After Sheng Jun Chapter 54 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 54 Bright Future (part 1)
The bed fell silent for several breaths, Zhong Ming's gaze becoming terrifyingly deep.
But Jiang Xingzhi couldn't sense it at all, his mind entirely focused on those abs. When he didn't hear Zhong Ming's response, he took it as tacit consent and extended a finger toward those well-defined abdominal muscles—
Just a hair's breadth away from touching, his hand was suddenly caught with a "snap"!
The next moment, his vision flipped. A muffled thud came from the bed, and the raised curtains swayed before falling down.
Jiang Xingzhi found one hand pulled above his head, with Zhong Ming looking down at him dangerously, "Jiang Xingzhi, do you know what you're doing?"
When Zhong Ming called his full name, it usually meant he was quite serious.
Only now did Jiang Xingzhi finally realize something was wrong, his throat carefully bobbing. He feigned composure, "I just wanted to poke it once... don't be stingy."
The fire that Zhong Ming had barely suppressed with the Heart-Clearing Mantra flared up again, burning until his spine tensed, ready to strike like a crouching beast.
He watched Jiang Xingzhi for several breaths, his tone subtle as it rolled on his tongue, "Stingy?"
Jiang Xingzhi quickly nodded.
Zhong Ming laughed, "I'll let you poke. But whatever I do afterward, don't you be stingy either."
Jiang Xingzhi: "..." Do... do what?
With the curtains fallen, the space on the bed seemed cramped. The man's tall frame loomed above, and Jiang Xingzhi's fingertips trembled. His earlier anticipation transformed into the drumbeat of retreat when faced with the reality.
Xu Jian's momentum seemed fiercer than he'd imagined.
Jiang Xingzhi quickly changed his tune, "Never mind, I won't poke."
"Won't poke?" Zhong Ming stared at him.
Jiang Xingzhi put on the appearance of someone who knew when to admit mistakes, "Mm-hmm!"
Zhong Ming asked, "Will you still torment me?"
Jiang Xingzhi shook his head vigorously.
Only then did the grip on his hand loosen slightly. Jiang Xingzhi pulled his hand back and hastily pulled up Zhong Ming's robes, pretending nothing had happened, "Get dressed, don't catch cold."
Zhong Ming stared at this troublemaker and chuckled.
The two lay down properly again. Jiang Xingzhi skillfully burrowed into Zhong Ming's embrace, finding a comfortable position.
The breathing above became heavy, clearly not having fully recovered. Jiang Xingzhi tugged at the clothing on Zhong Ming's back and said, "Ah Zuo, I suffered hardships tonight, so tired, so tired. I need to sleep for four full hours to make up for it."
"..." Zhong Ming saw through this person's little tricks but could only indulge him. He reached out to pat Jiang Xingzhi's back, "If you're this troublesome when tired, wouldn't you turn the world upside down when you're not?"
Knowing he was in the wrong, Jiang Xingzhi closed his eyes, "Good night, Ah Zuo. You should sleep early too."
When he said "good night," he meant it. Within a few breaths, Zhong Ming heard even breathing from his embrace. Zhong Ming was speechless for a long while, then held the person closer—torturous yet sweet.
He couldn't sleep a wink.
...
Jiang Xingzhi indeed slept for four hours. When he woke in the morning, the bed was warm but empty beside him.
Judging the time, the third assessment had already begun. Xu Jian must have gone to oversee it without waking him.
Such considerate newlywed behavior.
Jiang Xingzhi sat on the bed happily, hugging the soft bedding as he came to his senses—he had actually woken up in Xu Jian's bed, and Xu Jian had held him all night!
Thinking of his boldness last night, Jiang Xingzhi touched his cheeks, which predictably grew warm. He wondered if Xu Jian had done anything after he fell asleep...
At this thought, his musings suddenly paused: Xu Jian might have "lovingly" watched him all night.
"..."
Jiang Xingzhi froze on the bed for several breaths, then cast this bizarre scenario from his mind.
At least there was "love" involved.
****
Since he'd already missed the assessment's opening, he wasn't in a hurry to leave, content to laze about like a salted fish on Zhong Ming's bed.
While lazing, Jiang Xingzhi recalled last night's chest pain: what was the cause? There had to be some trigger. After thinking, he still leaned toward the "Heavenly Dao punishment" theory.
At this hour, Wu Jie shouldn't be in the mountains.
Why not test himself first to see which of his thoughts offended the Heavenly Dao?
Jiang Xingzhi hugged the bedding and recalled in his mind—
Living carefree days—no reaction;
Kunlun getting on track—no reaction;
Waiting for a chance to return—still no reaction.
What else was there? Only his desire to be a salted fish... "Ugh!" The pain struck without warning. Jiang Xingzhi fell onto the bed with a thud, rolling around in agony.
While hugging the bedding and breathing heavily, he couldn't believe it: it really was about being a salted fish!
What was wrong with being a salted fish? All things are equal—why this species discrimination!
Fortunately, this pain wasn't as life-threatening as last night's, more like a warning that gradually receded after tormenting Jiang Xingzhi briefly.
He lay on the bed, looking at the canopy while regulating his breathing.
No, he still needed to wait for Wu Jie to return and ask about the reason.
After resting, Jiang Xingzhi finally recovered. He got up and stood in the room, adjusting his clothes.
Yesterday he'd only worn undergarments when he came, his outer robe still in his own room. Just as he was about to return to dress properly, the door creaked open.
