Translator: transcendentwings
The ceremony commenced.
When stepping through the gates of Qingliang Valley, Zhou Xian only wore light makeup, yet it still couldn’t conceal her exquisite looks, with long and elegant eyebrows, and a brilliant crimson outlining her lips; her clothes were like tongues of flame. Holding a feather fan across her body, she slowly approached with light steps. A pair of egrets guarding the sect gate trilled at the exact moment she crossed over the threshold, denoting a good omen.
Surprisingly, Wen Xuechen, who had gone forth to receive her at the gates, actually did so in an upright and standing manner. Their two clasped hands together and they drew close to each other in a very affectionate manner.
As a result of Wen Xuechen’s weak and sickly body, he was used to remaining seated for the most part, as such he could only move forward with staggering and stumbling steps all the way from the mouth of the valley. When he finally arrived at their destination, his brow was covered with perspiration as he held a cane in one hand and a concentric knot in the other, despite that, every step he took was solid and his posture was relaxed and straight as a pine.
Zhou Xian’s heart ached for Wen Xuechen since the beginning and whispered softly, “Chen-ge, walk slower, I almost can’t keep up.”
“I’m pulling you along, you won’t fail to keep pace.” Wen Xuechen’s voice fluctuated slightly, he was obviously tired, but probably also due to this, an unspeakable warmth flooded his words, making people feel fuzzy on the inside, “Today is our wedding ceremony, I can’t have someone push me over. I want to bring you into Qingliang Valley with my own hands and I will never let go of you for the rest of my life.”
Wen Xuechen was usually in a seated position, relatively lowkey, so who knew that when he stood, he was actually the tallest among the four leading disciples and was even proven to be a smidgeon taller than Qu Chi as he brushed by the other’s side.
Seeing this, Xu Xingzhi on the stage, couldn’t help feeling somewhat depressed.
Qingjing-jun also smothered a laugh at Xu Xingzhi: “Xingzhi, it seems that you are the shortest among the four head disciples.”
How could Xu Xingzhi, who was eight chi, be concerned about this and simply retorted: “Shifu is a few centimeters shorter than I ne.”
Qingjing-jun pursed his lips and responded in amusement: “It makes me seem younger.”
This scene between master and disciple whisperering in each other’s ears in private had long since become a normal interaction in the eyes of the other lords and elders present, thus they couldn’t even be bothered to cast the two a glance, only Jiu Zhideng obsessively fixed his gaze on the corners of Xu Xingzhi’s raised lips, his Adam’s apple roved up and down in thirst.
Aware of the eyes upon him, Xu Xingzhi looked over and before Jiu Zhideng could move his gaze away in haste, he winked at the other with his left eye in a furtive movement.
This frivolous action was accomplished smoothly on his handsome and flawless face, and his smiling eyes were much more animated with this gesture. With the rise and fall of the other’s eyelashes, Jiu Zhideng felt as if his heart was nipped by a small animal.
. . . On the other hand, Meng Chongguang in the audience below was so angry that he nearly rubbed his belt sash raw.
For marriages in the cultivation world, all the rules and regulations didn’t deviate much from those of the mortal one. Fuyao-jun was the master of ceremonies as the newlyweds bowed to their ancestors, their shifu, and to the heavens and the earth, after paying homage, all that was left was to wait for the banquet.
Qingjing-jun pulled Xu Xingzhi over to his side under the guise of serving the wine and laying out the dishes, but in fact he had his own bowl, pair of chopsticks, and wine glass, which was equivalent as having a meal with all the elders.
Now that Jiu Zhideng had come, it was only natural that he wasn’t overlooked. Qingjing-jun toasted him first: “Xiao-Deng, come, long time no see, let us drink a cup filled to the brim.”
Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help but remind: “Shifu, Xiao-Deng has always been abstinent and has never drank alcohol. . .”
However, Jiu Zhideng offered no rejection. He merely picked up the wine jug, topped up his cup with white wine, hid his mouth with his sleeve, and downed the full cup, displaying the empty cup as a statement: “. . . Many thanks, Shifu.”
