Ch78 - May We Meet Often

Translator: transcendentwings

Translator has something to say: Courtesy of author of the other novel I’m translating having uploaded a double chapter when the chapter was originally published, I will also do a double upload, but next chapter will be up shortly (probably tomorrow) and not right away, sorry

The night in Yingtianchuan always carried a faint dampness, the water vapor rushing towards one’s face forming a constant stream as if there was an eternal layer of translucent fog between the heavens and earth.

Zhou Beinan seemingly emerged from between the light of the skies and the shadows of the water like a swimming fish.

He shook off the beads of water on his head and then stretched out his hand to throw a fat fish with white scales through the air onto the shore. Then he lay down on a rock near the sand close to the shore with a dull look, gazing up at the moon like a nesting rabbit.

He was just about to release a breath when he heard a warm questioning voice pipe up from behind: “Beinan, why are you here?”

Zhou Beinan was originally focused on his own worries and was so startled by the sound that he slipped into the water again because of an unstable elbow.

He turned around and saw Qu Chi standing on the shore.

After treading water twice, Zhou Beinan floated up from the sea and swam towards the bank: “I came out for a walk alone.”

“I’ve noticed that you’re always absent-minded, are you in a bad mood?” Qu Chi commented, “Today is yournatal day, yet you are consistently absent from the celebration, thus the disciples also can’t muster up any enthusiasm.”

“Only if I’m not there would they be a rambunctious bunchne.” Zhou Beinan strolled out of the waters nonchalantly, just wearing a pair of wet brown leggings with large expanses of bare muscle glowing faintly in the moonlight.

He wrung the water out of his long, wet hair and dismissed, “Don’t worry about me. Goba.”

Qu Chi possessed an easy-going personality and since Zhou Beinan stated that nothing was wrong and that he didn’t need companionship, he also wouldn’t forcibly stay here and make Zhou Beinan uncomfortable.

Before leaving, he looked at the fat fish that was tossed ashore by Zhou Beinan still flapping its tail, pensive.

Zhou Beinan picked up a strand of seaweed that was washed ashore by the evening tide, twisted it into a bundle, and strung the fish up by its lips.

Yet after completing all of these actions, he didn’t know what to do next.

Zhou Beinan stared at the slippery white fish eyes for a while, not knowing who he was cross with as he muttered in a low voice: “. . . How stupid.”

As soon as the words fell, he felt that the shadow below his feet was stretched out by a dazzling beam of light, as if a star suddenly shattered and crashed down.

Zhou Beinan turned his head and heard the muffled sound of gunpowder exploding in the small town on the mainland across the sea a merehundredzhangaway.

The noise wasn’t loud, but the soaring buds of blooming stars bursting in the low sky were so familiar that Zhou Beinan’s eyes lit up in recognition.

A second firework spiraled into the air, the landing point much lower, scattering thousands of sparks at a low altitude, the sleek flames burning in the endless sky forming colorful clouds, a different visage of simplicity and wonder.

Before the third firework shot up into the void, Zhou Beinan picked up the fish and hastily tugged all his clothes on which he had dropped on the grass by the shore. He didn’t even have time to thoroughly dry his hair before he hurriedly summoned his spear, crossed the sea, and headed straight for the little town called “Linjin”.

He originally had a premonition today that, since it was his birthday, there was no way Xu Xingzhi would not come.

Now seeing the familiar fireworks in the sky, how would Zhou Beinan not pick up on it?

Linjin Town was near a port, which was a place that established connections in all directions, making inns for accommodations commonplace, thus if one had to search them one by one, it’s feared that they would all be of a similar structure. Fortunately, today was neither a new year nor a festival, which one set off firecrackers and fireworks, just ask a few merchants and the answer will be revealed at a glance.

Zhou Beinan made inquiries along the way, finding his way to a particular inn, after asking the proprietor, he found out that two generous young men had booked the entire inn. Just now, after they had set off three fireworks on the roof, one of the young masters came downstairs and notified him that if a well-dressed young master from the immortal sects came looking for them, they should wait in any room upstairs and they would arrive shortly.

