Ch55 - I Want to Be on Top

Editor: Sahloknir

Jiang Yinghe said goodbye to Chan Qing the day the renovation of the room was completed.

He was dressed in pastel-blue cultivator robes whose colour became increasingly faint as it spread downwards. His long hair was tied up with a jade crown and a simple hairpin. A light and cold fragrance could be detected on the edges of his clothes.

He had been like a sharp sword in his youth, but now age had smoothed those jagged edges into something pure and restrained.

Chan Qing looked him up and down for a moment. “There is no need to leave in such a hurry. I’ve learned a lot from our discussions.”

Jiang Yinghe nodded slightly and explained, “The Abbot is already in a difficult situation, and my premonition of impending calamity has grown stronger recently. I shouldn’t stay at Lan Ruo Temple, lest I become a catalyst for others’ tribulations.”

Chan Qing’s first test of his devotion towards buddhist values was still ongoing. He couldn’t easily leave Lan Ruo Temple or fight with others. Although he had the capability, he was powerless in many situations due to those restrictions.

Since Jiang Yinghe said so, Chan Qing didn’t try to persuade him otherwise. He knew that Jiang Yinghe was worried about the separation of the Dao Ancestor’s soul, so he reminded the other man, “I once told Xianjun that whether this was a blessing or a curse depended on how you looked at it. If Xianjun is still unsure…”

“That’s not the case.”

Jiang Yinghe lifted his hand, his fingertips slowly covering his heart as he sighed softly, “It’s because my heart was moved that I hesitated.”

“Amitabha.” Chan Qing said, “This one knows what you are afraid of, and perhaps acceptance doesn’t necessarily mean making a choice.”

He continued, “Sword Saint Taichu, whose teachings and techniques spread across the land, claimed to already have a cultivation partner and never took another. But all the records of later generations wrote that this senior’s companion most likely died young because they were nowhere to be found.”

While Jiang Yinghe was silently pondering over this, the person across from him said, “Perhaps, Xianjun…your heart was not moved enough.”

—-

There was a light drizzle on the day he bid farewell to Lan Ruo Temple as well.

Mid-summer nights are often accompanied by sudden rains, and rainy nights welcome in vivid dreams.

Jiang Yinghe rejected returning to Peng Lai using cultivation techniques. Although a technique or a flying artifact could get them back to the sect within half a day, he instead hired a carriage to take them from the pure land of Buddhism to the mundane world covered by red dust.

He needed time to slowly sort out his thoughts, and more importantly, he had a bad premonition about his upcoming tribulation. Jiang Yinghe planned to enter closed-door cultivation after arriving at Peng Lai, so he wanted to do a bit of sightseeing in the mortal realm and form a reference for what he could be facing.

The sound of rain muffled his hearing.

When Jiang Yinghe sensed someone approaching, the white kitten had already been sitting there waiting for a long time.

He lifted his head and saw that there was still undried blood on Chang Ye’s originally fluffy white tail, staining the tip red. Those watery and round cat eyes looked at him for an instant.

Jiang Yinghe deliberately ignored him and looked down to continue carving runes into the jade slip he held in his hand. When he proceeded onto the next line, he heard an extremely aggrieved and faint cat cry.

The carriage was a bit shaky. It was an ordinary carriage and not one transformed from an artifact. The horse pulling it was also a randomly bought horse that walked very idly.

The pattering of the rain was endless. It would’ve been difficult to hear the cry without a keen sense of hearing.

Jiang Yinghe’s expression didn’t change. He remembered how the Abbot said that overindulging disciples did them no favours, so he refused to give in to the urge to pick Ye-er up and continued carving his slip.

A small, snow white paw ever so cautiously approached and patted the hem of Jiang Yinghe’s coat.

After getting no reaction from him, the kitty stomped its feet somewhat anxiously and hurried over to brush its body across his leg repeatedly, mewling pitifully the whole time.

…I’m still ignoring him.

Chang Ye was beginning to suspect that Shizun only liked those two and not him anymore.

Now that Shizun had his passion root back, Chang Ye was upset to have not yet received Jiang Yinghe’s approval. Then he recalled how Shizun had fed other children pastries back at the temple, and his heart practically pickled itself with all the vinegar.

The kitten sprawled itself across the edge of Jiang Yinghe’s clothes and hooked its tail around his ankle. His round black eyes began to water again as he softly meowed a few times. Little meat pads began to crawl up his leg.

…Why won’t you look at me?

The little white cat blinked away tears of frustration and forcefully endured it. He crawled up from the edges of Jiang Yinghe’s robes and worked hard to worm himself into Shizun’s lap.

