NEBM Chapter 38.1: Fishbone

Yan Jin pressed his cheek tightly against Shen Zhixian, warming his slightly cool cheek.

On Shen Zhixian’s pale face were faint traces of black qi. Yan Jin wrapped one arm around his waist and used his other hand to clasp behind his head. His warm lips pressed against Shen Zhixian’s forehead, transferring spiritual power to him and sucking in the black qi. He whispered soothingly, “It’s okay. We’re out…”

Clean and docile spiritual power circulated throughout Shen Zhixian’s body, making him feel like he was soaking lethargically in a warm hot spring. He opened his eyes with great difficulties and his gaze gradually focused…

By the time he’d managed to open his eyes completely, Yan Jin had recovered his usual calm and looked at him with only a slight anxiety.

The distance between them was too close. Shen Zhixian moved back subconsciously, only to find that their poses were…very intimate.

Yan Jin was half a head taller than him. When he was turned around and hugged, he probably felt that wrapping his arms around Yan Jin’s neck was too tiresome so he ended up tightly holding onto Yan Jin’s waist instead. Like a koala.

Shen Zhixian quickly retracted his hand and tilted his head back with some embarrassment. He’d wondered why Yan Jin held him so tightly. It turned out that he was the one holding others by himself.

His face grew hot. He was so pale that the blush turned his face a little red. Yan Jin’s hand was still tightly clasped around his waist, and Shen Zhixian whispered, “You can let me go now.”

Yan Jin carefully looked at him for a moment, and after confirming that he was indeed much better, slowly let go .

As soon as he let go, Shen Zhixian felt heavy, and his legs buckled underneath him. He almost fell down but Yan Jin caught him, firmly supporting him once again.

The previous events had already left him in a very weak state. It was only because Yan Jin was holding his waist and bearing most of his weight, was he able to stand relaxed. But, the moment Yan Jin let go, he could no longer stand.

Yan Jin wouldn’t tolerate his rejection this time, and once again steadily clasped his waist and helped him stand firmly.

This master of his, despite being so weak and feeble, was still so dignified.

Shen Zhixian pursed his lips, wanting to say something to divert his attention, but when he tilted his head, something caught his eyes.

He looked at it and realized that a small thing the size of a finger was lying unobtrusively not far away, shining brightly under the sun.

It seemed to have a kind of mysterious power, which prompted him to pick it up. He immediately realized it was a small and exquisite white jade-like fishbone.

There was no head. Only a long and slender fish body. Each bone was like finely-crafted works of art, with no broken bumps to be seen. The tail was still warm from the sun and the texture of the bones were more like jade than bones.

Shen Zhixian turned it over and studied it.

These past few days, in that place full of black qi, most of the so-called creatures he’d seen were only made up of skulls with a body of condensed black qi. It seemed rather special for a fishbone to suddenly appear here.

Shen Zhixian instinctively felt that it must be very important. He rubbed the small fan-shaped tail bone for a while and then carefully put it away.

As they began to look around carefully, they realized that their surroundings were green and lush, with no signs of black qi in sight. Even the air was fresher.

It looked incredibly ordinary, with rock mountains, trees and flowers. Not far away, a stream babbled merrily—In fact, everything seemed like the previous area, but unlike the previous, it was untainted by black qi and it looked more peaceful and calm.

They were obviously still inside the secret realm.

“Let’s go and look for Duan Yuan.” Shen Zhixian sighed and added, “This place is weird. She might not know that we’re trapped here and can’t leave.”

Yan Jin said nothing. He only slightly bowed his head as he asked, “Sui Xian, can you move by yourself? Shall I carry you on my back? Or, I can hold you.”

Shen Zhixian nearly choked on his own saliva. When he was too groggy to walk by himself, Yan Jin had also asked him. But, at that time, Shen Zhixian was barely conscious. Now, he was wide awake. As he listened to this question…

Why did he feel a little embarrassed?

The suddenly bashful Shen Zhixian shook his head slightly and refused the temptation of laziness. He said, “No need.”

He’d already gained some strengths. Moving back a little uncomfortably, he added, “Hand…”

Shen Zhixian motioned for Yan Jin to release his waist.

Yan Jin didn’t resist. He obediently loosened his hold on Shen Zhixian’s waist and then… promptly held his hand instead.

The way he held Shen Zhixian’s hand was very ordinary. After all, Shen Zhixian was awake and Yan Jin didn’t dare do much. But, even so, Shen Zhixian was uneasy and tried to pull his hand away.

“We’re just holding hands. What are you worried about, Sui Xian?” Yan Jin calmly said, once he noticed Shen Zhixian shrinking away. He paused and seemed a little puzzled, “Or, does Sui Xian want to change how we hold hands?”

His fingertips pointedly jabbed between Shen Zhixian’s fingers.

