Chapter 2807: The Stand‑In Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit

Upon returning to the small courtyard, the moon had already slanted west.

Jin Chen pushed open the courtyard gate and first caught the smell of blood.

In the courtyard, Gu Fanghe sat on the stone bench where he had left him, his robes torn in several places, fresh blood seeping from his right shoulder, staining half his body almost through, and a few dark red drops fell from the edge of the stone table.

He sat there holding the half‑cup of tea Jin Chen had left unfinished, now completely cold.

The tea reflected no moonlight, only a dark, still surface.

Hearing the door open, Gu Fanghe lifted his gaze.

Moonlight fell on his face, illuminating the scarlet and obsessive gloom in the depths of his eyes; the scar beneath his eyes blended with the blood on his face.

He looked at Jin Chen, his eyes heavy, plus the dissatisfaction that had built from waiting.

Jin Chen walked into the courtyard: "Chief, why did you only come tonight?"

He walked to the table, touched the icy tea cup with his fingertips, feeling the chill, and said, "Here, the tea I specially prepared for you has gone cold."

Gu Fanghe said nothing, merely staring at him.

Jin Chen's gaze fell on the blood‑soaked fabric, his brows slightly furrowed: "Your wound is this serious? Why didn't you treat it first?"

Gu Fanghe continued to stare at him, his gaze unyielding, his voice hoarse from blood loss: "Where did you go?"

Jin Chen withdrew his hand, lifted his eyes to meet his, showing no trace of guilt.

"I couldn't sleep, waiting left and right for you to come, my heart felt stifled, so I wandered around."

He stepped forward, his fingertips lightly brushing Gu Fanghe's cheek, slowly wiping away the blood.

"You…"

Before he could finish, Gu Fanghe seized his wrist and pulled Jin Chen to sit beside him.

The motion was a bit rough, tugging at the wound, making the blood seep faster.

Yet Gu Fanghe seemed unaware, tightly encircling Jin Chen's waist, burying his face in his neck, inhaling deeply before barely calming the violence within.

He pressed an almost‑kiss against Jin Chen's cheek.

Jin Chen turned his head to avoid it: "You're covered in blood."

Gu Fanghe paid no heed, insisting on the kiss, as if he felt none of the sharp pain in his shoulder, driven only by instinct to draw near, to touch,

His gaze was somewhat dangerous, somewhat dazed, as he lifted his hand to trace Jin Chen's brows and eyes, mingling it with delicate tenderness.

"Young Master," he whispered, his breath unsteady, his voice hoarse and alluring, "Gu Fanghe has completed his training; perhaps… we could try?"

He could barely restrain himself.

Half an hour earlier, he had finished dealing with those people and come straight here, yet saw no one.

On the stone table stood only a cup of cold tea, its fragrance gone, all warmth lost.

Now the person has returned, right before him, within reach.

Gu Fanghe leaned in for another kiss.

Jin Chen wanted him to tend to his wound first, turning his head to dodge, but Gu Fanghe caught up, pressing his kiss to the corner of Jin Chen's lips, relentless and obsessive.

Jin Chen let out a soft sigh, finally stopped evading, and allowed him to kiss for a while.

After a long while, Jin Chen slightly leaned back, ending the kiss.

He rested his forehead against Gu Fanghe's neck, murmuring, "Chief… I really dislike the smell of blood; it makes me nauseous."

Gu Fanghe: "……"

The impulsive rush of moments ago gradually ebbed, and reason returned.

He fell silent for a moment, loosened his grip, and instead gently stroked Jin Chen's hair.

"The physician is just outside the side door."

Jin Chen then rose, walked to the inner side door, and lifted the latch.

Outside, Yan Qi and the village's elderly physician waited anxiously; hearing the movement, they immediately turned to look.

Yan Qi's doll‑like face was full of worried urgency; upon seeing Jin Chen, he couldn't even set aside his usual subtle opinion of him, exclaiming, "Young Master Jin, how is Elder Brother? He's injured but won't let us in, refusing to let us bandage him……"

Jin Chen stepped aside, "Come in."

Yan Qi and the physician hurried in, carrying their medicine box.

Yan Qi instantly saw Gu Fanghe covered in blood beside the stone table, his face pallid, and his heart clenched: "Elder Brother!"

"Will you let us bandage you?"

"Why are you so agreeable today!"

Gu Fanghe sat there, the wound on his shoulder still seeping blood, his expression somewhat resigned.

He glanced at Yan Qi and the physician who had entered, curled the corner of his mouth, and said, "Young Master is being delicate."

"Not only the blood, but you won't let me kiss."

Yan Qi: "……"

He looked at the confident Jin Chen, unsure how to respond.

"This Young Master Jin… truly has formidable methods!"

Jin Chen gave no reply, walked to the other side of the stone table, sat down, poured himself a fresh cup of tea, and drank it slowly.