AVL Chapter 28

Ears?

 

Xi Jianlan’s hand hidden in his sleeve curled slightly.

 

Sheng Jiao waited calmly for his answer.

 

“Oh, my ears.” Xi Jianlan raised his hand to remove the ear ornament from his ear, saying matter-of-factly: “…Half deaf, need a magical device ‘Hearing All Things,’ but this thing seems to be broken. Can Sect Master Sheng fix it?”

 

The Tianyan pearls on Sheng Jiao’s wrist suddenly crackled.

 

Half deaf?

 

Actually, it was complete deafness. Without the ear ornament device, Xi Jianlan couldn’t hear the slightest sound.

 

At first, he couldn’t even control the volume of his own speech. Later, after deceiving people so much, he could communicate smoothly even without wearing the ear ornament.

 

Sheng Jiao’s expression was so cold it could drip water.

 

“Sect Master Sheng probably wants to return to Central State early. Please wait a moment.” Xi Jianlan walked to the desk and rummaged through boxes to find several small parts, squinting as he fiddled with the ear ornament, saying casually: “Let me first see if this thing can be fixed. I’ve used it too long—recently it’s been unreliable, always making buzzing sounds that give me headaches.”

 

His attitude was too casual.

 

It didn’t seem like deafness, but rather like losing a strand of hair—so natural it even made Sheng Jiao momentarily dazed.

 

The sunlight slanted to the side, leaving only a small patch of warm sun on the small table.

 

Xi Jianlan sat in the dim light, looking down with his five fingers flying, fiddling back and forth with the beautiful pendant clasp in the sunlight, his five fingers looking like they were carved from warm jade.

 

The movements were very skilled—one could tell at a glance he was deeply knowledgeable about this object.

 

Sheng Jiao stepped forward, his large frame blocking the sunlight, saying in a low voice: “Xi Jue.”

 

“Sect Master Sheng.” Xi Jianlan didn’t look up. “You’d better stay away from me. The wound has opened again.”

 

The scar left by Spring Rain on Sheng Jiao’s palm split open again. He clenched his five fingers, blood already overflowing through the gaps, bright red and hideous.

 

The smell of blood permeated the surroundings.

 

Xi Jianlan leaned forward and used his teeth to bite a bead on the pendant clasp, pulling it back with force, spitting out the gray, ineffective jade stone to the side with a crisp “clink.”

 

In his busy work, he looked up at Sheng Jiao’s hand: “I’ve always wanted to ask—when did you get this wound? I have no memory of it at all.”

 

Sheng Jiao’s lips pressed tight. He moved his hand and the wound instantly healed.

 

This attitude clearly showed he was unwilling to answer.

 

Xi Jianlan could see his refusal to communicate and shrugged, not asking further.

 

He fiddled with the pendant clasp for a while, his eyes turning slightly, not knowing what bad idea he had, and smiled brilliantly at Sheng Jiao: “How about this, Sect Master Sheng—you find me a usable spirit bead, and I’ll help you draw out the Spring Rain sword intent. How about it?”

 

Sheng Jiao frowned at him.

 

Xi Jianlan pointed with his hand, saying righteously: “I see your Tianyan pearls are quite suitable. Lend me one to use. When we get to Central State, I’ll find my good friend… uh, what’s his name again? Anyway, I’ll find my good friend to fix the device and return it to you.”

 

Sheng Jiao: “…”

 

Xi Jianlan was joking around, just not wanting Sheng Jiao to pursue questions about his ears.

 

He didn’t know when Sheng Jiao had discovered the problem with his ears—he clearly hadn’t shown any flaws.

 

Could it have been when they first reunited?

 

The Tianyan pearls bestowed by Heaven’s will were incredibly precious. Previously, Xi Jianlan would be struck by lightning just for trying to touch one, let alone asking to use one as an ear ornament.

 

Sheng Jiao would definitely be furious and might even want to strike him.

 

Sure enough, the Tianyan pearls crackled with fine buzzing sounds.

 

Xi Jianlan was already used to this, continuing to fiddle with the pendant clasp with lowered eyes, hiding the slight sourness and embarrassment in his heart.

 

Suddenly, a “clink” sound.

