Chapter 115: The Aloof Immortal and the Wealthy Prince  04

In the main courtyard of the Jing Prince’s residence.

Zhongli Mingji stared at the dishes on the table. The rich aroma of the food wafted before him, stirring his appetite despite having already transcended the need for sustenance. He picked up his chopsticks, first sampling a piece of steamed pork with rice flour, followed by a crab roe bun. The flavors were so delightful that he couldn’t stop eating.

One had to admit, the culinary delights of the mortal realm were truly exquisite, far surpassing the bland spiritual foods of the immortal realm, which often carried strange, unappetizing tastes. Recalling the spiritual pills and wines the original owner of this body had consumed, Zhongli Mingji found himself utterly disinterested. Even the original owner, a rather undemanding immortal, hadn’t been fond of them.

Now, looking at the table laden with meticulously prepared delicacies, Zhongli Mingji couldn’t help but feel the stark contrast between the mortal and immortal worlds. In terms of cuisine alone, the mortal realm was undeniably superior.

Jin Muhan watched Zhongli Mingji with a smile. “Do you find the food I prepared to your liking?”

Zhongli Mingji nodded slightly, a faint smile gracing his aloof features. The smile was as light as a breeze, yet it struck Jin Muhan deeply, leaving him unable to ignore the fluttering sensation in his heart. Jin Muhan discreetly pinched his palm to maintain his composure in front of Zhongli Mingji.

“If you like it, I’ll cook for you every day.”

Zhongli Mingji nodded again but then shook his head. Occasionally indulging was enough; there was no need for daily preparations.

After accompanying Zhongli Mingji through the meal, Jin Muhan had a servant bring out a plate of rose crystal cakes. “Try these pastries. They’re a new recipe I learned from the imperial chef. Let me know if they suit your taste.”

Zhongli Mingji picked up a soft, springy crystal cake and brought it to his lips. Taking a small bite, his eyes lit up at the sweet, glutinous texture. It was truly delicious!

One had to admit, in this lifetime, Jin Muhan had reached remarkable heights in culinary skill. According to his introduction, Jin Muhan was the second son of the Longyuan Emperor, with the crown prince as his elder brother. His mother had passed away years ago, and he had been enfeoffed as the Prince of Jing at his coming-of-age ceremony three years ago, with Jialing as his fief. He had just returned to the capital this month to prevent his father from arranging a marriage for him—a task at which he had succeeded.

During the days when Zhongli Mingji had been unconscious, the old emperor had repeatedly summoned Jin Muhan to discuss the matter, only to be rebuffed with the excuse that his son already had someone in his heart.

Jin Muhan gazed unwaveringly at Zhongli Mingji, the stern young prince wishing he could forever keep his eyes on this person, never to part from him. He suddenly felt incredibly greedy. Having grown up in luxury, he had never wanted for anything—except to spend his life with the person before him.

“Mingji, are you married?” he tentatively asked the question that had been weighing on his mind.

Zhongli Mingji shook his head slightly. He was not married. The original owner’s noble and aloof nature would never have allowed him to take an interest in anyone else. Although it was common for immortals to form marital bonds—such as his mother, the family head, and his father, who had married into the family—such unions were primarily for the sake of lineage. After all, immortals also needed to ensure their bloodlines continued. Relying solely on mortals who ascended to immortality would never suffice; otherwise, the immortal realm would have long since collapsed.

Hearing this, Jin Muhan’s lips curved into a slight smile. This was excellent news! If his beloved was unmarried, then he still had a chance to wed Mingji.

“Mingji, what do you think of me?” He blinked his narrow phoenix eyes, his dark gaze meeting Zhongli Mingji’s. The sharpness in his eyes softened into warmth whenever they fell upon Zhongli Mingji. “I’m in the prime of my youth, quite handsome, wealthy, and skilled in the kitchen. Won’t you consider me?”

Zhongli Mingji thought of his own five hundred years of age and then glanced at the young prince, who had just turned twenty-three. He felt an inexplicable pang in his heart. The disparity in their status in this lifetime was simply too vast! One was a wealthy mortal prince, while the other was a grand elder of the Lingxiao Sect and the young master of the Zhongli family in the immortal realm. One was of the earth, the other of the heavens. If they were to fall in love, the obstacles would likely be far greater than anticipated.

Unaware of Zhongli Mingji’s thoughts, Jin Muhan grew concerned when he saw the other man furrow his brow and couldn’t help but ask, “Mingji, are you troubled because of me?”

Zhongli Mingji slowly raised his head, his phoenix eyes, tinged with a clear light, darkening slightly. His jade-like face carried a faint trace of melancholy. He set down the pastry in his hand, unsure how to respond to the man before him. “…” How was he supposed to explain this? Should he say, ‘I’m over four hundred years older than you, and our statuses are worlds apart’? The words ‘we’re not suited’ stuck in his throat.

Jin Muhan’s heart grew restless at Zhongli Mingji’s silence. Could it be that he was truly so unworthy in the other’s eyes? Was he really that inadequate? In his distress, he had completely forgotten about Zhongli Mingji’s temporary inability to speak. All he could think of was the sorrow of being rejected by Zhongli Mingji, so much so that he wished he could cling to a pillar and cry out all his heartache.

Zhongli Mingji paused, seeing the near-tears expression on Jin Muhan’s face and feeling another pang in his heart. Was this guy about to cry again? He recalled how, in his first encounter with the demon god in a past life, he had been so overwhelmed by Shen Du’s incessant weeping that he had agreed to marry him.

Just as Jin Muhan’s lips quivered and he was about to burst into tears, a hand reached out and covered his mouth. “!!!” What now? Was he not even allowed to cry?

Zhongli Mingji released Jin Muhan’s mouth, his fingers sliding down to grasp the prince’s hand. He began to write words on Jin Muhan’s palm. ‘Don’t cry. It’s not that you’re lacking.’ ‘Marriage is a serious matter…’ Before he could finish, Jin Muhan hurriedly interjected.

“I’m not treating this lightly. I truly admire you. I’ve liked you since the moment I rescued you outside the city. I genuinely wish to marry you. No matter how many wonders this world holds, none can compare to the tenderness in your eyes.”

Zhongli Mingji swallowed hard, about to risk speaking despite the pain it might cause, when he saw Jin Muhan’s face flush red and the prince suddenly run off. …He ran away after confessing?!

The rosy bubbles that had just begun to rise in Zhongli Mingji’s heart were utterly shattered by this abrupt departure. Idiot! Where did your courage go? You used to dare to act first and seek forgiveness later, but now you can’t even stay to hear the answer after confessing!

System 729: [What’s the demon god thinking? Doesn’t he even want to hear your decision?]

Zhongli Mingji: How should I know!

System 729 ventured a guess: [Could it be because Jin Muhan is in an ancient world this time, so his sense of shame has grown thinner?]

“Perhaps,” Zhongli Mingji blinked his phoenix eyes, his dignified and noble demeanor exuding an air of grandeur. His lavish robes only enhanced his majestic presence. He was, after all, a refined and aloof immortal, meticulously cultivated by the prestigious Zhongli family of the immortal realm. Even now, with his cultivation diminished and his body in the mortal world, his elegance remained undiminished.

“Since he’s left, we’ll discuss this another time.” He needed to figure out how to handle his parents and convince them to accept his mortal partner. Love between immortals and mortals was rare, but not unheard of.

System 729 quietly retreated, happily immersing itself in online games with its companions. It didn’t reappear until the mission was over, fully absorbed in its virtual world.