Chapter 110

"Drip, drop..."

Under the eaves, rainwater dripped, already forming a stream.

The sky was gloomy, and the rain was getting heavier.

The temperature in the mountains was already low, and at this time, it was becoming even colder.

The guards could manage to withstand it.

The maids and nannies were shivering and could only hide in the guest rooms to escape the cold.

Luo Zijun left the Scripture Pavilion, his heart filled with secret worry.

With this kind of rain, I'm afraid it will be difficult to return to the city today.

Those noble ladies were so frail; they wouldn't dare to go down the mountain in this windy and rainy weather.

If they didn't go back tonight, Xiaohuan and his sister and brother-in-law would definitely be worried.

Thinking this, he arrived at the guest room.

Seeing him enter, Ziyuan hurriedly said: "Young Master, Nanny Liu just came to inform us that because of the rain, we won't be able to return today; we will stay at Jinshan Temple tonight. We will return to the city tomorrow after the rain stops."

Luo Zijun frowned slightly, thinking to himself: Just as I thought.

Fearing that he would worry about his family, Ziyuan smiled again: "Young Master, don't worry; the Third Miss has already sent someone back to the mansion to notify them, so the Young Master's sister and brother-in-law should also receive the news."

Luo Zijun nodded and didn't say anything more.

Since it was already like this, he could only stay here honestly for one night.

It was a pity he didn't see Master Fahai.

This trip could be considered a wasted effort.

However, it wasn't entirely a wasted effort.

At least in the Scripture Pavilion, he obtained a piece of white jade that seemed somewhat useful.

And, he had shown his face in front of that old monk.

Since he was Xu Xian, naturally he couldn't easily sever the marriage with the White Snake; when the time came, the greatest tribulation for the man and the snake would likely come from here.

He had to make some preparations in advance.

At this time, several monks entered the room and lowered their heads: "Benefactors, the Abbot has ordered us to take you to the side rooms to rest; it is warmer there."

The maids and nannies stood up upon hearing this.

Although the windows were closed in this place, it was still very cold, and everyone had long wanted to go somewhere else.

Several monks led the way, taking everyone to the backyard, then stopped at the door and said: "Benefactors, please come in; you can stay in any of the side rooms inside."

Then they added apologetically: "Because there are too many guests seeking shelter from the rain today, I'm afraid it will be a bit crowded; I hope you will not blame us."

A nanny hurriedly said: "It's good enough to have a place to shelter from the wind and rain; we are grateful, how could we blame you? Thank you, little masters."

The other maids and nannies also put their hands together to thank them.

The group braved the rain, hurriedly entered the courtyard, and ran into the rooms.

Luo Zijun stood outside alone.

Ziyuan realized this and hurriedly said to the monks: "Little masters, may I ask if there are any vacant side rooms? My Young Master has no place to sleep tonight."

This courtyard was full of maids and nannies; it was naturally inappropriate for Luo Zijun to enter.

The monks looked at each other, and one of them hurriedly went to another small courtyard to ask, but it was already full.

This time, when the Bai and Jia families left the city, besides many young ladies, they also brought many maids and nannies.

Although many were left at the foot of the mountain, the number of those who came up was not small.

Moreover, there were other guests in the temple seeking shelter from the rain; with this kind of rain, they definitely couldn't leave tonight and would all have to stay here.

"Young Master, don't worry, we will go look again."

"If there really are no other side rooms to stay in, then you will have to bear with us and squeeze in with us tonight."

The monks all felt a bit embarrassed and hurriedly split up to look for other vacant side rooms.

Ziyuan was also a bit embarrassed, holding an oil-paper umbrella over Luo Zijun's head, and said: "Young Master, if there are no other side rooms in the temple, this servant will accompany you down the mountain to stay in the tents. It is truly inappropriate for you to squeeze in with those monks."

Luo Zijun didn't mind: "It's just for one night; sleeping is the same everywhere."

