Chapter 21: CH 21

Translator: transcendentwings

Editor: teaff 

Upon hearing Xu Xingzhi’s voice, Jiu Zhideng’s lips quivered slightly.

He supported himself against the wall and stood up, not even daring to look at Xu Xingzhi: “. . . Shixiong.”

“Why didn’t you go in?” Xu Xingzhi asked.

“I shouldn’t go in.” Jiu Zhideng replied, “I’m the one who has wronged Shixiong.” 

Xu Xingzhi leaned against the corridor on his shoulder and raised a brow in curiosity: “How have you wronged me?”

Jiu Zhideng: “Shixiong’s injury. . .”

Xu Xingzhi waved his hand in dismissal and stated: “The things that I, Xu Xingzhi, have done have always been based on one principle and that is I was willing and happy to do so. Shixiong is pretty happy to be able to block that attack for you, otherwise how would I still be a qualified shixiong.”

Jiu Zhideng abruptly raised his head: “I didn’t want it to be this way. I’d rather. . .”

Halfway through his words, he choked, and could only bite his lip and furrow his brow as he turned his face away.

Xu Xingzhi had always been weak to Jiu Zhideng’s current appearance, he persuaded: “Xiao-Deng, don’t suppress things in your heart, if you have something to say, just say it if you want to.”

After forbearing it for a while, Jiu Zhideng answered in a muffled voice: “. . . Shixiong, I know in my heart that you don’t want to inform others regarding your injury, not because you’re afraid that Zhou-shixiong and the others would ridicule you.”

Xu Xingzhi scratched the side of his face and turned his gaze slightly iff to the side: “Xiao-Deng, stop talking.” 

Jiu Zhideng’s eyes were gloomy: “. . . It’s because of me. Because of my identity.”

Xu Xingzhi didn’t want him to continue: “. . . Xiao-Deng.”

Jiu Zhideng stubbornly forged ahead: “. . . If Shixiong was injured because he was protecting Meng Chongguang, then Shixiong definitely wouldn’t have covered it up or concealed it like this because Meng Chongguang is an ordinary person with a clean and innocent background, unlike me. If Master or Shishu found out that you were injured because of me, they would definitely be extremely enraged, so in that respect, Meng Chongguang is different from me. . .”

“Jiu Zhideng!” 

Xu Xingzhi sternly interrupted Jiu Zhideng’s words: “Did you hear this ridiculous nonsense from others or is that what you truly think in your own heart?”

Now that he has voiced everything, Jiu Zhideng no longer hid his thoughts. Harboring the notion to break open the floodgates, he snarled through gritted teeth: “Aren’t these things more than obvious? There is no need for others to wag their tongues. . .”

The words just left his lips when Xu Xingzhi stalked over in a few steps and raised his hand to give him a light rap on his head.

Although the sound was loud, Jiu Zhideng didn’t feel any pain at all and then he was pulled into a cold embrace the next instant. 

Xu Xingzhi held him in his arms and each and every word was enunciated clearly and loudly with a palpable gravity: “Jiu Zhideng, remember this, no matter what your background is, now you are my, Xu Xingzhi’s, shidi. You are not allowed to say such self-deprecating words again, do you hear me?”

After being stunned for a while, Jiu Zhideng encircled Xu Xingzhi’s waist even more tightly. The strength exerted from his tightening grip was so great that he almost shifted the positions of Xu Xingzhi’s internal organs from their original places.

“. . . Shixiong.” Jiu Zhideng called out hoarsely, “Shixiong.”

Xu Xingzhi finally laughed. He lowered his head and cupped Jiu Zhideng’s head, touching the light colored sash that tied up his hair and boasted: “Is it not good enough to be my, Xu Xingzhi’s shidi? Others can beg for such a good shixiong like me and can’t even get one.” 

Jiu Zhideng: “. . . En.”

Xu Xingzhi continued: “Always displaying an expressionless face all day long, wouldn’t it be nice to smile often just like Chongguang?”

Hearing the two characters “Chongguang”, Jiu Zhideng’s expression which was originally at ease, changed slightly.

He loosened the arms that he looped tightly around Xu Xingzhi, his voice brimming with displeasure: “Yes. I understand.” 

Xu Xingzhi smoothly swiped at his nose: “Yes what? It’s been so many years and you’re still so formal with me.”

