Chapter 130: One Hundred Thirty-Seven, It Doesn't Matter, I'll Just Run Away!

One Hundred Thirty-Seven, It Doesn't Matter, I'll Just Run Away!

Inside the main hall.

Before Magistrate Ouyang Rong's expression could even change.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang silently extended her palm, on which lay a red string. She averted her gaze, her tone sounding casual:

"See, even Ru Shixiong thinks it's unbelievable. I do too, but since we're already here and the fortune has been interpreted, hmph, let's just give it a try.

"It feels strange to wear two red strings on my hands, and Ru Shixiong must think so too... So, just like the skirt-knife, Ru Shixiong, please keep one for me for now. When we... when we eventually meet that person, you can give it to him for me."

"......???" Magistrate Ouyang Rong.

The atmosphere suddenly turned silent, and for a moment, no one spoke.

On the warm jade hilt of the skirt-knife at Magistrate Ouyang Rong's waist,

a hand that had been resting lightly quietly let go, and his right arm hung down by his side.

The various clues and oddities were like pearls, some large and some small.

At this moment, his thoughts were like a thread tracing back, stringing all the pearls together.

He instantly realized the severity of the situation.

Before the ancient Buddha in the main hall, facing the Xiao Shimei and Venerable Shan Dao who had laid out their trap,

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suppressed the change in his expression.

A smile returned to his face, and he spoke in a serious tone:

"Two strings are too many. Xiao Shimei, you should wear one on your ankle as well to pray for blessings and ward off misfortune."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang maintained the posture of extending her palm, but she kept her head lowered, her eyes fixed on the tips of her embroidered shoes, which were curling tightly against the soles.

"It's fine. My feet are ticklish, I don't want to. Ru Shixiong, please... help me wear one."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head:

"I'm not used to wearing them either. I'm always tinkering with things; if I accidentally lose the red string, that wouldn't be good."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang added:

"It's fine. If you lose it, we'll just add another. No matter how many, Xiao Shimei is willing to provide them; Ru Shixiong just needs to wear it."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's expression remained unmoved, and he spoke in his usual tone:

"It's still not appropriate. This is your marriage red string, Xiao Shimei. I am the Ru Shixiong, and you... are the Xiao Shimei. I promised the Master that I would take good care of you; I cannot wear this casually."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang extended her right hand, her five fingers curling slightly.

"Amitabha."

Venerable Shan Dao, who had played matchmaker for countless couples, couldn't watch anymore.

He pressed his palms together, stepped forward, twisted his prayer beads, and with his long white eyebrows knitted, he earnestly advised Magistrate Ouyang Rong:

"Magistrate, the female donor is right. If she wears it alone, the range for finding a suitable husband is too small and very difficult. If you wear one for her, the two of you searching together covers a wider range; it's better than one person searching foolishly. Who knows, you might just find him while searching."

After a pause, the white-bearded, white-browed old monk sighed and said:

"The female donor's lifelong happiness is important. As her Ru Shixiong, show a little consideration and just put it on for her first. We can talk about the rest later."

Venerable Shan Dao spoke persuasively, trying to get through to the blockhead who didn't seem to have opened his mind yet.

Hmph, he had been knocking on wooden fish under the green lamp and ancient Buddha for so many years; there had never been a wooden fish he couldn't make sound!

After Venerable Shan Dao finished speaking, the atmosphere grew somewhat quiet.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but look up, her anticipation difficult to suppress as she gazed at her Ru Shixiong.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked at the red string lying quietly on the fair, small hand extended by his Xiao Shimei, a look of hesitation appearing on his face.

A glint of light flashed in the old, loose-lidded eyes beneath Venerable Shan Dao's white brows, and he pressed his advantage:

"Magistrate, you aren't young anymore. Eventually, you will have to marry, have children, and carry on the family line. Who knows, one day you might be brought to this small temple by your elders to pray for a marriage.

"Look, isn't this perfect? You wear the red string to help your Xiao Shimei search first, and another day, hmm, another day your Xiao Shimei can wear a red string to help you search and solve your own lifelong problem.

"Helping each other and solving it once and for all, isn't that wonderful?"

Unexpectedly, Magistrate Ouyang Rong seemed to be moved by certain words in Venerable Shan Dao's speech.

He stopped hesitating, looked up, and instead of looking at his Xiao Shimei, he stared at Venerable Shan Dao and said:

"The Master thinks too much. I don't want to think about marriage for the time being. I'm used to being lazy; we'll see in the future."

"Does your family not urge you?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head.

Venerable Shan Dao looked surprised and asked:

"Why is that? How does this old monk remember that the last time your aunt was at the temple, she came here several times to pray for a fortune for you? She seemed quite worried about your marriage, so why have they suddenly become as indifferent as you?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong remained silent and did not answer Venerable Shan Dao's prying questions.

