After Sheng Jun Chapter 65 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 65 Strict with Oneself (part 1)
The surroundings were so quiet you could hear a pin drop, even the music had stopped.
Everyone was stunned by this scene. In the silent and empty venue, Zhong Ming's voice could be heard clearly through gritted teeth.
Jiang Xingzhi was embraced by that familiar warmth, heat rising all at once. He lowered his eyes and grasped Zhong Ming's wrist, "What... what are you doing, Xu Jian?"
What was he doing? Zhong Ming held him tightly, wanting very much to ask: Didn't you once like me? When you were just reborn, weren't you thinking every day about coming back to see me?
But these words couldn't be spoken aloud.
Zhong Ming's heart was both angry and anxious. Not caring about the gazes cast by those around them, he only wanted the person in his arms to turn back and look at him. He rested his chin on top as well, his cheek pressed close against Jiang Xingzhi's ear.
At this close distance, he caught a faint scent of wine. Probably affected by the alcohol, Jiang Xingzhi's ear pressed against his cheek was soft and somewhat warm.
Zhong Ming couldn't help but press further, "Did you ever think of me?"
Jiang Xingzhi felt satisfied being held so close, but also a bit shy—so many people were watching. His peripheral vision swept around: Oh my, this was serious—someone had even brought out recording stones!
He tried to pry Zhong Ming's hands away, whispering, "Let go first..."
Zhong Ming wouldn't let go, instead tightening his embrace.
Jiang Xingzhi pondered his choice of words, seeing that he still hadn't planned to remove his disguise and confess honestly. So he said, "Why would I think of you?"
This statement hit Zhong Ming like a blow to the head, all those previously suppressed chaotic emotions surging forth, "After you left, I thought of you every day. What about you?"
...Holy shit! The quietly listening crowd's hearts shattered: What were they hearing?!
Dozens of gossipy and shocked gazes rapidly darted between the two.
Xu Jian toward Tingxue... what exactly was going on???
Under everyone's gaze, Jiang Xingzhi's heart was also going "holy shit": What was Xu Jian saying in front of all these people! Couldn't these private words wait until later? He was too embarrassed to respond.
He pressed his lips together and quickly pried Zhong Ming's fingers apart.
As the tightly clasped fingers were pried open one by one and his embrace emptied, Zhong Ming's heart immediately sank. The next moment, a hand grabbed his sleeve, and his hollow heart filled up again.
Jiang Xingzhi finally turned to look at him.
Zhong Ming stared at him intensely, unable to look away, and called out emotionally, "Jiang Xingzhi."
"Come with me." Jiang Xingzhi glared at him and quickly pulled him away from the banquet.
The two figures disappeared around the corner of a small path outside the venue in an instant.
After they left, the banquet fell silent for a while...
After a long moment, it exploded: !!!!!!
Lin He and the other two were instantly drowned in the boiling voices.
Shuang Ling was taking their pulses in a daze, Lord Huan Ji stared at the sky and began calculating again, while Lin He hadn't recovered yet, muttering "Crazy, crazy..."
Were they hallucinating?
****
Jiang Xingzhi pulled Zhong Ming along the mountain path back.
After walking for a stretch, away from the noisy banquet venue, Zhong Ming called out again, "Xingzhi."
Jiang Xingzhi stopped, turned around with a red face, and looked at the man who had lowered his eyes toward him, "What were you doing just now?"
Zhong Ming stared at his reddened cheeks, his heart stirring slightly: Jiang Xingzhi could still blush... meaning he wasn't completely indifferent to himself.
However, just as joy began to surface, he suddenly thought again: Wait, when Jiang Xingzhi was with his "Bai Mu" persona, didn't that mean he still had lingering feelings for him as Xu Jian!
His already congested mind began another internal battle.
It wasn't until the tugging force on his sleeve brought Zhong Ming's scattered thoughts back. Jiang Xingzhi stared at him, "I'm asking you."
The current situation didn't allow him to dwell too much. Zhong Ming decided to temporarily let "Xu Jian" win by a narrow margin, no longer considering "Bai Mu" matters. He grasped Jiang Xingzhi's wrist in return, "Did I make you unhappy?"
