NEBM Chapter 32: Sharing a Pillow

The youth sank into sorrow and couldn’t extricate himself. The three people didn’t bother him, so he was quietly left to sort out his emotions.

Duan Yuan was also upset, but she was more curious…

“Brother Sui, how do you know so much about these ghosts?”

Shen Zhixian made an expression of surprise and said, “I was curious about these things so, as we traveled, A’Jin talked about it a lot with me.”

As they came out of the restaurant, Shen Zhixian pretended to unintentionally walk around to Yan Jin’s right side. As a result, Yan Jin ended up sandwiched between him and Duan Yuan. At this moment, Duan Yuan was looking at Yan Jin.

She laughed and said, “You two have such a good relationship. Brother Yan may look like someone who doesn’t talk much, but he turned out to be so powerful. Now, I can ask more questions when there is time.”

She’d spent some time with them so she was familiar enough with them. As a result, Duan Yuan walked comfortably with a swing in her steps. Within the sect, she’d had to hold back her true temperament. It’d been a while since she’d seen her fellow disciples. Therefore, under Shen Zhixian’s influence, she was able to relax a lot more and even dared to joke with Yan Jin.

She knew that Yan Jin was a quiet person and didn’t expect him to answer. She’d only made a joke and was prepared to change the subject. Who knew that, this time, soon after her words ended, Yan Jin would slowly respond.

“I was taught well by my master.”

Duan Yuan said, “….Ah?”

Shen Zhixian: “….”

Duan Yuan was surprised that Yan Jin would actually respond to her words. She’d always thought that Yan Jin didn’t like her.

Shen Zhixian’s eyes turned blank, surprised that Yan Jin was speaking about him. Since he’d concealed his identity and Yan Jin didn’t know, he intentionally tried to give himself more face. He said, “Your Master is very good.”

Yan Jin: “…”

He turned and looked at Shen Zhixian steadily. Shen Zhixian was somewhat wary. When he saw that Yan Jin was staring at him with such intense concentration, he started to feel inexplicably strange, thinking that maybe flowers had grown on his face. Yan Jin only softly said. “Yes, he’s very good.”

As she looked at them, Duan Yuan, who was about to say something, suddenly closed her mouth, feeling confused.

She could understand every word, but why did she suddenly feel that the two were talking about something that only they knew?

At this moment, they’re all leaving town and were faced with the problem of parting.

Shen Zhixian intended to follow Yan Jin’s previous decision and continue to go south. If Duan Yuan’s plan was different from them …

Forget it. He’d done his best these two days. If the protagonists were meant to be together, they would always meet again in the future. He needed to worry about his own life first.

However, they really were brought together by fate. Duan Yuan confirmed the direction they were heading and quickly said, “I also plan to go south. There’s a rumor that a very good secret realm in the south will opened soon. I plan to check it out. If you don’t mind, shall we go together?”

A secret realm.

Shen Zhixian keenly captured these two words, and subconsciously thought of the demon fish scale that was hidden in the secret realm.

Yan Jin said that he wanted to go south, and Duan Yuan also said that there might be a secret realm in the south… The two main character’s choices were exactly the same.

Shen Zhixian couldn’t control his smile, suddenly feeling hopeful. This made his heart relaxed, and he answered in agreement.

The original book didn’t elaborate much on the details, but it did mention that Yan Jin got the scale and gave it to the sound cultivator.

This sound cultivator was undoubtedly Duan Yuan.

Shen Zhixian thought about it. Maybe in the original book, Yan Jin and Duan Yuan knew each other before entering the secret realm, or they met in the secret realm. Later, Yan Jin gifted her with the scale…The scale had the magical effect of healing dead human skin and bones. What if she wanted to repair her looks?

Duan Ye didn’t seem to care about the scars on her face, but what girl wouldn’t want to be beautiful and intact?

Shen Zhixian let out a small sigh, thinking that he’ll have to try to come up with the best of both worlds.

Although he was deep in contemplation, the smile on Shen Zhixian’s face did not disappear.

Duan Yuan had summoned her mount in preparation to leave and didn’t pay attention to him. Yan Jin was always watching Shen Zhixian so only he witnessed all his joy.

So happy.

He watched Shen Zhixian. Although he wasn’t as easy-going as before, Shen Zhixian still climbed on the flying fish’s back in a fairly calm manner. Afterward, Yan Jin lowered his eyelids and followed suit.

Duan Yuan’s mount was a fluffy civet cat, which looked chubby but was in fact very flexible. She gave out a light command and the animal spread open its wings to take flight. It was no less impressive than the flying fish.

“My sect sisters preferred to use fairy cranes.” Because they were in mid-air and the wind was strong, she had to use a small technique to make sure they heard her. “They usually require fruits from time to time. I don’t like them very much.”

Fairy cranes looked impressive and gentle. Naturally, they were female disciples’ first choice. But, Duan Yuan was impatient with their delicateness.

She’d probably been out for a long time, far from the shackles of her sect, which allowed her innate temperament to shine through. When he first saw her, Shen Zhixian originally thought that she was gentle and graceful, but now he could see that she’d completely changed. Her every move was clearly very lively and chivalrous, her laughter crisp and hearty.