Zhou Beinan didn’t doubt him and tossed the fish in his hands at the boss: “Make a pot of soup.”

Seeing the still lively white-scaled perch in his hand, the boss was quite taken aback: “Young master, this sea perch is not uncommon, but this white-scaled perch is really rare. One can be sold for fifty gold. I’m afraid that the chef of our small inn won’t be able to prepare it well. . .”

Zhou Beinan was in a hurry to see Xu Xingzhi so how would he have the time to chat with him: “Cook it in the simplest way, just blanch it and make soup.”

After throwing those words down, he lifted his robe and hurried upstairs.

When passing through the end of the stairs, Zhou Beinan felt as if his body had passed through a soft flowing barrier.

There was a transparent spiritual wall here, which the common people could not pass through. And just after he slipped through it, Zhou Beinan heard a subtle low moan from the rooftop, then the noise of sucking and licking endlessly assaulted his ears.

Although Zhou Beinan had never done these sorts of things before, he still knew what it was. His face instantly flushed, and he felt so embarrassed that he nearly took a tumble down the stairs.

Since there were only Xu Xingzhi and Meng Chongguang in the inn, it was obvious who produced those sounds.

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Xu Xingzhi walked in front with messy hair and slightly open robes. When he caught sight of Zhou Beinan, he exclaimed with ayo: “Beinan, you arrived so swiftly?”

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However, Zhou Beinan’s tone was as hard as always: “Still alive?”

Xu Xingzhi smiled in reply: “Not dead.”

Merely from this smile, Zhou Beinan already gleaned that something had changed.

If it were in the past, Xu Xingzhi would definitely laugh and come up to hook an arm around his shoulders, while wheedling affectionately “could you bear to see me die”, he would never have missed any opportunity to mock him, and the look on his face would make people want to give him a beating.

. . . He changed after all.

Thinking of this, Zhou Beinan was even more soft-hearted.

When Xu Xingzhi walked to the table and wanted to sit down, his arms that were resting on the table stiffened slightly, the corners of his lips curled up in an uncomfortable arc.

Meng Chongguang was quick to hand over a cushion and then supported the other’s arm, helping him sit down stably.

Watching the interactions between the two, Zhou Beinan couldn’t help but spot the clues, staring at Xu Xingzhi until the other swallowed involuntarily.

Xu Xingzhi asked him: “How come it’s only you?”

Zhou Beinan rolled his eyes and scoffed: “Ohsure, I’ll summon all the disciples from the four sects to come and stand witness to those good things between you and Meng Chongguang?”

Xu Xingzhi was born with thick skin, so he smiled without shame: “Chongguang, you go down, I’ll have a chat with Beinan alone.”

Meng Chongguang glanced at Zhou Beinan, pursed his lips, his expression not very happy, but he still listened to the command obediently and got up to head downstairs.

As soon as he left, Zhou Beinan complained with a sneer: “I say, you already set off fireworks to have me come over, so why were the two of you still. . .”

Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help laughing.

Recently, Meng Chongguang finally had a taste of the sweetness from doing this glorious deed and so he always pestered him like a little puppy, asking for it two or three times a day. As for Xu Xingzhi, he got over his disgruntledness from the first few times and recently also discovered the benefits of doing this more and more, so he half-heartedly followed Meng Chongguang and let him do whatever he wanted.

After the fireworks were set off just now, Meng Chongguang saw the beautiful flames in the sky, which in turn stimulated his interest again. He kept coaxing Xu Xingzhi, whining that he wanted to try at a different location. He had even tugged on Xu Xingzhi’s clothes and cajoled coquettishly with some logical conjectures: “Once Zhou-shixiongcatches sight of the fireworks, after changing his clothes then traveling from Yingtianchuan to making inquiries about this place after going from door to door, his speed shouldn’t be too fast. . .”

Xu Xingzhi was provoked by him until he felt soft and hot all over. He reached behind and pinched the other’s waist as he commented: “Why are you so clever when it comes to times like these?”

Meng Chongguang kissed his hair and promised: “Shixiong, I’ll try to make it quick.”