After venting his emotions, Jiu Zhideng was still that Jiu Zhideng who carried things out primly and properly.

He picked up the pills that were placed on the floor one by one and stuffed them into Xu Xingzhi’s arms.

Xu Xingzhi accepted them without hesitation. He just so happened to need those medicines and didn’t want to brush off Jiu Zhideng’s kind intentions. 

When their fingers came into contact, the coldness at the tips of Xu Xingzhi’s fingers made Jiu Zhideng’s expression darken.

After passing the medicines over, Jiu Zhideng untied his outer robe and draped the clothing that still contained his warmth over Xu Xingzhi’s shoulders, meticulously tucking it in for Xu Xingzhi: “Shixiong, you were only just injured, the night is chilly and there is dew in the air, take care of your health.”

Xu Xingzhi’s hands were fully occupied so he couldn’t refuse. He simply accepted everything and nudged Jiu Zhideng’s waist with his foot: “Shoo, go, hurry up and return to get some rest, I still have something do do.”

Jiu Zhideng casually inquired: “It’s already so late, where does Shixiong still need to go?” 

Xu Xingzhi answered: “Chongguang wants to move in with me, I’m heading out to inform Shishu.”

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Jiu Zhideng had always acted in this cold and perfunctory manner that Xu Xingzhi became used to long ago so he didn’t think much of it: “Go ba, head back ba.”

Xu Xingzhi swiveled around and had only taken a few steps in the opposite direction when he suddenly heard Jiu Zhideng call out “Shixiong” behind him. 

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Xu Xingzhi raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly puzzled.

Jiu Zhideng on the other end finally realized the fact that he wasn’t adept at controlling the muscles of his face. He lowered his head for a moment and made up his mind, placing his index and middle fingers at the corners of his mouth, he pulled them diagonally upwards and molded a smiling face.

Xu Xingzhi burst out into laughter as he strode back. He had no more hands to reach out and hug him, so he merely bent down slightly and kissed the crown of his head. 

Jiu Zhideng abruptly stiffened, biting his lip lightly and his normally indifferent face and stiff lips were tinted with an abnormal blush, but fortunately, it couldn’t be seen clearly under the cover of darkness.

After the peck, Xu Xingzhi actually regretted it a little.

He used to do similar intimate actions with Meng Chongguang before quite often, but this was the first with Jiu Zhideng.

Seeing that Jiu Zhideng wasn’t disgusted, Xu Xingzhi was able to put his worries aside: “Xiao-Deng, if you don’t like to smile then so be it, don’t force yourself. Shixiong only wishes for you to only do what you want to do, be safe and happy forever.” 

Jiu Zhideng clenched his fists tightly, his whole body trembled with emotion, managing to suppress his tumultuous mood as he replied in a steady voice: “Yes, thank you Shixiong.”

Xu Xingzhi left the corridor and proceeded to place all of the medicine in the side hall before he set out for the disciples’ hall.

Jiu Zhideng remained stock still, sending him off with his gaze.

After Xu Xingzhi’s silhouette disappeared, the window on the side of the corridor was abruptly shoved open from the inside. 

Meng Chongguang was by the edge of the bed, his eyes coldly glaring at Jiu Zhideng, the space between his brows had long since lost the softness and gentleness he had when he was with Xu Xingzhi. He seemed like he hated that he couldn’t just wrap his gaze around Jiu Zhideng’s neck and strangle him to death on the spot.

Jiu Zhideng didn’t have a good expression either when he was met with that exquisite face. He stared straight back with a cold look.

Meng Chongguang pointed provocatively at the inner hall illuminated with candle light and then pointed at himself.

Jiu Zhideng turned towards Meng Chongguang and touched the top of his hair that was kissed by Xu Xingzhi just now with one corner of his lips lifted into a smirk. 

Meng Chongguang was instantly provoked into anger and slammed the window shut with a pa.

Yet after Meng Chongguang disappeared from view, Jiu Zhideng also put away his bombasity and took a good long look at the closed window as the dark fire of jealousy burned in the depths of his eyes for a long time and still didn’t dissipate.

He stood in the corridor for a little while longer before he turned and walked away, melding his thin and indifferent figure into the darkness.

