Chapter 2801 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 06

Chen Xiaoshan remained unmoved.

Unlike the bandits who were mostly ordinary people who had no other choice but to join the outlaws later, he was someone who had truly seen blood on the frontier battlefield and had emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Knowing that one cannot judge a book by its cover, and that the world is a vast place with countless talented and extraordinary people, how could one know that the person in front of them had not used some kind of hidden means?

Whether it's true or false, you'll find out once you try!

A fierce glint flashed in Chen Xiaoshan's eyes. He drew his long sword from his waist and slashed straight at Jin Chen.

This strike was extremely fast and angled sharply, blocking Jin Chen's path to dodge left and right, forcing him to either take the blow head-on or expose an opening.

"Young Master!!" Ah Yan, who was being held tightly by two bandits, screamed in a bloodshot voice, her eyes wide with rage.

Jin Chen neither took the hit head-on nor unleashed any extraordinary movement techniques.

He seemed startled, staggering backward with disordered steps, yet his body moved nimbly, narrowly avoiding the blade.

Then, Jin Chen saw two people walking side by side not far away.

Gu Fanghe and Liu Mianfeng heard the commotion and rushed over, stopping about ten steps away.

Gu Fanghe felt a little relieved to see that Jin Chen was unharmed.

Liu Mianfeng, standing beside him, gently blocked the way with his fan, his voice carrying his usual laughter, "Brother, no rush. It's a good opportunity to see just how capable this young master really is."

Gu Fanghe stopped in his tracks and did not go any further.

Jin Chen ran over to Gu Fanghe, hid behind him, and pointed at Chen Xiaoshan, who was standing with his sword sheathed.

"Can't you control the brains of your subordinates?"

Gu Fanghe lowered his eyes, looking at the hand clutching his sleeve, then at Jin Chen's face and lips that were a few shades brighter than usual, and suddenly found it amusing.

This young master dared to slam his door yesterday, but today he's learned to complain.

"What are you doing..." Gu Fanghe began, his tone intrigued and probing, "...telling me a story?"

Jin Chen glared at him, speaking with righteous indignation, "Otherwise what? Today you dare to falsely accuse me of knocking down the pavilion pillar. If a chicken goes missing or a dog dies in your village tomorrow, can you also blame it on me?"

When Chen Xiaoshan saw that he had turned the tables and even hid behind the leader, his anger intensified, and the veins on the back of his hand holding the knife bulged.

"If you didn't do it, then what were you doing sneaking around the school building yesterday evening?!"

Jin Chen peeked half his head out from behind Gu Fanghe and retorted, "I thought that building was ugly, so what's wrong with me taking a look out of curiosity? Your village has such strict rules, you can't even take a look?"

"you!"

Chen Xiaoshan was furious.

The blueprints and carpentry work for that school building were personally recommended by Young Master Ruan back then, and he put in a lot of effort. Yet, in this little rascal's mouth, they've become ugly!

He stopped looking at Jin Chen and turned to Gu Fanghe, his voice cold and deep, "Chief, this is no coincidence! This person's behavior is suspicious and must be thoroughly investigated!"

Gu Fanghe raised his hand, signaling Chen Xiaoshan to calm down.

“Brother Chen, the cause of the attic collapse has not yet been determined, and it may not have been caused by human intervention. You should take some people to carefully examine the scene and make sure to get to the bottom of it.”

Chen Xiaoshan frowned, looking at Gu Fanghe, then at Jin Chen whom he was half-protecting behind him, and suddenly flicked his sleeve.

"Alright, alright! Since the chief has given the order, I will certainly investigate!"

"But the boss should also remember that some people are useless just because they have a pretty face."

Having said that, Chen Xiaoshan said no more and led his men away.

Liu Mianfeng slowly waved his jade-bone fan and walked a few steps to Jin Chen and Gu Fanghe.

"Young Master Jin, don't be angry, don't be angry," he said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Jin Chen's still slightly angry face.