Xu Xingzhi felt that this little b*stard was born to neutralize him, he could never be hard-hearted to him and became easily persuaded, thus the two of them went another round, making him feel very ill at ease.

Under the blue skies and silver moon, all was clean and clear like it was washed. The roof here was the same height as the other buildings and it would only take someone on the opposite side to open the window and they would bear witness to thespring sceneryhere. Therefore, Xu Xingzhi had to swallow his exclamations again and again, using so much force that his eyes turned red.

The bright moon was in the sky, looking at the two young men who were reveling in the end of the world with mercy and tenderness.

Returning to sit in the room, Xu Xingzhi held the kettle in his left hand and poured a cup of hot tea into a bowl with a single stream.

Zhou Beinan knew that even if he asked this question, he wouldn’t get any decent answers, so he simply waved his hand and gave up.

Xu Xingzhi pushed thechawanover: “It’d be enough to just call Xuechen and Qu Chi over.”

“I came in a hurry.” Zhou Beinan took the chawan and cupped it in his palm, “Besides, Qu Chi is probably with Xuechen now. If I call Qu Chi, then Xuechen would definitely become involved. You’re aware of Xuechen’s character, if he comes to see you, of course there would be no problem. However. . .”

Seeing that he was hesitant, Xu Xingzhi answered for him: “I know, I understand, Chongguang is a heavenly sprite, it’s indeed inconvenient. . .”

Wen Xuechen’s attitude has always been unforgiving towards those who are not of the righteous sects, and now that Chongguang was sticking to him, if the two meet, he was afraid that they’ll be at odds with each other such that it’d be better to just not meet.

Zhou Beinan frowned slightly, his fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of his clothes.

He didn’t ask Wen Xuechen to come because, until today, Wen Xuechen still firmly believed that Meng Chongguang was closely related to Qingjing-jun’s death and had privately instructed the disciples of Qingliang Valley that if they found Meng Chongguang, they should report him and kill him without mercy.

He wanted to confess the truth, but changed his mind as soon as the words spilled out: “No. He was withXiao-Xian’erne.Xiao-Xian’er. . . She’s pregnant.”

Xu Xingzhi was pleasantly surprised and exuberant: “Really?”

Zhou Beinan scratched the tip of his nose and proudly declared: “Two months alongla. I just found out yesterday.Xiao-Xian’ersaid that this was her birthday gift for me.”

Xu Xingzhi was also overjoyed. He took out a piece of extremely transparent dragon-shaped turquoise from his waist, played with it with his fingertips and handed it to Zhou Beinan: “Nuo.”

“This is?”

“It was originally a gift for you.” Xu Xingzhi explained, “This is something I found in an antique shop when Chongguang and I arrived here. It is an old piece of jade that has been nurtured for more than ten years. SinceXiao-Xian’eris pregnant, then give it up for herba, how about it?”

Zhou Beinan took the proffered jade and rubbed it twice. He knew that the jade was of good quality and must be very expensive. He felt a little grateful yet sorrowful in his heart at the same time, but the words of gratitude were completely changed when they came to his lips: “What about my birthday gift?”

Xu Xingzhi didn’t panic: “I’ll give this to you.”

He splayed his hand out again, and in his palm lay a handmade cinnabar-colored sachet, which was very delicate.

Zhou Beinan sneered disdainfully: “It’s so feminine, where did you buy itah.”

Xu Xingzhi replied: “I made it.”

Zhou Beinan: “. . .”

Xu Xingzhi was indeed unlike other men who were ashamed of work like that of threading a needle, he neatly introduced: “It contains sandalwood and peach wood branches which were ground into beads. I made them one by one myself. I originally wanted to make this thing and gift it to Chongguang, one for each of us. But look, I just so happened to finish only one.”

Zhou Beinan blurted out: “Your hand—”

He knew he had shouted out the wrong thing, yet Xu Xingzhi didn’t mind and shook his remaining palm generously.

“Still manageable.” Xu Xingzhi casually dismissed, “With one hand remaining, I can still do many things. . . . I can even still arm wrestle with youne.”

After Zhou Beinan finished grinning at that, he felt his throat tighten again, so he simply kicked him under the table.

