After Madam Wan left, Yan Jianlan closed his eyes and lay back on the bed, still holding the bland spiritual pill in his mouth without swallowing, seeming ready to sleep again.
Sheng Jiao had come in at some point. He pulled back the bed curtains, sat down, and gently pulled Yan Jianlan into his arms.
Despite the movement, Yan Jianlan was too lazy to even open his eyes, only giving a vague “Hmm?”
Sheng Jiao said: “Tired?”
Yan Jianlan didn’t even have the energy to hide it, whispering: “Mm, very tired.”
Back when he plotted with Yu Tuishan against the Xi family, Wengu Bai, and the Heavenly Dao, he never once complained of fatigue. Now, having done nothing but sleep for days, he was too weary to get up.
It was as if his vitality had vanished along with the complete dissipation of Tianyan.
“Tianyan is gone. Yu Du wants to change the Tianyan Academy into a regular academy,” Sheng Jiao tried to pick important topics to tell him. “Tomorrow, the Zhuxing Zhai is gathering too. Want to go?”
Yan Jianlan thought, *You didn’t just organize this now, did you?* But the thought passed through his mind, and he was too lazy to voice it, only giving a “Mm.”
Sheng Jiao asked again: “What else do you want to do?”
“Want?” Yan Jianlan was dazed, seemingly confused by the word.
For the first twelve years, what he wanted to do was nothing more than avenge his parents and destroy Tianyan. The only variable was bonding with Sheng Jiao.
Yan Jianlan tentatively said: “Bonding ceremony?”
“Mm.” Sheng Jiao said. “What else?”
Yan Jianlan frowned and racked his brains for a long time before shaking his head in confusion: “I don’t know.”
He didn’t even know how to live from now on, let alone what he wanted.
“What should I do?” Yan Jianlan looked up at Sheng Jiao, bewildered and helpless. “Sheng Jiao, you… you think for me.”
Sheng Jiao’s heart sank slightly.
It seemed Yan Jianlan really had a problem with his state of mind, just as Madam Wan had said.
“Yan Ling.” Sheng Jiao reached out to stroke the back of Yan Jianlan’s head, pressing him into his embrace. The broad embrace felt like a harbor sheltering from wind and rain, bringing endless security.
He whispered: “Tenth day of the tenth month, an auspicious day. We will hold the bonding ceremony.”
At the words “bonding ceremony,” Yan Jianlan’s half-closed eyes widened slightly, as if he had finally found a goal to strive for. He looked up confusedly at Sheng Jiao’s profile.
“Bonding ceremony?”
“Yes.”
Yan Jianlan managed to rally his spirits: “Okay, then what do I need to do?”
Sheng Jiao instinctively wanted to say, “You don’t need to do anything, just wait,” but before he could speak, Yan Jianlan grabbed his forearm urgently, looking at him with empty eyes, murmuring: “I can do anything, I know how to do everything…”
In that instant, Sheng Jiao’s heart felt clenched by an invisible hand, aching and sore.
Remembering Madam Wan saying “You need to find him something to do, don’t let him spend all day in empty delusions,” Sheng Jiao gently held the side of Yan Jianlan’s face and whispered: “Okay, then you will handle the bonding ceremony entirely.”
Yan Jianlan’s empty heart and fog-filled future were suddenly filled by the task-like “bonding ceremony,” so full he was a bit overwhelmed. He blinked in surprise for a while before asking in a small voice: “Huh? You won’t do anything?”
“Mm.” Sheng Jiao said. “You do it all.”
Yan Jianlan couldn’t help but let out a “puchi” laugh. His dejected and listless brows finally showed some life. He reached out to hug Sheng Jiao’s neck, leaned forward to bite his lip, and chuckled muffledly: “Sect Master Sheng really knows how to enjoy life. Clearly I’m the one at a disadvantage, yet I have to personally deliver myself to you.” Sheng Jiao choked, realizing something was amiss.
Yan Jianlan was just teasing Sheng Jiao as usual, but unexpectedly, at these words, Sect Master Sheng lowered his eyes slightly, and the earlobes hidden under his black hair actually turned a faint red.
Yan Jianlan found this incredibly novel.
He felt that Sheng Jiao was somehow different from before.
“Sect Master Sheng,” Yan Jianlan reached out a fingertip to poke Sheng Jiao’s cold earlobe, pursing his lips to hold back a laugh, “this is incredible. You block of ice can actually get shy? I need to check if the sun has risen from the west.”
