Yan Jianlan remained persistent in wanting Sect Master Sheng to smile once, even risking Lezheng Jiu beating him up by trying to get intimate with Sheng Jiao late at night.
Sheng Jiao sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed and unmoved, his whole body overflowing with detached coldness as if seeing through the mortal world. Yan Jianlan knelt before him, hooking his neck and kissing the corner of his lips, looking more like a seductive ghost using all her might to tempt a monk.
The surname-Yan “seductive ghost” said: “Sheng Wuzhuo, pay attention to me?”
Sheng Jiao didn’t even open his eyes, saying indifferently: “Sleep, meditate.”
“I’m already fine, too lazy to meditate.” Yan Jianlan unhappily draped himself over Sheng Jiao’s shoulder, mischievously pulling Sheng Jiao’s loose long hair to wind around his fingers, muttering: “Getting you to smile once is truly harder than reaching the heavens. You shouldn’t have smiled at me in the first place—making me so preoccupied yet not giving me satisfaction. Who strings people along like this?”
Sheng Jiao had listened to his complaints for a long time. Finally unable to resist, he raised his hand to lightly stroke Yan Jianlan’s nape.
There was no xiangwen on the nape anymore, but it remained sensitive. Yan Jianlan’s scalp tingled, frowning: “What? Are you ready to smile?”
Sheng Jiao didn’t speak, grasping Yan Jianlan’s hand to place a string of beads on his wrist.
Yan Jianlan raised his hand to look left and right, asking puzzled: “You retrieved it?”
The Xi family was already ruins—those spiritual beads had gone who knows where.
“Only retrieved half.” Sheng Jiao said. “I added a few more beads.”
Yan Jianlan felt the weight on his wrist and was immediately appeased. He fondly touched the smooth beads, turning them round and round on his wrist, always feeling this bead string’s spiritual power seemed much denser than before.
After turning the beads around once, Yan Jianlan finally understood the reason.
He held up one bead in shock: “This is… a Tianyan bead?”
When Tianyan disappeared, even if Sheng Jiao’s 108 Tianyan beads weren’t destroyed by him, they would vanish. But the sole “Zhuo” character Tianyan bead, being Sheng Jiao’s source of spiritual power, didn’t disappear.
The Tianyan within transformed into an extremely dense spiritual power, connecting the entire Yan Family Mountain barrier.
Yan Jianlan’s fingertips caressed the bead, saying in surprise: “Really giving it to me?”
Sheng Jiao: “Don’t like it?”
He worried Yan Jianlan would reject it for once being a Tianyan bead, but Yan Jianlan said happily: “Like it, of course I like it. Anything you give me, I like.”
Sheng Jiao paused, lowering his head slightly without making a sound.
Yan Jianlan’s fingers were still tangled in a strand of Sheng Jiao’s hair. Just about to release the long hair to seriously examine the beads, he inadvertently lifted the black hair aside, revealing Sheng Jiao’s ear.
That earlobe, originally like white jade, was faintly turning red.
Yan Jianlan: “?”
Yan Jianlan stopped looking at the beads entirely, pouncing forward to fully lift Sheng Jiao’s draped black hair, saying in shock: “My goodness, why am I daydreaming before dawn? Sheng Wuzhuo! Sect Master Sheng, you’re embarrassed?!”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
Sheng Jiao was rarely made bashful by Yan Jianlan’s sweet words. Seeing Yan Jianlan making such a huge fuss as if discovering something earth-shattering, he frowned slightly and forcibly pressed him down, saying in a low voice: “Want to take a vow of silence?”
Yan Jianlan quickly shut his mouth, but this rare threat from Sheng Jiao made him seem even more embarrassed and angry.
This emotion appearing on Sheng Jiao was too precious.
Yan Jianlan was so delighted he kicked his legs, a pair of beautiful eyes curving into crescents, wishing he could pick up the rhinoceros horn lamp to inform the world. He quickly signed: 『Wait for me.』
Sheng Jiao frowned slightly.
He watched Yan Jianlan run out like an excited puppy, wearing only a single robe and barefoot, running with quick steps to the adjacent courtyard room, excitedly wailing in the middle of the night: “Brother! Brother, wake up quickly, stop sleeping—what are you sleeping for? Let me tell you, Sheng Jiao is embarrassed and angry hahaha, what a rare sight!”
Lezheng Jiu: “…”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
Lezheng Jiu roared: “Do you want to die?! In the middle of the night not sleeping, what embarrassment and anger? Are you both sick? Do you want me to give you acupuncture to treat your brains?! Get—out!”
