Chapter 2272

The mist was so thick it hardly dispersed; the miasma in the Shan Lin forest was like a damp, cold gauze, wrapping around everyone's cuffs.

Nan Yi Xing walked at the front, gripping a hemp rope whose other end was tied to the team behind him.

Chu Wan closely followed behind Fan Ruo Xi, occasionally turning to look, voice lowered to a whisper: "Senior Brother, do you think… someone might suddenly appear in this mist?"

Fan Ruo Xi hadn't answered yet when Jin Chen laughed; a red snake poked its head out of his sleeve, its scarlet tongue licking the moisture in the air.

"What's there to fear? If something dares to come near, it'll just make a good extra meal."

Nan Yi Xing glanced sideways at him, and Jin Chen immediately leaned in, lightly scratching his palm with a finger.

"How come, even Older Brother is afraid?"

"Afraid you'll get lost," Nan Yi Xing said softly, yet he tightened his grip on the other's fingers.

After leaving this miasma, the road down the mountain became much smoother, and only then did he feel that Jin Chen truly was returning home with him.

From deep in the mist came a soft scurrying sound, as if something were crawling along the ground.

He Mo Ning walked at the rear of the group, his steps much slower than usual, until Nan Yi Xing turned back to look at him.

"How come, you still regret it?"

He Mo Ning shook his head, voice muffled: "Jin Que Dage's coughing illness… it worsens this season; I want to stay behind."

Jin Chen shrank his neck: "You're really sick, aren't you?"

He let go of Nan Yi Xing's hand, turned to He Mo Ning, patted his shoulder, and said, "I advise you to stay away from Jin Que."

He Mo Ning frowned but didn't dodge: "I just want to take care of him."

Jin Chen narrowed his eyes, tone light yet dangerous: "Staying would be great—your strong build might make you the next substitute."

He Mo Ning: "……"

Fan Ruo Xi draped an arm over He Mo Ning's neck: "Why bother? You know Jin Que too… right, it's impossible anyway."

He Mo Ning glanced at Jin Chen, fell silent for a moment, then whispered low: "……Let's go."

The mist thickened, and the team resumed moving forward.

Jin Chen took Nan Yi Xing's hand again, thumb rubbing his tiger's mouth gently, and said, "Older Brother, is this junior disciple of yours an idiot?"

Nan Yi Xing didn't reply, merely tightening his grip.

A faint sigh came from the mist, like wind, or like someone's breath.

——

The old residence at South Gate exuded a medicinal scent; the wind chime under the eaves rang ding-dong in the early summer breeze.

Ruo Dong rushed into the Living Room at a jog, nearly knocking over the Master's freshly brewed Junshan Silver Needle tea.

"The Eldest Senior Brother is back!"

He panted, eyes shining astonishingly: "He also brought someone from Thousand Screen Mountain…"

He stumbled over his words, fingers gesturing: "An exceptionally handsome beauty—really tall! The silver ornaments jingle!" He tiptoed to indicate the height.

"That tall."

The Master looked somewhat surprised: "Your Eldest Senior Brother—is good fortune coming soon?"

The junior fellow disciples burst into an uproar, chattering with guesses.

They weren't inner disciples, so they couldn't go to Thousand Screen Mountain Stronghold to exchange and study, but every day they hoped the Eldest Senior Brother and his party would return quickly to tell fun stories from deep in the mountains.

The Little Junior Sister tiptoed to look out the window: "How good‑looking is he? Better‑looking than the Miao healer who came for exchange last time?"

Ruo Dong scratched his head: "Not quite the same; he needs to be even better‑looking!"

Before his words finished, Nan Yi Xing had already led Fan Ruo Xi and the others into the hall.

He wore a plain‑colored long robe, a rare relaxed smile touching his brows and eyes.

The Master held his teacup, his gaze repeatedly drifting to the door, obviously not hearing a word of the report.

Nan Yi Xing saw the situation, lips curling slightly: "This time we certainly gained a lot, and we brought back……"

Everyone immediately perked up and stared intently.

He paused, the smile in his eyes deepening: "My beloved."

The master's teacup thudded onto the table, his eyebrows jumping with delight, "Hurry up and come in!"

"Right! Where's the great beauty!" Ruo Dong said excitedly.

Fan Ruoxi and Chu Wan exchanged a glance, silently suppressing laughter.

Everyone turned their heads toward the door in unison.

Jin Chen leaned lazily against the doorframe, his purple Miao-style long robe hung with a silver chain; the long ear pendant on the left swayed gently with his tilt of the head, setting off his skin, cold white as snow, while the tip of his black braid was wound with a few red threads, like an ancient blessing rite, or like a casually tied ornament.