Even Qingjing-jun revealed an expression of surprise as he copied the motion and drained the wine in his cup, returning the gesture by offering his depleted cup as well.
Xu Xingzhi frowned slightly.
All the disciples below were having a merry time, but there were also those who were closely observing the changes on the platform.
A Fengling disciple crossed over the table set up with various dishes and exchanged words with the Fenglihg disciple before him: “. . . Quickly take a look, Shixiong and that son of the lord of the demonic sect have been exchanging flirtatious glances for a while now.”
“What son of the lord of the demonic sect?” The disciple in front responded, “Now his status and identity are not what it used to be, he is an entire level higher than us now. The immortal sect lords are the only ones who can be considered to be on an equal footing with him now.”
The disciple behind paused for a moment, bitterness seeping into his tone: “Truly the case of flying onto a branch and becoming a phoenix. He was originally just an abandoned loser rejected by the demonic sects. . .”
“Sh, if you say that, Shixiong will be angry if he hears that.”
The disciple in the back didn’t dare to make any more comments, but still couldn’t help muttering: “Shixiong has a deep friendship with Jiu Zhideng. It has nearly been a year since he left and Shixiong would still unconsciously call out Jiu Zhideng’s name to have him come make a demonstration for us while practicing sword skills. This is really. . .”
Speaking up to here, the two abruptly heart an ear-piercing “ka” sound from the side.
The two glanced backwards in horror, but only saw Meng Chongguang sitting not far off holding a silver cup whose handle and body of the cup were folded at a strange angle.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
They all thought that their eyes were playing tricks on them, and when they took another look, the cup seemed to be normal again, nestled in Meng Chongguang’s hand nicely and properly.
. . . It was indeed a trick of the eyes ba.
The two resolutely refused to say another word, after all, Meng Chongguang followed Xu-shixiong every day so if he passed on their words with embellishments, according to Shixiong’s temperament, the other would definitely borrow this opportunity to give them training from hell.
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. . . Shixiong, you’ve incurred my wrath.
Everyone drank from morning to midnight, and the bright moon’s brilliance invaded and plundered the red and hot sunlight as the banquet gradually dispersed.
Before the drunk Qingjing-jun was helped back to the prepared guest hall by Xu Xingzhi to rest, he tugged on Xu Xingzhi’s sleeve and nagged: “Xingzhi, when will you get married ah? I, I have already prepared the dowry gift for you since early on. . .”
Xu Xingzhi responded perfunctorily: “Okay, yes yes yes, Shifu, you just need to go back and sleep well now, I will bring my wife for you to see tomorrow morning.”
“. . . Truly? You aren’t lying to me?”
The lords and elders who hadn’t dispersed yet, all keeled over in laughter and Jiu Zhideng couldn’t help but curl up the corners of his tightly closed lips. His eyes, which gleamed with drunkenness, also bore into Xu Xingzhi even more without abandon, such that even Liu Yunhe’s frequent fit of coughs behind him could not disrupt his gaze.
. . . He hasn’t laid eyes on Shixiong for a long time now, it had truly been too long.
When he saw this person again after a long time, the desire in his heart swelled like a ravenous beast.
After settling Qingjing-jun down, Xu Xingzhi helped the other wipe his hands and feet and made the other drink a remedy to relieve hangovers he had prepared. Following that, Xu Xingzhi ended his ministrations by boiling some hot water and pouring it into a pot so that the other could drink it at will before closing the door behind him and departing.
Then following some inquiries with the Qingliang Valley disciples and learning that Jiu Zhideng hadn’t left yet and was staying in a guesthouse somewhere in the valley, Xu Xingzhi was overjoyed and walked briskly over to where the guest house was located.
It was Liu Yunhe who came to open the door.
That person didn’t even appear in Xu Xingzhi’s eyes for two seconds when Xu Xingzhi directly passed him straight into the hall and knelt down before Jiu Zhideng, who had just removed his outer robe and had yet to turn around, loudly voicing: “Xu Xingzhi, a Fengling disciple, greets the Lord of the Demonic Sects.”
