After Sheng Jun Chapter 35 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 35 Bit by Bit Excavation (part 2)
Zhong Ming swept a glance at them and promptly pulled Jiang Xingzhi away.
Being led away, Jiang Xingzhi didn't understand why he was more serious than himself. "Anyway, besides the cold constitution, there's nothing else wrong."
Zhong Ming pressed his lips together without speaking.
He pulled him out of the training ground and up the mountain. The trees along the path retreated on both sides—he was truly afraid that something else would happen to this person. Yet Jiang Xingzhi was naturally carefree, with strong abilities, and ordinary warnings couldn't make him vigilant.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Xingzhi asked him.
After a few moments of thought, Zhong Ming stopped and turned to look at Jiang Xingzhi. The stone steps created a height difference, and that head with a few strands of hair sticking out was now level with his chest, disturbing his composure.
Zhong Ming tightened his grip on the other's hand. "Aren't you afraid that because of your damaged soul, you won't be able to return to the place you want to go back to?"
Jiang Xingzhi was stunned by the question. Although this speculation had no evidence, what if it were true?
He hurriedly said, "I need to go back!"
The hand holding his loosened its grip a bit. Zhong Ming said softly, "Then do you still want to find someone to refine the flower?"
Jiang Xingzhi nodded, "Yes, I do, I do."
Those few tufts of hair sticking out swayed with his movements. Zhong Ming raised his hand to smooth them down. "That's better."
****
After returning, Jiang Xingzhi first contacted the Piaomiao Palace.
Demon cultivators and ghost cultivators were difficult to deal with, and he had no connections with the Wanyao Valley. At the Piaomiao Palace, he at least held a position as an honorary elder, making him somewhat of "one of their own."
When he communicated with the Palace Master of Piaomiao Palace, Ying Liuxian, he was lying on a lounge chair in the courtyard. The golden slanting sunlight made his face glow, giving him a rather divine appearance.
Across from him, Ying Liuxian's expression was reverent. "If Divine Lamp Daren has a request, this Palace Master will certainly do his utmost to help. However..."
Jiang Xingzhi asked, "However what?"
Ying Liuxian said, "Lord Minshuang left some days ago to search for spirit herbs, and I don't know when he'll return."
Jiang Xingzhi rubbed his chin, very casually, "No rush, we can wait..."
"Wait for what?" Just as he was speaking, a dark figure appeared in the communication image. Zhong Ming stood behind Jiang Xingzhi, leaning forward. That cold face that kept people at a thousand miles' distance fell into Ying Liuxian's view.
Jiang Xingzhi turned his head, almost face-to-face with him. He leaned back a bit, "Bai... Ah Zuo, Lord Minshuang Jun isn't at the palace, we'll have to wait for some time."
Zhong Ming spoke in a gentle voice, though his words were directed at Jiang Xingzhi, his piercing gaze was sideways toward the communication. "Deng Deng, time waits for no one. The sooner you heal this remnant soul of yours, the sooner your divine light can bless this land of Jiuzhou."
Ying Liuxian was surprised, "Such a serious matter, Daren should have said so earlier! This Palace Master will send a message to call Lord Minshuang Jun back immediately."
Having said that, he didn't give Jiang Xingzhi time to react before abruptly ending the communication with a "click."
The courtyard returned to silence.
The brilliant golden evening sun filled the courtyard, creating a scene of beautiful tranquility.
Zhong Ming looked at Jiang Xingzhi, and Jiang Xingzhi looked at Zhong Ming.
Jiang Xingzhi's gaze was steady as he realized that this person's ability to make things up was no less than his own.
...
By sunset, the Piaomiao Palace sent back a message, inviting Jiang Xingzhi to visit in three days.
Jiang Xingzhi expressed his thanks, and after ending the communication, he also informed Zhong Ming. Zhong Ming was tending to the roses in the adjacent courtyard. Upon hearing this, he looked up and smiled, "Good."
Those bright red flowers suited him so well, and his smile was heart-stoppingly beautiful.
Jiang Xingzhi couldn't help but stare for a few moments. His appreciation for beauty had never been about appearance, but more about temperament and bone structure. In hundreds of years, those who could make him pause and look—Bai Mu was only the second.
