Sheng Jiao’s gaze bore into him intently.
The half-moon patterned jade pendant, the spirit fox…
And the faint traces left on Yan Jianlan’s calf from the Tianyan Pearl’s killing intent.
Everything was clear now.
“Ahem.” Yan Jianlan reacted extremely quickly, immediately putting on an accusatory air. “That jade pendant was my most treasured possession. I gave it to you so long ago and never once saw you wear it—you must have smashed it to pieces.”
He even had the audacity to shift the blame.
Sheng Jiao’s gaze turned icy as he watched him spout nonsense with an expressionless face.
Yan Jianlan instinctively spouted lies, but the moment his gaze landed on Sheng Jiao’s cold face, he immediately regretted it.
He’d promised not to lie to Sheng Jiao, yet he’d instinctively started again.
Yan Jianlan smacked his own mouth in frustration, then clutched Sheng Jiao’s knee while crouching there, looking up with an expression of utmost innocence, planning to sweet-talk his way out.
“Just look at this one—it’s so much better than that previous one. It’s been so long since all that happened. Sect Master Sheng, Heavenly Dao lord, I’m making the call on this—let’s not pursue it anymore, okay?”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
Sheng Jiao’s eyes remained dark. He reached out, using his calloused fingertips to gently brush Yan Jianlan’s lips—he seemed to enjoy this gesture, and sometimes when he used a bit more force, he could rub those pale lips into a vivid red.
Yan Jianlan didn’t dodge, obediently watching him, his eyes full of smiling mischief, attempting to muddle through.
Sheng Jiao watched him expressionlessly for a long moment, then suddenly withdrew his hand and said: “We’ll return to Central State tomorrow.”
Yan Jianlan hadn’t expected to actually succeed in muddling through. He blinked in surprise: “You’re not angry anymore?”
Sheng Jiao said nothing.
Yan Jianlan immediately felt pleased, thinking that confirming their dao companion relationship really made a difference—old accounts dug up weren’t being pursued. If it were before, Sheng Jiao would definitely have dealt with him.
Seeing Sheng Jiao’s fingers continuously caressing the jade pendant, Yan Jianlan smiled and leaned forward to take it: “Let me attach it to your waist sash for you.”
Sheng Jiao lowered his eyes to watch him, remaining silent, allowing his ten nimble fingers to tie a knot and secure the jade pendant to his waist sash.
“There.” Yan Jianlan slowly stood up, supporting himself on Sheng Jiao’s knee, thinking he’d successfully placated him. He lazily sat in the soft chair, resting his head on the table as he reached out to poke Sheng Jiao’s hand.
“What did you find out at Evil Qi Road?”
He was brazenly acting as a spy to steal information.
Sheng Jiao didn’t mind, keeping it brief: “Nothing. There were no ‘Abandoned Immortal Bones’ at Evil Qi Road.”
It seemed Yu Tuishan had handled things so cleanly that Xiezhi Sect couldn’t catch even a small tail to hold onto.
Yan Jianlan rested his cheek on his arm, his pale face marked with red creases from his clothing. He laughed quietly: “Even if you found evidence, you couldn’t do anything to him. Brother is ‘Kan Tianyan’—back when the Xi family was slaughtered, even Heavenly Dao couldn’t do anything to him, much less now with this ‘small matter’ of trafficking ‘Abandoned Immortal Bones.'”
But if Yu Tuishan ultimately decided to destroy the Tianyan earth veins, Heavenly Dao and Tianyan would surely not let him go.
When that happened, who knew if Sheng Jiao, this “Heavenly Dao lord,” would be made into the hated executioner again.
Sheng Jiao suddenly clenched his five fingers, gripping Yan Jianlan’s randomly poking hand tightly, his eyes growing colder.
Yan Jianlan tilted his head, seeing his displeased expression. He asked in confusion: “I’m not wrong. If you don’t believe me, go test him with the Tianyan Pearl. Even if he shoves an ‘Abandoned Immortal Bone’ in your face, the Tianyan Pearl won’t dare make a peep.”