But to be honest, he would rather sleep with those monks.

The scene of being cruelly ravaged by that female flower-thief while sleeping at Hanshan Temple last time was still fresh in his memory.

He was truly afraid of temples.

However, thinking about it carefully, this temple should be the safest place today.

After all, the nobles from the Jia and Bai families were staying here today; not only were there monks guarding, but there were also many guards, as well as maids and nannies keeping watch. Even if that female flower-thief were bold, she wouldn't dare to come again.

The tents at the foot of the mountain, on the other hand, might be dangerous.

After all, the nobles were not there, and it was estimated that the guards at the foot of the mountain were relatively relaxed.

Ziyuan said apologetically: "The Third Miss is quite busy; she is with the Jia family's young ladies and also has to represent the Master and Mistress to talk with the Jia family's elders, so she doesn't have time to come and accompany the Young Master. I hope you won't blame her."

Luo Zijun said: "It's fine, I'll just wander around by myself; it's quite good."

As the two were talking, a young monk hurried back, his face full of apology: "Young Master, I am truly sorry; all the side rooms in our temple are already occupied by guests, and they are all very crowded. Even those nobles are several to a room. So..."

Luo Zijun said: "Then I will squeeze in with you little masters tonight."

The young monk was about to speak when another tall, thin monk hurried over, first put his hands together to apologize, and then said: "I hope you will forgive us, Young Master; there are too many guests seeking shelter from the rain today, and there are no vacancies in the guest rooms. Our own side rooms have also been given to other guests. Tonight, we will all be sleeping on the floor in the front hall or reciting scriptures for the night."

Luo Zijun: "..."

The tall, thin monk then said: "If you don't mind, Young Master, there is still a thatched hut in the back mountain of our temple where one can stay."

Ziyuan hurriedly asked: "Is it far? Will there be wild beasts?"

The tall, thin monk put his hands together and lowered his head: "It's not far, just in the woods less than a hundred meters from the back door. People usually live there, and there are no wild beasts around."

Ziyuan did not speak again and looked at the young man beside her.

Luo Zijun pondered for a moment and said: "May I go and take a look first?"

The tall, thin monk hurriedly said: "Benefactor, please."

He immediately lowered his head and led the way in front.

Luo Zijun said: "Ziyuan, it's windy and cold outside with the rain; you go in first, I can go by myself."

Ziyuan said: "This servant will accompany the Young Master to take a look; if it's really not possible, this servant will go down the mountain with the Young Master to stay."

Luo Zijun didn't speak again.

The two followed behind the tall, thin monk, walking all the way, soon exited the back door, and entered the woods.

After walking a short distance, a thatched hut appeared.

The tall, thin monk went over, pushed open the wooden door, took a look inside, then turned around, put his hands together, and said: "It's quite clean inside; you can go in and take a look, Young Master."

Luo Zijun thanked him and walked into the thatched hut with his head lowered.

Although the space inside was narrow, there was a bed, a table, and chairs, and it was kept quite clean and didn't leak; it was indeed a good place.

Luo Zijun thought for a moment and said: "It's quite good here; I'll stay here tonight."

It wasn't far from the temple and was definitely safer than the foot of the mountain.

The foot of the mountain was a mix of all kinds of people, and there was no guarantee that the female flower-thief wasn't hiding among them.

Of course, it was also possible that he was overthinking.

That female flower-thief probably just picked a target at random when she took him last time; it was impossible for her to have suddenly followed him here.

Even if she really came here, it couldn't be such a coincidence that she would take him again.

The tall, thin monk said "Amitabha" and left.

Ziyuan put away the oil-paper umbrella, entered the room, looked around, and smiled: "Although this room is small, it's quite warm and clean, not crowded for one person, and quiet; I'd like to live here too."

Luo Zijun went over to close the small window and joked: "Then how about we swap?"

