Chapter 1628: Heaven's Mandate Seven Sons: Monster Hunting Record 19

"What do you have to say in such a hurry?" Chang Wuming clicked his tongue, "You've been acting strange these days; could it be you did something bad again and came to find me as an accomplice?"

Jin Chen: "……"

He gave Chang Wuming a punch, "Fourth Senior Brother is biased against me."

"Speak seriously."

Jin Chen leaned in, hand in his sleeve, and asked first, "Fourth Senior Brother, do you have feelings for that Young Master Bai?"

Chang Wuming frowned, a flash of doubt crossing his eyes, "Why ask like that?"

"I'll tell you later, you speak first." Jin Chen asked while looking around, and actually felt the courtyard also heavy with yin energy.

"It's somewhat different, but I don't know if it's because I have feelings for him."

Chang Wuming always speaks openly with his fellow martial brothers, and seemed to use this chance to examine his inner self; his resolute face showed a hint of contemplation, "He is quite different."

"Then I'll go ahead and say it."

Jin Chen first sighed, then raised his hand to pat Chang Wuming's shoulder, speaking solemnly: "I suspect Bai Shiyun is either an official of the court or a royal relative."

Chang Wuming's pupils dilated in an instant, his voice rising near hysterically, "What? He……"

If Bai Shiyun truly is a member of the imperial family, he absolutely cannot be the object of affection, and Chang Wuming knows this all too well.

"But I'm only guessing, Fourth Senior Brother, hear me out." Jin Chen thought of several clues that could reveal identity and explained them to Chang Wuming.

"First, when Bai Shiyun first met us in Xiling Town, the gold-inlaid jade pendant hanging from his waist—I had seen the same on someone years ago when I followed an old man to the capital."

Jin Chen eased his tone and said, "The people of the capital call that person Prince Yong'an, the younger brother of the current emperor."

"Also, the day we left Xiling Town, I happened to overhear Official Song and Bai Shiyun talking, catching faintly… titles like 'Heir Apparent'."

The more Chang Wuming listened, the colder his breath became—not toward Jin Chen but toward Bai Shiyun.

If Bai Shiyun is the Heir Apparent, why hide his identity? Our first meeting was at the foot of Tianming Mountain, and why claim his family met disaster, leaving him alone?

Jin Chen finished speaking silently, then glanced at Chang Wuming's expression and added, "My earlier speculation is just my one-sided view; I hope Fourth Senior Brother won't misplace his affection, quickly clarify his identity, and thus make a decision sooner."

"Right, we ought to figure out exactly who he is."

Chang Wuming naturally wouldn't think Jin Chen was deliberately fabricating to deceive him, but upon careful reflection, the various inconsistencies clouded by affection are hardly different from self-deception.

He pinched his brow and let out a long sigh.

"Don't tell Eldest Senior Brother about this." Chang Wuming felt uneasy, "If he finds out he'll surely reprimand me."

Jin Chen also didn't want to be scolded, so they perfectly reached agreement, "Good!"

Chang Wuming left first, saying he needed to return to his room to fetch something; Jin Chen didn't question further, merely preparing to leave the small courtyard when he heard a cheerful laugh, looked warily, and saw a girl in green robes sitting alone drinking tea.

"What a fine warning against misplaced affection."

The green-clad maiden raised her hand to invite, her bright eyes and white teeth smiling faintly, "Sir, your advice is splendid; how about sharing a cup of spring tea with me?"

In this yin-filled Min Dong City, she stood out as a fresh presence untouched by any yin energy, like the spirit of Zhu Lin's bamboo grove, unstained by dust.

Jin Chen stepped forward, "Since we're drinking tea, we might as well talk more."

He sat opposite the green-clad maiden, took a sip of tea, held it in his hand, and asked, "Miss, do you know why marriages are so frequent in Min Dong City?"

The green-clad maiden lowered her eyes to watch the tea leaves rise and fall; hearing this, her smile deepened, though tinged with a hint of pitying compassion.

"This is a joyous occasion; one should be happy—why ask for the reason?"

"For a happy event, why do you look like that?"

Jin Chen, finding nothing to ask, rose to leave, but then heard her meaningfully say, "Sir, if you don't want to become a pawn, remember this."

The green-clad maiden set down her teacup, the clear clink sounding, she lifted her eyes to Jin Chen, "Don't pick up roadside wealth, don't meddle in beggars' affairs."

As her words faded, Jin Chen's vision blurred slightly; when he opened his eyes again, the stone bench and bamboo table beside him were gone, only deep-rooted green bamboo remained in the courtyard.

Green Bamboo Spirit Maiden.

Jin Chen's brow twitched slightly; he bowed to the green bamboo, "Thank you."

The bamboo leaves trembled slightly, as if responding, yet also urging Jin Chen to leave quickly, lest it be discovered by others.

