After Sheng Jun Chapter 66 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 66 Private Affairs Exposed (part 2)
When Zhong Ming arrived, Jiang Xingzhi was still being mobbed by the others.
His deep gaze fell over them as Zhong Ming called out, "Xingzhi."
Jiang Xingzhi poked his head up from under Lin He's armpit, instantly delighted: How did Xu Jian come here!
Xuantian Sword Sect's Sect Master Lin Xifeng stood beside Zhong Ming with a dignified expression, glaring at his son. "Lin He, don't be rude! Get off of Ting Xue Sheng Jun's... body immediately."
Lin He and the others quickly scattered.
Jiang Xingzhi looked at Zhong Ming. "How did you come here?"
Zhong Ming walked over in a few steps and smoothed his hair. "Came to pick you up."
Jiang Xingzhi ignored the meaningful gazes from behind him, secretly delighted. "Oh." Xu Jian... is quite capable.
"Do you and your friends always play around like this?" Zhong Ming finished smoothing his hair, then glanced toward Lin He and the other two behind him. His gaze was like a long sword, carefully sliding across their chests, making them all shiver. Then he looked down at Jiang Xingzhi and said in a low voice, "You were practically crawling into their arms."
Jiang Xingzhi observed his expression. "Are you unhappy?"
Zhong Ming's teeth clenched sourly. "I have no name or status—how dare I be unhappy?"
Originally he was still the second choice for future Dao companion, but "Bai Mu" had climbed up too successfully, and now he was nothing.
Jiang Xingzhi couldn't suppress a "pfft" of laughter, pushing him. "Let's go then."
After saying this, ignoring the three gossipy friends, he greeted Sect Master Lin Xifeng and left the table area with Zhong Ming.
The three behind them suddenly widened their eyes: What a friend who prioritizes romance over friendship, this Jiang Xingzhi!
As Jiang Xingzhi walked toward the mountain gate with Zhong Ming, telepathic messages rang in his sea of consciousness from behind:
"Xu Jian Sheng Jun actually came to the sect to pick you up!"
"You just left like that without even looking at us!"
"Dating really does make a difference, tsk tsk tsk."
Jiang Xingzhi: "..." Block them, block them.
"What are you thinking about?" Zhong Ming turned his head to ask. "Are you uncomfortable that I came to pick you up?"
Jiang Xingzhi collected his thoughts. "No. Where are we going?"
"Taking you out to have fun. Is there anywhere you want to go?"
"Let me think..."
As the foremost sword sect in the world, Xuantian Sword Sect had numerous sword cultivators coming daily to spar. The front mountain had even specially designated an area as a training ground for visitors to exchange techniques.
The two chatted as they walked toward the mountain gate. When they passed the front mountain training ground, the originally noisy area suddenly fell silent—
It's Ting Xue Sheng Jun and Xu Jian Sheng Jun!
The only two Mahayana peak cultivators in the world, the protagonists of recent romantic rumors!
Moreover, even setting aside the romantic rumors, Xu Jian Sheng Jun was a peak-like existence among their sword cultivators, usually impossible to see, yet here he was today!
Countless gossipy gazes instantly focused on the two.
Jiang Xingzhi's steps faltered under those stares. Zhong Ming noticed and moved to shield him. "Don't like being watched like this?"
As he spoke, one hand had already subtly risen to rest on his sword hilt, as if he would make them close their eyes with just a nod from Jiang Xingzhi. Jiang Xingzhi quickly pulled his hand down. "I don't dislike it."
Zhong Ming carefully observed his expression. "That's good then."
Seeing his careful, protective manner, Jiang Xingzhi couldn't help saying, "Xu Jian, you don't need to be so... genteel with me." I already know how shameless you can be.
Zhong Ming maintained his composure. "I want to win your heart." Can't ruin his image as first love in Xingzhi's heart.
Jiang Xingzhi opened his mouth, then closed it again speechlessly.
By the time they had walked around most of the training ground's perimeter, the gazes following them had only increased. After the initial shock, the cultivators began privately transmitting messages:
"The two Sheng Juns appear together so harmoniously."
"I think I heard Xu Jian Sheng Jun say he wants to win someone's heart!"
"Could the recent rumors be true?"
"Want to ask... but afraid of dying young!"
A pile of hesitant gazes followed the two to the mountain steps, where they saw a man in snow-blue robes approaching—it was Gong Hu, the most famous sword trial master in the Three Realms.
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming stopped. "Master Gong."
"Xu Jian Sheng Jun, Ting Xue Sheng Jun!" Gong Hu looked at the two standing together in surprise. "I didn't expect to meet you both together. Are you here to see Sect Master Lin on business?"
The gazes from the training ground behind them immediately became more eager: Finally someone is helping us ask!
