Chapter 266: Accompany Me

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

Seeing that Xu Xian was safe, Luo Zijun quietly took his leave.

On the streets, vendors had already begun to busy themselves.

Various breakfast stalls were already emitting steam and enticing aromas.

At the intersection, Luo Zijun hired a carriage and headed toward the Inner City.

By this time, the city gates had already opened.

Upon arriving in the Inner City, the sky was already bright, and the morning sun was quietly poking its head out from the distant mountaintops.

A ray of morning light spilled into the Human Realm.

It seemed the war had not affected people's lives; the morning streets were as bustling as ever.

Luo Zijun got off the carriage, bought steaming buns, soy milk, fried dough sticks, and wontons, and then arrived at Bao'an Hall.

Bao'an Hall had already opened its doors.

Senior Sister was sitting alone in front of the counter, quietly grinding medicine.

That white robe, jet-black hair, fair skin, and stunningly beautiful face looked dreamlike and ethereal under the sunlight.

Qingwen carried in the washed medicinal herbs from the backyard, placed them on the counter, and said crisply, "Young Master Luo, why are you here so early today?"

Luo Zijun placed the breakfast on the table and said, "I woke up early and had nothing to do, so I came over. Come and have some breakfast."

Qingwen did not stand on ceremony; she came over, took a bun and a fried dough stick, and then left.

Luo Zijun passed the buns and soy milk into the counter and said, "Senior Sister, eat. Where is Master? Has he not woken up yet?"

Just as he was speaking, Su Dafang walked down from upstairs, yawning, and said, "It's fortunate that you, kid, returned safely. Your master didn't sleep a wink last night; I was worried about you all night."

As he spoke, he rubbed his eyes, which were crusted with sleep.

He then asked, "How did things go?"

Luo Zijun said, "It has been handled. Xu Xian should be fine now."

Su Dafang immediately asked, "What do you mean it's handled? Did you really see... see a ghost last night?"

Luo Zijun glanced outside the door and said, "There was indeed a ghost, and it has already been slain by me."

Su Dafang immediately wore an expression of great interest and hurriedly said, "Tell me, what kind of ghost was it, and how did it harm people?"

Luo Zijun told him everything that happened last night, point by point.

Of course, he omitted the appearance of Xu Ziyin.

After listening, Su Dafang was full of disbelief: "I didn't expect that there really are ghosts in this world, and they are just as the books say—harming people by absorbing their Yang Energy, and even able to transform into beautiful women to specifically seduce men."

Then, he suddenly remembered something: "Zijun, I remember you wrote a book called *Qiannu Youhun*. It was written as if it were real. Could it be that you had encountered one before, or was that your own story?"

Luo Zijun said, "It has nothing to do with me. I just made it up based on other ghost stories."

At this moment, Su Qingling, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: "Why are you able to see ghosts?"

Su Dafang also asked curiously, "Yes, why can you see ghosts?"

Luo Zijun did not hide anything from the two of them and said in a low voice, "By a stroke of luck, I obtained a book that allows for Soul Cultivation, and after that, I could see ghosts."

"Soul Cultivation?"

Su Dafang's expression shifted. He glanced at his granddaughter and couldn't help but say, "How are you so lucky, kid? Why do all the good things happen to you? Not only are you practicing martial arts faster than others, but you're also secretly doing Soul Cultivation."

He then looked vigilant: "Hey, are you planning on not even letting female ghosts off in the future?"

Luo Zijun ignored him, eating his bun while thinking about last night's events.

Smelling the fragrance, Su Dafang's stomach rumbled. He immediately went to wash his face and brush his teeth, then came over to eat breakfast as well.

Just as they finished eating, a customer came to call him for a house call.

Su Dafang shouldered his Medicine Chest and hurried out the door.

Luo Zijun sat with Senior Sister in the shop for a while longer before preparing to leave.