Sheng Jiao’s five fingers tightened further, gripping Yan Jianlan’s slender fingers until they hurt slightly. Finally, he spoke coldly: “Brother?”
Yan Jianlan: “…”
Yan Jianlan looked at Sheng Jiao in surprise, as if meeting him for the first time: “Jealous again? But I call the others in Zhuxing Zhai ‘brother’ too, and I’ve never seen you react this strongly.”
But that was different.
The Yan Jianlan that the others in Zhuxing Zhai knew wasn’t any more than what Sheng Jiao knew—except for Rang Chen learning about Yan Ling’s past experiences earlier from Rang Duan, something Sheng Jiao had already “settled accounts” for through “punishment.”
But Yu Tuishan… Xi Jue was different.
The source of Yan Jianlan’s xiangwen came from Xi Jue’s “Kan Tianyan.” From age thirteen onward, he’d secretly conspired with Xi Jue to scheme against the Xi family, and after escaping from Xiezhi Sect, they’d spent six years together.
Yu Tuishan understood all of Yan Jianlan’s tragedies and pain. The two depended on each other for survival and mutual support, treating each other as the pillar supporting their will to live and seek revenge together.
Their relationship wasn’t romantic love, yet it surpassed close friendship, approaching kinship.
Yet Sheng Jiao had known nothing of Yan Ling’s suffering. Six years later, he’d even made things worse, nearly causing his death under his own Tianyan Pearl.
“Kan Tiandao” had tempered Sheng Jiao into a cold-blooded, emotionless person who only knew black and white, right and wrong. He was harsh and unfeeling, cold as frost, making people afraid to approach him. For years, he’d long grown accustomed to solitude and coldness.
But toward Yan Ling, he seemed to use all his strength to fish out the greed that had been struck away by heavenly punishment from the abyss, desperately wanting to obtain more.
Yan Jianlan didn’t know that beneath Sheng Jiao’s expressionless ice-block face lay such intense emotional turbulence. Thinking he was coaxing him, he actually added more fuel to the fire.
“He and I are perfectly innocent—just ordinary brotherly affection, the same as with Ayue.”
Sheng Jiao looked at him coldly.
Very good. He’d caught another one.
If he hadn’t mentioned it, he would have forgotten—there was still Yan Yuhu.
Yan Jianlan was bewildered by his stare.
But being carefree, seeing the ice-block Heavenly Dao lord actually jealous over him, his eyes curved with laughter as he continued merrily: “Ayue is the child my parents adopted. When I was little, I even changed his diapers.”
Sheng Jiao released his hand and said: “To Xiezhi Sect?”
Yan Jianlan didn’t understand why the topic shifted so abruptly, but nodded hesitantly: “Okay, I was planning to make a trip to Medicine Sect anyway.”
Though he ran a clinic, he only understood the basics of medical arts. If he wanted to properly operate the clinic, he’d need to study intensively under Lady Wan at Medicine Sect for a period.
Yan Jianlan had always been a quick learner since childhood. Since Lady Chao was also quite enthusiastic about medicine, he wouldn’t refuse to pore over those obscure, difficult medical texts.
Sheng Jiao hummed in acknowledgment and stood: “I’m going to Punitive Court.”
Yan Jianlan felt that this time, Sheng Jiao’s reaction was like thunder bringing only light rain—he’d glossed over the matter of transforming into a spirit fox to tease him back then with surprising ease. But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand Sheng Jiao’s thinking, so he could only give up.
Sheng Jiao was busy all day, and with Yu Tuishan’s “Abandoned Immortal Bone” matter being truly difficult to handle, Yan Jianlan looked at him apologetically and obediently nodded: “Oh, okay. Go ahead.”
Sheng Jiao pushed open the door to leave, then seemed to remember something. He turned back, giving him a cold glance: “Don’t run around.”
Yan Jianlan: “Okay.”
He answered so readily that Sheng Jiao didn’t believe he’d actually be this obedient.
But Wuyin City’s Punitive Court had urgent matters. Sheng Jiao shot him a warning glance, knowing full well this person would definitely go out wandering, yet still closed the door without a word and left.
