The annual Zhuxing Zhai small gathering.
Yan Jianlan had completed his apprenticeship under Madam Wan at Medicine Sect and finally opened Yanwen Medical Hall in Wuyin City, never home all day.
Receiving Heng Yudu’s transmission, Yan Jianlan had no time to return to Yan Family Mountain. He directly took a painted pleasure boat down the Long River from Wuyin City straight to Central State’s dock, only hastily telling Sheng Jiao they’d meet at Zhuxing Zhai.
He hadn’t returned to Yan Family Mountain in half a month. Estimating Sheng Jiao was probably also busy at Xiezhi Sect, he simply skipped even their daily transmissions.
Disembarking from the boat, Feng Yu met him at the dock. Seeing him in a black crane cloak, he said meaningfully: “Poor Doctor Yan, don’t you even have your own clothes?”
Constantly wearing Sheng Jiao’s clothes everywhere—wasn’t he tired of being so affected?
Yan Jianlan glanced at him: “Isn’t it because you urged me anxiously? The clothes I grabbed randomly—you’re going to be sarcastic about that too? What urgent matter made you rush me here non-stop?”
“Yu Du didn’t tell you?” Feng Yu put his arm around his shoulders as they left the dock. “Those little brats from Lixiang Zhai graduated. Tomorrow there’ll be a grand competition—come watch the excitement.”
Yan Jianlan said in surprise: “So fast?”
He felt like Qin Banban had only enrolled a few years ago. How had she suddenly graduated?
“Yeah, yeah.” Feng Yu got excited talking about this. “That little girl of yours, Qin Banban—tsk tsk, incredible! After the ‘Three Watches Snow’ xiangwen disappeared and merged into her spiritual veins to become ice spiritual roots, this ice beauty constantly gets into trouble, comparable to you in your youth. Yu Du is worried to death. Now he can finally send that little plague god away.”
Yan Jianlan said meaningfully: “You mean I’m the big plague god?”
Feng Yu said in surprise: “You actually understood?”
Yan Jianlan chased him and beat him all the way to Tianyan Academy.
Tianyan Academy was indeed lively. The children who’d entered Lixiang Zhai back then had all grown into young teens—a few looked even taller than Yan Jianlan.
Yan Jianlan’s face turned green. He clicked his tongue lowly.
In just four years, Qin Banban had blossomed into a graceful young woman. White robes with snow patterns made her seem like an immortal fallen to the mortal realm, stunningly beautiful.
She stood smiling under the silk tree, her jade face and flower countenance so graceful that people unconsciously focused their gazes on her. Other cultivators at Tianyan Academy to watch the competition didn’t know her, all speculating which fairy this was—so gentle and lovely.
Yan Jianlan saw her and called: “Banban.”
In an instant, the “gentle and lovely” snow-lotus-like fairy suddenly revealed her true form, showing a brilliant smile. White robes fluttering, she flew over directly on snowflakes, pouncing onto Yan Jianlan without any image, hugging his neck and squealing: “Brother Lan! You really came! Banban is so happy!”
Everyone: “…”
An illusion—that fairy was just a beautiful illusion.
Qin Banban’s personality was bold and open. Once she opened her mouth, she completely shattered the immortal-like image, becoming lively and bright like a little sun.
Completely unconcerned with others’ gazes, she hugged Yan Jianlan for a while before letting go, saying cheerfully: “Did Brother Lan come specially to watch my competition?”
Yan Jianlan laughed heartily: “Unfortunately, I only learned you were competing after arriving.”
Qin Banban clicked her tongue seriously: “Sure enough, men who’ve bonded change in nature. You won’t even lie to deceive me anymore.”
Yan Jianlan patted her head once, laughing and scolding: “Young but cunning, you even dare tease me?”
After chatting with Qin Banban for a bit, Yan Jianlan patted her head and let her continue her business.
Watching the young girl run off like a cheerful bird, Yan Jianlan withdrew his gaze and followed Feng Yu back to Zhuxing Zhai.
As they were about to enter Zhuxing Zhai’s barrier gate, Yan Jianlan casually asked: “Where’s Sheng Jiao? Has he already arrived?”