Jiang Yinghe’s hand paused. He came back to himself and swept his eyes over the harmless looking kitten in his arms.

The kitty first found a comfortable place to lie down in his Shizun’s arms for a while, but then he couldn’t resist the foolish urge to have his fur and tail stroked.

He liked Jiang Yinghe’s hand so much. It was as white as frost and shapely, the joints were narrow and slender, and the skin was fair enough to discern the faint blood vessels within. With just one lick, those fingertips would…

The kitten made up its mind and hopefully leaned towards Jiang Yinghe’s wrist. It then hooked it with its tail before slowly approaching and rubbing its little head against the surface.

Jiang Yinghe felt the plush and soft sensation on his hand. The tips of the cat’s ears swept over his palm repeatedly.

Jiang Yinghe’s gaze shifted to the kitten.

Chang Ye rubbed against him like he was up to no good. His tail was wrapped around his wrist as he let out soft mewls, tempting him with the snowy white fur all over his body.

How could Jiang Yinghe be defeated by this kind of temptation? He was an upright, moral, decent man and a teacher as well…

But once couldn’t hurt.

Jiang Yinghe put down the jade slip and slowly stroked the kitten’s soft and cuddly head as it looked at him expectantly.

The cat was so comfortable that it lay down firmly in his arms. The faint scent of Shizun’s body surrounded him, and his long and cool fingertips glided over his back. Finally, the pH of the sea of vinegar in his heart rose.

Jiang Yinghe slowly rubbed his little ears without noticing how the little devil’s tail wagged furiously with pleasure. Then the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted.

The sound of rain outside suddenly became louder, then fainter as the curtain rose and fell.

Li Huanhan came in and gave the spoiled cat on Jiang Yinghe’s lap a look. He said, “Luo City is in front of us. It is adjacent to the Ying Zhou Sect. We’ll be there before dawn tomorrow.”

Jiang Yinghe nodded. “Is Jun-er outside?”

“Yes.” Li Huanhan seemed to imply something, “Qin Jun said that he saw a cat sneaking in. He was afraid it would scratch Shizun.”

Jiang Yinghe understood his meaning and found his childish way of expressing discontent to be rather amusing. He played along, “Then why didn’t he stop it?”

“He said,” Li Huanhan calmly replaced the tea on the small table, “this cat is so shameless that it would come to you to complain.”

The little, white cat lying on Jiang Yinghe’s lap snorted. It raised its head to hold the hand that stroked it and began to lick it.

The soft barbs grazed his hand, but it itched more than it hurt.

Jiang Yinghe was about to pull back when he felt his other hand being held as well. He raised his eyes to see Li Huanhan handing over the re-steeped tea into his hand. A familiar scent wafted through the air.

“Blessed Jade Dew.” Li Huanhan said.

This was a habit cultivated over the years on Qing Jing Peak. Li Huanhan remembered every single thing his Shizun liked particularly well.

Jiang Yinghe moistened his throat with the tea. As soon as he put the teacup down, he saw how his eldest disciple’s gaze never moved from him. He spoke, “Shizun…”

“En?”

Those blood-red eyes gazed at Jiang Yinghe’s thin lips that were moistened by the tea, and suddenly came closer. His voice became deeper as his hot breath approached.

“May I kiss you?”

Jiang Yinghe startled. His heart started pounding wildly and his ears reddened.

Li Huanhan didn’t get an immediate yes, but he didn’t pick up any signs of rejection either. The closer he leaned, the more he could appreciate how confused the other’s mind was amidst their gradually mingling and entangling breaths.

After all, Jiang Yinghe had been single for so many years, and had only just confirmed his feelings. A simple question made his ears red enough to drip blood. After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Yinghe looked up and gave him a fleeting kiss.

All the fur on the tail of the white cat stood on end. It jumped up with a yowl, but was immediately pressed back down by Li Huanhan so that it was sandwiched between them.

Jiang Yinghe only intended for a brief contact, but the other person’s reflexes were just too swift. In a split second, teeth held his lip and gently chewed on it. Then, a gently probing tongue was sent inside his mouth.

His old injuries were not yet healed, so Jiang Yinghe wanted to push him away and shy back. But Li Huanhan didn’t give him any chance and pressed on relentlessly.

Not only were Jiang Yinghe’s ears on fire, his mind was also drawing a complete blank. His arms wrapped around the other’s neck, but there was nothing he could do about this deep kiss that was tinged with desire that cut off all routes of escape.

…This person looks gentle and warm and easy to talk to. But how, how is he so fierce too.

