After Sheng Jun Chapter 79 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 79 Double Ascension (part 2)
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming passed through the sea of clouds and soon arrived before the great hall at the mountain peak.
Above the jade and gold palace steps, the hall doors stood wide open, as if welcoming their arrival. There was no one around, and inside the hall was quiet and peaceful. The two exchanged a glance, then stepped inside.
The arrangement in the hall wasn't unfamiliar.
Layers of curtains were drawn to the sides, like a luxurious and extravagant version of a certain mountain cottage.
Passing through the great hall, their steps stopped before a barrier at the far end of the hall. Behind the barrier, there seemed to be a figure moving, the form familiar, but the true appearance couldn't be seen clearly.
A distant voice echoed within the hall, "Finally ascended, not easy."
The tone was completely flat, yet between the words revealed a sense of weariness.
Jiang Xingzhi turned to whisper to Zhong Ming, "Shouldn't I be the one saying that?"
Behind the barrier, there was silence for a moment. Zhong Ming glanced at Jiang Xingzhi and, under the other's confused gaze, nodded, "Right, you're the one who worked the hardest."
Jiang Xingzhi was satisfied.
Seeing no sound coming from behind the barrier, he took the initiative to speak, "Are you the Heavenly Dao?"
That voice sounded again, "Yes."
"Is it because the loophole in causality was repaired by us that you allowed us to ascend this time?"
"Yes and no."
Jiang Xingzhi frowned, "Can you speak more clearly? Don't always act mysterious like the Master."
"..." The Heavenly Dao seemed to pause for a moment, then reminded reservedly, "Generous gift."
Generous gift? Jiang Xingzhi realized: Wishing you two a harmonious union for a million years.
He suddenly understood: So that blessing wasn't just wishing them an affectionate relationship, but also hinting that they could live for a million years. To live that long, besides ascending, what else could it be!
Jiang Xingzhi trembled, saying bashfully to Zhong Ming, "Indeed a generous gift, I misunderstood the Master."
Zhong Ming was understanding, "Being misunderstood while wearing a disguise, you can't be blamed."
The Heavenly Dao who couldn't get a word in: ...
After the two had cheerfully resolved their misunderstanding, they remembered the Heavenly Dao behind the barrier who seemed to have been left aside for quite a while. Zhong Ming cast a glance toward the barrier, "So, why did you call us here?"
"To answer the remaining doubts in your hearts."
As the words fell, images suddenly projected on the barrier before them, clearly scenes starting from a thousand years ago and moving forward. As the scenes changed, those familiar figures appeared one by one.
"The Three Realms a thousand years ago were barren and desolate, spiritual power was scarce, and cultivators' lifespans were only a few hundred years. The reason you never met before your rebirth was because these people's lives had already ended hundreds of years ago."
Jiang Xingzhi's chest tightened. He looked toward the images on the barrier: familiar faces gradually aging, either sleeping eternally in green mountains or becoming memorial tablets.
The Heavenly Dao's voice continued, "I sent you back a thousand years, established Kunlun, drew forth spiritual herbs, irrigated Jiuzhou, and from then on spiritual power became abundant, and cultivators' lifespans naturally extended."
In the images, the green mountains and memorial tablets disappeared, replaced by the current forms and faces of old friends. Alive, truly existing in their lives.
"So Ting Xue, don't harbor resentment."
The Heavenly Dao slowly spoke, "These old friends you cherish should have feathered away hundreds of years ago, but because of your appearance, their lives were extended."
It was because of them...
Jiang Xingzhi's eyes suddenly heated up, his heart filled with sour and swelling emotions. His hand tightened its grip with Zhong Ming's, his nose tingled slightly, and tears welled up.
The grievance of being thrown back a thousand years vanished in this moment. He had never felt as fortunate as he did now, grateful that he went to a thousand years ago.
Through the surging tears, he heard Zhong Ming's voice fall beside him, "Why do you only say this to Ting Xue?"
Jiang Xingzhi paused, his eyelashes blinking away a teardrop.
The great hall fell into brief silence.
After a moment, an explosive laugh came from behind the barrier, "Ha!" Then, Su You's provocative face was magnified and pressed against the barrier. The Heavenly Dao repeated, "The old friends you cherish."
Zhong Ming: "..."
Jiang Xingzhi: "..."
Zhong Ming said flatly, "Then indeed it has nothing to do with me."
Jiang Xingzhi: The emotion he had finally generated was completely dispersed by that "Ha!" Now the atmosphere was completely gone. He looked at the Heavenly Dao and sighed faintly, "Truly worthy of being Master Wujie's true form."
Even the laughter was identically earth-shattering.
"Wujie?" The Heavenly Dao repeated once, the tone seeming somewhat strange.
Jiang Xingzhi was puzzled, "What?"
But a pushing force came from before them, pushing the two toward the hall doors, "Nothing, you may leave now."
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming were gently ushered out of the great hall, the hall doors slamming shut behind them. They turned and walked toward the exit. Jiang Xingzhi pondered the Heavenly Dao's strange tone, "Is there something wrong with Wujie?"
Zhong Ming carefully rubbed his finger bones, his gaze fixed on the distant cloud pools.
After walking a few steps, Zhong Ming suddenly spoke, "Master's real name might not be 'Wujie.'"
"Then what is it?"
The broad palm turned his hand over, and Zhong Ming traced on his palm, slowly writing: Tian.
Tianjie.
The Heavenly Dao's minuscule incarnation within the Three Realms.
Jiang Xingzhi stared at his palm and couldn't help but make a sound of realization: So that's what it means! "Then who was it that first spread Master's name wrong?"
Zhong Ming clasped his hand back together, leading him forward, "Who knows, it's not important."
"True." The two figures left the gleaming golden hall, Jiang Xingzhi's cheerful voice gradually fading, "Should we stay here for a while, or go back to the Human Realm first?"
"Either is fine, see where you want to go."
"Then let's go back to the Human Realm first and let everyone know we're safe."
"Oh... and your beloved friends." Zhong Ming said meaningfully.
Jiang Xingzhi "smacked" his face, "These are all precious friendships~ Look how difficult it is for everyone to reunite across a thousand years! Of course, what I love most is still you, my matching lamp holder."
Zhong Ming laughed once, "I know, I was joking."
Jiang Xingzhi then held his face and made "squish squish" sounds. Zhong Ming was made helpless by his laughter and pulled his hands down to hold them in his palm, "Let's go, let's find them."
The clouds beneath their feet automatically parted, opening a passage to the Human Realm. Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming flew down, their wide sleeves fluttering gracefully behind them in the wind.
The gentle breeze blew in fine threads, carrying Jiang Xingzhi's voice, drifting under the clear firmament after the thunder clouds had dispersed, "This is truly good."
Zhong Ming glanced at him sideways, didn't ask further, only turned his head and hummed in agreement, their hearts united in this moment——
Yes, this is truly good.
Those sufferings and tribulations they once thought they endured were all to bring more precious things before them: marriage bonds, friendship, and their future of staying together forever.
All of this was Heaven's best arrangement.