Yan Jianlan took a scolding and ran back with a grin.
After running around outside, his body carried the scent of frost and osmanthus. He lifted the bed curtain and cheerfully pounced onto the bed, again lifting Sheng Jiao’s long hair to see if he was still embarrassed.
Fortunately, Sheng Jiao had a good temper and didn’t hold it against him, glancing at him indifferently.
“Hey.” After having his fun, Yan Jianlan lazily lay on Sheng Jiao’s lap. “Have your seven emotions and six desires really completely returned?”
Sheng Jiao wasn’t certain, but could clearly feel his perception of the outside world was completely different from the past twelve years.
“Perhaps?”
Yan Jianlan smiled, crossing his legs: “Then will you eventually become your original refined, gentle self who loved to smile?”
Sheng Jiao paused: “You still remember?”
“Of course I remember.” Yan Jianlan looked up at him like a nimble little fox, blinking. “After recovering my memories at Tianyan Academy, I recognized you. You even gave me an osmanthus cake.”
A gentle look flashed in Sheng Jiao’s eyes as he stroked Yan Jianlan’s forehead.
During those years, Yan Jianlan’s favorite foods were Madam Wan’s medicinal meals and osmanthus cakes. Even rock-hard osmanthus cakes he could eat without blinking. Other delicacies, however refined, were bland and tasteless to him.
But now it was different. Yan Jianlan rarely took interest in food, planning to eat all the delicacies across the Thirteen States given the chance.
“Sect Master Sheng.” Yan Jianlan suddenly showed a mischievous smile. “Do you know what the seven emotions are?”
Sheng Jiao didn’t understand the point but still answered indifferently: “Joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, desire.”
“And the six desires?”
“Carnal desire…”
Just as Sheng Jiao spoke the first one, Yan Jianlan laughed “ha,” grabbed his collar to forcibly pull him down, grinning broadly: “Since your seven emotions and six desires have recovered, shouldn’t carnal desire reach new heights?”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
Sheng Jiao looked at him coldly: “I’m already at Great Ascension. The spiritual power from dual cultivation is violent—you probably can’t withstand it.”
Yan Jianlan had originally just wanted to tease him before sleeping. Hearing Sheng Jiao openly and subtly “mock” his lower cultivation, how could he sit still?
He instantly changed expression, sitting up abruptly with a serious face, saying coldly: “Heh, Great Ascension spiritual power is violent? Really? I don’t believe it. Don’t look down on Void Return.”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
He didn’t mean it that way.
But Yan Jianlan petty-mindedly threw a tantrum, expressionlessly pulling at Sheng Jiao’s waist sash, muttering: “I want to see just how violent Great Ascension spiritual power is.”
Before Sheng Jiao went through tribulation, the two had dual cultivated several times, even directly bringing Yan Jianlan into Void Return realm.
Great Ascension spiritual power should be similar—couldn’t be that different.
Yan Jianlan bundled all his long hair into a bun on top of his head, planning to exchange spiritual power with Sect Master Sheng.
…Before long, Yan Jianlan’s hastily pinned-up hair scattered completely.
Facts proved that half-step Great Ascension before experiencing tribulation and true Great Ascension were two entirely different realms. Yan Jianlan felt like his whole body had been struck by lightning, almost melting into a puddle, without even strength to struggle.
“Sect Master Sheng…” Yan Jianlan’s forehead was covered in sweat, several strands of black hair stuck to his face. He struggled to kick Sheng Jiao’s arm with his toes, saying weakly: “Great Ascension, violent, can’t withstand… spare me.”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
Too late.
***
The next day.
Early in the morning, Lezheng Jiu got up cursing to make medicinal food, feeling Yan Jianlan’s hospitality really sent guests far away—where was there a host who didn’t get up while the guest bustled about in the kitchen?
Medicinal food was tedious to make. By the time it was roughly done, the sun was already high.
Sheng Jiao had already gotten up to practice swordsmanship and went to the back mountain planning to handle Madam Zhao’s medicinal garden.
Though it was late autumn in the Thirteen States, the spirit-gathering array made all of Yan Family Mountain spring-like year-round, so there was no fear Yan Jianlan would kill the spiritual herbs.
Lezheng Jiu reluctantly left a small bowl for Sheng Jiao—just two mouthfuls’ worth—placing the remaining large pot in the courtyard to cool, then got up to wipe his hands and wake Yan Jianlan.
