Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 157: Bite Mark
Sun Huaijin wasn’t planning to run anymore.
He was advanced in age and found it difficult to move. Most of his family’s assets were also in Qizhou. The old man had struggled all his life, witnessing prosperity, peace, harmony, and stability. Who could have imagined that after reaching a hundred years old, he would witness a turbulent world?
Sun Huaijin sent away the worried servants, leaving only an old servant who had been with him for most of his life. The Sun Clan had stored a good amount of food and medicine, enough to last them for some time. Whether they would be attacked by bandits or raided by barbarians in the future was all up to fate. If there was one regret—faced with national crises, the younger generation of the Sun Clan took their share of gold and silver and fled faster than rabbits. Not even one person was willing to stay and accompany the old man.
Sun Huaijin sat alone in the small courtyard, slowly sipping the now cold tea.
The Emperor had surrendered to the Divine Saint of Luojiu, and those barbarians were now reorganizing their forces, planning to take over local government offices one by one. According to the agreement, this Divine Saint will soon arrive in Yidu to formally meet with the severely ill Xu Jingxing. However, after the recent earthquakes that shook the nation, the Divine Saint became particularly cautious, a stark contrast from his usual decisive nature.
The old man put down his teacup and sighed deeply.
Recently, natural disasters were rampant, and war broke out everywhere. Perhaps the gods that protected Great Yun had already left. Thinking about his life’s ups and downs, having lived for a hundred years, perhaps it was time…
“Master!” An old servant rushed in, his face pale. “There are people from the palace outside!”
For a moment, Sun Huaijin wondered if his hearing had deceived him. Qizhou seemed deserted, and most of his assets had been taken away by the younger generation. Why would the court send someone? He was just an old man waiting for his end. What was there to discuss?
“What’s their purpose?”
“They said… they said they brought live geese, gold and silver, claiming they came to propose marriage.”
Sun Huaijin realized what was happening. He must have dozed off and was now dreaming. Most of the members left in his household were old men and women. It didn’t make sense for someone to come here for a proposal, let alone someone from the palace.
Wait a minute. Didn’t he hear about this proposal thing before?
Sun Huaijin broke into a cold sweat, almost knocking over his teacup. “Help me up, quickly!”
Changing into a fresh set of clothes, the old man hurried to the hall. In the spacious hall stood a pale-faced Xu Jingming, a beaming Shi Jingzhi, and his Brother Su whose eyes were darting wildly.
Sun Huaijin felt a thick phlegm rise in his throat, nearly choking on it right then and there. He looked at the Prince of Rong Xu Jingming in alarm. On the prince’s face, he found a trace of a familiar expression—both the elder and the younger had furrowed brows, their faces looking as sour as if they’d tasted aged vinegar. It was as if they both wanted to take a pen and write the words “Bullshit” across their foreheads.
Considering Xu Jingming’s presence and his respectful attitude, was the Xu Clan trying to reintegrate Shi Jingzhi into the royal family?
Rumors of a rebellion had been circulating a few days ago, and Elder Sun had certainly heard them. Shi Jingzhi hadn’t sought him out, and so he felt it wasn’t his place to intervene. But in such a short span of time, how had the winds of change shifted so suddenly? Now, with this marriage proposal, it was clear that the intention was to have Shi Jingzhi marry into the palace, making him a genuine prince…
…But why did they come to the Sun Clan for the proposal?!
Sun Huaijin, always perceptive and politically savvy, felt dizzy and overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events.
Seeing the old man’s bewildered face, Shi Jingzhi cleared his throat. Yin Ci, suppressing his wandering gaze, approached Sun Huaijin.
Known as “Su Zhi”, Yin Ci never cared much for dressing up and always dressed simply. Even as the Patriarch of Chigou, Sun Huaijin had never seen him take much interest in clothing. People gifted him intricate clothes and jade ornaments, but Su Zhi would casually give them away. His face was naturally handsome, and even in simple clothing, he exuded charm.
