After Sheng Jun Chapter 4 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 4 Living in the Same Room (part 2)
"After all, there are three meals a day."
"......"
The main hall was almost full of guests. Jiang Xingzhi chose a seat near the corner, with several people sitting nearby, including a cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage.
Since he wanted to inquire about the Kouyue Sect, it would naturally be better to ask a cultivator.
After they sat down, a waiter brought over the menu. Jiang Xingzhi buried his head and ordered dishes frantically until Zhong Ming spoke up to remind him, "That's enough, it's too much."
Jiang Xingzhi said, "I can eat it all."
Zhong Ming looked at the table, "It won't fit."
Jiang Xingzhi, "......"
He never thought that while poverty couldn't limit him, a simple table could.
The table was shared by several people, and those sitting opposite looked over when they heard this. They all appeared to be in their early forties, wearing proper short robes. The Qi Condensation cultivator was the first to smile and move his dishes aside, saying, "It's no trouble."
Jiang Xingzhi thanked them, "If you gentlemen don't mind, we can share the dishes when they arrive."
The people opposite laughed heartily and began chatting with him freely. As they talked back and forth, they quickly became familiar. Jiang Xingzhi learned that they all worked for a prestigious family, and the Qi Condensation cultivator named "Ting Wu" was a guard.
Because they were suddenly required to be on night duty tonight, they had decided to have a good meal before their shift.
As they spoke, the ordered dishes were served. Jiang Xingzhi picked up some beef with dried tofu with his chopsticks and asked, "Why the sudden night duty requirement?"
Ting Wu sighed heavily, "Ah, three Foundation Establishment cultivators in the clan were attacked, and everyone's trying to catch the perpetrator!"
"......"
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming both put down their chopsticks simultaneously.
Ting Wu asked, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Xingzhi quickly returned to normal, carefully chewing the dried tofu, "How could such a thing happen in broad daylight?"
Zhong Ming raised his hand and took a sip of warm tea.
"Indeed!" Ting Wu said worriedly, "Those three haven't woken up yet, and we don't know who did it. The family head takes this matter very seriously and says we must find who did it, but we have no leads yet."
"Hey." Someone next to him nudged him with an elbow, signaling him not to say more about this matter. Ting Wu realized and immediately fell silent.
Jiang Xingzhi's mind stirred, "You all are friends of the Shang family, right?"
Ting Wu and the person next to him exchanged glances and nodded hesitantly.
Jiang Xingzhi said, "I suppose the Kouyue Sect also invited the Shang family to their banquet."
At these words, surprise appeared on their faces, clearly showing "how did you know?"
Jiang Xingzhi secretly noted that his guess was correct, and he smoothly redirected the conversation, "With the Kouyue Sect's banquet approaching, why do you think invited clan members were ambushed at this time?"
Ting Wu and the others frowned in thought.
Zhong Ming kept his eyes lowered and remained silent, quietly listening to how Jiang Xingzhi transformed "robbery" into "ambush" and forcefully connected it to the Kouyue Sect's banquet invitation.
Seeing no response from the people opposite, Jiang Xingzhi gently guided them, "If outsiders wanted to sneak into the Kouyue Sect along with the Shang family, wouldn't this be a heaven-sent opportunity?"
Ting Wu slapped the table with a "bang," as if suddenly awakened!
Jiang Xingzhi lowered his voice and looked up with a smile, "Moreover... how do you know that the three cultivators who were rescued are really who they claim to be?"
As he said this, the candlelight on the table flickered, and shadows crossed in his amber eyes. Even Zhong Ming, who caught a glimpse, felt his scalp tingle inexplicably, let alone Ting Wu and the others sitting directly opposite - they were instantly terrified, their hair standing on end!
Ting Wu stammered, "If not themselves, th-th-then who could they be?"
Jiang Xingzhi, "Enemies, enemies of the Kouyue Sect."
Zhong Ming, "......"
The story was quite convincing.
If he hadn't been the one who actually did it, he might have believed it himself.
Ting Wu's expression was dazed, thoroughly convinced by this reasoning.
Jiang Xingzhi timely pushed the dishes on the table toward the people opposite, saying considerately, "If you don't mind, you can tell me more details about the Kouyue Sect, and I'll help you analyze the situation."
****
Over the course of the meal, they learned most of the information about the Kouyue Sect.
Ting Wu and the others were grateful for Jiang Xingzhi's help and wanted to pay for his meal, but he politely declined, "It was just a small gesture, not worth mentioning. Give a rose to someone, leave behind a lingering scent. Meeting you was fate, helping when possible..."
(TL: 贈人玫瑰，手留餘香 Give a rose to someone, leave behind a lingering scent=Chinese proverb that conveys the idea that when you do something good or kind for others, the act leaves a lasting positive effect on yourself as well. It emphasizes the self-rewarding nature of generosity and kindness.)
Zhong Ming listened to him rack his brains for flowery phrases, thinking he probably wanted to give Ting Wu and the others something comforting to tell themselves when the truth came out.
After completely exhausting his vocabulary, Jiang Xingzhi finally stopped his output, waved goodbye to the people opposite, and prepared to return to their room.
The clamor of the main hall was left behind, and the half-lit stairway was relatively peaceful.
