Ying Zhuo: “Shixiong?”
Yan Yuhu: “Shixiong.”
Yan Jianlan didn’t want to answer—only wanted to escape.
When Yan Ling first met Ying Zhuo, he could hear this person wasn’t kind. Though wanting to stay away, each time because Ying Zhuo called him “Shixiong” in a childish voice like Yan Yue’s, he couldn’t help but soften.
“Qiao’er.” Yan Jianlan had a terrible headache, saying awkwardly: “Are you busy these next few days? If not, why not stay and attend the bonding ceremony?”
Ying Zhuo: “…”
One short sentence dealt Ying Qiao’er a double blow.
Not only avoiding “only shidi,” but also asking him to stay and watch his beloved bond and marry another man.
Ying Zhuo’s tears nearly fell.
But even so, he still obediently shook his head with tears, handing Yan Jianlan a storage ring, voice hoarse: “No need. I—I just came to deliver a gift and leave.”
Yan Jianlan: “…”
Yan Jianlan had never encountered such a situation, saying dryly: “No—no need for a gift.”
Just as Ying Zhuo was about to say more, Yan Yuhu suddenly frowned: “Shixiong, my spiritual power seems insufficient. Can we go back first?”
Yan Jianlan hurriedly reached out to shield Yan Yuhu from the sun, unconsciously complaining: “I already told you to come back slowly, don’t rush. Why the hurry? Wait, we’ll go back right away.”
Ying Zhuo suffered another heavy blow, choking as he stuffed the storage ring into Yan Jianlan’s hand, turning without a word to leave on the wind.
Not knowing if it was too sad to bear watching, or if he was driven away by anger.
Yan Jianlan held the hot-potato storage ring, completely unsure how to handle it.
Yan Yuhu said: “Shixiong?”
“Ah.” Yan Jianlan had no choice but to put it away, picking up the water mirror to let Yan Yuhu’s soul enter, then walked step by step up Yan Family Mountain holding the cat.
Wujinqi had been cheerfully watching the drama unfold. Unable to hold back anymore, it meowed with delight: “Hahaha do you know how funny your expression just was? Never expected you’d have such a day?”
Yan Jianlan stroked the cat’s ears, saying carelessly: “Hey, say one more word, just one more and we’ll have you for dinner tonight.”
Wujinqi: “…”
Wujinqi immediately shut its meowing mouth.
When Yan Jianlan climbed Yan Family Mountain, he saw Sheng Jiao standing on the first step, looking at him indifferently.
Yan Jianlan didn’t need to think to know Sheng Jiao definitely knew what he’d gone to do, but with a clear conscience, he casually tossed Wujinqi aside, signaling it to go play by itself.
“Sect Master Sheng.” Yan Jianlan walked up the steps, hands behind his back, smiling: “Was I obedient today?”
Sheng Jiao seemed to want to smile: “Obedient.”
Yan Jianlan laughed heartily.
Yan Jianlan actually had very few individual close friends—Yan Yuhu, Wujinqi, and Medicine Sect people. The rest were the six from Zhuxing Zhai he shared with Sheng Jiao.
Sheng Jiao, that taciturn fellow, had even fewer friends. Counting them all, only Juan Xunfang and Shang Yuan would come join the festivities.
All together, there weren’t even twenty people.
On the ninth of the tenth month, Madam Wan came to Yan Family Mountain. Seeing the familiar yet strange place, though she smiled, her eyes slightly reddened.
“Madam must think this place has beautiful scenery too.” Yan Jianlan cheerfully sidled up to her. “No wonder you got along so well with my mother—both fairies from the ninth heaven, naturally with discerning eyes.”
Madam Wan’s tears hadn’t fallen before Yan Jianlan made her laugh. She touched Yan Jianlan’s head, sighed, and said: “For your bonding, I don’t have much to give, so…”
She spoke while taking out a storage ring.
Yan Jianlan had already received a handful of storage rings these past two days, nearly running out of fingers to wear them on. But the joy of opening gifts was still very captivating.
He wasn’t polite with Madam Wan at all, cheerfully accepting what was clearly a storage ring with great capacity while wondering what novel things Madam Wan would give him.
But after the storage ring recognized its master and Yan Jianlan swept his divine sense inside, his smile froze.
