Chapter 2271: Miao Border Youth Fiercely Loves 34

With the Gu King present, the elders and the old people of the village dared not act rashly in the slightest.

They could only all look to the Miao King, hoping he could think of a solution.

The village's rules, which have existed for who knows how many years, even… even now that their flaws have surfaced, but how could one say they can just be changed?

Inside the Miao King's hall, the candlelight flickered, casting everyone's expressions in dark obscurity.

Jin Chen leaned sideways on his seat, the red snake's tongue lightly flicking, licking the silver bell on his wrist.

He lazily lifted his gaze, his eyes sweeping over the shocked elders in the hall, finally settling on the Miao King's face, which was dignified yet faintly trembling with rage.

"This doesn't follow the rules." The Miao King finally spoke in a low voice, despite the pressure from the Gu King.

"Rules?" Jin Chen chuckled lightly, a flick of his fingertip sent the red snake darting back into his sleeve, and the Gu King also retreated.

"You've raised Gu for decades—don't you know that the most poisonous insects often hatch from the most inconspicuous eggs?"

The Miao King slammed his staff heavily on the ground: "Jin Chen! You are the young master, a genius rare in a century—you ought to……"

"Ought to what?" Jin Chen cut him off, the corner of his mouth slightly raised, yet his eyes were chillingly intimidating.

"Clinging to this broken rule, spending a lifetime as a lofty young master, being used by you as Jin Que's blood bag."

"Or should you just watch as some people in the village, who don't even know the most basic Gu-avoidance technique, are devoured like livestock by the evil worms behind the mountain?"

The elders' expressions changed abruptly.

The senior elder's snake-headed staff suddenly pointed at him.

"Young master! You…… why bother giving this opportunity to… someone else?"

"Forgot to mention." Jin Chen lazily raised his hand, "In half a month, I want to leave together with my older brother."

As soon as his words fell, the hall erupted in an uproar.

Nan Yixing suddenly lifted his head, his pupils trembling slightly, his fingertips unconsciously gripping his cuff.

He looked at Jin Chen, feeling surprise, disbelief, emotion, and even a hint of sourness he himself hadn't noticed.

The emotions welling up in his eyes were almost about to spill over.

As for the elders, they were genuinely furious.

"Preposterous!"

The Miao King shouted in anger, the poisonous Gu patterns on his staff suddenly flaring up, the rattan Gu inside the bamboo hall writhing frenziedly, as if they would come to strangle in the next second.

"You, as the young master, dare——"

"Before his words finished, the Gu King buzzed and vibrated its wings."

All the restless Gu creatures quieted down, like quails.

"Old man."

Jin Chen rose slowly to his feet, his red robe draping down, the silver chain at his waist jingling.

He smiled at the corners of his mouth, but his eyes were icy cold: "Then just consider that I've already thrown away a life for Jin Que—what's there to get so worked up about?"

He raised his hand, and the Gu King gave another shake; the patterns on the Miao King's staff actually cracked inch by inch!

The Miao King's face fell: "Child, I never wanted you to die for me…… there's still a year, just one year left……"

"With Jin Que's frequency of falling ill every few days, I won't even need a year—in another month or so I could die right before your eyes."

Jin Chen crossed his arms, dissatisfied.

Miao King: "……"

Jin Chen turned, extending his hand toward Nan Yixing; the coldness in his eyes faded, leaving only a lazy smile.

"Older brother, this surprise—are you satisfied?"

Nan Yixing's Adam's apple rolled, finally finding his voice: "……Are you serious?"

Jin Chen gave a low chuckle, his fingertips lightly rubbing his wrist bone, then lightly kissing the vermilion dot on his brow.

"When have I ever truly deceived you?"

Nan Yixing suddenly tightened his grip on Jin Chen's fingers, using a bit of force, his eyes flickering slightly.

"Good."

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +8, total 90!】

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -5, total 45!】

Inside the Miao King's hall, the candlelight flickered, revealing everyone's varied expressions.

The elders' shock, anger, fear; the youths' unrestrained admiration, almost wanting to rush forward and give Jin Chen a few bear hugs.

