Chapter 140

One Hundred Forty-Seven: Hmph, Ru Shixiong would never be this good to me

An unexpected change occurred during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Everyone inside and outside the inner sluice gate was shocked.

This even included the Immortal Lady Yuzhi; her voice changed, and she let out a sharp shriek:

"You, you've been deceiving this Immortal all along! You didn't drink that cup of wine!"

Xie Lingjiang's right hand, which was gripping Immortal Lady Yuzhi's wrist, trembled slightly, as if she were clenching it too tightly.

Her other hand silently took a damp, pale pink handkerchief from her red sleeve and dropped it at her feet.

The damp handkerchief faintly emitted the scent of alcohol.

Xie Lingjiang's eyes were cold as she stared unblinkingly at Immortal Lady Yuzhi:

"You are not Ru Shixiong either. Ru Shixiong would never be this good to me."

Ouyang Rong, who was looking cautious and had his hand on his skirt-knife: "..."

The corners of his mouth twitched.

Xiao Shimei's words, so full of the bitterness of a resentful woman...

However, now was not the time to dwell on such things.

Ouyang Rong took a step forward, his brows knit in a cold glare:

"Seize her!"

"Still not revealing your true form!" Xie Lingjiang glared with her phoenix eyes at the incredibly familiar face before her and shouted angrily.

In front of the main sluice chamber, with her as the center, ripples spread outward in circles, as if a stone had been thrown into the middle of a lake.

The hems of the robes of Immortal Lady Yuzhi, Ouyang Rong, Shen Xisheng, and others fluttered violently, and their wide sleeves flew about.

Immortal Lady Yuzhi, in particular, whose wrist was being gripped by Xie Lingjiang, screamed in pain, her voice completely reverting to a hoarse female tone.

The entire crowd watched in astonishment as the space around this "Ouyang Lianghan," who had just tried to violently kill Shen Xisheng, seemed to be brushed by waves of scorching heat; his figure distorted, and he immediately faded into a black-robed priestess wearing a beast mask.

She revealed her true form amidst the trembling of spiritual energy.

Amidst the screaming, the black-robed priestess's bones cracked and popped all over, and her right hand, which was being held by Xie Lingjiang, slipped out of Xie Lingjiang's grip like a boneless loach.

Only a torn piece of the black robe's sleeve remained in the latter's hand.

A black shadow flashed, and she darted into the air like a black whistle-arrow.

This scene of escape was very similar to the night the account books were burned in the east warehouse.

However, this time, Xie Lingjiang was no longer the least bit surprised; she had even anticipated it.

"Where are you running, you demon!"

Accompanying the figure shooting into the sky like a black whistle-arrow, a fiery red figure followed closely behind like a shadow.

In the time it took to catch one's breath, the latter overtook the former.

The two figures, one black and one red, collided in mid-air.

Thirty zhang above the Di Gong Sluice, black and red colors mingled for an instant.

Before the crowd below, who were looking up, could see clearly.

Above, Immortal Lady Yuzhi's terrified voice rang out across the entire scene:

"Book-Flipper! You really are Grade 7!"

Hua Xuanji following this, a cold snort came down.

In the air.

The mingled black and red mass of figures completely exploded.

Xie Lingjiang's red dress was like fire, her hem fluttering wildly.

Her figure was like a dancing flame in the air, suspended in mid-air.

Tides of crimson spiritual energy surged around her, wrapping around her like tongues of fire along with the red dress she wore.

The black-robed priestess's figure, however, was like wood sparks bursting from a bonfire in the middle of the night, bouncing away a distance before falling diagonally.

Sharp-eyed spectators on the scene immediately noticed that this fiery red figure, standing alongside the scorching sun above, had a bronze mask in her hand, though no one knew when she had obtained it.

Xie Lingjiang flipped her hand, putting the bronze mask into her sleeve, and casually discarded the other torn piece of the black robe's sleeve.

Hua Xuanji, without the slightest hesitation, her suspended figure shot toward the falling black-robed priestess like an arrow released from a bowstring.

She did not stop for a moment, pursuing relentlessly.

However, at this moment, the falling black figure turned nearly ninety degrees in mid-air, changing her landing point.

Immortal Lady Yuzhi's figure sped wildly, darting into the drainage hole beside the main sluice chamber.

