Chapter 574: Reverse Strategy 33

Jin Chen heard the words, paused slightly, blinked doubtfully; it seemed he still hadn't come to talk about reconciliation with Chenshu.

How did he know that?

"How does Shu'er know that the relationship has been reconciled?"

Chenshu's body stiffened; he secretly thought it was a mistake.

He felt guilty, lowered his eyes, coughed lightly, and said: "These past few days, Ah Chen has been coming to the Study more often, and hasn't gone out much; I think we've reconciled a lot."

That sounded reasonable and well-founded.

Jin Chen didn't know whether to believe it, but in any case they didn't continue the topic.

He sighed, his fox-like eyes narrowing: "Erlang once saved my life."

Strangely, among his trusted subordinates there were plenty of fierce demon beasts like lions and tigers, yet the hardest to tame was actually Erlang.

"At that time I had just received the inheritance not long ago; inside the Yaogong, demon beasts lurked everywhere, wanting to kill me and seize the Yao King's position."

"Once I miscalculated and fell victim to an evil demon's technique; Erlang rushed to save me, and consequently accidentally drank the evil demon's blood, causing my soul to become unstable each mid-month, making me prone to demonic possession."

So that's how it was.

Chenshu understood; no wonder he always felt that Jin Chen's tolerance toward Erlang was much stronger.

"So is that why Ah Chen keeps indulging Langnian?"

Upon hearing that name, Jin Chen's eyes showed a hint of displeasure: "Although he usually causes a ruckus, he hasn't really done anything outrageous."

"But I cannot tolerate him trying to bully you."

Chenshu laughed, rubbing against Jin Chen's embrace, feigning anger and acting coquettish.

"Then you'd better settle the engagement soon, and then take me out to enjoy the mountains and waters; I'm keeping track that the engagement date is getting closer."

"Is Shu'er angry? Your cheeks are puffed out quite firmly."

Jin Chen let out a muffled laugh, knowing he wasn't truly angry, and thus joined in the play.

"It's my fault; as a husband I actually let my little lover suffer injustice for no reason."

He grabbed Chenshu's hand and slapped his own face: "I deserve to be hit."

A crisp slap sound.

Although he knew it didn't hurt, Chenshu quickly pulled his hand away, covered his cheek and snorted.

"I don't blame you at all; you've already been very good to me."

He leaned in to kiss Jin Chen's cheek, whispering: "These are the happiest days of my life as I've grown up."

The youth's tone was warm and gentle, with a tenderness unique to lovers; hearing it made Jin Chen's heart soften like water, and he kept lightly pecking the lips of the person in his arms as if never enough.

He had never met anyone who could please him more than Chenshu.

That's all.

【Target's Heartbeat Value +10, cumulative Strategy Value 80!】

Erlang, whom both of them were thinking of, helplessly watched Langnian, who had just woken up and started making a fuss, from beside the bed.

"You still have wounds; you can't get out of bed."

He repeated this sentence for the third time: "Moreover, Chenshu is well protected by the Great King; you can't get near him now."

"I don't care… I don't care! I just want to kill him!"

Langnian curled up on the bed, his forehead wrapped in gauze; his arrogant face actually showed a hint of fragility.

If not for not comparing him to Chenshu, his appearance before could also be described as outstanding.

Now, however, it inexplicably gains a few traces of distortion born from jealousy and hatred.

Langnian is unwilling to be bullied like this.

The way Jin Chen treated him that day is vivid in his mind; he knows that even if the engagement still binds them, Jin Chen would absolutely not marry him.

The more he thought, the redder his eyes became; tears fell unexpectedly, landing on the back of his hand.

He choked up, lifted his head to look at Erlang, sat up and pulled at his clothing's edge, pleading.

"Brother… will you help me? Help me kill Chenshu!"

Erlang instinctively supported Langnian's swaying, about-to-fall body.

His brows were tightly knit; his gloomy, handsome face also looked somewhat sorrowful.

"Little Nian, calm down; Chenshu isn't someone we can kill."

"But… but he made me like this; I really hurt, brother."

Langnian flung himself into his embrace, weeping; his trembling voice revealed fragility, his eye corners red from crying, and he knelt upright, sitting up to hug Erlang's waist.

"Don't you feel sorry for me, brother… Obviously whenever I got a little hurt before, you'd feel sorry for me."

He wiped away the tear at the corner of his eye with his fingertip, gazing at the pitiful sight of the boy before him.

Erlang's Adam's apple rolled, his gaze deep and heavy,

He certainly felt sorry for him.

From picking up Langnian and raising him since childhood until now, he had never let him suffer such a serious injury.

That day, seeing Langnian lying on the ground outside the courtyard, life or death unknown, his killing intent in his heart was heavier than ever before.

He even thought that even if he couldn't kill Chenshu, he could exchange one life for another.

But if he died, Langnian's days in the Yaogong would only become harder thereafter.

"Little Nian, let's put aside our hatred; I'll take you out of the Yaogong, to…"

He hadn't finished speaking when the sensation at his lips made his heart tremble, his body stiffening abruptly.

Langnian's lips rubbed against Erlang's lip corner without any pattern; he could no longer hear any words.

Now his heart and eyes are filled only with hatred.

"He's just a human; if not killed, he'll never be at peace for the rest of his life."

He knows his older brother likes him.

So using this method is already the best Langnian can think of.

He tightly embraces Erlang's waist, and Tears again flow along the lips where the two touch.

"Brother……as long as you kill Chenshu, I promise to leave with you, okay?"

Langnian, eyes red, begs Erlang, even the obsession of marrying Jin Chen is gone.

He only wants Chenshu dead.

Erlang returns the embrace, holding Langnian; the pitiful appearance of the person before him is like stabbing a knife into his heart, a dull pain akin to lingchi.

Feeling Erlang's response, Langnian feels as if infused with courage, awkwardly and unskillfully continuing the kiss.

He even wants to undo his own sash.

"Enough."

The motion is stopped by a strong arm; Erlang's voice is low and hoarse, forcing himself to separate their lips.

He gently strokes Langnian's head, "You don't like me; you needn't go this far."

Even his tone is bitter.

Langnian's heart suddenly aches; he blinks, somewhat dazed.

"Then brother..."

"I will help you kill Chenshu; from now on you must obey, leave Yaogong and live well."

Hearing that he finally is willing to help himself, Langnian feels joy and nods eagerly.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, brother."

Seeing his eyes regain their luster, Erlang pulls out a faint smile and hugs the youth again.

"Rest easy; the ones coming to fetch you are already waiting outside Yaogong; if you hear the Demon Slave uprising, that is your time to leave."

Langnian nods again, but feels something is off; however, in the rush of joy he doesn't dwell on it.

He bites his lip, then moves in to kiss Erlang's corner of the mouth.

"Brother, I will obey from now on."

"Okay."

Erlang finished speaking, turned and left, his back resolute.

Langnian lies flat again to sleep, the pain in his forehead not yet gone.

He curls into the blanket, then belatedly reaches up to touch his lips.