Ziyuan laughed, her smile as beautiful as a flower: "That won't do; tonight this servant will probably be squeezing in with Yun'er and Tao'er. If the Young Master goes, you'll be bullied to death by those little girls. Don't look at how reserved and blushing they were in the carriage; they are actually quite fierce."

Luo Zijun didn't know which "bullying" she was referring to, so he didn't reply casually.

The room became quiet.

Then the atmosphere began to become a bit unnatural.

After all, they were a lone man and woman, the room was small, and both were young people in the bloom of youth; their breathing could be heard as they spoke.

Ziyuan was wafting with the faint fragrance of a young girl.

Luo Zijun, on the other hand, had his own scent.

"Young Master, this servant will help you spread the quilt."

Ziyuan smiled and hurriedly went over to help spread the quilt.

As she bent over, her black hair fell down, her waist was slender, her hips were rounded, and her long legs were upright; her wet floral dress immediately outlined charming curves.

Luo Zijun said: "Ziyuan, you go back first; don't worry about me."

After Ziyuan finished spreading the quilt, she said: "Then Young Master, please rest; if you need anything, just go to the temple and call this servant."

She also knew that it wasn't very appropriate for her to stay here.

Who knows how Yun'er and the others would gossip about her behind her back.

Luo Zijun nodded and said: "The road is slippery, be careful."

"Mm."

Ziyuan smiled and took her leave.

Luo Zijun watched her slender back as she walked away with her oil-paper umbrella, then closed the wooden door.

Looking at the simple little thatched hut, he couldn't help but sigh.

Forget it, just make do for one night.

After the wooden door and windows were closed, the room was pitch black.

Luo Zijun sat on the bed and began to practice his inner cultivation method.

After breaking through to the Skin Refining realm, the inner strength seed in his Dantian Sea began to grow rapidly again; it had now grown back to the size of a broad bean.

At the same time, his inner strength was becoming increasingly profound.

Calming his mind and concentrating, he soon entered a state of cultivation.

Outside, the rain drizzled on and on.

At some point, fog suddenly rose in the mountains, hazy and misty, shrouding the entire temple, slowly floating and surging in the quiet and damp woods.

The already gloomy sky soon became dark.

Unknowingly, it was already dark.

"Croak... croak..."

The chirping of night birds suddenly came from the woods.

Then, a few "chirp-chirp" sounds rang out, and at the same time, a certain bush in the woods suddenly swayed gently.

Just as Luo Zijun was concentrating on his cultivation, he suddenly heard the giggling of young girls coming from outside the hut.

"Sister, there's no one here; let's play here."

"Hey, there's a thatched hut there; let's go in and take a look." Then, footsteps approached.

Luo Zijun hurriedly got off the bed and gave two "coughs" toward the outside.

"Ah! Sister, what was that sound just now?"

"Was there? I didn't hear anything."

The footsteps outside paused for a moment, then continued toward the small hut.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to go over and open the wooden door, look outside, and see a pair of young girls dressed in white dresses, holding lanterns in their hands, and said: "Two young ladies, there is someone inside."

"Ah!"

The two young girls, one tall and one petite, were startled when he suddenly appeared.

"Sister, let's run, it's a man!"

The petite girl hurriedly pulled the tall girl and turned to run.

!

The two held their lanterns and ran toward the temple.

Luo Zijun was speechless, closed the door, and prepared to continue his cultivation.

The two looked pretty and were dressed luxuriously, but they looked unfamiliar; he definitely hadn't seen them before. They were likely from the Jia family, but he didn't know which two young ladies of the Jia family they were.

But they were definitely not Lin Daiyu or Jia Tanchun and the others.

If those young ladies went out, they would definitely be surrounded by a bunch of maids, nannies, and even guards.

Luo Zijun returned to the bed, preparing to practice the Fiery Finger.

Who knew that after practicing a few times, the voices of the two young girls suddenly came from outside again.

"Sister, it's so boring in the temple; let's not go back."