Min Dong City is filled with yin energy; only here do heavenly and earthly spiritual essences surround.

Jin Chen lingered no longer, heading back the way he came.

Roadside wealth—they had already encountered it when they left this city; if they accepted that treasure, surely those tiger-eyed people would not let them go.

Beggars' affairs—what does that mean?

The Green Bamboo Spirit Maiden mentioned marriage, yet why does she look so pitiful?

Jin Chen pondered and clicked his tongue.

【It's all your fault for not giving concrete plot.】

【……】Ling Gun Gun hugged his head, feeling guilty, 【We'll still provide it when necessary!】

This side, Chang Wuming left the courtyard, and before he could go upstairs he was stopped by Rong Zixu.

"Eldest Senior Brother." Chang Wuming nervously pressed his lips, being bad at lying he truly felt guilty, but fortunately he usually has this wooden expression, so Rong Zixu didn't notice anything.

Rong Zixu glanced behind him, seeing Jin Chen hadn't followed, and casually asked, "What did Xiao Chen say to you?"

Chang Wuming:!!

Chang Wuming's mouth corners pressed even tighter, his muscles all tensed.

"He, he asked me whether I have someone I'm fond of."

Chang Wuming won't lie, but he'll only tell half the story.

Why ask this, could it be……

Rong Zixu's heart tightened, his gaze toward Chang Wuming gaining a few more scrutinizing notes.

Xiao Chen is young, his emotions just awakening; if he were fond of Chang Wuming, he would at least know his background.

But Chang Wuming's stubborn nature doesn't suit the lively Xiao Chen.

Moreover, Chang Wuming clearly has a special affection with Bai Shiyun; Xiao Chen could hardly endure such injustice, being interfered with by others.

Rong Zixu hadn't realized at all that it was himself unwilling to admit that Xiao Chen had someone he liked, and he was even more unwilling to think about who that person was.

No one will do.

Rong Zixu's gaze at him grew increasingly heavy.

Chang Wuming's heart felt increasingly empty.

Will the senior brother discover something!

Could it be that what Xiao Chen discovered, the senior brother had already discovered long ago, and thus came specially to reprimand him!

"Senior... senior brother, what's wrong with you?"

"How did you answer." Rong Zixu asked, lowering his gaze, the fingers hidden in his sleeves gradually tightening.

"I haven't." Chang Wuming said firmly, forced by the eerie atmosphere to blurt out.

"Really?"

"Really! I am single‑mindedly devoted to the Dao, with no second thoughts."

"Then that's good."

Rong Zixu and Chang Wuming simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.

"There's still some food left, remember to eat." Rong Zixu again showed concern for his straitlaced fourth junior brother, who had been that way since childhood.

"Thank you, senior brother."

Chang Wuming watched him go to the courtyard, his legs almost going weak to the point he could barely walk.

"Senior brother, your aura remains as before."

Only Xiao Chen dares to act presumptuously in front of him.

When Chang Wuming went upstairs, he looked through the pavilion window at Bai Shiyun still drinking downstairs; a hint of indignant feeling rose in his eyes, unable to fathom what that person truly intended.

"Senior brother!" Jin Chen hurried a few steps to catch up with Rong Zixu walking toward the courtyard, his fingers, chilled by the yin wind, slipped into his palm.

Rong Zixu didn't refuse; instead, he gripped a little tighter.

"There's no shelter in the courtyard; it's very cold, let's go upstairs to talk."

"Okay."

Rong Zixu hadn't intended to go to the courtyard either, so he left with him; as they walked, Jin Chen told him about encountering the bamboo spirit girl just now, and also told the other senior brothers and sisters, so everyone could be more vigilant.

"Senior brother, why are you distracted?" Jin Chen bumped Rong Zixu's shoulder and asked, then lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear.

"Nothing..." "I don't believe it; one look and there's something."

Jin Chen leaned close to his face, worried that the pervasive gloomy ghostly qi of Min Dong City might be affecting Rong Zixu; he lightly touched his brow, silently chanting a spirit‑protecting incantation without a sound.

Jin Chen's spiritual power far exceeded that of this world; Rong Zixu sensed nothing, only feeling a slight warmth where his brow was touched.

The warmth made him want to pull away, yet also want to draw nearer—contradictory, he couldn't tell what he truly wanted.

When had Rong Zixu ever been so muddled?

"Just... I can't quite figure it out." Rong Zixu said softly, his tone tinged with a sigh.

"We've only just arrived in Min Dong City; we'll slowly look for the ghost's intent." After finishing the incantation, Jin Chen pulled him into an embrace, gentle and affectionate, his hand resting on his waist.

"If you feel unwell anywhere, senior brother, remember to tell me."

"…Okay."

Rong Zixu responded, slightly drawing his arms in.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 40!】