Yan Ling was scared.
Among all answers, he’d never imagined Sheng Jiao would say the word “you.”
Sheng Jiao also knew Yan Ling, who didn’t understand love, couldn’t accept a man’s admiration for a while. In the middle of the night, he left without saying goodbye—only leaving a voice transmission in the rhinoceros horn lamp.
Yan Ling’s heart in chaos, blankly dazed, sat on the bed looking at Sheng Jiao’s transmission. Toppling headfirst onto the pillow, silently screaming as he vigorously kicked the quilt.
Sheng Jiao… how could he yearn for him?
Both being men—wasn’t this against ethics?
Yan Ling’s mind a chaotic mess, emotions all mixed up. But uniquely lacking what Xi Jue believed…
Disgust and repulsion toward cut-sleeves.
Or rather—precisely because it was Sheng Jiao, he wouldn’t feel revulsion.
Yan Ling had a mind to talk with Sheng Jiao. Opening the rhinoceros horn lamp but completely not knowing how to speak. He could only stare wide-eyed at that flickering candlelight, nearly blinding his eyes.
The「Zhuo」character Tianyan Pearl had completely lost spiritual power, becoming an ordinary spirit bead.
Yan Ling rubbed the bead on his wrist, distracted and absent-minded.
He originally wanted to calm down a few days then go to Central State to find Sheng Jiao. But at month’s end, Heng Yudu had free time, coming from Central State City to Yan Family Mountain. The muddled Yan Ling for several days finally rallied his spirits to prepare treating Heng Yudu’s legs.
Heng Yudu didn’t hold too much hope—just simply didn’t want Yan Ling’s efforts to go to waste.
Yan Ling was young. But studying medical arts, he was extremely diligent. During four years at Tianyan Academy, he practically soaked in medical texts daily, researching a pile of prescriptions to treat Heng Yudu’s legs.
Madam Zhao originally worried he’d make Heng Yudu’s condition more serious. She specially came over to watch.
But after watching several days, she looked at Yan Ling in surprise. Her face full of “Is this still my foolish son who could be abducted and sold just going out?”
Heng Yudu’s legs had been injured for many years. Fortunately, daily nourishing with spiritual power prevented his leg muscles from atrophying.
After Yan Ling gave Heng Yudu medicinal baths for over a month, sensing warmth vaguely transmitting from those perpetually cold knees, only then did he begin acupuncture.
Heng Yudu let Yan Ling torment him. Seeing him all proper and methodical, he smiled: “Ling’er in the medical cultivation path truly has talent.”
Yan Ling had several golden needles in his mouth. Trembling paws inserting needles into Heng Yudu’s legs, gasping: “Don’t talk to me—I’m scared!”
Heng Yudu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “No need to be scared. Just insert randomly. Anyway, I… hiss.”
Before finishing speaking, Heng Yudu suddenly felt a bone-piercing pain transmit from legs numb for years. For a moment, he was actually stunned.
“Have feeling?” Yan Ling immediately became happy, randomly wiping the sweat on his face. Eyes shining: “Looks like Godmother’s medical texts really are useful!”
Heng Yudu looked at Yan Ling in shock, then looked at his slightly trembling legs: “…Madam Wan’s medical texts?”
“Mm mm, from the Medicine Sect’s library pavilion. Many ancient texts—I started researching when I was at Tianyan Academy.” Yan Ling continued inserting needles, cheerfully saying: “If you can have feeling, it means the legs can still be saved.”
Heng Yudu looked dazed at Yan Ling’s small face full of smiles. For a moment, he actually couldn’t speak.
Who could have imagined—the Yan Ling pampered by everyone in all of Zhuxing House, knowing only eating, drinking, and playing daily, could one day be this capable?
Like his whole body was radiating a faint glow.
Heng Yudu’s legs were too difficult to treat. Counting everything, it would take about three months of treatment—couldn’t stop for a single day.
Yan Ling had no mind to think about Sheng Jiao’s “flower blooming sounds.” Finally having leisure, he picked up the rhinoceros horn lamp to ponder for ages, yet still didn’t know what to say.
Finally, the plan to talk with Sheng Jiao face-to-face was repeatedly postponed. He couldn’t even attend Sheng Jiao’s capping ceremony.
