Chapter 44

Su Jingmo’s words were ambiguous, and since Qin Cheng wasn’t able to see the expression he had on his face while he said it, Qin Cheng walked toward Su Jingmo so that he could face him and look straight at his eyes. Qin Cheng had a lot of questions to ask him, he wanted to ask Su Jingmo what he was worried about to begin with? Was he worried that Qin Cheng would die as a result of their deal? Or was he worried about Qin Cheng himself?

When Qin Cheng looked at Su Jingmo’s polite smile, even though it looked affectionate at first glance, it was in fact distant. Qin Cheng knew that if he asked those questions, no matter what Su Jingmo had in mind, he would only answer one thing.

It’s been 3 months since he first met Su Jingmo, and in the last month, Qin Cheng has been coming to the tomb almost every night. So, by now, Qin Cheng was able to understand Su Jingmo’s temperament.

Su Jingmo looked extremely casual on the outside, but in fact, he handles things in an orderly and logical way. He’s a man who keeps his word, and his naturally smiling peach blossom eyes, covered the true hostility hidden behind them. Those who weren’t familiar with him will end up bewitched by his gentle appearance, completely ignoring the fact that he was actually a ruthless Emperor who is above everyone. Fortunately, Su Jingmo didn’t try to cover up too much in front of Qin Cheng, and the first time they met each other, Su Jingmo stepped on Qin Cheng to let him know that he wasn’t as simple as he seemed on the surface. After all, how can someone, who’s able to kill several of his brothers just for the sake of obtaining the throne, be simple?

Even though Su Jingmo was fierce, he wouldn’t take someone’s life without a reason. Su Jingmo has an independent nature and he doesn’t complicate himself when taking care of things. He dislikes people who are indecisive, and his emotions are hidden so deep inside of him, that they’re extremely complicated to understand. Moreover, it’s extremely hard to guess what he’s actually thinking about. However, when he speaks out about something, he must have thought about it thoroughly. He’s the type of person that would comply with his word till the very end.

Since Qin Cheng had already guessed what Su Jingmo would reply to him, he was reluctant to ask any more questions. Instead, he raised his hand and tried to caress Su Jingmo’s cheek, but Su Jingmo tilted his head, avoiding his touch. At this, Qin Cheng withdrew his hand and squeezed it tight: “I know… that it’s impossible for me to have a happy ending with you, and If I were more rational, I would’ve suppressed those thoughts long ago. However, Su Jingmo, after I found out that I liked you, I also realized that I’ve long been unable to suppress these feelings….” Qin Cheng paused for a moment, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said against his will: “I also look forward to the time…. in which I can forget about these feelings, just as you said….” Qin Cheng then opened his eyes and faintly smiled as he looked at Su Jingmo: “It’s just that, right now, I’m not able to do it. But, since you said that you don’t want me to die, then I won’t let you down.”

Qin Cheng’s words made Su Jingmo’s eyes and eyelashes slightly tremble. When Su Jingmo was in a similar position as this one, while he was still alive, what kind of affectionate words hadn’t he heard? The beautiful words describing their love for him as well as the flattering words about him, not to mention Qin Cheng’s simple and straightforward words, he has heard them all. Su Jingmo’s friends, who knew him quite well, used to say to him that he seemed a romantic and affectionate man on the surface, but in fact, he didn’t care for anyone else. Su Jingmo doesn’t deny it. After all, it’s impossible to truly know who’s an enemy and who’s a friend when he’s in the position of a ruler. He has to be on constant alert; after all, if one day there were a surprise attack that catches him off guard, that means that he has to trust that the people around him will risk their lives for him, especially if they’re loyal to him.

But Qin Cheng’s words made him feel as if he had a fishbone stuck inside his throat ¹ .