In the past, Yan Jianlan would definitely have complied outwardly while defying inwardly—the moment Sheng Jiao’s front foot left, his back foot would go out to play.
But this time, Yan Jianlan was finally obedient, actually staying in the clinic without going anywhere.
Yan Jianlan first thought about the clinic’s name. After much deliberation, he finally settled on “Yan Wen.”
The rain had stopped. The weather was clear and warm.
A good name indeed.
Opening the rhino horn lamp, Yan Jianlan contacted Yan Yuhu to find and send him a quality piece of wood, planning to personally carve the door sign.
Yan Yuhu was very quick. Within half an hour of receiving the message, he arrived at the clinic carrying a piece of wood.
“Cough.” Yan Jianlan waved away the dust on the wood, frowning. “I asked you to find rosewood, and you found this from which dusty corner? It has so much dust.”
“From Yu Tuishan’s little treasury,” Yan Yuhu said casually, raising his hand to instantly sweep away the choking dust. “Will this piece work? Should I go pick another?”
Yan Jianlan reached out to pat it lightly, examining the quality and nodding: “Mm, yes, this one will do.”
The two began carving the door sign.
Though Yan Yuhu had cultivated into human form, he still couldn’t be exposed to sunlight for long. He hid in a chair in the clinic’s corner, watching Yan Jianlan sketch outlines with a brush.
After a while, Yan Yuhu suddenly said: “Senior Brother’s cultivation seems to have advanced considerably.”
Yan Jianlan looked up in confusion with the brush in his mouth, speaking unclearly: “What?”
“When Senior Brother first woke up, you were only at mid Spirit Transformation stage,” Yan Yuhu said, looking him up and down before finally confirming. “Mm, now you’re already at late stage. Take a few more spirit pills and you’ll probably advance to Void Return stage soon.”
For ordinary cultivators to go from Spirit Transformation to Void Return, even those with xiangwen would need several years.
“Sound of Leisure” granted Yan Jianlan the ability to listen to all things. Even spiritual veins that others saw as dead objects were especially fond of him. Though he’d only been awake a short time, he’d gradually recovered to the Spirit Transformation cultivation he’d had at eighteen.
Yan Jianlan said proudly: “See? Your senior brother is amazing, right? Naturally gifted—surpassing Sheng Jiao is just a matter of time…”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yan Jianlan suddenly seemed to remember something. His entire body froze, and the brush in his mouth dropped directly onto the plaque, smudging it black.
Yan Yuhu quickly used his chilling spiritual power to levitate the ink-covered brush, asking in confusion: “Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”
Yan Jianlan’s ears turned completely red. He sullenly picked up the brush, mumbling: “N-nothing.”
He’d just suddenly remembered…
Six years ago, his cultivation hadn’t advanced this quickly. This time, it wasn’t because he was a prodigy—it was the benefits from dual cultivating with Sheng Jiao, who was at Great Ascension stage, last night.
Yan Jianlan silently covered his waist and abdomen with one hand, keeping his head down as he continued drawing characters, refusing to make a sound no matter how Yan Yuhu asked.
After a busy morning, he finally finished carving the “Yan Wen” plaque. Yan Jianlan was so skilled he even carved a lifelike cluster of osmanthus flowers on one side, using gold powder to paint the stamens.
Yan Yuhu had been out too long and returned to the half-moon water mirror to rest and meditate.
Yan Jianlan put away the plaque, planning to hang it up after learning from Medicine Sect and returning.
Having promised Sheng Jiao not to run around today, Yan Jianlan simply dragged the soft chair to the back courtyard, wrapped himself in Sheng Jiao’s Xiezhi-patterned outer robe, and lazily lay under the osmanthus tree to bask in the sun.
The autumn sun was warm and gentle, waves of rich osmanthus fragrance swirling around his nose.
Yan Jianlan hadn’t been lying there long before unknowingly falling into dreams.
