Chapter 137: One Hundred and Forty-Four: Magistrate Ouyang Rong: Some People Are Alive But Already Dead

One Hundred and Forty-Four: Magistrate Ouyang Rong: Some People Are Alive But Already Dead

On Butterfly Creek, a certain Chenjun Xie lady boarded a large vessel as it passed.

Beneath the eastern Mount Mount Dagu, Magistrate Ouyang Rong, whose body glowed with spiritual light, had already plunged forward, sprinting north toward Songlin Ferry.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong did not know whether the idea that flashed through his mind could get him to Di Gong Dam in time to stop Liu Liu Ziwen's plot—or catch up with the "female immortal" impersonating him.

But for now, he could only gamble everything.

In truth, Magistrate Ouyang Rong felt it didn't much matter who the so-called "female immortal" really was.

The fake would always remain fake, unable to bear the light; what truly worried Magistrate Ouyang Rong was the behind-the-scenes scheme Liu Liu Ziwen had orchestrated for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The three strategies he had proposed just before leaving the mountain were true acts of murder and psychological annihilation.

For they could turn the false into the true, sealing his coffin lid shut—even though Magistrate Ouyang Rong was still very much alive, still breathing.

But if he arrived even one moment too late at Di Gong Dam, the disaster would be complete, and Liu Liu Ziwen's plot would succeed.

Then, even if Magistrate Ouyang Rong appeared on the scene afterward, faced with mountains of irrefutable evidence, eyewitnesses, and the Liu family's onslaught, he would find it nearly impossible to recover.

As Magistrate Ouyang Rong panted heavily, sprinting toward Songlin Ferry.

He did not know.

Shortly after he departed, a group of even more frantic figures appeared at the foot of Mount Mount Dagu.

Leading them was a blue-clad constable, his face flushed with urgency as he charged up the mountain with his patrol.

It was clearly a matter of life or death.

…

Yue Nu Gorge, Di Gong Dam.

From the moment morning sunlight first touched the newly built dam wall.

The encampment along the riverside near Di Gong Dam gradually came alive.

Local gentry, wealthy merchants, scholars with official degrees, officials from Longcheng County and neighboring counties—all arrived.

Streaming in from every direction to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Like a cold stove slowly filled with charcoal, its small flames swelling into a searing furnace.

The atmosphere on-site grew increasingly hot.

Di Gong Dam stood at a critical point upstream in the Lady Yunmeng Marsh, always the first to bear the brunt of every flood.

Its construction benefited the entire Jiangzhou region—not just Longcheng, but also Xingzi, Jishui, Hukou, and several other counties.

Thus, the Longcheng County Office and the Liu family, who jointly built the dam, sent invitations not only to local figures but also to prominent gentry from those other counties.

Today, these guests arrived as invited, joining the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In addition, of course, there were the craftsmen and laborers who built the dam, and the jubilant citizens of Longcheng come to watch.

Today's food and drink expenses for the ceremony were fully covered by the Longcheng County Office and the Liu family—a gesture of shared festivity with the people.

Before noon, nearly a thousand people had gathered on the riverside encampment beside Di Gong Dam.

Of course, today's most prestigious guests were the two senior officials from Jiangzhou.

Inspector Shen and the newly appointed Jiangzhou Inspector Wang.

Everyone present had long known this.

It was nearly noon, yet Magistrate Ouyang County Magistrate's party, sent to meet the two Jiangzhou officials, had not yet arrived.

Yet among the waiting guests, craftsmen, and townsfolk, few showed signs of complaint.

Late arrival was the privilege of senior officials.

With Magistrate Ouyang Rong absent, Deputy Magistrate Official Diao presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony and entertained the guests this morning.

Under Official Diao's enthusiastic hosting, the encampment buzzed with cheer.

On the riverside encampment, a raised platform adorned with ribbons and floral garlands had been erected.

