After Sheng Jun Chapter 64 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 64 Shocking the Entire Banquet (part 1)
Jiang Xingzhi felt a surge of excitement: Xu Jian had returned! And he was back in his true form!
His amber eyes reflected the man's figure, his eyelashes trembling before he quickly lowered his gaze: This was bad—he still hadn't adjusted to Xu Jian's serious and aloof true appearance...
Just thinking about all the embarrassing things they had already done together, Jiang Xingzhi suddenly felt as bashful as someone experiencing their first love.
Zhong Ming still stood at the entrance, his tall and elegant figure drawing everyone's attention the moment he appeared.
Countless gazes fell upon him, and the entire assembly buzzed with discussion:
"How did Xu Jian Sheng Jun appear here? Didn't he ascend?"
"Is... is he here to cause trouble?"
"Truly worthy of being enemies for hundreds of years—the moment Ting Xue returns, Xu Jian emerges from seclusion!"
...
Amid the murmuring crowd, Zhong Ming moved, striding directly toward the main seat and stopping before Jiang Xingzhi.
The entire banquet hall fell silent.
All eyes focused on the two of them, hearts pounding with fear that they might start fighting at any moment. Especially Xu Jian Sheng Jun's gaze...
Unblinking, as if he wanted to devour someone.
Zhong Ming paid no attention to others' speculation. His eyes were fixed intently on Jiang Xingzhi, feeling anxious, frustrated, and even a bit wronged—
He had finally maxed out Bai Mu's progress bar and was about to form a contract, only to be forced back into his true form!
And Jiang Xingzhi had fallen for Bai Mu—what was Xu Jian supposed to do now?
Only now did he realize: the greatest distance in the world was standing before Jiang Xingzhi while having to pretend to be his mortal enemy!
Three steps apart, the two faced each other, one standing and one sitting.
At the main seat, Jiang Xingzhi felt both nervous and expectant: What was Xu Jian staring at him for? Why wasn't he speaking?
Hurry up and rush over to embrace him!
He sat in his position, feigning composure while waiting, but Zhong Ming in front of him still made no move. Since neither of them spoke, no one else in the banquet dared make a sound.
For a moment, the atmosphere became deadlocked.
Lin He, watching from the side, grew anxious. Unable to bear it any longer, he stood up to ease the tension. "Well... since you're already here, why don't you sit down together?"
Zhong Ming's gaze immediately turned toward him.
At this sight, conditioned jealousy surged up again: Xuantian Sword Sect—his former "romantic rival"! And now he was brazenly sitting so close to Jiang Xingzhi, playing host to this "guest" on Jiang Xingzhi's behalf.
Zhong Ming's gaze immediately turned cold as biting wind. In others' eyes, it looked even more like provocation.
Lin He shuddered under his stare and quickly called out for help. "...Xingzhi!"
Jiang Xingzhi looked up from his secret waiting, only to see Zhong Ming staring intently at Lin He. He frowned: What was Xu Jian doing? Here he was, such a big lamp right in front of him, yet he kept staring at Lin He instead?
He glanced at Zhong Ming with feigned reserve and spoke formally, "Xu Jian Sheng Jun, please be seated."
Xu Jian Sheng Jun! Please, sit! How polite yet distant this greeting was. Zhong Ming's molars ground together with a "creak": Sure enough, he no longer liked "Xu Jian" and immediately drew a clear line between them.
His deep gaze turned back to Jiang Xingzhi, suppressing his irritation as he asked, "Where should I sit?"
Jiang Xingzhi glanced toward the seat beside him: "Sit wherever you like."
Looking around the entire assembly, all seats were occupied except for the most conspicuous remaining spot—right next to Jiang Xingzhi. Zhong Ming's gaze fell there, revealing barely detectable jealousy and danger.
Then he turned and walked over without ceremony.
The banquet immediately erupted in a chorus of sharp intakes of breath: Hiss! Sitting so close—one could strike the other with a single reach...