The spiritual power gained from dual cultivating with Sheng Jiao continued flowing slowly through his inner mansion. As Yan Jianlan slept peacefully in the osmanthus shadows, it gradually spread throughout his meridians. The surrounding spiritual power flowed continuously into his inner mansion without Yan Jianlan even needing to absorb it himself, warming and healing the wounds that hadn’t completely recovered.
Yan Jianlan slept soundly. After an unknown time had passed, he groggily felt his body move.
The surrounding atmosphere had completely changed. Slanting rays fell on his face, making his eyes narrow. His breath was filled with that indescribable unique scent of sunset.
The pitch-black robe draped over him was covered with osmanthus flowers, which someone’s hand gently shook off, making them fall rustling down.
Sheng Jiao had returned at some point and was looking down at him.
Yan Jianlan had just woken, his mind a bit slow to turn. He instinctively depended on the person before him, reaching out to grasp his sleeve, his voice carrying a nasal tone as he murmured: “I didn’t run around.”
He wouldn’t lie to Sheng Jiao anymore. If he promised to stay home, he definitely wouldn’t step out the door.
In his daze, Sheng Jiao seemed to smile. He bent down and lifted Yan Jianlan into his arms.
The sun was setting, and the surroundings grew colder.
Yan Jianlan shivered. Having just finished his afternoon nap, his whole body was limp and powerless—he didn’t want to move at all, allowing Sheng Jiao to carry him back to the room and place him on the bed.
Neither Punitive Court nor Xiezhi Sect were pleasant places to visit. Sheng Jiao’s body carried a faint scent of blood. Probably afraid of overwhelming Yan Jianlan, he went to the outer room, head lowered as he washed his hands.
“Heavenly Dao lord.” Yan Jianlan yawned, sprawling on the pillow. Looking through the bamboo curtain at the Heavenly Dao lord’s tall, crane-like figure with his back turned, he asked lazily: “Has your Great Ascension stage heavenly tribulation already passed?”
Sheng Jiao: “No.”
“Is this what ‘Kan Heavenly Dao’ means?” Yan Jianlan exclaimed in amazement. “You don’t even need to experience heavenly tribulation to advance directly to Great Ascension stage?”
Sheng Jiao finished washing his hands, dried his five fingers with a dry cloth, lifted the gaudy beaded curtain and entered the inner chamber, gently shaking his head: “Great Ascension stage heavenly tribulation is different from ordinary tribulations—it will be slower.”
This statement somehow struck a nerve with Yan Jianlan. He said darkly: “So it’s different from our ordinary tribulations, huh. Ha.”
What’s so impressive about Great Ascension stage!
Sheng Jiao frowned, not understanding how this little swindler had been full of guilty flattery during the day, yet after just one nap, was already seizing every little thing to throw a fit.
Yan Jianlan had grown so accustomed to courting death in front of Sheng Jiao that he’d reached a level of proficiency where he just wanted to act out without even thinking about what reaction Sheng Jiao would give him.
After his usual performance, he smoothly moved to the next topic: “What are you planning to do about Yu Tuishan? What did you go to Punitive Court for today?”
Sheng Jiao replied indifferently: “What is Yu Tuishan planning to do next?”
Yan Jianlan: “…”
Yan Jianlan’s eyes widened, choked by that light sentence. He hadn’t expected Sheng Jiao to have learned such tricks and would actually counter him.
Double-agent Yan Jianlan protested: “I haven’t told broth… I haven’t told Yu Tuishan anything. He gave me a whole pile of gifts to bribe me, and I didn’t leak a single word.”
Sheng Jiao glanced at the new storage ring on his finger and said nothing.
The soreness throughout Yan Jianlan’s body had already faded. He sat up abruptly and said coldly: “Sheng Wuzhuo, you don’t trust me.”
“I do.” Sheng Jiao pulled down the bed curtain, raising his hand to push the newly-seated Yan Jianlan back down, leaning over to pin him.
Yan Jianlan’s eyes widened as he instinctively lifted his leg to kick.
Sheng Jiao had probably been waiting for him to kick. He quickly and smoothly reached out to grasp the slender ankle, rolling up the loose pant leg. His powerful fingertips pressed hard against Yan Jianlan’s smooth, well-defined calf muscle.
