NEBM Chapter 19: A Long, Dark Night

The small jade bottle had rolled not far from where his right hand was gripping Yan Jin. As long as he let go of Yan Jin’s hand, he would be able to grab the bottle with ease. But, from beginning to end, his grip on Yan Jin remained firm.

Yan Jin wanted to catch the jade bottle for Shen Zhixian, but it merciless brushed pass his fingertips and sailed down the cliff.

The cliff was so high that the little jade bottle’s fall became silence almost immediately.

Shen Zhixian gritted his teeth and began to pull him up. But, half of the serpent was still rolling and spasming. It slammed into the hand holding Yan Jin and the serpent’s head snapped forward, suddenly opening its mouth to bite Shen Zhixian’s hand!

If its mouth had managed to close, Shen Zhixian’s hand would have been cut in two.

Jaws clenched tight, Shen Zhixian released his hold on the cliff’s edge long enough to quickly grab the serpent and pulled it off him. The serpent’s teeth were sharp, truly worthy of easily piercing flesh. The venom had barely managed to spray out a little before he threw the serpent over the cliff.

The momentum exerted by this throw caused his body to drag forward until most of his upper body was hanging off the cliff.

But he still held Yan Jin’s hand tightly.

Yan Jin’s mask of silence finally broke. He restrained the complex emotions in his heart, only to find out that his voice was tight, so tight that he could only shout “Master” and could no longer say anything else.

The gray serpent’s blood was pungent and sticky, making Shen Zhixian’s head feel faint. It took him a long time to pull Yan Jin up.

Heart pounding wildly, he closed his eyes and endured a moment of dizziness. Not saying a word to Yan Jin, he staggered away from the edge of the cliff and sat down against a sturdy tree, sighing tiredly.

Yan Jin, who had been on the verge of death, was better off than Shen Zhixian. He hurriedly followed, tearing his sleeve to wipe away the dirty blood on Shen Zhixian’s hand.

Shen Zhixian supported himself with his long legs. One hand was held by Yan Jin while the other hand was arbitrarily placed on one knee. As his back leaned against the trunk, his head was slightly tilted, his eyes closed and his breath coming out in soft pants.

If one were to ignore his blood-stained lips, one would say that he currently looked like a swordsman who had walked the horizon with sword in hand and who had came here to rest away his fatigue, looking both casual and wanton.

Yan Jin knew that Shen Zhixian was exhausted. The gray serpent had attacked without any warning, right as Shen Zhixian was about to take his medicine. Not only did he not manage to eat his medicine, but he’d undergone such a trial and was even bitten by the serpent.

Fortunately, the gray serpent’s poison was not lethal. It could only make the person bitten feel dizzy and befuddled. Ordinary people would remain this way for two to three days. Now that Shen Zhixian was in this situation, he would likely be affected for at least half the night.

“Master, why…didn’t you just let me go?”

Yan Jin’s question drew Shen Zhixian’s attention back. He partially opened his eyes, squinting as he looked at Yan Jin.

The young man was kneeling in front of him, his expression grave, as if he was a small beast that had done something naughty and was anxiously waiting for an unknown punishment

Looking at him like this, Shen Zhixian suddenly wanted to laugh a little. Instead, he coughed and held back his amusement.

In fact, this was an excellent time to play an emotion card. Shen Zhixian lowered his eyelids and let out a disappointed sigh, as if he was helpless and could do nothing but be lenient. ‘You already called for your master, so how could Master let you go?”

Yan Jin was emotionally moved, and astonishment flashed across his eyes. His lips trembled as he searched his mind for what to say next. In the end, he could only say, “Master…rest first. I won’t leave you.”

This was exactly the answer Shen Zhixian wanted.

Although Yan Jin deeply remembered his past events, he was, by nature, a steady and reliable man who could clearly distinguish between love and hatred.

He’d just calculated against Shen Zhixian. In return, Shen Zhixian saved his life, completely disregarding the previous scheme against him.

Shen Zhixin laid down half of his worries and thought drowsily that Yan Jin likely wouldn’t abandon him in the middle of the night and slip away secretly by himself.

Yan Jin didn’t leave. Although he did initially have that thought, when he nearly fell off the cliff and was saved by Shen Zhixian, the thought completely disappeared.

The night was deep, and the temperature in the mountain soon became chilly. Shen Zhixian had lost his spiritual protection and so he felt the chill despite his sleepiness. He couldn’t help but shiver and curl up uncomfortably.

He leaned against the tree with the back of his head resting on the trunk. As he slept, his head slowly slipped sideway.

Yan Jin saw this and stretched out his hand to gently touch Shen Zhixian’s forehead, holding his head upright.

Just then, a gust of cold wind blew through them, causing Shen Zhixian to shiver. Even in his sleep, his frowned deepened and he turned his head unhappily.

Feeling the warmth of Yan Jin’s hand against his forehead, he thought it was very comfortable. He nodded subconsciously and murmured, “Cold…”

Yan Jin noticed that something wasn’t right. He put down the sword that he’d been holding with his other hand and carefully covered Shen Zhixian’s forehead with his palm.

Slightly feverish.

Shen Zhixian had a low-grade fever.

The wind rustled through the leaves and moonlight dripped through the gaps in the branches, throwing mottled shadows.

He hesitated briefly before taking off his overcoat and placing it over Shen Zhixian’s shivering form. Then, he gently wrapped one arm around Shen Zhixian’s shoulder and pulled him against his chest, trying to block the cool breeze from touching him.

His broad, hot chest slightly thawed out some of the chill wrapped around Shen Zhixian’s body. Eyebrows easing, his head dipped to rest against the crook of Yan Jin’s neck. He paused, then adjusted his body into a more comfortable position. Subconsciously, his hand moved, sliding down to rest casually on Yan Jin’s thigh.

