Chapter 2266: Miao Frontier Youth Fiercely Loves 29

At the same time, the other end of Shan Lin.

The red snake crawled back to claim credit, having swallowed a big mouthful of poisonous insects, and turned into a bracelet coiled around Jin Chen's wrist.

"That's enough to make them behave."

Jin Chen was satisfied.

Looking ahead, Nan Yixiang was holding a wooden box; the child gu inside had been revived by Jin Chen, lively and vigorous, constantly wriggling as it sensed the mother gu's aura.

"I never asked before."

Jin Chen quickened his steps to walk side by side with Nan Yixiang, scratching his palm, "You live out there—what do you need the mother gu of the Blazing Gu for?"

Blazing Gu, as the name suggests, is a worm-like creature shaped like flames, highly toxic. After special refinement by a gu master, the mother gu can sense the child gu's parasitic presence from afar, and anyone parasitized by the child gu suffers excruciating burning pain all over when the mother gu feeds each month—pain that medicine cannot relieve, only soaking in ice water brings slight relief.

But if the parasitism lasts too long, the agitated child gu will scorch the organs, until the host is baked to death.

Thus even in the Thousand-Screen Mountain Stronghold, such a deadly gu exists only in the forbidden zone.

Nan Yixiang clenched the wooden box involuntarily, his narrow eyes narrowing slightly.

"It's my aunt."

Jin Chen startled, "Your aunt?"

In the original plot, wasn't Nan Yixiang only returning to the South Gate after his aunt's death?

Could there be another secret?

"Hmm."

Nan Yixiang noticed Jin Chen's surprise and assumed it was due to hearing about a complicated relationship, explaining: "My aunt raised me; a few years ago, she was harmed by a gu sorcerer from the outside world, infected with the Blazing Gu… her appearance and temperament changed drastically."

Those parasitized by the child gu have skin that turns charred-black, and they constantly emit an unbearable burnt smell from within.

Originally her life hung by a thread; a friend who practiced medicine in her early years saved her, but it was only a temporary suppression of the gu—no telling when it might flare up again.

I came back to the South Gate precisely for this reason, giving me the chance to come to the Thousand-Screen Mountain Stronghold to study; with this child gu I searched the outside world for, I hope to find the mother gu of the Blazing Gu that can neutralize it.

After Nan Yixiang finished speaking, not knowing what he was thinking, he suddenly turned his head and pressed his forehead against Jin Chen's shoulder, his voice low, revealing a hint of vulnerability.

"I've heard the Blazing Gu is extremely toxic, requiring a powerful gu master to draw out the child gu, but I can't do that, and I can't bring my aunt into the Thousand-Screen Mountain Stronghold—what should I do?"

Jin Chen furrowed his brows, looked down at him, "Isn't that why I'm here? What are you worried about?"

Just thinking Nan Yixiang was overly anxious about his aunt's safety, Jin Chen's lazy expression faded a bit as he gently kissed the side of Nan Yixiang's face.

"Don't worry; as long as we find the mother gu, we'll be fine."

Nan Yixiang gave a light smile, as if easily appeased, tilting his head slightly to bury himself in Jin Chen's neck, the corners of his mouth turning up.

"Good."

I remember, you promised to leave this place with me.

No going back.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 72!】

With the child gu present, and trapped in the poisonous wooden box sending out a distress signal, the mother gu of the Blazing Gu kept in the forbidden zone quickly sensed it, rustling out to seek the child gu.

Not long after, they noticed the child gu becoming increasingly agitated, emitting a sizzling chirp.

The red snake suddenly rose, hissing a few times toward the east, its scales flashing coldly in the sunlight, highly alert.

Even it had to be wary of the poisonous insect.

Jin Chen narrowed his eyes, following its gaze; ahead, a pile of dead leaves was oddly emitting green smoke.

"Here it comes," Nan Yixiang whispered, his wooden box now needing a firm grip to keep the child gu from bursting out.

When that mass of reddish flesh bulged up from beneath the fallen leaves, Jin Chen couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

【Oh no, ugly thing!】 Ling Gun Gun shocked, 【Host be careful~】

What kind of worm is this? It's like a lump of molten red iron writhing, a brain-sized mass of red flesh, its entire body riddled with honeycomb-like holes, each oozing lava-like slime.