The other red-clad figure followed closely with the sound of breaking air; she pursued into the drainage hole like a fiery meteorite passing through the atmosphere.

The two women exchanged several blows, leaving everyone on the scene unable to keep up.

But at this moment, before the crowd could react, another unexpected change occurred.

Two loud "bangs" rang out in succession.

Two shocking splashes of water suddenly exploded inside the drainage hole.

It was as if a fish had leaped onto the shore.

Immortal Lady Yuzhi flew out backward, but this time she was soaking wet and entangled in a net rope.

Many of the net ropes on her body had been snapped, but most of them still hung on her, making her look incredibly wretched.

This was not the main point; the main point was that Xie Lingjiang returned standing, while she returned lying down.

In front of the entire crowd, Xie Lingjiang, with a cold face, hauled the dying Immortal Lady Yuzhi.

She tossed Immortal Lady Yuzhi onto the ground as casually as if she were throwing away a pile of trash.

Xie Lingjiang stepped on her, bent down, and sealed her dantian acupoints.

Completely subdued.

Xie Lingjiang pursed her lips and said to the priestess coughing blood on the ground, word by word:

"Rest assured, the matter of today will not be settled with you so easily. You will know that death is sometimes a form of relief."

Immortal Lady Yuzhi covered her mouth and coughed blood with effort: "You... you..."

The clash between the Qi Refiners and Xie Lingjiang's thunderous suppression left everyone on the scene silent as cicadas in winter.

Ouyang Rong shook his head, stepped over the Immortal Lady Yuzhi on the ground, and walked forward with a bold stride.

"I am the true Magistrate of Longcheng County, Ouyang Lianghan, genuine and authentic."

He faced the entire crowd and spoke in a solemn, resonant voice:

"You all saw it just now. Today, this bold demon disguised herself as this official and attempted to assassinate the Inspection Commissioner, Lord Shen. It is simply audacious!"

Ouyang Rong turned his head and said to Shen Xisheng and Wang Lengran:

"Both lords were frightened today. Coming from afar, it was this subordinate's poor reception that led to such a villainous disturbance. This subordinate's negligence deserves punishment. However, at this moment, this subordinate has an important matter to report, which concerns the safety of the people of Longcheng County and even the Jiangzhou region. I hope both lords will be magnanimous."

Shen Xisheng straightened his official hat and turned to look at Immortal Lady Yuzhi, who was being held by Xie Lingjiang not far away.

The lingering fear on his face vanished, returning to normal, and he nodded solemnly:

"Magistrate Ouyang, please speak. If this matter is truly as serious as you say, it is naturally the top priority! Lord Wang, what do you think?"

Shen Xisheng suddenly turned his head to ask.

Wang Lengran's facial muscles seemed a bit stiff; he squeezed out a smile and nodded to the Inspection Commissioner and the Longcheng Magistrate, who were looking at him together:

"Lord Shen is right. Magistrate Ouyang, please feel free to speak directly. If justice is on your side, this official and Lord Shen will fully support you."

Ouyang Rong nodded, "Many thanks to both lords."

He pointed his finger suddenly at the black-robed priestess coughing on the ground and spoke with sonorous force to all the guests and commoners present:

"This official wishes to accuse the Liu family of Longcheng, as well as the prime culprit, Liu Ziwen!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire scene fell silent. Most of the guests cast their gazes toward certain backs in the first row of the crowd. Liu Ziwen's body swayed without wind; Liu Zi'an's sickly face turned gloomy as water, and he took a step back; Liu Zilin looked around in a panic.

Ouyang Rong did not stop, his voice ringing out across the scene: "Not only has the Liu family harmed Longcheng for many years, but they have also annexed fertile land every year by taking advantage of floods, their crimes are heinous!

"Today, they even sent this demon assassin to disguise herself as an imperial official to assassinate the Inspection Commissioner. This demon assassin comes from the Dragon King Temple on Mount Dagu, which is fully funded and operated by the Liu family. She is a priestess of this temple and has been funded by the Liu family for many years!

"Besides this, there is one more important matter, which also concerns the safety of thousands of commoners." Ouyang Rong paused, then suddenly turned to Liu Ashan, who had hurried over:

"You take people to control the main sluice chamber first. Don't let certain people destroy the evidence at the scene, then move the things out for everyone to see."

"Yes, my lord!"

