Chapter 2382: The Aloof Sword Cultivator and His Bound Sword Spirit 26

At Wu Lai Feng, near Liu Qingcheng's residence, a secluded courtyard was shrouded by a hidden barrier.

Jin Chen appeared silently outside the barrier.

Inside the barrier, a figure wearing an obviously ill-fitting small robe paced anxiously—this was Li Wu Feng, whom Liu Qingcheng had 'adopted' but was actually under semi-house arrest.

Li Wu Feng keenly sensed Jin Chen's aura, lunged to the barrier's edge, pressed his small face against the invisible barrier, and pounded it with his small hands, his lowered childish voice filled with urgency and the frustration of a demon king.

"Hey! You there, I remember you, Sword Spirit Jin Chen, right? Quick! Quickly get me out of this damned place—I can't stay here another day!"

"If you get me out, once I regain my true form, you can fight however you like—I'll accompany you to the end! It's better than staying here being treated as… as… by that damned pervert…"

His small face twisted, as if unable to utter that terrifying word, he finally managed to choke out, "Being forced to be a plaything!"

Jin Chen raised his eyebrows slightly, surprise flickering in his eyes, "You've recovered pretty quickly, little demon—already got your memories back?"

He examined with interest the demon king inside the barrier, who had a soft, bun-like face.

Li Wu Feng puffed out his chest, trying to assume a lofty, overbearing pose, but his short stature ruined any semblance of aura.

"Of course, I am the mighty Great King of the demon race! If you get me out, I'll give you… I'll give you lots and lots of spirit stones, piled up like a mountain!"

He attempted to lure with the demon race's hard currency.

Jin Chen almost laughed out loud; leaning against the barrier, he leisurely squatted down, his eyes level with the tiny figure inside.

"I won't rescue you; I'm angry today, but we can make a deal." He raised a finger, speaking slowly, "I'll save you, but not now."

Li Wu Feng's small face fell, "Why?!"

Jin Chen lowered his voice, "You need to stay here temporarily and help me with something."

He watched Li Wu Feng's eyes sharpen with vigilance and continued, "Help me figure out how to completely kill Liu Qingcheng—he's basically unkillable."

Li Wu Feng pointed at his own nose, incredulously growling, "You… you want a ten-year-old kid like me to… uh… deal with that monster you can't even kill—are you even human?"

Jin Chen shook his head decisively, "No."

Li Wu Feng: "..."

He was so choked he could barely catch his breath, his small face turning red.

Looking at Jin Chen's irritating 'do-it-or-not' expression, and thinking of Liu Qingcheng's chilling gaze…

He clenched his fists in indignation, squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth, "... Fine! For freedom, I… will endure!" Then he added fiercely, "Remember your promise!"

Jin Chen nodded satisfiedly; his fingertips twitched, and several transmission talismans, like living things, pierced the barrier and landed in Li Wu Feng's hands.

"Good. If you discover anything, use it to contact me. Remember, be careful—don't let Liu Qingcheng find out."

He had just finished speaking when his brow furrowed, keenly sensing spiritual power fluctuations rapidly approaching—Liu Qingcheng had returned.

"Wait for my news!" Li Wu Feng quickly tucked the talismans into his bosom, instantly switched to an innocent, clueless expression, and silently mouthed toward the direction where Jin Chen had disappeared.

Jin Chen's figure vanished like green smoke blown away by the wind.

——

On Tian Shan Feng, atop the ancient trees near the border.

The moonlight was clear and cold, tree shadows swaying.

Jin Chen leaned sideways on a sturdy branch, still holding a swaying dog-tail grass in his mouth; his handsome face was hidden in the tree shadows, his expression unreadable, but he exuded a low pressure.

His hiding place was also carefully chosen.

To express his anger, but not so much that Xie Qingmo couldn't find him.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total now 61!】

Xie Qingmo came following that familiar aura, stopping under the tree; the clear, cold moonlight outlined his tall figure.

He raised his head, looking at the figure obviously sulking on the tree; the panic in his heart from the other's sudden disappearance faded, and his heart softened.

"Jin Chen."

The figure on the tree didn't move at all, only the dog-tail grass swayed more happily.

Xie Qingmo's eyes deepened slightly, his voice softened further, and he called again, "Jin Chen."

"I'm still angry." Jin Chen's voice came from the tree, tone hard, yet the slight twitch of his toes and his downward gaze clearly wrote:

"Come cheer me up, right now, immediately."

Xie Qingmo stood under the tree, slightly lifting his face; moonlight fell into his clear eyes, spreading gentle ripples.

"Well… I'll come cheer you up." He paused, "Will you come down, please?"

Jin Chen, seeing that was enough, finally moved, tilting his head slightly and looking down at Xie Qingmo from above.

He tilted his head, "How to cheer you up."

Xie Qingmo felt his ears warm under his gaze, but his resolve was firm, so he hesitated no longer.

He took a deep breath, "I will no longer cultivate the Ruthless Path."

"I… have already understood my feelings for you."

Jin Chen, in a flash of instantaneous movement, appeared before Xie Qingmo.

The distance between them was so close they could feel each other's breath.

He stared into Xie Qingmo's eyes, "Tell me in detail."

Xie Qingmo's heartbeat skipped a beat; just as he opened his lips to continue speaking, Jin Chen covered his mouth.

Jin Chen lifted his head to look at the sky and declared righteously, "It's dark."

Immediately, he wrapped his arm around, pulling Xie Qingmo into his embrace without hesitation, "Let's talk back home."

Xie Qingmo, caught off guard by the hug, was instantly filled with the pleasant sandalwood scent from his body, his whole mind went blank.

"Wh… what?"

"Let's go back and talk, why do we have to go back to talk?"

Before he could react, the scenery before his eyes instantly blurred and distorted.

The familiar scent of the bamboo hut rushed over him.

Jin Chen moved quickly, and Xie Qingmo only felt the world spin, his back sinking into the soft bed.

Immediately, a cool, silky sensation coiled around his wrist; Xie Qingmo barely made out that it was the sword tassel Jin Chen never parted with at his waist, now skillfully undone and used to bind his hands together.

Jin Chen leaned forward, pressing his body tightly against Xie Qingmo's with no gap.

He lowered his head, a gentle kiss landing on Xie Qingmo's pert nose; his voice low and hoarse, hiding a triumphant smile and temptation.

"All right, you can speak now."

Xie Qingmo: "……"

The skin on his cheeks and neck flushed crimson at a visible speed; he struggled, but his hands were bound, so he could only futilely push against Jin Chen's solid shoulders, feeling both embarrassed and flustered.

"Get up first…… it's…… too close……"

"How can we possibly talk properly like this?"

Jin Chen, however, seemed not to hear, his knee pressing relentlessly between his legs, pinning him firmly in place.

He lowered his head; this time his kiss landed on Xie Qingmo's slightly pursed lips, scorching hot—"Xie Qingmo, don't say anything else."

Xie Qingmo: "……"

The flush on his neck rapidly spread to his ears, even the corners of his eyes taking on a vivid hue.

He had lost the bout, knowing that the insatiable sword spirit would allow him no peace tonight.