Shen Zhixian’s hand was cold, but Yan Jin felt as if the place he was touching seemed to be burning.

It felt incredibly hot.

He sat stiffly under the tree with Shen Zhixian held intimately in his arms. The sound of Shen Zhixian’s subtle breathing drifted repeatedly into his ears.

Yan Jin’s hand remained stiff and awkward for a long time, before he finally, carefully, rested it lightly against the man’s thin, white shoulder.

Shen Zhixian’s had thin, delicate bones, such that he merely had to reach out and his arm would completely wrap around the man’s entire shoulder.

His waist was even thinner than his shoulders…

Yan Jin recalled that when he picked Shen Zhixian up from the hot spring that day, he’d captured Shen Zhixian’s waist.

It felt too fragile.

This was the same person who, when he was young, astounded the cultivation world with his sword, winning the coveted spot of the Qingyun Sect Leader’s personal inheriting disciple. Using his sword and his intelligence, he carved a name for himself. Even now, no one had surpassed him.

It was a pity that it was too short-lived.

As Yan Jin was thinking, Shen Zhixian suddenly rubbed his head against Yan Jin’s earlobe. To his surprise, Yan Jin felt his ear become a little itchy and a little hot. He turned his head blankly and looked at Shen Zhixian’s sleeping face. This sight gave birth to a feeling that he’d not even noticed.

The stars flickered in the night sky, and silence wrapped snugly around them.

Fortunately, no monsters came to make trouble, and the night passed quietly. But, as night gradually shifted into dawn, causing the dew to rise, the resulting humidity and chill made Shen Zhixian uncomfortable all over again.

The damp and cold chill seeped through Shen Zhixian’s clothes and penetrated into his bones, causing pain and numbness. He frowned uncomfortably and instinctively shrank into Yan Jin’s arms.

Yan Jin noticed that there was something wrong. He pursed his lips and tightened his hold on the man.

This move only incentivized the sick.

Shen Zhixian shifted sleepily and buried himself deeper into Yan Jin’s arms. But, he still felt cold. The hand that was originally resting on Yan Jin’s thigh quietly slid up and grabbed his collar, searching for the desired source of heat.

But the hot source of heat was blocked by a layer of fabric. Shen Shixian was very dissatisfied. He mumbled incoherently and began to pull hard on Yan Jin’s collar.

The lining of Yan Jin’s inner shirt was fairly flimsy so Shen Zhixian was able to loosen the neckline. The moment slender, white fingertips touched naked chest, Shen Zhixian couldn’t help immediately pulling away from the hot temperature.

But, the heat immediately dispelled Shen Zhixian’s chill, bringing with it a comfortable sensation, which made him happy. He continued to pull harder at the neckline, as if trying to pull the entire heat source out so he could lean against the whole person.

It didn’t work.

Yan Jin hesitated and tried to stop Shen Zhixian. He was originally holding Shen Zhixian’s shoulder with one hand and holding his sword with the other. Now, he could only lower the sword so that he could capture Shen Zhixian’s hand and prevent him from moving.

But, Shen Zhixian had finally found the desired heat source. How could he give it up so easily? An ill person was typically the most unreasonable. The more Yan Jin obstructed him, the more he felt wronged. The more he felt wronged, the harder he tried.

Not only did Yan Jin had to deal with Shen Zhixian’s wandering hands, he also had to pay attention to their surroundings while also taking care not to inadvertently hurt him. Therefore, Shen Zhixian was able to find an opportunity to tear the thin lining of his collar.

Just a slight tear.

But, it was enough to give Shen Zhixian the needed leeway to press his entire palm against the Yan Jin’s hot flesh. Shen Zhixian sighed comfortably, finally contented. He shifted his head, found a good resting place with his forehead pressed against the slope of Yan Jin’s neck, and slipped back into a deep sleep.

Yan Jin froze. Although Shen Zhixian’s cold hand was pressed against his chest, he didn’t feel the least bit cold. He just felt like there was a ball of fire in his chest.

Burning him like a brand.

He didn’t dare provoke Shen Zhixian any further, fearing that this person would tear all of his clothes apart, regardless of his resistance. Therefore, he could only persevere with a stiff face and allow Shen Zhixian to rest his hand over his chest.

Right over his heart.

When the first light of the sun broke through the horizon, Shen Zhixian’s fever broke and he finally woke up.

It was probably the matter of poison neutralizing poison because the torment caused by the grey serpent resulted in no heart attacks.

Shen Zhixian yawned lazily and opened his eyes. He thought that it would be difficult to endure the night. Who knew that when he woke up, aside from feeling slightly flustered and hungry, he didn’t even feel uncomfortable. His neck was only slightly sore, but it was probably the result of sleeping against a tree all night.

He glanced over at Yan Jin, who was quietly holding his sword beside him, and felt a little relieved.

Very good.

But….

Shen Zhixian frowned and looked at Yan Jin’s oddly disheveled collar. “What happened?”

Yan Jin’s fingers tightened on his sword. After a moment, he said with some difficulty, “A lynx came in the middle of the night and tore it.”

Shen Zhixian let out a faint “mmn” and didn’t continue to pursue the matter. But, there were still 100,000 disbeliefs in his heart. What lynx would be so clever that he would bypass the outer robe and just pull at the collar of the inner shirt?

This bad disciple probably did something bad at night and just didn’t want him to know.

Shen Zhixian restrained his expression and turned to leave. He decided that he must come up with a method to curtail Yan Jin of his bad thoughts.

———————–
Xixi: The spoken word for lynx/mountain cat (zhi shan mao) pretty much sounds like Zhixian (but without the mao, of course).