Jiang Yinghe had no experience when it came to relationships. The few kisses he’s had were all initiated by other people. The corners of his eyes slowly reddened until Li Huanhan parted their lips and whispered a reminder, “Shizun, don’t forget to breathe.”

Jiang Yinghe leaned back and breathed slowly and evenly. He looked at him for a long time with a complicated expression before asking, “How are you so good at this?”

He would definitely be checking later if the Xuehe Demon Lord had any cultivation partners, furnaces or lovers before… Was he known for a sordid history of affairs or short flings…?

Just when this thought surfaced, Li Huanhan returned the favor without retreat. Kissing him gently again, he asked, “Does Shizun want to instruct me on this?”

“…What?”

“Mortal affairs.” Those blood red eyes dimmed as he said with a straight face, “So Shizun wants to teach me about the art of lovemaking as well?”

“…That’s not—” Halfway through his sentence, Jiang Yinghe suddenly remembered that he didn’t necessarily have to be the one bottoming! So what if the other person was apparently an all-powerful split soul? Huanhan was gentle and considerate, Jun-er was so sensible, and even his boisterous little disciple was now just a kitten…

And he could still be considered their elder. So if he was to give guidance of such matters…well it would only make sense if he was the one on top.

Jiang Yinghe spoke with a confidence he didn’t know he had after a moment of consideration, “…Maybe one day.”

Li Huanhan’s finger probed his lips and lightly stroked it. He whispered, “It’s red again.”

“You say that like you’re not the one who made it so.”

Jiang Yinghe brushed off his hand and looked to pull Chang Ye, who was about to be crushed into a catcake between them, out. He watched the little white cat gasp and shed tears while he soothed and stroked the kitten’s back.

Not only was Chang Ye sandwiched between the two of them, he was also forced to witness his rival kiss his beloved. Because he was afraid of scratching Shizun, he didn’t dare to resist. His life was so difficult, and his tears were enough to fill a lake.

The cat whimpered and acted cute, holding Shizun’s finger with his paws and not letting go.

“Huanhan.” Jiang Yinghe smoothed over the puffy fur of the white cat as he listened to the night rain pattering outside the carriage, “How did you…know?”

He was talking about how their souls used to be one.

“I had a premonition earlier, and it was confirmed by that Buddhist cultivator.”

Jiang Yinghe nodded and hesitated before saying, “Premonition? Is it an impending sign of fusion?”

Li Huanhan gently nodded and said, “Qin Jun and I confirmed it with each other. It started when…we began to think of Shizun as more than our teacher.”

Jiang Yinghe was taken aback. “It’s related to me?”

“Yes.” Li Huanhan, “As for Chang Ye’s portion…perhaps it was separated too long ago, but there’s no reaction yet.”

The sad kitten opened his eyes as if he had just realized what they were talking about.

Jiang Yinghe nodded and didn’t ask any more questions. Then his hand was grasped by the other party. The full force of the heavenly demon’s demonic energy radiated off his body in threads.

“Actually…I’m not fine with this.”

Jiang Yinghe looked at him in a daze.

“If I’m just a third of the soul of some deity, then my past…means nothing.”

Li Huanhan seemed to say these words casually. His tone contained nothing but an extreme calmness, like he was discussing a flower being blown away by the rain and wind tonight.

“But I’m also, in a way, overjoyed.”

He clasped the hand that wasn’t running through fur and raised it with a strength that was neither too light or too strong.

“Shizun doesn’t have to choose anymore. I will always be a part of the only choice.” His bright red stare fixed on the other man.

Only when gazing at Jiang Yinghe could one perceive a touching hint of emotion from the still and stagnant pools.

Jiang Yinghe faintly sensed the shard of tenderness hidden beneath the abyss.

“If it wasn’t like this, I’m afraid you wouldn’t have chosen me.” Li Huanhan said, “I’ve done a lot of things that I regret. I was impulsive, violent, and reckless… I came dangerously close to becoming the very person I swore I would never be.”

Li Huanhan lowered his head and very gently kissed the back of Jiang Yinghe’s hand.

Just like that night when he had kept watch in the White Crane Jade Manor, his timidity born from a need to cherish and his ever present possessiveness mingled and merged into one.

He was someone who had drowned in darkness a long time ago. His heart had long since been frozen solid.

It was near Shizun that he first felt warmth.

“I’ll accept it no matter how reluctant you are.” Li Huanhan hugged Jiang Yinghe slowly and pressed his face against his shoulder. His voice was hoarse. “The circumstances of life are ever changing, but I will never leave you.”

