After Sheng Jun Chapter 43 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 43 Choose One of Two (part 2)
Though he said detailed discussion, Jiang Xingzhi didn't know what Su You wanted to discuss with them, so he could only follow the other party to the Demon Palace.
Su You's Demon Palace was built on a piece of sloping low mountains.
Looking from afar, the shape formed by the palace walls actually resembled a symmetrical cluster of flames, with the main hall at the very center.
Jiang Xingzhi followed behind Su You, observing the entire palace layout for several breaths before tentatively asking, "Don't tell me the entire Demon Realm's city planning came from your hand?"
A definite "Mm-hmm" came from ahead.
Jiang Xingzhi: ...As expected.
His arm was nudged, and Zhong Ming muttered through voice transmission, "You even know this? You've researched it so carefully?"
Jiang Xingzhi: "No research needed. The entire Demon Realm's layout reeks of obsessive-compulsive disorder."
"..."
Following Su You along the palace path, all the demon clan palace servants they encountered along the way bowed, "Demon Lord Daren."
When looking at Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming behind him, the palace servants' eyes carried several parts uncertainty and suspicion.
What kind of look was that?
Jiang Xingzhi asked, "Haven't other human cultivators entered the Demon Palace before?"
"Of course they have." Su You sneered, "Otherwise how would the Thousand Goblet Bell have been stolen?"
Jiang Xingzhi understood. No wonder the palace servants had that expression——just after human cultivators had stolen the Thousand Goblet Bell, the Demon Lord turned around and brought two more human cultivators into the palace, and quite brazenly at that. It was bound to confuse people.
"The human cultivator you mentioned—is that the Soul Split stage cultivator from just now?"
"Mm."
"Did you catch him?"
"He escaped."
He escaped! Jiang Xingzhi immediately felt heartbroken, "Then why did you tell us not to interfere just now!"
Looking so confident, he thought some inescapable net had already been laid.
Mocking laughter came from ahead, "Although the opponent is a thief, he's still a human cultivator. What, would you help us demon race deal with human cultivators?"
Jiang Xingzhi was stunned. So it was a matter of stance.
He momentarily didn't know whether Su You was considering their position, or didn't trust their identity as human cultivators, or perhaps both.
But did stance matter? Perhaps because a thousand years later the righteous and demonic paths got along fairly harmoniously, he had no prejudice against demonic cultivators——moreover, right and wrong weren't judged based on whether one was human or demon.
"Doesn't matter." A voice suddenly fell from beside him. Zhong Ming spoke indifferently, "Is stance really that important?"
Jiang Xingzhi was startled and looked at him, suddenly feeling an indescribable emotion surge in his heart. Zhong Ming noticed his gaze and looked down to ask, "What's wrong? Do you think my thinking is incorrect?"
"No." Jiang Xingzhi shook his head, "I think the same way."
Zhong Ming looked at him and couldn't help but curve his lips slightly.
Su You ahead heard this and stopped abruptly, turning his head to look closely, "Do you two really think this way?"
The target of the question suddenly changed to another person. Zhong Ming immediately put away his tender affection and frowned, "It's a matter of course. Is there any need for doubt?"
Su You's mouth twitched: This face really changes fast enough.
He looked at the two for several more breaths before turning to continue forward.
After walking a distance, a demon cultivator dressed as a guard captain suddenly hurried over from a side path. He reached Su You's side and quietly reported some news. Su You's expression became serious, "This Lord knows."
After speaking, he turned to address Jiang Xingzhi and the other, "I still have urgent matters to handle. You two rest in the palace first, and we'll talk after I finish my business."
Jiang Xingzhi nodded, "You go ahead."
Su You then summoned a group of palace servants and instructed them to take the two to the special guest palace courtyard to rest. Before the two left, he spoke again, "Your identities are special. If there's nothing else, it's best not to wander around the palace."
"Of course, if you do wander around, I'll know immediately too." Su You patted his waist.
"Mm, we won't." Jiang Xingzhi looked curiously at his waist, "What is that?"
Su You: "The divine consciousness imprints you left when entering the city."
Jiang Xingzhi: !
Zhong Ming: !!
Two gazes instantly locked onto his waist. Su You even felt a bit suffocated. He stepped back half a step, slightly withdrawing from the two oppressive forces facing him: ...What's going on?
Jiang Xingzhi stared at his waist, while simultaneously sensing that Zhong Ming beside him had also slightly tensed up.
He asked, "Su You, why are our imprints with you?"
Su You said, "After all, these are cultivation levels that broke through the measuring ruler. How could they not be handed over to this Lord to personally watch over?"
Jiang Xingzhi suddenly understood: No wonder at the Midnight Gathering, the opponent immediately recognized his and Bai Mu's identities.
Su You didn't understand why these two looked at their own divine consciousness with even more burning gazes than when they looked at the Thousand Goblet Bell. The guard captain beside him was already quietly urging, so he turned to leave, "This Lord will go first."
Two intense gazes followed his departure until he disappeared at the end of the palace path.
After Su You left, only Jiang Xingzhi, Zhong Ming, and a group of palace servants remained in place.
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming exchanged a glance, after which the latter nonchalantly looked away, "Let's go."
….
There was a special palace courtyard within the Demon Palace for receiving guests.
The courtyard had sufficient rooms. Having lost the excuse of "saving money," Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming each took a separate room.
Life in the Demon Realm was quite leisurely and luxurious, and the interior decorations were even more lavish and exquisite. Since Jiang Xingzhi and the other were guests personally brought by the Demon Lord, the palace servants' attitudes were quite respectful.
After Jiang Xingzhi entered his room, the palace servants asked if he needed to bathe and wash off the dust. He said "Much obliged" and casually shut Zhong Ming, who wanted to enter the room for casual chat, outside the door.
The same rejection came back, "Bathing is such a private matter—only my future dao companion can enter the room."
Zhong Ming: "..."
The room door slammed shut with a "bang," rejecting his application to enter.
Jiang Xingzhi had a good soak in the room. After bathing, he came out and sat at the desk, casually flipping through a little storybook to pass time.
After flipping for a while, the room door was suddenly knocked twice with "dong dong" sounds. He thought Bai Mu had come at just the right time, so he got up to open the door, "You..."
His words stopped mid-sentence as unrestrained blood-red robes fluttered in the moonlight.
Su You stood at the door, "Won't you invite me in to sit?"
Jiang Xingzhi saw that he seemed to have something to say, so he stepped aside, "Please enter."
Once inside the room, the door closed. Su You casually leaned against the desk, crossed his arms and looked over, "You seem very concerned about that divine consciousness imprint?"
Jiang Xingzhi's gaze tightened.
Seeing his expression, it was almost equivalent to acknowledgment. Su You raised an eyebrow, "What, want to get your own divine consciousness imprint back?"
"No, not really." This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Jiang Xingzhi touched his nose tip and glanced at his waist again, "I just want to look at Bai Mu's..."
Su You: ?
He was puzzled, "Just want to look once? What, you've become dao companions but haven't seen each other's divine consciousness?"
Jiang Xingzhi coughed violently, "No... we're not that kind of relationship!"
Su You's face showed several parts surprise. But soon, this surprise was put away and transformed into an expression of great interest. His thoughts turned, and seeing Jiang Xingzhi's eager expression, he smiled teasingly, "What if I give you two options—choose one of two—which would you want?"
Jiang Xingzhi moved his gaze away from his waist and met his eyes, "What?"
Su You said, "Do you want a chance to obtain the Thousand Goblet Bell, or do you want to look at Bai Mu's soul once?"