 

A thunder-patterned bead shrunk to only fingertip size fell onto the small table.

 

Xi Jianlan was stunned, looking up in shock.

 

Sheng Jiao withdrew his hand, his dark eyes staring fixedly at him, saying concisely: “…Use it.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

Xi Jianlan looked at him, then at the Tianyan pearl, unable to recover for a long while.

 

After a while, he propped his chin and said blandly, “I never thought ‘Exchange for Bright Moon’s’ ‘listen’ command would be so effective, making even Lord Heaven’s Will willing to part with his precious pearl.”

 

Sheng Jiao frowned slightly.

 

Xi Jianlan inexplicably started to laugh, bright and delighted, reaching out to touch the pearl.

 

But before his fingertip could touch it, Sheng Jiao’s broad palm suddenly pressed forward, his palm covering both Xi Jianlan’s five fingers and the Tianyan pearl like a curtain.

 

Xi Jianlan’s gaze fell on Sheng Jiao’s burning hot hand, only now noticing that those five fingers were covered in red marks from being bitten, with several tooth marks on the knuckles that hadn’t faded yet.

 

“Bitten like this, did he tease a cat or something?”

 

Xi Jianlan thought.

 

Anyway, it was none of his business. Xi Jianlan never liked being forcefully restrained, so he tried to pull his hand free, saying quietly, “Sect Master Sheng, what do you mean by this? Are you going back on your word?”

 

Sheng Jiao stared at him against the light, enunciating each word to make sure Xi Jianlan could read his lips.

 

“How did your ear get injured?”

 

Xi Jianlan’s expression suddenly darkened. He pulled his hand out with all his strength, somehow suddenly getting angry: “Sect Master Sheng, if you lay everything bare, it’s just too boring.”

 

Sheng Jiao’s hand suddenly grasped nothing, the Tianyan pearl leaving a small dent in his palm.

 

“Sect Master Sheng is so clever—can’t you tell I don’t want to talk about this?” Xi Jianlan said coldly. “Are you deliberately trying to embarrass me? Or, after six years and our roles reversed, do you want to watch me make a fool of myself like everyone else?”

 

Sheng Jiao was stunned.

 

He hadn’t.

 

Xi Jianlan didn’t care whether he had or not, his face cold as he continued rummaging through the box: “My life is cheap and my ears are worthless. I’m afraid I can’t afford to use Lord Heaven’s Will’s Tianyan pearl. You’d better take it back and use it to judge people’s sins.”

 

As the sunlight shifted, Xi Jianlan sat there alone, as if his whole body was swallowed by shadow.

 

Suddenly, Sheng Jiao moved his hand away and gently pushed with his fingertip.

 

The Tianyan pearl rolled forward, a pale light like a reflection off rippling water instantly illuminating the whole room, rolling right to Xi Jianlan’s fingertips.

 

Xi Jianlan looked up at him.

 

Sheng Jiao said indifferently, “Not asking. Use it.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

This man, with a face that screamed “I’ll take your life in a month,” was giving him such a treasure as a Tianyan pearl. Xi Jianlan half-suspected the pearl might explode at any moment and blow him to pieces.

 

But at this point, even if he was scared, he had to go through with it. He sneered coldly and picked up the pearl: “No reason not to use it if it’s free.”

 

The spiritual power in the Tianyan pearl was clearly richer than any spirit bead in the Thirteen States. Xi Jianlan embedded the pearl, and the “Hearing All Things” mechanism in the pendant finally started working, albeit shakily.

 

Looks like it would work.

 

Xi Jianlan’s eyes curved, and he leaned in to bite the Tianyan pearl and pull it out, planning to adjust its position again.

 

Since the Tianyan pearl would go back on soon, he couldn’t be bothered to spit it out, just holding it between his lips as he carefully placed the jade stone in the mechanism slot.

 

Sheng Jiao still stood there like a tall pillar.

 

Xi Jianlan couldn’t be bothered with him, and didn’t notice those dark eyes staring at the Tianyan pearl glowing faintly blue between his lips.

 

Soon, Xi Jianlan finally finished fixing the pendant, reaching up to place the now-warm Tianyan pearl in the empty spot, locking it tightly in place.