Sheng Jiao glanced at him coldly, silently picking up a thick crane cloak from the side and wrapping it around Yan Jianlan.
Yan Jianlan finally had the energy to fuss. He kicked his legs struggling a couple of times and laughed, “Is Sect Master Sheng flying into a rage out of humiliation? Are you trying to murder me?”
Sheng Jiao wrapped him in the crane cloak until only his head was showing, scooped him up horizontally with strong arms, and walked out without batting an eyelid.
Yan Jianlan reached out to hold onto Sheng Jiao’s shoulders, squinting with a smile: “Where are we going?”
The sun had already set outside, and the cool late autumn wind was blowing. Sheng Jiao flew with him directly to the roof of Qingcheng Residence, held him tight, and sat down slowly.
Night fell silently, stars filled the sky, and a crescent moon rose slowly from the east, like a scroll gradually unfolding.
Yan Jianlan blinked.
“Look,” Sheng Jiao said concisely, “East.”
Yan Jianlan followed his finger to the moon in the east, stunned for a long while before realizing Sheng Jiao was responding to his comment about “the sun rising from the west.” He immediately collapsed onto Sheng Jiao’s shoulder, laughing until his whole body shook.
Sheng Jiao steadied his waist to prevent him from toppling over with laughter. Seeing that he seemed to have laughed away all his gloom, he didn’t mind the mockery, quietly watching him laugh until he coughed.
“East… cough, I know it’s east.”
Yan Jianlan clutched Sheng Jiao’s clothes, wiping tears of laughter on his lapel, finally feeling a sense of reality.
Even so, the next day Yan Jianlan still slept until the sun was high in the sky, his whole body limp as water, unable to get up no matter how much he was helped.
“Don’t want to move,” Yan Jianlan said listlessly without even opening his eyes. “Have they arrived at the Zhuxing Zhai? I’ll go when everyone’s there.”
“They’ve all arrived,” Sheng Jiao showed no impatience, gently helping Yan Jianlan up to lean on his shoulder, dressing him bit by bit in brand new robes. “Because of Tianyan’s destruction, everyone arrived in the Central State a few days ago.”
Yan Jianlan extended his arms and legs as directed, dawdling until he was dressed, then slumped back onto Sheng Jiao’s shoulder, refusing to move, mumbling: “Tired. Can we do this another time? Don’t want to go out.”
Sheng Jiao intended to spark Yan Jianlan’s interest in the world and didn’t want him cooped up in bed all the time. He said firmly: “No. Put on shoes. Let’s go.”
Yan Jianlan frowned and refused to move.
Sheng Jiao tugged at his loose braid and played his trump card: “Bonding ceremony.”
The wilted Yan Jianlan shuddered violently, opened his eyes eerily, and said unhappily: “Are you threatening me?”
“Reminding you,” Sheng Jiao sat him on the edge of the bed and said indifferently. “Fu Man will be there today too. Didn’t you say yesterday you wanted him to custom-make a new Spirit Mustard to put on Yan Family Mountain?”
Yan Jianlan tilted his head.
Sometimes when he fantasized about the future, he would get carried away, babbling a bunch of things only to forget them immediately. He didn’t expect Sheng Jiao to remember so clearly.
“Oh, right.”
Yan Jianlan finally regained his spirits, bent down to shove his feet into his shoes, bounced in place to rouse himself: “Go, go, go, let’s find Fu Man.”
The prospect of getting Fu Man to make a spiritual tool energized Yan Jianlan for the whole day, finally giving him the motivation to go out. He went to the Jiusi Garden of the Zhuxing Zhai with Sheng Jiao.
Tianyan had completely vanished from the Thirteen States. The xiangwen in everyone’s bodies at the Zhuxing Zhai had melted into their spiritual roots, and the abilities granted by Tianyan had dissipated along with it.
Yet no one at the Zhuxing Zhai mourned the so-called “gift of Heavenly Dao.” Exchange for Bright Moon, Glimpsing Heaven’s Secrets—such heaven-defying abilities vanishing lifted the burden of the “Spirit Level Xiangwen” label that had weighed on them like a giant rock for years, shattering completely along with Tianyan.
When Yan Jianlan and Sheng Jiao arrived, the Zhuxing Zhai crowd had grown impatient waiting and started drinking and chatting happily. The atmosphere was even livelier than a typical New Year.