When Xu Xingzhi came back with the quilt, Meng Chongguang still wasn’t asleep and was rolling around on the bed like a rampaging puppy. 

As soon as he saw Xu Xingzhi, he immediately sprung up and hugged Xu Xingzhi tightly with the quilt between them: “Why did you take so long? Chonguang missed Shixiong so much.”

Xu Xingzhi criticized him: “Who are you missing? In the past, when Shixiong wasn’t by your side, weren’t you just peachy at the disciples’ hall?”

Meng Chongguang declared boldly: “At that time, my dreams were full of Shixiong. Once I woke up, I longed for you so much that I would run over to the gates of Shixiong’s palace and secretly sleep for a night.”

Xu Xingzhi naturally didn’t believe a single word: “. . . Just continue spouting nonsense ba. Go up, get on the bed, it’s actually quite cold outside.” 

Meng Chongguang stopped Xu Xingzhi: “Shixiong brought the cold air back with him, do you need a bath?”

Xu Xingzhi mulled over it and thought that it was reasonable. He put the quilt down and just when he was about to undress, he saw that Meng Chongguang also started to untie his sash.

Xu Xingzhi: “. . . What are you doing?”

Meng Chongguang’s eyes were as limpid as a small animal as he bit his lips and muttered: “I haven’t bathed since I returned from Baima Peak.” 

Two men taking a bath wasn’t such a big deal after one considered it briefly. Xu Xingzhi didn’t think anymore of it as he took off his robes without any further thought and headed towards the hot springs.

Meng Chongguang rejoiced and followed behind Xu Xingzhi. He jumped into the hot springs and buried the lower half of his face into the pond that had cleared up, gululu blowing bubbles for quite a while before he swam over to Xu Xingzhi to hug him from behind.

Xu Xingzhi who was used to bathing alone was closing his eyes to rest when he was suddenly encased in a bundle of warmth, his shoulders stiffened for a moment before he recalled that there was another person in the pond. He turned around: “That you don’t have to line up to bathe with the other disciples feels pretty nice doesn’t it?”

Meng Chongguang nodded obediently, but his gaze lingered on the lips Xu Xingzhi used to kiss the crown of Jiu Zhideng’s hair earlier. 

The distance between the two was miniscule, and it was also the first time they faced each other naked. Xu Xingzhi was peered at until goosebumps broke out all over his flesh: “. . . What’s wrong?”

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Meng Chongguang: “Shixiong, you have something dirty on your mouth.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand and repeatedly wiped Xu Xingzhi’s lips, which became especially soft due to the exposure to the steam. Each rub used extreme force as if the most filthy things in the world were staining them.

Xu Xingzhi sucked in a breath of cold air and stretched out his hand to cover his mouth, then looking at his palm spread out before him, seeing the smears of blood streaking across it. 

. . . His lips were cut by his teeth.

Xu Xingzhi was angry and amused at the same time: “Why were you using so much force? Did you think Shixiong was a loofah?”

Meng Chongguang glanced at the faint bloodstain at the corner of Xu Xingzhi’s mouth that hadn’t been wiped away cleanly and carefully licked his lips as he forced himself to look away: “Shixiong, there is blood at the corner of your mouth.”

Xu Xingzhi felt that it was quite funny, and replied as he used water to wipe it away: “You might as well have helped Shixiong wipe the blood away altogether.” 

Meng Chongguang’s cheeks were boiling hot: “. . . I was afraid I’d frighten Shixiong.”

Xu Xingzhi was unable to make heads or tails of his words, but also didn’t take it to heart.

After bathing together, the two of them laid on the bed and slept next to one another.

Xu Xingzhi had told his shishu Guangfu–jun that he would keep Meng Chongguang by his side to serve him. 

The so-called waiting upon him, naturally referred to one sleeping on the bed while the other kept watch at night outside.

The other three sects also abided by these same rules.

However, Xu Xingzhi’s background made him detest these sorts of regulations entirely and was reluctant to ask Meng Chongguang to sleep on the ground, so he simply let him share a bed.

. . . To the left or right, his bed was wide enough on both sides. 

The pain on his body hadn’t faded completely, but seeing Meng Chongguang made Xu Xingzhi’s mood brighten considerably. Since he couldn’t sleep, he simply pulled Meng Chongguang into a night talk session.

