Chapter 305: Catching an Affair

It was around noon.

Luo Zijun was fast asleep when he suddenly heard a burst of noisy footsteps coming from outside.

Someone exclaimed, "Hurry and put out the fire! Hurry and put out the fire!"

He immediately got out of bed, quickly threw on his clothes, and exited the room.

Upon arriving at the small courtyard, he saw thick, rolling smoke rising above the western compound, and the sound of people running and shouting could be heard everywhere in the residence.

At this moment, Xiaohuan ran in from the courtyard gate. Seeing that he had risen, she said with a panicked face, "Young Master, the residence is on fire!"

Luo Zijun immediately left the small courtyard and followed the crowd to help put out the fire.

However, when he arrived nearby, he discovered that the burning building was already more than half consumed, and the raging flames and thick smoke made it impossible for anyone to get close.

The buckets of water carried by the servants were like trying to put out a cartload of burning firewood with a single cup of water; they were completely ineffective.

"Is anyone inside?"

Luo Zijun asked.

Ziyuan, who had arrived first, said with a trembling voice, "I heard that Miss Qiu Shuang and Miss Qiu Ning are in the room, and Qiao'er, Fang'er, and Zhang Mama are all there too..."

Just then, the guards draped themselves in soaked blankets, preparing to force their way in to save the people, but they only saw the entire building collapse with a "Boom—" sound.

Screams and weeping suddenly erupted from all around.

Luo Zijun immediately walked to a corner and performed Soul Out-of-Body, preparing to use Object Manipulation Technique to go inside and save the people, but for some reason, the moment his soul left his body, he immediately felt a bone-chilling cold strike him.

At this moment, it felt as if a venomous snake was staring fixedly at him from somewhere nearby, ready to pounce at any time.

His heart jolted, and he immediately used his soul's vision to scan the surroundings, yet he did not discover anything unusual.

And when his soul's vision swept over the collapsed building, he discovered that the people inside had long since lost all signs of life, their bodies already charred.

He did not hesitate at all, immediately returning his soul to his body, and dismissed the thought of entering the sea of fire.

Thinking of this great fire, and thinking of the inexplicable cold from just a moment ago, he was suddenly drenched in a cold sweat. Could it be that someone knew tonight was the night that would determine the success or failure of his breakthrough, and thus deliberately lured him into performing Soul Out-of-Body here, only to seize the opportunity to destroy his physical body?

No, that was not right; from beginning to end, only the Moon Palace fairy knew he was performing his breakthrough in Diyuan.

It was impossible for anyone else to know.

This fire could not have been aimed at him, but what exactly was that coldness that had terrified his soul? Was it waiting specifically for him, or for someone else, or was it, perhaps, just a coincidence?

Through the efforts of the crowd, the fire was finally extinguished.

However, the entire building had already burned to a charred black. The guards took their tools and began to clear the collapsed building, digging out the corpses buried within.

There were six corpses in total: those of the sisters Bai Qiushuang and Bai Qiuning, and four other corpses of maids and a mama, all burned black and unrecognizable.

The entire Bai Family was filled with grief and wailing.

Luo Zijun looked at two of the corpses, and he could not help but recall the bright smiles of those two young girls, as well as their shyness when they had peeked at him in the past.

Once, Bai Qingtong had even said she would betroth one of the girls to him.

Once, they had respectfully called him "Sir," and then, they had sweetly called him "Brother-in-law"...

Luo Zijun saw many familiar figures and heard many sorrowful cries, and his own heart suddenly felt an irrepressible sadness.

His sister and brother-in-law had also come, the people from Su Guo Fu had all come, and the people from the city patrol had also come.

Luo Zijun spoke with his sister for a while, then left.

Tonight was his most crucial night; at a time like this, he must absolutely not let his mind be disturbed.

Returning to his room, he recalled the coldness he had felt earlier, but still had no leads, so he closed his eyes, stabilized his mind, and let his thoughts slowly calm down.

Must not be disturbed, absolutely must not be disturbed...

After tonight, he would be a free man, with no more shackles of any kind.

Therefore, from now on, he must absolutely not waste his energy thinking about anything happening around him.