On the way, Yan Jianlan had been faintly worried that his friends at the Zhuxing Zhai might resent Yu Tuishan for Tianyan’s disappearance. But seeing this atmosphere, his heart instantly settled back into his chest.
Seeing the two walk in around the screen, the six people simultaneously started to raise their hands.
Yan Jianlan moved extremely fast. Before they could slap their hands onto their heads, he pounced with teeth and claws bared, shouting angrily: “I’ll slaughter you all!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Sheng Jiao watched Yan Jianlan’s tense little face instantly break into a silly grin, giggling nonstop. His lips twitched slightly, seemingly revealing an imperceptible smile.
Heng Yudu caught a glimpse of him from the corner of his eye and looked over in mild surprise.
This block of ice… can actually smile?
After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, Yan Jianlan searched for a while before finally finding Fu Man. He shoved Feng Yu aside, sat in front of Fu Man, put his arm around his shoulders, and said excitedly: “Master Fu Buyin, can I commission you to custom-make a Spirit Mustard?”
Fu Buyin was flattered, pointing at himself: “Me? Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Yan Jianlan grinned. “I’ve already thought about how to arrange it; you just need to make it for me.”
Fu Man, who was rarely sought out proactively, was moved to tears. He grasped Yan Jianlan’s paws with both hands and said affectionately: “Yes, yes! I’ll do my absolute best to make a Spirit Mustard that satisfies you!”
Yan Jianlan was equally moved: “Brother.”
Fu Man said: “Brother.”
Yan Jianlan said deeply: “I want it tomorrow.”
Fu Man: “…………”
Fu Man’s face froze instantly, and he said dryly: “Ah, brother, I might be able to rush out a storage ring for you, but Spirit Mustards are usually placed in cave abodes. If you want a complex and exquisite arrangement, it will probably take upwards of a month.”
Yan Jianlan continued to hold his hand gently: “Brother, you are a prodigious talent who has dominated the top spot in our Zhuxing Zhai’s spiritual tool class for years. Can a mere Spirit Mustard stump you? —Five days.”
Fu Man choked.
Yan Jianlan bargained: “Ten days, no less, otherwise we won’t make it in time.”
Fu Man said cautiously: “How about a bit longer? Twenty days? How about that?”
Yan Jianlan quickly calculated in his mind. There was less than a month until the ceremony; if twenty days were spent on making the Spirit Mustard, the remaining time would be quite tight.
Feng Yu, who had been listening to their chatter with pricked ears while cracking pine nuts and spitting out the shells with a “pui,” curiously leaned his head over: “Hey, hey, what’s with making a Spirit Mustard? Don’t you live in Xiezhi Sect? You just said ‘won’t make it in time,’ make what in time?”
Yan Jianlan glanced at him: “None of your business.”
Feng Yu said resentfully: “When you faked your death back then, I shed tears in the mystic realm in front of the entire Zhuxing Zhai, mourning you so deeply I nearly followed you. Is this how you repay my sincere feelings?”
Yan Jianlan: “…”
Yan Jianlan didn’t hide it from them either. He poured a cup of tea, took a sip, and said casually: “Sheng Jiao and I are about to hold our bonding ceremony, so we need to make a new Spirit Mustard for our cave abode.”
As soon as these words came out, a deathly silence fell over Jiusi Garden.
Everyone stared dumbfounded at the nonchalant Yan Jianlan and Sheng Jiao, who was leisurely drinking tea.
Their expressions varied.
Lezheng Zhen’s face turned green, gritting his teeth so hard he looked ready to bite someone;
Heng Yudu and Rang Chen seemed to have known this would happen, looking calm.
Rang Chen raised his teacup and clinked it against the grim-faced Sheng Jiao’s cup with a crisp “clink.”
“Congratulations.”
Sheng Jiao remained silent and drained his teacup in one gulp.
Fu Man was also stunned, not expecting it was for a “marital home,” but his mind was a bit single-track. His first reaction wasn’t that his two classmates were bonding, but entirely focused on: “Oh, marital home, then it must be made exquisitely, and the feng shui must be good.”
Liu Changxing and Feng Yu seemed frozen in place, staring blankly at the two, looking left and right as if they couldn’t believe their ears.
How did they suddenly…
Just bond?
The two stared wide-eyed at each other, then suddenly gasped in unison.
A scream echoed through the entire Jiusi Garden.
“WHAAAAT—?!”
**
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152