At this moment, Su Qingling suddenly said, "Where is that Soul Cultivation book? Let me see it."

Luo Zijun was stunned. He took the book out of his Storage Bag, handed it over, and said, "You can look at it, but don't try to practice it easily, or there will be a risk of your soul scattering."

Su Qingling did not speak. She took the book, flipped through it for a while, and said expressionlessly, "You go first. I'll return it to you after I've finished reading it."

Luo Zijun wasn't afraid of her keeping his book, but he was afraid of her getting into trouble, so he urged her again: "Senior Sister, read it for now, but don't practice it casually. If you have any questions, wait until I come back."

He didn't linger any longer and went out the door, heading first to Chujian Bookstore.

He had taken hair from nine people yesterday and was still missing three. He didn't know if Jia Tanchun had managed to get hair from others, so he had to go and ask.

Arriving at Chujian Bookstore, both Chujian and Jia Yingchun were there.

Luo Zijun hurriedly asked about the hair. Jia Yingchun said somewhat embarrassedly, "Young Master Luo, Tanchun went to ask others for it yesterday, but she couldn't get any. She said she would try asking others again today."

Luo Zijun thought for a moment and said, "It's fine. I'm only missing three people. I'll go back to the Bai Mansion and ask there."

He chatted with the two of them for a while, then left the bookstore and returned to the Bai Mansion.

Just as he returned to Junzi Residence, Bai Qingtong had Hua'er notify him that she had obtained hair from three people, all of whom were young ladies of the Bai Family.

Ziyuan reported, "Bai Bai and Qingqing never left at all; they have been hiding in Luoxue Residence the whole time."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Before long, Bai Qingtong walked into the small courtyard, dressed in a green long skirt and looking graceful. She smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, I helped you cut the hair of three people. How are you going to thank me?"

Luo Zijun hurriedly asked, "Whose are they?"

Bai Qingtong took out the three strands of hair and said, "They are all from the young ladies of our Bai Family: Qiu Ning's and Yu Ning's. I didn't tell Yu Ning, but after that girl heard about it from Qiu Ning, she actually took the initiative to find me, cut a strand of her hair for me, and even blamed you, brother-in-law, for not coming to see her, asking if you looked down on her."

Luo Zijun asked, "And whose is the third one?"

Bai Qingtong smiled and said, "Naturally, it's mine. Helping my brother-in-law is a duty for a sister-in-law, after all."

Luo Zijun glanced at her hair, feeling quite moved. He took the three strands of hair and thanked her repeatedly.

Bai Qingtong said, "Is brother-in-law just going to thank me with words?"

Luo Zijun put the hair of the three people into the Money Pouch and looked at her, saying, "Third Miss, just say whatever reward you want."

Bai Qingtong thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow I am going to Guanyin Temple to offer incense; can Brother-in-law accompany me?"

"Guanyin Temple?"

Upon hearing this name, Luo Zijun's expression changed instantly.

Bai Qingtong asked in confusion, "Brother-in-law, what's wrong?"

Luo Zijun stiffened for a moment and said, "No, nothing... that, I have other things to do tomorrow, Third Miss should ask someone else to accompany you."

Bai Qingtong was somewhat unhappy: "Brother-in-law just said, 'just say whatever reward you want'."

Luo Zijun smiled bitterly: "I really have things to do tomorrow."

No matter what, it was impossible for him to go to any temple or shrine or the like again.

He didn't want to go through that ten more times; it would kill a person!

Bai Qingtong had no choice but to say: "Then tomorrow night? Tomorrow night, will Brother-in-law accompany me to see my friend, okay?"

Luo Zijun said with some difficulty: "I don't know your friend, and besides, if the two of us go together, isn't it a bit..."

Bai Qingtong said: "Brother-in-law, I heard you also understand medical skills, is that right? That friend of mine recently contracted a strange illness; many doctors have gone to see her, but they are all helpless, so I want to ask Brother-in-law to help me take a look. I studied with her when I was young, and our relationship has always been very good."