In fact, from beginning to end, he was not talking to Venerable Shan Dao.

These words were meant for someone else.

There were three people on the scene, but in reality, there were only two.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong had been paying attention to her, and she had also been paying attention to him.

The redundant Venerable Shan Dao was merely an intermediary for the message.

Some things were only a step away from being laid bare, and Magistrate Ouyang Rong felt that this was a step that must absolutely not be taken.

It involved the concept of dignity and required consideration for her pride.

After all, his Xiao Shimei was such a proud person...

In the main hall with its doors wide open, the young Magistrate stood silently before the host of Donglin Temple, turning his head to look north toward the direction of the Beitian Tian Jiyang Yuan.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the heavy walls of the ancient Buddha hall, seeing a dry well, and beneath the well, the quiet underground palace and the "Return" characters carved in stone beneath the lotus throne.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang, who had been closely monitoring every move of her Ru Shixiong, was stunned.

Her gaze followed his, looking north toward the temple gate.

This direction was also the direction of the Donglin Temple's morning dining hall, and that day, her father, Chenjun Xie Xun, had sat at a dining table and tactfully rejected the marriage proposal between her Ru Shixiong and the Zhen family.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang misunderstood his intentions, subconsciously attributing the reason to those events.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's small face instantly flushed red, like rouge melting into clear water.

It turned red, then red, but was immediately diluted by clear water.

The flush on her small face was dispelled by some indescribable emotion, and she turned quite pale.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong, preoccupied with his own thoughts, did not see this look of regret that turned from red to white in an instant.

When he turned his head back, Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang had already lowered her head.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked at Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang, who was still maintaining her reaching posture, and he could even see the glistening sweat between her knuckles. He forced a smile and said:

"Xiao Shimei, put it away. Listening to the red string talk is enough; we are scholars, how can we believe in these things? It's getting late, we should..."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang suddenly looked up, her face wearing a charming smile:

"It's fine, Ru Shixiong. Xiao Shimei is foolish; I believe in it, and I believe in the Guanyin fortune... If you feel it's inconvenient, then... then I'll help you tie the red string, okay?"

Saying this, the woman, seemingly having cast aside all caution, couldn't wait to reach out and grab Magistrate Ouyang Rong's right arm to tie the red string for him.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong instinctively took a small step back.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's hand froze in mid-air; she had grabbed nothing.

Seeing his Xiao Shimei's subtle reaction, Magistrate Ouyang Rong's heart flashed with a hint of regret.

But he took a breath, and in an instant, as if dispelling something, he forced a laugh and said:

"Xiao Shimei is being mischievous again. Venerable Shan Dao, please don't mind her; it seems to be getting late."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong glanced hastily at the sky outside the hall door, and when he turned back, his expression had returned to normal. He said calmly:

"By the way, the Beitian Tian Jiyang Yuan is still waiting for me, I must go. Xiao Shimei... Xiao Shimei, pray to the Buddha a while longer. Remember to change your clothes after you're done; wearing a skirt isn't appropriate, we have work to do this afternoon...

"After you change, come find me."

Leaving these words behind, Magistrate Ouyang Rong turned around and walked away with hurried steps, leaving the hall in a rush.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang and Venerable Shan Dao were left behind, staring blankly at his back.

It looked exactly like a panicked escape.

Even the Jade Chalice Female Immortal, who had been lurking at the door watching, changed her expression, staring blankly at the figure of the young Magistrate who had just swept past her like a gust of wind.

The Jade Chalice Female Immortal never expected to run into such an awkward scene.

She had been watching, and for a moment, she almost thought she wasn't tracking an enemy, but watching a gossip show.

The Jade Chalice Female Immortal's mouth twitched.

Speaking of which, you're a guy about to fall into a trap and be beheaded, can you stop being so energetic and putting on such a show? Just go to your death obediently, won't you?

She remained speechless for a long time, then turned her head and caught a glimpse of Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang, who was standing stiffly in the hall with her mouth slightly agape.

The Jade Chalice Female Immortal's eyes showed a hint of curiosity.

Aren't you going to chase him... Is this a failed confession, and you've lost your nerve?

Wait, hold on.

It seems... like a good opportunity.

In the next instant, a flash of inspiration seemed to cross the Jade Chalice Female Immortal's mind, and she immediately seized it.

She acted immediately.

The Jade Chalice Female Immortal, disguised as a plump matron, smoothed her brow and turned around, stepping out of the hall door.

She arrived at the square outside the main hall and beckoned secretly in a certain direction.

Not far away, in the crowd of pilgrims on the square, two Liu family retainers who were waiting quietly saw the signal and immediately approached the Jade Chalice Female Immortal.

These two Liu family retainers, one as burly as a bear, the other as thin and sharp-headed as a monkey.