Jiang Yinghe gradually returned his tight embrace. He made sure to avoid where he was wounded and thought for a moment. “Since I chose you as my disciple, I will take responsibility. And…”

He was actually pretty embarrassed to say such a thing.

“Huanhan is the most gentle person I’ve ever met.” His words trailed off slightly, “Um, actually I…”

Halfway through his words, the Chang Ye that had been squeezed into a catcake between them burst out with all of his newly smoothed fur standing on end again. His meat pads pressed to either side of Shizun’s neck as he meowed and leaned in to silence those lips.

…His words were lost in the kitty’s kiss.

The little white cat stubbornly kissed him before hanging his body around Jiang Yinghe’s shoulders and nestling in his neck. He fiercely bared his teeth at Li Huanhan, but then turned to pamper Shizun by softly kissing his neck and whimpering quietly.

If they really were parts of a singular soul…

Chang Ye quickly processed the information, pushing down all of his negative emotions to find the best advantage of this situation.

…Then no matter what, I will be with Shizun.

The kitten felt self righteous and was just about to continue acting spoiled when his Shixiong picked him up by the scruff of his neck.

“Don’t hang off there,” Li Huanhan ruthlessly said, “you’re too heavy.”

The little cat was stunned for a moment. It looked at him incredulously, as if it was very shocked to be referred to as ‘heavy’.

—-

Qin Jun had a rough guess about what all the ruckus in the carriage was for.

The surroundings were very quiet when traveling at night, and no formations had been laid on the carriage. The great commotion inside was more than audible.

Because the road wasn’t smooth and the horse was just an ordinary horse, he didn’t enter the carriage that night.

He didn’t enter the carriage at all until they reached Luo City.

The journey was slower than expected, and it was midnight before he reached Luo City. Qin Jun knocked on the carriage door and asked Li Huanhan to come out to replace him.

After a moment, Li Huanhan lifted the curtain and said, “Shizun is asleep. The night wind is cold, so don’t get too close yet.”

“I know.” Qin Jun looked at him, “It’s the second half of the journey, so even if it’s a summer night you should close the door.”

“There’s no need. Although the interior is spacious, it’s not very well ventilated.” Li Huanhan was extremely dissatisfied with this, but because it was Jiang Yinghe who chose the carriage, he didn’t say much, “Remember to keep an eye on Chang Ye.”

“Tsk.” Qin Jun clicked his tongue and didn’t respond.

The carriage set off again.

Qin Jun took off his coat and transitioned the coldness from his body to it before sitting next to Jiang Yinghe.

Wraiths had no need for sleep.

That cunning schemer of a cat was nestled in Shizun’s arms underneath one of his hands. It looked like it was sleeping soundly as well.

But Qin Jun knew that it was all just an act. The cat’s ears twitched the moment he came in, so he had already taken note of his presence.

Qin Jun ignored it and instead sat next to his Shizun. As if by habit or out of boredom, he picked up a strand of Jiang Yinghe’s hair that was scattered around his ear.

This was something he had learned from the humans. A couple braiding each other’s hair with a strand of the other symbolized marriage and eternal love.

He didn’t realize how childish he was being. Instead, he felt very pleased with the meaning behind this action.

He wove a strand of his gray hair into those inky black locks.

Chang Ye didn’t move, so Qin Jun didn’t bother with him. Just as he was about to finish fiddling with the dark hair in his hands, the person beside him suddenly murmured a few words quietly and shifted positions.

Qin Jun let go of his hair and waited for him to settle down before continuing.

He was so beautiful regardless of the angle. As expected of the person he likes.

This evil spirit trusted his own eyes. He leaned over and heard Jiang Yinghe’s vague murmurs like he sensed that Qin Jun was here.

“…Jun-er.”

“En.” It was a relief that he didn’t call Li Huanhan or Chang Ye.

“Let’s discuss…I want to be on top…”

Qin Jun was stunned, then laughed dumbly. He stared at that thin white neck and licked his sharp incisors.

What could Shizun be dreaming of to actually say such words?

He leaned over slightly and kissed Shizun’s brow, asking quietly, “You want to be on top?”

“…Yes…”

“Sure,” Qin Jun continued with a straight face, “but I’ll be deep inside you, okay?”

Jiang Yinghe hesitated as he seemed to contemplate this deeply. Actually, he just fell asleep again. It was quite some time before he absentmindedly responded.

“…Okay…”

Author’s Corner

HeHe, do you know what you just agreed to? [The worry of a mother]

Rain: Jiang Yinghe will regret saying that very dearly in the future

Sahl: Fans face. Phew! What a way to end a chapter!