Chapter 2250: Miao Border Youth's Fierce Love 13

Jin Chen is indeed a dangerous person.

Nan Yixing lowered his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching imperceptibly.

He wasn't afraid; in fact, he somewhat appreciated this danger.

After all, he was no different—approaching with his own purpose.

Nan Yixing lifted his gaze, interest flickering in his eyes as he reached out; his right fingertip lightly brushed Jin Chen's nape, his pad rubbing the silver pendant on the youth's earlobe, the motion intimate to the point of ambiguity.

"You can try."

His voice low and slow, with a hint of allure, "Poison and gu— which dies faster?"

Jin Chen's breath hitched, then he smiled; the sharpness in his eyes matched Nan Yixing's.

"That depends on how potent your poison is, older brother."

The tip of the Red Snake Gu's tail silently wound around Nan Yixing's wrist, its scales icy cold yet giving a few affectionate rubs.

Nan Yixing didn't dodge; instead, he tapped its head with his fingertip.

A gust of wind blew past, dispersing the subtle atmosphere between them.

Nan Yixing released his hold, turned to gather the scattered medicinal herbs; his moon-white narrow sleeves fell, covering the silver bracelet on his wrist—"The poisonous insects you wanted have been lured; you may continue on."

The earlier probing was more like a silent game of wits.

Nobody yielded, yet nobody advanced further.

With the idea of cultivating gu, seeking poisonous insects and medicinal herbs was no longer difficult.

Moreover, Nan Yixing's poison served as an aid, boosting toxicity and achieving twice the result with half the effort.

In the blink of an eye, three days later, Jin Chen's gu vessel was still one ingredient short of the sealing altar, even Broken Dragon Cliff proving hard to find.

Half a day passed, the Red Snake Gu still unable to locate that poisonous insect—until Jin Que had it delivered.

At this moment, the sun was just beginning to slant westward.

Jin Chen crouched by the stream, turning over wet stones.

The Red Snake Gu lay listlessly on his shoulder, its scales dull and lackluster.

This was already the tenth futile attempt today.

"I can't even find the blood thread leech." Jin Chen pinched its triangular head, his tone wistful yet stern: "Raising you is no better than raising a toad."

Red Snake Gu:???

The Red Snake Gu hissed as it darted into the stream, its tail tip flopping.

"Host, don't rush, don't rush—other teams' progress isn't as fast as yours." Ling Gun Gun curled up and patted its head.

The stream water suddenly rippled.

Jin Chen looked up alertly, seeing Jin Que stepping slowly over the streambank stones.

The Golden Armored Beetle fluttered its wings on his shoulder, casting his sickly face into an even paler hue.

"A Chen."

Jin Que coughed as he lifted the bamboo basket in his hand, dark red blood thread leeches wriggling at the bottom—"Here's what you want."

"Oh wow?" Ling Gun Gun perked up, "How strange."

Jin Chen narrowed his eyes.

This sort of poisonous insect should have been extinct for over three years; even the Red Snake Gu can't find a trace—where did this sickly Jin Que get it from?

Jin Chen harbored doubts, not rushing to take it: "How do you know I need the blood thread leech… did you plant a scent-gu bug on me?"

That's unacceptable!

Jin Chen sprang to his feet.

But Jin Que's wrist suddenly spasmed, the bamboo basket nearly slipping from his grasp.

The Golden Armored Beetle scrambled anxiously across his neck, sensing his master's distress.

"I didn't, but… I can guess what kind of gu you excel at cultivating."

"A Chen, focus on your gu cultivation." His voice was light as a spider's silk in the wind, fragile enough to be blown away at any moment.

"The position of Holy Son—cough, cough—I won't contend with you for it."

"At ease?"

Jin Chen swallowed the harsh words: "What peace of mind are you offering?"

Jin Que turned his head; the twilight carved his profile into something as fragile as paper.

"If you don't want it…" the gu markings on his neck writhed like poisonous snakes, "I fear I'll fall ill again tonight."

Jin Chen: "……"

Out of ten parts, a hundred percent feels off.

Nan Yixing had somehow appeared three steps away.

"The blood thread leech fears light."

He suddenly spoke, his voice icy cold: "It should be placed in the gu vessel as soon as possible."

Jin Chen inexplicably understood Nan Yixing's implied words—don't refuse for nothing.

Jin Que's Golden Armored Beetle suddenly fluttered its wings, tracing a golden arc between the three of them.

