Chapter 2383: The Aloof Sword Cultivator and His Bound Sword Spirit 27

Xie Qingmo closed his eyes, then opened them again; his clear, cold eyes were filled with tears, and he whispered an apology: "... Okay, okay... I was wrong... I shouldn't have kept this from you today, and I shouldn't have... made you worry."

He tilted his head back, feeling Jin Chen's fine, dense kisses on his neck and collarbone, the itch making his heart flutter.

It also let Xie Qingmo clearly realize that he missed this closeness even more than he had imagined, craving it.

Xie Qingmo took a deep breath and finally spoke the words from the depths of his heart.

"I am fond of you, Jin Chen."

"Since my feelings have been stirred, this heart... can no longer accommodate the Ruthless Path of severing affection and desire."

His words fell silent, and the bamboo hut was utterly still.

Jin Chen lifted his head, gazing at Xie Qingmo's trembling eyelashes as he finally laid bare his heart, and chuckled softly a few times.

He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to Xie Qingmo's slightly parted lips.

"I like you too, Xie Qingmo."

Jin Chen pulled out Xie Qingmo's belt again, repeating for emphasis, "I like you the most."

Xie Qingmo's wrist bore a red mark from the belt, uncomfortable, he turned his head and rubbed against Jin Chen's neck, "Loosen me..."

"No." Jin Chen dodged his hand and kept kissing.

Xie Qingmo let out a muffled hum, then thought again, "I want to hold you."

Jin Chen looked into his eyes, and the next second undid the sword tassel.

The tassel's fringes swayed gently, reflecting the moonlight streaming in through the window, and also reflecting the intertwined figures on the bed.

And there were two hearts, finally open and honest, clinging closely together.

—

The next morning, Xie Qingmo took Jin Chen to the Sect Leader's Hall.

Inside the hall, sandalwood incense curled, and the Sect Leader was reviewing jade slips.

"Qingmo, you've come." The Sect Leader set down the jade slip, his gaze falling on Xie Qingmo, "Perfect, regarding your future cultivation, I'd like to hear your thoughts. The Heart Method of the Ruthless Path, do you still wish to continue studying it? After all, your talent is extraordinary..."

Xie Qingmo stood straight, his white robes still clear and cold, yet he lacked some of his former loneliness.

He fell silent for a moment, then reached out and firmly grasped Jin Chen's hand beside him.

Jin Chen was idly examining the reliefs on the jade pillars in the hall when his hand was suddenly seized; he startled, then his lips uncontrollably curled up, and his fingertips lightly scratched Xie Qingmo's palm.

Xie Qingmo looked at the astonished Sect Leader, "Reporting to Sect Leader, disciple... will no longer cultivate the Ruthless Path."

"What?" The Sect Leader was genuinely startled, "Qingmo, you once said the Great Ruthless Path best suited your nature, with a mind free of distraction, one could reach the pinnacle. I was still waiting for you to break through to Nascent Soul, then I would impart that supreme heart method to you."

"Qingmo... has already been moved." Xie Qingmo said.

The Sect Leader stared at him in disbelief, then glanced at his sword spirit.

Jin Chen: "The one whose heart he has moved is me; are you dissatisfied?"

Sect Leader: "..." He also dared not.

"... So that's how it is."

The Sect Leader sighed with some complexity, took out a jade tablet glowing with warm luster from his sleeve, and pushed it toward Xie Qingmo.

"The Three Thousand Ways, only the heart matters. Since it is thus, if your conscience is clear, that's enough." The Sect Leader's tone softened, "Take this jade tablet and keep it safe."

Xie Qingmo looked at the recovered jade tablet, accepted it solemnly, "Thank you, Sect Leader."

Leaving the Sect Leader's Hall, the sunlight was just right.

Jin Chen was in high spirits, his steps lively, about to pull Xie Qingmo aside to say something, when the black transmission talisman at his waist suddenly stirred.

Immediately after, a clearly youthful male voice exploded forth.

"Hey! Jin Chen! Sword spirit! Come save me quick! What the hell is wrong with this broken body! How did I suddenly... seem to have grown a bit! That lunatic Liu Qingcheng... ah!"

The voice cut off abruptly.

Jin Chen: "... Huh?"

【Huh?】 Ling Gun Gun.