Su Jingmo has long been accustomed to being suspicious about the people around him, being able to see through their true intentions. After all, people tend to reveal one thing about themselves, while they also hide 9 other things to themselves. However, Qin Cheng was different. This man approached him with a purpose in mind, and one part of that purpose, was Su Jingmo himself…. Su Jingmo not only can read the meaning behind Qin Cheng’s eyes, but he can also see his sincerity, his suffering, and how much he struggles….

But what’s the use of this? One is a ghost, and the other is a living person. One Yin and one Yang. Humans and ghosts have to walk through different paths, there’s no way for them to share a fate together. It’s better to let Qin Cheng break away from this illusion right now, even if that means that he will be in pain for the moment. If time could wipe out every bit of history about Great Xu, then wouldn’t the same happen to his minimal feelings? Besides, this is also for the sake of Qin Cheng… isn’t it?

“You just have to be careful…” Su Jingmo didn’t know what else to say, so he asked: “Will you be going to Zhongdu alone?”

Since the distance between them was too close, Su Jingmo retreated a step away from Qin Cheng.

At this, Qin Cheng’s eyes darkened a little. He sighed lightly before saying: “No, my colleague will accompany me. I also contacted a man who buys and sells cultural relics. That person showed me the wine bottle, the one that I’m pretty sure belongs to the Xu Dynasty. I guess I’ll have to rely on this small clue…. If I can’t find your fifth brother’s tomb when I get there.”

When Qin Cheng mentioned his ‘colleague’, Su Jingmo remembered one thing, and narrowed his eyes as he thought about it. Then, he asked: “Does one of your colleagues know the art of Qi Huang?”

Qin Cheng thought that Su Jingmo was talking about Qu Zhiwen, mistaking him for one of his colleagues, so Qin Cheng denied: “No, Qu Zhiwen isn’t my colleague. I met him by accident one night.”

Su Jingmo shook his head and replied: “No, Zhen isn’t talking about him.”

Su Jingmo’s words made Qin Cheng stunned: “Then…. none of my colleagues should know about the art of Qi Huang.”

As Su Jingmo stared at Qin Cheng, who clearly didn’t know anything, Su Jingmo’s finger unintentionally rubbed his right hand: “Do you know why those grave robbers, and the one who helped you and Zhen that night, can’t step inside this tomb?”

“Why?” Qin Cheng, who was extremely stunned, subconsciously asked.

“In addition to Zhen, there’s an ancient beast guarding this tomb. If someone wants to step inside this tomb, even if they’re immortals, they can’t enter. If a ghost tries to fly away, they may become ashes, and their souls will disappear. For humans, they will be simply killed on the spot.”

“Then why am I able to enter the tomb?”

“Of course, if regular people want to step in, they will naturally need the tomb’s owner permission. What Zhen is trying to say, is that you can come here because Zhen is the one giving you permission….” At that moment, Su Jingmo remembered what happened the time they met that day, and his eyes suddenly became sharp. “However, Zhen wasn’t aware that the Underground Palace’s gates were opened without Zhen’s permission, and Zhen didn’t even feel someone approaching me until you opened Zhen’s coffin.”

When Qin Cheng remembered that day, he also felt that something was wrong: “Indeed. At that time, I wanted to open the Underground Palace’s gates because I was afraid there would be arrows hidden inside the tomb. I even had my body wrapped with a hemp rope, but for some reason, and without me realizing it, the hemp rope broke at some point. Once I tried to open the gates, the top door device was broken, and the doors opened on their own.”

In fact, Su Jingmo had some doubts about what had happened that day. At first, he thought of the incompetent rat immortal, but right the next moment, he discarded this idea. Even if the rat immortal had the ability to do such a thing, why would he wait for so long? And why would he rely on a mere mortal to try and break in?

The one who did this should’ve a lot of knowledge about the tomb. However, that person didn’t dare to break in by themselves, afraid of what would happen to them, so they let Qin Cheng explore it for them instead.

“Do you remember? Beside you, three other men also entered Zhen’s coffin chamber that day.”

