After Sheng Jun Chapter 59 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 59 Words That Stoke the Fire (part 1)
Su You's face showed joy, and Jiang Xingzhi was even more delighted. Jiang Xingzhi leaned forward and asked quietly, "Is this to help me complete the contract ceremony?"
Su You: "Mm-hmm~"
Jiang Xingzhi was instantly excited: Better to tear down ten bridges than destroy one marriage - Su You truly was a great benevolent person!
The surrounding crowd was first startled by Su You's sudden change in attitude, then the atmosphere gradually relaxed: being able to cease hostilities was ultimately a good thing.
In this harmonious atmosphere, only Zhong Ming's body remained rigid, his pupils trembling as if facing the collapse of heaven and earth - what had happened? How had they reached a ceasefire so easily?
He seemed to see his sweet days coming to an end!
It wasn't until Jiang Xingzhi and Su You returned to their seats that he seemed to snap back to reality, reaching out to pull Jiang Xingzhi over. "Deng Deng, what's going on? Did you promise him something?"
Jiang Xingzhi's eyes sparkled with happiness radiating across his face. "Not at all."
Nothing? How could there be nothing!
Zhong Ming's gaze instantly turned to Su You, his wariness rising. "What conspiracy are you plotting?"
Su You spread his hands. "Is it wrong for this lord to value peace and harmony?"
Zhong Ming didn't believe this demon's honeyed words. He looked at Jiang Xingzhi, grasping the other's hand and carefully instructing him. "Did he threaten or tempt you? You must not let him deceive you."
Jiang Xingzhi made a reproachful sound. "Ah Zuo, don't always view the world with malicious suspicion! I already told you, Su You is a reasonable demon."
Zhong Ming ground his back teeth until they creaked. He didn't believe Su You was so kindhearted, yet couldn't guess what malicious intentions the other harbored. Seeing his gritting teeth expression, Jiang Xingzhi narrowed his eyes and leaned closer. "You seem unhappy?"
"How could that be?" Zhong Ming instantly became alert, switching to a relaxed expression and calling out softly, "Long live peace~"
Jiang Xingzhi sweetly leaned against him. "That's right."
"Ha!" Su You couldn't hold back and burst into delighted laughter right in front of them.
Zhong Ming pressed Jiang Xingzhi's head into his embrace and shot the former a deadly stare. "......"
Su You stared right back without courtesy: What are you looking at, someone in an awkward position~
The tense atmosphere between the upper seats was soon broken.
Below in the seating area, Chu Yun stood up and said, "Since we've reached consensus on a ceasefire, why not sign a friendly peace treaty here and now? From this day forward, neither realm may invade the other."
Su You readily nodded. "Fine by me."
Seeing him agree so readily, the various sect members who had been somewhat skeptical finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Bi Yun, skilled in document writing, immediately stepped forward and wrote a friendly peace treaty on the spot. The treaty was made in duplicate, to be signed with divine consciousness by representatives of both the Demon Realm and Human Realm.
Naturally, Su You represented the Demon Realm. When it came to the Human Realm, everyone looked at each other hesitantly - with so many sects, who should go up?
After exchanging glances, they turned their gaze to Jiang Xingzhi above. "Perhaps Divine Lamp Daren could..."
Jiang Xingzhi waved his hand and called out another name instead. "Liu Chuan, you go."
"This junior!?"
Liu Chuan was caught off guard by being named and looked at Jiang Xingzhi in surprise. Others were equally puzzled - whether considering experience or strength, most people present ranked above Liu Chuan. How could it be this junior's turn?
Jiang Xingzhi said, "In Kunlun's name."
He and Xu Jian didn't know when they might return. Once they left this world, the treaty would become void. Though Liu Chuan lacked sufficient experience, Kunlun's divine prestige remained, enough to represent the Human Realm against the entire Demon Realm.
After he spoke, scattered discussion arose among the seated crowd.
Su You looked thoughtfully at Jiang Xingzhi and lightly tapped his fingertips on the table.
After a few moments, Chu Yun spoke on behalf of all sects, "Very well, let Kunlun represent our Human Realm."
Seeing Liu Chuan still looking confused, Jiang Xingzhi called out to him, "Why aren't you going?"