It was the same platform built earlier by the Long Wang Temple priests for the washing ceremony; now it had been refurbished and repurposed for the ribbon-cutting.

Beneath the platform, rows of wine tables were neatly arranged, nearly all filled with guests.

Official Diao stood atop the platform, gazing down at the sea of heads and the clamor of voices.

Yet his smooth, adaptable nature made him perfectly at ease under the many watching eyes—he moved among them like a fish in water.

But today, Official Diao was not acting entirely on his own initiative.

At one moment, the old deputy magistrate subtly touched a spot in his robe—inside lay a folded square of yellow hemp paper.

It had been handed to him that morning by Liu Ashan, the quiet, awkward man from the magistrate's staff.

It contained the magistrate's detailed plan for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Though Official Diao found a few items in the magistrate's schedule odd, he followed the principle of asking little and doing much, and simply carried out his superior's orders…

Thinking of this, Official Diao took a sweat-soaked handkerchief from a subordinate and wiped the sweat beneath his black cap.

He looked up at the sky, then turned and clapped his hands to the crowd.

"Gentlemen, please be patient—just a little longer. According to schedule, if there were no delays, the magistrate and the two senior officials should arrive soon."

"Inspector Shen and Magistrate Wang have traveled here with integrity and have not yet eaten lunch."

"Once they arrive, we will immediately serve the noon banquet to welcome them, and the ribbon-cutting will follow in the afternoon. Let us eat well first—don't let our guests go hungry and later say Longcheng County Office is stingy."

"Hahaha, today I specially invited the head chef from Yuanming Pavilion in town—friends from other counties, you must taste our Longcheng specialties…"

Old Official Diao spoke endlessly on the platform.

Below, many guests leaned forward attentively, laughing along.

Yet some offered no such courtesy.

"All empty talk."

At the front-left table near the platform, Liu Liu Zilin sneered, refusing to listen.

Frowning, he turned to his brothers with concern:

"Brother, second brother, why haven't they arrived yet? Could something have happened to Lady Yuzhi Immortal? Is that swordswoman Liu Jie reliable? I feel uneasy."

Compared to this Liu family third son, Liu Liu Ziwen and Liu Liu Zian seated at the same table appeared far calmer.

Liu Liu Zian turned his head, silently watching Official Diao speak on the platform, saying nothing.

Liu Liu Ziwen sat in the sunlight, eyes closed, resting:

"You must change this impatience of yours. Every time something happens, you panic like a monkey—your emotions are written all over your face. How will you ever accomplish great things?"

Liu Liu Zilin shrugged indifferently: "With you two brothers here, I just follow along—I don't need to think."

Liu Liu Ziwen shook his head slightly, as if having nothing more to say.

At that moment, a large vessel slowly docked at the distant ferry outside the encampment, and a group of figures disembarked.

Though still far off, a clerk sprinted up to the platform and reported to Official Diao:

"Deputy Magistrate Official Diao, the magistrate has arrived with Inspector Shen and Magistrate Wang—all went smoothly."

Official Diao's eyes lit up; the waiting guests below stirred with excitement.

Liu Liu Ziwen slowly opened his eyes.

"Let's go, everyone."

Official Diao led the assembled guests forward to welcome Magistrate Ouyang Rong and the others.

Liu Liu Ziwen rose with his two brothers and followed silently behind.

Ahead, Official Diao met Magistrate Ouyang County Magistrate, Inspector Shen, and Magistrate Wang at the encampment gate, where the two groups converged.

The three Liu brothers lingered quietly at the rear of the crowd, avoiding direct gaze.

They listened silently as the two parties exchanged introductions, bows, and polite formalities.

The topics were all bureaucratic flattery and courtly praise.

To Liu Liu Ziwen and his brothers, it was dull—they deliberately stayed in the back row, spared from having to smile along with those in front.

