Chapter 221: Two Hundred Twenty-Nine: The Unexpected

Two Hundred Twenty-Nine: The Unexpected

On the descent from the mountain.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong sighed helplessly and turned back.

"Don't worry—I won't disappear again. Besides, your knife's still with me; I can't just keep it."

He lightly patted the dagger at his waist to emphasize.

"Yeah, even if… even if I have to leave someday, I'll definitely tell you first. I promise. But right now, let's deal with what's right in front of us."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang glanced at him.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong gently nudged Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's arm, softening his voice to coax her.

"Come on, cheer up a bit. What's the big deal? Lift your head, smile, relax…"

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang immediately looked up, wrinkling her tiny nose.

"I'm not worried about that. Big Brother, don't treat me like a child. I know you won't disappear again, and I know we must focus on the matter at hand…"

Here, the red-clad young woman who had spent last night exhaustedly searching, scouring countless places, fell silent. She turned her lovely face away and, beneath her sleeve, extended a tiny pinky finger, whispering softly: "Swear it."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong: …

Hmm, you're not a child—but you're not much older either, except in development.

As the man stood speechless, Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang blushed slightly, retracted her pinky into her sleeve, and hurriedly explained:

"What I mean is, Big Brother, be careful of Liu Liu Zian—and the Liu family!"

"What do you mean?"

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang nodded, her expression turning grave.

"The Jade Vial Immortaless confessed she secretly taught Liu Liu Zian a cultivation technique from her own sect.

"According to her, the sect's lineage originated from a foreign immortal mountain, belonging to the Fangshu sect's branch, with a cultivation method and advancement criteria that are utterly bizarre."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded, expression unreadable, murmuring in agreement:

"Bizarre? Well, yes—like that bronze mask, what was it called again…"

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang didn't notice his oddness and continued:

"Shen Beast Mask. This artifact is specifically designed to complement the Fangshu sect's advancement method.

"This advancement method requires publicly killing a living person with spiritual affinity as an offering. The more unique the victim's identity and bloodline, the better; the larger the audience, the better. This grants a significant boost in cultivation or a promotion in rank."

At this moment, the two had not yet parted and were racing swiftly down the mountain together.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong frowned and turned back. "Offering living people? Unique? Like what?"

"Like you, Big Brother," Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang narrowed her eyes, voice sharp. "The Jade Vial Immortaless said she secretly caused your drowning in public."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong clenched his lips, then suddenly asked:

"Wait—I'm curious. Why would the Jade Vial Immortaless help Liu Liu Zian and the Liu family so much? Even giving them her sect's cultivation technique. Was it just for wealth and status?"

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang clenched her fist, teeth gritted:

"The Liu family once promised that after the sword was forged, they would hand over Uncle Li's entire family to the Jade Vial Immortaless for sacrifice and rank advancement. Uncle Li's bloodline is rare and noble—perfect for her offerings.

"And the Liu family also promised her that after success, they'd continue cooperating, helping her find more sacrificial victims."

"Wait." Magistrate Ouyang Rong interrupted. "Something's off."

"What's off?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong calmly pointed out:

"How dare the Liu family touch Li Wang Lixian's family? Even if they forged a sacrificial sword for the Wei clan, there's no reason to target Li Wang Lixian's household.

"This isn't a loyalty oath—it's suicide. The Liu family are opportunists, only seeking wealth and glory. They have no need to so deeply offend the Protect-Li faction. They should just enjoy the rewards for handing over the sacrificial sword."

"That makes sense." Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang hesitated, then asked: "Then what do you think?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong fell silent for a moment, then swiftly turned:

"No good, Little Sister—hurry back to Lu Ming Street, Su Fu, and protect Li Wang Lixian's family!"

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang: "Why?"

"The Liu family dares to act against the deposed Prince of Prince Xunyang's family and makes such promises only because the Wei clan backs them. This is the Wei clan's intent to kill—using the sacrificial sword's power to eradicate them completely!"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded calmly:

"We still have one or two hours before noon, when the sword purification is due.

"If I fail to stop it, once the sacrificial sword is completed, the Wei and Liu families will strike at Li Wang Lixian's family.

"Even if I succeed and the sword isn't forged, it's still uncertain—someone might panic and act rashly, especially Liu Liu Zian, who's cultivated this strange technique. The risk of desperation is high.

"Little Sister, hurry back. Stay with Li Wang Lixian's family. Better yet, move them ahead to Donglin Temple on Mount Mount Dagu. We split up."