"Yes..." Liu Chuan came to his senses and walked forward in a few steps.
He felt momentarily strange inside: why did it feel like Elder Jiang called him so naturally, commanding him as if he were family?
But soon his attention returned to the treaty.
Su You stood on the other side of the treaty and imprinted his spiritual consciousness under witness from all major sects of the Human Realm. Following this, Liu Chuan took out Kunlun's jade token and pressed it down, leaving a golden-red Kunlun seal.
------ From this day, the two realms began a thousand years of peace.
****
The negotiations between the two realms concluded successfully.
After this event, Kunlun, having signed the peace treaty with the Demon Realm, gained widespread fame and truly began to become a sanctuary for the people. The Xuantian Sword Sect, having facilitated two major negotiations, also laid the foundation for becoming the foremost sword sect in the world.
Yu Wengong, the instigator of the conflict, was taken away by Demon Realm representatives, and cultivators from the Human Realm began taking their leave.
Jiang Xingzhi stood in the sky above Xuantian Sword Sect's mountain gate, bidding farewell to representatives from various sects while gazing at this world with deep emotion:
Finally, the thousand-year karmic cycle had come full circle...
"Xingzhi." A voice interrupted his thoughts. Jiang Xingzhi turned to see Su You flying over and stopping before him and Zhong Ming.
Zhong Ming pushed Jiang Xingzhi behind him. "What do you want?"
Su You looked at his action and snorted with deliberate provocation, "I'm speaking with Xingzhi. What business is it of yours?"
Zhong Ming said, "This is my... future dao companion."
"Oh~ future." Su You had now caught Zhong Ming's weakness, his tone sounding quite insufferable. "Until you complete the contract ceremony, he's not yours for even a day. Isn't that right, Xingzhi?"
Zhong Ming was instantly furious, wishing he could complete the contract ceremony right there to shut this demon's mouth! But the disguise he couldn't shed bound him, leaving him with anger stuck in his throat. He could only stare at Jiang Xingzhi with heated eyes. "Deng Deng, are you mine!"
Jiang Xingzhi accommodatingly pinched his handsome face. "Once we complete the contract ceremony, yes."
Zhong Ming: "......"
Su You let out a hearty laugh. "Haha!"
A hint of fire rose in his dark eyes. Zhong Ming thought to himself - did people of this era all have problems? Always making strange laughs that inexplicably raised one's blood pressure.
Seeing Zhong Ming's hand reaching for his sword hilt again, Jiang Xingzhi coughed lightly to change the subject. "By the way, Su You, what did you need from me?"
Su You said, "This lord has given you such a great gift. Won't you help this lord with a favor?"
"What favor?" Jiang Xingzhi.
"What gift?" Zhong Ming.
Both voices fell simultaneously. Su You ignored Zhong Ming and only said to Jiang Xingzhi. "The Demon Realm needs rebuilding and we're short on manpower. There are some places that require cultivation support - come help out."
Jiang Xingzhi readily agreed. "Sure."
Zhong Ming grabbed Jiang Xingzhi's wrist and pressed it repeatedly. "What great gift did he give you? We don't need it - quickly return it to him."
Jiang Xingzhi looked at him meaningfully. "Peace between the two realms." Return it my ass.
"......"
Su You's gaze toward Zhong Ming was quite disdainful: childish.
He arranged a time with Jiang Xingzhi: "This lord will go back to prepare. Tomorrow at noon - see you in the Demon Realm."
Jiang Xingzhi asked him, "Didn't the entrance collapse last time? How should I get in?"
"Heh heh." Su You sneered. "The Demon Realm is full of holes now. Just find any opening and come in."
After he finished speaking, Zhong Ming beside them suddenly showed a trace of pride, as if sharing in the glory. "That definitely needs fixing."
Especially the biggest hole that he had personally pierced.
Su You frowned, not understanding what this person was proud of.
Knowing the truth, Jiang Xingzhi opened his mouth then closed it again: Xu Jian probably didn't know what exactly he had split open with that sword strike...
He pulled along the still-smirking Zhong Ming and said softly, "Let's go, time to head back."
Zhong Ming withdrew that proud gaze. "Alright."