Jiu Zhideng’s expression changed instantly after receiving Xu Xingzhi’s address, but through the other’s slightly raised eyebrows and smiling lips, Jiu Zhideng seemed to have realized something and swiftly pointed at the door with one hand, ordering flatly: “Leave us.”
It was obvious to whom this command was issued to and Liu Yunhe’s face abruptly blanched, but Jiu Zhideng just shot him a casual glance and his temper was immediately smothered as he acknowledged it with a “Yes” and then swiveled around, closing the door behind him with a cold face.
As soon as the door slammed shut, Jiu Zhideng instantly stepped forward and pulled Xu Xingzhi’s body, which was still enshrouded in the spring chill, into his arms.
The youth’s body was not as soft as a woman’s when hugged, but Jiu Zhideng still held the other with all his strength, trapping the other’s sturdy and lean shoulders within his hold as if he were wrapping his arms around his own shoulders, wanting to merge with the other as one.
Xu Xingzhi was dazed by the embrace, his bones aching badly, and even his waist, whose condition had improved a little after sleeping on a raised bed yesterday, also throbbed with a dull pain.
However, he still tolerantly allowed Jiu Zhideng to wrap around him tightly, as he ran his hand along the length of the other’s bounded tresses like he would a child: “Shixiong is here ne, right here ne.”
Jiu Zhideng felt that he had lost his composure and loosened his arms with a hint of embarrassment reluctantly.
“Shixiong knelt down so suddenly, shocking me to the core.” Jiu Zhideng murmured warmly, “ I thought Shixiong was drawing the line with me due to status.”
“I have to hold up your reputation in front of your subordinates ah.” Xu Xingzhi located a chair, sat down, and crossed his legs, “How is it, did he bully you?”
As the Lord, Jiu Zhideng carried a fierce air of superiority in his speech and didn’t bother suppressing it in front of Xu Xingzhi either: “He dare not.”
Xu Xingzhi could also see that Jiu Zhideng’s skills have greatly improved at this time.
When Jiu Zhideng awakened into his demonic heritage, Xu Xingzhi brought him to Yusui Pond, a secret realm, and helped the other guide his meridians. Therefore, after the other successfully inherited his demonic blood, his original skills weren’t damaged at all and after returning to the main palace of the demonic path, he practiced demonic skills and chants, raising his cultivation base that hasn’t improved for several years by three levels at once. At this time, he was approaching the peak of the Golden Core, he could be promoted to the Nascent Soul level at any time.
That Liu Yunhe was also at the seventh-level of the Golden Core stage, even if he had a deeper foundation in the main hall of the demonic sect, he must be apprehensive of Jiu Zhideng’s strength and dare not easily pick a bone with the other.
Recalling the way the other escorted Jiu Zhideng back to the sect that day, holding Shi Pingfeng hostage under the Tongming curse, Xu Xingzhi only felt a burst of joy when he saw his current daring and undaunted appearance earlier.
While he was sincerely happy for Jiu Zhideng, Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help but speculate if Chongguang was here, he would definitely imprison the other and record the various things that Liu Yunhe did to bully him for three days and three nights and even if he were being unreasonable, he would insist on exaggerating it by three points and then beg him to stand up for him to right these grievances.
Thinking of his face, a light smile adorned Xu Xingzhi’s lips.
Jiu Zhideng meticulously studied the smiling face before him which haunted his dreams and only felt that he was already sitting on the apex of this world, feeling comfortable and relaxed all over: “Shixiong, would you like to drink?”
Upon mentioning this matter, Xu Xingzhi remembered the scene at the banquet just now and asked: “Xiao-Deng, you never drank even a drop of alcohol in the past, what happened today?”
Jiu Zhideng downplayed it casually: “Ever since I returned to the main palace of the demonic path, I suddenly realized that being able to drink alcohol isn’t such a bad thing after all.”
With just these few words, the expression on Xu Xingzhi’s face changed slightly and his heart sank heavily.
. . . He wasn’t doing well in the end after all.