The three Liu brothers' eyes, unobtrusively, fixed on the central figure: Magistrate Ouyang County Magistrate, dressed in pale aqua official robes.

His face, his expression—familiar beyond measure.

Yet the face they had once despised now carried a peculiar sensation in Liu Liu Ziwen's eyes.

Today, this Magistrate Ouyang County Magistrate seemed quieter than usual; his gaze occasionally swept across the crowd, as if lost in thought.

And he did not join Official Diao in fawning over the Jiangzhou officials.

Liu Liu Ziwen and Liu Liu Zian exchanged glances, then turned back to watch.

At that moment, the three saw Magistrate Ouyang County Magistrate turn his head toward their direction.

Then… he raised his hand, lightly touching his chin. He quietly shifted his gaze away from Liu Liu Ziwen and his brothers.

Magistrate Ouyang County Magistrate's gesture drew no attention from others.

Yet Liu Liu Ziwen, Liu Liu Zian, and Liu Liu Zilin all visibly relaxed.

The three brothers exchanged glances, their eyes unconsciously brightening with relief.

That familiar gesture—touching the chin.

It was unmistakably Lady Yuzhi Immortal in disguise.

Even Liu Liu Ziwen, who had maintained perfect composure since arriving, felt his heart ease.

His clenched fist, tightened without his notice, loosened; he quietly gripped his sleeve, wiping away sweat.

It was no wonder he reacted so.

After all, even proud Liu Liu Ziwen had to admit: Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan was a truly competent, even exceptional opponent.

His pressure on him and the Liu family had been overwhelming—relentless, escalating, closing in with every step.

Otherwise, Liu Liu Ziwen would never have devised such a deadly scheme today.

At this moment, the three Liu brothers finally confirmed that the man before them was Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, the impostor who had replaced the real one.

Thus, the assassination plot orchestrated by the Lady Yuzhi Immortal and A Liu Jie the Swordswoman on Mount Mount Dagu had clearly succeeded.

The real Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan should by now have been beheaded.

Compared to Liu Liu Zilin, whose smile could barely be contained, Liu Liu Ziwen's expression was more complex.

This young master of the Liu clan bore in his eyes both relief and a touch of regret—as if he felt a strange kinship toward this once-excellent whetstone, now retired.

But if Magistrate Ouyang Rong were here to witness it, he'd likely laugh and say, "Crocodile tears."

Indeed, it seemed so—Liu Liu Ziwen quickly suppressed his emotions, his face growing dull and uninterested.

Liu Liu Zilin's joy was unmistakable; he reached out to tug at his elder brother's sleeve, but upon seeing his brother's expression, he let out a wry chuckle.

Liu Liu Zilin understood his elder brother.

The brother who had already set the trap had lost interest in what was to come next—perhaps because he found no challenge left.

Liu Liu Zilin couldn't help but admire his elder brother.

Compared to his cold and sharp-tongued second brother, Liu Liu Ziwen was the one he was closest to, always willing to patiently teach him…

At this moment, the sudden joy and relaxation of the three Liu brothers drew little attention.

From the moment the fake County Magistrate Magistrate Ouyang subtly revealed his identity to their composed expressions, not more than a few breaths had passed.

Ahead, the Assistant Magistrate Official Diao was still busy with his welcoming duties.

Hua Xuanji afterward, as the host of today's ribbon-cutting ceremony, Assistant Magistrate Official Diao made arrangements for the noon banquet.

All guests, including Liu Liu Ziwen, returned to their seats beneath the raised platform to eat.

Meanwhile, the host, County Magistrate Magistrate Ouyang, led Senior Official Shen, Senior Official Wang, and other officials from the neighboring county into a luxurious tent within the encampment to feast, wash away the dust of travel, and welcome them.

The two groups ate separately; Official Diao's arrangement was perfectly reasonable under the circumstances—after all, officials and commoners were distinct.

By the end of the banquet, it would be a favor if Senior Officials Shen and Wang even stepped out to allow the guests a chance to toast them.

