Vindicated After a Wrongful Death - Chapter 39

Gu Congxu looked at him hesitantly. “Are you really… going to swallow it?”

Xiang Zhongjing had already kicked his feet up onto the small table, propping his head up lazily. “Hmm? Didn’t you want to perform? Are you backing out now?”

Gu Congxu was a True Dragon who stayed true to his word. Gritting his teeth and steeling his heart, he transformed into a slender little dragon coiled on the table, attempting to fit his tail tip into his mouth.

Qu Weixian and Man Qiuxia were visiting for the third time that day. They had expected Xiang Zhongjing to still be in a deep sleep, as he had been the previous two times, and were prepared to turn back. However, as they neared the door, they heard Xiang Zhongjing’s voice from within.

“Swallow it. Swallow deeper. Retract your fangs. Tch, do you even know how to do this?”

“Mmph, ghak.”

Man Qiuxia: “…”

Man Qiuxia sucked in a breath of cold air. Countless imaginary scenes he wanted to paint flashed through his mind, only to shatter completely.

I drew the positions wrong.

While Man Qiuxia was falling into a frenzy because he had reversed the “top and bottom” roles in his head, the guileless Qu Weixian simply knocked on the door.

Man Qiuxia looked at him in horror.

He’s just knocking?

Qu Weixian didn’t understand why Man Qiuxia was so agitated; he only knew that Xiang Zhongjing was awake.

“Zhongjing, I’m here.”

Man Qiuxia thought to himself that Xiang Zhongjing was in the middle of fooling around, so there was no way he’d answer.

In the next heartbeat, Xiang Zhongjing’s steady voice came from the room. “Mm, come in.”

Man Qiuxia was shocked.

He’s actually letting us in?!

Fretting and falling apart, Man Qiuxia covered his eyes while simultaneously pushing Qu Weixian inside.

Upon entering, Man Qiuxia expected to see something unsightly. He parted his fingers slightly, peeking through the gaps for a glimpse of something scandalous.

But as his gaze swept the room, he saw Xiang Zhongjing leaning properly dressed against a soft couch. Coiled around the wrist resting on the table was a slender dragon, which appeared to be biting its own tail to serve as a bracelet.

There was no exciting scene to be found.

Disappointed, Man Qiuxia lowered his hand.

Qu Weixian sat down beside Xiang Zhongjing. “Zhongjing, Zhongjing, are you feeling better?”

Xiang Zhongjing patted his head and said with a smile, “Much better.”

Man Qiuxia stared at Xiang Zhongjing’s face without blinking, able to spot even a single missing eyelash. Seeing this, he gave a cold snort. “Your face is as pale as a ghost’s, and you call that better? I’d say you’re not far from being put in the ground.”

Just as the words left his mouth, an excited voice came from the doorway. “Who? Who’s not far from being put in the ground?!”

Xiang Zhongjing looked up to see Song Youqiu clinging to the doorframe like a thief, looking at him with the eager eyes of someone staring at a dying man. Had he arrived a moment earlier, Xiang Zhongjing suspected Song Youqiu would have seen him sleeping and carried him off to be buried on the spot.

Man Qiuxia glared at Song Youqiu. “No one is being buried. What are you doing here?”

Song Youqiu swaggered in, the coffins on his person clattering and clanging loudly. “The news of the Sword Sovereign’s vindication is spreading like wildfire outside. I’ve come specifically to congratulate the Sovereign on finally clearing his name.”

Xiang Zhongjing said with a half-smile, “Here for jade stones, are you?”

Song Youqiu looked at him shyly. “No one understands me better than the Sovereign.”

As he spoke, he held out a hand for a reward. “That will be one thousand jade stones, please.”

Xiang Zhongjing: “…”

Not sure if he followed the conversation, Qu Weixian asked nervously, “Zhongjing owes money?”

Xiang Zhongjing patted his hand helplessly, signaling him to be quiet, lest he also be fleeced by Song Youqiu.

“Fine, the jade will be given to you.” With Qiong Eryi, the spirit sword that ate jade stones for rations, Xiang Zhongjing certainly wasn’t short on cash. He continued, “I need you to do one more thing for me. I’ll pay whatever you ask.”

Song Youqiu’s eyes lit up. He would agree to anything for money and nodded immediately. “Yes, yes, of course.”

Xiang Zhongjing beckoned him. “Come here.”

Even though Song Youqiu had no interest in men, he was nearly enchanted by that beckoning gesture. He gave a dry cough and scurried forward under Man Qiuxia’s hateful gaze.

Xiang Zhongjing whispered into Song Youqiu’s ear, “I want every bit of information on that criminal from the Sandu Secret Realm and the evil dragon.”

Song Youqiu was visibly shaken.

Xiang Zhongjing stared into his eyes, his expression pleasant. “You can’t do it?”

Song Youqiu bit his lip hard, his jaw tight.

Man Qiuxia found this very strange. Song Youqiu usually took on any dirty or messy job without batting an eye, even if it touched on moral boundaries. He had never seen him react like this in all these years.

