After Sheng Jun Chapter 56 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 56 Heaven-Sent Omens (part 1)
The Divine Oracle Assembly had ended, and Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming returned to Kunlun.
As soon as they returned to the mountain peak, various major sects led by the Haosheng Sect presented generous gold to Kunlun, requesting the "Divine Lord's" assistance.
Jiang Xingzhi unceremoniously accepted the lavish compensation, then dispatched Zhu Yan and the others as divine envoys to see off the guests.
The deflated money pouch swelled up again. Jiang Xingzhi clutched the spirit stones, his complexion growing rosy. He felt like he was now enjoying success in both love and career: Xu Jian in his left hand, a bag of money in his right~ How delightful!
Of course, once they resolved the outside matters and became dao companions, Xu Jian might make him even more delightful~
Jiang Xingzhi's flushed face gradually turned yellow again.
"Are you that happy?" Zhong Ming looked down at the bright gleam in Jiang Xingzhi's eyes and couldn't help but smile.
Jiang Xingzhi immediately reined in his wandering thoughts. "Of course I'm happy to have money."
As he spoke, he pulled out three thousand spirit stones from inside and stuffed them into Zhong Ming's hands. "This is the money I owed you. The rest can be considered our joint property."
Zhong Ming was momentarily moved: Jiang Xingzhi was actually willing to share even his most beloved money with him!
Looking at the money pouch that had deflated by half, his affection deepened. He pushed all those spirit stones back to him, and even poured out more spirit stones from his own storage bag with a "crash," filling Jiang Xingzhi's arms completely.
Jiang Xingzhi's vision was suddenly filled with spirit stones. "Ah Zuo, what are you doing?"
Zhong Ming spoke in gentle, soft tones. "Since it's all joint property now, why should you repay anything?"
His magnificent tail feathers spread behind him as he displayed his plumage while using spirit stones to pile up an exquisite little mountain in Jiang Xingzhi's arms. "Deng Deng likes money, and I have plenty. These are all savings I've accumulated for my wife's dowry for a long time. They're all yours."
Eh, wife's dowry~ Xu Jian, what era is this person from, still trying to win him over with money? Jiang Xingzhi held the spirit stones happily: Really now, throw some more at me!
In the rustling sounds, the atmosphere was perfect.
Zhong Ming seized the opportunity to speak up. "Shall we go buy another set of couple's clothing?"
Jiang Xingzhi was busy counting their joint property, thinking to himself what Xu Jian had been doing these past few centuries and where he'd gotten so much money from.
"Don't we already have one set? Don't you like that set?"
"How could I not? I wish it could grow on my body!" Zhong Ming coaxed him. "But how is one set enough? This set we wear at Kunlun can't be worn outside. Let's buy another set we can wear outside to show... wear."
Jiang Xingzhi: "......"
He heard it—Xu Jian wanted to say "show off!"
Fine, showing off is showing off~ Jiang Xingzhi's attitude was indulgent. "Then let's buy another set."
"Mm." Zhong Ming's heart felt sweet. But thinking that such tender days together might not last much longer, he glanced toward the outside of the mountain.
Yuwen Gong, you'd better be sensible.
….
The two went to Yunzhi Workshop again.
The shop assistant had a deep impression of them both. As soon as he saw them step through the door, he eagerly approached to make introductions.
Zhong Ming turned his head to ask, "Which set does Deng Deng like?"
Jiang Xingzhi looked around and pointed to a warm yellow set. "Shall we take that set?" He didn't know why, but lately he'd grown very fond of this yellowish color.
Zhong Ming gave him a knowing look: Oh, little yellow lamp... indeed perfectly matched.
"Good, we'll take that set."
After choosing the clothes and paying, Jiang Xingzhi planned to change into them directly. "Ah Zuo, let's change and go out to catch Yuwen Gong!"
Catch what Yuwen Gong! Zhong Ming's eyes instantly showed deep resistance. He quickly grabbed the clothes and handed them to the shop assistant, saying "wrap them up," then turned to Jiang Xingzhi. "Let's go back to Kunlun first."
"Go back to Kunlun for what?"
His brain working rapidly, Zhong Ming let slip from his tongue: "To post missions."
Jiang Xingzhi looked puzzled as he leaned closer. "What are you talking about?"
Zhong Ming organized his words. "Didn't you think highly of that sword cultivator boy? Perfect opportunity to let him lead a team to catch the person, give them a chance to train, and test whether he can handle great responsibilities."
A reliable palm opened before Jiang Xingzhi, painting a blueprint. "For our carefree future."
Oh~ Their future!
Jiang Xingzhi was persuaded: He might return to a thousand years in the future someday, so he really should hurry to find someone trustworthy for the sect.
Zhong Ming seized on that moment of wavering and pressed his advantage. "Moreover, there have been quite a few applicants coming here recently seeking trials. How can the sect be without us presiding over it?"
Clap! Jiang Xingzhi slapped his hands together, startling even the assistant who came to deliver the clothes. His eyes showed appreciation. "Ah Zuo, you're still the most thoughtful."
Zhong Ming took the clothes from the assistant and put them away, not forgetting to shower glory on Jiang Xingzhi's head. "It's mainly because I have a bright lamp beside me for illumination."
Jiang Xingzhi was praised into a bout of shyness. "Keep it low-key, low-key~"
****
After returning to Kunlun, Jiang Xingzhi quickly found Zhu Yan to improve the sect's mission board——the format for taking missions was similar to Qijue Tower. Zhu Yan was familiar with the process and quickly posted the mission to capture Yuwen Gong on the mission board.