He lifted his gaze, sweeping over the crowd in the hall, the corners of his mouth curving up; though he was merely standing, he exuded an intangible pressure, like a beast lurking in the mountains—languid yet dangerous.

"Greetings, Master." Jin Chen sauntered in, the silver bell chiming softly; each step felt as if he were treading on everyone's heartbeat.

He walked over to Nan Yixing's side and lazily called out.

Fan Ruoxi silently stepped aside, making room for this "great beauty of Qianping Mountain".

The master's teacup snapped onto the floor.

After the astonishment, everyone drew a breath.

They all turned their heads toward Ruo Dong in unison, their eyes blatantly surprised.

"I, I didn't say anything wrong," Ruo Dong said, neck stiff, ears red as he pointed at Jin Chen, "You guys see for yourselves!"

Ruo Dong gestured aggrievedly, "Beauty! Tall! Silver ornaments jingling!"

He pointed at Jin Chen's ear pendant, his eyes rolling around.

"Isn't that all a match…… I just didn't see clearly, never expecting… a male beauty."

Chu Wan suddenly burst out laughing, was given a glare by the master, and hurriedly lowered his head, pretending to tidy his luggage.

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, the hand behind him dropping to hook Nan Yixing's fingertip, "Brother, your Master seems to disagree… As the young master and former Holy Son, am I not presentable?"

"Wait a moment!" The master was shocked, suddenly choked on tea, "You... who are you?"

Young Master of Thousand Screen Mountain Stronghold?

Jin Chen nodded.

Master: "......"

The master's reading glasses slid to the tip of his nose; after a moment he hadn't pushed them up, his gaze swept back and forth between Jin Chen and Nan Yixing's smiling expressions, finally settling on their intertwined fingers.

He stared at it for a moment, then suddenly slapped the table and said, "Good!"

"It was a close call; the red snake on Jin Chen's wrist gave him a start."

"I agree to this marriage!" The master was satisfied.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -5, total 40!】

Jin Chen glanced back and winked at Nan Yixing.

Nan Yixing glanced at him sideways, his eyes revealing undisguised indulgence: "Don't scare them."

Jin Chen chuckled lightly, didn't respond, just lazily leaned back against the chair; his silver pendant swayed, flashing in the sunlight and dazzling the eyes.

The master lifted his teacup again, then suddenly raised his head as if recalling something.

"Where is that child Bai Mo? Why didn't he come back with you?"

The smile at Nan Yixing's lips faded.

I expelled him from the sect.

The little junior sister grinding mugwort by the window shook her hand, and the stone mortar toppled onto the windowsill, "What?"

Fan Ruoxi had already walked up to the master holding this booklet, "Master, look at this."

The master had just opened the first page when his brow furrowed.

"...... This." The master's fingertip stopped at a certain record on the page.

Several junior disciples who had always been on good terms with Bai Mo had gathered around; the youngest suddenly sucked in a breath of cold air.

Nan Yixing turned and took Jin Chen's hand: "If the master has nothing else, I'll first take Jin Chen to settle him."

The master's gaze remained on the booklet; hearing this, he just waved his hand: "Go ahead, rest well for two days, then go... to the watchtower."

Inside the watchtower was precisely Nan Yixing's aunt.

The master's reading glasses reflected the record of every word on the paper; Fan Ruoxi was also quick-witted, mixing in some "evidence."

Only after the curtain of the reception hall fell did one hear the sound of a teacup being heavily set down on the table inside.

Jin Chen's silver bell chain tinkled faintly in the corridor as he turned his head to look at Nan Yixing: "You Han people, when expelling someone from the sect, do you need to take back some token?"

"Not necessary."

Nan Yixing pushed open the carved wooden door of the room, then closed it tightly, looking at Jin Chen.

Jin Chen's beautiful eyes' corners slightly lifted as he leaned forward slightly.

"In broad daylight, older brother, what are you doing closing the door?"

"Naturally... to kiss you."

Upon arriving at his most familiar surroundings, Nan Yixing had none of that wary chill; his affectionate, narrow eyes lifted, reflecting Jin Chen's visage without any admixture.

Jin Chen's eyes slightly curved as he leaned forward a bit, letting Nan Yixing kiss him; the fingers resting on the waist of his plain long robe were distinct, transmitting warmth that made Nan Yixing tremble all the way to his heart.

Soon after, the initiative was seized again by Jin Chen in a fierce, storm-like deep kiss.

Nan Yixing leaned against the wall, his eyes slightly narrowed, exhaling a thread of satisfaction from his thoughts being fulfilled.