Liu Ashan led people to rush into the main sluice chamber behind Ouyang Rong and the others, and then successively moved out wooden barrels filled to the brim, placing them under the sun.

Ouyang Rong turned his head, continuing to face the curious gazes of the crowd, pointed at the main sluice chamber, and said righteously:

"Instigated by the Liu family behind the scenes, the priests of the Dragon King Temple, in collusion with the sword shop craftsmen repairing the sluice, took advantage of the sluice-washing ceremony before completion to secretly transport these flammable and explosive strange oils into the main sluice chamber...

"The Liu family attempted to plot against the newly repaired Di Gong Sluice! In this matter, both human and material evidence are present!

"The Liu family is so skilled at this matter that it is hard not to suspect that this has not happened just once or twice.

"This official reasonably infers that since the construction of the Di Gong Sluice, every collapse of the Di Gong Sluice over the past four years has been the work of the Liu family! The floods in Longcheng County for more than ten years, the mourning across the fields, and the broken homes of how many households were not just natural disasters, but human disasters caused by the Liu family!

"Their crimes are heinous and monstrous; killing them is not enough to appease the people's hatred!

"Lord Shen, Lord Wang, this subordinate requests a public trial of the Liu family!"

Ouyang Rong's words were like gold and stone hitting the ground, sonorous and powerful.

It was like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky, exploding in the hearts of the commoners, local gentry, and wealthy squires who had come to watch the ceremony today.

It immediately became the fuse that ignited the entire scene.

"Clatter—"

"Whoa—"

The crowd watching the ceremony completely exploded.

Countless shocked, angry, and silent gazes fell upon the three brothers, Liu Ziwen, Liu Zi'an, and Liu Zilin, standing in the first row of the crowd.

"False accusation... it's all a false accusation!" Liu Zilin felt like he had thorns on his back and shouted to the crowd on the left and right to defend himself.

However, his voice was overwhelmed by the surging waves of sound, drowned out by angry and suspicious gazes. Liu Zilin trembled all over, and his words became stuttering.

"Men, take the Liu brothers down first!"

Shen Xisheng frowned deeply and shouted with thunderous momentum.

He turned and rushed toward the main sluice chamber with great momentum. Wang Lengran remained silent, pursing his lips and following.

And the crowd watching the ceremony behind could no longer hold back, surging forward like a tide!

Liu Ziwen and Liu Zi'an were like two nails being hammered fiercely by someone; at this moment, their footsteps were nailed to the spot, unable to move.

Liu Zilin's eyes were filled with terror. He swallowed his saliva and looked toward his two elder brothers in a panic for help, "Big brother, second brother, what... what should we do!"

However, no one answered him. Only then did he see his two elder brothers, who were usually calm and composed, and unflappable in the face of events.

At this moment, their faces were extremely livid and ugly.

In the boiling and lively scene, amidst the angry and noisy crowd, Ouyang Rong's expression remained as usual. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he led Xie Lingjiang and the others to walk forward, passing leisurely in front of the detained Liu brothers.

When passing in front of the three Liu brothers, he seemed to have remembered something.

The young magistrate calmly grabbed a handful of leftover melon seeds from his sleeve, chewed them lightly, and even smiled and spread his hands, handing some to Xie Lingjiang, taking her with him as they chewed melon seeds and walked away.

Seeing this familiar scene of Ouyang Rong chewing melon seeds, the three Liu brothers seemed to have remembered something.

Liu Ziwen's pair of dead-fish eyes stared fixedly at Ouyang Rong's back as he left easily while chewing melon seeds. His breathing suddenly became heavy. His stiff body was tottering, and fortunately, he was supported by Liu Zi'an and Liu Zilin beside him, so he did not fall.

"Big brother! What's wrong with you..."

"No... nothing, I'm fine..."

The corners of the eyes of this young master of the Liu family, who was about to face the crime of having his home raided, twitched fiercely one after another, and then his eyes went black.

The afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony ended temporarily amidst a chaotic but orderly noise.

The setting sun slanted to the west, and the day's disputes seemed to be dragging their weary bodies like the red sun, about to come to an end.

However, the things that happened at the ribbon-cutting ceremony: the assassin impersonating the magistrate to assassinate the Inspection Commissioner, the human disaster behind the floods over the years, the young magistrate exposing the Liu family's monstrous crimes, and so on.