However, this time he was clearly meticulously dressed up. With just one glance, Sun Huaijin could tell that the fabric of his attire was of the finest quality, exclusive to the palace, and lacked the worn-out look of ordinary clothes. The man’s usually disheveled long hair was now neatly arranged, with only an antique-looking white jade hairpin appearing a bit old.
It was evident that Yin Ci wasn’t accustomed to dressing so grandly. His waist was tied a bit tightly, making him look like a drawn sword. There were considerable gifts stacked behind him. Judging from the list presented by the servant, much effort had gone into selecting these gifts.
When things seemed abnormal, there was usually a reason. Sun Huaijin, filled with a mix of reverence and caution, became like a startled bird and started to stutter. “Su-Su-Su… Brother Yin, what’s…what’s…what’s going on?”
The old man lost his usual indifference and composure as he spoke tremblingly.
Yin Ci wasn’t faring much better. He had always seemed to have the world under his control, but now, a touch of nervousness was evident.
“Huaijin, Jingzhi and I genuinely care for each other. Given the current uncertainty of the world and the preciousness of time, we’ve decided to combine the first four of the six traditional marital rites into this visit. We’ve set a date, and I’m here… I’m here to formally ask for your blessing.”
Sun Huaijin: “…”
Sun Huaijin: “…Brother Yin?”
This “Brother Yin” was full of helplessness. Even Xu Jingming’s face showed some discomfort—he was kicked by his brother to do this awkward task that felt like torturing an elderly man.
But the old adage stood true: the older the ginger, the hotter the spice*. Despite his initial nervousness, Yin Ci’s resolve came through. Taking a deep breath, he said calmly, “As I’ve said, this is not a whim. I’m not playing with him.”
*Idiom referring to the older one is, due to their accumulated experience and wisdom, the more astute, insightful, or capable than younger individuals.
Sun Huaijin vigorously rubbed his face. “You’re both men. If you want to be together, just be together. With all the chaos happening, why make such a… such a grand show of it? It’s just—”
The old man mouthed the words “nonsense”, but with Yin Ci present, he didn’t utter it aloud.
Such a serious marriage proposal was no light matter. He had seen men bond with other men before. Some lived together under the guise of being relatives, others let their close neighbors know, but none had ever dared to formalize it as marriage.
Yin Ci responded, “He and I are two souls destined for each other in this lifetime. Why can’t we let the world know?”
“A lifetime?”
Sun Huaijin’s head was still ringing. But hearing that, his frail demeanor faded a little. His eyes sharpened, and his voice carried a faint warning.
“I haven’t known Jingzhi for long, and while I wouldn’t say we’re close, he is my flesh and blood. Brother Yin, if you’re talking about a lifetime, have you truly thought about the future?”
“Mm, to share life and death together*.”
*To share the same quilt in life, to share the same grave in death. (生同衾，死同穴) It’s an idiom signifying a deep bond or commitment between two individuals.
For Yin Ci and Shi Jingzhi, this statement was more than just a simple vow. Their lives were now intertwined, literally bound by blood.
Seeing Sun Huaijin’s worry, Yin Ci couldn’t help but smile. After three centuries, the Sun Clan remained the same, always concerned for their blood relatives. His gaze seemed to go beyond the old man’s bent back, through time, to another fleeting shadow.
Sun Huaijin stared blankly for a moment, his eyes growing red. Without speaking, his lips moved, and a few tears slipped into the wrinkles on his face, becoming shimmering droplets.
“Congratulations, Elder Brother, on getting what you wished for,” he whispered softly. “If you both… both cherish each other, I am genuinely happy.”
Xu Jingxing was urgently trying to recruit these two to lead the army, so the imperial court acted even more efficiently than before. The next day, a grand palanquin proceeded down the main streets of Qizhou.