He tried his best to comfort Jiu Zhideng: “Alcohol isn’t a good thing. If you drink too little, you would dislike it for not being enough, yet if you drink too much, you would be so dizzy that you wouldn’t even know what day it was.”
After enlightening the other in such a way, Xu Xingzhi nearly laughed at himself.
In the past year, he had always thought about the powerlessness that he felt when Jiu Zhideng was taken away and only when inebriated, could he relieve his regrets yet now, he was persuading Jiu Zhideng not to drink with such earnestness, how ridiculous.
Jiu Zhideng didn’t take it seriously and brushed it off: “Shixiong wasn’t by my side, so why would I need to know what day it is?”
These words sounded strange, but Xu Xingzhi didn’t try to think too much into it and was only flooded with a sense of heartache.
. . . He could no longer return. No matter what, he was no longer the simply dressed boy who was as silent as the ocean and sliced through the wind with his blade in hand.
Xu Xingzhi poured out a glass of wine, clinked glasses with him and drank it in one shot.
But Jiu Zhideng didn’t touch his drink for a long time, only staring at the other’s Adam’s apple as it slid up and down as the wine was swallowed, wishing that time would stay frozen at this moment and stop moving forward.
After drinking three rounds, Jiu Zhideng put down his wine glass and stated: “Shixiong, I’m not here for anything else, I just wanted to see you. If you see any startling changes in the direction of the demonic sects, don’t worry.”
Xu Xingzhi started: “What’s wrong? What are you going to do?”
“I want to try and overcome the Nascent Soul stage tribulation thunder.”
The expression on Xu Xingzhi’s face became ugly as he threw down his wine glass: “Nonsense! How many days has it been since you’ve entered the peak stage? How could you treat passing the tribulation so lightly?”
Jiu Zhideng had a rare hint of mischievousness in his tone: “Didn’t Shixiong also just mention it and immediately went ahead to overcome it?”
Xu Xingzhi didn’t have the heart to chat and laugh with him: “Whenever you need to face the lightning, call for me to join you. Shixiong already has the physique of the Nascent Soul realm so it’ll be more than enough to protect you at that time.”
Jiu Zhideng’s heart was so still for a moment that his body forgot how to make it beat.
He only heard his own voice say: “Shixiong, you will get hurt.”
Xu Xingzhi waved his hand: “You are my shidi that I alone nurtured personally. Rather than seeing you suffer, it would be more acceptable for me to block a few strikes of lightning instead.”
Jiu Zhideng gaped at Xu Xingzhi in a dazed manner, his heart throbbing so much that he couldn’t restrain his words: “Then. . . Shixiong, do you know why I want to make it through the thunder tribulation so early?”
“I understand how difficult it was for you to take over as the Lord of the Demonic Sects.” Xu Xingzhi answered tolerantly, “It’s not unreasonable to put in more effort to improve your abilities for that purpose. Shixiong is here for you, so you can rest assured. . .”
“No.” Jiu Zhideng seemed to have felt as if that were an insult, and interrupted Xu Xingzhi in a rare moment of rudeness.
—It wasn’t like that.
—He did it for Shixiong. How could the mere position as the Lord of the Demonic Sects be compared to the importance that Shixiong holds.
However, Jiu Zhideng ultimately didn’t utter the truth hidden in his heart: “Shixiong. . . is definitely going to become the Lord of Fengling Mountain ba.”
“Who knows.”
Since the last succession ceremony was disrupted by Jiu Zhideng’s demonification, Qingjing-jun never mentioned the matter of his succession again which Xu Xingzhi also looked upon this idleness with joy, after all, he reveled in acting as he pleased, disregarding all responsibilities. He would rather let Ruzhou take on the mantle as the Lord of Fengling Mountain.
But Jiu Zhideng had his own plans.
Liu Yunhe wanted to support him as his puppet, so he pretended to obey him and let him fight his two elder brothers. After he cleaned up the sect thoroughly and finally looked back, he saw the remaining weak son who he was using as a mere token of authority and thought was only indulging in food and drink, also secretly amassing powerful forces which had the ability to fight against him and was actually unable to do anything to him for a while.