“My second brother has always been like this, quick to anger and intolerant of any wrongdoing. If he offends me, I will apologize on his behalf.”

Liu Mianfeng took something out of his sleeve, held it lightly with his fan, and handed it to Jin Chen. It was a jade hairpin.

The jade is not of the highest quality, but the carving is exquisite, and it has a light and soft bluish-green hue.

"I came across a little trinket today, which looks quite unique," Liu Mianfeng said with a smile. "I thought Young Master Jin might like it, so I'm giving it to you as a way to... calm your nerves."

Jin Chen's gaze fell on the jade hairpin, but she didn't immediately take it.

[Host, this thing also appeared in the original storyline!]

[This hairpin was soaked in a special medicinal solution by Liu Mianfeng, containing a slight toxin. If someone wearing a human skin mask were to do so, the toxin would slowly seep in, causing the mask to rot and fall off within a few days.]

However, it's not a big problem for those who aren't wearing the human skin mask; they might experience some dizziness and weakness, but it will get better in a few days.

Jin Chen picked up the jade hairpin, which felt slightly cool to the touch. She examined it for a moment, then looked up at Liu Mianfeng, a faint smile curving her lips.

"The third leader has good taste."

Liu Mianfeng paused slightly in his fanning motion, looked carefully at Jin Chen, and then smiled again, "If Young Master Jin likes it, then you two chat. I'll go find some wine. It's so early in the morning, all this is such a mood killer."

After saying this, he nodded slightly to Gu Fanghe, then turned and walked away, fanning himself with his fan.

Gu Fanghe stared at the jade hairpin in Jin Chen's hand, his brows furrowing slightly.

Jin Chen twirled the jade hairpin twice on her fingertips, then casually tucked it into her sleeve, before turning to look at Gu Fanghe.

Jin Chen took a small step closer and tilted her head. "Why didn't you give me a gift?"

Gu Fanghe's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he teased him casually, "Why would I send it?"

"Hmm?" Jin Chen drawled out his words, then suddenly smiled, a smile that was undeniably alluring.

He was already handsome, and this smile made him even more radiant.

"Didn't that second-in-command just now keep saying... that you've taken a fancy to my face?"

As Jin Chen spoke, he raised his hand and gently touched Gu Fanghe's cheek, tracing the red mark and realizing it was an old wound, as the skin there was thinner than other areas.

"The leader is exceptionally handsome, but unfortunately he's a blockhead."

Gu Fanghe: "..."

That's too much, too presumptuous. No one in this village has ever dared to touch him like that.

He raised his hand to remove Jin Chen's hand that was waving in front of his eyes, but then he thought that if he used too much force, he might leave a mark, so he unconsciously loosened his grip and even gently tightened it a little, not as if he was stopping him, but as if he was holding on.

Jin Chen lowered her gaze to the two people's intertwined hands, and somehow managed to break free and poke Gu Fanghe's chest.

"Boss, you should hurry up and find out what's going on with that dilapidated building. Oh, and remember to bring me a gift tonight."

"It can't be worse than this broken hairpin that Liu San gave me."

Gu Fanghe stood still for a long time.

The morning breeze blew by, but it couldn't dispel the lingering scent around my nose.

Gu Fanghe raised the hand that had just held Jin Chen's wrist, rubbed it between his fingertips, and then brought it to his nose to sniff.

He lowered his hands, and a slight intoxication arose within him. His eyelashes trembled, and a very low laugh escaped his lips.

This young master is truly bold, and his temper is truly fierce.

Oh well, it's just a gift.

I just hope the young master is worthy of that gift.

A meaningful smile flashed across Gu Fanghe's eyes as he turned and walked toward the collapsed pavilion on the west side of the village.

[The detection of the villain triggers the heartbeat value, the heartbeat value is +10, and the total is 10! 】

Jin Chen leaned against the window, watching the departing figure in black, and gently tapped his fingertips on the window frame.