After Zhao Chen'an went out, he took a few detours and plopped down on the rockery in the yard, starting to mutter to himself.
"When will I be able to capture Qin Beixuan? He's so hard to handle..."
Suddenly, the system piped up, "Host, you've done much better than in the previous worlds. At least you're being proactive now."
Zhao Chen'an still pouted discontentedly and said, "But he's such a straight - laced guy... I..."
"Zhao Chen'an." Before Zhao Chen'an could finish, he was interrupted by a deep and pleasant male voice.
The newcomer had his hair tied up in a high crown. What caught Zhao Chen'an's eye first was his long, flowing hair, and then his phoenix - like eyes that were full of charm. His heroic bearing was like that of an immortal, making Zhao Chen'an almost unable to look away.
"...Senior Brother?" Zhao Chen'an said in a daze.
Why is he here?
Qin Beixuan responded faintly, walked straight to Zhao Chen'an's side, and sat down. Neither of them spoke for a long time. Finally, Qin Beixuan broke the silence.
He asked, "Do you usually eat very little?"
"Umm, it's okay, I guess." Zhao Chen'an was a bit confused by the question.
That was all Qin Beixuan asked. After that, there was no more conversation. So he just came to ask how much he ate?!
Finally, Qin Beixuan came to find him on his own initiative. Would Zhao Chen'an let him leave so easily?
Seeing that Qin Beixuan was about to leave, Zhao Chen'an reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling Qin Beixuan directly into his embrace.
Zhao Chen'an leaned close to Qin Beixuan's ear and said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, since you're here, stay. Why are you running away? I won't eat you~"
Being teased by Zhao Chen'an again, Qin Beixuan's ears turned red.
Zhao Chen'an's playfulness got the better of him. He deliberately rubbed Qin Beixuan's earlobe and blew a breath on it, saying, "Senior Brother, your ears are red."
Qin Beixuan: "………"
It's all because of you!!
Qin Beixuan was about to resist when he was startled by a scream: "Ah!! What are you two doing?!"
Suddenly interrupted, Qin Beixuan then realized how ambiguous their posture was.
So Qin Beixuan immediately got up and kept a distance from Zhao Chen'an.
Zhao Chen'an let out a sneering laugh. Looking at the newcomer, he hooked his lips and said, "Just as you can see, Junior Brother Zhu."
Zhu Heyu's face instantly flushed red. He stared at Zhao Chen'an angrily, huffing and puffing, unable to say a word.
After holding it in for a while, he said, "The butler is waiting in the house. He wants us to go and see Palace Master Yi." After saying that, he gave Zhao Chen'an a disdainful look.
Zhao Chen'an scoffed and ignored him.
Qin Beixuan watched as the two junior brothers were at odds with each other. He shook his head helplessly and persuaded them, "Alright, stop arguing. Let's go."
Since Qin Beixuan had spoken, they had no choice but to stop. Fortunately, Qin Beixuan was there as a buffer. Otherwise, Zhu Heyu might have gotten beaten up.
Zhu Heyu had a gentle personality, while Zhao Chen'an's personality was hard to fathom. After all, Qin Beixuan hadn't known Zhao Chen'an for long, but he had watched Zhu Heyu grow up and knew him quite well.
Zhao Chen'an and the others met Yi Huachi in the main hall. Yi Huachi was very hospitable, and they quickly took their seats.
Zhao Chen'an immediately sensed that something was amiss.
His older brother had just died, but he didn't seem sad at all. How could that be?
So Zhao Chen'an decided to test him. He said, "Palace Master Yi, even though your older brother is gone, you've managed the Hun Tian Palace so well."
Unexpectedly, Yi Huachi suddenly burst into tears and cried out, "It's all my fault. If I hadn't let my older brother go out that night, nothing would have happened."
Zhao Chen'an and Qin Beixuan almost said in unison, "That night?"
Zhao Chen'an was taken aback. He turned to look at Qin Beixuan, hooked his lips, and gave a faint smile.
Qin Beixuan: "………"
Can you stop flirting with him?!
Qin Beixuan blushed and pretended not to see Zhao Chen'an. He directly said to Yi Huachi, "Palace Master, could you please elaborate?"
Yi Huachi paused for a moment and then began to choke with sobs as he said, "It was the day when the Phoenix Seal was stolen, and also the day when my eldest brother was brutally killed... That night, I was in my eldest brother's study, teaching the children how to read with him..."
Yi Huachi began to recall -
It was already night, but the Hun Tian Palace was brightly lit because Yi Bowen's daughter, Yi Simiao, was most afraid of the dark.
Yi Huachi was in Yi Bowen's study, teaching Yi Simiao and Yi Liang how to read with Yi Bowen.
Yi Liang was Yi Huachi's son.
The scene at that time was very warm. Just then, Yi Huachi suddenly heard someone outside shout, "Report - Palace Master, a group of black - clothed men have come to the Phoenix Seal's secret chamber. The brothers can't hold on much longer!"
"What?!" Yi Bowen jumped up from the table. "Huachi, I'll go and check. I'll be back soon. Please take care of the two children for me."
Yi Huachi immediately grabbed Yi Bowen's arm and said urgently, "Let me go instead. You're the palace master. You can't get into trouble."
But as soon as he said this, Yi Bowen got excited. He shook off Yi Huachi's hand and said, "Precisely because I'm the palace master, and guarding the Phoenix Seal is the responsibility entrusted to our Hun Tian Palace by the Phoenix God, I must go!!"
Hearing Yi Huachi's recollection, Zhao Chen'an more or less guessed that Yi Bowen was no match for the enemies and never returned.
Sure enough, Yi Huachi said, "In the end... I can't even believe that this was the last time I saw my older brother."
Zhao Chen'an said, "Palace Master, please accept my condolences."
Yi Huachi wiped away his tears and choked out, "Thank you, Young Master Zhao."
Then Zhao Chen'an said, "I'd like to meet Miss Yi Simiao, the orphan of Yi Bowen. Is that okay?"
As soon as he said this, Yi Huachi's expression froze, but he didn't refuse Zhao Chen'an. He said, "...... Feel free."
"Then we won't disturb the palace master's rest." Zhao Chen'an bowed to Yi Huachi. Then he patted Qin Beixuan on the shoulder and said, "Senior Brother, would you accompany me?"
As soon as he asked this, Zhu Heyu was the first to object. He said with a hidden threat in his smile, "Why do you have to, Second Senior Brother? Senior Brother promised to accompany me today."
He was warning Zhao Chen'an about the order of precedence.
But Zhao Chen'an didn't care. He leaned on Qin Beixuan's shoulder and looked at him with a wronged expression. He said, "Senior Brother, we're on official business. Personal matters can be postponed. Look, the Phoenix Seal has been stolen, but Junior Brother only wants to play..."
Who can't act innocent?
When Qin Beixuan wasn't looking, Zhao Chen'an proudly raised his eyebrows at Zhu Heyu.
Zhu Heyu was almost furious with Zhao Chen'an. "Senior Brother hates being touched by strangers other than me. Stay away from him!"
Zhao Chen'an raised his eyebrows and smiled charmingly. He leaned on Qin Beixuan's shoulder and tilted his head to look into his eyes. The distance between them had gotten much closer. As long as Qin Beixuan lowered his head, he could kiss Zhao Chen'an's thin lips.
Zhao Chen'an lifted Qin Beixuan's chin and said in a very alluring voice, "Senior Brother, am I a stranger?"