After Sheng Jun Chapter 68 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 68 A Public Kiss (part 1)
When it came time to sleep that evening, Jiang Xingzhi tossed and turned on the bed in various positions for quite a while, but still failed to provoke any bold advances from Zhong Ming.
Finally, just when he was about to practically split his legs apart for the man, Zhong Ming finally stood up and walked over, stopping beside the bed and raising his hand to his waist sash. Jiang Xingzhi went still, gripping the bedding as his eyes brightened, watching that hand intently.
Then he watched as Zhong Ming pulled out a ceramic bottle from his waist sash.
He: ?
Pop. The bottle cork was pulled out, and a faint fragrance wafted to his nose. Zhong Ming considerately leaned down and offered the ceramic bottle, "You've been tossing about for so long and can't sleep. Would you like some medicine?"
Jiang Xingzhi: "......"
Just how long was this man planning to maintain the upright persona of "Xu Jian"!
He stared at the person standing beside the bed, then pulled the bedding over his head with a "thud" and turned over, "No need. You may withdraw."
"Oh." The person behind him rustled back to the table.
Jiang Xingzhi took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut hard.
…..
The next day when he woke up, Jiang Xingzhi was burning with frustration.
Morning willpower was already weak to begin with, and with this fire of irritation coursing through his body, his inner flames burned even more fiercely. Jiang Xingzhi suppressed the fire in his heart, glanced again at Zhong Ming who was still sitting steadily at the table, then threw off the covers and got up to change clothes.
A silver-blue outer robe was pulled from his storage pouch.
Zhong Ming, who had been secretly observing from the table, suddenly straightened his gaze, his whole body shaking: Wasn't this... the matching couple's outfit that Jiang Xingzhi had bought together with his "Bai Mu" identity?
Jiang Xingzhi was spending time with him as "Xu Jian" today, yet was still wearing the couple's outfit he'd gotten with "Bai Mu"!?
He immediately couldn't sit still, getting up and walking over to grab the person who was tying his sash, "Xingzhi." His large palm wrapped around the man's arm in one motion. The sash wasn't yet tied properly, and the outer robe hung loosely draped over Jiang Xingzhi's shoulders.
"What is it?" Jiang Xingzhi looked up at him.
Zhong Ming's gaze swept from the loose collar opening to the untied waist sash. He suppressed the questions that were almost spilling from his lips and said in a measured tone, "This outfit... where did you buy it? I've never seen it before."
Hmph, never seen it before? He'd clearly felt it inside and out already.
Jiang Xingzhi asked knowingly, "What's wrong with this outfit? Don't I look good in it? Don't you like it?"
At their close face-to-face distance, Jiang Xingzhi's upturned face was handsome and fair, complemented by this silver-blue robe that made him appear ethereal and otherworldly—quite beautiful indeed.
Zhong Ming looked down at him, still unable to say anything against his conscience, "It looks good... I like it very much."
This outfit truly suited Jiang Xingzhi well. Even seeing it now in his "Xu Jian" identity, it still made his heart race. But such a perfectly fitted set was a couple's outfit bought together with "Bai Mu"!
So when Jiang Xingzhi stood beside him wearing this, was he thinking of "Xu Jian" or "Bai Mu"?
While Zhong Ming was caught up in his internal struggle, Jiang Xingzhi had already finished tying his sash and arranging himself properly. He gave a light push to Zhong Ming, whose gaze had drifted to some unknown point, calling him back to attention, "Let's go."
His scattered vision refocused.
Zhong Ming hummed in response and walked out shoulder to shoulder with him. As they pushed through the door, he couldn't help stealing several more glances at him.
So vexing, yet so beautiful.
Jiang Xingzhi sensed the frequent gazes from beside him and snorted inwardly: Look all you want, let's see how much longer you can restrain yourself.
****
Upon leaving the courtyard gate, a Penglai attendant came forward to guide them, leading the two toward the location of the Floating Goblet Poetry Gathering, "This way please, Immortal Lords."
"Thank you for your trouble." Jiang Xingzhi responded and followed behind.
Penglai's "Floating Goblet Poetry Gathering" could be considered one of the Three Realms' annual grand events, held at Lang Pool on Penglai's western shore.
One side of Lang Pool connected to land, while the other flowed into the East Sea. The pool's flowing water was so clear you could see the bottom, with red carp swimming about. The pool's banks were paved with inlaid colorful glazed stones, while jade lotus leaf seats floated on the water's surface, crystal clear and translucent.
The entire Lang Pool was resplendent with color, filled with the sounds of music, like a realm of immortals.
When Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming arrived, there were already dozens of people by the pool's edge. As soon as the two appeared, everyone immediately fell silent, then bowed in salute one after another, "Xu Jian Sheng Jun! Ting Xue Sheng Jun!"
Jiang Xingzhi looked around and saw they were all famous figures from within the Three Realms: Immortal Lord Luo Xiao, Fairy Yu He, Venerable Yin Hong... and his old acquaintance Lord Huan Ji. Lord Huan Ji stood among the crowd, casting him a meaningful look.
Him: "......"
After Jiang Xingzhi finished greeting everyone, Lord Huan Ji sneakily sidled over. He first glanced at Zhong Ming, then lightly bumped Jiang Xingzhi, asking in a gentle, tactful whisper, "You came together?"
Jiang Xingzhi was unabashed, "Mm, we even stayed together last night."
"Cough cough cough!!!" Lord Huan Ji burst into violent coughing. What—what had he just heard?
Zhong Ming quickly turned to look at Jiang Xingzhi, his concerns about the couple's outfit instantly forgotten. His eyes warmed as bubbles of joy arose in his heart: Xingzhi had openly acknowledged their ambiguous relationship in front of his friend.
It seemed "Xu Jian" had great momentum—go Xu Jian!
Under the pincer attack of gazes from left and right, Jiang Xingzhi's expression remained unchanged.
Hmph, what are you looking at? If Xu Jian won't act, he could be even bolder!
….
Soon, Jìng Míng Zhenren arrived to organize the Floating Goblet Poetry Gathering.
The poetry gathering would last three days, with morning and afternoon sessions each day. The pool had limited seating, with each session accommodating only a dozen or so participants, while others could observe from seats along the pool's edge.
The participants for the first session took their seats one by one.
Jiang Xingzhi called to Zhong Ming, "Shall we participate in this session?"
Zhong Ming followed his wishes, "Alright."
An attendant waiting nearby came forward to guide them, "There are currently two seats remaining upstream and three downstream. Please choose as you wish, Sheng Juns."
Without hesitation, Jiang Xingzhi pointed toward the downstream seats, "We'll sit there." After speaking, under everyone's watchful gaze, he grabbed Zhong Ming's sleeve and flew down to land on a jade lotus leaf downstream.
The lotus leaf seats were quite spacious, suitable for two people.
But looking across the entire Lang Pool, aside from the two of them, the only other pair sharing a seat were Hu Shan Zhenren and Fairy Qing Wan, who were Dao companions. The atmosphere immediately grew tense——
Everyone secretly marveled: Seeing is believing. It seems these two Sheng Juns' relationship is even closer than the rumors suggest...
Jìng Míng Zhenren appeared unsurprised by this. Lord Huan Ji stood by the pool's edge with a numb expression:
You two might as well just publicly announce your relationship.