Chapter 48: The Bai Manor… Has Demonic Energy
In a side hall of the Bai Manor, the Bai Family Patriarch sat on a tea chair, leisurely sipping his tea. Not far away, two servants stood by his side, reporting the recent losses suffered by the Bai Family.
The Bai Patriarch listened, frowning at times and showing anger at others. Finally, he slowly calmed down and asked in a deep voice, “Have all the people from the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce withdrawn?”
A few days ago, he had fallen for a ruse that lured him away to a neighboring city. During that time, the Bai Family had suffered numerous attacks like raindrops, and on his way back, he encountered unexpected incidents. If it weren’t for the help of the young friend from the Mu Family, the damage inflicted on the Bai Family this time would have been immeasurable.
“They have all withdrawn. As soon as you returned yesterday, they all left,” the servant respectfully replied.
The Bai Patriarch snorted coldly, “Merchants are just merchants, swaying like grass on a wall.”
Although he was a crude and reckless man, the Bai Patriarch had a calm mind. He knew that going to war with both the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce and the Gongsun Family at the same time was simply seeking death. Their enemy, from beginning to end, was only the Gongsun Family.
“Alright, you may all leave now.” The Bai Patriarch waved his hand, dismissing the two servants.
He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache at the thought of dealing with such a huge mess.
“Is Ruoxi still not coming out of her room?” The Bai Patriarch glanced at the maid beside him and asked.
“The young lady has been cultivating in her room ever since she returned today. I think she hopes to ensure she can pass the sect’s assessment in a few days,” the maid respectfully replied.
The Bai Patriarch sighed inwardly and shook his head.
What hope of passing the sect’s assessment? Those were all just excuses. With his daughter’s abilities, entering a sect was not a difficult matter.
That child simply didn’t know how to face them.
Because of what happened to his wife.
It seemed… he needed to find time to have a good talk with her.
But his wife was really… When he wasn’t around, she kept pressuring their daughter to marry into the Mu Family. No wonder his daughter’s attitude had become so cold now.
Since returning, the Bai Patriarch had come to a realization. Now that the engagement with the Ye Family had been dissolved, who his daughter liked would be her own freedom in the future.
However, it would be best if the families were well-matched to avoid her suffering in the future after marrying into another family.
As the Bai Patriarch pondered, he said to the maid, “Tell the young lady to come to the side hall. I have something to discuss with her.”
After all, she was his own daughter. Some things would be better if she knew about them.
Watching the maid bow slightly and turn to leave, the Bai Patriarch tapped his fingertips on the armrest of the chair, his thoughts somewhat distracted.
…
The maid walked along the corridor of the Bai Manor towards Bai Ruoxi’s room, and before she knew it, she had arrived at the door.
She gently knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
“Young lady, the patriarch has asked you to go to the side hall to see him.”
There was no sound from the room. The maid was a little puzzled. She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door again, tentatively calling out, “Young lady…?”
There seemed to be a faint commotion coming from the room.
The maid sensed that something was amiss. With a puzzled look in her eyes, she carefully pushed open the door and said, “Young lady, I’m coming in.”
As she opened the door, she saw Bai Ruoxi sitting on the bed in a white dress, a small section of her snow-white calves exposed under the dress, her jade feet wrapped in a pair of white ankle socks.
Her features were extremely beautiful, and her expression was as cold and clear as usual, but for some reason, a hint of faint redness was visible on her fair face, and there was a trace of panic in her eyes that had never been there before.
Bai Ruoxi slightly raised her head, her expression calm and indifferent, and said, “I was just cultivating and expended some mental energy. You can go back first. I’ll go see my father in a moment.”
Although her expression was calm, there was an obvious hint of fluster in her tone.
“Yes.”
The maid had her suspicions but did not dare to ask more. She lowered her head slightly and retreated from the room, closing the door behind her.
Mu Zhi’an lightly descended from the beam on the ceiling and looked at the girl who was gently stroking her chest and slowly letting out a breath. He smiled and said, “Actually, if you think about it carefully, there’s no need for me to hide deliberately.”
With the Mu Family’s status in Tianxuan City, even if he had been discovered by the maid just now, she wouldn’t have said anything.
If that maid saw him in the room, at most, she would be a little surprised.
After all, the young lady of the Bai Family had never invited a male into her boudoir, let alone stay for such a long time.
Bai Ruoxi sat in front of the dressing table and combed her slightly disheveled hair while looking at the boy who walked up behind her in the bronze mirror. She said in a clear voice, “If people found out, there would be quite a few rumors circulating in Tianxuan City later, which wouldn’t be good for you.”
