he finished speaking, he saw Zhong Ming's brow suddenly furrow. "Don't talk nonsense."
Still advocating for transferring affections elsewhere?
No way, one must remain devoted! Hold tight! Never let go!
Jiang Xingzhi: ???
****
After drinking the sobering soup, Jiang Xingzhi's headache finally eased somewhat.
Today the sun was just right, and it was afternoon, with golden sunlight filling the courtyard. Across two courtyard walls, the roses in Zhong Ming's courtyard swayed in the breeze.
The once withered petals had finally regained their vitality.
It was perfect weather for sunbathing.
Zhong Ming set up a lounge chair for Jiang Xingzhi, brewed fragrant hot tea, and brought various snacks to the table. Then he moved a stone stool next to Jiang Xingzhi and sat down to prepare tea for him.
Jiang Xingzhi noticed he seemed more clingy than usual and couldn't help saying, "Bai Mu, you're really acting strange today."
"How am I strange?" Zhong Ming leisurely peeled nuts for him.
With a neat pile of nut kernels stacked into a small mound, Jiang Xingzhi quickly stopped him, "That's enough, that's enough, I can do it myself."
Zhong Ming asked, "Why, don't you want to accept my kindness?"
Jiang Xingzhi hadn't expected such a direct question, "Well..."
"Well what? Tell me, don't worry about my feelings."
As he said this, his hands continued peeling nuts, flowing smoothly without showing any sign of being unable to accept rejection. Jiang Xingzhi glanced at him and said tactfully, "Well, I can't give you the response you want."
He knew Bai Mu cared for him.
And because of this, he couldn't string him along—when it was time to be clear, he had to be.
Zhong Ming cracked two more pine nuts, his sword-wielding hand moving with a dexterity that somehow conveyed a sense of condescension, "Even with someone who treats you this well, you still like him?"
Jiang Xingzhi nodded, "Yes... I do."
His heartbeat suddenly quickened.