Chapter 681: Wuxia: Even Archrivals Can Become Lovers 15

Jin Chen pulled Mu Huaizhi to sit down casually, and after hearing him finish, he responded: "What's even stranger is that this exorcism coin has been consecrated by a temple."

Something's off in two places in that short sentence.

Fang Xun was even more annoyed, he placed the exorcism coin on the table, rubbing his hands while doubting: "Although nowadays Dao and Buddhism are not separate, the purpose of the exorcism coin is inherently not acknowledged by the Buddhist principle of great compassion and mercy."

"Furthermore, the exorcism coin inherently has no distinction of whether it's been consecrated; why bother specially going to a temple to consecrate it?"

"It's engraved with the names of the Three Pure Ancestors; taking it to a temple to have the Buddha consecrate it—isn't that nonsense?"

"Mu Huaizhi continued: Besides that, in the homes where children went missing, the underside of the beds is carved with a clumsy cat-face drawing."

"On the forehead of the cat face there is a seal bearing the characters 'Heavenly Clarity Earth Ghost'."

Sang Ning exclaimed, clenching his fists and slapping his palm: "Isn't the earth ghost just the earth evil? So it really is the work of the Earth Evil Palace!"

Fu Zhiyuan heard this and was bewildered: "Earth ghost equals earth evil? Who told you that?"

Mu Huaizhi narrowed his phoenix eyes, his expression cool and doubtful: "With all this, can't it still be proven? What are you questioning?"

"I don't know, but Junior Brother Fu still likes to exonerate the Earth Evil."

"Mu Huaizhi! Don't spout nonsense—who's exonerating?!"

This clearly hit Fu Zhiyuan's sore spot; he angrily stood up, almost drawing his sword.

"What's the rush, like someone whose tail got stepped on."

Jin Chen immediately stepped forward to shield Mu Huaizhi, his tone even more heated than Fu Zhiyuan's.

"Stop yapping uselessly all day; I'm telling you, Fang Xun, you're blind—how could you even take a liking to this trash?"

Fang Xun: "..."

Fu Zhiyuan still wanted to rush forward to confront them, but Fang Xun grabbed his arm and hissed low: "Zhiyuan! What time is it now? Don't start a conflict with them."

His tone already hinted at dissatisfaction: "Our grudges among the four of us, let's settle them after leaving town."

Fu Zhiyuan snorted coldly and shook off his hand.

In the end, they didn't continue the quarrel.

Mu Huaizhi glanced down at the arm shielding him in front, a strange emotion flickering in his eyes, and pulled Jin Chen's hand away.

Jin Chen didn't mind either, continuing to lean back, simply refusing to sit properly.

Probably within these two days, the Earth Evil Palace's people will come to seize this family's child; if Fu Zhiyuan still causes trouble then…

He curled his lip, turned his head to stare at Fu Zhiyuan, a wicked, cold smile on his lips: "I'll just kill you and hang your head at the town gate to sway."

The temperature in the room instantly sank.

In the silence, Mu Huaizhi tapped Jin Chen's arm, signaling him to restrain himself.

This guy practically wants everyone to know he's a demonic cult member.

"That day in the forest and on the night street, the two black-clad men said something—do you know what it means?"

Jin Chen recalled: "Let me think… Yunshu Town is surrounded by nightmares; anyone who touches the unclean thing will die, with no escape."

"When the coffin hits the ground, the moon already shines on his face—you all will die."

After saying that, he tapped the table with his fingertips, pondering carefully: "These two statements also don't match up."

Mu Huaizhi narrowed his eyes, staring at the hilt of the Jade Hilt Dragon sword, pondering: "The unclean thing—could it refer to the altered exorcism coin?"

He furrowed his brow, trying to link everything together, and subconsciously asked Jin Chen:

"That night on the street, were we letting the coffin hit the ground before the black-clad man said this line?"