Once the matter of Mu Zhi’an being in Bai Ruoxi’s room got out, rumors like “Young Master Mu threatened Bai Ruoxi” would probably spread quickly.
In people’s minds, Mu Zhi’an had the image of a wicked young master. Not to mention the people of Tianxuan City, even Bai Ruoxi herself had always had this impression of Mu Zhi’an in the past, so she initially looked down on this young master of the Mu Family from the bottom of her heart.
However, after interacting with him during this period, the girl gradually overlooked Mu Zhi’an’s past behavior.
Love is always blind.
She combed her hair that cascaded down like a waterfall in front of the bronze mirror, then tidied up her collar. After that, she bit the rouge and reapplied the rouge that had mostly disappeared from her lips.
It had to be said that the action of biting the rouge was indeed very elegant and attractive, so much so that Mu Zhi’an’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on Bai Ruoxi, who was lightly applying makeup in front of the bronze mirror.
After reapplying the rouge, Bai Ruoxi stood up and was about to leave the room.
But as soon as she turned around, she bumped into the boy standing behind her. Mu Zhi’an gazed into her eyes, his hands pressed on her shoulders.
Bai Ruoxi instinctively took half a step back, bumping into the dressing table behind her.
She slightly turned her head to the side, her flawless and delicate face flushed with shyness, her eyes flickering faintly. She said in a soft voice, “Don’t mess around. I still have to go to the side hall…”
Mu Zhi’an gazed at the side of the girl’s face, his voice gentle as he said, “One last time, it won’t take long.”
Just now, they hadn’t had a proper experience before being interrupted by the maid. At this moment, Mu Zhi’an naturally felt a little unsatisfied.
Bai Ruoxi raised her head and looked at him with a mix of helplessness and shyness, saying, “When I come back, we can—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Mu Zhi’an had sealed her lips once again.
Bai Ruoxi’s eyes widened slightly, her hands suspended in midair as if wanting to push him away, but deep down, she felt a hint of reluctance.
After struggling internally for a short while, her eyes gradually became hazy until finally, her arms hooked around Mu Zhi’an’s neck.
Well, it was just a kiss, and it would end quickly…
As for the rouge, she could reapply it later.
…
After reapplying the rouge, Bai Ruoxi left the room. Before leaving, she repeatedly reminded Mu Zhi’an not to wander around.
At this time, the Bai Manor was not like before. If Mu Zhi’an left the room, he might be discovered by someone before long.
When Bai Ruoxi reached the door, she turned her head to look at Mu Zhi’an with a slightly worried expression and reminded him, “Just now, the Heavenly Dao energy has purified all the spiritual energy around this room into energy that can be directly absorbed into the cauldron. You can meditate for half an hour, and I’ll be back. Don’t wander around.”
“Don’t worry, I know my limits,” Mu Zhi’an said with a smile.
Bai Ruoxi smiled faintly. A strand of loose hair added a touch of lazy charm to her appearance. She nodded and turned to leave the room, closing the door behind her.
“I never thought there would come a day when I would meditate in a girl’s room…” Mu Zhi’an watched Bai Ruoxi’s graceful figure disappear from his sight and couldn’t help but sigh with emotion as he looked at the abundant spiritual energy around him.
Thinking back to Bai Ruoxi’s attitude towards him in the carriage some time ago and comparing it to her attitude today, the feeling was quite subtle.
As Mu Zhi’an pondered, he couldn’t help but recall the beautiful scene from earlier.
He could only say that the taste of rouge was indeed quite good.
While thinking, he looked at the several exquisite small boxes placed on the dressing table, each containing various shades of rouge, ranging from dark to light, a complete set.
Next time, he would try a different flavor… Mu Zhi’an withdrew his gaze and looked at the abundant spiritual energy around him, sighing with emotion.
The Heavenly Dao energy truly lived up to its name. The purification speed was almost astonishing.
It was a pity that this thing only followed those with extremely good luck.
Mu Zhi’an shook his head, not dwelling on it any further.
He sat cross-legged at the head of the bed, about to enter a state of cultivation again.
At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to notice a strange mist. Mu Zhi’an subconsciously raised his head, his gaze passing through the window and landing on a certain direction in the courtyard.
After being purified, these mixed spiritual energies became invisible and intangible, but in that direction of the courtyard, he clearly saw a wisp of pink mist rising.
This was… Demonic energy.