At this moment, the two reached the Blind Eye Pavilion halfway down the mountain.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang halted, her delicate brows furrowing. After a moment's thought, she looked at Magistrate Ouyang Rong, then reached into her sleeve and withdrew a pure white jade ring, carved with a deer pattern.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang lowered her head, stepped into the pavilion to an open view, and silently channeled spiritual energy.

Without turning, she explained to Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who watched curiously behind her:

"Before I left Longcheng County for Longhu Mountain to seek pills, I passed through Jiangzhou City. Father learned I was leaving Longcheng, and Qiahao a senior from Bai Lu Dong Academy happened to be passing through Prince Xunyang Ferry.

"So Father asked this Chen senior to come to Longcheng County while I was gone, secretly watching over Uncle Li's family… I returned in such a hurry yesterday and forgot to catch up. Now I'm contacting Senior Chen.

"I know this Senior Chen—he's diligent and alert. He should still be at Su Fu."

Inside the pavilion, Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang held the deer-carved jade ring. After a pause, its smooth surface glowed faintly with green light.

The mountain wind suddenly ceased. A gentle breeze swept past, vanishing into the unknown.

Also within the pavilion was a man reading a book.

"Senior Chen?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong glanced down at the jade ring.

The white deer pattern carved on it felt familiar to him.

He remembered seeing similar carvings on buildings during his studies at Bai Lu Dong Academy.

But back then, he'd thought nothing of it.

He realized now that most Confucian academy students were still ordinary scholars unable to cultivate. Qi-refining techniques were rarely spread and had extremely high barriers.

Like Magistrate Ouyang Rong himself—he'd once been a qi-leak body, unable to cultivate, with no exposure to such things, even as the academy's prized scholar.

Confucian academies were still considered the most visible cultivation sects among qi cultivators, a kind of grand concealment within the mundane world.

This deer jade ring, Magistrate Ouyang Rong guessed, was likely worn by every cultivator who graduated from Bai Lu Dong Academy.

And judging by Little Sister's furrowed brows, she might be able to sense or contact fellow disciples through it? He wondered if there was a distance limit…

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook off his thoughts and asked:

"How is it? What's the situation on the other end?"

Little Sister stood still for a moment, then turned, frowning in confusion:

"No response… nothing. What's going on? Did Senior Chen leave Longcheng County after seeing me return? Is he no longer at Su Fu?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong fell silent. No one answered.

The two siblings exchanged a silent, knowing glance.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang took a deep breath.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's expression was unusually grave:

"Little Sister, go quickly. Don't forget your original duty in coming to Longcheng County."

"Big Brother."

"I have my own duty. When you return to Lu Ming Street, stop by the county government office and tell my colleagues I'm on my way."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang nodded firmly, turned, and vanished in a flash.

"Big Brother, be careful! Watch your safety—if there's danger, use the dagger to contact me.

"If Uncle Li's family is safe, I'll move them to safety and come find you right away!"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded, saying: "Go. I'll wait for you."

A gentle breeze swept past. Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's figure vanished from the spot, swift as a startled swan, leaving a trail of dust.

Of course—she'd been holding back to match his pace.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong sighed, shaking his head, watching her silhouette disappear completely.

He resumed sprinting downhill, occasionally pausing to brace his knees and catch his breath, rubbing his face as he muttered:

"First, get to Zhe Zhe Yiqu's canal-opening ceremony, gather County Assistant Cai and the others, then take a boat back to Longcheng and organize the people to evacuate…"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong cursed his slow flesh-and-bone legs, cursed the lack of time—why did all the monks in the world insist on building their temples on remote high mountains?

Finally, Magistrate Ouyang Rong reached the stone archway at the mountain's base, preparing to find a cart to requisition—when ahead on the road, a vast crowd surged toward him, led by a figure he recognized instantly.

He froze. "Six Lang, what are you doing here? What's this—"

Yan Yan Liulang and a group of constables were leading a large crowd of Longcheng civilians hurrying toward them.

The civilians moved in orderly fashion, as if going to market, familiar with the route to Mount Mount Dagu for refuge.

"My Lord!" Seeing Magistrate Ouyang Rong standing in the middle of the road, Yan Yan Liulang blurted out.

"You… you're all ready?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong leaned forward, watching the townsfolk climbing the mountain with bundles, bags, and all manner of supplies.

He suddenly realized he'd been worrying needlessly.

Yan Yan Liulang's expression was delighted, yet then turned complex, as if he wanted to speak but held back.

Behind him, the constables and officials, upon seeing Magistrate Ouyang Rong, mostly wore expressions of surprise—as if bewildered.

Many even turned back, glancing toward the Longcheng County government office.

How did the County Magistrate get ahead of us? We were the first to arrive…

Magistrate Ouyang Rong froze in place.

————

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