Lezheng Jiu pointed at his nose and scolded him for ages.
Yan Jianlan lowered his brows submissively, letting him scold. With each rebuke, he cursed Sheng Jiao internally, wishing he could drag him over to share the scolding.
Fortunately, before Lezheng Jiu finished scolding, the “Zhuo” character spirit bead on Yan Jianlan’s wrist faintly flashed with dark blue thunder patterns, even growing hot.
Still puzzled about this, he saw Sheng Jiao finally emerge from the back mountain. He’d probably been watching from a corner for a while, saying indifferently without changing expression: “Someone’s arrived. Use the technique I taught you last night.”
That was the key to open the mountain gate.
Lezheng Jiu finally stopped, frowning: “Rang Chen and the others arrived?”
Sheng Jiao was economical with words: “Mm.”
Yan Jianlan finally escaped scolding. He secretly glared at Sheng Jiao, the culprit, then quickly formed a hand seal. Spiritual power transformed into flowing light, drilling into the “Zhuo” character spirit bead. He vaguely sensed the bead’s connection to vast Yan Family Mountain.
It seemed the barrier opened a door.
Rang Chen pushed Heng Yudu up from Yan Family Mountain’s entrance. Looking up at over a thousand mountain steps, they fell silent.
Feng Yu was still chattering, looking left and right, clicking his tongue in wonder: “This truly is a beautiful place with clear waters and bright mountains. The spiritual power is dense… Mother! Such a large mountain actually has a spirit-gathering array? How many spirit stones must that cost?”
The three waited patiently at the steps for someone to greet them, but after a moment, not a single person appeared.
Feng Yu’s lips twitched: “This is their hospitality?”
Too impolite.
Rang Chen sighed silently, taking out a small airship spirit tool to push Heng Yudu onto, flying slowly up along the mountain steps.
Heng Yudu looked at the lush mountain scenery outside the window, smiling: “It truly is a fine place.”
The three leisurely ascended Yan Family Mountain. After disembarking the airship, seeing the exquisite buildings not far away, Feng Yu clicked his tongue: “Think they’ll surprise us? Set off fireworks or something to welcome honored guests?”
Rang Chen looked at him with an amused smile, thinking what a beautiful dream you’re having.
Even walking to the entrance, no one came out to greet them. After Rang Chen pushed Heng Yudu inside, they saw in the vast courtyard that Yan Jianlan and Lezheng Jiu were crouching in the damp medicinal garden, seemingly planting herbs.
Sheng Jiao stood beside a small sapling, using several spirit beads to arrange a small spirit-gathering array, planning to make the osmanthus tree grow faster.
The three: “…”
Feng Yu’s lips twitched. He forced a dry cough, signaling “Hey, we’ve arrived, you can greet us now.”
Sheng Jiao completely ignored them, still fiddling with his osmanthus tree.
Yan Jianlan did respond though—he raised his head to briefly glance at the three, just nodded, and said casually: “You’re here, sit anywhere—Don’t these spiritual herbs have conflicting water and fire properties? Can they really be planted together? Don’t lie to me.”
Lezheng Jiu snapped irritably: “Believe it or not! If you don’t believe it, plant them yourself! Asking for help yet being so picky—do you want another beating?”
Yan Jianlan quickly shut up.
Feng Yu: “……..”
This was too perfunctory!
Feng Yu ran over with quick steps, rushing between Yan Jianlan and Lezheng Jiu, nearly making both fall face-first in the dirt: “This young master has condescended to come—how can you not warmly welcome me?! What kind of hospitality is this?”
“My family’s.” Yan Jianlan pushed him away with disdain. “We’ve known each other so many years—why bother with those empty gestures? Isn’t that troublesome? Only you care about such things. Look at Yu Du and Rang Chen.”
Feng Yu turned back puzzled to see the two already leisurely sitting in courtyard chairs, even skillfully finding Yan Jianlan’s tea set and starting to brew tea.
Feng Yu: “…”
Indeed no greeting needed.
Feng Yu stopped being formal and quickly blended in, helping plant flowers while chatting casually: “Only three days until the tenth—why is there no bonding atmosphere here? Big red lanterns, hang them up!”
Yan Jianlan glanced at him: “Isn’t the bonding ceremony just gathering a few close friends to reminisce? Why make such a scene? Besides, big red lanterns—how tacky is that? Can’t believe you thought of it.”