Spread and fermented inside and outside Longcheng County through the successive return of the guests and commoners who watched the ceremony.

The descending night only temporarily covered up the boiling public opinion and waves. No one knew how big a storm would be stirred up the next day.

As the sun set in the west, on a main official road leading to Longcheng County.

There was a heavily guarded motorcade.

Inside one of the carriages in the middle, a senior brother and junior sister were sitting opposite each other, silent and speechless.

It was a bit dim inside the carriage.

It was not that Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang had never been alone together in a carriage before.

However, in the past, it had always been quite relaxed and comfortable; it had never been like this moment, with the atmosphere silent.

Ever since they boarded the carriage and set off from the Di Gong Sluice side just now, it had been like this.

By logic, they could actually have not sat in the same carriage.

Ouyang Rong could have gone to accompany the superiors like Shen Xisheng and Wang Lengran.

However, when Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang boarded the carriage, they still tacitly entered the same carriage, and Liu Ashan and the others also tacitly retreated, not intervening to disturb them.

Ouyang Rong did not like this tacit understanding that you know and I know, but sometimes he was also quite grateful for this tacit understanding, at least it could save a lot of awkward things.

Dim carriage.

Silence for a long time.

Ouyang Rong suddenly raised his hand, and Xie Lingjiang's body trembled.

However, Ouyang Rong just reached out to lift the cloth curtain of the carriage and did not do anything else.

But the delicate body of the woman in the red dress seemed to remain tense.

Ever since she accompanied someone to leave the Di Gong Sluice and board the carriage just now, she had been suppressing herself, suppressing the impulse not to let her head get hot and throw herself into the arms of the man in front of her.

She had already been rational for so long this afternoon; endure a little longer, endure a little longer...

Xie Lingjiang looked at Ouyang Rong without squinting.

Ouyang Rong did not know what the woman was thinking.

At this moment, he opened his mouth to speak: "Xiao Shimei..."

Xie Lingjiang spoke first, raised her head and asked:

"How did Ru Shixiong rush from Mount Dagu to the Di Gong Sluice this afternoon? It's such a long road, we took the fastest waterway, how did you catch up so quickly?"

It was this damn tacit understanding again. Someone fell silent and couldn't help but glance at the Xiao Shimei whose complexion seemed to be as if nothing had happened.

Ouyang Rong did not speak, turned his head to look in the direction outside the east carriage window.

Xie Lingjiang's eyes showed some curiosity, following Ouyang Rong's line of sight to look out.

At this moment, the motorcade happened to pass by the edge of a dense mountain forest. Outside the sparse trees, one could see a newly repaired river channel.

Xie Lingjiang naturally recognized the Zhe Yiqu, but unlike every time she passed this channel in the past few days.

At this moment, under the setting sun, the straight river channel of the Zhe Yiqu was filled with patches of golden waves—it was the water flow dyed like gold.

Xie Lingjiang looked out, her eyes reflecting this scene. Her expression was stunned, and for a moment she felt that this scene was somewhat beautiful.

This was the result of Ru Shixiong and her fighting together these days... Xie Lingjiang's somewhat melancholy mood before had all improved.

"Ru Shixiong, didn't the Zhe Yiqu stop after the first phase was completed? How come..."

Seeing Ouyang Rong's bright eyes, Xie Lingjiang's words stopped, and she didn't continue. Everything was in the unspoken words.

Obviously, if they took the normal old river channel of Butterfly Creek, which was the waterway Xie Lingjiang and Immortal Lady Yuzhi took after picking up people this afternoon, they would have to bypass Longcheng County, adding a lot of distance.

The Zhe Yiqu was an almost straight river channel. If they set off from Songlin Ferry and took the Zhe Yiqu to the Yedu Wharf at the other end, they could directly save more than half of the extra waterway.

And the thick wall used to block water at Songlin Ferry, Xie Lingjiang remembered that when she accompanied Ru Shixiong to inspect it last time, she heard the Gong Cao Registrar say that it could be opened at any time...

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked: "Then what about Xiao Shimei, when did you discover the fake Ru Shixiong?"

Xie Lingjiang bit her lower lip, stared at Ouyang Rong's face for a long time, and slowly lowered her eyes.

The mottled golden radiance outside the carriage window shone on her beautiful side face. Ouyang Rong discovered that Xiao Shimei's gaze fell on the skirt-knife in his hand...

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