At Tianyan Academy, though Yan Jianlan wouldn’t wake early, he’d at least get up by the Hour of the Dragon. Now it was good—spoiled by someone apparently, still sleeping soundly even with the sun high.
Lezheng Jiu lifted the bed curtain, saying irritably: “Sleep! Still sleeping?! Do you know what time it is? It’s already noon!”
Yan Jianlan curled up on the messy bed in a thin black inner robe, frowning as sunlight hit him. He blocked it with his hand, drowsily mumbling: “Brother, I’m sleepy. I’ll eat breakfast tonight.”
Lezheng Jiu wouldn’t indulge his bad temper, directly pulling him up and patting his face, frowning: “Rang Chen, Bu Shu, and Yu Du will arrive this afternoon. Chang Xing and… and Fu Man are in the Southern Border—probably won’t come until tomorrow. Tsk, why are you sleeping again? Don’t you know how embarrassing this is?”
Yan Jianlan struggled for a long time before listlessly opening his eyes, saying slowly: “Those three are arriving today?”
“Yes, get up quickly.” Lezheng Jiu tossed clothes onto his head. “Is your Yan Family Mountain’s hospitality having guests arrive while the host is sound asleep?”
Yan Jianlan wanted to lie back down, mumbling: “Just have Sheng Jiao receive them, won’t that work?”
Lezheng Jiu imagined Sheng Jiao expressionlessly greeting guests—his face turned green: “Have him go? That’s blatantly driving guests away! Besides, you two haven’t bonded yet. How can he receive guests in your place? Where’s the propriety in that?”
Yan Jianlan was so annoyed by Lezheng Jiu’s nagging he could die. He reluctantly put on clothes, stumbling as Lezheng Jiu dragged him to eat medicinal food.
While he ate, Lezheng Jiu sat across from him discussing bonding ceremony arrangements: “Usually bonding ceremonies make offerings to the Heavenly Dao, but given you two… let’s skip those empty formalities.”
Yan Jianlan, having not slept all night, nodded weakly—whatever he said.
“Some people from Medicine Sect will come. Mother will probably arrive on the ninth.” Lezheng Jiu continued chattering, then started on guests, more concerned than Yan Jianlan and Sheng Jiao who were actually bonding. “Don’t invite those troublesome Sheng family people. Let Sheng Jiao deal with them. Stay out of it to avoid getting dirty.”
Yan Jianlan continued nodding, drinking soup.
Lezheng Jiu rattled on about everything he’d considered regarding the bonding ceremony last night. Seeing Yan Jianlan finish, he tapped the table for him to wash dishes.
Yan Jianlan obediently went to wash them slowly.
Lezheng Jiu placed a wrist pillow on the table: “Come, let me check your pulse.”
Yan Jianlan wiped his hands, sat back down placing his hand on the pillow, propping his chin and yawning—only wanting to go back for another nap.
“Anyway, only close friends are coming—not many people.” Lezheng Jiu checked his pulse while chatting casually. “No big ceremony either, just going through the motions.”
Yan Jianlan felt Lezheng Jiu was increasingly like Heng Yudu—endlessly nagging. He lazily drawled: “Got it.”
But the more Lezheng Jiu checked, the more wrong it felt. His frown deepened, looking at him coldly: “Did you swallow all the spirit pills I gave you yesterday in one go?”
Yan Jianlan looked puzzled: “Huh?”
“I told you!” Lezheng Jiu raised his hand to smack Yan Jianlan’s head, furious. “Your meridians aren’t fully healed yet. Those spirit pills—one per day, gently nourishing for three months before complete recovery. How did you eat them all like candy?”
“I didn’t.”
Yan Jianlan felt utterly wronged. Even if disobedient, he’d follow medical advice and never eat spirit pills carelessly. He immediately wanted to get the pill bottle to show Lezheng Jiu and clear his name!
But before getting up, he heard Lezheng Jiu frown: “Impossible. If you didn’t eat that many pills, why does your body suddenly have so much spiritual power in your meridians?”
Yan Jianlan froze for a moment. Thinking of something, his face turned green.
Lezheng Jiu said coldly: “Speak!”
Yan Jianlan felt extremely aggrieved. Not only had he suffered at Sheng Jiao’s hands yesterday, now during the day he had to swallow bitter fruit in silence before Lezheng Jiu.
Face pale as vegetables, he spoke with difficulty through gritted teeth.
“I… did eat the spirit pills. Those candies were tasty, couldn’t help it. I—I’m sorry.”
**
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152