Jiang Xingzhi glanced at Zhong Ming. "Came to chat casually with the young sect master."
Meaning it was a friendly gathering, not official business.
Gong Hu looked toward Zhong Ming. Zhong Ming spoke: "This one came to pick up Ting Xue."
Gong Hu: ?
The secretly eavesdropping crowd: The rumors are true!
Jiang Xingzhi felt his heart flutter at those words, and sensing Gong Hu's thoughtful gaze moving between them both, his ears grew warm as he lightly bumped Zhong Ming.
Zhong Ming looked at him sideways and curved the corners of his lips.
Gong Hu: ??
Gong Hu always spoke directly. Recalling the rumors he'd vaguely heard these past two days, combined with what he was "seeing with his own eyes," he tentatively asked, "Good news coming soon?"
"Cough!" Jiang Xingzhi coughed violently.
The crowd was horrified: He asked! He actually asked!
Zhong Ming gritted his teeth. While his heart raced with yearning, he also felt a pang of resentment: Yes, there should have been good news soon. If they hadn't suddenly returned to a thousand years later... he and his Deng Deng would definitely have already joined as one!
The thought made his hands itch, wanting to slash something.
"This one..." Zhong Ming suppressed the dryness in his throat, "This one is ready anytime. It mainly depends on Ting Xue's intentions."
Clang. Several sounds of long swords hitting the ground came from the training ground.
Jiang Xingzhi's face turned completely red. It wasn't hard to imagine how the rumors about them would spread like wildfire throughout the Three Realms after they left everyone's sight.
Gong Hu observed both their expressions and understood, saying, "Awaiting the good news."
After parting with Gong Hu, Jiang Xingzhi walked down the mountain steps with downcast eyes, pondering Zhong Ming's recent words: Good news coming soon, ready anytime... He was ready anytime too, but was Xu Jian really okay?
Had this person's self-split been cured?
After walking a distance, Jiang Xingzhi grew somewhat serious. "Xu Jian, what you just said—were you serious?"
On one side of the mountain steps was a moss-covered cliff wall with hanging vines, on the other side was a steep precipice shrouded in distant clouds.
Jiang Xingzhi walked on the inside while Zhong Ming watched his clean profile reflected against the varied depths of vegetation, radiating a fresh, vibrant energy that made his heart race. "I'm serious. I want to form a Dao contract with you. As long as you're willing."
Jiang Xingzhi felt joy at these words and was about to immediately agree, but then he considered Zhong Ming's split heart. He carefully searched the depths of Zhong Ming's pupils for emotion. "...How soon would you hope for my willingness?"
This was quite a strange question.
If it were someone else, they'd probably be completely confused, but Zhong Ming wasn't ordinary. After hearing this, he didn't find it odd at all, instead carefully considering Jiang Xingzhi's question.
How soon did he hope for Jiang Xingzhi's willingness?
Logically speaking, naturally the sooner the better. But if he agreed to the marriage proposal so quickly, wouldn't that be too hasty? As if... whether it was "Bai Mu" or "Xu Jian," it made no difference to Jiang Xingzhi.
No way. At minimum, the time he spent as himself discussing marriage with Jiang Xingzhi couldn't be less than his alternate identity, so the emotional foundation would be more solid!
Zhong Ming calculated the days, then said with feigned casualness, "Let's take it step by step, court for about one hundred and forty-three days and see how it goes."
Jiang Xingzhi's foot slipped and he nearly tumbled down the stone steps:
Such precise "about"! Isn't this exactly the number of days since his rebirth when he met "Bai Mu"? Xu Jian is still competing!
"Careful." A hand quickly caught his waist, pulling him to his side. Zhong Ming asked nervously, "What's wrong? Do you think I'm being too hasty?"
"....."
Jiang Xingzhi's hand hidden in his sleeve trembled slightly. He's the one who's hasty!
He had originally planned to wait until Xu Jian couldn't hold back anymore and made a bigger move, but now it seemed this person actually wanted to take it step by step! Court for another one hundred and forty-three days, re-experiencing their previous romance!
When would they finally form their contract and do this and that?
Jiang Xingzhi was so anxious he felt breathless. He gripped the hand that had caught him and closed his eyes: I hate that you're such a blockhead!
Zhong Ming continued whispering gently in his ear, "Don't be angry. I'm being hasty because I like you."
"..."
Jiang Xingzhi steadied himself and took a deep breath. He tried his best to appear serene. "I'm not angry."
"Really?" Zhong Ming speculated.
"Really. Didn't you say we were going out to have fun? Let's go."
Jiang Xingzhi said this and walked forward.
He needed to think of a way to accidentally and gently remove this person's disguise without hurting Xu Jian's dignity.