Jiang Xingzhi sighed contentedly, "Tonight was quite fruitful."
Zhong Ming glanced at the other's hand resting on his stomach, "Yes, after all, the table was completely full of dishes."
Jiang Xingzhi lowered his head slightly in embarrassment, "......"
As they were walking upstairs, the hand on his stomach was suddenly caught by the man. Zhong Ming stood sideways on the stairs, frowning as he held his wrist, "How are you still cold after eating so much?"
Jiang Xingzhi thought to himself that the cold from his damaged soul couldn't be warmed up just by eating a meal, but said, "Born like this."
The hand holding his let go, and Zhong Ming seemed to sigh as he turned to walk downstairs, "You go up first."
"Sir," Jiang Xingzhi called out, only to see the other's silhouette disappear around the stairway corner.
He turned back and returned to the room alone.
The closed door opened with a "creeak------"
On the table, the candle wick was brushed by a finger wind, and the small lamp illuminated the dim room.
Outside, it was already late, with the moon rising. Jiang Xingzhi closed the half-open carved window, leaving only warm orange light in the room, which created quite a cozy atmosphere.
What perfect sleeping conditions.
He simply removed his outer robe, raising his hand to place it on the clothes rack at the foot of the bed, leaving only a layer of snow-white inner clothes clinging to his body, his long neck disappearing into the collar, smooth lines showing through the fabric.
In the orange candlelight, it was like warm jade flowing with light.
Just as Jiang Xingzhi had hung up his outer robe, he sensed something and turned around to face the man at the door------
The man with cold, handsome features was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his black combat clothes almost merging with the dark corridor behind him. His eyes were like a deep pond bottom with an attractive force, silently watching him, who knows when he had appeared.
Jiang Xingzhi was stunned by the gaze.
In the dim light, his heart inexplicably skipped a beat. He came to his senses and rubbed his chest, "......Is Sir here to assassinate me?"
Entering without a sound.
Zhong Ming laughed softly, withdrew his gaze and closed the door behind him, "Force of habit."
He put the fresh tea on the table, then threw something into the other's arms with a "thump," saying, "Hold this."
His palm felt warm, and Jiang Xingzhi looked down to see it was actually a high-grade magic tool that stored spiritual power, converted into heat by formation arrays and continuously outputting warmth. Warmth instantly spread from his palms through his limbs and body. He looked at the other person a few more times, "Did you specifically get this to warm my hands?"
"What else would it be for, for viewing pleasure?"
Jiang Xingzhi was pleased, "Thank you, Brother Bai."
Zhong Ming gave him a look - just a moment ago he was calling him "Sir," and now it's "Brother Bai."
But Jiang Xingzhi obviously switched very smoothly. He drank a cup of hot tea, then curled up on the bed with the magic tool, bundling himself in the soft bedding, his eyes narrowing in comfort.
As he was curling up, he heard Zhong Ming speak, "You're interested in the Kouyue Sect."
Jiang Xingzhi responded lazily, "I heard there's an auspicious beast manifesting, I want to broaden my horizons."
From what he knew, that auspicious beast was suspected to be the "Torch Dragon," and he wondered if it had any connection to his reincarnation.
However, he initially went for the "Torch Dragon," and only after hearing what Ting Wu said did he realize that the Kouyue Sect wasn't simple either.
The information was mixed, but it came down to a few points: the Kouyue Sect seemed to have internal conflicts in recent years, and with the rise of new talents in the Three Realms, the sect showed signs of decline; this manifestation of the auspicious beast might be a turning point for the Kouyue Sect's prosperity, and the banquet was set for two days later.
Zhong Ming asked, "How do you plan to sneak in?"
Jiang Xingzhi's narrowed eyes suddenly opened wide, and he gave the other person a disapproving look, "What do you mean 'sneak in'? I've always been upright and honest in my conduct."
Zhong Ming, who had just heard him deceive people, remained silent, his slender fingertips lightly tapping on the table.
Jiang Xingzhi didn't mind his silence, pulled up the quilt and half-leaned against the headboard, taking out a story book from his storage bag and began reading with interest, "There will be news tomorrow."
Zhong Ming's gaze lingered on him, the snow-white inner clothes making his face appear like jade, the warm candlelight casting beautiful silhouettes on the bed curtains.
The candle "crackled," and the room was silent.
Jiang Xingzhi read the story book for a while, then suddenly realized it was too quiet, so he looked up at Zhong Ming, only to find the other person staring at him absently, who knows for how long.
"Sir," Jiang Xingzhi called out, and seeing the other person come to his senses, he asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Zhong Ming faintly turned away his gaze, "The scene stirred memories."
Jiang Xingzhi suddenly understood, "Oh, your deep blood feud."
As he spoke, he glanced at Zhong Ming's hands to check if they were clenched into fists, "Then whenever you think about it, do your eyes turn red with hatred, your body trembling, fists clenched, grinding your teeth?"
"......"
Zhong Ming looked at him for a while, then suddenly lowered his eyes with a smile and walked over to stop at the bedside, "Yes."
The thunderous heavenly tribulation seemed to be branded in his sea of consciousness. His gaze followed the candlelight as he carefully traced Jiang Xingzhi's features, "And I toss and turn, unable to sleep all night."