“No.” Feng Yu said. “He’s been at Yan Family Mountain this whole time. Coming from there takes half a day. Fu Man’s painted boat is really fast on the Long River—from Northern Border to Central State takes only a day.”
Yan Jianlan’s steps paused: “He’s been at Yan Family Mountain the whole time?”
Feng Yu looked surprised: “You didn’t know? Anyway, when I went to Xiezhi Sect to find him a few days ago, I didn’t see him. Shang Yuan said he’s been fishing at Yan Family Mountain.”
Yan Jianlan: “…”
Finished.
Sheng Jiao had never been talkative. Unless it was something major, he generally wouldn’t use the rhinoceros horn lamp to chat intimately with him.
If he’d known Sheng Jiao was idly fishing at Yan Family Mountain, he definitely would have returned early instead of indulging recklessly with Yan Yuhu at Evil Qi Road.
“Bu Shu.” Yan Jianlan pretended to be composed, saying seriously: “Can you tell Yu Du this gathering needs to be postponed a few days? I suddenly remembered I have urgent matters unfinished.”
Feng Yu said suspiciously: “Urgent matters?”
“Extremely urgent.”
“No way.” Accompanied by wheelchair sounds, Heng Yudu’s voice drifted from behind: “You’ve already come. Don’t think about going back.”
Yan Jianlan closed his eyes in pain, feeling this time probably wouldn’t end well.
“Why didn’t he go to Xiezhi Sect?” Yan Jianlan pushed Heng Yudu’s wheelchair, pondering deeply. “Doesn’t Juan Xunfang look for him? Hasn’t Xiezhi Sect had many major matters recently? Many evildoers have fled to Evil Qi Road. I specifically coordinated with the Punishment Amnesty Court to capture them—that counts as a great merit, right?”
Heng Yudu said with a smile: “Wuzhuo didn’t tell you? He’s no longer Xiezhi Sect’s master.”
Yan Jianlan’s steps halted. He nearly flipped Heng Yudu’s wheelchair, saying sharply: “When did this happen? How did I not know?!”
Though he wanted Sheng Jiao to stop running around for Xiezhi Sect affairs, he never thought he’d actually leave Xiezhi Sect.
Heng Yudu pressed the armrest to steady himself, saying helplessly: “How long has it been since you returned to Yan Family Mountain?”
“Ten days?” Yan Jianlan stammered. “…Half a month?”
“That matches up then.” Heng Yudu said. “Wuzhuo left Xiezhi Sect at the beginning of this month.”
Yan Jianlan was dumbfounded: “What about his salary?”
Most of Sheng Jiao’s savings over the years had been spent by Yan Jianlan buying mountains. Without the identity of Xiezhi Sect’s master, would Sheng Jiao have to support him by fishing in the future?
“Damn it.” Yan Jianlan was no longer guilty, coldly pounding the wheelchair armrest. “Sheng Jiao has no salary—what will he use to support me? Don’t tell me I have to work hard to support him instead? That’s not what was said when we bonded.”
Feng Yu said sarcastically from the side: “How can you spend his spirit stones so shamelessly? I remember Evil Qi Road has earned you quite a lot of spirit stones these past years. Do you really need to covet Sheng Jiao’s meager salary?”
“I just love spending his money.” Yan Jianlan glared at him. “You don’t know how cool and handsome his gesture was when he gave me the storage ring to buy whatever I wanted.”
Feng Yu: “…”
Heng Yudu: “…”
Getting kicked hard out of nowhere while walking.
Quite a few people had already arrived at Zhuxing Zhai. After Yan Jianlan settled Heng Yudu in his seat, he skillfully ran to a corner to pull out Fu Man, putting his arm around his shoulders to continue discussing the painted boat matter.
Fu Man was always delighted to be found by Yan Jianlan. No matter how unreasonable Yan Jianlan’s requests, he nodded like a pecking chicken in agreement, painstakingly making modifications.
After finishing, Yan Jianlan took out a storage ring and stuffed it to Fu Man.
“Each painted boat earns money every year—thirty percent of the spirit stones are yours. Take it, don’t be polite.”
Fu Man swept his divine sense into the storage ring with confusion. Startled by the mountain of spirit stones inside, he quickly said: “I… I only built one painted boat. I don’t need this much.”