Besides Liu Chuan, who was personally designated by Jiang Xingzhi to participate, the others volunteered to take the mission, and upon completion could share in the reward.
Liu Chuan was flattered to receive the designation. "The Divine Lord specifically designated this junior?"
Zhu Xu took the opportunity to make the prospect more concrete. "See, what did I tell you?"
Liu Chuan was full of vigor. "Please rest assured, Divine Envoy, this junior will give his all!"
The mission to capture Yuwen Gong was successfully handed to Liu Chuan. Jiang Xingzhi was idle again, sitting on the mountain peak drinking tea, tending flowers, and being in love.
While he enjoyed peaceful times here, Zhong Ming's heart remained taut with tension: Not knowing when Yuwen Gong would be captured, he couldn't sit idle waiting for doom. He had to think of some way to resolve the predicament of "exposure upon forming a contract."
"Deng Deng, I'm going out for a while."
"Where to?" Jiang Xingzhi was lying on a lounge chair, using a water ladle to tend to the roses in front of the courtyard from a distance. Hearing this, he turned to look at the man who had suddenly stood up.
"I..." Zhong Ming's words stuck. Looking at that cluster of roses, he suddenly remembered Jiang Xingzhi saying earlier that he liked Piaomiao Palace's spring-like scenery year-round. "I'm going to Piaomiao Palace."
"What for at Piaomiao Palace?"
"To buy some spiritual plants and immortal herbs to bring back and plant on our Kunlun peak." And to find that Lord Minshuang to ask if there's any way to conceal divine consciousness.
Jiang Xingzhi flipped over and got up. "I'll go with you."
"No need." Zhong Ming pressed him back onto the lounge chair and quickly scrambled for excuses. "There's been frequent movement of people in the mountain these past few days. You stay here in case something happens when we're both away."
Jiang Xingzhi thought about it—that made sense.
"Then go and come back quickly." He said while pulling Zhong Ming down for a kiss, playing the little games of those in love. "If I don't see you for too long, I'll miss you."
Zhong Ming's body shook: This person Jiang Xingzhi... really knew how to capture his heart! His heart pounded violently. He couldn't help himself and pressed the man against the lounge chair for a good long kiss before leaving.
The straight, neat figure disappeared before the observation platform.
Jiang Xingzhi licked his moist lips and flopped over on the lounge chair: Ah, he could live like this for another ten thousand years~
He lay on his back watching the clouds roll and unfurl in the sky, comfortably enjoying the breeze, when his heart suddenly transmitted a familiar throbbing. Damn! Jiang Xingzhi immediately got up on guard, instinctively covering his heart, preparing to endure the same sharp pain as the previous times.
He was mentally prepared, but this time the pain had just begun to emerge when it seemed to consider something and abruptly stopped, receding like a tide.
Jiang Xingzhi: ......???
He sat on the lounge chair clutching his clothes. What the hell, this could retreat too?
He waited for quite a while but no further reaction came.
He quickly cast this unpredictable anomaly to the back of his mind and flipped back onto the lounge chair.
….
It was still broad daylight.
Whether it was the gentle breeze on the mountain peak or the leisurely days with drifting white clouds, Jiang Xingzhi gazed at the sky, his eyes reflecting patches of floating clouds, his thoughts seeming hypnotized as they drifted further and further away.
An irresistible drowsiness suddenly struck his mind.
His consciousness instantly sank, and Jiang Xingzhi felt as though he was forcibly pulled into some kind of maze. At the same time, a circle of gleaming white light enveloped the Tingxue Sword beside him.
Heaven and earth vast, the primordial world boundless.
This was a scene not unfamiliar to Jiang Xingzhi.
The last time he came to this place was when he explored that opportunity in Tongtian Hall. Only that time was fruitless—he wandered for several days in this chaos before getting a single word: "wait."
This time was different.
It seemed like some force was pushing him to walk in a certain direction. In the gray, misty world, only a flowing robe remained. Jiang Xingzhi didn't know where to go, but deep in his heart he could vaguely sense the urgency in that force.
After walking forward for an unknown amount of time, the sounds around him gradually became clear again:
Go... go... go.........
Go do what? Go where?
Jiang Xingzhi looked around. He had many questions to ask, but just as the words reached his lips, that voice suddenly disappeared, and the surrounding scene suddenly scattered like waking from a dream.
His eyes snapped open!
What he saw was still blue sky and white clouds. At the same time, Kunlun's restrictions were triggered. Jiang Xingzhi's gaze shifted to see Zhong Ming landing on the observation platform, holding several beautiful immortal herbs as he walked over.
"I'm back, Deng Deng."
"Oh..." Jiang Xingzhi hadn't recovered yet and responded absent-mindedly.
Zhong Ming sensed his abnormality. "What's wrong?"
Jiang Xingzhi sat up and rubbed his temples, then glanced at the Tingxue Sword beside him: That opportunity... He organized his thoughts for a while before telling Zhong Ming about what had just happened.
As he spoke, Zhong Ming's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. When he finished, Zhong Ming suddenly set the immortal herbs in his hand aside with a bang!
Jiang Xingzhi jumped, observing his expression: Xu Jian seemed angry again?
Zhong Ming suppressed the fire in his heart and soothingly reached out to ruffle Jiang Xingzhi's hair. "Just a daydream, ignore it."