Nan Yixing, dazed, caught a glimpse of gloom flashing in Jin Que's eyes; when he focused again, only the frail visage remained.

"Take it." Jin Que released the bamboo basket, his fingertip leaving a cold touch on his brother's palm—"Consider it… repayment."

Jin Chen stared, entranced, at the writhing blood thread leeches in the basket.

As Jin Que departed, his back appeared especially frail in the twilight.

"What exactly is he up to?" Jin Chen unconsciously rubbed the silver bell chain, the Red Snake Gu coiled at his feet.

Nan Yixing was organizing the poison that needed to be paired with the blood thread leech, yet his fingertips inexplicably felt tense.

Thinking back to just now when Jin Que was about to leave, that meaningful gaze seemed to be looking at a stranger who shouldn't be here.

"You said yesterday, the bloodline leech must be paired with broken-intestine herb to exert its maximum efficacy before it can enter the gu vessel." Nan Yixiong said, his voice a few degrees lower than usual, handing the crushed broken-intestine herb to Jin Chen.

Jin Chen came back to his senses, doubtfully drawing near, his hair brushing Nan Yixiong's cheek, "Brother, why are you distracted?"

He reached out to fiddle with the medicine box's cord, "The rope is about to be pulled apart by you."

Nan Yixiong let go, changing the subject as if nothing had happened, "Your elder brother suddenly showing friendliness is indeed suspicious."

Jin Chen nodded, his fingertips lightly tapping the bamboo basket, gathering up the bloodline leeches.

"That's right, we need to be more careful."

Luo Xiao is a brainless idiot, but Jin Que isn't, so we need to be even more on guard.

Nan Yixiong watched Jin Chen's back as he handled the bloodline leeches, a strange stagnant feeling suddenly welling up in his chest.

This feeling came inexplicably, like a silver needle inserted into an acupoint but off by a fraction—no pain, no itch, yet it inexplicably made one irritable.

As Jin Chen turned, his braid swept over the back of his hand.

Nan Yixiong suddenly grabbed that bundle of black hair, the motion so quick even he himself froze.

"Huh?" Jin Chen turned his head, raising an eyebrow, his violet eyes reflecting Nan Yixiong's slightly dazed look.

He slowly raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"

Nan Yixiong's Adam's apple twitched slightly.

He ought to have jeered as usual, taken the opportunity to probe, but his tongue tip seemed stuck by that inexplicable sourness.

Finally he just raised his hand, wiping the toxin off Jin Chen's cheek with the force used to apply medicine, "Dirty."

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value+10, total 33！】

——

Jin Chen threw the last handful of poison herb into the gu vessel.

He suddenly turned around, gripping Nan Yixiong's wrist as he was straightening his medicine pouch.

"This place is dangerous; I'm going into seclusion, brother don't wander off." Jin Chen's voice was lower than usual, rare in its seriousness, "Just one day, brother."

Nan Yixiong could feel the heat of his palm, hotter than usual.

The red snake gu coiled around their feet, its scales anxiously rubbing the ground.

"I promise you." Nan Yixiong lightly patted the back of his hand, medicinal fragrance drifting from his sleeve, "I'll guard the cave entrance."

Jin Chen stared into his eyes for a long time, the obstinacy in his tone softening a bit, "Brother won't sneak off to look for what you want while I'm in seclusion, will he?"

"No." Nan Yixiong interrupted him, "Rest easy in your seclusion."

The poison mist inside the gu vessel began to churn, Jin Chen stepped into the depths of the cave.

The red snake gu lingered at the entrance for a moment, then ultimately followed its master away into the darkness.

Nan Yixiong lit a pile of fire at the cave mouth, listening to the humming sound of the gu vessel coming from inside.

A breeze brushed past outside the cave, bringing a faint scent of blood.

Suddenly heard three urgent cries of the partridge.

The tail tone of this melody carried the distinctive tremolo of the Southern Gate, a signal Bai Mo often used.

Bai Mo was asking him for help.

Nan Yixiong frowned, rose to look outside the cave, his heart hesitant.

Bai Mo might have some ulterior motives, but he would never joke with the Southern Gate's signal.

Remembering his master's earlier instructions, Nan Yixiong untied the medicine pouch from his waist and hung it on the vine at the cave entrance, inside were pills specially prepared for Jin Chen.

Nan Yixiong finally glanced at the steaming poison mist inside the cave, then turned and disappeared into the night.