By the time he finally finished inserting needles on the last day—frost withered, summer green—it was already midsummer July.
Xi Jue, without ‘Wheresoever I Roam’ to come to Yan Family Mountain anytime, could only constantly use the rhinoceros horn lamp to bother Yan Ling.
“…Then I don’t care.” Xi Jue’s voice was annoyingly loud. “For the Qiqiao Festival, you must come. This young master’s capping ceremony is so important. If you really have something and can’t come, I’ll simply hold it at Yan Family Mountain.”
Yan Ling, while removing needles from Heng Yudu, said with a headache: “Go go, who said I’m not coming?”
Only then was Xi Jue smug, grinning: “I have to hurry and tell Sheng Wuzhuo about this, hahaha!”
Yan Ling’s hand trembled. He nearly shoved the just-removed needle back in. Looking at the rhinoceros horn lamp confused: “What?”
“He’s definitely jealous and envious to death.” Xi Jue was still smugly proud. “No, this capping ceremony—I have to make it even grander. Anger Sheng Wuzhuo to death.”
After saying this, Xi Jue directly left.
Yan Ling said blankly: “Sheng Wuzhuo?”
“Sheng Jiao didn’t tell you?” Heng Yudu’s legs had hope of healing. His mood was very good, eyes curved in a smile. “His courtesy name is ‘Wuzhuo.'”
Yan Ling silently removed all the needles. But his ear tips were red.
Heng Yudu quietly poked Yan Ling’s bun: “What, did you and Sheng Jiao have a fight?”
Yan Ling shook his head: “Nope.”
“Then how come I haven’t seen you two chat?” Heng Yudu said puzzled. “Before, you constantly called Sheng Jiao, Sheng Jiao—had to say it seven or eight times a day. These past months have been good though—haven’t heard half a word.”
Yan Ling froze: “Huh? I used to always mention Sheng Jiao?”
“Yeah, otherwise why would Xi Jue be so unable to stand Sheng Jiao?”
Yan Ling’s brows lightly furrowed, falling into thought.
Heng Yudu didn’t bring it up again. Extending his hand to stroke his legs that already vaguely had feeling, hopefully asking: “When can I walk?”
“Not now!” Seeing Heng Yudu about to try supporting himself to stand, Yan Ling pressed him down in one motion, fiercely saying: “Don’t let success fail at the last moment. Wait until your legs can lift, then start trying to stand.”
Other medical cultivators also had bad tempers—at the drop of a hat, they’d fiercely scold people—like Lezheng Jiu. But Yan Ling like this, like a fierce beast cub baring teeth, had not half a trace of intimidation. Heng Yudu even wanted to raise his hand to pinch his face.
Too cute.
Xi Jue’s capping ceremony was coming soon. Yan Ling kept Heng Yudu at Yan Family Mountain for several more days, prescribing a pile of medicine formulas for him to take back and eat. Only on the eve of Qiqiao did he go to Central State together with Heng Yudu.
When the two arrived, it was already afternoon.
Yan Ling first sent Heng Yudu, who’d traveled day and night, back home. Then strolled to the Xi residence.
Xi Jue’s capping ceremony was held in the morning. When he arrived, everyone else had dispersed. Xi Jue in warm yellow capping ceremony robes, arms crossed, coldly watched Yan Ling. His face fully writing “Hurry and coax me, otherwise this isn’t over.”
Yan Ling was too lazy to indulge his bad habits. Directly taking out a sword from his storage ring and casually tossing it over: “Here, capping ceremony gift.”
Xi Jue said sarcastically: “You still know I had a capping ceremony? Those who don’t know would think you specially came to Central State for the Qiqiao Festival.”
Yan Ling, these days busy treating Heng Yudu, had lost a whole circle of weight. Irritably saying: “You care what I came to do. Hurry and accept it. Don’t cause trouble.”
Xi Jue huffed. Only then did he draw the sword to look carefully. Clicking his tongue: “Really is a good sword. Where did you find it?”
Yan Ling said quietly: “Of course I specially bought sword stone and asked someone to forge it. You don’t know how expensive—spent my three years of New Year’s money.”
