Chapter 368: The Bai Family

Chapter 368: The Bai Family

At the sound of Gouwa’s shout, there was a creaking noise and the door swung open.

Gao Zhijian, his upper body bare and brow furrowed, looked at him. In the bitter cold, sweat steaming from his body poured down in thick streams.

“Did you smell it? Today, Young Master Yang and his big wife are steaming buns! Pork and scallion ones!”

Seeing Gouwa’s sly expression, Gao Zhijian slammed the door shut with a bang.

From behind the door, he heard Gouwa’s complaints gradually fade away. “Ah, really boring. Better than this, Lü Xiucai was more fun. I wonder where that kid went. It’s been so long… I actually miss him a bit.”

Only when the sounds completely disappeared did Gao Zhijian turn around, his hands steadying the heavy halberd. With a low growl, he yanked it free.

This massive halberd was meant for Peng Longteng alone, but in Gao Zhijian’s grip, it felt utterly out of place—like a child riding a horse too big for him.

After swinging it unsteadily a few times, the ground trembled beneath its impact as the halberd shattered the stone slabs beneath it into splinters.

Gao Zhijian, breathing heavily, looked down at his trembling hands, veins bursting with blood seeping through them.

He walked to the front of the house and picked up a book in both hands—it was the military treatise he had found on the deceased Peng Longteng.

As he smeared the blood from his shaking fingers onto the pages, the text instantly transformed before his eyes. It was a martial cultivation manual!

His eyes wide, he sat cross-legged and, following the instructions, concentrated all his willpower into killing intent, merging it together according to the steps outlined in the book.

Circling endlessly, he sat like a temple guardian with bulging eyes, his presence so intense no one dared look directly at him. A faint, almost imperceptible aura of blood surged from him, and his body seemed to swell slightly.

Just then, a bug flew past. With a sudden glance, the insect stiffened and fell dead.

“Dinner time! Dinner time!!” Young Master Yang’s shout made Gao Zhijian slowly close his eyes.

When he opened them again, he was once more the gentle Gao Zhijian.

Seeing Peng Longteng’s appearance, he felt something dangerous about it, so he wanted to try it himself first. If it worked, he’d tell others later.

Gao Zhijian walked to the well by the courtyard, lifted a bucket of icy water, and poured it over himself to wash off the sweat. After dressing, he opened the door and headed toward the kitchen.

When he arrived, he saw everyone eating hot porridge and steaming meat buns.

No one paid attention; they were relaxed, men and women alike, sitting however they pleased while chatting and eating.

Gao Zhijian took a bowl, picked fifty buns with chopsticks, and sat alone to eat. He didn’t touch the porridge in the pot but instead poured himself a bowl of dark, aged vinegar.

Taking a bite, he dipped the bun’s opening into the vinegar, soaking it thoroughly before stuffing it into his mouth. He ate slowly, glancing toward the door now and then.

As people gradually dispersed, Young Master Yang scratched his head in confusion. “Does Senior Sister Xiao Man not want to eat?”

Thinking for a moment, he covered a bowl of buns with a plate and began cleaning pots and steaming baskets with the round-faced woman.

Watching this scene, Gao Zhijian took the last bun from his bowl, shoved it into his mouth, and drank the remaining vinegar in one go. Then he picked up the bowl of buns and walked outside.

His destination was clear: the Bai family ancestral hall. As he turned the three monkeys arranged side by side, a hidden door appeared before him.

Gao Zhijian bent to enter, the oil lamps lining the walls now filled with light, making the previously dim staircase much brighter.

When he returned to the great hall, he saw Chun Xiaoman quietly reciting something. “Disciple lifts eyes to the blue sky. All masters are by my side. Twenty-four heavenly powers aid disciple. Dragging blade, transforming into goose feather. Iron ruler, turning into reed straw. Heart-stone, becoming bubbles of water.”

Hearing footsteps, Chun Xiaoman turned. Seeing Gao Zhijian, her eyes lit up. “Zhijian, come quickly! Did I mispronounce something? Why isn’t anything happening?”

Gao Zhijian took the book from her hands, studied it for a moment, and handed her the bun bowl. “Eat.”

Since their last encounter, Chun Xiaoman noticed Gao Zhijian seemed to have recovered. From then on, even a single word would suffice to make others understand what he meant.

“I won’t eat. Show me the content of the book first,” she said impatiently, pushing the bowl away.

But Gao Zhijian wasn’t convinced. He handed the bowl back. “Eat.” His tone implied he wouldn’t speak otherwise.

Reluctantly, she accepted it and began eating hurriedly but in small bites. While eating, she asked, “Has Miao Miao come back?”

Gao Zhijian shook his head, still studying the book.

“What the hell is that girl doing? No word at all,” Chun Xiaoman muttered, then suddenly remembered something. Her heart skipped a beat. “Do you think she…”

She quickly comforted herself. “No way. She won’t do anything foolish anymore.”

Eating hastily while thinking of other things, Chun Xiaoman choked, covering her throat and burping.

Gao Zhijian put the book down and gently patted her back to help her clear her throat.

Once she caught her breath, she turned to Gao Zhijian. “If we don’t find anything, maybe we should gather everyone and search again at the place where she vanished. Not a single clue... I can’t rest easy.”

“Hmm,” Gao Zhijian nodded.

While Chun Xiaoman continued eating, Gouwa rushed in excitedly holding a piece of paper. “Hey! White junior sister sent a letter!”

Chun Xiaoman stood up nervously. “Where is she? What does the letter say?”

“You ask that? I can’t read either,” Gouwa handed the letter to Gao Zhijian beside him.

Eventually, Chun Xiaoman understood. Bai Lingmiao was fine. She had gone to the capital to handle some trivial matters and would return after finishing them.

“That’s good, that’s good,” Chun Xiaoman finally exhaled deeply after such a long period of worry. Bai Lingmiao hadn’t been around these days, and she had nightmares every night.

Gao Zhijian leaned closer to the letter, staring at it for a long while before stammering, “This… this is… Li Senior Brother’s handwriting!” Only Li Senior Brother would write in neat square black charcoal script.

“Heh,” Gouwa pointed at Chun Xiaoman and laughed. “I told you so. Those two are fighting, and you shouldn’t interfere. You might end up scolding her husband. The next day they’re making up in bed. How’s that? Did I get it right?”

(End of Chapter)