When Su Jingmo said this, Qin Cheng could guess that Su Jingmo was suspicious of his three friends. At this thought, Qin Cheng frowned and shook his head: “As far as I know, they don’t know anything about the art of Qi Huang.”

Wu Hai wouldn’t have been controlled by Zhang Xiaomei’s ghost if he knew something, and Zhang Jun’s scared face wasn’t faked. As for Tang Jiaming… Tang Jiaming and Wu Hai are pretty good friends. When Zhang Xiaomei appeared that night at the research lab, Tang Jiaming was sitting next to Wu Hai. If he had actually seen her, then wouldn’t it be logical to think that he would’ve tried to save Wu Hai, when he was almost killed by Zhan Xiaomei?

However, Su Jingmo’s next words made Qin Cheng’s brain explode.

“Apart from the fact that those three stepped into Zhen’s coffin chamber without permission, there’s one more thing.” Su Jingmo said with the corner mouth slightly raised: “Did you know that one of your colleagues saw Zhen that day…?”

At first, it seemed as if their gazes had met by accident, but in fact, it was obvious that Su Jingmo had paused deliberately..

“Who is it?! Who saw you?!” Qin Cheng immediately came back to reality when he heard this, and urgently asked: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!”

Su Jingmo waved his hand at Qin Cheng, and replied: “That man simply stared at Zhen, but he didn’t do anything, so Zhen thought you already knew. However, it seems that that man is hiding this from you. Besides, Zhen couldn’t perceive the qi of a Taoist or an Immortal on him, so it shouldn’t matter. Zhen is only telling you this to let you know that you have to be on guard.”

“Then, what does he look like?”

“Sword-like eyebrows and ‘bright’ eyes. His face is quite good-looking too.” Su Jingmo said as he gently touched Qin Cheng’s glasses at the bridge of his nose. Then, he teased: “It’s such a pity that Zhen ended up choosing an ordinary and empty shelf ² such as yourself.”

At this, Qin Cheng could guess who he was talking about. Tang Jiaming was the only one, among those three, that wore glasses just like him. But since Su Jingmo’s teasing made Qin Cheng feel a little embarrassed, he grabbed Su Jingmo’s hand, which was still playing with glasses.

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“If you keep doing that, they will fall off, and I won’t be able to see you clearly anymore.” Qin Cheng said as he took off his glasses. Immediately after that, the only thing Qin Cheng could see were blurred images. At this, he slowly approached Su Jingmo until he could feel Su Jingmo’s cold soul-body. “…. Only at this distance can I see you clearly….”

The warm breath belonging to a living being sprayed on Su Jingmo’s face, and Qin Cheng, who was only a palm away from him, stared at Su Jingmo’s face. At this, the corner of Su Jingmo’s eyes curved: “Isn’t it time for you to leave?”

SJM: Don’t fall for me.

QC: I already did… but I’ll try to ‘forget’ about it.

Also SJM: *teases QC*

QC: *teases back*

SJM: It’s late, go back.

asdfghjklkjhgf It’s so funny how SJM enjoys being the one flirting, but when he’s on the receiving end of the flirting, he doesn’t know what to do (mainly bc as an Emperor no one ever has ever been like that to him)

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(｡’▽’｡) ♡

Footnotes

<ol><b>如鲠在喉</b> <b>rú gěng zài hóu</b> ; It’s a Chinese idiom, it refers to when someone is extremely upset and needs to express their displeasure. From <b>《说文解字》</b> ( <b>shuō wén jiě zì</b> ), “Shuowen Jiezi” written by ( <b>许慎</b> <b>xǔ shèn</b> ) Xu Shen, from the Han Dynasty [206 BC-220 AD]. <b>空架子</b> <b>kōng jià zi</b> ; It refers to something/someone that only has an outer appearance, but it’s empty inside. For example, ‘ You shouldn’t look at him as a rich man who’s always dressed in gold and silver, in fact, he’s drowning in debts. He’s just an empty shelf ’.</ol>