Xu Xingzhi stretched out his hand, exerted a little force and clasped the cinnabar sachet between his and Zhou Beinan’s right palm: “Beinan, happy birthday.”

He had heard enough of such words the entire day, but now it sounded so gentle and comforting that Zhou Beinan blushed: “. . . So corny.”

“You have to make a wishba.”

Zhou Beinan touched his chin uncomfortably: “Where are you going to go after this?”

“Fish jump in the seas all over the world, they all have a place to go after all.” Xu Xingzhi smiled, “. . . Where Chongguang is, is where I’ll head to. We already own a small courtyard, where we planted grapes, flowers, and other plants. By next spring, maybe we’ll raise a dog.”

Zhou Beinan looked at him, realizing that Xu Xingzhi was no longer willing to be involved in those affairs, his heart alternating between aching and warm as he whispered lightly: “I hope we can see each other often in our free timeba.”

Zhou Beinan exchanged a few more idle words with Xu Xingzhi, nothing more than some trivial things he had encountered recently.

As for the fact that Guangfu-junhad made sure to visit each of the four sects to issue an arrest warrant against Xu Xingzhi, Xu Xingzhi must be clear on the matter internally, thus there was no need for Zhou Beinan to mention it; As for the real cause of Qingjing-jun’s death, Xu Xingzhi would tell him when he wanted to, so there was no need for Zhou Beinan to ask.

Zhou Beinan will always believe in Xu Xingzhi.

He only hoped that Xu Xingzhi would be at ease and comfortable when he was with him, still able to laugh freely and unrestrainedly as before.

After chatting for an hour, Zhou Beinan counted on his fingers and knew that if he disappeared for too long, it would be bad if he aroused suspicion, so he stood up and planned to head back to Yingtianchuan.

Xu Xingzhi didn’t keep him, and accompanied him to the door of the inn. Only after watching as his silhouette blended into the night, did he finally turn back and just so happened to see Meng Chongguang returning from the kitchen with a pot of something hot and fragrant. The aroma of fresh food that drifted out was particularly alluring.

Xu Xingzhi only felt that the fragrance was extremely familiar: “This is. . .”

The innkeeper explained earnestly: “This white-scaled perch was brought by the young man who visited just now. When he came, he asked us to stew it. This thousand-boiled tofu and ten thousand-boiled fish hadn’t finished stewing until now. . .”

Before he finished speaking, he shrank under Meng Chongguang’s cold and piercing gaze, retreating to the backyard in a sorry manner.

Hearing this, Xu Xingzhi’s eyes couldn’t help but curve slightly.

—Last year, on Zhou Beinan’s natal day, he followed the usual route and brought gifts to Yingtianchuan for the banquet. He tasted all of the food at the banquet one by one and then pointed to one of the white-scaled perch soups and smiled: “Only this one still has some taste to it. I’m tired of the others.”

At that time, Zhou Beinan’s attitude was very clear. Feast if you want to, if not, then scram, Yingtianchuan won’t cater to just your taste buds.

Noticing that Xu Xingzhi was fixated on the fish soup with a tinge of nostalgia gracing his brows, Meng Chongguang felt even more depressed. He scooped up a piece of fresh and white fish, gnashed it with his teeth as if to vent his anger and then picked up another piece with chopsticks with jealousy before presenting it towards Xu Xingzhi: “Shixiong, you’ve consumed too much energy today, so you should make up for it more.”

Xu Xingzhi neared slowly, but didn’t take the piece of fish that was hanging between the chopsticks. He merely leaned over and partook of the fish meat in Meng Chongguang’s mouth.

Meng Chongguang loosened his grip on the chopsticks and the fish meat that was worth as least a night’s stay fell to the ground with little preamble.

After coaxing this temperamental little guy, Xu Xingzhi sat down at the table by himself, stuffed two pieces of fish and a spoonful of soup into his mouth and then raised his wrist to wipe his left eye, taking a shaky breath, he murmured: “. . . It’s too hot.”

Meng Chongguang moved closer, kissed his ear tenderly and carefully traced the shape of his delicate ear lobe.