Lin He, Shuang Ling, and Lord Huan Ji beside them all widened their eyes. "Hey...!"
Wait, wasn't that the special seat Jiang Xingzhi had deliberately left empty?
They quickly turned to look at Jiang Xingzhi's expression, but saw that he made no move to stop it and showed no displeasure on his face.
The three exchanged glances: ???
***
The tall figure settled into that seat in an instant.
Jiang Xingzhi stole a glance at Zhong Ming beside him. The latter's profile was sharp and cold, his lowered eyelashes unable to hide the sharpness in his pupils. Just one look made his heart race again.
He withdrew his gaze and cheerfully called out, "Begin the dance, start the music! Play something festive~"
The orchestra, adorned like a bouquet of flowers, immediately filed in with red robes and colorful sleeves, jade ornaments chiming melodiously as ethereal music soon filled the entire peak of Qiting Mountain.
The assembly was instantly filled with festive atmosphere.
As cloud-like sleeves danced, Zhong Ming gritted his teeth: His Deng Deng was truly having a grand time!
Heaven knew how elated he had been after suppressing the spirits with his sword and returning to Kunlun, only to discover that Jiang Xingzhi had completely disappeared—the rage he felt! After finally splitting the Heavenly dao and chasing after him, he arrived to see Jiang Xingzhi happily hosting a banquet.
After all their intimate moments under moonlit flowers... didn't Jiang Xingzhi miss him at all?
Zhong Ming was so angry his chest heaved, yet he had nowhere to voice his grievances.
After all, for his current self, Jiang Xingzhi not missing "Bai Mu" was actually a good thing. This way, "Xu Jian" could monopolize Jiang Xingzhi's affection again, never having to worry about being exposed during contract formation.
…..
Unlike Zhong Ming's rich and colorful inner turmoil, Jiang Xingzhi's heart and mind were focused on only one thing:
Why hadn't Xu Jian come to snuggle with him yet?
He had already stolen several glances at Zhong Ming under cover of the central performance, but only saw him slightly lowering his head, staring at his wine cup in contemplation.
"Cough..." Jiang Xingzhi coughed lightly, seemingly casually, trying to recapture someone's attention.
But his cough didn't wake Zhong Ming—it awakened everyone else in the banquet. Venerable He Yuan saw that Jiang Xingzhi seemed to be hinting at something, and after a moment's thought, suddenly understood—
He immediately stood to present his gift. "Ting Xue Sheng Jun, this is a third-grade Lang Zhu flower. Congratulations on Sheng Jun’s return!"
The ethereally beautiful Lang Zhu was presented before the main seat.
Jiang Xingzhi could only temporarily set aside his thoughts and look toward Venerable He Yuan. "This flower is excellent. The Venerable is thoughtful."
With this opening, guests throughout the assembly rose one after another to present congratulatory words.
With so many guests, by the time everyone had finished presenting gifts, more than half an hour had passed.
Tray after tray of congratulatory gifts was carried away, and Jiang Xingzhi's face visibly brightened with joy. So many wonderful things—in the future, they would all belong to him and Xu Jian~
Thinking this, he couldn't help but glance again at the seat beside him.
At this moment, all guests had finished presenting gifts, and the only person in the venue who hadn't stood was Xu Jian Sheng Jun. Everyone followed Jiang Xingzhi's gaze toward Zhong Ming: ...
The meaning in everyone's eyes was self-evident.
Zhong Ming remained silent for several breaths, then lifted his eyes to meet Jiang Xingzhi's gaze. The moment their eyes met, his deep pupils seemed to ignite with blazing flames, licking at Jiang Xingzhi's soul through their intersecting gazes.
Jiang Xingzhi's breathing became erratic, almost thinking the other would rise and come to him, pulling him into a passionate kiss regardless of the setting.
He was nearly burned by that gaze and could barely maintain his surface composure. But Zhong Ming merely looked at him, gritting his teeth as he spoke word by word. "I came in haste today and brought no gift. I'll make it up next time."