"Mm."

"Sister, did you see just now? The Young Master in the thatched hut was wearing a Confucian robe; he's a scholar, and he looks so handsome. Shall we go in and talk to him? It must be very warm in that little hut."

"Let's not; a lone man and woman, under the plum tree and in the melon patch..."

"It's not a lone man and woman; there are two of us. That scholar looks so weak; sister, are you afraid he'll eat us?"

"I'm not afraid of that, I'm just afraid of being seen; it's not very good... And if we go in now, I'm afraid that Young Master won't be happy and will think we sisters are shameless and are loose women..."

"Oh sister, we finally came out once; who cares about propriety and shame? We're just going in to talk and hide from the cold."

"Let's not..."

"I want to! I really want to! If sister doesn't go, I'll go myself, hmph!"

"Fine, wait for me, don't trip."

As they spoke, their footsteps had already approached the thatched hut.

Luo Zijun frowned and had no choice but to go over and open the wooden door again, saying to the outside: "Two young ladies, I am a bit sleepy and am going to rest."

The tall girl hurriedly stopped, a look of embarrassment appearing on her face.

The petite girl beside her rolled her dark eyes, stared at him for a few moments, and said crisply: "Young Master, how can you go to sleep so early? It just got dark. We sisters are so cold outside; can you let us in to hide from the cold?"

Luo Zijun's vigilance rose, and he refused directly: "Sorry, I really am going to sleep."

The petite girl pouted her little mouth, unhappy.

The tall girl hurriedly pulled her and whispered: "Forget it, let's go quickly; this Young Master looks unhappy."

"Hmph, this place isn't his! Why shouldn't he let us in?"

The petite girl was very angry.

Luo Zijun said: "This place is indeed not mine, but I have received permission to rest here tonight. I like to sleep naked when I rest; are the two young ladies sure you want to come in?"

The tall girl blushed and said: "Sister, let's go quickly."

The petite girl put her hands on her hips and said angrily: "Who's afraid of whom? You like to sleep naked, and my sister and I also like to sleep naked; at worst, we'll sleep naked together and see who's afraid!"

Luo Zijun narrowed his eyes.

"Ah! A snake!"

At this moment, the tall girl suddenly screamed and jumped from where she stood.

The petite girl beside her was also startled, hurriedly jumped along with her, and then extended the lantern in her hand to look behind.

On the ground, there was indeed a green snake as thick as a thumb, slithering along. When the lantern shone on it, the snake suddenly stopped, raised its head, and flicked its scarlet tongue at the two.

"Ah—"

The two young girls screamed in unison, their faces pale with fright, hurriedly dropped the lanterns in their hands, and ran toward the small hut.

Luo Zijun hadn't allowed them to enter yet, but they pushed him aside while screaming and fled into the small hut.

At this time, the green snake was actually flicking its tongue and slithering toward the small hut.

Luo Zijun felt a bit panicked when he saw the snake.

Although he was Xu Xian, he really didn't want to deal with snakes.

He immediately took a stool from the room, preparing to smash it, but suddenly hesitated.

"Ah! The snake is chasing us in!"

Seeing this scene, the two young girls screamed repeatedly, jumped onto the bed, and hid under the quilt.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to go out and wave the stool in his hand to drive it away.

The snake raised its head and flicked its tongue for a while, then turned direction and slithered toward the woods on the right.

After it was far away, Luo Zijun walked out quickly and picked up the lantern on the ground.

At this time, the sound of rain outside had stopped.

However, the cold wind in the mountains still carried the chill of the rain, making it exceptionally cold.

Luo Zijun placed the lantern at the door, entered the room, and said: "The snake is gone, you should go back quickly."

The two young girls were still hiding under the quilt, shivering.

At some point, the two had taken off their shoes; outside the quilt, two pairs of delicate little feet in white socks were exposed, also shivering.