After a long hesitation, Song Youqiu looked at Xiang Zhongjing. “After the matter is finished…”

Xiang Zhongjing naturally understood. “I won’t reveal a single thing about you.”

Only then did Song Youqiu steel himself. “Deal.”

For once, Song Youqiu didn’t linger for small talk. He left hurriedly without another word, his coffin charms no longer even jingling.

Man Qiuxia thought to himself that this must be a very significant matter.

However, Man Qiuxia only cared about Xiang Zhongjing’s face. Even if he was curious about other things, he wouldn’t pursue them.

Seeing Qu Weixian staring at him, Xiang Zhongjing turned to him. “Weixian, what is it?”

His tone was always much gentler when speaking to Qu Weixian, as if afraid of scaring him.

Gu Congxu, still biting his tail and not daring to move, felt strangely sour for some reason.

Ugh, it must be from eating the tip of my tail.

Ghak, ghak, ghak.

Qu Weixian looked at him, hesitating for a long while. Then, as if afraid of making Xiang Zhongjing sad, he murmured softly, “Zhongjing, don’t be angry.”

Xiang Zhongjing smiled. “I’m not angry. Just say it.”

Relieved, Qu Weixian asked cautiously, “Zhongjing, have you seen my father?”

Xiang Zhongjing froze. “He hasn’t returned?”

“No.” Qu Weixian shook his head. “He hasn’t been seen since the day he took you to the forbidden grounds.”

Xiang Zhongjing frowned. “I didn’t see him after I entered the forbidden area, and I didn’t see him when I came out.”

Qu Weixian had blind faith in Xiang Zhongjing and wouldn’t dream of suspecting him of lying, though anyone else would have assumed Xiang Zhongjing had secretly silenced Qu Xing in the back mountains.

“What should I do?” Qu Weixian murmured. “My father wouldn’t leave the Quyi Sect without telling me. Where did he go?”

Qu Weixian had been pampered by Qu Xing since childhood and was very dependent on him. Xiang Zhongjing hadn’t yet decided how to deal with Qu Xing, but he hadn’t expected the man to disappear on his own.

Xiang Zhongjing asked, “Have you sent people to look?”

“The mountains have been searched for three days. I also had Song Youqiu look across Jiuzhou, but there’s no trace of him.”

Seeing Qu Weixian’s listless expression, looking more like he lacked sleep than was suffering an episode, Xiang Zhongjing patted his back. “Don’t worry yet. He’s not like you; he won’t lose his way home, right? You look very tired, Weixian. How about you get some sleep first?”

For days, Qu Weixian had been searching for Qu Xing and refused to rest no matter who asked. But when Xiang Zhongjing said it, he took it to heart and nodded obediently. “Right. Okay.”

Xiang Zhongjing coaxed him into the inner chamber to sleep. Qu Weixian was exhausted and fell into a deep slumber the moment he lay down.

Xiang Zhongjing watched him for a while before leaving the inner room.

Man Qiuxia was pulling a bowl of medicine from his storage space. He said plainly, “You’re actually kind enough to help him find Qu Xing?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Xiang Zhongjing sat down, crossing his legs. “Weixian is the Sect Leader, but the Quyi Sect still follows Qu Xing’s orders. The dragon bones might also be with Qu Xing. If I want to get the bones, I have to find him.”

Man Qiuxia scoffed. “Typical you. Not letting emotions sway you in the slightest.”

Xiang Zhongjing casually touched his wrist and found that Gu Congxu was still biting the tip of his tail, not daring to move, as if afraid he was still angry.

Xiang Zhongjing suddenly burst out laughing. He had been asleep for three days, and his emotions had been a bit thin upon waking; even though he was no longer angry with Gu Congxu, the lamps in his mind hadn’t caught up yet.

Now, Xiang Zhongjing finally had time to process his feelings, and the lamps that Gu Congxu hadn’t finished lighting finally began to flicker on one by one.

Man Qiuxia placed the bowl of medicine before Xiang Zhongjing.

Xiang Zhongjing’s smile stiffened, and two more lamps in his mind flickered out.

Xiang Zhongjing: “…”

Seeing his sickly complexion, Man Qiuxia said, “This is to nourish your body.”

Xiang Zhongjing said drolly, “The way you say that, people would think I was with child.”

Man Qiuxia actually tilted his head and thought about it. “If you want to carry little dragon cubs, I could develop a spiritual medicine for that too.”

Xiang Zhongjing: “…”

Xiang Zhongjing pointed an expressionless finger at the door. “Get out.”

Man Qiuxia stayed put. “Drink your medicine.”

Xiang Zhongjing hadn’t noticed at first, but after Man Qiuxia mentioned it, he realized his body did feel a bit sickly, rather than just groggy from sleep.

Xiang Zhongjing had a peculiar constitution and never drank medicine. Since childhood, he had relied on spiritual energy to heal major injuries and simply endured minor illnesses. He hated the smell of medicine. Frowning, he picked up the bowl and sniffed it. “What did you put in here?”

Man Qiuxia talked nonsense. “All sorts of tonics. I guarantee your face will be glowing after you drink it.”

Xiang Zhongjing: “…”

Xiang Zhongjing shot him a look.