The first was Xu Jian.
While he was lost in thought, he heard the man across from him ask, "What are your plans for these few days?"
Jiang Xingzhi made a sound of "Hmm?" as his gaze focused, meeting Zhong Ming's slightly smiling eyes. He sat up straight from his lounge chair, "I'm going to the Hidden Sword Pavilion to find You Suqing."
"..." The smile suddenly disappeared.
Zhong Ming said softly, "Oh, that Xuantian Sword..." Halfway through his sentence, he caught himself, realizing that's not right—Jiang Xingzhi didn't have feelings for that Xuantian Sword Sect boy.
This jealousy was becoming almost reflexive.
Jiang Xingzhi didn't notice his sour tone and nodded, "Yes, the Pavilion Master You who is recognized by the Xuantian Sword."
Zhong Ming calmed himself, "What do you want with him?"
"Previously I entrusted Jiang Langhao to him. I don't know if he returned it to the Yuhua Sect or if he still carries it with him."
"Didn't you leave a way to communicate?"
Jiang Xingzhi said, "It's still better to see in person; otherwise it would be too irresponsible toward Langhao."
Zhong Ming laughed, "You're really treating it like your own descendant?"
Jiang Xingzhi stared at him.
Zhong Ming sighed, "Alright, I'll go with you."
….
Having agreed to go to Hidden Sword Pavilion, the two prepared to depart early the next morning.
When Jiang Xingzhi went out, he saw Zhong Ming already waiting at the gate of his courtyard. His straight, tall figure under the morning light was like a dawn sword, radiating brilliance.
He hesitantly walked over, "You look like you're going to seek retribution."
Zhong Ming reined in his aura a bit, "You're mistaken." He had unconsciously adopted his habitual vigilance again.
Jiang Xingzhi didn't pursue the matter further and called him to fly out of Kunlun together.
When they arrived at Hidden Sword Pavilion, You Suqing wasn't there. They were greeted by the steward Feng Yuan. Feng Yuan led them to the guest hall. "The Pavilion Master happens to be out but should return soon."
Jiang Xingzhi said, "No problem, we'll wait."
After they had eaten half of the served snacks, there was finally movement outside. They vaguely heard Feng Yuan's voice saying, "Pavilion Master, Immortal Lord Jiang and Immortal Lord Bai have been waiting in the guest hall for some time."
"Very well, I'm coming right away."
Jiang Xingzhi patted the crumbs from his hands with a "pat pat" and stood up, preparing to greet his younger brother Xiao Lin's ancestor.
He was usually lazy and rarely took the initiative to put down snacks to welcome someone.
Seeing this, Zhong Ming immediately stood up too. Whether it was a conditioned response to the Xuantian Sword Sect or not, he felt a bit jealous seeing Jiang Xingzhi's eager reception.
He couldn't help stepping forward and bumping into him, "Deng Deng."
Caught off guard, Jiang Xingzhi jumped forward half a step. He turned his head, eyes blazing, "What are you doing?"
Zhong Ming, full of jealousy, asked, "You don't happen to have a fondness for all sword cultivators, do you?"
"What nonsense."
Jiang Xingzhi thought to himself, you're such a big sword cultivator always hovering around me, and I've still stayed true to my heart, haven't I?
"Oh." Zhong Ming pursed his lips, "Then what is it?"
Jiang Xingzhi said, "Whether others are sword cultivators or not, I treat everyone the same."
Zhong Ming felt a twinge in his heart, "Then who don't you treat the same?"
Jiang Xingzhi looked at him for a few moments. Who else would it be? Why had Bai Mu been asking these self-tormenting questions these past few days?
Zhong Ming continued to press, "Who?"
Jiang Xingzhi didn't know what he was up to. During these few sentences, You Suqing's footsteps had already approached. Zhong Ming bumped him again, with a determined expression of needing to hear the answer, "Who?"
Jiang Xingzhi jumped again from the bump, "........."
He couldn't bear it anymore and turned his head, "Xu Jian! Who else could it be besides Xu Jian!"
Zhong Ming then restrained his smile and stepped back, contentedly making an "Mmm" sound.