Want to Ascend? Then Fall in Love

Chapter 19 – Weixin Palace And I, We Are Both Waiting For You.

Translated by moon

Edited by juurensha and Noks

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The light shadows of flower petals dancing by, the silver light of the moon like that of jade, golden gems and red jade filling the streets … this was probably the most beautiful place that Shen Qingxian had ever looked forward to seeing.

Not to mention that within all that color, there was something even more brilliant—Gu Jianshen’s pair of red eyes had pierced straight through the center of Lord Lianhua’s heart.

When Gu Jianshen saw this beautiful, pure youth who looked as if he was mica melted into liquid in front of him, his lips curved upwards in a gentle smile. “Why not go now?”

Shen Qingxian didn’t make a sound.

Gu Jianshen walked a little closer to him, and their gazes met, as if they were almost touching. “Weixin Palace and I, we are both waiting for you.”

Those words he spoke contained a breadth of meaning behind them, as if countless emotions were circling around a mountain, stretching vast and deep.

However, Shen Qingxian heard sharp knives from within that sweetness. “Waiting for me to walk willingly into a trap?”

Gu Jianshen paused for a moment, before continuing, “If I were able to net you, I would be blessed with fortune for three lives.”

Shen Qingxian smiled gently, before turning and sitting back down on the imperial concubine’s bed. He propped his chin on his hand, an empty calm devoid of ripples pervading his light-colored eyes. “I want to drink tea.”

Gu Jianshen loved this specific expression of his. He raised a hand, and a tea set fell onto the table, hot water filled the pot, with the rich scent of tea wafting through the entire room.

Shen Qingxian, however, demanded, “I want to drink the black tea of the Heart Domain, brewed by Your Majesty’s own hands.”

Gu Jianshen looked towards him. “What counts as being brewed by my own hands?”

Shen Qingxian responded, “There’s an empty pot outside, as well as several stacks of firewood. Start a fire and boil some water, then rinse the leaves and brew the tea. Does Your Majesty not know how to do that?”

As before, Gu Jianshen merely responded with that gentle smile of his. “Alright.”

He walked out of the house, but seated inside, Shen Qingxian’s eyes darkened a little. He didn’t need to go outside to know that Gu Jianshen was truly using the most labor-intensive method to start a fire and boil water for him.

Never mind that he was the dignified emperor of the Heart Domain; not even a steward of the Meridian Temple would perform such mundane tasks.

Why exactly had Gu Jianshen come?

Shen Qingxian couldn’t understand.

For thousands of years prior to this, he and Gu Jianshen were like well water and river water that never met; they had never even seen each other.

Why was it that after the discussion of philosophies in the Final Ashes and Astral Sea, this person had ‘stuck to him like a shadow’?

For Shen Qingxian, it was because he was repairing the heavenly ladder that he had no choice but to approach Gu Jianshen.

Then what about Gu Jianshen?

This guy’s mouth was full of honeyed words, but he had swords in his belly (tn: Idiom, but the meaning is pretty clear.), and even a single word from him was dangerous.

Love and affection, at their stage of cultivation, how could they care about such vulgar things?

Not to mention, the Heart Domain had always been reckless and uncaring of others in their actions. For this Gu Jianshen to be born with such eye-catching features, who knows what kind of wantonness he indulged in!

When he got to this point, a thought emerged in Shen Qingxian’s mind…

Was Gu Jianshen thinking of having a one night stand with him?

This did seem to fulfill the way the people of Heart Domain did things pretty well.

But… Shen Qingxian lowered his gaze. He had no interest in indulging in Gu Jianshen’s fantasies.

Gu Jianshen meticulously started a fire and boiled water, doing it all himself just like a mortal would, working hard at his tasks.

Shen Qingxian stared at him without blinking.

Though he was doing such crude labor, Gu Jianshen was born with such handsome looks that every movement of his was elegant and easy. If those female cultivators saw this sight, their hearts would once again start thundering like drums, and they would act without thinking.

Just as Gu Jianshen was busying himself, the yard door suddenly opened, revealing the little fatty standing beside it, a dazed expression on his face.

Gu Jianshen raised his head to look at him.

The little fatty said slowly, “I forgot to get my bags. Heavens… heavens… so handsome even when you’re boiling water!”

Shen Qingxian: “…” Very good. Not only female cultivators, even the little fatty was so enticed that he lost his bearings.

Gu Jianshen said, “Wait here for a moment, I’ll go get them for you.”