Jin Chen hummed in understanding: "You mean the black-clad man's words 'the moon shining on his face' refer to the three dried child corpses inside the coffin?"

Mu Huaizhi nodded: "Everything points to the black-clad men wanting to attribute it to ghosts and gods."

"Then we must figure out what they're really up to by feigning mysticism." Jin Chen followed up, stopping his tapping motion.

The two of them, going back and forth, have already analyzed this statement thoroughly.

Fang Xun furtively glanced at Mu Huaizhi, his eyes deep with incomprehension.

The level of their tacit understanding…

When exactly did Mu Huaizhi become friends with this person, and how are they so in sync?

As former friends, Fang Xun inexplicably feels somewhat off.

Noticing Fang Xun's gaze, Mu Huaizhi blinked, thinking he had something to ask, but after waiting two seconds, it was only one sentence: "When the plan starts, just call us then."

Having said that, he grabbed the reluctant Fu Zhiyuan and left the door, not looking back.

Sang Ning also returned to his room to continue sorting spices.

Mu Huaizhi stared at the door gap for a while, then slowly lowered his eyes, feeling a bit down.

"Mu Huaizhi, I'm hungry."

Jin Chen suddenly spoke up, lifting his sleeve: "What are you spacing out for?"

"... Nothing."

Mu Huaizhi came to, lifted his gaze to him: "If you're hungry, why look for me? I won't cook."

"Who told you to cook? Although most shops in town are closed, some are still open—let's go eat out."

Jin Chen didn't hesitate, pulling him up: "Tomorrow will surely be a fierce battle; today we need to eat our fill."

He almost stumbled, but Mu Huaizhi hurried to keep pace, feeling helpless.

Something's off, something's off, completely off!

Jin Chen walked along, secretly seething.

Just now, what look did Mu Huaizhi give Fang Xun?! Weren't they just supposed to be friends?!

Who looks at a good friend with that creepy expression?!

He walked faster and faster, but given this current relationship, even if he's burning with jealousy, he can't say much more.

He's furious!

They casually found a noodle shop; Jin Chen ordered two bowls of the house specialty, then pulled the person to sit down. Inside was very deserted, and besides them there were only three tables occupied.

Mu Huaizhi didn't notice his oddness, only thinking Jin Chen was extremely hungry, so he didn't speak much while sitting there, his mind on how to let Fang Xun see Fu Zhiyuan's true face.

If this continues, Fang Xun will sooner or later be deceived by Fu Zhiyuan to the point of losing his judgment.

In the future, if Fang Xun obtains the position of Palace Master of the Thousand Mechanisms Palace and truly becomes Fu Zhiyuan's pawn, it would be utterly harmful to him with no benefit.

The bowls of noodles were placed right before him, yet Mu Huaizhi remained oblivious, blankly staring at the tabletop.

Jin Chen's chopsticks paused slightly, and he shouted, "Mu Huaizhi! What are you thinking about?!"

Everyone in the noodle shop instantly looked over.

Mu Huaizhi immediately glared at him and whispered a reprimand, "What are you yelling for?!"

"I was thinking about Fang Xun and Fu..." "You really are thinking about Fang Xun!"

Jin Chen snorted, his chopsticks poking back and forth in the noodles as if venting, "Fang Xun is already Fu Zhiyuan's lover; thinking about him is useless!"

"They cannot be lovers." Mu Huaizhi strongly disagreed.

Jin Chen widened his eyes, "Then what do you want? Snatch Fang Xun over?!"

"That wouldn't be a bad method."

Mu Huaizhi ate his noodles calmly, hearing this he nodded slightly, "He cannot become Fu Zhiyuan's…"

Before the two words 'assist' could even leave his mouth, Jin Chen's chopsticks slapped the table with a bang, leaving him so angry his thoughts were in disarray.

"You make me furious, Mu Huaizhi—you actually like Fang Xun!"

Mu Huaizhi was bewildered by his utterly nonsensical remark.

"What did you say?"