Jin Chen yanked out the transmission talisman, stuffed it into his sleeve, turned to Xie Qingmo and spoke rapidly, "It's that unlucky Demon King; sounds like Liu Qingcheng's side is up to something again. I'll go fish him out, you return to Zhu Lin Cottage and wait for me, don't run around."

Before his words finished, he swiftly planted a kiss on Xie Qingmo's cool cheek, and before Xie Qingmo could react, only a few wisps of lingering sword intent remained where he stood.

Xie Qingmo stood where he was, the spot on his cheek that had been kissed seemingly still retaining a soft sensation.

He raised his hand, fingertips lightly touching that spot, then turned and walked toward Zhu Lin.

Jin Chen appeared at the back mountain of Wulai Peak.

The air was thick with an intensely cloying, dizzying strange fragrance, like ten cans of cheap powder spilled and mixed with some kind of aphrodisiac herb.

The scent made Jin Chen immediately pinch his nose.

What a vicious killing move!

The scene before him was even more bizarre.

In the open space outside the confinement room, a boy about eighteen or nineteen years old stood with his back to him, his frame still somewhat slender—this was the Demon King Li Wufeng, who had been forcibly aged a bit.

He was currently leaning against a nearby rock, his steps unsteady, swaying as he repeatedly retreated, breathing rapidly.

Opposite him, Liu Qingcheng grew ever more alluring, exuding a nauseatingly sweet fragrance from his whole body, stepping closer and closer.

"Damn! Stay back!" Li Wufeng tried to put on the Demon King's dignity, but his bodily oddity made him appear fierce outwardly yet weak within.

"Liu Qingcheng! How dare you subject the Venerable One to such filthy trash! I will... I will..."

Li Wufeng's head swam from the cloying scent, and the residual power of the barrier hindered his magic flow; seeing Liu Qingcheng's hand about to touch him, he nearly burst into tears, catching sight of Jin Chen suddenly appearing out of the corner of his eye, like a savior, he cried, "Sword spirit! You finally... hurry! Knock him out! This lunatic... he... he gave the Venerable One... that... that thing..."

The following words were too shameful and indignant to utter.

Jin Chen: "..."

It wasn't that he didn't want to save; he simply couldn't move an inch.

He rummaged in his bosom, took out Xie Qingmo's belt, and wrapped it around his nose once.

Immediately without hesitation, he pointed his finger like a sword, and the condensed sword qi struck precisely at Liu Qingcheng's nape.

He rushed over and started beating people.

Jin Chen refused to believe it—he couldn't kill Liu Qingcheng, and he couldn't beat this disgusting good-for-nothing into incapacitation.

With the danger dispelled, Li Wu Feng's tensed nerves relaxed, and his evil fire instantly grew like weeds.

He felt only scorching heat all over, his vision beginning to blur.

Looking at Jin Chen, who stood a few steps away with an upright posture and a clear, icy aura, he seemed to see a walking ten-thousand-year-old ice.

"Jin…… Jin Chen……"

Li Wu Feng's eyes were dazed and scattered; he stumbled two steps toward Jin Chen, his body going limp uncontrollably, almost collapsing, "Save…… save me…… it…… feels so awful……"

He reached out his hand, as if trying to grab Jin Chen's collar.

Jin Chen tossed the unconscious Liu Qingcheng aside, looking at the little demon king's lovestruck, dazed appearance, and felt goosebumps fall all over the ground.

He retreated three large steps without hesitation, putting absolute distance between himself and Li Wu Feng, then snapped his fingers crisply.

Extreme cold qi instantly enveloped Li Wu Feng.

In the blink of an eye, thick ice spread rapidly from his feet, instantly freezing Li Wu Feng into a lifelike ice sculpture.

Even his dazed flush and outstretched hand solidified in the ice, leaving only his two wide, round eyes able to turn slightly through the ice.

The world finally fell silent.

Only then did Jin Chen let out a long breath, walking around the ice sculpture, "Hmm, need to stay calm."

He poked the ice surface, "So you don't do something that embarrasses the demon realm; thank me when you wake up."

Li Wu Feng inside the ice sculpture: "……"

Thanks a lot, you big-headed ghost!!!

My true self meant for you to be the antidote, not to flash-freeze you!