These words seemed to be familiar, and he seemed to have said it to Yan Jin.

He also knew what the other method was.

Shen Zhixuan looked down at their clasped hand. He endured, not refusing. Okay…Okay, he’ll treat it as if Yan Jin was just worried he might fall.

He wondered if he was just imagining it. It felt as if something about Yan Jin had changed. He just couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.

It felt rather strange.

Speaking of which, when he’d been lethargic earlier, it seemed like … he heard Yan Jin singing.

He still had some vague memories, remembering that when they were in that place, they’d heard a distant song… Yan Jin didn’t really sing, though. He’d just hummed the small tune. Although it was rusty and stiff, it was indescribable, making Shen Zhixian felt extremely moved.

Yan Jin had taken care of him like this… How could Shen Zhixian completely wash himself white again?

As Shen Zhixian thought wildly, he followed Yan Jin step by step.

He’d been deeply affected by the dark qi. At this moment, he walked like a toddler, slow and awkward and needing frequent breaks. Fortunately, Yan Jin was patient and took very good care of him.

……………………..

After walking for two to three days with frequent rests, Shen Zhixian slowly began to feel normal.

There were a lot of good things here. While walking on the road, he could see spirit grass and, from time to time, a few spirit fruits. Shen Zhixian looked at a few good ones and asked Yan Jin to collect them all.

As Shen Zhixian shook off the mud on the spirit grass, he suddenly remembered the long-disappeared Xiao Caoya and casually asked after him.

“Sleeping,” Yan Jin responded.

Within two days after abandoning Shen Zhixian for Yan Jin, Xiao Caoya had entered Yan Jin’s storage bag and fallen into a deep sleep.

Shen Zhixian humped, his expression quite pensive

In the dirt pit left by the grass, they noticed a section of spirit jade. Yan Jin dug it out. The spirit jade was as large as his palm, and even the mud that coated it couldn’t hide it’s rich aura.

As Yan Jin was digging, Shen Zhixian looked around casually, as if searching for something. Eventually, Yan Jin straightened and turned to look at him for a long time. Even then, Shen Zhixian continued to look around.

Yan Jin asked quietly, “Did Sui Xian enter the secret realm to look for something?”

Shen Zhixian collected his thoughts, hesitated for a while, and finally mentioned the inverted demon fish scale.

After a moment of silence, Shen Zhixian rubbed his eyebrows. “Forget it….This place is too weird. Let’s just find Duan Yuan.”

Although he said this, his face was obviously not very eager to give up.

Yan Jin was silent for a while and asked, “Is it related to Master’s heart ailment?”

Shen Zhixian sighed, which can be considered as a positive answer in itself.

When Yan Jin didn’t respond, Shen Zhixian called for them to proceed. Yan Jin suddenly said, “Wait until we find Young Lady Duan. Sui Xian can leave with her, and I’ll stay behind to find the scale.”

Before Shen Zhixian could respond, he heard Yan Jin continued, “Sui Xian will then truly have his wishes fulfilled, including having Young Lady Duan.”

Shen Zhixian came to an abrupt halt, surprised. What thing?…What wish? And what does it have to do with Duan Yuan?

Before he’d managed to react, they were seen. The Xuanji Tower disciple who had calculated a divinatory diagram for Shen Zhixian in Xin City saw them. Shen Zhixian opened his mouth to speak but a loud greeting suddenly came from nearby. “Oh! It’s two you again!”

The two people looked toward the voice and were silent for a moment…In the end, it was the other person with the divinatory tube who came running, huffing and puffing.

So, he also entered the secret realm.

Seeing people he knew, even if it was one-sided, the middle-aged man was still very happy to exchange genial greetings with them.

Since they didn’t know this person well, Shen Zhixian didn’t tell him about the weird things they’d experienced. He only asked the other about his situation. After speaking a few words, Shen Zhixian noticed that the other party didn’t seem to notice anything weird. Then, he asked, “Do you still remember the young woman who was with us that day? Did you see her?”

“Ah?” Duan Yuan’s temperament was good so the middle-aged man still had a bit of an impression. He pondered for a moment and said with uncertainty, “I haven’t seen the young woman but I saw someone a few days ago…who looks a lot like her. It was a young man.”

Uh???

After a pause, he added, “Quite handsome…He looked like the young lady you mentioned…About ninety percent alike but no chin scar. He also looked older. Maybe they’re siblings?”

Shen Zhixian hesitated. “I don’t know…”

Duan Yuan had never told them whether he had brothers or sisters so Shen Zhixian wasn’t too certain.

As the middle-aged man was about to say something, he suddenly glimpsed the spirit jade that Yan Jin was holding. His eyes brightened, and he immediately became too excited to remember those other things. “Yaoshan Jade!”

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