Madam Wan said gently: “These are all the ancient texts from Medicine Sect. I had people copy a set to give you, plus thousands of medicinal formulas and annotations. Read them slowly and try to memorize them completely within a year, integrate them thoroughly. I’ll come test you then.”
Yan Jianlan: “…”
Yan Jianlan’s face instantly fell: “Madam! This gift is too precious—I’m not qualified to accept it. Why don’t you take it back?”
Madam Wan said nothing, only looked at him with a smile.
Yan Jianlan only struggled briefly before resignedly drooping his head like accepting fate, tearfully accepting the precious storage ring.
Only then did Madam Wan pat his head, saying: “So obedient.”
The very obedient Yan Jianlan took the medical books out and placed them in the study. Originally the bookshelves were empty, only holding a few urgent scrolls Sheng Jiao needed to handle. Now with medical books piled up, they were completely full, even a bit short of space.
Yan Jianlan looked at the pile of books, nearly crying.
He sighed and touched the books, seeming to remember something, then walked to the edge of Yan Family Mountain’s buildings.
There was a brand-new small courtyard planted full of fruit trees.
Yan Jianlan skillfully pushed the door open, saying casually: “I’m coming in.”
As if someone had always been inside.
But entering the inner room, he only found a small porcelain vial placed on a high table. There was no memorial tablet on the table, only a small incense burner and a large pile of aromatic, delicious-looking food.
“Brother.” Yan Jianlan lit incense and placed it in the burner. “I’m bonding.”
The straight column of incense smoke moved without wind, as if saying something.
If Yu Tuishan were still here, he’d probably be incoherently happy, spinning around while hugging the shorty in celebration.
Yan Jianlan patiently watched the incense burn out, ash silently falling, before saying with lingering interest as if having chatted thoroughly with a close friend: “Then I’m leaving.”
Yu Tuishan wouldn’t respond to him.
Yan Jianlan pushed the door open and left. The moment he closed it, through the door crack he glimpsed that small porcelain vial, vaguely seeing Yu Tuishan’s grinning appearance almost overlapping with the shadow behind the vial.
In the illusion, Yu Tuishan propped his chin with a grin, without any attachment.
“Go on.”
Yan Jianlan’s eyes stung slightly. His fingers tightened slightly, firmly closing the door completely.
Go on.
***
After nightfall, Juan Xunfang and Shang Yuan also hurried over.
Learning their sect master was truly going to bond, Juan Xunfang nearly shed tears, wiping moisture from the corners of his eyes without a word.
But Shang Yuan carefreely presented the bonding gift: “Congratulations, Sect Master. Congratulations, Yan Ling—finally achieving your union.”
Previously, when everyone thought Yan Jianlan’s words were lies, only this silly girl Shang Yuan believed every word. She probably still thought her sect master had once forced himself on Yan Ling.
Sheng Jiao accepted it indifferently: “Thank you.”
Shang Yuan, carefree, didn’t think anything of it.
But Juan Xunfang, perceptive, looked at Sheng Jiao in surprise.
How did it feel like Sect Master Sheng was becoming more and more human, no longer the cold, unfeeling stone from before?
Yan Family Mountain was lively for the first time. After nightfall when everyone dispersed, Feng Yu, Liu Changxing, and Fu Man forcibly dragged Yan Jianlan to a side courtyard to play. Heng Yudu, Rang Chen, and Lezheng Jiu sat in the hall drinking with Sheng Jiao.
Being pulled along, Yan Jianlan asked puzzled: “What for?”
“Drink.” Feng Yu said. “After tomorrow you’ll be someone with a dao companion. Shouldn’t we drink well tonight?”
Yan Jianlan said irritably: “Tomorrow’s auspicious hour is noon. Want me to sleep through it?”
Feng Yu: “I remember your alcohol tolerance isn’t this poor. Come on, just one pot.”
Liu Changxing always felt he was still dreaming—otherwise how could two people from Zhuxing Zhai actually bond together?
But thinking carefully, he felt relieved. After all, with his brain, even in dreams he couldn’t dream up something so absurd.
The four sat in the side courtyard noisily urging drinks and drinking.
But in the main courtyard hall, four people sat two by two facing each other, surrounded by complete silence.
No one spoke.