Xu Xingzhi pinched Meng Chongguang’s nose and wiggled it: “When I brought you back initially, your spiritual roots were top-notch, even Master acknowledged it and stated that your future was limitless. After so many years, how come your advancement halted after you constructed your core, en?”

Meng Chongguang clambered out of his quilt, and climbed onto Xu Xingzhi to act spoiled: “Without any good progress, does Shixiong not want Chongguang anymore?”

Xu Xingzhi cushioned his head with one hand and lowered his head slightly to look at Meng Chongguang. His eyes were bright and round, gazing at him like a little puppy clinging onto his chest. 

Xu Xingzhi was instantly rendered indescribably soft-hearted: “Want, of course I want.”

Meng Chongguang curled up and leaned against Xu Xingzhi’s chest: “Chongguang is stupid, cultivating for such a long time over the years and still a good-for-nothing. If not for Shixiong’s assistance, letting me use the precious cultivation treasure that Master had bestowed upon you, then I’m afraid I wouldn’t even have been able to consolidate my core ne.”

Xu Xingzhi pinched Meng Chongguang’s soft face: “Isn’t this what Shixiong should do? If Shixiong doesn’t place you guys under my protection, then who should I protect?”

The phrase “you guys” echoed in circles until Meng Chongguang’s face darkened, but he quickly recovered: “Shixiong, if you had to choose between me and Jiu Zhideng-shixiong, with whom would you prefer to stay with?” 

Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help but chuckle: “What a ridiculous question.”

Meng Chongguang was unrelenting and grabbed the front of his robes then shook it: “Shixiong, speak quickly.”

With such a toasty little heater leaning against his arms. Xu Xingzhi’s body was relieved from the chill and sleepiness was gradually beginning to overtake him: “. . . You ba.”

Meng Chongguang’s eyes were bright as he asked: “Why?” 

“Xiao-Deng has been reliable since young and could take care of himself even if he was alone. You ma. . .” Xu Xingzhi reached out and patted Meng Chongguang’s head, “. . . Are one foolish boy.”

“I’m not a fool ne.” After Meng Chongguang voiced his protest, he brought his lips against Xu Xingzhi’s ear and whispered, “. . . Shixiong, I have a wish.”

The hot air blew into his ear and Xu Xingzhi became more and more muddled: “. . . En?”

“. . . I want to lock you up.” Meng Chongguang turned over daringly, with one arm on top of Xu Xingzhi’s head and the other slung across Xu Xingzhi’s chest, “. . . Only I would be able to see you, only I would be allowed to look at you. Sometimes when I imagine Shixiong laughing with others, talking with others, hugging others, I feel like I’m going to go crazy. . . . I want to forge a top-notch chain, and lock Shixiong up.” 

Xu Xingzhi exhausted a lot of his energy today and was already extremely tired. The voices that fell into his ears echoed in waves, he couldn’t discern the hidden meaning behind Meng Chongguang’s words at all, and settled for not knowing whether to laugh or cry: “. . . Aren’t you a bold brat, is your Shixiong a dog ah. But if one day, Chongguang’s skills improves immensly and can beat Shixiong, then Shixiong will acquiesce to being locked up by you.”

Meng Chongguang smiled until he revealed his white teeth: “En, Shixiong, then it’s a promise.”

After coaxing the mischievous child, Xu Xingzhi was about to fall asleep when he suddenly heard a shidi shout from outside: “Has Xu-shixiong retired for the night?”

Without waiting for Xu Xingzhi to recover from his sleepy daze, Meng Chongguang took matters into his own hands, got up, opened the door and answered: “Shixiong has retired!” 

Xu Xingzhi heard the word “Master” and his mind finally became more awake. He draped his clothes over his shoulders and approached the doorway, pressing Meng Chonguang’s head down: “I haven’t fallen asleep yet, what’s the matter?”

The young shidi replied: “It’s in regards to the Four-Sect Divine Artifact Appraisal Conference.” He lowered his voice, “Qingjing-jun is drunk again, and Guangfu-jun is kicking up a fuss with him ne, Shixiong, hurry up and try to dissuade him.”

Xu Xingzhi sighed deeply: “You wait outside for a bit, I’ll head over after I change my clothes.”

The so-called “try and dissuade”, was just having Guangfu-jun switch the object of his anger. 