"Not really." Jiang Xingzhi looked away, "It's just... I think you're acting strange." He was giving him another way out, to see if Xu Jian would take it this time.
But Zhong Ming, who had just returned from battle, clearly didn't catch this lifeline. He said shamelessly, "Naturally it's because I missed you."
"..." Jiang Xingzhi glanced at him.
Zhong Ming asked again, "What about you, did you miss me?"
Heh, asking when he already knew the answer. Jiang Xingzhi thought: If he hadn't already seen through Xu Jian's disguise, hearing this now would probably move him. Didn't Xu Jian know whether he missed him or not?
He had said so many sweet words to coax him back then...
Thinking of this made him somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, so he withdrew his hand, "After I died, I was just a wisp of soul. How could I think of you?"
Nonsense, what wisp of soul! Zhong Ming pressed his lips tightly: He was clearly such a bright lamp, with flesh and blood and consciousness! Unable to speak the truth, his thin lips moved with difficulty, then said instead, "I don't believe it. You were able to condense your soul and be reborn, you definitely had consciousness."
He was still trying to awaken Jiang Xingzhi's remaining affection, "Even if you didn't, now that you've seen me, don't you have any reaction at all? Are you treating me like a stranger?"
Jiang Xingzhi looked at him deeply: Oh... so that's why he was sulking silently when he first sat down.
He said, "Didn't I let you sit in the first seat below the head table? Could a stranger get such treatment?"
Zhong Ming's heart caught: What treatment? He had shamelessly squeezed over there himself. Such a close seat—he didn't know who Jiang Xingzhi had originally intended it for, but given their previous relationship, it surely wasn't meant for him.
Zhong Ming thought this but didn't ask, afraid the answer would make him even angrier.
He held his breath and stared intently at Jiang Xingzhi, "If not strangers, then what is our relationship?"
Jiang Xingzhi asked back, "What relationship do you hope we have?"
Zhong Ming was stumped by the question.
He naturally hoped they could become dao companions. But if Jiang Xingzhi really agreed to become dao companions with him so quickly, wouldn't that make his "Bai Mu" persona look ridiculous?
Seeing the man in front of him staring into the distance again, his previously clear and sharp eyes seeming to stage an internal drama, Jiang Xingzhi spoke with complex emotions, "Never mind if you haven't thought it through."
He turned and flicked his sleeve, "Come find me when you've figured it out."
With that, he transformed into a streak of light and flew back to the palace courtyard, leaving only Zhong Ming to continue his resentment on the small path.
In the warm spring breeze blowing through the mountains, amid the fresh fragrance of grass and flowers, Zhong Ming clenched his fists in frustration: To be or not to be, that truly was the question!
****
Jiang Xingzhi had just returned to his room when he received a message transmission from Lin He.
The transmission connected, and the background was noisy, clearly still at the banquet venue on the front mountain. Lin He's voice seemed to squeeze in forcefully, "Xingzhi, we just saw Xu Jian Sheng Jun leave. What's going on with you two?"
"What do you mean what's going on?"
"You tell me!" Lin He asked, "You even called him aside separately. What did you talk about?"
The background noise seemed to quiet down.
"..." Jiang Xingzhi didn't need to guess to know how many ears were pressed against this transmission. How could he possibly tell the truth? "Nothing much."
"How is that possible? Xu Jian Sheng Jun looked lost in soul when he left. Did he confess to you and you rejected him?"
Jiang Xingzhi denied it outright, "No such thing." Reject what? They were going to become dao companions and be lovey-dovey every day!
But Lin He understood it differently, "No confession? Then what..."
"Stop guessing. This lord is tired and won't talk anymore!"
Snap, the transmission was quickly cut off. Jiang Xingzhi simply blocked all transmissions. He rolled over onto the couch, savoring the passionate embrace from earlier.
After a moment, he touched his heated cheeks.
Ah, so dominating... he liked it so much. Xu Jian, stand up! Give me more!