After Sheng Jun Chapter 69 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 69 Unveiling the Disguise (part 1)
Jiang Xingzhi's lips that pressed against his were warm, soft, and moist, still carrying the sweet fragrance of wine.
His lowered eyelashes were like two small fans, filtering out wisps of delicate shadows beneath his eyelids.
Zhong Ming stared at him, his mind completely blank.
Jiang Xingzhi pressed against his lips for a few breaths, his eyelashes trembling as he was about to pull away. Just as he withdrew, Zhong Ming seemed to come back to his senses, his breathing grew heavy as he pursued forward, lowering his head to deepen this kiss------
He reached out to embrace Jiang Xingzhi's waist, his broad palm grasping the latter's slender waist in one motion, pulling him into his own embrace.
Though he had only returned a few days ago, he truly felt as if he hadn't kissed anyone for a thousand years, treasuring this kiss with particular fondness.
On the clear waves and jade-green lotus leaves, the two kissed each other forgetfully.
The surrounding crowd watched in stunned silence, remaining dazed for a moment before "whooshing" out their image-recording stones: This was the live version, up close!
Lord Huan Qi looked around, "......" This group of gossipy people! Their movements were truly too fast, not giving him any reaction time. He quickly also retrieved an image-recording stone from his storage pouch.
While recording, they whispered to each other:
"It seems it really was a love poem composed for Xu Jian Sheng Jun."
"Yes, finished composing and immediately kissed."
"Their romantic affairs, we naturally cannot understand."
…..
Jiang Xingzhi was dominantly held in Zhong Ming's embrace, the familiar scent enveloping him, making him feel both dependent and at ease. Only when his lips and tongue had been thoroughly explored by the other, and a slight dizzying sensation again crept into his mind, did he gently push against the other's waist.
Their lips parted, Jiang Xingzhi raised his eyes to observe Zhong Ming's expression, watching as the person's mood visibly brightened like sunshine. Just as he was about to speak, a hand pressed against the back of his head. With a soft thud, Zhong Ming buried his head into his own chest.
Jiang Xingzhi's entire face was pressed against his heart, his voice coming out muffled, "Xu Jian?"
Zhong Ming held one hand against the back of his head, his index finger gently touching his reddened ear tip. He recalled how this person had looked when raising his face: both his eyes and lips glistening with moisture, his face like the evening glow, beautiful enough to startle the heart and soul.
How could such an expression be seen by others?
His gaze swept around, seeing that Jiang Xingzhi's hem was still trailing in the water, the pale blue color almost merging with the rippling light. With a movement of his fingertip, he lifted that hem back onto the jade-green lotus leaf.
Then he looked toward the crowd around them holding image-recording stones.
The crowd: ......
With a whoosh, they immediately bashfully put away their image-recording stones.
Zhong Ming seemed unconcerned, only saying lightly, "No need to mind us, you continue."
"Alright... continue, continue!"
Everyone busily pretended nothing had happened and looked away. The trays carrying wine cups once again floated down from upstream, and the poetry gathering continued.
The sounds of composing poems and exchanging praise rose and fell in succession.
Jiang Xingzhi was still buried in Zhong Ming's embrace, enjoying their closeness to his heart's content. Zhong Ming looked down at the head buried in his chest, paused, then asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Why did you kiss me?"
Jiang Xingzhi poked out half his face from his embrace to look at him, "What do you think?"
Zhong Ming dared not confirm, "Are you afraid that others' gossip would embarrass me?"
Jiang Xingzhi immediately sat up straight, staring directly at him and speaking frankly, "Of course I kissed you because I like you!" Really so dense.
Zhong Ming looked at Jiang Xingzhi's face, still flushed with passion, and immediately felt a stream of honey flowing through his heart. As the honey stream was gushing forth, he suddenly remembered that love poem from earlier: Wait, Jiang Xingzhi said he likes him, but what about that love poem?
A thread of strangeness swirled into the overflowing honey stream.
But the atmosphere was perfect right now, so Zhong Ming thought: Never mind, won't mention that mood-spoiling "Bai Mu." He simply looked at Jiang Xingzhi and hummed in acknowledgment.
Hmm? Jiang Xingzhi studied Zhong Ming's expression: Did that "hmm" mean he understood? But looking at this expression, why wasn't there any panic or confusion from realizing his disguise had been exposed?
The floating goblet poetry gathering around them was still continuing, with some lingering gazes still sneakily falling upon them.
