After Sheng Jun Chapter 36 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 36 Fireworks Wish (part 1)
Jiang Xingzhi hadn't yet had the chance to ask what he was up to when footsteps gradually approached from outside. You Suqing's figure appeared at the doorway in the next moment.
"Brother Jiang, Brother Bai, sorry to keep you waiting!"
"Pavilion Master You," Jiang Xingzhi set aside his earlier thoughts and said, "We're the ones who didn't give advance notice."
You Suqing waved dismissively, then asked, "Brother Jiang, were you just talking about some sword?"
His expression showed the keen interest of a sword enthusiast yearning for the hidden swords of the world. Jiang Xingzhi coughed once, "Not a sword... just someone I know."
"Just someone you know?" Zhong Ming asked slyly.
"......" Jiang Xingzhi glanced at him a few times, unable to figure out what this person was trying to express. It didn't seem like jealousy, and he actually looked oddly expectant.
You Suqing couldn't understand their wordless exchange. "What?"
Seeing Zhong Ming still looking at him expectantly, Jiang Xingzhi restrained himself, "Yes, the person I have feelings for."
The response was a light "Mmm."
You Suqing: ??? Brother Jiang has someone he likes?
His surprised and suspicious gaze moved back and forth between the two: What kind of love triangle drama is this? And what is Brother Bai's reaction about?
Jiang Xingzhi cleared his throat to bring the conversation back on track. "By the way, Pavilion Master You, I came to ask if Jiang Langhao is still here with you?"
"That brush spirit?" You Suqing appropriately shifted his gaze. "Does Brother Jiang still need to find it? Unfortunately, I just returned it to Yuhua Sect today. I've just come back from there."
Fearing they wouldn't believe him, he pulled out a decent quality sword-testing stone from his sleeve with the Yuhua Sect's symbol carved on the bottom. "This is a thank-you gift from Sect Master Xiuyuan Zhenren."
Jiang Xingzhi nodded. "I don't need to find it anymore. It's good that it's been returned. Thank you for your trouble, Pavilion Master You."
You Suqing sighed, "However, that little brush spirit truly missed you. It was crying all the way back."
"Crying?" Jiang Xingzhi couldn't imagine how a brush would cry.
"It was dripping water the entire journey."
"......" Now he could picture it.
As Jiang Xingzhi was thinking, the person beside him gently bumped him. Zhong Ming said softly, "Why are you so likable, hmm? Even a brush spirit is attached to you."
Probably thinking "Even if so many people like Jiang Xingzhi, the person he likes is me," Zhong Ming didn't feel jealous this time, but rather pleased inside.
Jiang Xingzhi didn't hear any sourness in his voice and assumed Zhong Ming was just psychologically unbalanced. He recalled all the moments this person had angered him, glanced sideways, and said, "Don't be envious. Reflect on your own behavior and conduct first."
Zhong Ming, "......"
Zhong Ming said, "I'm not envious."
He didn't care about others' affection; he only cared about Jiang Xingzhi's.
The response was a look that said "your mouth denies but your body confirms."
You Suqing patiently waited for the two to finish whispering, then waved his fan and extended an invitation. "Since you two have come from afar, why not stay a while longer and experience a special attraction at the pavilion?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming simultaneously became wary. "How special?"
You Suqing, "......It's not what you're thinking."
Opening his folding fan with a flutter, he said leisurely, "Sword dance."
"......?"
****
The top floor of the Hidden Sword Pavilion was a separate compartment.
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming sat down with You Suqing, seeing that the floor was hollow, with the Hidden Sword Tomb directly below.
Clap, clap—two handclaps.
At You Suqing's signal, a row of hidden swords floated up and began performing sword flourishes in the air. Some fierce, some elegant, in many different styles.
Jiang Xingzhi watched in amazement. "Truly special. How long has this attraction been available?"
You Suqing, "Since Tingxue left the sword tomb."
Without someone stirring up trouble, rehearsals became much more convenient.
"......" Jiang Xingzhi lowered his head and took a sip of tea.
