Chapter 695: Wuxia: Even Archrivals Can Become Lovers 29

Jin Chen made a move to loosen his hand, voice laced with laughter, "How come you still act foolish when you talk to me?"

If you don't care, then if I ever have a lover in the future, you...

No, I... I don't not care.

Mu Huaizhi subconsciously didn't want him to finish that sentence; his long fingertips had already pressed against his lips, the pads from years of gripping a sword were not smooth, yet warm as can be, not at all matching his cold demeanor.

In his phoenix eyes were urgency and panic.

Jin Chen grasped his fingertip, placed it at the corner of his lips and rubbed, his gaze soft, "You care, so…… Mu Huaizhi, do you also like me?"

When he said this, he was no longer his usual carefree laxness; he became much more serious.

There was no hint that made people doubt he was lying.

But... it shouldn't be like this.

When Mu Huaizhi heard the word "like", a surge of intense emotion rose in his heart, yet it was forcibly suppressed by reason.

After a long silence, silence was the best answer.

Jin Chen released his hand.

As expected, he was still too impatient.

The arm around his waist loosened, and he naturally rubbed the drooping hair top, "Forget it, if you don't want to hear it, I won't say such things from now on."

Jin Chen's tone was not lacking disappointment, more so helplessness.

"Tonight we need to secretly investigate the manor; get proper rest."

After speaking, he paused, then still rose and left the pavilion; today indeed was not a good time to confess feelings.

Mu Huaizhi lifted his head, tightly watching Jin Chen's departing back, slowly placed a hand over his own heart, brows slightly furrowed, long lashes shading his eyes, trembling faintly.

Complex and intense emotions surged like a tide upon his heart, pulling with a sore ache.

He thought, was it heart-throb or heartache? Turns out it's really just a single thought away.

After a long while, Mu Huaizhi took a sip of the already cold tea, his face turning pale.

The youth, inexperienced in love and poor with words, had long adhered to that rigid moral code, not daring to respond even to his beloved's confession.

The sects they each belonged to were an unbridgeable spiritual chasm for Mu Huaizhi.

But how long he could endure, even he himself wasn't sure.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value 15, total 60!】

Jin Chen's motion of throwing stones into the pond stopped because of the 0731 broadcast.

He finally let go of the startled koi that were frantically jumping, patted the dust off his hands, bewildered.

'Not admitting he likes it, yet secretly raising his Heartthrob Value— is Mu Huaizhi just a tsundere?'

'Really, it's all because of that brat Jiang Chu.'

Jin Chen twisted the reason around and blamed it on Jiang Chu's head.

【Is the Main God still taking your identity into account?】

【Not necessarily.】

Jin Chen felt it wasn't entirely because of that.

As for what exactly the reason was, he couldn't guess it for a while.

'I can hear you scolding me from far away.'

Jiang Chu sauntered over, shaking his fan, completely free of his earlier weakness, face full of springtime pride.

'Tsk, what's with that expression?'

Jin Chen grabbed a stone and threw it at him, 'Get lost, who let you come over so early?'

'Nonsense, if you don't come again, Ah Ning will really not want me.'

Jiang Chu leaned against the stone rail of the pond, put away his joking expression, 'Recently, members of the Nine Nether Sect have been killed one after another; investigation revealed it's related to Fu Zhiyuan.'

'I originally wanted to tell you about this, but just now I actually saw him here— what's going on?'

Jin Chen: 'Fake, it's the Earth Evil Palace.'

He briefly told Jiang Chu the clues he'd uncovered in Yunshu Town, 'The Blood Demon Child is of great importance; I've already secretly informed my father in advance.'

Jiang Chu nodded, then added, 'But I remind you, if you insist on being with Mu Huaizhi, the obstacles you'll face are not just the Heavenly Sword Alliance.'

'You can't hide your identity forever, and you certainly can't avoid succeeding as the Sect Master of the Nine Nether Sect.'

'I know.'

Jin Chen rubbed his brow, 'I have my own decision.'

'Yo, Lord Mu.'

Jiang Chu suddenly raised his voice, waving his fan toward that side, 'Are you here to find Jin…… huh?'

Watching Mu Huaizhi stride away, he poked Jin Chen's shoulder, 'Did you two have a fight?'

'Just think of me a bit, okay?'

Jin Chen sighed, scratched his head, and didn't follow up.

Jin Chen, not knowing how to face things, disturbed Jiang Chu the whole afternoon, and still didn't let him have alone time with Sang Ning.

But when night fell and darkness descended, they still had to meet.

Jin Chen and the three others waited early at the street leading to the ancient manor, he stood in front with arms crossed, while behind him Jiang Chu and the two actually had already reconciled.

'I say, Sang Brother, you're forgiving too quickly.'

Jiang Chu hastily covered Sang Ning's ears, glared at Jin Chen, 'You're just watching the drama, not caring how big the matter is, right?'

Sang Ning shook off his hand, stomped his foot angrily.

'Stop talking, I haven't forgiven you yet.'

'If it weren't for the greater good, right now not being suitable for an argument, he wouldn't want to treat this person so well.'

But he thought that way, yet he didn't reject Jiang Zhu's approach at all.

Jin Chen was satisfied, turned around and continued to look up at the moon.

Mu Huaizhi and the three finally arrived.

In fact, they had never beforehand agreed on a meeting time and place, which is why they didn't waste even the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Hearing the footsteps, Jin Chen subconsciously turned his gaze over.

Mu Huaizhi's aura of 'strangers keep out' grew stronger; he clasped his sword, his expression stern.

Fu Zhiyuan didn't dare get too close, walking tightly beside Fang Xun.

As they drew near and saw Jin Chen, Mu Huaizhi's gaze finally focused, his expression relaxing.

The two locked eyes for a few seconds; Jin Chen was the first to look away, silently cursing himself for the tenth time: why did he have to choose today to confess, now making things so awkward.

He gave a light cough, walking behind and to the right of Mu Huaizhi, able to sense danger immediately, not holding hands as usual.

Mu Huaizhi's hand, which had almost been extended from his sleeve, froze and drooped weakly.

He stared slightly, the sourness in his heart rose again, mixed with a helplessness and panic that others couldn't see.

This is… does he not intend to bother with me anymore?

"Huaizhi, what's wrong?"

Fang Xun, beside him, noticed, glanced back, and softly asked Mu Huaizhi.

The latter shook his head, took a deep breath, and continued forward.

Not long after, the six could see the manor in the distance.

Just as they arrived at the Main Gate, listening closely they could hear a faint, continuous crying.

On a dark, windy night, it sounded especially eerie.

"No wonder the nearby residents avoid it; it's truly creepy."

Jin Chen surveyed the surroundings, drew a bit closer to Mu Huaizhi, and began to be on guard.

"There's a person!"

Sang Ning exclaimed.

As soon as the words fell, the person at the corner of the Main Gate rushed over, jumping back and forth before them, clothes tattered, hair disheveled and face dirty, still muttering something.

Fang Xun patted Fu Zhiyuan's hand that was blocking the way, saying, "It's the guardian of the manor."

According to the Blades Gate, there is a mad-speaking guardian outside the manor who always says strange things.

Just as everyone was preparing to go around him and climb over the wall, the guardian suddenly rushed toward Jin Chen.