NEBM Chapter 27.1: Traveling Together

Shen Zhixian was not afraid that Yan Jin would recognize him. He’d deliberately used all kinds of methods to carefully disguise himself, ensuring that even people with higher abilities than Yan Jin would not be able to recognize him. Therefore, he didn’t believe for a moment that Yan Jin would be able to recognize him

So then, what was Yan Jin being so intense about?

The vague thought quickly flashed through his mind before he, once again, turned his attention to his awkward position. He was not a good, young lady and Yan Jin was not an overbearing bully, so why were their bodies in this kind of position?!

He twisted his wrist, trying to free himself. This time, Yan Jin relaxed his grip slightly, though he didn’t let go. But, at least he lowered their hands so that Shen Zhixian’s hand was no longer pressed to the door.

Shen Zhixian cleared his throat. Just to be on the safe side, he even changed the silky texture of his clear and cold voice into something that leaned more toward fresh and clean. “You…”

“You …”

They both spoke at the same time. Shen Zhixian paused and raised his chin slightly to indicate that the other party should speak first.

Yan Jin didn’t decline. When he spoke, his voice was tight and rough, as if he hadn’t drank water for three days. Bit by bit, his words became very clear. “You…In the end, who are you?”

“Huh?” Shen Zhixian stared blankly, unable to understand.

He dared to guarantee that Yan Jin had not recognized him. After all, his appearance, name, and voice were all very well disguised. Furthermore, if Yan Jin recognized him as his master, then he surely wouldn’t have responded this way.

Not hearing a response, Yan Jin stepped closer so that his hot chest was nearly pressed against Shen Zhixian. The heat of his breath brushed across Shen Zhixian’s cheek as he said, “—Sui Xian?”

“Ai!” Shen Zhixia responded subconsciously. Afterward, he felt the powerful grip on his wrist tighten. His regained his senses and a hint of doubt rose from within his heart. Yan Jin…was reacting to this name?

Yan Jin knew this name?

It didn’t make sense. The name was only used by the original teenage Shen Zhixian when he went out to practice. At that time, Yan Jin should still be small and had not yet joined the sect. Shen Zhixian combed through the original’s memory but was unable to find any memories relating to any prior meeting between the original Shen Zhixian and little Yan Jin.

In Qingyun Sect, aside from his master, no one knew the name Sui Xian, not even Song Ming. Therefore, there was no way Yan Jin would have known this name.

Shen Zhixian’s thoughts took a few quick turns, and he finally determined that Yan Jin must have met someone with the same name in the past. So, he let go of the matter in his heart and smiled, saying, “I haven’t done anything bad. Why don’t we sit down and talk?”

Yan Jin turned a deaf ear to his words. He repeated his original question with unceasingly intensity, “Who the hell are you?”

This crabby person.

Yan Jin was only holding on to one of Shen Zhixian’s hands. He shook his other hand calmly, causing his sleeve to sway. Then, he took a breath and said quietly, “My name is Sui Xian. I came from an unnamed town at the base of Zixu Mountain. I’m just an ordinary idler with nothing to do so I decided to walk around to see the world. It can be considered as wanting to gain experience.”

He spoke with great earnesty, but Yan Jin had already lost interest in his words. He sent a strand of spiritual power into Shen Zhixian’s body, gently and silently searching.

If he were an ordinary person, Shen Zhixian would not have even noticed such a small strand of spiritual power. However, Shen Zhixian was not an ordinary person; he was very familiar with spiritual force. Even if his spiritual acupoints were sealed, his body was sensitive enough to still recognize it. Therefore, once Yan Jin’s spiritual power entered his body, he immediately felt it.

But, he couldn’t resist it, nor could he react to it.

Shen Zhixian simply pretended not to notice it. He stood innocently, allowing Yan Jin to investigate to his heart’s content, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to detect anything.

Yan Jin didn’t do too much, merely allowing the silky strand of his spiritual force to search the person’s body for a bit before withdrawing. He acknowledged that this man dressed in white whose name was Sui Xian was empty of spiritual qi, seeming to be just an ordinary person. There was no trace of spiritual power to be found.

None at all.

But …

The point of contact where his hand was wrapped around the other party’s wrist began to grow hot.

