Chapter 2366: Cool Sword Cultivator and His Bound Sword Spirit 10

That evening, True Person Ling Xu conducted an examination of the six disciples' cultivation, then conveyed the Sect Leader's demand: the disciples of Wu Lai Peak were to go down the mountain in seven days to Pearl Curtain Town to capture a great demon.

During those seven days, Xie Qingmo did not linger long on the main peak, but still returned to the rear courtyard.

Bamboo shadows swayed, and the sword energy subsided.

Xie Qingmo's forehead beaded with fine sweat, his breath slightly shallow.

Jin Chen lowered his sword finger; his dark, close-fitting attire was speckled with bamboo leaves, his tightly bound ponytail a bit loose, with a few strands of hair falling against his cheeks.

He tugged at it, felt a stir in his heart, walked over to Xie Qingmo, and without worrying whether there was dust on the stone bench, sat down beside him, deliberately shifting his body toward him.

"Xie Qingmo, my hair's all messed up." Jin Chen complained, tilting his head and directly bringing his disheveled nape to Xie Qingmo's face, almost nuzzling into his embrace.

"It's all because your sword energy is too sharp."

Xie Qingmo's body swayed slightly from being pressed; after a moment of helpless silence, he finally raised his hand.

Without a comb, his long fingers, still warm from sword practice, somewhat clumsily threaded through Jin Chen's thick black hair, gently untangling the strands messed up by sword energy.

His motions were not skilled, occasionally pulling a strand or two, but he was unusually earnest, his fingertips carefully separating the tangled spots.

Jin Chen closed his eyes, feeling the fingertips lightly brush his scalp, then let out a yawn.

The dark strands flowed through Xie Qingmo's fingers, smooth and slightly cool, like fine silk.

Seeing Jin Chen defenseless and enjoying himself, a strange ripple passed through Xie Qingmo's heart, and his fingertips grew even gentler.

However, just as he smoothed the last strand and was about to withdraw his hand, the body of Jin Chen leaning against his side suddenly went limp, collapsing backward so that his entire upper torso leaned into his embrace.

The youth's nape rested against his arm's crook; warm breath brushed unimpeded over his jaw and neck, bringing a distinct tingling numbness.

Xie Qingmo's body instantly stiffened; he unconsciously turned his head, trying to avoid that overly intimate mingling of breath.

His eyes were clear, but his jade‑like ears uncontrollably flushed crimson; he lowered his voice to scold: "Jin Chen… this isn't proper. Sit up."

Yet Jin Chen lazily opened his eyes in his embrace, his clear pupils showing no shame, only an upright, unabashed frankness.

"What's improper about it?" he said, lifting his face to gaze at Xie Qingmo's elegant jawline, "I am your sword spirit."

"In this world, is there any being closer to us than we are to each other?"

Xie Qingmo was choked by those words, momentarily unable to refute.

The natal sword and its master are indeed the most intimate symbiotic bond, surpassing any worldly contract.

Yet he faintly felt that something was off.

Is this truly how sword cultivators and sword spirits interact?

Even though the Heavenly Expansion Sect now has no other sword spirits, Xie Qingmo wanted to consult the ancients but had no way to start, so he could only let Jin Chen push further and further.

Xie Qingmo opened his mouth, found no suitable words to counter the overly justified excuse, and finally lifted his hand, pushing Jin Chen's head, which was rubbing against his neck, away with moderate force.

"Don't try to placate me with such talk."

Jin Chen, pushed away, was not annoyed; he sat up straight, Grinning, as if the earlier upright, shameless behavior hadn't been his.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +6, total 17!】

Night fell, and the candlelight within the bamboo hut flickered.

Xie Qingmo had just lain down when the space beside him sank.

Jin Chen embraced his Chen Sword, naturally occupying the inner side of the bed, even adeptly pulling a corner of the thin blanket over himself and the sword.

Xie Qingmo silently shifted toward the edge of the bed, trying to create a little distance.

But as soon as he moved, Jin Chen seemed to have eyes on his back, shifting over as well and pressing close again.

Moreover, he set the icy Chen Sword aside, turned his side, and pressed his cool cheek directly against Xie Qingmo's bare arm, rubbing contentedly and letting out a satisfied sigh.

"So cool……"

A faint, delicate coolness transmitted to the arm, along with the youth's distinctive fresh aura.

Xie Qingmo's body tensed; he instinctively tried to pull his arm back.

"Jin Chen!"

Jin Chen, however, seemed not to hear, pressing even closer and naturally draping his arm over Xie Qingmo's waist.

"Xie Qingmo, don't make a fuss; I'm hot."

Xie Qingmo: "……"

Xie Qingmo tried to push him, but Jin Chen didn't budge; his breathing became even and long, as if already asleep.

The effort to push him away was futile.

Watching Jin Chen's peaceful sleeping face, Xie Qingmo could only resign himself to cease struggling.

He lay stiffly, gazing at the plain canopy above, unable to calm for a long time.

Xie Qingmo closed his eyes, yet sensed that this presence was stronger than any clamor, threads of it winding around his mind.

Increasingly…… hard to manage.

Sooner or later, I'll have to set a rule.