The interior of the thatched house had long since been changed in appearance, and though Shen Qingxian could easily lift a hand and make it return to its original state, Gu Jianshen did not wish for Shen Qingxian to suffer the least bit by remaining in that dirty, messy and terrible small house for even a breath longer.

The little fatty hurriedly said, “You do your stuff, I’m fine doing it myself! Aiya… aiya… and I wanted to take a look at little Zhao Yan too.” When he realized that he had slipped up once again, the little fatty hurriedly covered his mouth!

Now that he had said that, Gu Jianshen would definitely not let him go into the house.

Zhu Zilin felt so wronged, but he didn’t dare utter anything…

Gu Jianshen walked into the house, and Shen Qingxian pointed at the beat up little bag lying in the corner.

Gu Jianshen crooked his finger and got the little bag, but before he walked out, he said one sentence, “That fatty still wants to see you.”

Shen Qingxian replied, “I’m afraid of scaring him.” To be honest, forget about the little fatty, no matter whoever entered the house right now, they would collapse to their knees in fright.

But Gu Jianshen countered, “Not necessarily. He might end up singing your praises instead, and from then on, will work his hardest to step onto the path to cultivation to chase after you.”

Shen Qingxian paused for a moment, and then, inadvertently asked, “Are you chugging vinegar?”

Gu Jianshen: “…”

For no apparent reason, Shen Qingxian’s mood seemed to visibly improve, but Gu Jianshen’s response caused him to grow unhappy the next moment.

“Yes.” Gu Jianshen stared at him intently. “I admire you from the depths of my heart, so naturally I cannot bear seeing other people holding such intentions towards you.”

Shen Qingxian: “…”

Gu Jianshen didn’t linger for long, instead heading out of the house to send the little fatty away.

A long while later, Shen Qingxian spat out a word. “Boring.”

Gu Jianshen, who was carefully boiling water for him outside, crooked his lips at this.

The black tea of the Heart Domain was not the best tea in the world, and it was a far cry from the Lingyun tea of Wanxiu Mountain, but what could not be argued against was that this tea matched Shen Qingxian’s tastes very well.

The color was vivid, and the fragrance rich. When it was poured out from the teapot, made of bright, clear jade, it looked as if a crimson cloud from the horizon had fallen into the mortal realm.

Shen Qingxian watched the tea being poured without blinking, and Gu Jianshen watched him without blinking.

Neither of them spoke any more, and the still air between them seemed to hold an indescribable understanding.

After they settled into the house, Shen Qingxian waited patiently for the task “living together” to be completed. However, three days passed with not a single twitch from the jade scroll.

Living together for three whole days wasn’t counted as living together?

Shen Qingxian furrowed his brows and thought deeply. Was there some detailed requirement within all of this?

For example… sleeping together at night?

The situation now was that there were two beds in the wooden house, and Shen Qingxian and Gu Jianshen each slept on one…

Did they have to sleep on the same bed for it to be considered living together?

That made no sense!

Three days later, there was a lecture hosted by an elder for those within the sect, and all of the outer disciples had to attend.

Shen Qingxian didn’t wish to be kicked out before he could even finish the task, so he woke up bright and early to prepare to head to the middle peak.

These past few days, Gu Jianshen had been very well-behaved, carefully waiting on him, meticulously taking care of every small detail.

For example, at this very moment, when Shen Qingxian stretched out his arms, Gu Jianshen put on his outer robe for him.

Shen Qingxian appraised him from the corner of his eye. “If the members of the Heart Domain were to see this scene, I’m afraid they would drag you down from the seat of the emperor.”

For the great emperor to stoop so low as to dress him, how could he still be a revered emperor?

Gu Jianshen asked, “What does the lord think is the reason for the Heart Domain being a monarchy?”

There were countless sects in the Heavenly Path, and even if Shen Qingxian was the recognized number one, he never interfered in their disputes, nor was there a single Heavenly Dao for all to walk.

But the Heart Domain was a proper monarchy, with Gu Jianshen as the Emperor Jiuyuan who controlled the entire Heart Domain, causing all of the cultivators in the Heart Domain to refer to themselves as subjects.

The philosophies of the Heart Domain and the Heavenly Dao were different – one was to cultivate according to one’s heart, while the other was to comply with the will of the heavens.

Logically, the people of the Heart Domain, whose ideology involved acting according to their own hearts, were the least likely to submit to the existence of a monarchy.

But Gu Jianshen had done it.

