Chapter 1650: Heaven's Mandate Seven's Monster‑Hunting Chronicles 41

After that, Tianming Mountain sent cultivation manuals to the various orthodox sects of the martial world, and because the spiritual energy was pure and abundant, many geniuses emerged; although the world remained under imperial rule, fate no longer needed to suffer various threats.

Riverplain City, to commemorate the Heaven's Mandate Seven who once purified evil here, changed its name to Pure Spirit after becoming a land rich in spiritual energy where everyone could cultivate; the basement that once trapped walking corpses also became a coveted secret realm.

Cold comes, heat goes, year after year.

After the world settled, a prosperous scene gradually appeared.

The Heaven's Mandate Seven returned to their sect to accompany their master and mistress for a long time; after training, they went down the mountain again.

South City.

Candied hawthorn! Freshly made candied hawthorn!

Selling flower lanterns! Beautiful flower lanterns for the Lantern Festival! Sir, come take a look!

Freshly steamed big meat buns! Also with pickled vegetable filling and honey-sweet red bean paste filling!

A youth in a dark blue long robe stopped before the bun shop: 'Boss, give me a few honey-sweet red bean paste buns.'

'Sure thing!' the boss eagerly took the copper coins, wiped his hands clean, took an oil-paper bag and filled it. Seeing the youth's neat and spirited look, his handsome features striking, he couldn't help but ask: 'Young hero, are you a cultivator? Impressive! Which sect do you belong to?'

Jin Chen nodded slightly, smiling: 'Just a lone cultivator.'

He didn't want to be chased anymore.

He took the buns and gazed around.

His wife said they'd meet here, but where is she?

At a stall half a street away.

'Would you like to take a look, sir? The Lantern Festival is coming soon; these embroidered-scent sachets are given to beloved ones, symbolizing being together forever.'

The boss was good at sales; Rong Zixu had intended to wait here for Jin Chen, but hearing his words he couldn't resist buying.

After obtaining the sachet, Rong Zixu smelled it, identified the herbs inside, thought it over, then took two soul-nourishing spirit pearls from his waist and placed them in, originally intending to give them to Jin Chen.

Even after much time, the incident of Jin Chen lying unconscious for half a month at Ke Zhan, his soul unawake, still made him unable to forget; whenever he thought of it, he felt frightened.

This young hero.

Rong Zixu came to his senses; a blue-clad youth had approached at some point, courteous and refined.

Rong Zixu returned the salute; the blue-clad youth said: 'I don't know where those two spirit stones you just had came from; could you sell them to me?'

Now spirit stones are not uncommon, but they vary in quality; the youth dared to guarantee that those two were top‑top grade, worthy of being called immortal‑grade.

Rong Zixu's expression unchanged: 'Sorry, this is a gift… for my beloved.'

The youth felt a bit disappointed: 'So that's how it is…'

He still wanted to try to win them over, when suddenly he heard the youth call out loudly, full of vigor and affection.

Senior Brother!

Rong Zixu and the blue-clad youth glanced sideways simultaneously; the youth's eyes flashed with astonishment.

What a handsome young hero!

'Is he your junior brother?' the youth asked excitedly.

'Which sect are you from, how old is he, and…?' 'He is my beloved.'

Rong Zixu's calm expression gradually turned cold.

Blue-clad youth: '……'

So disappointed, he failed to buy the spirit stones, and the love‑at‑first‑sight young hero also remained unmet.

Jin Chen walked up quickly, saw an unfamiliar stranger present, domineeringly put his arm around Rong Zixu's waist: 'Senior Brother told me to find you.'

'I've been waiting for you here; I didn't expect so many people in the city today.'

Rong Zixu glanced at the blue‑clad youth leaving, still looking back, lowered his eyes, tied the sachet around Jin Chen's waist, embraced his shoulders and kissed him at the corner of the mouth.

'After being apart for several days, I really miss you.'

Jin Chen's peach‑blossom eyes brimmed with surprise; in crowded places before, his senior brother never initiated closeness.

Jin Chen restrained the beloved in his arms, pressed his lips to his ear, and whispered softly: 'I also miss you, Senior Brother, I think of you in the day and even more at night.'

Rong Zixu's ear tips indeed turned red; even if done on purpose, he couldn't match his shamelessly thick‑skinned face.

'Alright, let's go home.' Rong Zixu took hold of Jin Chen's restless hand at his waist and walked toward the manor without looking back.

South City is Rong Zixu's hometown; Jin Chen has visited many times but always forgets the way, needing Rong Zixu to meet him in the city.

Whether it's forgetting the road or using it as an excuse to meet sooner, Rong Zixu has never asked for more, and actually wishes Jin Chen would rely on him even more.

During the Lantern Festival, when families reunite, Rong Zixu early sent a spiritual letter to Jin Chen, who was training elsewhere to slay demons.

When they returned home, just as Rong Zixu and Jin Chen passed through the outer courtyard's flower hall, they heard laughter inside—it was Jing Xingcan coaxing Rong Zixu's nephew.

'Sixth Senior Brother is also here?' Jin Chen asked.

'They all came, saying they purposely picked the festival to mooch a meal.'

Rong Zixu smiled helplessly and pushed open the door of the inner courtyard room.

'Xiao Chen!!' Jing Xingcan shouted, put down the baby and lunged over: 'Long time no see, I've missed you to death! Have you missed me?'

Jin Chen was knocked backward into the door by the tackle, letting out a yelp.

'Do you want me dead or do you want to die?!'

Yang Yu munched on fruit leisurely, laughing: 'I said earlier today the eldest senior brother would go out; turns out he was fetching Xiao Chen.'

Chang Wuming and Xu Qie were playing chess, each thinking the other's skill terrible; they invited Rong Zixu to be their military advisor, while Rong Zixu stared, face darkened, at the two equally clueless players making a mess of the board.

Only Gong Siyue was truly hungry, tapping the table and shouting: 'Xiao Chen has returned, eldest senior brother, hurry up and serve the food!'

Here it comes, here it comes!

Madam Rong entered happily: 'I heard you're going back to the mountain in two days; I've prepared plenty of food so the kids can eat their fill!'

'Senior Brother, look at this.' Jin Chen leaned close to Rong Zixu and showed him the prepared gift.

'What is this?'

The hairpin made from the most precious pearls of the South Sea.

Jin Chen explained solemnly, then stood up and handed it to Madame Rong, saying, "I heard from the folk that one must give a Change Address gift."

Mother.

Rong Zixu: ……

Madame Rong was delighted to the point she couldn't stop smiling.

Yang Yu and the others immediately started making a ruckus; it was rare to see the eldest senior brother so shy he couldn't get off the stage, pinching their voices they also shouted Mother.

Naturally, it was a scene of lively tranquility.

The world is at peace.

……

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