After Xu Xingzhi retreated into his room, Meng Chongguang inquired in curiosity: “What Divine Artifact Symposium? I’ve entered the sect for six years and have never heard of it ne.”

Xu Xingzhi changed his clothes as he responded: “This conference is held once every seven years and it was last held the year before you came. At the symposium, the four sects will display each of the four artifacts that have been collected and conduct a gathering. To put it bluntly, it’s to make a show of martial power and make those spirits and demons think twice before making any drastic moves and bring chaos to the world.”

Meng Chongguang asked: “Which four artifacts are they?”

Xu Xingzhi replied: “The artifact that our Fengling Mountain is guarding is called ‘Shijie Book’, Ying Tianchuan’s is called ‘Lihen Mirror’, Qingliang Valley’s is ‘Taixu Bow’, and Danyang Peak’s is ‘Chengming Sword’. . . . Didn’t they tell you to memorize all of this when you were conducting your studies?” 

Meng Chongguang: “. . .”

Understanding dawned on Xu Xingzhi: “You didn’t complete your assignments diligently did you?”

Meng Chongguang groaned for a while with his hands hidden behind his back and immediately changed the subject: “I’ve never seen a demonstration of power from the divine artifacts before.”

Xu Xingzhi didn’t want to pursue this issue any further and fastened his robes: “. . . You’re speaking as if I’ve seen it before. There is a barrier created by the divine artifacts here. The monsters and demons won’t easily invade, so those divine artifacts don’t really have a reason to be used.” 

After he finished, he opened the door, and turned his head to Meng Chongguang to entreat: “Watch after the house, I’ll head out and be back soon.”

He took a step out of the palace’s door, but dropped into a boundless abyss.

Xu Xingzhi fell directly from the void onto the bed in the savage wasteland.

He shot up into a sitting position, his heartbeat pounding heavily like a drum, then he lowered his head and found that his hands and feet were bound by silver chains making him ring with a hualala sound with each movement. 

When he saw the chain, he somehow automatically thought of the phrase “Shixiong will acquiesce to being locked up by you” from his memories and felt panicked for no reason.

After that, he moved his gaze again and when he caught sight of Meng Chongguang sitting at the table, Xu Xingzhi didn’t dare look directly at him for some reason.

. . . Seeing the contrast with the past, the original owner clearly raised a purebred wolf cub.

Hearing the sound from the silver chain, Meng Chongguang knew that Xu Xingzhi woke up. 

He stood up and placed the water he had just poured next to Xu Xingzhi: “Shixiong, drink water.”

Probably because what he saw in the dream just now was somewhat ambiguous, Xu Xingzhi felt that his mouth was dry and hesitated for a moment before he took the water.

As soon as the rim of the cup touched his lips, he heard Meng Chongguang question, “Shixiong has been sleeping a lot lately, why?”

Xu Xingzhi held the cup of water and didn’t speak. 

Meng Chongguang stared into his eyes and followed with another query, “. . . Who is in Shixiong’s dreams?”

Xu Xingzhi swallowed a mouthful of water and replied: “You bei.”

Meng Chongguang was startled: “What did Shixiong say?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xu Xingzhi choked on the water. 

This was originally just a statement of the truth, but it honestly didn’t seem like something that should be articulated between men. The stranger thing was that Xu Xingzhi uttered those words exceedingly naturally as if this was the sort of thing that he should say to the person before him.

. . . Just like the “Wen-baimao” he had blurted out earlier before he had passed out.

After mulling it over, Xu Xingzhi could only attribute all this to the fact that the original owner’s memories were too strong.

Xu Xingzhi waved his hand and tried to smooth it over: “Nothing, it’s nothing.” 

He sincerely hoped that Meng Chongguang was deaf at that moment.

Meng Chongguang didn’t make any extra movements and remained silent for a period of time.

He stretched out his hand to take away the empty cup in Xu Xingzhi’s hands and declared: “Shixiong, let’s go seek the key fragments ba.”

The author has something to say: 

Entering V tomorrow, sending hearts~

Author’s Chapter Summary: Raging jealousy, bathing together, little wolf cubs

The translator has something to say: It’s cringy and cute at the same time how childish Meng Chongguang and Jiu Zhideng were (or maybe still are haha)

The editor has something to say: Xu Xingzhi be careful of what you say in front of the wolf cub!!

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