All of his energy must be reserved for his breakthrough tonight.

The noisy sounds outside did not gradually subside until evening.

Xiaohuan and Ziyuan returned with red-rimmed eyes.

At this time, Fenfen from next door came to notify him: "Brother-in-law, the Young Lady wants to see you."

Luo Zijun hesitated in his room for a moment, then said toward the window, "Fenfen, tell the Eldest Young Lady that I am feeling unwell and cannot go to see her; I will go tomorrow."

At this time, there must absolutely not be any mistakes.

Fenfen pouted in the corridor and said, "Brother-in-law, I saw you go out at noon; it's one thing to lie to me, but how can you lie to the Young Lady?"

Luo Zijun did not yield: "Don't talk nonsense, just go and say that."

"Hmph!"

Fenfen stomped her feet in anger, and as she left, she said indignantly, "Brother-in-law has gotten arrogant! Bai Bai, Qingqing, did you see that? Brother-in-law has gotten arrogant; he's so arrogant now he doesn't even know who he is!"

Luo Zijun ignored her, thought for a moment, and then went to instruct Xiaohuan and Ziyuan to bolt the wooden door, stating that from now on, no one was allowed to enter, and he would not receive any guests.

Who would have thought that just as he returned to his room, a knocking sound rang out outside the courtyard, along with the voice of his sister-in-law, Bai Qingtong: "Brother-in-law, open the door!"

Xiaohuan and Ziyuan looked at each other in dismay.

Ziyuan hurriedly went over and said through the crack in the door, "Young Lady, the Young Master is tired and has already undressed and gone to sleep. If you have something to discuss, please come back tomorrow."

Bai Qingtong said from outside the door, "Tell him to get up; I have something to find him for."

Ziyuan looked troubled: "Young Lady, the Young Master gave orders that no matter who it is..."

"Ziyuan, now that you follow him, you won't listen to my words anymore?"

Bai Qingtong said from outside the door, her voice somewhat hoarse, clearly having cried for a long time due to the passing of her sisters.

Hearing her say this, how could Ziyuan dare to hesitate? She hurriedly opened the door and said with an embarrassed face, "Young Lady, it's not that this servant won't listen to you, it's just that the Young Master..."

"It's fine, if he is angry, let him take it out on me."

Bai Qingtong entered the small courtyard with red-rimmed eyes and shouted directly toward the room, "Brother-in-law, have you gone to sleep? I have something to find you for."

Luo Zijun sighed in his room, having no choice but to walk over and open the window, saying toward the outside, "Can it not wait until tomorrow?"

Bai Qingtong stepped onto the corridor and arrived before the window. Seeing him fully dressed and clearly not having gone to sleep, she asked in confusion, "It isn't dark yet, why is Brother-in-law hiding in the room alone?"

Luo Zijun did not hide it and said, "I am preparing to break through my cultivation barrier tonight, so I do not wish to have my mind disturbed by outside matters."

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingtong widened her eyes: "Brother-in-law is going to break through again?"

Luo Zijun was noncommittal and said, "What matter do you have, anyway? If it is not urgent..."

"Alright, it is not urgent."

Bai Qingtong knew the importance of breaking through a barrier, so she could only say, "It is just some trivial matters, so I will come again tomorrow."

Luo Zijun's heart stirred, and he said, "Is it about Qiu Ning and Qiu Shuang?"

A trace of grief appeared in Bai Qingtong's eyes. She hesitated for a moment and said, "The fire started quite strangely. Father specifically invited someone to investigate, and they said a trace of demonic Qi remained there."

"Demonic Qi?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun's expression changed instantly: "Is a demon causing mischief?"

Could it be that the chill he felt earlier was brought by a demon? Was that demon not gone at that time? Or was it perhaps hiding among the crowd?

Bai Qingtong said with low spirits, "I do not know either; it has not been found yet. I just wanted to come and tell Brother-in-law to let Brother-in-law be more careful."

Luo Zijun's heart immediately became vigilant.

If a demon had truly snuck into the Bai Mansion, that would be troublesome.

If he were to perform Soul Out-of-Body tonight and go to the Diyuan to break through his barrier, leaving his physical body in the room, would that demon seize the opportunity to come over and swallow his physical body in one bite?