Luo Zijun went directly over, lifted the quilt, looked at them, and said: "Two young ladies, please leave."

The two young girls hid in the corner of the bed, hugging each other, their faces pale.

The petite girl said with a sobbing tone: "We won't leave; that snake must still be waiting for us outside. You're so bad, you want us to be bitten, don't you?"

Luo Zijun said: "I can escort the two young ladies back to the temple."

The petite girl immediately said angrily: "Go back yourself if you want; we're staying here tonight. This little hut isn't yours, why are you driving us away!"

As she spoke, she threw the pillow on the bed directly at him and said: "You go!"

Luo Zijun caught the pillow, frowned, threw it back onto the bed, then went over to pick up the two pairs of shoes on the ground, raised his hand, threw them out the door, and then looked at them coldly: "Are you leaving or not?"

The petite girl immediately said angrily: "We're not leaving! If you have the ability, throw us out! You bad person, you're clearly a scholar, how can you be so lacking in compassion? Even if you came first, we are women; can't you let us have it? Are you even a man?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Zijun went over, grabbed one of her feet, used a little force, dragged her out of the corner, picked her up, and with a "whoosh," threw her directly outside the door.

"Plop!"

The petite girl exclaimed "Ah," and was thrown into the mud outside the door, suddenly surprised, angry, and finding it hard to believe.

"You... you..."

Luo Zijun ignored her, went to the bed again, looked at the remaining girl, and said with a cold face: "Are you leaving on your own, or do you want me to throw you?"

The tall girl shivered a few times, suddenly tore open her clothes at the chest, revealing the pink bellyband inside, bit her lip, looked at him, and said: "If... if the Young Master touches me, I will scream that you are molesting me..."

Luo Zijun didn't speak again, went over, grabbed her foot, dragged her out of the corner with force.

The tall girl said "Ah," and hurriedly screamed: "Mo..."

"Smack!"

Who knew that just as she shouted one word, Luo Zijun slapped her mouth hard, causing the next word to be stifled in her throat.

"If you scream again, I'll beat you to death!"

Luo Zijun threatened viciously, then picked up her delicate body and threw her directly out the door.

"Plop!"

"Ah!"

The tall girl fell onto the petite girl.

The scream naturally came from the petite girl.

The two lay in the mud, looking at each other, then began to curse toward the room together.

"Creak..."

Luo Zijun closed the door directly and ignored them.

Who cares who they are.

In the middle of the night, forcing their way into the room where he was sleeping, ignoring propriety and shame—there must be something fishy.

Even if they really were nobles from the Jia family, they wouldn't dare to spread such a thing.

If it really got out, the ones who would lose the most would be them.

But no matter how you look at it, neither of them looked like nobles from the Jia family; even if they were maids, it was unlikely.

Anyone who understood even a little bit of etiquette wouldn't force their way into a strange man's room at this time and insist on staying.

Therefore, the unreasonable behavior of these two was either treacherous or thieving.

He naturally wouldn't be polite.

"Damn you! Just you wait, we'll be back!"

The two cursed for a while longer, then helped each other up and left.

They walked toward the temple, but when they were about to reach it, they suddenly turned and drilled into the woods nearby.

Then their bodies suddenly went limp, and they fell into the bushes.

A long time later.

The two slowly opened their eyes, looking confused.

"Ah, Sheyue, how did we fall asleep here?"

"I... I don't know either; my mouth hurts so much, ah, it's bleeding..."

"Ah, Sheyue, who tore your clothes? Your bellyband is exposed..."

The two little girls were shivering with fright.

But after checking carefully, they found that they were just covered in pain and mud, and didn't seem to have been violated.

"Quick, go back quickly..."

"Don't talk nonsense; just say we tripped..."

The two immediately climbed up from the ground and returned to the temple in a panic.

At the same time.

In the woods not far away, two white foxes suddenly jumped out of a bush, then their figures flashed and disappeared into the dense forest.

(End of chapter)