The latter seemed a bit sharper, so he spoke first, asking cautiously:

"Female Immortal, how did it go? What happened inside? We saw Magistrate Ouyang Rong run out just now and were about to chase him, but what about that female secretary surnamed Chenjun Xie?"

The Jade Chalice Female Immortal looked cold, extended her index finger, pointed at the back of Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who was already running away, and ordered sternly:

"It's an opportunity. You two go follow him now.

"Magistrate Ouyang Rong should be going to the Beitian Tian Jiyang Yuan. Once he goes in, wait outside for half a quarter of an hour, then enter to collect the body and deal with the scene once the dust settles.

"Disguise it as a suicide out of fear of crime, and reveal it after the ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon."

"Yes, Female Immortal."

The burly Liu family retainer and the thin monkey-like retainer looked at each other and bowed in unison to accept the order.

However, although they agreed, the two of them still looked worriedly toward the main hall behind the Jade Chalice Female Immortal.

They seemed to have known Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's prowess for a long time.

Compared to the obedient burly retainer, the thin monkey-like retainer hesitated, his body turning halfway before pausing, and he gathered his courage to ask:

"Female Immortal, the original plan didn't seem to be like this. What if that female secretary surnamed Chenjun Xie comes over later? If we run into her, we'll definitely die..."

"Do you think I don't exist? Do you think I'd just let you go to your deaths?"

The Jade Chalice Female Immortal retorted.

The two Liu family retainers looked confused.

The Jade Chalice Female Immortal ignored them and turned to leave, waving her sleeves.

Her steps were hurried as she walked straight to a shaded, deserted spot behind the main hall.

The Jade Chalice Female Immortal lowered her head and skillfully removed something from her face.

Instantly.

She changed into another Mirage Beast Mask.

Just then, in an instant.

The space around her seemed to distort, like a mirage, appearing and swaying in a dreamlike shadow.

Before long.

A young Magistrate walked out from behind the main hall and returned to the corridor outside the hall.

The two Liu family retainers, who were still hesitating in place, were stunned. They turned to look in the direction Magistrate Ouyang Rong had left not long ago, as if they thought they had seen things.

When the young Magistrate cast that cold gaze they were familiar with, he snorted through his nose and said sternly:

"Well? Why aren't you chasing him?"

The burly retainer and the thin monkey-like retainer immediately reacted, their faces showing awe and fear, and they nodded hurriedly.

They retreated in a rush, turning to chase after the... "true person."

Inside the main hall.

Venerable Shan Dao sighed gloomily.

That's all he could do.

It's not that the old monk isn't trying, but this is a high-level game.

The wooden fish was knocked hard, but it was solid inside.

So this wasn't a wooden fish at all, but a stone disguised as one, refusing to make a sound even in death!

Seemingly sensing the silent atmosphere in the air, Venerable Shan Dao's eyes showed fear and worry, and he couldn't help but look at Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang.

He saw that the Chenjun Xie family noblewoman still maintained her flowery smile, but the pair of eyes that had been incomparably bright were now dim and dead.

A light called hope was gradually being extinguished.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang faced the empty space, her right hand still extended.

The red string lying flat on her palm had already lost its owner.

The woman closed her dry, vermilion lips and buried her head, her expression no longer visible.

Grief is greater than the death of the heart.

She slowly closed her slender fingers, withdrew her right hand, and made a move to turn away.

Venerable Shan Dao's prayer beads stopped turning, and he opened his mouth but said nothing.

But just then, outside the hall door, a familiar figure suddenly appeared.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong stepped into the hall.

He raised his hand to touch his chin, as if rubbing his face, and looked around the hall.

Upon seeing Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang and Venerable Shan Dao, he walked straight toward them.

"Hmm? This is..."

Venerable Shan Dao, who was about to comfort Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang, caught sight of the movement at the door and stared in surprise.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang, who had turned her head, didn't see it, and at this moment, she had no interest in Venerable Shan Dao's reaction; it was as if she had lost all her senses.

Until...

Magistrate Ouyang Rong walked calmly to Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang, and without the slightest hesitation, he reached out and took her cold right hand.

He pried open her stiffly clenched fingers and picked up the red string, which was soaked with sweat, with two fingers.

Under Venerable Shan Dao's astonished gaze, who almost pulled his own beard out.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong grabbed his Xiao Shimei's right hand, lowered his head, and silently tied the red string quickly around her fair wrist.

After tying it, he didn't stand on ceremony at all, extended his own right hand, and generously signaled that his Xiao Shimei could "handle it as she pleased."

The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly went quiet.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang was stunned.

Suddenly realized, from the start of the book until now, three months, it seems he hasn't asked for a single day off. Sob sob, what kind of model author is this... Brothers, feel free to talk about it, you can put pressure on other authors! (Dog head)