Chapter 2239: The Miao Border Youth's Fierce Love 02

Nan Yi Xing saw a youth walking slowly from the intersection, purple robes fluttering, the hem embroidered with intricate silver serpent patterns, shimmering with an eerie glow in the sunlight.

The youth's braid was elaborate, adorned with tiny silver bells that hung to his waist, swaying lightly with his steps, each chime tugging at people's heartstrings and making them itch.

Most striking were his violet eyes, like poisoned glass, smiling yet exuding a wild danger.

Only upon closer look did one notice a silver snake earring dangling from his left earlobe, the serpent coiled, its tongue flickering, lifelike.

The South Gate disciples couldn't help but glance at their senior martial brother, thinking: If Nan Yi Xing had the holy appearance of a Buddha, then the youth before them was the epitome of eeriness, not like a real person.

Upon seeing him, the villagers all lowered their heads in salute, yet their eyes held indulgence and pampering, as if looking at their own mischievous yet handsome wolf cub.

Some called him young master in a low voice, others smiled and offered fresh wild fruit.

Jin Chen casually took it, bit into it, and juice slid down the corner of his mouth.

He carelessly wiped it away, but his gaze fixed intently on Nan Yi Xing.

"Lu Xiao."

He spoke lazily, his voice when speaking Chinese carried the youthful clarity, yet tinged with a bewitching low husk.

"Who is this older brother?"

Lu Xiao standing to the side bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Young Master, this is Southern Doctor Nan Yi Xing from the South Gate, who has brought his disciples to the stronghold for exchange and study."

Upon hearing this, Jin Chen's lips curled slightly, his violet eyes smiling deeper.

He stepped closer, the silver bells chiming lightly, each step as if treading on people's hearts.

"Nan Yi Xing..."

"Nan, Yi Xing."

He slowly uttered the Chinese phrase, tongue lightly touching his palate, "What a nice name."

【Detected world plot villain, triggering Blackening Value, currently Blackening Value: 80!】

Nan Yi Xing raised his eyes and locked gazes with him.

"Stunning."

He had seen countless people, yet never a face like this.

Gorgeous, enigmatic, beautiful, yet carrying an otherworldly childishness.

Like the most dangerous poison flower in the mountains and wilderness, knowing one shouldn't approach, yet unable to resist the urge to reach out and touch it.

Jin Chen tilted his head, laughing unrestrainedly, "This older brother is so handsome."

Nan Yi Xing's lips twitched, a smile rising in his eyes, his tone warm, "Young Master, you sure… speak astonishingly."

Jin Chen paid no heed, instead producing a silver bracelet from his sleeve and offering it to him.

The bracelet was exquisitely crafted, its patterns intricate, faintly exuding a natural medicinal scent, clearly a carefully prepared item.

"A gift for the handsome older brother."

Bai Mo stood to the side, his eyes flickering, unable to help glancing at the bracelet twice, envy flashing in his gaze.

"What a lovely bracelet." Bai Mo said softly.

Yet Jin Chen ignored him, his gaze fixed solely on Nan Yi Xing, smiling as he asked:

"Do you want it, older brother?"

Nan Yi Xing lowered his eyes, looking at the silver bracelet, a hint of amusement flashing in his gaze.

He slowly extended his jade-like wrist, his tone laced with bewitching indulgence:

"Why don't you, Young Master, help me put it on?"

Jin Chen's eyes deepened, his smile growing richer.

He grasped Nan Yi Xing's wrist, his fingertips lightly brushing his pulse, as if testing something.

The bracelet slid smoothly onto Nan Yi Xing's right wrist, fitting perfectly, as if it were meant to be his from birth.

"Looks great." Jin Chen murmured, his violet eyes reflecting Nan Yi Xing's silhouette, like a beast locking onto its prey.

Nan Yi Xing chuckled lightly, his fingertips gently tracing the bracelet's patterns, an undercurrent stirring in his eyes.

"Indeed, it's a fine thing."

Behind him, Chu Xian and Fan Ruoxi exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised.

The senior martial brother was usually wary, yet never accepted others' gifts.

"Is this breaking the precept?"

Fan Ruoxi silently indicated with his eyes: If I could receive a gift from the handsome young master, I'd agree to anything.

Chu Xian: …

"That's also true."

"Southern Doctor, don't take offense; the young master is just like this, and I never expected him to come..." Lu Xiao thought Nan Yi Xing was reluctant to refuse, and tried to smooth things over.

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, turned, and gave Lu Xiao's head a hard smack.

"What's my nature, I can't come here?"

Jin Chen crossed his arms, tilted his head, and looked past Lu Xiao at the villagers.