Most of Qizhou’s residents had fled, leaving the streets eerily quiet. The Emperor had surrendered, rebels were everywhere, and people were hesitant even to attend funerals. Yet here was a parade with drums and gongs—a truly unusual sight. Hearing the joyous noise, many people cautiously peered out from their hiding places.
The procession was strange. While the palanquin was stunning and the entourage grand, there seemed to be some issues with the procedure. Instead of fetching the bride, they seemed to be both fetching and sending off. The palanquin’s curtains occasionally flew open, revealing it to be empty. Atop it sat two men in celebratory attire, looking incredibly intimate.
Onlookers shook their heads. With the nation on the brink of collapse, this event seemed utterly ludicrous.
However, both men were incredibly handsome. Even the most disgruntled bystanders lost their desire to criticize upon seeing their faces. Those in a foul mood simply picked up the coins thrown on the streets, while others cheered.
Above the palanquin, a clear blue sky stretched out.
The fabric of their wedding attire was excellent, vibrant like summer flowers. Shi Jingzhi enjoyed the breeze, holding hands with Yin Ci.
“Not getting in the palanquin?” Yin Ci asked with amusement.
“No, I want the world to see,” Shi Jingzhi replied with delight. “I’ve chosen the world’s best partner. If it weren’t for Luojiu, we would’ve chosen the busiest day.”
He then leaned over and kissed Yin Ci’s cheek, who simply shook his head in mock exasperation.
Yin Ci: “Come closer.”
“Why?”
“Shizun is so greedy. Despite all the grandeur, don’t you think our ceremony lacks something personal? All these gifts are from the Emperor, nothing truly from your disciple.”
This sentence indeed struck a chord with Sect Master Shi. He raised an eyebrow and turned his face away. “Given the special circumstances, neither of us was prepared. If this affair delays us too much and causes the border people to suffer, you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself.”
“I do have a solution.”
Shi Jingzhi perked up, leaning closer. Under the sunlight, his eyes sparkled with vitality.
Yin Ci extended his right hand, his thumb pressing against Shi Jingzhi’s lips, the tip touching the solid teeth.
“Bite me.”
Yin Ci deliberately leaned in a bit, his voice carrying a hint of mischief.
“I’m no longer immortal, and wounds can leave scars. This will be the first scar I’ll take to my grave, and I want it from you.”
Shi Jingzhi’s pupils dilated, the smile on his face turning slightly twisted. Without a word, he slightly opened his teeth.
“I knew you’d like this idea.” Yin Ci laughed heartily. “Even on the battlefield, I won’t let those riffraff hurt me—this scar will be my only one. Come, Jingzhi.”
Shi Jingzhi bit hard into the base of Yin Ci’s thumb. He bit deeply, causing the flawless skin to tear, and blood gushed out instantly. The sensation of pain and warmth hit simultaneously, but Yin Ci’s face only showed a beaming smile, without a hint of pain. As both expected, the wound didn’t heal immediately. Blood smeared Shi Jingzhi’s lower lip, trickling down Yin Ci’s wrist.
Yin Ci slowly pulled his hand away that was stained with blood and kissed Shi Jingzhi in full view of everyone. Both their lips were smeared with blood, exuding a fierce allure.
After the prolonged kiss, Yin Ci nonchalantly licked the wound, glancing at the onlookers. The spectators forgot about collecting the coins, staring in astonishment.
In the declining and closed-off city, amidst the blaring drums, the festive mood was scattered by the wind, and specks of blood stained the red clothes. At that moment, no one knew what waves would ripple across Great Yun after this seemingly ordinary day in Qizhou.
All people remembered was the grand palanquin slowly moving, heading straight for the Sun Clan’s residence, with two figures cuddled together, facing the gentle breeze.
The author has something to say:
The grand palanquin √
Sect Master Shi has moved from small goals to life goals (?
Kinky Thoughts:
Wow, we got not one but two weddings?
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