Rang Chen smiled while drinking. Sheng Jiao was a taciturn gourd. Lezheng Jiu was in an extremely foul mood and didn’t want to say half a word.
Heng Yudu probably felt awkward. He filled everyone’s wine and said with a smile: “Time flies, circumstances unpredictable. Back then, none of us could have imagined that one day Wuzhuo would actually bond with Jianlan.”
Rang Chen cooperatively smiled.
Lezheng Jiu sneered coldly.
Sheng Jiao didn’t even smile.
An awkward silence descended again.
Who knew who arranged for these four to drink together?
The side courtyard was cheerful and lively; the main courtyard deathly quiet.
Until everyone was drunk and dizzy did this gathering—some happy, some melancholy—finally disperse.
Sure enough, the next morning, everyone from Zhuxing Zhai woke up late.
Fortunately, Madam Wan was there. She had Juan Xunfang forcibly drag all eight people up one by one. For those who couldn’t get up, she gave a small porcelain bottle of medicine—just sniff it near the nose and immediately “rise from the dead,” lively and bouncing.
All eight were fumigated one by one, retching continuously.
…Finally making it in time for the noon auspicious hour.
Sheng Jiao and Yan Jianlan didn’t pursue how grand the bonding ceremony should be. Anyway, all were close friends—just going through the motions was fine. But because everyone brought some necessary items for the bonding ceremony, pieced together, it was decorated quite presentably.
Before noon arrived, Yan Jianlan and Sheng Jiao went together to the medicinal garden in the back mountain to offer incense to Yan Hanque and Madam Zhao.
Spring was bright and beautiful. Yan Jianlan’s emotions were completely different from when he came before. He pulled Sheng Jiao to kneel before the tombstone and kowtow, happiness evident on his face.
“Father, Mother, I’m bonding today.”
Sheng Jiao said nothing, only letting his gaze fall on the two names on the tombstone, a gentle look flashing in his eyes.
Yan Jianlan continued: “I know if you knew I was bonding with a man, you’d definitely string me up and beat me. But I just like him—can’t help it. You still have to dote on me and indulge me.”
He shook Sheng Jiao’s hand as if proudly showing off.
Sheng Jiao couldn’t help it—a smile appeared in his eyes and brows.
Yan Hanque and Madam Zhao might string him up and beat him half to death, but like when raising the black cat back then, though saying harsh words, they ultimately wouldn’t let Yan Ling be sad or upset.
They’d eventually agree.
So Yan Jianlan brought Sheng Jiao here without fear.
Yan Jianlan was straightforward and efficient, completely without whining or crying. After offering incense and paying respects, he swiftly got up and strode forward with Sheng Jiao.
Just as Yan Jianlan stepped forward, in a trance, he seemed to feel two hands gently pushing his shoulders.
Like a bird borrowing an invisible wind, finally soaring freely between heaven and earth.
After a moment of shock, Yan Jianlan suddenly smiled for no reason.
His steps were light, as if he had the strength to move forward. Together with Sheng Jiao, he left the medicinal garden, slowly heading toward the path paved with spiritual power arrays.
At the bonding ceremony, everyone connected to them was present. The osmanthus wine Yan Hanque and Madam Zhao buried years ago was also placed on the table.
The dao companion contract floated at the end, waiting for them to tie it, completely connecting their souls.
The two walked together across the intricate spiritual power array.
Crimson and black robes intertwined, brushing spiritual power to both sides, as if weaving past memories.
Lantern Festival—their first meeting, a gentle child offering an osmanthus cake;
Tianyan Academy—two whose life trajectories completely changed met, got to know each other, and mutually redeemed each other at Tianyan Academy.
Countless hardships and lost pasts woven into a tight net nearly suffocated young Yan Ling and caused Sheng Jiao, trapped in an invisible abyss, great pain.
But they’d eventually get through difficulties and dangers.
Six years apart, meeting again amid flashing blades and swords mixed with past tenderness, breaking through the final outcome, clouds dispersing and rain clearing.
Even with confusion in their hearts, they’d eventually hear flowers bloom.
Sheng Jiao and Yan Jianlan hurried through countless flowing years.
The dao companion contract transformed into red light, silently entering both their spiritual platforms, completely and thoroughly linking their souls.
Rainbow faded, rain cleared.
The two walked toward bright sunshine, no longer looking back at suffering.
**
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152