By then, even if his soul broke through, what would he do if he returned only to find his body had become ownerless?

"Brother-in-law, you are busy, I will not disturb you."

Bai Qingtong prepared to take her leave.

Luo Zijun suddenly said, "Qingtong!"

"Hmm?"

Bai Qingtong stopped her steps and looked at him in confusion.

At this moment, Luo Zijun could no longer care about etiquette or shame, and hurriedly said, "Can you help me guard the dharma again tonight?"

Bai Qingtong looked at him without speaking.

Luo Zijun said somewhat awkwardly, "Tonight is of vital importance to me. If I do not succeed, I fear there will be no more opportunities in the future. In this Bai Mansion, I do not know who else to turn to; I can only ask you..."

Bai Qingtong said deliberately, "But, men and women should not touch when giving or receiving, and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, a lone man and a lone woman, staying in the same room, and it is right next to my sister's room..." Luo Zijun also felt it was highly inappropriate, but at this very moment, who else could he ask?

Therefore, he could only thicken his skin and say, "Qingtong, come into the room. I will lock the doors and windows; no one will know... Xiaohuan and Zhiyuan will not speak of it either..."

Bai Qingtong blinked her pitch-black eyes: "Brother-in-law, why does it sound like you are seducing and enticing me to have an affair with you when I hear you say that?"

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Pfft..."

Bai Qingtong could not help but laugh and said, "Alright, I won't tease Brother-in-law anymore. I will certainly help with the matter of breaking through the barrier. I will go tell Hua'er outside first, and have her leave so she doesn't talk nonsense."

Saying this, she immediately went outside.

Before long, she returned, but she did not use the main door. Instead, under the anxious and strange gazes of Xiaohuan and Zhiyuan, she lifted her skirt, climbed directly through the window, and then took the initiative to close it.

The two little maids looked at each other on the corridor, their hearts pounding rapidly.

Luo Zijun warned from inside the room: "Remember, you are not allowed to tell anyone. Go lock the door immediately and do not let anyone else in."

The two of them said "Oh" and did not dare to ask another word.

In the room, the brother-in-law and sister-in-law looked at each other, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

After a moment of silence, Bai Qingtong suddenly said, "Brother-in-law, aren't you supposed to break through your barrier at night? Why did you trick me into coming in while it is still not dark?"

"..."

Luo Zijun looked innocent: "Did I ask you to come in right now?"

Bai Qingtong raised an eyebrow: "Then should I go out now?"

Luo Zijun hesitated for a moment and said, "If you go out now and come back in at night, it will likely arouse more suspicion. Besides, going in and out will always be seen by someone, especially that girl Fenfen. If she sees it, she will likely spread it everywhere..."

Bai Qingtong said, "Then what should I do now? Sit here and stare at Brother-in-law?"

Luo Zijun thought for a moment, walked to the bookshelf, and said, "Do you read books?"

"What kind of books? Ones written by Brother-in-law?"

Bai Qingtong also walked over and casually picked one up from the bookshelf. Upon opening it, the first page featured an exquisite illustration of a pair of snow-white, petite, and beautiful jade feet, as if carved from White Jade.

"Hmm?"

She immediately closed it and looked at the cover.

"《Jade Foot Illustrations Five》?"

"Whoosh!"

Luo Zijun snatched it away and, with lightning speed, threw it into his Storage Bag, saying, "This is a cultivation technique; one needs to understand the acupoints on the feet first, but it can only be practiced by men. Qingtong, you should read other books instead?"

After finishing, he immediately scanned the bookshelf again, fearing there might be more inappropriate books.

"A cultivation technique? Acupoints on the feet?"

Bai Qingtong looked at him with a meaningful gaze.

The atmosphere became awkward once again.

Luo Zijun took a copy of 《Qiannu Youhun》 from the bookshelf, handed it to her, and said, "Read this one."

Bai Qingtong took the book, glanced at the title, and said, "I have read this one. Isn't it just about a poor scholar with no hope in the imperial examinations, unable to marry a wife, liked by no one, who can only dream and hope a female ghost will take a fancy to him? It is too absurd."