“I like this big fat cat … No, it’s not fat, it just looks fluffy, and it’s actually very flexible.” Duan Yuan rubbed the cat’s fluffy fur and squinted her eyes comfortably. “Ah, it’s fun to rub.”

Shen Zhixaan thought Duan Yuan was very interesting. He began to think that Duan Yuan’s temperament was also suitable for Yan Jin. Yan Jin was so quiet and taciturn. Wouldn’t it be good for him to have a lively and smart female lead?

Suddenly, a hint of sadness and melancholy rose up in him. He gently elbowed Yan Jin’s side, saying, “Why aren’t you responding to the girl?”

Because Shen Zhixian was a little bit afraid, Yan Jin, as usual, set up a barrier around the flying fish. He sat beside Shen Zhixian, guarding him silently.

When he heard Shen Zhixian’s words, he looked over at him. A pair of deep, dark eyes stared at Shen Zhixian for a long time until he inexplicably, awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose. Finally, Yan Jin turned to look at Duan Yuan and said, “The wind is strong here. He couldn’t hear what you’re saying so he can’t respond. Just travel on.”

Duan Ye heard him speak so many words for the first time. She paused for a while before she finally reflected on what he’d said. Although she was a little irritated, she immediately responded pleasantly and didn’t speak again.

Shen Zhixian: “…”

Maybe, maybe the younger sister preferred this….kind of taciturn and cold male lead?

They traveled south for several days, passing by many towns and villages, until these immortal cultivators felt the needed to take a break and stretch their legs.

It wasn’t until noon the next day when they finally decided to settle in a small town. They randomly found a restaurant and sat down. Sitting in a table next to them was a middle-aged cultivator with a tube of divination sticks in his hand.

It was a disciple of Xuanji Tower.

With one glance, Shen Zhixian recognized his identity. He didn’t know where this keen instinct came from, though it probably stem from the original’s memory.

As its name suggested, Xuanji Tower was a sect that specialized in the study of heavenly metaphysics and was best at divination. Shen Zhixian recalled that during that time at Shilian Mountain, Sect Leader Wen’s phantom had mentioned that a Xuanji Tower grandmaster had calculated the divinatory hexagram for him, saying that the calamity in his fate could not be avoided. [t/n: Xuanji = profound theory]

Thinking of Sect Leader Wen, Shen Zhixian couldn’t help but think about Qingyun Sect. He wondered what the “Elder Shen” of Fifth Peak was doing right now. At least, there was still Fourth Elder to help cover for him.

While he was lost in thought, the Xuanji Tower cultivator, who’d been sitting bored waiting for his food, was looking them over. He saw Duan Yuan’s xun instrument and Yan Jin’s sword. Sensing their spiritual power, he spontaneously came over to their table. “Daoist friends, did you come here to find the secret realm?”

At the words “secret realm,” Shen Zhixian snapped back to attention. His lips curved into a smile and he answered, “Why? Is Daoist friend also here for that reason?”

Of the three of them, Yan Jin was a silent, stuffy gourd while Duan Yuan was used to pretending to appear “gentle and graceful” to outsiders. Therefore, only Shen Zhixian was left to talk to others.

He had a beautiful appearance and an easy-going temperament, a combination of factors that proved helpful to putting people at ease.

The middle-aged man said “Mmn” and exposed a satisfied expression. “Naturally. That secret realm is rumored to have never been opened before. Who knew how many treasures could be found inside? It’s only natural to try my luck.”

He seemed to be more knowledgeable about the secret realm, Shen Zhixian secretly thought. With a smile, he asked a few questions, trying to gain a better understanding.

It turned out that this secret realm had surfaced near Xincheng several months ago, but it had yet to open. It only hovered in place, surrounded by a dense spiritual qi. This indicated how unusual this spiritual realm was.

As a result, a large number of cultivators were flocking to it.

Many cultivators had gathered at Xincheng, waiting for the secret realm to open. It happened that the owner of Xincheng was a disciple of Xuanji Tower. After a long calculation, he finally concluded that the secret realm will open in the next few days.

“I hope to go in and take a look…” The middle-aged man touched his chin thoughtfully. “It was said to be a very old secret realm that had never appeared before. Who knows how rich it is.”

Not everyone could enter a secret realm. Some high-level secret realms would choose the people who could enter them. After all, the higher the level, the more good things hidden within and the higher the danger. If a cultivator was not up to standard, he or she won’t be able to enter.

This could be problematic, Shen Zhixian thought to himself. Although his cultivation stage was fairly high, his spiritual power was suppressed. He wasn’t certain he would be able to enter.

There were many people in the restaurant so the dishes were slow to appear. It was unknown which of Shen Zhixian’s words had caused the middle-aged man to check him. After learning that Shen Zhixian was an ordinary person with no spiritual power, he took a handful of divinatory sticks to calculate for Shen Zhixian.