Wherever it crawled, the grass instantly turned black, and even the soil emitted a sizzling sound.

Jin Chen turned sideways, his Silver Bell Chain whipping out to wrap around a branch; he used it to swing up, precisely stepping onto the mother gu's back.

The scorching heat transmitted through his soles, burning the soles of his feet.

【Ouch! Hot hot hot!】 Ling Gun Gun deeply empathized, real-time venting his inner complaints about Jin Chen.

The mother gu, in pain, thrashed violently and spewed a stream of crimson poisonous mist.

Jin Chen held his breath and leaned back, his Silver Bell Chain constricting its head.

Nan Yixiang's silver needle shot forward, but just as it was about to hit, Jin Chen's pupils contracted—suddenly the dead wood behind Nan Yixiang split open, and another, larger mother gu poked its head out!

How can there be two mother gu!

"Watch behind!" Jin Chen shouted sharply.

Nan Yixiang focused on the one at Jin Chen's feet, reacting too late—the mother gu's poison sprayed onto his back, instantly blackening the fabric.

Jin Chen violently flung off the mother gu he'd been grappling with, his Silver Bell Chain gaining leverage from the tree trunk, launching himself like an arrow toward Nan Yixiang.

At the instant the poison was about to touch his skin, he grabbed Nan Yixiang and pulled him into his arms, leaping several times onto a high branch.

Only after confirming Nan Yixiang was unharmed, aside from his clothes being scorched black, did Jin Chen relax.

The Red Snake Gu anxiously coiled at the base of the tree, hissing threats at the two mother gu.

Nan Yixiang lightly patted his tense arm, "I'm fine."

His voice remained as steady as ever, though his face was a little pale.

Stay in the tree.

Jin Chen's expression grew colder as he scanned the two still-thrashing mother gu below, ruffled Nan Yixiang's hair, then leapt down, the braid Nan Yixiang had personally woven tracing an arc—eerie and ruthless.

The Silver Bell Chain in Jin Chen's hand moved as if alive, flexible and unafraid of fire, instantly wrapping tightly around the first mother gu that appeared, applying constant pressure.

Taming such a poisonous gu is no easy feat, yet even Nan Yixiang, who knows nothing of gu arts, can clearly see Jin Chen's ability and talent.

Under Jin Chen's hand, the gu's struggles and resistance were all in vain.

Besides, they even nearly burned Nan Yixing, and they showed no mercy at all.

In no time, the first appearing female poison bug settled down, turning into a wriggling thumb-sized thing, like a blood-red caterpillar.

As for the other one, Jin Chen kneaded it, then after a burst of Spiritual Power chilled it, he tossed it into the deep woods like a shot put.

Well…

Very handsome.

Nan Yixing sat in the tree watching the whole process, his gaze hardly leaving the poison bugs Jin Chen had given him, and he could easily feel his own heartbeat.

In those kind, narrow eyes lay a simmering possessiveness.

This emotion was like a flame ignited in the forest; even dangerous ghostfire made the fallen humanity relish it like sweet candy.

Jin Chen put away the female poison bug, then, disdainfully, wiped his hands with a leaf, turned back, lifted his head, and tilted his head to look at the person sitting in the tree.

He chuckled lightly; as he raised his hand, a silver bell chimed crisply, and he spread his arms.

In the dim woods, a charm capable of bewitching hearts arose out of nowhere.

"Come down."

Nan Yixing's sympathetic brows and eyes were tinged with emotion, turning slightly flushed, and without any thought he jumped down.

Jin Chen was remarkably perceptive; as he steadied the person, he lowered his head to Nan Yixing's ear, his low voice sounding alluring.

"Older brother, I've tamed the female poison bug; shouldn't I get a little reward?"

Nan Yixing's lips curled slightly, a hint of ambiguity flickered in his eyes, his long lashes lowered, and he affectionately brushed his lips against Jin Chen's before continuing deeper.

Thanks to Jin Chen's personal, wholehearted instruction, Nan Yixing's kissing technique may not be called proficient, but his skill in teasing has improved.