 

The ear ornament clipped onto his ear, and as he rotated and adjusted the two beads, sound rushed into his mind like wind.

 

—Maybe because the bead was new, the surrounding sounds were much clearer than before. Xi Jianlan even thought he could hear Sheng Jiao’s racing heartbeat.

 

Xi Jianlan looked up in confusion, thinking something was wrong with him.

 

Sheng Jiao still wore that coffin-face. Seeing him look up, he said coldly, “Go?”

 

Xi Jianlan assumed the ear ornament wasn’t adjusted right, so he turned the beads a few more times until the strange heartbeat finally faded.

 

He breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much better, and casually reached out his hand: “Let me draw out the Spring Rain sword intent for Sect Master Sheng.”

 

Sheng Jiao seemed annoyed by his constant “Sect Master Sheng,” giving him a cold look and not moving at all.

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

You’re angry even when I’m treating your wound?

 

Six years had passed, and Sheng Jiao was becoming harder and harder to understand.

 

Since he liked being wounded, Xi Jianlan didn’t bother insisting on treating him—besides, he actually had no idea how to draw out the Spring Rain sword intent.

 

If he really tried to force it out, he’d probably have to use spiritual power.

 

Sheng Jiao clearly didn’t want to be treated, so Xi Jianlan planned to wait until they returned to Central State and found Spring Rain again.

 

“You didn’t want treatment yourself, not my problem.” He skillfully shirked responsibility, humming, “—Let’s go.”

 

With that, Xi Jianlan stepped out as if he were just going out to buy pastries.

 

Sheng Jiao frowned.

 

Xi Jianlan opened the door and saw Sheng Jiao still standing there: “What are you waiting for?”

 

Sheng Jiao: “Things?”

 

“Nothing to pack.” Sheng Jiao spat out each word, but Xi Jianlan had no trouble understanding him, replying casually, “I’m at home wherever I go—this is just a place to stay for now. Let’s go.”

 

Once, even going to school, the young master would bring several carts of luggage. Now, he was alone, with no attachments.

 

Nowhere was home.

 

Sheng Jiao was silent for a long time, his lifeless eyes seeming to ripple with a faint wave of light.

 

***

 

From the Northern Territory to Central State was over ten thousand li; even by river boat it would take a day and a night.

 

There was no river boat in Wuyin City, so they had to take a boat down the Chang River for half a shichen to reach another city in the Northern Territory.

 

Xi Jianlan was extremely familiar with the Northern Territory. He led Sheng Jiao through the city to board a boat, then bought two jade tokens to board the river boat to Central State. Throughout the journey, Sheng Jiao followed him in complete silence.

 

—Anyone who didn’t know better would think Xi Jianlan was the Xiezhi Sect’s adjudicator, and Sheng Jiao was the prisoner being escorted.

 

Xi Jianlan didn’t bring even a single spirit stone, yet shamelessly insisted on buying two of the finest private cabins on the riverboat, righteously making Sheng Jiao pay for them.

 

“Hurry, I want a spacious one.”

 

Sheng Jiao silently took out five spirit stones—but the two grown men only bought a small private cabin. The person selling the riverboat jade tokens looked at them suspiciously.

 

Fortunately, the cabin was by the window, so it wouldn’t feel too stifling.

 

Xi Jianlan looked around the cramped cabin, clearly displeased: “Aren’t you the Sect Master of Xiezhi Sect now? You must own a spirit stone mine or two, right? Feng Yu said all of Central State’s three territories are yours now, so why are you so stingy and cramped just for a riverboat ride? I don’t like this place at all, can’t even stretch my legs.”

 

Sheng Jiao ignored him, sitting cross-legged by the window on a cushion, starting to meditate.

 

Xi Jianlan circled the tiny cabin twice, then crawled up to the window and banged the ivory window open.

 

The riverboat had already soared high into the sky.

 

The weather was perfect today. The sea of clouds looked like mountain peaks, layer upon layer, like a fairyland. The wind was so strong at this altitude that when the window opened, a fierce gust howled in, whipping Sheng Jiao’s long hair wildly as he meditated.

 

Xi Jianlan, caught off guard, was blown backward, toppling right onto Sheng Jiao’s knee. The back of his head smacked painfully against that hard knee.