Man Qiuxia immediately clutched his heart, looking grief-stricken. “Don’t you look in the mirror? If your face was at ten thousand points before, this paleness has definitely docked you two points. I… I can’t bear to look at it. Drink up.”

Xiang Zhongjing: “…”

Xiang Zhongjing was truly defeated by this madman. He downed the medicine with an expressionless face, his eyebrows nearly knotting together.

Only then did Man Qiuxia leave with the bowl, looking like he intended to find even stronger tonics to make up for those two lost points.

Once everyone had left, Gu Congxu said muffledly, “Are you finished watching?”

Xiang Zhongjing took the coiled Gu Congxu off his wrist and placed him on the table, saying with a smile, “Are you finished eating?”

Gu Congxu: “…”

Gu Congxu said dryly, “I… I can’t eat any more.”

Xiang Zhongjing looked at him lazily. “Then keep trying.”

Gu Congxu: “…”

Xiang Zhongjing squinted at Gu Congxu on the table, seemingly wanting to get closer, but as he leaned forward, the world suddenly began to spin.

His body felt light. Even though he knew he was about to fall, Xiang Zhongjing felt no impulse to catch himself. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and allowed himself to topple over—as if the ground he was about to hit wasn’t cold and hard, but a soft bed of clouds.

At the critical moment, Gu Congxu transformed into human form and caught him.

Gu Congxu steadied the burning-hot Xiang Zhongjing and frowned, reaching out to touch his forehead. As expected, it was scorching.

Xiang Zhongjing’s body was too hot, while the True Dragon’s form was as cool as dragon scales, so he instinctively leaned into Gu Congxu.

Gu Congxu’s brow furrowed deep. “Did Man Qiuxia put poison in that medicine?”

Otherwise, how could Xiang Zhongjing have developed such a fever in such a short time?

Xiang Zhongjing shook his head. Even if that madman Man Qiuxia killed everyone in the world, he wouldn’t dream of touching a hair on Xiang Zhongjing’s head. How could he poison him?

It was likely that there were too many tonics, and with his unique constitution and current lack of spiritual energy, he had accidentally over-nourished himself.

“I’ll be fine after a sleep,” Xiang Zhongjing murmured, rubbing against Gu Congxu’s cool body. “You’re so cold. I like it.”

Gu Congxu was nearly heated up by the rubbing. With a red face, he helped the man lie back down, then quickly stood up and pushed open the wooden window.

He had intended to let Xiang Zhongjing catch a breeze to cool down, but the moment the window opened, Gu Congxu’s vertical pupils shrank. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a pair of crimson eyes staring fixedly at him from the forest on the nearby hillside.

Sensing a familiar scent from that person, Gu Congxu’s brow furrowed.

Xiang Zhongjing was still rambling, “Sange, I’m hot. Coil around me.”

Gu Congxu’s foot, which had been about to step onto the windowsill to leap out and catch the person, suddenly slipped. He nearly ended up hanging from the sill by his waist.

The dragon snapped in embarrassment, “Coil what? I’m doing serious business!”

Xiang Zhongjing tilted his head. His face was indeed glowing red, as Man Qiuxia had predicted, and there was even a misty flush at the corners of his eyes. He chuckled and said, “What serious business? Do me.”

Gu Congxu: “…”

Gu Congxu shot him a glare, then looked back out the window, but the person was already gone.

Gu Congxu had no choice but to hop down from the windowsill. He walked over to Xiang Zhongjing and held his tilted face, asking with a frown, “Are there currently demonic cultivators in Jiuzhou?”

Xiang Zhongjing answered lazily with a soft, nasal tone, “Hmm?”

“Demonic cultivators,” Gu Congxu said, steadying his head with patience. “I just saw someone who seemed to have demonic qi.”

As he rubbed his face against Gu Congxu’s cool palm, Xiang Zhongjing muttered vaguely, “No. There were never any demonic cultivators in Jiuzhou sixty years ago. Now… mm, there shouldn’t be any either.”

It was likely because of this that the three realms and Jiuzhou called the fallen Gu Congxu an “evil dragon.”

Seeing Gu Congxu’s solemn expression, Xiang Zhongjing grabbed his collar and forcibly pulled him down, bringing his face close. With a drunken-like smile, he asked, “What is it?”

Gu Congxu’s ears burned, and he didn’t dare look directly at Xiang Zhongjing’s seductive face. He tried his best to stay focused on the matter at hand. “Once a cultivator develops a heart demon, they will surely fall into the demonic path. Plus, the spiritual energy in the Jiuzhou ley lines isn’t pure to begin with. How could no one have fallen into the demonic path in all these years?”

As the effects of the tonics grew stronger, Xiang Zhongjing lost his ability to think. Resting his face in Gu Congxu’s palm, he followed along: “Yeah, yeah. How could they not?”

Gu Congxu found it preposterous. “You don’t get drunk on wine, but you get drunk on medicine?”

Xiang Zhongjing was groggy. “Yeah, yeah. Not on wine, but on medicine?”

Gu Congxu: “…”

Not only is he drunk, he’s parroting me?