Although he knew the other was referring to the Tingxue Sword, he still felt a wave of shyness. The Tingxue Sword at his waist drooped slightly, as if nodding.
Zhong Ming's gaze rested on the Tingxue Sword for a few moments before turning to the glistening sword formation below.
Seeing Zhong Ming's satisfied expression, You Suqing asked, "How does Brother Bai find the performance?"
"Not bad." Much better than watching pretty girls and handsome boys waving swords around.
"Come—" Opening his fan, You Suqing beckoned the formation of swords. "Since they've caught Brother Bai's eye, I'll have them come closer for you both to see."
A row of hidden swords floated toward them.
But just as they were about to reach Zhong Ming, they suddenly stopped! The sword bodies trembled and halted in midair, refusing to advance.
Jiang Xingzhi asked, "What's wrong?"
You Suqing was also stunned. "I've never seen this happen before. No, that's not true... I have seen it..."
His gaze subtly shifted toward Zhong Ming.
Jiang Xingzhi paused, also realizing what was happening. He swiftly turned to the man beside him. "You......"
But Zhong Ming was just sitting casually, his slender fingers loosely resting on the rim of his cup. He looked up. "What's wrong, Deng Deng?"
Jiang Xingzhi recalled: That day in the Hidden Sword Tomb, there was also a chorus of swords, all submitting. At that time, he had attributed it to intimidating pressure, but now Bai Mu wasn't releasing any oppressive aura.
This sense of déjà vu was almost like......
The gaze from across was too intense.
Zhong Ming calmly pointed. "They're probably just stage-frightened."
Jiang Xingzhi, "......"
You Suqing choked hard.
The hidden swords in the Hidden Sword Pavilion were frightened severely, forcing the performance to end. After bidding farewell to You Suqing, Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming departed.
Stepping out of the Hidden Sword Pavilion, the midday sunlight fell from above.
Jiang Xingzhi squinted his eyes. He remembered that Xu Jian was not only a sword spirit body but had also cultivated a pure sword soul that could quell ten thousand swords, like the arrival of the Sword Realm Emperor.
He glanced at the man beside him several more times, his gaze increasingly suspicious.
Zhong Ming turned his head. "Why do you keep looking at me?"
Jiang Xingzhi tentatively began, "I have a bold theory."
His gaze seemed to penetrate appearances. Zhong Ming's heart skipped a beat under that scrutiny. "Go on."
"Are you Xu Jian's......"
Footsteps abruptly halted! Zhong Ming's hand at his side trembled. Under the gaze of those clear eyes, he almost answered reflexively.
Jiang Xingzhi, "...ancestor?"
Zhong Ming was silent for a few moments, then frowned. "......What?"
Jiang Xingzhi privately speculated: This rare swordsmanship attainment, the bone structure and temperament that attracted his attention, the equally irritating way with words—it had to be inherited from the same lineage!
The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. Suddenly, he heard the other coldly ask, "How many years older am I than the person you like?"
Jiang Xingzhi snapped back to reality: He almost forgot that Bai Mu didn't know he was from a thousand years in the future!
He covered up, "Who knows if you've lived thousands of years?"
Zhong Ming was completely exasperated by this person's train of thought! He suppressed the tumultuous emotions in his chest and was about to deny it when his thoughts suddenly shifted—when he spoke again, his words were convincing and natural.
"Hmm, perhaps." Zhong Ming looked at Jiang Xingzhi. That profound and stern face stood out distinctly amid the bustling street scene. His voice was deep with laughter. "If you were to become dao companions with him, wouldn't you have to call me Ancestral Master?"
Damn! Have you no shame, Bai Mu?
Jiang Xingzhi pushed that handsome face away—but what annoyed him more was that he actually felt a warmth in his heart at the phrase "become dao companions with him."
He put on a show of sternness despite his inner softness. "This is insubordination, Protector Bai! You should be disciplined according to sect rules."
Zhong Ming adored his blushing face, his heart moved intensely. He went along with it. "Fine, discipline me as you wish."
......How could he discipline a Mahayana-peak cultivator more perverted than himself?
Jiang Xingzhi took a deep breath, turned his head, and walked indignantly into the crowd.