As long as Jiu Zhideng gradually deprived the other of his power and fully grasped the position of the Lord of the Demonic Sects and formally sign a peace treaty with the righteous sects, then among the four sects, the only person who would be a worthy match with Shixiong and be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him would be him alone. At that time, he would be able to openly propose to Shixiong about becoming cultivation companions.
The person who used to only live in his dreams, who he thought would become tarnished if he had just entertained those thoughts a bit, was now at his fingertips. Just imagining it made him tremble with excitement.
Lost in his fantasies for a moment, he reached out and grabbed Xu Xingzhi’s right hand which was placed on the side of the table: “Shixiong, if. . .”
His following words were interrupted by the abrupt opening of the palace doors.
Meng Chongguang strolled in the hall slowly with his hands behind his back.
“Shixiong, so this was where you were ah.” Meng Chongguang’s voice was very sweet, but there seemed to be countless dark notions and evil whispers lying underneath it, thus despite the smile on his face, this posture and expression invoked a chilling illusion, “. . . You made Chongguang spend a good amount of time looking.”
Seeing this face that was lucky enough to be able to be with Shixiong day and night, Jiu Zhideng felt agitated. Fortunately, his excellent upbringing allowed him to calm down quickly, then following etiquette, he stood up and greeted him: “. . . Meng-shidi.”
Over Meng Chongguang’s shoulder, Jiu Zhideng peered at Liu Yunhe, who was supposed to be guarding outside the hall.
Naturally, Liu Yunhe didn’t do his best in stopping Meng Chongguang, he hoped that everyone in the room would come to blows and end up in a dog-eat-dog situation, thus he chose to turn a blind eye to Jiu Zhideng’s frigid gaze.
Xu Xingzhi felt a pang of guilt for some reason: “Chongguang. . .”
Meng Chongguang’s eyes fell on the back of the other’s hand, which was resting on the side of the table and had just been touched by Jiu Zhideng as he approached step after step: “Shixiong, Chongguang has been waiting for you in your palace for more than two hours yet you were actually with him all this time, don’t you care about me anymore?”
Xu Xingzhi wanted to explain: “I. . .”
However, Meng Chongguang didn’t even give him the chance to.
He lunged forward with one stride, shoved one knee between Xu Xingzhi’s legs, pinched the other’s earlobe and in a condescending posture, he kissed Xu Xingzhi’s lips exuding the faint aroma of wine.
This kiss was so violent that it didn’t seem like it was initiated by Meng Chongguang. The oppression brought by the ravaging and punishment-like kiss was even a bit terrifying. In the violent thrusting and rolling movements of the tip of Meng Chongguang’s tongue, Xu Xingzhi’s legs softened in an instant.
“Don’t fuss!” Before Jiu Zhideng came back to his senses, Xu Xingzhi already pushed Meng Chongguang away, wiped the corners of his lips with the back of his hand and complained between light pants, “. . . Xiao-Deng is still present ne!”
The image of the two kissing passionately just now made Jiu Zhideng’s hands and feet numb, yet Xu Xingzhi only used these seven words to easily puncture a gaping hole in Jiu Zhideng’s chest.
HIs eyeballs and the rims of his eyes were gradually stained by a thin layer of crimson.
The author has something to say:
The following song is performed by Guang-mei: “Of Course I Chose to Forgive Him.”
. . .
Up next, Jiu-mei will bring a classic song full of nostalgia: “He Must Love You Very Much”
. . .
Author’s Chapter Summary:
Reminiscing about times past, alcoholism, three walk together
The translator has something to say: I really apologize for the radio silence, there was a lot of RL stuff and I needed to take a little break
MCG didn’t hold back at all to declare his sovereignty, though JZD was much more hurt by XXZ reaction of acceptance than MCG’s flaunting
Update 1/2 for this week and I’ll try to push out two more chapters next week
Thank You for the new chapter -ω(´•ω•｀)♡ Don’t worry about updates! ^^