Beside him, Lezheng Jiu, who was instructing on planting spiritual herbs, blinked and swallowed what he was about to say;
Heng Yudu, who was taking out prepared red lanterns from his storage ring, fell silent upon hearing this and quietly used his sleeve to cover the storage ring, calmly drinking tea as if nothing happened;
Rang Chen also touched his storage ring on his finger, pursing his lips while drinking tea;
In the distance, Sheng Jiao likewise hid his storage ring.
One careless remark from Yan Jianlan hurt four people.
For a moment, aside from him and the carefree Feng Yu, no one else spoke.
Feng Yu continued chattering: “So it’s really just a gathering? Who’s presiding over the bonding ceremony? Little Poison, you?”
“Your father’s presiding.” Lezheng Jiu said irritably. “The Heavenly Dao tried to kill them both last time—should we now respectfully make offerings to It? Just form a dao companion contract and drink the union wine.”
Yan Jianlan, extremely lazy and afraid of trouble, nodded: “Right, exactly.”
Feng Yu nodded, then seemed to remember something, smiling mischievously: “Little Swindler, do you know Ying Qiao’er has been looking everywhere for you recently?”
Yan Jianlan nearly choked on his own saliva: “Huh?”
Sheng Jiao, who’d been silent all along, suddenly turned his head, looking over coldly.
“After coming out of ‘Dream Yellow Millet’ illusion last time, Ying Qiao’er thought you’d died under heavenly punishment and was sad and depressed for a long time.” Feng Yu didn’t see Sheng Jiao’s cold gaze, still talking eloquently. “But that little spider is indeed clever. He probably figured out from Zhuxing Zhai people’s reactions that nothing happened to you. Plus with the Xi family matter causing such an uproar recently, he probably guessed something. Now he’s searching for you everywhere.”
Yan Jianlan’s sharp eyes caught Sheng Jiao’s gaze—inexplicably feeling guilty.
Before, even though Sheng Jiao knew Ying Zhuo had other intentions toward Yan Jianlan, there was no sign of jealousy. Now that they were about to bond, Sect Master Sheng’s vinegar jar had overturned.
“I… I already told Qiao’er.” Yan Jianlan didn’t dare look at Sheng Jiao, using Feng Yu to explain this matter. “Said it clearly—there’s absolutely no possibility of anything between us. Why is he still looking for me?”
Feng Yu: “Who knows? That stubborn, obsessive bastard—nothing he does would surprise me.”
Yan Jianlan’s frown deepened. He wanted to ask Feng Yu for the spirit channel to chat with Ying Zhuo again.
But with Sheng Jiao present, he didn’t dare. He could only dryly declare his loyalty again, stating that he in the Southern Border edge and Ying Qiao’er by the Northern seas—even Yun and Yu being together was more possible than them.
Rang Chen and Heng Yudu lowered their heads beside them, using tea drinking to suppress their laughter.
After embarrassingly explaining a lot, Yan Jianlan finally reacted.
Something’s wrong!
Ying Zhuo’s one-sided affection for him—he hadn’t responded at all and had firmly rejected him. Why should he be so nervous?
Being liked wasn’t his fault. Who told Ying Zhuo to have such a strange temperament, always liking married men? He’d clearly said before he had a lover and they’d tumbled in bed together, yet he still wanted to be a homewrecker.
Too strange.
Yan Jianlan instantly regained confidence, raising his eyebrows proudly at Sheng Jiao.
Sheng Jiao glanced at him, not finding fault with him in front of so many people.
Yan Family Mountain had many buildings. After everyone finished dinner, Yan Jianlan fulfilled his duty as host by respectfully escorting all four to their lodgings.
Feng Yu called out to him: “Hey, Sect Master Sheng knows about Ying Qiao’er—he won’t be angry, right?”
“Angry about what?” Yan Jianlan waved his hand grandly with great spirit. “What’s there to be angry about? Can I stop others from liking me? This is charisma—can’t help it, I don’t want it either.”
Feng Yu snorted with laughter, listening to him boast.
After boasting, Yan Jianlan leisurely returned to his lodgings.
Sheng Jiao wasn’t on the bed but sat in the outer room methodically drinking tea. When Yan Jianlan returned, he didn’t even raise an eyebrow.
Yan Jianlan, who’d been so bold just now, wilted and sidled over, sitting beside Sheng Jiao, asking cautiously: “Why isn’t Sect Master Sheng washing up and going to bed? Sitting here catching cold wind—how bad for you.”
Sheng Jiao looked at him indifferently.
“I was wrong.”
Yan Jianlan flexibly admitted his mistake. Though he didn’t actually think he was wrong, adhering to the principle of “things being what they are, apologize first,” he decided to bow his head this once.
Sheng Jiao seemed to smile. He reached out to place his hand on Yan Jianlan’s wrist, seemingly checking the spiritual power within his body.