 

It was clearly Xi Jianlan’s own fault, but after holding his aching head for a while, he pursed his lips and kicked Sheng Jiao’s knee.

 

Sheng Jiao didn’t react, not even opening his eyes.

 

Xi Jianlan had to find his own amusement to pass the boring day and night.

 

Like a cat in a new place, he poked around at everything, but found fault with it all, his brows drooping in dissatisfaction.

 

After playing by himself for a while, Xi Jianlan grew bored and sat down across from Sheng Jiao, knees touching.

 

“Sect Master Sheng?”

 

“Lord Heaven’s Will?”

 

“Sheng Jiao?”

 

“Sheng Jiaojiao?”

 

Sheng Jiao ignored him.

 

Xi Jianlan thought for a while, then used his trump card.

 

“Sheng Wuzhuo.”

 

Who knows what power these three words held—Sheng Jiao’s lashes trembled slightly, and he finally opened his eyes.

 

“…What is it?”

 

Sheng Jiao’s gaze carried a kind of aggressive coldness.

 

Xi Jianlan was too close, locking eyes with those deep blue pupils. For some reason, his tense waist softened and he instinctively retreated a little.

 

Only after shrinking back did Xi Jianlan realize he’d chickened out. He coughed heavily, put on a practiced smile, and leaned forward until his face was almost touching Sheng Jiao’s nose, smiling brightly: “Sect Master Sheng, you’re so noble now, worth sixty thousand spirit stones at Guchang Temple. Surely you wouldn’t be stingy over a few dozen spirit stones, so you…”

 

Sheng Jiao’s brow twitched slightly, and he instinctively started to close his eyes.

 

—It was as if closing his eyes would block out whatever nonsense Xi Jianlan was about to say.

 

Xi Jianlan chuckled, shifted position, and leaned close to Sheng Jiao’s ear, his voice low, seductive, and teasing.

 

“…Don’t tell me you deliberately bought such a small cabin just to get close and intimate with me?”

 

Sheng Jiao: “…”

 

After speaking, Xi Jianlan stared straight into Sheng Jiao’s eyes.

 

Sheng Jiao’s pupils didn’t change at all, not even contracting, but the Tianyan pearls in his sleeve spun restlessly.

 

Xi Jianlan vaguely sensed something off, but the fun of teasing Sheng Jiao lingered in his heart. For such a trivial question, he even used “Exchange for Bright Moon’s” ‘listen and obey.’

 

“Sect Master Sheng, answer me, won’t you?”

 

His tone was gentle and coaxing, like a bewitching spirit.

 

Sheng Jiao’s lips moved slightly.

 

Sect Master Sheng was always upright and self-controlled—there was no way he’d fall for such a petty trick; the answer was obvious.

 

But even Xi Jianlan himself didn’t know why he was so inexplicably nervous, holding his breath waiting for an answer to a question he already knew.

 

Suddenly, in the cramped space, the sound of wind, breathing, heartbeats, and their mingled breaths all paused for a moment.

 

Sheng Jiao suddenly raised his hand, covering Xi Jianlan’s eyes and forcefully pressing him against the window, holding him tightly in place.

 

Bang!

 

The not-quite-closed window was knocked open a crack, and the fierce wind rushed in again, tangling their long hair together.

 

Xi Jianlan’s vision went dark, his ears fell silent, and only his sense of touch became incredibly sharp. He felt the hand covering his eyes was broad and burning hot, and it seemed like a cold gaze slid down from his nose, silently landing on his slightly parted lips.

 

It stopped.

 

Xi Jianlan froze, feeling Sheng Jiao’s chest vibrate slightly against him.

 

…Sheng Jiao spoke.

 

It was the “listen and obey” of “Exchange for Bright Moon” forcing him to answer.

 

But Xi Jianlan neither heard nor saw it.

 

He was still dazed when Sheng Jiao let go, expressionlessly returning to his seat to meditate as if nothing had happened.

 

The Tianyan pearl on the pendant earring stopped working for three breaths, then resumed as normal.

 

Xi Jianlan stared at him, for once completely stunned.

 

Heaven above.

 

What on earth did he say?!

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter