Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 123 Jiang Jingda: Resurrection

Chapter 123 Jiang Jingda: Resurrection

 

Eight years had passed. The world without Jiang Langmin continued as usual; the Earth kept spinning, the stars and moon alternated, and everything seemed eternally unchanging.

 

But after his departure, Jiang Jingda’s world lost its color.

 

Even as his business grew larger and he acquired more properties, he still preferred living in the old house, keeping the young man’s room untouched. Every so often, he would personally tidy it, ensuring it remained spotless, as if that young man would return from his travels, tired but smiling, and come back to stay.

 

Assignments, books, pens, and towels left behind from his youth became relics, cherished by Jiang Jingda as if they were his will, and read over and over again.

 

Over these eight years, Jiang Jingda adopted a child from an orphanage, naming him Jiang Lang.

 

He brought Jiang Lang home when the boy was one year old, showing him the cartoons Langlang had loved as a child and giving him the same toys he had once played with. In doing so, it was as if he had returned to their childhood days.

 

It seemed to be another ordinary weekend.

 

Though Jiang Lang had no mother’s care, the six-year-old grew up well-mannered and sensible. Whenever Jiang Jingda was busy with work, the boy would quietly read storybooks on his own.

 

Jiang Jingda had just finished reviewing a document, frowning as he set it aside. “Who wrote this report? Is it their first day on the job? Send them to see me.”

 

The secretary flipped through the records and was about to say it was written by a new hire when the door was knocked on three times.

 

A tall figure entered, dressed in a staff uniform, casually greeting him with a smile. “Brother, it really is my first day on the job.”

 

His arrival caused quite a stir. Jiang Jingda’s eyes widened, and the pen in his hand snapped under pressure. The secretary, sensing the tension, quickly excused herself.

 

The person standing before him looked identical to the one who had lingered in his memory for years.

 

“You… Who are you?” Jiang Jingda’s expression grew stern as he questioned coldly.

 

“You don’t recognize me?” He Lang smiled faintly, sitting across from him and allowing himself to be scrutinized.

 

Not only did this person look exactly like the one in his heart, but even his tone and demeanor were identical. It was impossible for someone else to mimic this. Jiang Jingda almost thought he was dreaming, but the intensity of the moment and his wildly beating heart reminded him this was real.

 

“But he’s already…” Jiang Jingda’s throat tightened, unable to say the word.

 

“I didn’t die. The cremated body wasn’t mine, and the grave is empty. If you don’t believe me, go and check for yourself.” He Lang answered calmly, picking up Jiang Jingda’s mug and taking a sip of coffee from the side he had drunk from.

 

Jiang Jingda didn’t dwell on the twists and turns of this revelation. The moment he realized this person had returned, he almost fell out of his chair, staggering as he embraced him tightly, losing all composure like a frantic and helpless boy.

 

“Where have you been all these years? Eight years… eight years! You didn’t even come back to see me once?”

 

Jiang Jingda shut his eyes tightly, his lashes wet with tears. A heart that had been dead revived with his return.

 

Why hadn’t he visited him once in these eight years? How was he supposed to live alone? Did he even know how desperate he had been at the time? He had wanted so badly to follow him, to be buried in the same cemetery, but the responsibilities on his shoulders kept his body alive…

 

How many eight years does one have in a lifetime? Eight years were enough to witness transformations, enough for Jiang Lang to grow from an infant into a child, and yet, these eight years of waiting had been filled with too much, unspeakable emotions.

 

“Brother, I’m sorry…” He Lang looked at Jiang Jingda’s trembling lashes, sensing the overwhelming sorrow and joy radiating from him. He endured the tight embrace, gently stroking Jiang Jingda’s back, hoping his warmth could bring him solace.

 

Time had left its mark on Jiang Jingda. He had changed from the young man He Lang remembered. Now in his thirties, his once youthful features were etched with maturity, his eyes revealing the depth and struggles of the years.

 

Jiang Jingda lifted his head from He Lang’s embrace, tracing every inch of his face with his fingers, his expression tender. After a moment, he murmured, “You haven’t changed at all…”

 

Logically, after all this time, Langlang should have grown older, perhaps more mature. But to Jiang Jingda, who had memorized every detail of his face, he appeared unchanged, with not a single wrinkle—still exuding the youthful spirit of the boy he had known, making this reunion feel like a dream from another life.

 

He didn’t care why this man had mysteriously returned to this world or appeared silently at his company. Dream or not, illusion or reality, he never wanted to wake up.

 

As the two embraced closely, Jiang Lang, seeing his father being so tender to someone for the first time, couldn’t hold back his curiosity. He put down his storybook and ran to Jiang Jingda’s side, tugging at his clothes. “Daddy, who is this big brother?”

 

Startled, He Lang gently pushed Jiang Jingda away and studied the child. His feelings were complicated.

 

Of course, he had been gone for eight years. Jiang Jingda was young and in his prime—the right age to marry and start a family. He Lang had no right to demand that this man wait for him. If he had built a perfect family, He Lang could only offer his blessings.

 

Still, he had returned to this world for him. If Jiang Jingda had a wife and child, what could he do? He Lang frowned, feeling a twinge of melancholy.

 

Forcing a smile, he reached out to pat Jiang Lang’s head. “I’m your uncle.”

 

“Uncle? So… Daddy’s little brother?” Jiang Lang tilted his head, politely bowing and greeting him, “Hello, Uncle.”

 

Jiang Jingda frowned, placing a firm hand on Jiang Lang’s head as he corrected him. “You should call him Daddy.”

 

Both He Lang and Jiang Lang were surprised by this title. Seeing Jiang Jingda’s seriousness, the boy didn’t dare question further, obediently calling He Lang “Daddy.”

 

Jiang Jingda patted Jiang Lang’s head, then led him outside, instructing the secretary to look after him. He locked the door behind him, as if afraid He Lang might escape.

 

“So, he’s adopted? I thought—” He Lang’s words stopped midway, followed by an awkward cough.

 

Jiang Jingda hadn’t taken his eyes off him, staring as if trying to make up for the eight lost years in one glance. “Surprised? Did you really think I’d marry someone else?”

 

He Lang raised an eyebrow. “How would I know?”

 

“…Brat.” Did this man really not understand how deeply he cared? Jiang Jingda cursed under his breath, pressing He Lang against the desk, venting his emotions with silent kisses and bites.

 

“What now? Just because the kid’s not here, you want to start doing inappropriate things?” He Lang teased.

 

Jiang Jingda didn’t respond. After so many years apart, with both of them still young and passionate, it was only natural for sparks to fly.

 

As he slid a hand under He Lang’s shirt, he murmured by his ear, “Now that you’re back, you’re not allowed to leave again. You’ll be my secretary by day and stay with me at night, alright?” His hands lingered on He Lang’s waist.

 

He Lang wrapped his arms around Jiang Jingda’s neck, his body cooperating, but he played coy. “Weren’t you just scolding me? Let someone else be your secretary.”

 

This man, usually calm and focused on work, seemed like a block of wood in He Lang’s absence. Even someone as quiet as He Lang couldn’t help but find him dull. So, he often wanted to provoke him.

 

“No. You told me before to take work seriously and persevere,” Jiang Jingda refused firmly. Now that He Lang was his assistant, he wasn’t letting him quit.

 

Immediately, he contacted his subordinates, instructing them to draft a new contract. The longer it could be signed for, the better. He’d figure out a way to trick Langlang into signing it at night, binding him to the company forever.

 

As an employee, however, He Lang’s performance left much to be desired.

 

Despite his lack of sensitivity to business and numbers, he was enthusiastic about trying.

 

One day, Jiang Jingda was reviewing a document and found it increasingly problematic. Thinking about how Langlang had been keeping He Lang busy all day, he realized he hadn’t seen him. Growing irritated, he flung the document aside, scolding the staff. “Who wrote this report? Are they even serious about their job?”

 

The crisp laughter of a child echoed from outside. He Lang entered with Jiang Lang, who was happily eating a lollipop, just in time to hear the reprimand.

 

He glanced at the document on the table and asked, “Was it my report that didn’t turn out well?”

 

Jiang Jingda fell silent for a moment. His expression remained unchanged as he reached out to take the document back and carefully reviewed it again. “No, it’s very well done. Langlang is very smart.”

 

“Really? Yesterday I passed by the employee area and saw Xiao Li busy, so I helped him out,” He Lang replied with a smile.

 

Jiang Jingda stepped forward, wrapped an arm around him, and let all his frustration dissipate. Watching Jiang Lang immersed in the joy of candies and toys, his mood brightened as well. “Where did Daddy take you today?”

 

“Hehe, Daddy took me to the amusement park. We bought lots of chocolates, ate cotton candy, and got toys and models. Daddy is the best Daddy in the world!” Jiang Lang waggled the exquisite model in his hand, his mouth still full of snacks. The usually quiet boy was grinning so wide his eyes nearly disappeared.

 

“You’re having fun, but tomorrow you’ll stay home and do your homework. Daddy’s mine,” Jiang Jingda ruthlessly snatched He Lang away, taking Jiang Lang along with his snacks and toys out of the office, handing him over to the assistant acting as a part-time nanny.

 

He Lang watched as the child pouted in dissatisfaction, furrowing his brows slightly in sympathy.

 

Jiang Jingda stretched his weary limbs, holding him as they lay down on the office’s lounge sofa for a nap. He dismissed it casually, “You’re spoiling him too much.”

 

“And haven’t I spoiled you too?” He Lang whispered in his ear, his breath warm and fragrant, kissing the corner of his lips. Jiang Jingda’s bones went soft, leaving him no room to retort.

 

These days felt like a dream. Langlang only clung to him during his elementary school years. By the time he was a teenager, he inexplicably began to distance himself, pushing him toward other women for political marriages. That’s why eight years ago, he lost all composure, abandoning his usual calm and resorting to desperate measures, imprisoning Langlang and ultimately driving him to jump.

 

Who would have thought he would now have a chance to reconcile with Langlang, body and soul, receiving the warmth he had only dared to dream of.

 

As if recalling something, Jiang Jingda suddenly tightened his hold on He Lang’s waist, telling him, “Jiang Jiao is returning to the country next week.”

 

He Lang responded with a hum, acknowledging it without much reaction.

 

Jiang Jingda let out a rare chuckle, burying himself in He Lang’s collar, leaving a vivid red mark with his repeated kisses, his voice hoarse with a warning, “You’re not allowed to see him.”

 

At the funeral back then, that man grieved as deeply as he did, coming to the Jiang family cemetery every day afterward. Even when barred from entry, he would linger outside just to catch a glimpse.

 

Afterward, he left for abroad and had not returned once—until now. This sudden return was surely prompted by the news of Jiang’s “resurrection.”

 

Jiang Jingda had just begun to feel secure, yet that sense of crisis returned, an intense unease gripping him.

 

He had no idea what kind of feelings Langlang and Jiang Jiao had developed during their time abroad, nor could he predict whether Langlang might waver because of him.

 

Thus, he felt a desperate urge to tie this person down completely before Jiang Jiao arrived.

 

“What’s wrong? Why such a strange expression? Fine, I won’t see him,” He Lang teased, pinching his serious face with a reassuring smile.

 

Jiang Jingda, who could calmly handle multi-billion-dollar investments, now appeared clumsy. His hands trembled as he pulled a velvet box out of his pocket.

 

Despite maintaining an outward composure, he was already tongue-tied, unable to utter a single word of the heartfelt speech he had rehearsed countless times. The eloquence he once displayed in front of thousands vanished entirely. “Langlang, you… I…”

 

He Lang glanced at the box in his hand and immediately understood. Seeing the usually composed man stumbling over his words, losing his usual poise and calm demeanor, He Lang couldn’t help but chuckle softly. He took the box from him, carefully examining the pair of exquisitely designed, custom-made rings inside.

 

He knew exactly what Jiang Jingda wanted to say, so he beat him to it. “I do.”

 

Without a moment’s hesitation, He Lang slid one of the rings onto his own finger, a perfect fit.

 

“Langlang…” Jiang Jingda blinked, his eyes slightly stinging from staring unblinkingly at the person before him.

 

“Don’t get emotional so quickly. We can’t register our marriage here. You owe me a wedding. When do you plan to hold it?”

 

“Anytime,” Jiang Jingda answered without hesitation, terrified that he might change his mind.

 

He Lang nodded, picking up the other slightly larger ring to place it on him.

 

“And what about the child?”

 

“The child is up to you. During the honeymoon, we’ll leave him with the assistant. He’s very well-behaved and won’t bother us.”

 

He Lang smirked, evidently satisfied.

 

As the ring slid down to its rightful place on Jiang Jingda’s finger, his heart settled. He pulled the man before him into an embrace.

 

And the person in his arms reciprocated with a passion and force he had never shown before.

 

This was what Jiang Jingda had yearned for since his youth. To be held tightly by the one he loved, only to find that his lover was embracing him even more fervently.

 

Author’s Note: Five chapters left in the countdown! Next up is Ao Li, the adorable big demon king~