Chapter 2821 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 26

Deep in the bamboo forest.

The mountain lord, understanding human nature, repeatedly slammed Chu Yi and Chu Ming to the ground like a cat playing with mice, causing them unbearable pain, vomiting blood, and breaking their bones, yet they were left clinging to life, unable to die.

Chu Ming's vision was blurred by blood and rain, but he could vaguely make out the figure under the green bamboo umbrella not far away.

Jin Chen stood there quietly, her head slightly tilted, a smile playing on her lips, but her eyes were indifferent.

Having held a high position for a long time, they have become indifferent to human life.

terrible.

too frightening.

Chu Ming's teeth were chattering. This was definitely not the look and aura of a sickly young master who had been raised in a secluded mansion and was powerless to even kill a chicken.

And this tiger, why doesn't it attack Jin Chen? Why is it so submissive to him? It's utterly bizarre!

Chu Ming and the other man's consciousness gradually faded, and they were almost unconscious.

Jin Chen suddenly looked to the other side and heard a jumble of footsteps.

A fierce glint flashed in the tiger's eyes. It took two steps back and stood firmly in front of Jin Chen.

The footsteps stopped at the edge of the bamboo grove.

For a very long time afterward, everyone who arrived found it hard to forget the scene they witnessed.

In the misty bamboo forest, the mountain tiger, one of the most fearsome beasts in the vicinity of Black Mountain Village, stood guard in front of Jin Chen like a guardian deity.

Jin Chen stood behind the tiger's body, a few strands of his dark hair dampened by the rain. When he looked up, he exuded an almost eerie, cold, and noble aura, as if he were the master of this mountain forest, a celestial being who stepped out from the depths of the clouds, or a bewitching mountain spirit.

As the umbrella edge moved up, Jin Chen frowned and looked at Gu Fanghe.

"Why did you come?"

In an instant, all the surprise, horror and doubt in Gu Fanghe's heart were shattered by this light scolding, and then reformed into heartache and palpitations.

His young master is alright, he's perfectly fine.

As for the ferocious tiger, the bloodstains, and the illogical scene, they all became irrelevant in his eyes at this moment.

As if sensing something, the tiger turned back to look at Jin Chen, then at Gu Fanghe, and slowly took half a step back, making way for him.

Jin Chen smiled as he looked at Gu Fanghe, slowly releasing his grip on the umbrella handle. Rainwater dampened his temples, revealing his jade-like skin and cherry-red lips.

As the oil-paper umbrella tilted and was about to fall, Gu Fanghe rushed forward, caught the handle, and held the umbrella back up.

Jin Chen hooked her arm around Gu Fanghe's waist and gently patted his tense back.

He asked softly, his breath brushing against Gu Fanghe's lips, "I live among tigers, Chief...aren't you afraid of me?"

"Not afraid."

"I'm just afraid... if I'm too late, the bad guys might hurt you in the slightest."

Gu Fanghe glanced at the two barely breathing, bloodied, and pitiful thugs on the ground, his eyes cold.

Lying on the ground, half-dead and barely able to speak, Chu Ming and Chu Yi were speechless: "..."

Blind! Gu Fanghe is absolutely blind!

Who hurt whom here?! Didn't you see who the tiger was obeying?! Didn't you see we brothers were almost killed?!

Yan Qi, with his impulsive nature, was initially shocked, but upon seeing the obedient tiger lying beside him, his eyes were filled with excitement and admiration. He couldn't help but take two steps closer and asked, "Brother Jin, how did you do that? How come this mountain lord listens to you?"

All eyes were on Jin Chen.

The mountain lord let out a low moan, as if in agreement.

Jin Chen shook his head and started to lie, "I don't know either."

"I came to the bamboo forest to look for the two little snakes I kept, but I didn't expect to encounter these two people acting suspiciously, holding knives and intending to harm me. I was frightened, so I hid in the forest, not wanting to disturb the mountain lord..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the tiger slowly stepped forward again.

Everyone held their breath, even the elite team members gripped their knife hilts tightly, ready to strike at any moment.

But the mountain lord did not attack anyone. He simply walked a few steps away from Jin Chen, let out a low growl, and slowly lay down, rubbing his head against Jin Chen's clothes.

Jin Chen loosened his grip on Gu Fanghe slightly, holding his hand with one hand while slowly raising the other to gently stroke the tiger's lowered head. The tiger made a comfortable purring sound in its throat, and its tail swayed gently.

Gu Fanghe glanced at the tiger once before his gaze returned to Jin Chen's face. His heart pounded even more. The person in the painting he loved, the person in his heart, was the most special existence in the world. And he... how fortunate he was to have won her favor.

[The villain's heart rate is detected +5, totaling 72! 】

Yan Qi slapped his thigh and cheered, "Great! With Brother Jin here, our Black Mountain Stronghold will be even safer from now on. Let's see who dares to cause trouble!"

As if waking from a dream, everyone looked at Jin Chen with eyes full of admiration.

