Chapter 660 - 202: The Return of the Golden Armor
"The new Town General?" Chen Yan was somewhat surprised.
"Yes, the original Town General has been transferred by the Immortal Platform War Department. The new Town General will leave after taking over the city’s defenses today."
However, Chen Yan was concerned about another matter: "Then, has there been any change in the bounty previously issued by the Town General? Originally, the bounty added fifty coins extra for each head of the Fierce Beast Race."
Gu Jinjia laughed heartily, "Don’t worry about that, my dear brother. The new Town General not only won’t cancel the bounty but actually thinks the previous Town General’s gesture was too small and has decided to increase the bounty to a hundred coins!
From now on, for every head of the Fierce Beast Race, you can exchange for a hundred extra coins at Snow Cliff Pass! Add the reward order from the Immortal Platform, altogether it’s three hundred!"
Hearing this, Chen Yan’s expression turned stiff!
Damn it!
I sold those heads too early!!
If I had sold them a few days later, I could have earned several thousand more coins!
Thinking of this, Chen Yan couldn’t help but look at Gu Jinjia with a hint of helplessness.
You... damn it, why didn’t you come earlier!
·
With Gu Jinjia, the head of the Brotherhood, returning, naturally, everyone at the brotherhood’s station gathered for a wild celebration.
But Baldie 39 took a dozen people out of the pass, so he couldn’t be notified.
After the wild drinking, Chen Yan, being the youngest ranked "Brother 135," naturally became the target of everyone’s arrows. Every one of those present was his "brother," and he couldn’t refuse; cup after cup was emptied.
Plus, since he was sitting next to Gu Jinjia, all the other brothers toasting Gu Jinjia would also drag him along.
With three or five rounds like this, Chen Yan quickly drank two urns.
However, his constitution had improved much since joining last time, and despite the two urns of wine, his eyes remained bright.
It went on until night, and only then did Gu Jinjia wave his hand and shout loudly, "Satisfaction today! We’ll have many chances to gather in the future, let’s end for now!"
After saying this, all the brothers responded with a cheer, everyone finishing the wine in their cups.
As the drinking session ended, Ruyi came out from the back, supporting Gu Jinjia as he left.
After taking a few steps, Gu Jinjia suddenly turned and glanced at Chen Yan, "Chuyi, you come with me."
"Uh?" Chen Yan was taken aback, but seeing Gu Jinjia’s clear eyes without a trace of drunkenness, he knew there was something to be discussed privately and nodded, following him.
·
Behind the Brotherhood’s station, a cave dwelling was opened up in the mountain belly, essentially just three interconnected rooms.
Chen Yan and Ruyi supported Gu Jinjia on both sides, and as they reached the door, Gu Jinjia slowly stood upright, no trace of drunkenness remained, and he said softly, "Ruyi, you can go back now, I want to talk with Brother Chuyi tonight."
"Okay." Ruyi took one last look at Gu Jinjia, then turned and left.
Gu Jinjia had already pushed the door open, bringing Chen Yan inside.
The three-room cave dwelling led first to a hall, then a practice room, and further in, a bedroom.
Gu Jinjia led Chen Yan into the hall and pointed at a chair inside, "Sit."
Chen Yan sat down near Gu Jinjia and laughed, "You’ve just come back, and being with sister-in-law Ruyi is like a fresh reunion after separation, yet you’re talking with me tonight; I fear sister-in-law Ruyi won’t be happy tomorrow."
Gu Jinjia listened, then slowly lifted his hand, and a table of tea appeared on the table.
He took a cup of tea, drank it, let out a breath, and said in a low voice, "You... actually, Ruyi and I have always been pure and we’ve never lived together."
Chen Yan was taken aback.
Gu Jinjia’s expression became more complex, and he said slowly, "I am the eldest son of the Gu Family, and the family arranged a marriage for me, but I kept refusing because I didn’t like it. Later, I came to Snow Cliff Pass to hone myself and met a female cultivator.
We were mutually in love, and I forced a defiance of the family elders’ wishes to be with her.
Later, once we went beyond the pass to hunt and temper ourselves, during which she got injured, damaging her core. After returning, she, being strong-willed, couldn’t wait for the injury to heal and forcibly broke through her Cultivation. As a result, she failed to advance, worsening her injuries, and not long after, she passed away in depression."
Pausing for a moment, Gu Jinjia looked at Chen Yan, smiled bitterly, and said, "Ruyi is her sister."
Chen Yan tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Before she died, she charged me to take good care of Ruyi, and I agreed." Gu Jinjia looked slightly embarrassed, and in a low voice said, "But, as I took care, it just..."
"Developed into feelings?" Chen Yan smiled.
"Yes." Gu Jinjia rubbed his forehead hard, sighing, "Actually, when you say taking care, I don’t know if it’s me taking care of Ruyi more or Ruyi taking care of me more. In short, I have feelings for her, and she reciprocates them...
It’s just, there’s always a hurdle I can’t cross."
Chen Yan slowly said, "Actually, you’re unmarried, she’s not married, if you have feelings for each other..."
Gu Jinjia said softly, "Ruyi’s sister suffered heavy injuries to save me."
Chen Yan didn’t know what to say.
How to put it?
Gu Jinjia’s way can be seen as somewhat entangled, but fundamentally, it can be considered sentimental and loyal.
"Ruyi is alone in Snow Cliff Pass, striving hard. Her cultivation isn’t high, and she no longer has her elder sister to look after her. Over these years, I’ve stationed the Brotherhood here, and everyone thinks Ruyi is my woman. I don’t explain because... doing so is also a kind of protection for her. With me, the eldest son of the Gu Family and the leader of the Brotherhood as her nominal man, at least I can block all coveting gazes."
Chen Yan stared at Gu Jinjia, and after a while of silence, slowly said, "I think you’re just chickening out."
"What the hell?" Gu Jinjia was taken aback.