Yan Jianlan grinned: “You’re not angry anymore?”
“Wasn’t angry.” Seeing Yan Jianlan’s meridians weren’t injured by his Great Ascension spiritual power, Sheng Jiao withdrew his hand, saying out of nowhere: “Very obedient.”
When desperately explaining for fear of Sheng Jiao misunderstanding, he was obedient to the bone.
Very few people praised Yan Jianlan for being obedient.
He blinked in surprise, thinking Sect Master Sheng was quite strange too.
The next day, just as dawn broke, Yan Jianlan was awakened by the beads on his wrist heating up.
Someone else had arrived at Yan Family Mountain.
Once familiar, twice an expert—Yan Jianlan opened the barrier gate and let Liu Changxing and Fu Man in.
But just after closing the barrier, the beads transmitted another strange sensation, as if someone else was approaching.
Yan Jianlan frowned, fumbling to form the hand seal Sheng Jiao taught him, using divine sense to go to the barrier entrance, planning to see who the uninvited guest was.
With just a glance, he froze.
It was actually Ying Zhuo.
Yan Jianlan scrambled up. Seeing Sheng Jiao still meditating beside him, he silently got off the bed, wrapped himself in a black robe, and tiptoed out.
The moment he closed the door, Sheng Jiao lightly opened his eyes.
Yan Jianlan walked down the mountain steps with a guilty conscience, even brushing past Liu Changxing and Fu Man.
Liu Changxing was still scolding: “Yan Jianlan! What happened last time? Why did you suddenly extinguish the lamp wick?!”
Yan Jianlan didn’t turn back, perfunctorily saying: “Ran out of lamp oil.”
After a pause, Liu Changxing wasn’t angry anymore and nodded in understanding.
Fu Man looked at Liu Changxing with difficulty describing his feelings, thinking sword practice had made him stupid.
Yan Jianlan swept all the way down to the foot of Yan Family Mountain. After opening the barrier and walking out, he saw Ying Zhuo standing under a towering tree, face pale as he hung his head, lost in thought.
Hearing footsteps, Ying Zhuo looked up. When his gaze landed on Yan Jianlan, he paused slightly. After a while, he smiled bitterly: “I knew Shixiong would be fine.”
Yan Jianlan walked over with a complex expression: “How did you find this place?”
Ying Zhuo obediently answered: “Everyone from Zhuxing Zhai except Sheng Jiao came toward this mountain. Without thinking, I knew Shixiong must be here, perhaps… about to bond with Sheng Jiao.”
Yan Jianlan thought his guess was quite accurate.
“I won’t pester Shixiong.” Ying Zhuo was skilled at playing pitiful, looking at Yan Jianlan with reddened eyes. “As long as Shixiong has a place for me in his heart…”
“Stop.” Yan Jianlan said dryly. “Qiao’er, I told you before—we have no possibility. Moreover, on the tenth of the tenth month, the day after tomorrow, I’ll bond with Sheng Jiao. It’s not the casual act I mentioned before—this is forming a dao companion contract, you understand?”
Ying Zhuo hurriedly said: “I know, I don’t care!”
Yan Jianlan: “???”
I care!
What nerve in this kid’s brain snapped? How could he use such a pitiful expression and tone to openly say he coveted someone else’s dao companion?
What kind of strange fetish was this?!
Seeing Yan Jianlan’s complex expression, Ying Zhuo probably knew this statement was somewhat inhuman, but he couldn’t help it. His eyes reddened, nearly shedding tears.
But he’d always known he could never have someone like Yan Jianlan—everything was vanity. Yet each time he still couldn’t help harboring foolish delusions.
“Then…” Ying Zhuo forcibly held back tears, choking out: “Then I’m Shixiong’s only shidi. This identity is unique, right?”
Even if he couldn’t be a dao companion, being the most valued shidi was acceptable.
…No—not valued was also acceptable. Just holding the title would do.
Ying Zhuo was almost humble to the extreme.
Yan Jianlan showed difficulty on his face. Just about to answer, he heard a voice from the side.
“Shixiong?”
Yan Jianlan turned to look.
Yan Yuhu, holding Wujinqi, had just descended from an airship. He gently walked forward to hand the meowing Wujinqi to Yan Jianlan, asking indifferently: “Shixiong, who is this?”
Ying Zhuo’s eyes, which had been harmlessly on the verge of tears, instantly turned cold and fierce, staring coldly at Yan Yuhu.
“And who are you?”
Yan Jianlan: “……..”
What terrifying confrontation was this?
**
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152