Luo Zijun said: "What strange illness?"

Bai Qingtong frowned and said: "I don't know either, I only know that she has been very weak lately, cannot bear to see light, often has nightmares, has become very thin, and cries every day."

"Cannot bear to see light, very weak, often has nightmares..."

Luo Zijun's expression shifted; he thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Then I will accompany you to take a look tomorrow night."

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingtong became happy: "Mm, then tomorrow evening, I will come to find Brother-in-law."

Luo Zijun nodded: "Good."

Bai Qingtong then left happily.

Luo Zijun thought secretly to himself, could it be ghosts and monsters causing trouble again? If it really is ghosts and monsters, then aren't there too many ghosts and monsters in the city lately?

Of course, if it really is ghosts and monsters, then he would have experience points to gain again.

The Yin Soul Energy obtained from slaying a ghost or monster is more than what he gets from cultivating in the Diyuan for five days; he naturally would not waste it.

Soon, night arrived.

At the third watch, he took the Money Pouch containing the hair of twelve women and came to the garden in the back.

Before long, a white shadow descended from the sky.

"Fairy, the task is complete."

Luo Zijun immediately handed over the Money Pouch in his hand.

The Moon Palace Fairy glanced at him, took the Money Pouch, sniffed it under her nose, and after a moment, looked at him and said: "You didn't lie to me this time; it is indeed the hair of twelve different women."

Then, she suddenly let out a cold snort and said: "I didn't expect that a mere Matrilocal Son-in-law like you would secretly be keeping so many women outside."

The corner of Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he said: "Fairy, you misunderstand; these women have no romantic relationship with me, they are just friends."

The Moon Palace Fairy said indifferently: "If they are just friends, would they willingly give you their hair?"

"I..."

"No need to quibble."

Just as Luo Zijun was about to explain, he was interrupted directly.

The Moon Palace Fairy walked to the corner of the garden and started the entrance to the Diyuan.

Luo Zijun did not explain further and immediately followed.

"Hmph!"

Seeing him stand over, the Moon Palace Fairy actually let out a cold snort and turned her back, seemingly somewhat disgusted by him.

Luo Zijun said: "I completed the Fairy's task so quickly; even if you don't praise me, this attitude is not appropriate, is it?"

The Moon Palace Fairy did not pay any more attention to him.

"Swish!"

A pillar of light appeared, enveloping the two of them inside.

After a bout of dizziness, the two soon arrived in the underground world.

There was no conversation along the way.

Passing through the tunnel, just as Luo Zijun was about to continue to that cave to sit and cultivate, the Moon Palace Fairy suddenly said: "Hunt with me."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun's eyes lit up immediately: "Can I do it now?"

The Moon Palace Fairy said in a cold tone: "Whether you can or not, only you yourself know. If you are torn to pieces by those demonic creatures later, it will be your own fault; don't blame me."

Luo Zijun did not speak again.

The Moon Palace Fairy said coldly again: "If you are afraid, just go back to the cave to cultivate."

Luo Zijun said: "I am a little afraid, but just cultivating in the cave doesn't increase combat skills, and the cultivation is relatively slow; I would rather go hunting. However, since this is my first time out, if there is anything I don't understand, I ask the Fairy to remind me."

The Moon Palace Fairy ignored him and continued walking forward.

Luo Zijun did not care about her attitude; with Soul Power flowing through his body, he watched in all directions and listened to all sides, keeping an eye on the movements around him at all times.

"Woo—"

It was as if a Yin wind had blown past, or perhaps the whimpering sound of some kind of Yin entity.

The two, one in front and one behind, soon arrived in a silent, dead valley with gray, hazy light.

"Fairy, here..."

Luo Zijun looked around, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly discovered that the white shadow that had been walking in front of him had, he didn't know when, mysteriously disappeared.

(End of this chapter)