And in the corner, Chu Wan covered her mouth, her face flushed red as she tugged at Fan Ruoxi's sleeve, letting out a silent scream.

"She had said the handsome young master would make a choice!"

——

The decision Jin Chen made, even if the Miao King urged him repeatedly and the elders wore their mouths raw from talking, would not be changed in the slightest.

After a few days, Jin Chen, vexed from being nagged, directly took A San, Jiu Tian, and Gong Zi, and went again to the ancestral hall's underground palace, actually digging out the records of the alliance formed over nearly several hundred years of communication between Qianping Mountain Village and the South Gate, throwing them into the Miao King's hall, which infuriated the Miao King to the point of tipping over.

He also arranged for the youths who had begun studying proper Gu techniques to take turns brainwashing the council of elders on this topic every day.

After fifteen days passed, no one dared to raise any objection anymore.

The day of departure from the village.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the village gate was already crowded with people.

A San squeezed forward to Jin Chen, clutching a bulging bundle, and shoved everything into his arms all at once.

"Young master, food for the journey! Insect herb cakes, pickled bamboo shoots, and your favorite yangmei wine……"

"His eyes sparkled: 'When you come back, you'd better tell me all about what's out there!'"

"Jiu Tian asked: 'You'll still come back to see us, right…… or whenever you settle down, we can go out to visit you too!'"

Jin Chen nodded, "Anything works, wait for you to come."

A red snake poked its head out of his sleeve, sniffing the glutinous rice cake that A San had brought over.

He casually broke off a piece and tossed it to the Gu King dozing on the carriage shaft; the little clown dumpling instantly flapped its wings to catch it, causing several nearby children to exclaim in surprise.

Jin Chen picked up the Gu King and said, "You can't go."

Gu King:?

The Gu King struggled in vain; Jin Chen flicked its body, then stuffed it back into the gu vessel and threw it forward.

It landed precisely in A San's hands.

A San shuddered, then hastily held it steady.

Nan Yixing was checking his luggage when, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure standing at the edge of the crowd.

Bai Mo wore an old backpack, her face pallid as if she hadn't seen sunlight in ages.

He moved his lips, as if shouting "Senior Brother," but his voice was drowned out by the villagers' farewell clamor.

Nan Yixing simply pretended not to have seen it.

Whether Bai Mo stays or leaves has nothing to do with the South Gate.

"What are you looking at, older brother?" Jin Chen suddenly put his arm around Nan Yixing's waist and rested his chin on his shoulder.

Warm breath brushed past his ear, carrying the sweet‑sour scent of yangmei wine.

Nan Yixing withdrew his gaze and, in passing, tidied the silver ornament that the wind had mussed on Jin Chen.

"Nothing much; it's time to set off."

Bai Mo took a few more steps forward, this time calling out louder: "Senior Brother!"

His sleeve still bore the South Gate's distinctive cloud‑pattern trim, though it had been worn pale.

"Stop shouting, stop shouting." Chu Wan walked past him, glanced him up and down, then sighed: "You tell me—why, when you came here just to exchange and study, did you have to reduce yourself to this?"

Bai Mo's face turned ashen as she clutched the straps of her backpack.

Whether it was regret or hatred, only he himself knew.

"Where's He Mo Ning?" Nan Yixing frowned when He Mo Ning didn't show up, and asked.

"I don't know… uh, here he comes." Chu Wan pointed toward the crossroads, "Though… I can see he doesn't look very happy."

That drooping face was practically a match for Bai Mo's.

Nan Yixing thought of how He Mo Ning had been running to Jin Que every day lately, his expression growing grave.

"Senior Brother."

He Mo Ning indeed stumbled over his words, then gathered his courage and said, "I want to stay."

Jin Chen had already been about to move on, but hearing this he leaned in and asked, "What do you want to do?"

How can someone still be rushing up to throw away their life?

Jin Chen said seriously, "If you truly don't want to live, you can become my medicine person."

He Mo Ning choked for a moment, then lifted his foot and walked away.