Chapter 2244

When Jin Chen left the Miao King's Tower, he also kicked over the medicine rack by the door, scattering the dried insect-shell medicinal herbs all over the ground.

"Doctor Nan."

A San whispered softly beside Nan Yixing, "The Young Master… probably went to the Back Mountain Bamboo Vine Forest."

He kept his voice extremely low, as if afraid to startle something, "Will you go persuade him? He… might listen to you."

Zhu Lin

Jin Chen pinched the gu worm, 【Killing Jin Que is urgent.】

Ling Gun Gun lay prone, eager to try biting.

【But you have to go to the Forbidden Land, Host—do you want to take the risk?】

Jin Chen was solemn, 【I can.】

Nothing is impossible for a big shot!

【But the Forbidden Land is full of worms, ugly and weird—wait, not big, oh right!】

Ling Gun Gun suddenly perked up, 【According to the plot, the Holy Son Selection should be coming up soon—if you become the Holy Son, you can enter and exit the Forbidden Land openly and safely!】

In the original plot, for some reason, Luo Xiao killed the original host, but the Holy Son was Jin Que, so Luo Xiao could only inherit his father's position as High Priest.

There's still something fishy about it.

Here, the human and beast duo were still discussing how to kill Jin Que.

【Hey! The Main God has arrived.】 Ling Gun Gun reminded.

Bamboo leaves rustled as Nan Yixing pushed aside the hanging vines, his footsteps making almost no sound on the soft leaf litter.

Dappled bamboo shadows fell on the ground, outlining the somewhat lonely figure ahead.

Jin Chen leaned against an old bamboo, his purple gauze robe casually spread on the moss, his long fingers pinching a silver-winged gu worm as he absentmindedly fed it.

Nan Yixing unconsciously lightened his breath.

This Jin Chen was utterly different from his flamboyant self a few days prior; the bamboo shadows traced his side profile, the shadow from his long lashes covering those purple eyes usually tinged with teasing, leaving only his straight nose bridge and slightly pursed lips.

Like a mountain spirit occasionally glimpsed, he was flamboyant in daylight, but when alone he would lick his wounds.

【Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 13!】

Bamboo leaves rustled; Jin Chen seemed to sense something, and the gu worm on his fingertip fluttered its wings and flew away.

He tilted his head slightly; the gu patterns at the corner of his eyes flickered faintly in the night, while his lips curled into a smile familiar to Nan Yixing, yet tinged with deliberate intent.

"How did you come, older brother?" the boy's voice carried his usual frivolity.

Nan Yixing approached, and the mingling scent of medicine and fresh bamboo leaves spread out.

Jin Chen's robe hem was stained with dirt and grass bits, his braid a little loose, a few strands of hair hanging by his ears, swaying gently in the breeze.

He suddenly wanted to reach out and brush away the bamboo leaf that had fallen into Jin Chen's hair, but the moment he lifted his hand, his wrist was seized.

Jin Chen gazed at him; a flicker of emotion passed through his eyes, fleeting enough to be impossible to grasp.

"If this is an exchange of study, why not let me save your brother?" Nan Yixing asked softly.

Jin Chen suddenly turned his head, seized Nan Yixing's wrist, and his fingertips rubbed the silver bracelet: "If you truly want to save him, return this to me."

Nan Yixing felt the boy's fingers trembling slightly.

Just as he tried to pull his hand back, Jin Chen suddenly yanked hard, pressing him against the bamboo behind him.

Bamboo leaves rustled, startling a few birds.

"Bodhisattva brother," Jin Chen leaned to his ear, his fingertip brushing the cinnabar on Nan Yixing's brow, his breath warm, "Don't save him—save me instead."

The boy's hand clenched tightly around his wrist, then broke into that usual, slightly malicious grin, the silver bracelet digging into both of them, causing a little pain.

Nan Yixing reached out and gently stroked Jin Chen's braid, his fingertip brushing the silver snake pendant behind the boy's ear; the cool sensation made him curl his fingers again.

