Assassinating My Brother-in-Law?

Bibi Dong smiled and shook her head as well, handing over a set of black clothes and a set of dark green casual wear. "Ignore her. Try these two on and see if they fit."

"Okay."

Bibi Xi took the clothes and turned to walk into the changing room partitioned off in the corner of the shop with curtains and wooden boards.

He had just taken off his clothes and was about to put on the black robe.

Boom!

Bang!

A tearing sound suddenly came from above, followed by the dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground.

Several wooden boards from the top of the changing room came crashing down, sending dust flying everywhere.

"What's going on?"

Bibi Xi jumped in fright. Before he could react, the curtain was violently yanked open from outside.

Through the swirling dust, a tall man appeared at the entrance of the changing room. He held a golden longsword, stood straight and imposing, and had a handsome face covered in frost. Killing intent filled his golden eyes.

That icy gaze instantly locked onto Bibi Xi, who was wearing only a thin pair of underwear, holding the black robe in his hands, and still completely dumbfounded.

Their eyes met.

Time seemed to freeze.

Bibi Xi: "???"

He blinked, staring at the terrifying man before him, who clearly meant trouble. His mind completely crashed.

Who is this? Is he here to rob me of my virtue?

No, that can't be right. Nobody would rob a man of his virtue.

Qian Xunji: "!!!"

The hand holding the Angel Sword trembled.

The cold killing intent vanished the instant he saw the young man's face inside the changing room.

That face, those eyes, the contours of his brows...

Why does he look so much like... Dong'er?

He isn't some wild man?

Could he be Dong'er's... younger brother?

Qian Xunji instantly recalled what Ling Yuan had mentioned after returning from Yelin City—a person suspected to be Bibi Dong's younger brother—as well as the order he had given to search the entire city using a portrait...

So Dong'er was buying clothes for her long-lost younger brother?

For the first time in his life, Qian Xunji felt that both his dignity as Pope and his intelligence had suffered a blow.

The hand holding the Angel Sword did not know whether to pull it back or keep holding it up.

At the same time, the tremendous crash and dust from the hole in the roof successfully drew the attention of everyone inside and outside the shop.

A few seconds later... the shop owner rushed out from the back room carrying a stick, ready to rage at whoever dared wreck her shop. But when she caught sight of the blond man in the dust holding a golden sword with an odd expression, as well as the Pope's casual robes embroidered with the Six-Winged Angel...

The stick in the shop owner's hand fell to the floor with a clatter. Her legs went weak, and she nearly dropped to her knees on the spot.

"P-Pope?"

Bibi Dong and Ling Yuan also hurried to the changing room after hearing the commotion. Seeing the scene before them, both drew in a sharp breath.

Bibi Dong stared at the scene, her mind completely short-circuiting. "T-Teacher? Why are you..."

"Xiao Xi? What is going on?"

Ling Yuan reacted much faster, wearing a comical expression as though she desperately wanted to burst into laughter but was forcing herself to hold it in.

She instantly pieced together the general situation.

"The Pope must have misunderstood and thought the Saintess was meeting some wild man. In a fit of jealousy, he put on a show of divine judgment descending from the heavens, only to strike the wrong person and nearly slash his brother-in-law instead. This misunderstanding is way too explosive!"

Qian Xunji silently withdrew the sword back into his body, then cleared his throat, attempting to preserve his dignity as Pope.

"Ahem... I sensed an unusual Soul Power fluctuation here and believed some ruffians were causing trouble, so I came to inspect the situation."

"Now it seems... it was a misunderstanding."

Bibi Dong finally came back to herself and introduced him to Qian Xunji. "Teacher, this is... this is my younger brother, Bibi Xi. We only recognized each other today."

"Xiao Xi, this is my teacher, the Pope of Spirit Hall."

Only then did Bibi Xi realize who he was. So he was his sister's teacher, the legendary Pope.

He hurriedly wanted to bow, but the moment he moved, he remembered that he was wearing only underwear. He froze at once, his face turning bright red as he hastily grabbed the black top and held it in front of himself.

"G-Greetings, Your Holiness."

Qian Xunji said awkwardly, "Ahem, what happened just now... was a misunderstanding."

"It's... it's fine. I'll continue changing." With that, he pulled the changing room curtain shut again.

Qian Xunji let out a breath of relief. At least his brother-in-law had not been frightened silly and still knew to preserve some dignity for them both.

He turned to the flustered shop owner, took out a heavy bag of Gold Soul Coins from his Storage Soul Tool, and handed it to her. "The damaged items should be compensated for. Consider this money for repairs."

"N-No, no... I couldn't possibly accept it!"

"It is already the greatest honor for our humble shop that Your Holiness has come here."

"The roof... we can just find someone to patch it up ourselves. How could we dare accept your money?"

Seeing that she absolutely refused to take it, Qian Xunji could only put the money bag away, intending to have someone from Spirit Hall come repair it later.

At that moment, Ling Yuan, whose face had turned red from holding back her laughter, finally could not endure it any longer and leaned over. "Your Holiness, that stance you took just now... surely you didn't misunderstand and think our Saintess was meeting some wild man, so you came to... clean house?"

The moment those words were spoken, Bibi Dong understood first.

Teacher... was jealous?

That's why he was so angry, even wanting to attack?

She raised her head to look at Qian Xunji. Qian Xunji noticed Bibi Dong staring intently at him and felt uncomfortable all over.

He cleared his throat again. "Since it was a misunderstanding, there is no need to mention it again."

"Have you... eaten lunch?"

"We just finished eating."

Ling Yuan very tactfully clapped her hands. "Ah, I just remembered, there are still a few new styles over there that I haven't looked at."

"You two talk. I'll go pick some out!" With that, she slipped away at once to the other end of the shop, pretending to examine the clothes seriously while actually pricking up her ears. Her eyes kept sneaking glances in their direction, and the corners of her mouth were nearly reaching her ears.

Only the master and disciple remained where they were, and the atmosphere became somewhat delicate.

Bibi Dong stepped a little closer. "Teacher... just now, did you get so worked up because you misunderstood and thought I was with another man?"

Qian Xunji knew he could not hide it any longer, so he simply gave up trying.

"Yes. I sensed someone standing too close to you, and concern made me lose my composure."

The blush on Bibi Dong's face deepened. She blinked. "But Teacher, it seems we are not together yet, are we?"

"..."

Qian Xunji was stumped.

That was true. Their relationship was more intimate than that of master and disciple, yet they seemed not to have clearly crossed that line.

"I suppose... not."

Seeing him at a loss for words, the small trace of pride and anticipation in Bibi Dong's heart grew stronger.

"Then... when does Teacher plan to say those words to me?"

"What words?"

"Nothing~"

Bibi Dong merely gave a sly smile and did not press the matter. "By the way, Teacher, in a few days, I want to return to Anping Village with Xiao Xi to see Father and Mother. Will you... allow it?"

"Huh? Of course."

Qian Xunji nodded immediately. It was only natural. Why would he stop her?

"Thank you, Teacher!" Bibi Dong smiled happily, then turned and walked toward the clothing racks as well. "Then I'll pick out some clothes for Father and Mother too."

Watching Bibi Dong's cheerful retreating figure, Qian Xunji stood where he was, mulling over what she had just said.

What were those words Dong'er wanted me to say?

Could she mean a confession?

Qian Xunji came back to himself, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

"It seems I need to find a suitable time to say what needs to be said and settle what needs to be settled."