After Sheng Jun Chapter 49 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 49 What's Wrong (part 1)
The face leaning close seemed shy and bashful, set against the surrounding clusters of flowers, giving off a spring-like vitality.
Thump. Zhong Ming's heart skipped a beat, his gaze falling on the Moon-Holding Pearl between Jiang Xingzhi's fingers—he remembered that ever since his confession, the other had removed it to avoid suspicion. Why was he wearing it again now?
And if Deng Deng truly didn't mistake him for someone else, then what was he blushing about?
The sweetness from moments before slowly receded, replaced by faint surprise and doubt. Zhong Ming's mind was unsettled as he tried to read Jiang Xingzhi's expression, his entire consciousness filled with: "Why?" "Why?" "Why?"...
But Jiang Xingzhi seemed to find nothing amiss, even extending the Moon-Holding Pearl toward him, "Help me put this around my neck."
Zhong Ming took it, instinctively asking, "Why?"
Jiang Xingzhi said, "I always put it on crooked when I do it myself."
Really? Was that so? Zhong Ming recalled suspiciously.
Seeing him motionless, Jiang Xingzhi looked up and called out again, "Ah Zuo."
His voice was soft and warm, making Zhong Ming's mind waver. Without time to think deeply, he raised his hands and fastened the Moon-Holding Pearl around the other's neck.
To make it easier for him to work, Jiang Xingzhi tilted his head slightly, revealing a stretch of his slender nape. Zhong Ming's arms encircled his shoulders, the two of them appearing to embrace with necks intertwined. Some scattered hair fell across that nape, and Zhong Ming gently brushed it aside. The person below shivered at the shoulders, "Ah Zuo, it tickles..."
Zhong Ming's breathing suddenly became irregular. He pressed his voice low, "Almost, almost done."
The red Moon-Holding Pearl hung at Jiang Xingzhi's chest.
Zhong Ming withdrew his hands and straightened up.
Only now did he belatedly realize: wasn't Deng Deng being a bit too intimate with him?
He held his own Moon-Holding Pearl at his waist with one hand, testing the waters, "I'm also wearing a Moon-Holding Pearl. Aren't you afraid others will misunderstand?"
"The positions are different." Jiang Xingzhi said, carefully seeking his opinion, "If you mind, then I won't wear it."
"I don't mind!" Zhong Ming quickly spoke up, "Go ahead and wear it, it looks good on you."
Jiang Xingzhi smiled slightly with pursed lips, "Mm."
He was feeling sweet and content on this end, while Zhong Ming on the other side fell into confusion: he always felt this wasn't right, yet he couldn't help but want to show off their special relationship to outsiders. After all, he had previously been secretly arranging "couple jade pendants" and "dao companion tricks," wishing the whole world would think they were a pair.
Now he had finally gotten his wish, and he should clearly be happy, but why couldn't he seem to smile?
Just as he was thinking, a voice fell before him, "Ah Zuo, your expression looks so serious. Are you unhappy?"
Zhong Ming quickly composed his expression, "No, I'm very happy."
Jiang Xingzhi looked worried, "Really? Then smile for me."
Zhong Ming, "..."
He reluctantly lifted the corners of his mouth, pulling out a stiff smile.
Seeing this, Jiang Xingzhi sighed deeply and said dejectedly, "Never mind, you don't need to force yourself to keep me company. If you find it boring, we can go back."
Zhong Ming immediately cast aside his earlier confusion, "How could that be? I find it especially interesting and especially joyful. Don't go back, let's continue."
Afraid the other wouldn't believe him, he channeled his spiritual power and made the flower boat "whoosh" out across the lake! The speed was so fast that large waves parted on both sides, and even the boat's hull tilted up slightly.
Jiang Xingzhi's long hair was blown by the wind, flowing freely. He gripped the boat's edge and exclaimed in delight, "Woohoo~ This is really joyful! Ah Zuo, let's have fun!"
The person across from him was blurred with happiness in the wind.
Zhong Ming breathed a sigh of relief and concentrated on propelling the small boat to carry the two of them back and forth across the tranquil scenic lake.
****
When the two disembarked, it was nearly evening.
Jiang Xingzhi stepped onto the shore and smoothed back his wind-tousled hair. A few flower petals were caught in his hair strands, and when Zhong Ming saw them, he reached up to pick them out.
Several fingers carefully arranged his hair, and Jiang Xingzhi tilted his head up without moving, letting Zhong Ming handle it.
Zhong Ming's movements paused as the subtle strangeness from before resurfaced in his mind: why didn't Deng Deng slap away his hand like he used to?
But he couldn't very well ask—asking would seem like looking for trouble.
His hair was quickly tidied.
Jiang Xingzhi glanced at the sky, "Let's find an inn to stay at."