Meng Chongguang didn’t speak, only patiently embraced the other so that Xu Xingzhi could finish the dinner sent by his best friend.

After leaving the inn, Zhou Beinan fiddled with the cinnabar sachet all the way, muttering in dissatisfaction: “A woman’s trinket.”

He was only focused on bowing his head and playing with it, thus when his lowered eyes came face to face with a pair of slender legs and the two wheels of a wheelchair, Zhou Beinan had no way to avoid it.

His head snapped up, countless reasons for escaping the banquet flashed through his mind. However, Wen Xuechen tore all his prepared excuses into pieces with just one sentence: “Those low-altitude fireworks, I’ve seen them before. Qu Chi has also seen them in the past.”

Zhou Beinan sighed and scratched his head, in an effort to stop Wen Xuechen from heading to the inn, he could only clumsily try to change the subject: “Where’sXiaoXian-er?”

Wen Xuechen answered fluently: “I sent Xian-meiback to her room, only after I saw her and her baby settled down early, did I come with Qu Chi.”

Zhou Beinan: “. . .”

Before Zhou Beinan could come up with more ideas, Wen Xuechen asked: “Is he okay?”

Zhou Beinan had no choice and nodded: “He is in much better spirits. Fortunately Meng Chongguang is by his side.”

When Zhou Beinan mentioned Meng Chongguang, he paid special attention to observing the changes in Wen Xuechen’s expression, hoping that the other wouldn’t cause trouble for them now. If they really get into a conflict, he wouldn’t even know who to help.

After a while, Wen Xuechen slipped a book out of his sleeve, turned a few pages and expressed slowly: “According to the almanac, today is the Golden Safe auspicious way, which is suitable for marriage, not for fighting. I just came to take a look, to know that Xingzhi is still getting by, so I can be at ease. . . What are you doing!?”

Qu Chi smiled from behind him: “I want to see if today really is the Golden Safe auspicious way.”

Wen Xuechen hid the scroll that was clearly printed with the words “Pregnancy and Childbirth Book” at the top, his tone unconsciously became more stern: “. . . Of course it is.”

Qu Chi didn’t argue with him and inquired softly: “Are we really not going to see him?”

“As long as Xingzhi is fine, why should we disturb him.” Wen Xuechen leisurely twisted the Yin-Yang band on his wrist with his fingertips, “Besides, Meng Chongguang is with him. Once we meet, if we get into a quarrel or conflict, wouldn’t we just be putting him on the spot.”

Zhou Beinan let out a sigh of relief: “Then. . . shall we go back?”

While talking, Qu Chi attentively noticed the ornament that was hanging on the end of Zhou Beinan’s steel-refined long spear and asked curiously: “Beinan, didn’t you never like these types of pendants?”

Zhou Beinan coughed dryly and turned his head away: “I think it looks good, so I just bought it casually.”

Qu Chi studied his expression and was able to guess a few things, and questioned: “. . . Is that so?”

Zhou Beinan answered firmly: “. . . Of course it is.”

Qu Chi smiled.

He has never possessed the habit of exposing others, thus the three walked quietly under the moonlight, slowly making their way back towards Yingtianchuan.

While on the rooftop of the inn, Xu Xingzhi, holding a bowl and chopsticks, watched them from afar. Existing under the same crescent moon, listening to the rushing sound of the sea tide, he felt warm in his heart, as if all his troubles no longer existed.

The author has something to say:

—Xu-shixionghanding the sachet to Zhou Beinan, was the last physical contact the two of them ever exchanged.

Apoemgifted to Xu-shixiong:

—I have been drifting for a long time, in the past ten years, great kindness and debts have been exhausted, teachers and friends of a lifetime.

Author’s Chapter Summary: Secret meeting, gifting jade, checking the almanac

The translator has something to say: contentment never lasts long, the author’s note is also so ominous, why can’t they have good things, but then again, we already know that everyone is pretty much dead or irrevocably maimed/damaged

Sooooo sorry for such a late chapter, RL has been busy and if things go well, well, hopefully things will get better, I’ll let you guys know how it goes! And well, posted a day late because I accidentally locked myself outta my account ahahaha