Shen Qingxian was pretty curious about how he had accomplished that, so he asked, “Why is that?”

Gu Jianshen smiled gently. “… I beat them up until they were satisfied.”

Shen Qingxian: “…”

The Heart Domain focused on acting according to one’s heart, and the heart was the most variable thing in existence. When facing down that pack of wilful, unruly people, absolute power gave one the absolute right to speech.

Gu Jianshen summarized, “So Shishu need not worry. If I lose the throne, then I’ll just fight to get it back.”

Shen Qingxian stared at him for a long while.

Gu Jianshen asked, “What’s wrong?”

Shen Qingxian turned his gaze away without saying anything.

Now this was the true Gu Jianshen, probably. He had peeled off his fake shell of elegance, revealing the genuine Heart Domain cultivator underneath.

He was more arrogant and unbridled than anyone else, and he looked down on the Heavenly Dao more than anyone else.

Interesting.

More and more, he wished to see the “true” Gu Jianshen.

The elder’s lecture was nothing more than first boasting about the Heavenly Dao, then boasting about the Meridian Temple, before then stating the rules of the sect and the methods of cultivation.

What made Shen Qingxian feel very awkward was that all of the new disciples would have to bow in the direction of Wanxiu Mountain.

After all, the sect leader of the Meridian Temple was a veteran fanboy of the lord, so naturally the disciples of his sect would be taught to raise the lord up as their idol, and would properly kowtow…

There were even little disciples whispering amongst themselves. “I heard that the lord knows of everything in this world, and he bestows great protection on the disciples who kowtow to him with an honest heart!”

“I heard my big brother say that before! There was a disciple in the last round who didn’t kowtow to the lord, and afterwards he lost his life while undertaking a refining task!”

“Aren’t refining tasks the safest? How did he lose his life?”

“Because his intent for cultivation was not honest!”

The group of small youths were stricken with horror. Their respects were paid tremblingly…

There was another even more outrageous rumor. “I also heard that there was once a disciple who knelt for three days straight, kowtowing nine hundred and ninety nine times. After he got up, he actually leapt straight from the qi cultivation stage to the foundation stage!”

“Really?!”

“It’s true, it’s true!”

“But I can’t do it, kneeling for three days and kowtowing nine hundred and ninety-nine times, that’s enough to kill someone!”

Gu Jianshen looked towards Shen Qingxian, holding back a smile. Shen Qingxian maintained an impassive expression on his face. He really wanted to drag Ye Zhan over, so that he too could listen to these dastardly words!

After paying respects to Lord Lianhua, the entrance ceremony was considered completed.

Outer disciples had no master to guide them. Their path of cultivation consisted of going to the Hall of Experience to get tasks and complete them, but of course these tasks were all very simple.

For example, most of the tasks were running errands for the elders in charge of affairs, or helping with mundane tasks in the Lingzhi Garden or the back kitchens. The most dangerous tasks were nothing more than to go hunt some ordinary wild beasts, or to gather some pelts or beast bones and the like.

In excellent imitation, Shen Qingxian also took a task, the contents of which were: Gather twenty cowhides.

Cowhides…

Cow?

Shen Qingxian didn’t know what these things looked like.

After all, the great lord was too lazy to glance at even fierce ninth-level beasts. They were too ugly, so he refused to even look at them.

Shen Qingxian brushed this matter off as nothing, because he still had the tasks on the jade scroll on his mind.

Living together…

Would he really have to sleep on the same bed as Gu Jianshen tonight?

As if it was confirming his thoughts, the jade scroll that had been playing dead all this time finally popped its head out.

“Addendum to the eleventh task: Please eat and sleep together without a break for seven consecutive days.”

Shen Qingxian: “…”

He was already mad at that? The jade scroll quivered as it continued to spout more words:

“Twelfth: light the Incense of Marriage Fortunes.”

“Thirteenth: Undress Gu Jianshen.”

“Fourteenth: Experience a man tending the fields, and a man weaving with Gu Jianshen.”

I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m so dead… the jade scroll tactfully extinguished its own light!

The cowardly jade scroll was scared to death, but in reality, Shen Qingxian wasn’t mad. He looked at these tasks, and that dim thought in his head grew clearer and clearer.

 Unless… did the Great Dao want him to experience a love tribulation?

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The author has something to say:

That’s right… the sect leader is a true · upright person!

Hang in there, Your Majesty, your family’s wife is about to show his true colors [doge]