The villagers, men and women alike, immediately laughed, "Of course we can!"

Lu Xiao: "……"

He drew a deep breath, forcing a smile: "Young Master, I didn't mean it that way."

"Oh." Jin Chen glanced at him.

"Still can't figure out what you mean."

"Dare to, while I'm weak, release insects to bite me."

"You damn thing, wait!"

"Come on, older brother, I'll take you to meet my father."

Jin Chen ignored Luo Xiao, then turned and looked at Nan Yi Xing, gesturing for them to follow.

The villagers again stuffed Jin Chen with plenty of wild fruits; he picked a few sweet ones, held them in his arms, and munched while walking.

Luo Xiao: "Young Master, the Miao King sent me to greet the guests; you take them away, what am I supposed to do?"

Jin Chen didn't look back, uttered a phrase in Miao language, which made Luo Xiao turn and leave angrily; but remembering the Grand Priest's instructions, he had no choice but to sulkily follow from afar.

Chu Wan wondered: "Young Master, what did you just mean?"

Jin Chen thought for a moment, translated into Mandarin: "Stay where it's cool."

Ling Gun Gun curled up: 【You're being rather euphemistic.】

Clearly: go wherever you like, even going to die is fine.

——

Morning mist lingered, the mountain path wound, the crowd followed Jin Chen forward, moss underfoot slick and wet; in the distance two streams flowed side by side, yet remained distinct—clear and turbid, like two intertwined silver snakes that never mingled.

Bai Wan curiously glanced at Jin Chen ahead, then at Luo Xiao, pointing at the streams and asked: "Why don't these two streams merge?"

Luo Xiao didn't break stride: "This is the Twin Gu Spring; the left stream nurtures life-gu, drinking it cures all ailments, and it's also what the villagers drink."

"The right stream breeds death-gu; a single drop is extremely toxic."

He glanced sideways, seeing Bai Wan entranced, the corner of his mouth rose slightly: "In the village, children are taught from youth not to step wrong."

Bai Wan exclaimed: "Luo Dage knows so much!"

Luo Xiao hadn't yet responded when Jin Chen lazily yawned, his narrow sleeve's silver bell tinkling lightly.

"You chatter on like spiders laying eggs."

Bai Wan: "……"

Just then, a rustle came from the treetops above; a palm-sized, brightly colored spider dropped on a thread, its eight long legs slender as spikes, hovering right before Bai Wan's eyes.

"Ah!" Bai Wan jerked back.

Jin Chen clicked his tongue, reached out and pinched; the spider obediently landed in his palm, the tip of its silk curled around a leaf, on which a few symbols were scratched awry.

Obviously a message left by his little lackey.

He glanced at it casually, stuffed the leaf into his sleeve, then pulled a centipede from his bamboo tube and fed it to the spider.

"What's the fuss?" Jin Chen glanced askance at Bai Wan, "You're so noisy, you scared my little Red."

Bai Wan bit her lip, feeling wronged: "Young Master, your spider…"

He hadn't finished speaking when He Mo Ning pressed his arm, shaking his head to signal not to question.

The spider gnawed the centipede, its fangs flashing with a cold light.

Jin Chen lightly flicked his fingertip, produced another live centipede, and offered it to Nan Yi Xing.

"Brother, care to eat?"

Nan Yi Xing's expression unchanged, still smiling: "No need."

Jin Chen tilted his head, feigning a threat.

"But you were just poisoned by a gu."

The junior disciples exchanged glances, clearly unconvinced.

Nan Yi Xing's eyes flickered; he suddenly took Jin Chen's hand, his thumb gently rubbing the silver chain on Jin Chen's wrist, his voice low and soft, tinged with indulgence.

"Is there nothing else? I can't stomach centipedes for now."

Jin Chen blinked, then broke into a smile, as if coaxed, and fished out a vermilion red pill from his sleeve.

"There is."

Nan Yi Xing took it, swallowed it in front of him, his Adam's apple bobbing, his smile undiminished: "Thank you."

Luo Xiao watched coldly from the side, Bai Wan clenched her sleeves, He Mo Ning furrowed his brows.

As for Nan Yi Xing, he still smiled with benevolent holiness, only a flicker of deep meaning passing through his eyes, unnoticed by anyone.

Jin Chen saw him swallow it, then ceased to follow, turning and walking off elsewhere.

"Brother, see you later."

Ling Gun Gun tasted the centipede for a moment, smacked his lips, 【Host, why are you scaring the Main God?】

Clearly only that vermilion red pill works.

【With so many people, how do we handle the scramble?】

【……】Quite thoughtful.