Chapter 2314: Love and Chaos: System Showdown 38

You Le'an's footsteps halted, and he looked at Lin Xi somewhat bewildered.

This is too strange.

Why is Lin Xi like this?

His mind was in turmoil, and everything before him was far removed from his memories.

Yet deep inside, there was an extremely faint and absurd feeling telling him.

It seemed…… this was the right way.

This tearing sense of cognition made You Le'an more irritable; he subconsciously stepped back half a step, creating a little distance, his voice hoarse.

"It's fine."

Lin Xi didn't notice anything odd, merely nodding, "Oh…… glad it's nothing."

"My older brother is in the Study, but I called for ages and he didn't pay attention to me…… oh!"

Surely they had an argument; no wonder the big villain reacted like that.

Lin Xi felt he had figured out the truth, sighing as he watched You Le'an go upstairs.

You Le'an stood alone in the shadow of the fourth-floor stairwell, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the tightly shut dark door at the end of the hallway.

To go, or not to go.

But according to his previous understanding, Jin Chen was probably thinking about how to deal with him, this eyesore.

Going would only bring humiliation upon himself.

You Le'an irritably shook his head, turned around, and decided to return to his own guest room.

Staying away from that man would never be wrong.

However, at the moment he turned and took his first step.

"Huh……

That familiar, soul‑deep tearing pain erupted again without warning.

You Le'an's legs gave way, and he collapsed forward uncontrollably.

He slid down the wall to sit on the icy floor, clutching his chest with both hands, fingertips digging deep into flesh, teeth biting hard into his lower lip, tasting blood yet oblivious.

As if doing so could stop that invisible soul from being torn away.

The soul screamed wildly, craving.

Craving that embrace.

Craving that familiar breath that could soothe all pain.

Craving…… Jin Chen.

This realization shattered all his reason and defenses.

He could not leave…… could not go away.

You Le'an, almost by the instinct of a dying creature seeking survival, struggled to his feet and shuffled to that dark Study door.

His strength was completely exhausted; he could only face the cold door, curling himself into a tiny ball.

You Le'an trembled as he raised his hand, using his last strength to weakly pound the heavy door.

But the sound was too faint, barely audible in the empty, quiet hallway.

Inside the door, there was only silence.

——

The Study was warded with a barrier, filled with an intangible silence that isolated it from the outside.

Time flowed in the silence; Jin Chen sat on the Sofa, a faint golden glow barely perceptible to the naked eye swirling around him.

He was fully focused, trying to use his Spiritual Power to awaken the inexplicably suppressed soul fragments, which forced him to consider the limit of Spiritual Power that You Le'an's body could endure.

So Jin Chen was thinking of ways, striving to use the gentlest yet effective method.

Suddenly, Jin Chen flung his eyes open; his pupils turned blue for an instant, then returned to black.

Where did that sound come from.

Jin Chen retracted all his outward Spiritual Power; the golden light around him receded like a tide, disappearing into his body.

The Study instantly returned to its normal dimness, only the lamp on the desk emitting a soft glow.

He sprang to his feet, took a few steps to the Study door, and his long fingers pressed the handle.

The moment the door opened.

The figure curled beside the door lost its support and slumped softly onto the cold, hard floor.

Jin Chen, quick‑eyed and quick‑handed, firmly caught the falling body.

His hands met a cold temperature and a slight tremor.

Jin Chen started, lowering his head to meet You Le'an's raised face.

That face was pallid, devoid of color; his curly hair was soaked with cold sweat, messily sticking to his forehead and cheeks.

You Le'an clenched his lower lip, as if desperately enduring something, his body still trembling uncontrollably.

"Le'an?" Jin Chen called softly.

You Le'an gasped hurriedly, lifted his head to look at Jin Chen, and opened his mouth.

"Hold…… hold me……"

But this voice was barely forced out through clenched teeth, as if hard to utter, still carrying rejection.

This belonged to that chaotic and aggressive consciousness.

Jin Chen's heart sank; he did not immediately respond to the request for an embrace.

He supported You Le'an, slowly lowering himself to sit so that they were at eye level.

The two were very close; Jin Chen gazed into You Le'an's confused eyes.

"I only hold my beloved." Jin Chen whispered softly, then bent his fingers and touched the cold, sweat-damp cheek of You Le'an.

"Are you?"

Jin Chen's gaze was like substance, piercing straight into You Le'an's eyes.

You Le'an frowned, lifted his head, and met his gaze.

"Jin... Chen..." he murmured the name unconsciously, filled with endless confusion and a sense of familiarity rising from deep within his soul.

As if drawn by that call and the touch carrying familiar power, a strong throbbing suddenly burst forth.

"Mm!"

You Le'an let out a painful groan, his pupils suddenly dilating then constricting.

Jin Chen's fingertip lingered on his brow; the faint golden light continuously poured Spiritual Power, guiding this perilous fusion.

A few seconds, long as an entire century.

The turmoil in You Le'an's eyes gradually subsided, the icy vigilance completely dissipated, replaced by utter exhaustion as he slumped limp into Jin Chen's arms.

His breathing, though weak, steadied.

Jin Chen held him steadily, feeling that thread of soul and spirit finally stabilize within his body.

He let out a long, silent breath, a thin sheen of sweat appearing on his forehead, then carefully cradled the sleeping youth in his arms and stepped away from the cold shadow at the Study's doorway.

—

In the room, Jin Chen sat beside the bed, wiping away the cold sweat on You Le'an's forehead and neck with a warm towel.

After doing all that, Jin Chen did not lie down, but simply sat quietly in the chair beside the bed, gazing at the sleeping person on it.

Jin Chen dared not gamble whether this attempt would succeed, or whether, upon waking again, it would truly be his beloved; if not…

His slender fingers curled up unconsciously.

If not, it would be necessary to directly destroy the soul suppressing his beloved's consciousness,

even if doing so would inflict heavy damage once more on the fragments of soul and spirit.

That would be fine.

He would use his own origin Spiritual Power to nurture and repair bit by bit.

No matter how long it takes.

Only his beloved can exist within this body.

【Host, don't worry, I'm going to beat up that randomly bound villain system again~】

〖……〗

Spiritual Terminal, save me! I'm really about to die.