“Your three years of New Year’s money isn’t that much either?” Xi Jue waved the sword. Clearly blooming with joy but his face still showing disdain: “But still not as good as what my father gave me. That sword is pretty good as a life sword.”
Yan Ling quickly stepped forward to snatch it back: “Then give it back to me!”
Xi Jue laughed heartily. His left hand directly grasped that spirit sword, forcefully sliding—fresh blood bursting forth.
Yan Ling was startled.
Xi Jue was quite crazy. Using his handful of blood, he made the sword recognize him as master, making this sword completely connected to his life. After finishing, he shook the blood off his hand, smiling at Yan Ling: “Thanks.”
Yan Ling frowned, stopping the bleeding for him. Hearing this, he said awkwardly: “Hearing a ‘thanks’ from your mouth is really difficult.”
Xi Jue put away his life sword, hooking his shoulder with a grin: “Ling’er, seriously—do you want to go play at Jiuxiao City or not? In another month, you’ll be eighteen. Seeing the world won’t hurt.”
Yan Ling: “Thanks, no need.”
Saying this, he was about to walk out. Xi Jue hurried to follow: “Where are you going?”
“To find Sheng Jiao.”
Xi Jue’s face instantly drooped. Smiling without mirth: “Find him for what?”
Yan Ling didn’t even go to Sheng Jiao’s capping ceremony. Xi Jue thought the two had finally fallen out and would no longer contact each other. He didn’t expect on this perfectly good day, Yan Ling would still go find that jinx Sheng Jiao.
Yan Ling didn’t want to say. Seeing Xi Jue pressing with endless questions, he pretended not to hear. Instead asking: “What’s your courtesy name? I still don’t know.”
Xi Jue said: “You promise me not to go find Sheng Jiao—then I’ll tell you.”
“Alright then.” Yan Ling said indifferently. “Anyway, from now on I’ll still call you Xi Jue. No need to know what the courtesy name is.”
Xi Jue: “…”
Xi Jue was so angry smoke came from all seven orifices. Finally, still unwilling and reluctant, he told him.
“Juanfeng.”
*Cold places don’t retain spring; devoted wind doesn’t know severance.*
***
This year’s Qiqiao was unprecedentedly lively. Sheng Jiao rarely escaped from the piled-up miscellaneous matters at Xiezhi Sect. Walking through the long street, he inexplicably had a feeling like a lifetime had passed.
Since returning from Yan Family Mountain last time, Sheng Jiao had constantly immersed himself in Xiezhi Sect, busy to the point his feet didn’t touch the ground—not wanting to have spare time for wild thoughts.
…But the rhinoceros horn lamp always remained lit.
Yan Ling hadn’t come to find him even once. Not even a single voice transmission.
This made Sheng Jiao even clearer—when he forcibly pierced through that layer of window paper, there was absolutely no possibility between them.
Yan Ling only wanted a stable life following proper steps. He wouldn’t violate ethical principles to be cut-sleeves with a man—Yan Hanque and Madam Zhao also wouldn’t agree.
This was good.
Not giving him any response—just letting these feelings silently disappear, not making things difficult for each other. This was what Sheng Jiao could think of…
The best ending.
Central State City was extremely lively. Sheng Jiao walked alone within it, yet only felt more desolate.
At this time, vaguely hearing a familiar voice by his ear, Sheng Jiao looked back puzzled. He saw Xi Jue pestering Yan Ling, mouth chattering endlessly about something.
“…Remember, I absolutely won’t allow you to get close to Sheng Jiao again.” Xi Jue said grimly. “You don’t even know what thoughts that fellow harbors toward you?”
“What thoughts?” Yan Ling stopped his steps. “Thoughts of liking me?”
Xi Jue froze, sharply gasping. Grabbing Yan Ling’s shoulder in one motion, furiously saying: “How did you know?! Did he tell you? Or did he do something to you?! That fucking beast! I’m going to cut him down!”
Unexpectedly, the just-bonded life sword already had a use.
Yan Ling grabbed the furious Xi Jue in one motion, unhappily saying: “He didn’t do anything to me. Sheng Jiao is very good. Don’t interfere.”