It was like a gradual fire burning the palm of his hand. Within the depths of his spiritual sea, the binding contract that had just been formed finally awakened after more than half a month of silence.

It felt like a parched piece of land that had finally been awashed with sweet rain after a long drought. Or, like a hungry little hedgehog that had finally found a forest of fruits.

Yan Jin’s heart settled, and he inhaled softly. The previous oppressive tension finally eased, but his words were still sharp, even as he returned to his ordinary calm. “You have no spiritual power so why did you come to this border of the immortal cultivator’s land?

For ordinary people, it was enough to travel the mortal world that was full of countless great rivers and mountains. So, why come to this land of immortal cultivators?

He would inevitably be like a small fish caught up in the fight between immortal cultivators, meeting only disaster. There was no rational reason to come.

Shen “Ordinary Person” Zhixian sincerely said, “Life is short, comprising of just several decades of life. How can I remain stagnant due to fear and allow it to stop me? Although I’m unable to cultivate because of my ignorance, I’ve yearned for it for a long time. Now that I finally had the chance, I will naturally have to come and see.”

Yan Jin declined to comment and only glanced at him. Then, he asked, “Just now, downstairs, I wasn’t listening carefully. Who was the disciple in that book?”

Shen Zhixian : “…”

If he knew that Yan Jin was present, he wouldn’t have said that he was Yan Jin’s distant cousin! Wasn’t this just like asking to be taken apart at the scene!

Then again, how long had it been since Yan Jin left? Was he a hedgehog degenerating into a snail? Why was he still hanging around here?!

Shen Zhixian vaguely talked nonsense. “Just…that I’m one of that Master’s disciple’s…um, his distant cousin, very very distant. The kind of distant that is a million miles away.”

Look at him. He was really clever. He’d not once mentioned Yan Jin’s name so even if Yan Jin pursued the matter, he could still forcibly justify his claim. Anyway, Yan Jin wasn’t the only disciple under that “Master.” Other ordinary little disciples could still be considered, though barely.

Shen Zhixian curbed his unease and thought that, when this was over, he would immediately slip away and not allow Yan Jin to grab even one piece of hair as evidence of wrongdoing.

He had allowed Yan Jin out to practice this time because this was near the time that Yan Jin was supposed to have come across the demon fish scale. Therefore, he wanted to see if he himself could break into the secret place where the scale was hidden.

The reason why he didn’t want to reveal his identity, why he had changed his face and name, was because, on the one hand, he’d been stuck for a long time in one place and wanted to explore the Jianghu and, on the other hand, he was afraid that the bad guy, Yan Jin, would suddenly change his mind one day and still return to exact vengeance.

Although it could be said that since the two of them had entered into a contract, there was nothing to fear. But, it was still based on a fragment of a contract…To be honest, Shen Zhixian wasn’t entirely convinced.

He was afraid that it might turn out to be a false contract. If Yan Jin suddenly blackened, who knew if this piece of contract could stop him. One must not forget that Yan Jin was still the protagonist!

This protagonist halo, who could stand against it?!

Shen Zhixian raised his eyes to sneak a  look at Yan Jin’s expression. His expression looked normal, as if he believed Shen Zhixian’s nonsense. Seeing this, Shen Zhixian decided to leave quickly. He pretended to shake his hand casually and said, “Never mind. You can let of my hand now.”

Yan Jin heard his words and let go.

Shen Zhixian was relieved, and consciously wanted to escape from the wolf’s mouth. In a happy mood, he cupped his hands in salute without any constraint, said goodbye, and turned to open the door.

But who knew that just when he’d managed to open a seam in the door, a hand would catch the door again, pushing it closed.

Yan Jin’s calm and unhurried voice came from behind him. “Wait.”

Shen Zhixian’s heart jerked.

The calm and steady voice continued, “Since we seem to be familiar at first sight, it’s better to stay together. It can be considered as us mutually taking care of each other.” He paused and asked in a meaningful tone, “What do you think?”

————————–
Xixi: SZX is too funny. Just a heads up, this is a long, long chapter (18 – 20 pages long) so it’ll be broken into 3-4 parts.

Translation Notes:
(1) A flower vase – something that looks good but has no substance.