Luo Zijun shrugged, having nothing to say.

Clearly, this girl had not read it; she had only heard others talk about it and then guessed the content herself.

"Brother-in-law, are the female ghost's feet pretty?"

Bai Qingtong asked suddenly.

Luo Zijun: "..."

"I'm asking, when Brother-in-law described the female ghost, did you describe her feet as very beautiful in detail? You must have described them, right?"

"... No."

"Then what about the cultivation technique regarding jade feet? The acupoints on the feet? Was there any description?"

"..."

Luo Zijun ignored her, turned around to return to the bed, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and said, "Read your book; I am going to cultivate."

The corners of Bai Qingtong's mouth curled up slightly, and after glancing at him again, she walked to the table, sat down, and flipped through the book in her hands.

Outside the window, the setting sun soon dipped below the horizon, and the night curtain quietly descended.

"Brother-in-law, can we light the lamp?"

"We can."

Bai Qingtong lit the oil lamp on the table.

The dim, yellow lamplight soon illuminated the room, and also clearly cast her slender, slim figure, as well as the long hair hanging down to her waist, onto the window.

"Brother-in-law, when do we start?"

"What 'we'? It's me!"

"Of course it's us. Brother-in-law is starting to break through, and I have to start focusing on protecting the Dharma. It is clearly the two of us working hard together, not just Brother-in-law working hard alone."

"No rush, wait a little longer."

"Brother-in-law, will the bed collapse? Will the commotion be too loud?"

"It won't."

"It won't? What exactly is Brother-in-law breaking through?"

"Divine Soul."

"Divine Soul?"

Just at this moment, at the small gate in the courtyard, a knocking sound suddenly rang out.

Xiaohuan and Ziyuan heard the sound but did not dare to respond.

The knocking continued, and then, Fenfen actually climbed onto the wall, facing this side and saying, "Xiaohuan, Ziyuan, open the door quickly! My young lady wants to come over to talk to the son-in-law!"

Once these words were spoken, not only were Xiaohuan and Ziyuan startled, but Bai Qingtong, who was sitting at the table reading, also had her expression change.

Of course, the most panicked one was Luo Zijun.

He hurriedly got off the bed and said to Xiaohuan and Ziyuan outside, "Do not open the door!"

"Snap!"

Who would have thought that at this moment, Fenfen actually jumped down directly from the courtyard wall and then opened the door herself.

"Young lady, you can come in now."

Fenfen said somewhat triumphantly.

Bai Daxiaojie was wearing a white dress, her face was not covered by a veil, and she brought Bai Bai and Qingqing with her, walking in from the small gate as beautifully as a painting.

"Whoosh—"

Luo Zijun immediately blew out the oil lamp on the table, grabbed his sister-in-law's wrist, and said, "Quick! Hide!"

Bai Qingtong said aggrievedly, "Brother-in-law, the two of us are pure and innocent, with nothing to be ashamed of, and we haven't done anything illicit, so why do we need to hide?"

Luo Zijun thought about it, and it was true; if they hid, wouldn't that be a guilty conscience?

"Even so, if your sister lets her imagination run wild, that would be bad, not to mention there is also the gossiping Fenfen who loves to talk nonsense..."

Before Luo Zijun could make a decision, Bai Qingtong had already quickly gone over and climbed onto the bed, took off her embroidered shoes, threw them under the bed, and then pulled down the curtains, whispering, "Brother-in-law, I'll hide on the bed. With my sister's personality, she will likely stand outside the window and talk to you; she won't come in."

Just as she finished speaking, Bai Daxiaojie's voice suddenly rang out from outside: "Have you already gone to sleep? It's fine, I'll come into the room to talk to him."

Having said that, she walked directly into the room from the corridor.

Xiaohuan and Ziyuan were instantly frightened pale, speechless, and did not dare to stop her.

Luo Zijun hurriedly said to the outside of the door, "Daxiaojie, I have already gone to sleep. If there is anything, let's talk about it tomorrow, or just talk outside the door. I... I am not wearing any clothes."

Bai Daxiaojie arrived outside the door and said coldly, "Open the door."

(End of this chapter)