Zhong Ming had returned.
"Ah Zuo~" Jiang Xingzhi's joy was immediate upon seeing him, casting aside his recent pain, even his tone carrying little waves.
Zhong Ming's heart swayed at the call, his lips unconsciously curving upward. He walked to Jiang Xingzhi in a few steps, naturally embracing him while looking down to study his expression, "Did you sleep well?"
Jiang Xingzhi nodded contentedly, "Extremely well."
Zhong Ming looked at him deeply, "I can tell."
Hearing the resentment in his words, Jiang Xingzhi bashfully lowered his head. Zhong Ming glanced at the bed, seeing the mess above, and asked, "What were you doing on my bed this morning?"
Jiang Xingzhi's face flushed: What a question! As if he'd done something improper.
Though he had rolled around a few times.
He said seriously, "What are you thinking? I was just testing whether I'd trigger Heavenly Dao punishment. Turns out I did, and it hurt so much I rolled around."
Zhong Ming's expression immediately changed, "Who told you to test randomly?" He rubbed Jiang Xingzhi's waist and asked, "What did you discover?"
"Can't be a salted fish."
"What?"
"You think it's absurd too, right?"
"..."
After a moment, the arm around his waist tightened, pressing him into the embrace. Jiang Xingzhi found himself against Zhong Ming's chest, feeling the rise and fall of the chest pressed against him as the person above took a deep breath.
He felt somewhat moved and somewhat bewildered.
Was Xu Jian angry?
Zhong Ming held him while composing his emotions, then looked down to see the person wearing only undergarments and standing barefoot on the floor. He frowned, then bent to lift him up, turning to leave the room toward Jiang Xingzhi's courtyard, "Let's go put on proper clothes and shoes."
"I was just about to dress when you returned." Jiang Xingzhi circled his neck.
Zhong Ming smiled, "Then I returned at the wrong time."
Seeing his mood improve, Jiang Xingzhi smoothly changed the subject and asked about the assessment, "You went to observe the third assessment today. How is it progressing?"
"Proceeding as planned." Zhong Ming entered the room and set him on the bed, then fetched outer robes and shoes and socks, "If you're concerned, you can go look later."
"Mm." Jiang Xingzhi was about to take the clothes and shoes when the man crouched down. Warm palms wrapped around his cool feet, making as if to help him dress. Jiang Xingzhi startled and pulled his feet back, "No need, I can do it myself."
They'd already kissed, even slept in the same bed last night, but nothing compared to this moment's embarrassment.
The foremost sword cultivator of the Three Realms, the sword that shattered the heavens with a single strike Xu Jian, was now half-crouching before him, grasping his foot to put on socks!
"Don't dodge."
The hand gripped his ankle and pulled it back. Zhong Ming lowered his lashes, warming his foot before putting on the sock, "Still being formal with me, Deng Deng?"
This wasn't about formality!
Jiang Xingzhi gripped the bedsheets beneath him: Xu Jian's face could be thick or thin at will. Clearly easily flustered, yet he climbed up the pole faster than anyone.
Incompetent but addicted—that described him perfectly.
With shoes and socks on and outer robes draped over him, Jiang Xingzhi took out his mask to go down the mountain, "Since Master hasn't returned, rather than idle about, let's go see the assessment."
He walked out of the courtyard but heard no response from Zhong Ming.
Jiang Xingzhi turned back to see him still standing at the courtyard gate. Zhong Ming said to him, "You go ahead. I won't go."
"Then what will you do?"
Zhong Ming paused, "I have something to attend to."
Jiang Xingzhi looked him up and down suspiciously, "Something? Where are you going?"
The man's prominent Adam's apple bobbed, and after a moment, he gently deflected, "Go quickly, the assessment has been ongoing for a while. I'll return before nightfall."
...How strange, definitely hiding something from him!
Jiang Xingzhi stepped back to stand before Zhong Ming, his eyes once again becoming interrogation lamps illuminating truth, "Ah Zuo, what are you going to do?"
"A little secret."
These three words from those thin lips carried a hint of playfulness.
Just as Jiang Xingzhi was about to ask more, Zhong Ming launched a gentle offensive, raising his hand to caress his face, "Good Deng Deng, you..."
"Don't!" Jiang Xingzhi dodged with a turn of his head, watching his hand warily, "You just touched feet, don't touch my face."
Zhong Ming: "..."
****
Jiang Xingzhi ultimately couldn't out-argue Zhong Ming.
The latter shamelessly embraced him, kissed him breathless, then loosened his hold while he was dizzy, pecked his cheek, and quickly escaped.
By the time Jiang Xingzhi came to his senses, Zhong Ming's figure had long disappeared from Kunlun's peak. Only the roses in the courtyard remained, carried by an ambiguous warm breeze.
"..." Jiang Xingzhi was thoroughly charmed by Zhong Ming's maneuver. Well done.
After his temperature cooled, he put on his mask and walked down the mountain.
Below, the assessment was in full swing.
The third assessment tested character. The remaining candidates were divided into groups, required to complete assessment content according to rules.
When Zhu Yan announced the rules, he spoke of testing collaborative ability, but conflicts were built into the rules, with the final stage revealing group members' magnanimity and choices.
The assessment was now halfway through.
Jiang Xingzhi landed outside the assessment area. With no one around, Zhu Yan called out "Sect Master." Seeing Jiang Xingzhi's side empty, he asked, "Where is Protector Bai?"
"He had something to attend to."