“Don’t be polite.” Yan Jianlan forcibly gave it to him.
Having known each other so many years, Fu Man didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted it.
Feng Yu sidled over: “Hey, do you still need people? Take me in too? My father keeps saying I’m not doing proper work, only spending money. I also want to earn some spirit stones to make him look at me differently.”
Yan Jianlan patted Feng Yu’s head: “Good boy, go play ghost ball.”
Feng Yu: “…”
Friendship over!
After nightfall, Sheng Jiao finally arrived at Zhuxing Zhai.
The others had already drunk one round. Seeing him, they casually greeted him and told him to find a seat himself.
Yan Jianlan had good alcohol tolerance. He was sitting cross-legged there bouncing his leg when he suddenly saw Sheng Jiao and got such a fright he immediately pretended to be drunk, sprawling on the table and playing dead.
Sheng Jiao’s dark red cloak still carried the night’s chill. He casually removed it and glanced at Liu Changxing sitting beside Yan Jianlan.
Liu Changxing, drunkenly feeling a chill, shivered violently and slowly crawled to the side.
Sheng Jiao sat cross-legged beside Yan Jianlan. When Heng Yudu was about to pour him wine, he raised his hand to stop him, saying he wanted tea.
Heng Yudu obligingly switched to tea.
Yan Jianlan lay there listening to the tea-pouring sounds and Sheng Jiao’s calm breathing, anxiously shaking his leg constantly, thinking: “Say something! Even calling my name would work.”
But Sheng Jiao had no reaction.
Yan Jianlan waited anxiously and could only pretend to be drunk, sprawling onto the table in front of Sheng Jiao. With hazy eyes, he snatched the teacup from Sheng Jiao’s hand and drained it in one gulp, then spat twice, muttering quietly: “It’s not wine.”
Sheng Jiao looked at him indifferently.
Everyone else quietly watched Yan Jianlan make a fool of himself. Rarely seeing him so cowardly, they were all incredibly curious. Feng Yu even distributed pine nuts to everyone. They all cracked them open, watching the show.
Being watched like a monkey, Yan Jianlan was too lazy to keep pretending. He sat up properly, feigning composure: “You arrived. Pretty fast.”
Sheng Jiao said indifferently: “Not as fast as you.”
Yan Jianlan choked. Seeing he couldn’t bluff his way through, he quickly gestured to Fu Man, signaling him to come save the situation.
Fu Man saw the situation and hurriedly came forward, patting the table to draw Sheng Jiao’s attention. He coughed dryly and said in a wooden tone: “Jianlan has been with me this whole half month working on the painted boats. He didn’t go out playing around.”
Yan Jianlan: “…”
Don’t say that last part!
Isn’t that protesting too much?
Sheng Jiao seemed to sneer coldly, his icy gaze looking at Yan Jianlan, his eyes clearly saying “Now you’re even conspiring with others to lie together?”
“I… I didn’t really play around much. I was busy calculating accounts for several days.” Yan Jianlan quickly showed an affectionate expression. Ignoring everyone’s gossipy gazes, he skillfully launched into sweet words: “I heard you’re no longer Xiezhi Sect’s master—that’s good, that’s good! That sect master position is exhausting, constantly running around everywhere. Good riddance! Here, these are the spirit stones I earned this year. You keep them for me—spend freely!”
He was skilled at being ingratiating. Sheng Jiao spun the heavy storage ring around his five fingers, eyes lowered in silence, no one knowing what he was thinking.
Just then, Feng Yu suddenly said in feigned shock: “Huh? Didn’t you complain that Sheng Jiao couldn’t support you without his Xiezhi Sect master salary?”
Yan Jianlan: “?”
Everyone cracked pine nuts even faster.
So thrilling!
Yan Jianlan gritted his teeth while maintaining a smile: “Nothing of the sort. What nonsense are you spouting? Hahaha Bu Shu, such a joker.”
Feng Yu innocently took out the rhinoceros horn lamp and pinched open a flame.
Yan Jianlan’s voice came through:
“Sheng Jiao has no salary—what will he use to support me? Don’t tell me I have to work hard to support him instead? That’s not what was said when we bonded.”
Yan Jianlan: “…”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
**
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152