Yes! To be able to befriend the mountain god and subdue the fierce tiger, Young Master Jin must be blessed by the mountain god and be a lucky star of Black Mountain Village!

With the Chief Boss and Young Master Jin around, what do they have to fear from the imperial court or their enemies?!

"Young Master Jin is truly a divine being!"

Looking at the two thugs on the ground who had tried to harm Jin Chen, he felt even more disgusted. Shi Meng stepped forward and delivered a few more punches, knocking the two men completely unconscious.

"Take him away!" Shi Meng said coldly.

The men from the elite team stepped forward and dragged Chu Ming and Chu Yi away like dead dogs.

The tiger raised its head, let out a low growl, and walked back into the depths of the bamboo forest.

It's still raining.

Gu Fanghe's heart pounded like wildfire, and he could no longer suppress it, so he kissed Jin Chen's lips.

Jin Chen indulged his demands and kissed him even more passionately.

-

In the west wing, Ruan Shutong was taken away by Liu Mianfeng and his men, but she already knew what was going on.

Chu Yi and Chu Ming made a move, but failed, and may even have been exposed.

When he saw Chu Yi and Chu Ming, who were dragged in like dead dogs by Yan Qi and Shi Meng, covered in blood, unconscious, and almost unrecognizable, even his deep-seated nature caused his pupils to contract.

So badly injured... yet still clinging to life, this is clearly deliberate, a warning.

Damn.

Jin Chen changed his clothes into a thicker silver-gray cloak with silver fox fur trim at the collar, which made his skin look even more like jade. He was holding a hot water bottle in his arms and drinking the hot tea that A Yan handed him. His posture was lazy and relaxed, as if he was just here to watch an unimportant play.

This clearly demonstrates the importance Gu Fanghe placed on Jin Chen.

As soon as someone has survived a dangerous situation, they immediately change into thick clothes, hug a hand warmer, and offer words of comfort and care.

Ruan Shutong lowered her eyes, concealing the dark emotions churning within them.

When he looked up again, his face was filled with shock, worry, confusion and innocence. He looked at the two unconscious people on the ground, and then at Gu Fanghe.

"Brother Gu, I wonder... what does this mean?"

Shi Meng was outspoken, "Young Master Ruan, your two attendants attempted to harm Young Master Jin in the bamboo forest and were injured by the Mountain Lord. Were you unaware of this?"

Ruan Shutong's expression changed slightly, and she said anxiously, "Young Master Jin, are you alright? I really didn't know they would... would do something to harm you. If I had known, I would never have let them leave my side."

"Young Master Jin, you have been frightened. I am truly sorry."

"Zero Egg, what do you think of his acting?" Jin Chen asked Zero Rolling leisurely.

"So-so, the host's tea is still more authentic." Zero chuckled.

Liu Mianfeng waved his fan, chuckled upon hearing this, and slowly said, "Young Master Ruan, when I went to your courtyard to invite you, you were dressed neatly and sitting by the window, as if you were waiting for something."

"Could it be... that we've been waiting for their return?"

Ruan Shutong's expression remained unchanged, and she said calmly, "Brother Liu is joking. I am waiting for them to come back."

"Chu Yi and Chu Ming have followed me since childhood and are extremely loyal to me. They accompanied me back to Nanzhou to search for medicine without complaint. Seeing that the rain had subsided a bit, I thought they might go into the mountains to try. I was worried about them, so I waited by the window, but unexpectedly..."

He sighed, looking at the two people on the ground with genuine regret in his eyes, "I really don't understand how they could do such a foolish thing!"

Gu Fanghe had been watching his performance in silence until now, when he finally spoke in a deep voice.

"Ruan Shutong, why did your two attendants disguise themselves?"

Ruan Shutong's heart tightened, and before she could think of what to say, Jin Chen, who was quietly drinking tea, put down his teacup.

"I've seen them."

Gu Fanghe immediately turned to look at him, "When?"

"The day I came to Black Mountain Village." Jin Chen reached out and picked up Gu Fanghe's fingertips, playing with them casually, but his eyes were lightly glancing at Ruan Shutong.

It conceals a deep exploration that only they themselves know.

"My coachman didn't know how to get to the bottom of Black Cliff, and by chance, he met two woodcutters."

Standing behind Jin Chen, A Yan suddenly remembered. "Yes, I remember now! It was those two woodcutters, honest and simple, who said that taking that small path would be much faster. That's how we got to the most dangerous part of the cliff path, and then... we ran into Brother One-Eyed and his group!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the hall.

Gu Fanghe's eyes darkened.

Chen Xiaoshan and Liu Mianfeng exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious.

They were all people who had worked in the imperial court, and they had seen a lot of infighting, intrigue, and scheming in officialdom.

This whole sequence of events—directing the way, robbing, using a double, having a follower in disguise, and attacking in the bamboo forest—doesn't seem like a coincidence at all.

Gu Fanghe leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Ruan Shutong's face like a knife. "So, from the moment your two loyal followers deliberately led Jin Chen's carriage into danger, it was all intentional?"