As the three Liu brothers prepared to return to their seats, they noticed the fake County Magistrate Magistrate Ouyang's gaze quietly shifting toward them.

Liu Liu Ziwen looked silently, meeting his gaze for a moment.

The fake County Magistrate's eyes subtly shifted, signaling toward a quiet female figure trailing behind him among his attendants.

At the encampment gate, crowded and chaotic, the Liu brothers had been focused entirely on the fake Magistrate Ouyang Rong and hadn't noticed clearly.

Now, they saw clearly: Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang, disguised as Magistrate Ouyang Rong, was following closely behind the Lady Yuzhi Immortal.

She was inseparable, clinging tightly to Magistrate Ouyang Rong as they entered the distant grand tent to welcome the senior officials.

Liu Liu Ziwen frowned slightly, but still followed the crowd back to their original table beneath the platform.

Servants brought out the dishes; the noon banquet officially began.

Liu Liu Ziwen, Liu Liu Zian, and Liu Liu Zilin made no move to pick up their chopsticks or serve themselves; they sat stiffly, their expressions cold.

Liu Liu Zian frowned and spoke first:

"What do we do, Elder Brother? How did Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang end up here too, trailing the Lady Yuzhi Immortal? Won't that pose a risk when the Immortal moves during the ribbon-cutting?"

Liu Liu Ziwen said nothing.

Liu Liu Zilin also fell silent:

"How did the Lady Yuzhi Immortal mess this up? Didn't we tell her to eliminate Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang alongside the Chang'an Swordswoman? Why not find an excuse to ditch her? Isn't Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang loyal to Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan?"

"Why did she bring her along? Does she think our plan is a child's game, pulling all these stupid stunts?"

Liu Liu Ziwen frowned slightly and interrupted:

"Enough. Complaining now is useless. The Lady Yuzhi Immortal has already asked us for help—think about what we should do. If she had any other way, she wouldn't have brought this troublesome Chenjun Xie woman here and sought our aid."

Each of the three wore a look of deep thought.

Around the table, silence fell.

Yet at this moment, the three Liu brothers, huddled together brainstorming, did not notice another weary figure slowly appearing at the encampment gate.

The figure, bent over with exhaustion, hands on knees, gasping for breath, rushed straight into the riverside encampment, skillfully weaving through tents—but when passing the lively open-air banquet beneath the platform, the figure paused, as if seeing something unexpected.

On the other side, beside the table beneath the platform.

Liu Liu Ziwen pondered a moment: "We need to find a chance to deliver that item to the Immortal."

Liu Liu Zian realized: "You mean… the Twin-Bird?"

Liu Liu Ziwen glanced at him, about to nod, when his expression froze—his gaze suddenly fixed on what lay directly ahead.

"What's wrong?" Liu Liu Zian and Liu Liu Zilin turned, following their brother's stare.

They froze too—because the young County Magistrate, who should have been in the tent welcoming the senior officials, was now slowly walking toward their table.

The young magistrate wore a pale aqua official robe. Meeting their stares, he stepped up to their table and sat down uninvited across from them, his eyes appraising them.

The three Liu brothers snapped back to awareness, exchanged glances, then nervously glanced around.

Seeing no one paying attention, Liu Liu Ziwen leaned in, lowering his voice: "How did you get here? Aren't you supposed to be attending the senior officials? Why are you wandering around?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong said nothing, glanced at their expressions, then nodded slowly, letting out a soft "Mm."

He picked up his chopsticks, began eating, then took a cup of wine and drank—like a man starved and parched.

Liu Liu Ziwen shook his head, frowning: "But your slipping away is convenient… Wait—where's Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang? Why isn't she with you? Did you lose her for now?"

The young magistrate's chopsticks paused mid-air, then resumed, lifting food to his mouth. He chewed calmly, then gave a slight nod.

(End of Chapter)