Affected by the “Kan Heavenly Dao” within Sheng Jiao’s body, the calf that had completely healed suddenly transmitted a tingling sensation like being struck by lightning, shocking Yan Jianlan until his whole body went soft and he felt his hair standing on end.
“Wha-what?!” Yan Jianlan propped himself up on his elbows, struggling to look. “Y-you can’t strike me with the Tianyan Pearl!”
The Tianyan Pearl had nearly scattered Yan Jianlan’s soul. Naturally, Sheng Jiao would never wear it in front of Yan Jianlan again—he hid it well every time he came. Gripping that thin ankle, his fingertips continued pressing hard against the calf.
Yan Jianlan felt as if he’d been struck by lightning again.
The tingling from his calf traveled up his thigh, waist, heart, all the way to the top of his head, making his elbows unable to support him. He stumbled back onto the pillow, only able to struggle and kick, his toes curling and tensing desperately as suppressed whimpers escaped his throat.
“No… let go! Sheng Jiao—!”
“Sss.”
The familiar hissing sound of the Tianyan Pearl operating—Yan Jianlan’s pupils constricted sharply. He struggled to look but didn’t find the Tianyan Pearl on Sheng Jiao’s wrist.
Sheng Jiao’s hand still pressed on his calf. With the hissing of lightning patterns, he suddenly opened his palm as if forcibly drawing out a strange spiritual power from the meridians.
Yan Jianlan looked over blankly.
He saw a weak, crackling mass of lightning patterns dancing in Sheng Jiao’s palm.
“…What the hell is that?” His eyes had reddened as he murmured the question.
Sheng Jiao said: “The Tianyan Pearl’s lightning patterns.”
Yan Jianlan was confused for a while: “Hasn’t it been many years?”
He normally wasn’t affected at all—how could it still be lurking there for so long without dispersing?
Sheng Jiao dispersed the lightning patterns and gave him a cold glance.
“You you you…” Yan Jianlan struggled to free his calf, saying irritably: “Let go.”
Sheng Jiao had clearly already drawn out the lightning patterns, yet his hand still gripped the ankle. Seeing Yan Jianlan using all his strength to kick at him, he suddenly asked: “Why did you transform into a spirit fox that time?”
Yan Jianlan hadn’t expected him to still want to settle old accounts. Furious, he struggled to sit up, using his other leg to kick at Sheng Jiao’s knee, saying irritably: “Didn’t I see your father always scolding you for being worthless, so I wanted you to win first place in the training trial for once? And afraid your dog-like temper would think I was giving you charity, I could only transform into a spirit fox and personally deliver the jade ruyi to your door.”
This matter had originally been his own fault for concealing his identity and getting struck by lightning, but thinking of his original intention, he immediately felt he had the upper hand again and pressed his advantage.
“But I never expected that you’d strike me with the Tianyan Pearl—that’s one thing—but now you actually plan to settle old accounts with me? I haven’t even settled accounts with you yet!”
Sheng Jiao was silent for a long time before asking: “Did it hurt?”
Yan Jianlan had only wanted to argue with Sheng Jiao and occupy the righteous position—he hadn’t intended to play the victim with that past event. Hearing this, he was immediately choked up and kicked his legs: “You… you let me go first.”
Sheng Jiao said nothing.
A lightning strike from the Tianyan Pearl filled with killing intent would certainly hurt.
Yan Jianlan’s ears turned completely red. He just wanted to quickly move past this topic and was racking his brains when Sheng Jiao suddenly gripped his ankle and leaned over, his other hand stuffing something into Yan Jianlan’s mouth.
Yan Jianlan frowned and immediately used his tongue to push it out, saying unclearly: “What is it?”
It was a mutton-fat jade ruyi that Sheng Jiao had found from somewhere, placed horizontally between Yan Jianlan’s lips and teeth.
Sheng Jiao said: “Hold it.”
Yan Jianlan: “…”
Bah!
***
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152