Nan Yixing lowered his gaze to look at him; a thin mist of sorrow rose in his eyes, like a Bodhisattva's compassion for the world, his long lashes hiding the true emotion at the bottom of his gaze.

Only the faint arc at the corner of his lips leaked a semblance of near‑gentleness.

"The Young Master is obviously so capable—what do you need me to save you for?"

"Do you really want to know, older brother?" Jin Chen detected the probing tone and suddenly laughed.

In Nan Yixing's eyes, that smile was gorgeous as a poison‑kissed mandrake.

He leaned close to Nan Yixing's ear, his warm breath brushing the ear: "If you revive Jin Que, I will die."

He paused, then added, "But if I kill him, I will die too."

Nan Yixing froze.

When Jin Chen said this, his face still bore a smile, the corners of his eyes and brows showing his usual roguish, carefree air, making it impossible to tell whether he was sincere or joking.

Seeing Nan Yixing silent, Jin Chen leaned against his shoulder again, the silver bell in his hair giving a soft chime.

"Big brother, do you still want to save him?"

His voice was very soft, with a hint of coquettishness, like a mountain sprite bewitching a passing scholar.

A gentle breeze blew through Zhu Lin, its rustling sound drowning out the two's breathing.

The red serpent gu emerged from Jin Chen's wrist at some point, wandering between their clasped wrists up Nan Yixing's arm, finally resting against the side of his neck and slowly crawling.

The serpent's forked tongue occasionally brushed his Adam's apple, leaving a wet trace.

Nan Yixing's breath hitched, his back ramrod straight, yet he forced himself not to dodge.

Jin Chen's gaze clung to his face.

"Big brother, you're afraid of snakes—I've figured it out."

A mischievous glint flashed in his purple pupils, and the red serpent, as if receiving an order, gently rubbed its head against Nan Yixing's chin.

"Big brother, your skin is smoother than the finest mutton-fat jade."

Jin Chen chuckled lightly, his fingertip barely tracing his own lips, as if he could share feeling with the serpent gu.

When the serpent's forked tongue swept past his neck once more, Nan Yixing finally couldn't help but tilt his head.

This subtle dodging motion made Jin Chen laugh even more happily, and the red snake, pushing further, slipped into his collar.

"Young Master." Nan Yixing's voice was hoarse, his fingertips already gripping the silver needle.

Jin Chen, however, suddenly moved close, "What are you afraid of? It won't really bite you."

Saying this, he reached out and tapped the red snake's head, "Right?"

The red snake, as if understanding, actually opened its mouth, revealing two slender fangs, and lightly touched Nan Yixing's collarbone.

Immediately afterward, it affectionately rubbed its head against his cheek.

Nan Yixing suddenly thrust the needle.

The instant the silver needle pierced the air and entered the He Gu point, Jin Chen suddenly relaxed all his strength, collapsing into Nan Yixing's embrace as if his bones had been pulled out.

"Young Master." Nan Yixing's voice was laced with warning, yet he had no choice but to support his slipping waist.

Jin Chen's forehead rested against his shoulder, the purple gauze clothing entwined around both of their calves like a meticulously woven net.

The red snake leisurely swam from Nan Yixing's neck back to its master's wrist, and before leaving, it still didn't forget to sweep its tail tip across his Adam's apple.

Jin Chen lifted his face to look at him. "Older Brother's needle technique is truly formidable."

He deliberately blew his breath onto the other's jumping pulse, "The needle makes one's bones and muscles go numb."

Nan Yixing lowered his gaze to look at the shameless youth in his arms, his fingertips still pinching half a silver needle, but he paused when his eyes met those laughing purple pupils.

"Hey, I've run out of strength."

Jin Chen, taking advantage, threw his whole weight onto him, "I need Older Brother to hold me."

Nan Yixing: "……"

Bamboo leaves rustled underfoot, and in the distance came the villagers' bronze bell calls for the Young Master.