The current situation didn't allow him to ask too many questions, so Jiang Xingzhi could only temporarily suppress the doubts in his heart.
When the poetry gathering ended and only he and Xu Jian remained, he would ask for clarification.
****
The first floating goblet poetry gathering finally ended as noon approached.
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming left their seats and landed by the pool's shore. Jiang Xingzhi grabbed Zhong Ming's sleeve, just wanting to call him aside for a proper talk, when a group of people surrounded them.
"We've long heard that the two Sheng Jun's happy occasion is approaching, and seeing it today, it's indeed not just rumors!"
"You two are both talented... and handsome, perfectly matched."
As everyone spoke, their gazes fell upon Jiang Xingzhi's hand gripping Zhong Ming's sleeve, "Ah... such deep affection, truly makes others envious!"
Zhong Ming's heart stirred upon hearing this, immediately grasping Jiang Xingzhi's hand in return, "Mm."
Jiang Xingzhi, "......" No, wait, he wasn't trying to show affection!
He was currently full of thoughts about getting Zhong Ming to leave with him, but Zhong Ming seemed intoxicated by this atmosphere of displaying their love. Jiang Xingzhi inadvertently glanced over:
Good heavens, his tail feathers were all spread out! And he was even smugly fanning them.
After listening to a round of empty flattery, Zhong Ming felt it wasn't enough, so he deliberately adjusted the angle of the Tinghan Sword at his waist, revealing the half-ring tassel pendant hanging from the sword hilt.
Venerable Yin Hong had sharp eyes and immediately understood, "This is......?"
Zhong Ming maintained an air of composure, "Oh, this is one of the commemorative gifts Xingzhi specially picked for me."
That half-ring tassel looked quite ordinary and wasn't any kind of magical artifact. Everyone fell silent for a moment, then began enthusiastically praising:
"So beautiful, it complements the Tinghan Sword perfectly!"
"Every glimmer reflects Ting Xue Sheng Jun's love."
"......" Jiang Xingzhi listened to this insincere flattery and gently closed his eyes.
Please, let this segment end quickly.
…..
Finally waiting for the surrounding crowd to gradually disperse, Jiang Xingzhi seized the opportunity, "Xu Jian."
Zhong Ming turned his head, "What is it?"
"Ah, Xu Jian Sheng Jun!" A voice suddenly rang out from the side. Jiang Xingzhi looked up to see a gray-robed man walking quickly toward them, "Finally caught you when you're free."
The gray-robed man had the character "Qu" embroidered on his collar - this was Qu Tan, the head of the Qu family, the foremost magical artifact crafting masters in the Three Realms. The Qu family's magical artifacts were exquisitely made and contained profound magical power, with Qu Tan having the highest skill level among them. Any artifact made by his hands was a treasure of the Three Realms.
However, Qu Tan had rarely personally crafted artifacts in the past century, focusing only on teaching disciples and passing on techniques.
Jiang Xingzhi greeted, "So it's Family Head Qu."
"Ting Xue Sheng Jun." Qu Tan bowed to him, then looked at Zhong Ming, "Xu Jian Sheng Jun, that thing you wanted......"
Zhong Ming's expression changed, cutting off his words, "Wait a moment." He finished speaking and said to Jiang Xingzhi, "Family Head Qu has business with me, can you wait here for me for a while?"
What business could be more important than their heart-to-heart talk!
Jiang Xingzhi was anxious enough to want to drag the person away on the spot, but seeing Qu Tan who had been waiting nearby for a long time, and then looking at Zhong Ming's hopeful gaze, he steadied himself and said, "Then go ahead."
He added after speaking, "Come back quickly." I'll skin you alive.
Qu Tan wore an expression of having eaten his fill of dog food. Zhong Ming just smiled, raised Jiang Xingzhi's hand to his lips for a quick kiss, "Alright."
Just as Zhong Ming left with Qu Tan, Lord Huan Qi rushed over, "Jiang Xingzhi!"
He brought along Shuang Ling and Lin He, who had heard the news and come running, obviously having heard of his fierce deeds and unable to sit still. They pulled Jiang Xingzhi to a small pavilion far from Lang Pool.
As soon as they sat down, Lin He exclaimed with widened nostrils, "You actually publicly forcibly kissed Xu Jian Sheng Jun!"
Jiang Xingzhi corrected, "It wasn't a forcible kiss, it was mutual consent."
"Fine, then what about spending the night together?"
"I stayed overnight at Penglai last night, there simply weren't enough rooms."