Zhong Ming studied his expression, "Should we stay separately or share a room?"
Jiang Xingzhi looked troubled, "Let's share a room. I don't have enough money."
Zhong Ming blurted out, "I have money."
"..." Jiang Xingzhi turned to look at him, "Ah Zuo, it seems like you're trying to distance yourself from me?"
"That's not the case." As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhong Ming regretted them. He stepped forward and moved closer, trying his best to make up for it, "I can't get close to you fast enough."
The scrutinizing gaze lingered on him for a moment.
Jiang Xingzhi saw that Zhong Ming's face indeed showed genuine sincerity, not like he truly wanted to stay separately. He pondered: ...could it be that he was pushing the progress too fast, arousing the other's suspicion? It seemed he still needed to proceed step by step, or else Xu Jian would discover that he had successfully shed his disguise.
Especially his attitude couldn't change too abruptly—he hadn't forgotten why Xu Jian had been exposed in the first place.
Jiang Xingzhi then rearranged his expression and explained, "Actually, that inn is rather special. Before I came, I asked Zhu Yan about it. I heard the guest rooms are double occupancy, with courtyards that have their own small hot spring pools. If we stayed separately, how boring would that be?"
Zhong Ming was stunned, "Oh, I see."
...
Liu City was a famous tourist destination within the Jiuzhou, with inns throughout the city each having their own unique features. The most famous among them was the hot spring inn.
When the two arrived at the inn, they walked along a small path paved with cobblestones, with small illumination lanterns arranged irregularly on both sides of the path.
Jiang Xingzhi walked ahead, his high ponytail swaying at his waist. His slender figure was shrouded in the night and pale yellow lamp light, appearing indistinct and ethereal. Zhong Ming followed behind him, his heart stirring while he couldn't help but think carefully: wasn't this atmosphere a bit too perfect?
It wasn't until Jiang Xingzhi had booked a double room and returned with the key, calling to him, "Ah Zuo, let's go quickly," that Zhong Ming slowly came back to his senses, responded, and hurried a few steps to catch up and walk side by side with him.
Passing through the entrance, one side of the wooden corridor faced a distinctive courtyard, with corridor lamps bright and dim all along the way.
Under the quiet and cozy atmosphere, Zhong Ming's heart was anxious and uneasy.
Although currently Deng Deng's actions toward him seemed not to have crossed that boundary, if things continued developing in this promising direction...
Zhong Ming shivered, not daring to think further.
He casually opened the conversation, "By the way, Deng Deng, that incense—are you still burning it?"
Incense? Jiang Xingzhi took a moment to remember, "Oh~ I haven't burned it since that time. You've reminded me—I'll light one tomorrow night when we get back."
Zhong Ming said urgently, "No!"
Jiang Xingzhi turned to look at him, "Hm?"
"..." Knowing he had misspoken, he steadied himself and searched for a reason, "What if... using that incense too much is bad for your health?"
Jiang Xingzhi laughed, "Lord Minshuang is a physician. What could be wrong with incense he gave?"
Zhong Ming found it difficult to speak, only able to worry internally: Wrong, of course it's wrong! It's quite bad for emotional loyalty!
Jiang Xingzhi patted him, "It's fine. I'm a great Mahayana cultivator—how could I be brought down by a pinch of incense?"
Zhong Ming nodded with difficulty, "Mm."
Rounding a corridor, the view suddenly opened up.
Ahead, several large public hot spring pools were steaming with hot vapor, and shadowy figures could be seen comfortably soaking inside. Around the pools were also placed low tables, with ornamental pine trees trimmed beautifully and elegantly.
Jiang Xingzhi's attention was drawn over, "Ah Zuo, shall we go take a look?"
He meant since they were already here, they might as well take a detour to have a look. But Zhong Ming understood it as the other wanting to go soak in the springs. His brow furrowed immediately, and he reached out to pull back Jiang Xingzhi who was about to rush over, "No."
Jiang Xingzhi didn't struggle free, turning to ask, "Why not?"
Zhong Ming was feeling jealous, "With so many people, how many would see you?"
Hearing this, Jiang Xingzhi knew the other was overthinking again. He deliberately teased, "I could also look at others—we'd be even."
The grip on his wrist suddenly tightened.
Zhong Ming couldn't care less about being too intimate now. He pulled the person back to his side and said in a low voice, "What's so good about looking at others? You'd be better off looking at me more."
Jiang Xingzhi looked at him deeply: Fine, as you wish.
"Alright, then let's go straight back to the room."
After saying this, he turned around and headed back to the guest room.
Zhong Ming's hand was still holding onto Jiang Xingzhi without letting go. He followed the latter all the way through the corridors, feeling strangely satisfied: both strange and satisfied.
There was no problem with Deng Deng being intimate with him, but the problem was... wasn't he currently "Bai Mu"?