“It remains to be seen whether you’re an ordinary person. How about I calculate for you? It’s not too strenuous to do these ordinary things for ordinary people.” He held the tube of divinatory sticks toward Shen Zhixian and motioned for him to draw three sticks “Since you’ve arrived at this point, maybe you’ll receive some unusual opportunities.”

Shen Zhixian’s eyes fell on the tube of divinatory sticks in the man’s hand. The tube looked different from the common tubes. It’s body was carved with extremely delicate patterns that looked like astrological signs. The jade divinatory sticks inside were also carved with complicated lines, each attached with a strand of spiritual force.

This was the cultivator’s weapons and also the tool used for divination.

Anyway, Shen Zhixian was just sitting idle, and thinking it harmless, he pulled out three sticks with a great flourish. He glanced at the various patterns to re-affirm that he had no clue what they meant.

The middle-aged man from Xuanji Tower took the jade sticks and placed them on the table. The spiritual power within the sticks condensed into a thin, silken thread, connecting the three jade sticks together. As he mumbled, he fiddled with the sticks.

It didn’t take long for the middle-aged man to finish calculating the results. His voice sounded surprised as he said, “This is the first time I’ve seen such a good divinatory diagram. Regarding your trip, you’ll get what you wanted, ah!”

What people wouldn’t like listening to nice things. Although he didn’t know how the middle-aged man arrived at that conclusion, Shen Zhixian was still very happy to hear this. His smile widened, and he thanked the man.

The middle-aged man picked up the jade sticks and wondered out loud, “This really is the first time I’ve seen such a good divinatory diagram…”

Before the man could say anything else, the little waiter arrived with his food.

After eating his meal, the middle-aged man took his tube of divinatory sticks, once again expressed surprise at Shen Zhixian’s wonderful divinatory diagram, and left.

The three rested for a while before setting off again. The main reason why they rested for so long was because of Shen Zhixian. Because Yan Jin and Duan Yuan had spiritual power in their bodies, they didn’t feel fatigued by the travel. Shen Zhixian, on the other hand, was like an ordinary person so he would naturally feel tired.

Now that they had a specific direction, the three rushed all afternoon straight toward their goal. At last, they finally arrived at Xincheng before darkness fell.

Because the secret realm would soon open, many cultivators were swarming about. The inns were almost full, making it difficult to find one with vacancies. Luckily, they found two first-class vacant rooms that had remained empty due to their high prices.

Shen Zhixian sighed when he heard the words “two rooms.” Although he liked sharing a room with Yan Jin, he lamented that he wouldn’t have an opportunity to secretly sneak in some more reading time.

Some days ago, they’d stopped at an inn with many rooms. Therefore, the three of them slept in their own room. With Yan Jin gone, Shen Zhixian quietly read late into the night until he nearly finished the whole set of books.

He wanted more.

It was truly, very good.

Oh!

That kind of secret, subtle and syrupy emotions, like a warm March Spring breeze tenderly caressing the face, really made people addicted and unable to stop.

In all honesty, he’d almost forgotten that the two protagonists were based off of Yan Jin and himself. He’d begun to think that the story was about others. Whenever he arrived at his favorite part, he would often read the passage twice.

Shen Zhixian vaguely felt that he’d forgotten something, but it didn’t matter. He had already decided to go back after this was all over to see if Qingyun Bai Xiaosheng had given birth to a new story. No other little things could stop him.

He didn’t know which Qingyun Sect disciple this Qingyun Bai Xiaosheng was but he decided that, if he ever did find out, instead of punishing him to plant melons for three months, he would….lower it to only one month!

It was already deep into the night. Shen Zhixian climbed into bed, drowsily yawned, and asked as usual, “Are you sleeping here tonight?”

He’d meant to ask Yan Jin if he wanted to share this superior bed together. It’d cost more money so everything was very good. The bed was big enough for two people to sleep comfortably together. In Shen Zhixian’s candid perception, they were brothers and it wasn’t really a big deal for brothers to sleep together.

He wasn’t an unmarried, chrysanthemum flower of a daughter, and so he didn’t have to be so particular or think too much about it.

According to previous experiences when sharing the same room, after Shen Zhixian asked this question, Yan Jin would shake his head and spend the night meditating on a small, soft couch. Therefore, Shen Zhixian didn’t pay too much attention to his response and merely prepare to lay down after asking.

However, today, who knew what Yan Jin had eaten, because he actually said, “Mmn” and calmly strode over.

Shen Zhixian had just laid down half-way when he saw Yan Jin walked over. He couldn’t respond for a long moment and only made a sound of surprise as he watched Yan Jin sat down next to him on the bed and told him the usual word. “Sleep.”

Shen Zhixian, who was trapped between Yan Jin and the wall, was confused. But, he subconsciously listened to Yan Jin’s words and laid down, even scooting over to make more room for him.

The candle went out with a pfff, casting the room into sudden darkness.

Yan Jin laid down next to him, silent and calm.

Shen Zhixian took a while to adapt to the darkness, and then, for some reason, his body suddenly quivered. His awareness was so intense that his prior drowsiness completely and utterly dissipated.

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Xixi: They’re sharing a bed! They’re finally sharing a bed! Will something happen?

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