“I’m interfering?” Xi Jue said coldly. “You know he harbors those kinds of thoughts toward you—you don’t feel disgusted or repulsed?”
Yan Ling said: “Don’t feel it at all.”
Xi Jue: “???”
Xi Jue’s lips trembled non-stop, looking at Yan Ling in disbelief.
Yan Ling didn’t repulse Sheng Jiao’s feelings—could it be… he even took pleasure in it?!
Xi Jue would rather Yan Ling be a bastard toying with others’ feelings than see this blank-paper “snow lotus” actively running to hook up with Sheng Jiao.
Might as well kill him with one sword!
Xi Jue, trembling hand pointing at Yan Ling, suddenly furiously pushed through the crowd and ran.
Yan Ling hurried: “Ge!”
Xi Jue’s voice loudly came from the crowd: “I will absolutely never agree to you being with a man! Even in death, don’t think I’ll consent!”
Yan Ling: “…”
Everyone around looked toward Yan Ling.
Yan Ling was so embarrassed his face turned red. Hurrying to bury his head and walk quickly forward.
Xi Jue had completely thrown away his face!
Yan Ling hadn’t yet walked out of that burning gaze’s encirclement. His head suddenly bumped into someone. Startling him into a jump, he hurried to apologize: “Sorry, I didn’t see.”
Just as the words finished, belatedly a familiar scent faintly transmitted.
Yan Ling’s heart jumped. Blankly looking up.
Precisely meeting Sheng Jiao’s gentle-as-water gaze.
Yan Ling froze: “Sheng—Sheng Jiao?”
Sheng Jiao’s hand hanging at his side clenched into a fist in his sleeve. He worked hard to maintain nonchalance, smiling: “What a coincidence.”
“Right, very coincidental.”
Yan Ling coughed dryly. His ear roots quietly reddened. He felt the gazes behind him still falling on himself. Hurrying to grab Sheng Jiao’s hand and flee in panic.
The two finally escaped from the crowd. Running under an osmanthus tree, only then did Yan Ling feel at ease.
Sheng Jiao’s gaze constantly watched him. Seeing his face full of guilt, he smiled: “What have you been busy with recently?”
He took the lead in breaking the calm, wanting to show he hadn’t heard what Yan Ling and Xi Jue said.
But Yan Ling was naive—didn’t want to avoid the problem. Mentally preparing himself, he raised his head to look at Sheng Jiao, saying dryly: “I… I didn’t intentionally not find you. Just was—was scared. Wanted to seriously think about it.”
Sheng Jiao’s breathing paused. If not afraid he couldn’t hear, he’d even want to speak silently to avoid scaring away the easily startled little rabbit.
“So have you thought it through?”
Yan Ling lightly nodded.
Sheng Jiao patiently waited for his answer.
“I don’t know if what I feel for you is yearning.” Yan Ling said quietly. “I really like being with you—doing anything is fine. Things other close friends do that I can’t tolerate, yours I can accept. Just thinking of you… I become very joyful.”
He didn’t know if this counted as yearning, or just a habit formed from being with Sheng Jiao too long.
The reason Yan Ling thought for so long was fear of mixing these two feelings.
Sheng Jiao gently said: “I’m not in a hurry. You can slowly think.”
Yan Ling watched Sheng Jiao’s eyes. Suddenly saying: “…Then today I suddenly understood.”
Sheng Jiao froze.
“Love grows over time.” Yan Ling, as if wanting to give himself courage, closed his eyes and shouted loudly: “Even if the Heavenly King himself came, this is still yearning!”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
Sheng Jiao couldn’t hold back—suddenly laughing.
Yan Ling’s face was completely red, stammering unable to speak.
Sheng Jiao stepped forward. Opening his hands that had nearly pinched out blood marks, he gently gathered Yan Ling into his embrace.
Osmanthus fragrance assailed the nose, mixed with reassuring coolness.
Though the osmanthus tree overhead hadn’t bloomed, Yan Ling felt as if falling into a pile of osmanthus flowers—intoxicating.
Hardship and life-and-death separation had never existed. The youth’s handful of sincere loving affection—clean and pure.
Only wishing never to part.
##
T/N: the end
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wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1