Chapter 2090: How to Tame the Wayward Youth 39

The Medicine King gave me many needles, I was like a hedgehog, and black blood kept oozing out, yet I didn't struggle.

I was afraid the blood was too dirty, so when you came back and didn't want to hold me, I went and washed myself clean again.

Ji Lai zhi mumbled many words, his scorching cheeks pressed against Jin Chen's shoulder, his eyes moist.

Jin Chen's heart melted with tenderness; he understandingly kissed his brow, saying, 'Good child, you're amazing and especially obedient—I won't let you out, I've been waiting here in the room until now.'

Having been praised, Ji Lai zhi finally lay contentedly on Jin Chen's body, sprawling without restraint.

'Can you marry me now?' Ji Lai zhi asked again.

'Marry.' Jin Chen lowered his gaze, cupping his face, his eyes shining with affection and gentleness, 'The wedding preparations are already underway.'

After waiting all night for the answer, Ji Lai zhi finally heard it himself; his heart settled completely, he clung to Jin Chen's neck, rolled over and slept on top of him, feeling utterly at ease.

'Really good.'

In his drowsy state, Jin Chen heard Ji Lai zhi whisper softly, as if talking in his sleep.

'You really intend to look after me for the rest of my life.'

【Villain Blackening Value detected -10, total 0!】

【Villain Heartthrob Value detected +7, total 100!】

Because of the wedding, the Formless Office became utterly lively.

The martial world hadn't yet recovered from the surprise of the Venerable rarely taking a disciple when they learned he was also going to marry that disciple.

Combined with the earlier swift takeover of Azure Cloud Sword Manor, someone finally figured it out.

It turns out this was all for Ji Lai zhi.

Invitations were sent to all prominent clans; hardly anyone refused, those who could attend did, and nobody with any sense brought up the past of Azure Cloud Sword Manor.

They all understood that Ji Lai zhi was no longer the tyrannical bully everyone had hated in Azure Cloud Sword Manor.

He is, in fact, the other master of the Formless Office.

Spring came and went, half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

The martial world shifted, people came and went, amidst blade light and sword shadows, time drifted away like falling leaves.

Until one night at midnight, the first snow fell silently, drifting down to cover mountains and rivers.

It seemed as if only this snow remained between heaven and earth, washing away the world's noise and strife.

The first to notice the winter snow's arrival was Ji Lai zhi, groggily waking in the morning; frost filled the room, a faint light seeped through the window, Ji Lai zhi narrowed his eyes and saw only tiny snowflakes drifting outside the window, scattering down onto the withered branches in the courtyard.

Ji Lai zhi felt a surge of joy; having once lived in Azure Cloud City in the south where snow was rare, seeing this first snow gave him an odd sense of familiarity, as if from another lifetime.

He turned over, pressing his face against Jin Chen's chest, warmth seeping through the thin clothing.

Jin Chen was still sound asleep, breathing steadily, his chin slightly raised; Ji Lai zhi couldn't resist leaning in to lightly kiss his chin, a smile tugging at his lips.

Jin Chen shifted, slowly opened his eyes, his low voice tinged with laziness: 'What's the fuss so early in the morning?'

Ji Lai zhi looked up at him, eyes gleaming with excitement, his voice thick with sleep: 'It's snowing.'

Jin Chen followed his gaze, glanced out the window, gave a soft 'hmm', tightened his arm a little, pulling him closer, and lowered his head to kiss his forehead.

After getting up, Ji Lai zhi quickly changed clothes, pulled Jin Chen outside, buzzing with excitement.

Jin Chen was dragged along, standing in the courtyard for a while before realizing Ji Lai zhi wasn't planning to do anything else—he just wanted to stand there as punishment, which Jin Chen found rather amusing.

'What are you doing? Exercising so early?'

Ji Lai zhi stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the sky-full of snow, eyes brimming with smiles, he turned sideways and took Jin Chen's hand to look at the goose-down snowflakes on his hair.

'Today we share the snow; this life we may as well grow old together—maybe in decades we'll truly be white-haired, with so many wrinkles we won't be so flirtatious.'

Ji Lai zhi's tone was unusually earnest, yet his eyes lit up—clearly he was deliberately angling for a kiss.

Jin Chen: '……'

He ruffled Ji Lai zhi's hair, brushing off the snow: 'Don't blame me if you catch a chill.'

Ji Lai zhi was half-led, half-carried back by him, yet he protested: 'It's rare to see snow.'

Jin Chen lowered his head, pinched his nose, and said, 'Last night you clung to me, begging for food and making a fuss—this is exactly the time to rest; if you really catch a cold, see if you still have the energy to kick up a fuss.'

'... I just want to play in the snow.' Ji Lai zhi muttered, licking the corner of his lips, this time without breaking them.

Again impressive—no wonder it's me; Ji Lai zhi praised himself in his heart.

'All right, go back and add layers.' Jin Chen didn't stop him; seeing Ji Lai zhi nod obediently, he then left the courtyard together with Mo Hei, who had come to report, one after the other.

Half an hour later.

Jin Chen returned from his discussion; just as he stepped through the gate, Ji Lai zhi lunged at him from the corridor.

He instinctively reached out to catch him, but saw Ji Lai zhi's sly smile, his hand already probing his neck.

Jin Chen's eyes were sharp and his hands quick; he seized Ji Lai zhi's icy wrist and raised a brow: 'Up to no good again?'

Ji Lai zhi pursed his lips: 'No……hiss!'

But Jin Chen pressed the back of his hand to Ji Lai zhi's neck, making him flinch and draw his neck back, his forehead bumping against Jin Chen's shoulder.

'You're so bad!'

Jin Chen chuckled, released his grip, and pulled Ji Lai zhi fully into his embrace: 'You need disciplining.'

Ji Lai zhi's cheeks flushed from his teasing, yet his heart swelled with joy as he tilted his head up for a kiss.

At first it was just a brief taste, but Ji Lai zhi became dazed from Jin Chen's kisses, not noticing when Jin Chen straightened up with a mischievous thought, merely instinctively following, tiptoeing to cling on and continue.

Jin Chen's laughter deepened at his reaction, his arms tightening to hold him fast in his embrace.

Snow fell soundlessly, heaven and earth a vast expanse.

Under the eaves, the two stood embraced, Jin Chen's cloak wrapping around Ji Lai zhi, holding him close in his arms; no matter how fierce the wind and snow, it could not penetrate this pocket of warmth.

The martial world's clamor seemed shut out by this snow, leaving only their breathing and heartbeats.

Winter snow fell silently, yet it proclaimed the turning of the ages; the martial world's story, too, quietly turned a new page within this snow.

Though the Formless Office has gradually faded from the martial world's grudges and emotions, should a great matter arise, it still appears amidst the waves, wielding the fair and just authority capable of stabilizing this continent.

And every time this happens, their stories also reappear among later generations; in this story, Ji Lai Zhi is happy.

……

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Transmitting next world…… transmission successful!