Chapter 240: Two Hundred and Forty-Eight, the Virtuous Woman

Two Hundred and Forty-Eight, the Virtuous Woman

Beitian Relief Institute. "Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan?" "Nephew Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan!"

"Why are you here? Chen Jun Xie Miss has been searching for you everywhere."

With enemies chasing from behind, Li Su Xian, Wei Mei, Li Su Dalang, and others halted. "His abdomen is severely wounded—he's lost too much blood."

Li Su Guoer, hands braced on her knees, panted and glanced sideways, instantly declaring:

While the pursuers had not yet arrived, the young girl ran toward the well without looking back.

"Father, Mother, go ahead—I'll stay with Su Dalang to save him." "Sister!" Li Su Dalang hurried after her.

Recovering, he suppressed his joy, maintained calm, and tossed his waist knife to a subordinate's chest: "Why throw your blade around? Pick it up."

It was a clear blue, like a wound in the sky.

"Artisan, isn't that his appearance? Indeed, neither sword nor cauldron—it's almost mythical! Hahaha..."

Tian Tian Jiyang suddenly stood, his hand pointing repeatedly in several directions, voice heated:

Tian Tian Jiyang gave a few orders; the men who received them noticed the son of the Wei Prince staring sideways at a nearby structure resembling a kitchen.

Li Su Guoer tilted her head, suspiciously watching "the arc"; "the arc" seemed to be watching her too.

You crouched, silently handed him a bowl, and poured a sip of water onto his dry lips. Slightly quickened the pace.

Still unsure if the Huichun Pill had any effect. "Artisan!"

While Chen Jun Xie Miss fought desperately at the rear to buy us time, we ran in chaos and encountered the young master she'd been searching for—and led the villains right to him.

"When your cousin brings him back to Luojing, he'll understand. By the way, his aunt, Princess Lechang—does she get along with your Wei family?"

For the day of that arrival, I and my righteous father, my prince father, have prepared too long, too long—the entire Wei Prince's mansion places its highest hopes on me!

But in the instant before, something strange happened.

Beside Li Su Guoer, one after another guard's head fell to the ground like ripe fruit from an autumn tree, the thuds muffled yet echoing through the courtyard.

From behind the kitchen, a short-haired young man, drenched in blood, stepped out holding a bowl in both hands, walking toward the crowd in the courtyard.

Li Su Guoer no longer hurried; she glanced at the direction her father and brother had fled, then deliberately pulled the thin veil from her cheek and dropped it to the ground, revealing a face flushed with exertion yet astonishingly calm.

Moreover, Li Su Guoer noticed that Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan tightly clutched a bronze beast-mask in his hand—even after his severe injury and unconsciousness, he had not loosened his grip.

"What should we do about Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, nephew?" Li Su Xian asked anxiously.

"Then we must split up—they won't chase us all." Li Su Guoer said calmly.

Tian Tian Jiyang smiled at this, tossed Li Su Xian and the others aside, and teased: "Come, I'll take you somewhere—you'll know soon enough."

Tian Tian Jiyang shook his head, stepped forward, and approached Li Su Guoer, speaking softly without expression:

Originally lagging behind, Li Su Xian and Wei Mei turned back and ran toward Wei's side. "Fine."

Li Su Guoer stepped forward and declared without hesitation:

By the well, Li Su Guoer pulled a red silk handkerchief from her sleeve, hastily unrolled it, pinched a tiny emerald pill between her index and middle fingers, and placed it into the dry lips of the dying youth before her.

Li Su Guoer suddenly heard a faint murmur, turned her head, and saw the young man leaning against the shadow of the water jar, his lips moving.

Hovering, motionless.

"Cousin Su Guoer, between our Wei and Li families, many things are stirred up by outsiders—right and wrong are clear. Your grandmother occasionally detested such schemers; these outsiders only sow discord between our kin."

Tian Tian Jiyang stood proudly in the courtyard, smiling at the frightened elderly, sick, and disabled: Li Su Guoer smiled: "If you'd just tell me first..."

"Still playing clever tricks? Hero saves beauty? I hate people who are stupid and think others are fools."

But soon, we noticed a slender, graceful figure returning to the courtyard.

Li Su Guoer lifted her chin, her dark eyes looking down on him, speaking calmly:

Add to that fleeing through this institute full of disabled elderly and children—many eyes, many obstacles, running meant constant collisions, chickens flying, dogs barking.

But it did help him remember hardship and appreciate ease—didn't it greatly amuse you?

"If you have no ability, how will you reclaim what was lost? You only wallow in self-pity—how can you be a descendant of Emperor Taizong with no talent at all? Can't even outwit your grandmother? What does that have to do with the boys at the well?"

Small and square, her delicate face expressionless. Li Su Guoer and her brother arrived by the well.

The Wei Prince's eighth son, the one entrusted with great hopes and a brilliant future, shattered—his flesh and blood splattered across everyone's clothes.

Seeing the pursuers drawing near, unable to shake them off. "Water... water... water..."

But now, Sui Sui Qiongqing bowed her head, her skull swaying with the jolts, eyes closed, silent. Tian Tian Jiyang caught it in his peripheral vision—the corner of the painted-plum-faced young man's mouth curled in disdain, crisp and clear:

In the courtyard, among the terrified disabled elderly and children, the stunned gazes of onlookers.

Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan's abdomen was wrapped in a strip of his own torn clothing, tied in a tight knot; a bloodied short knife lay beside his leg; a pool of blood spread beneath him.

Indeed, men always admire weakness, I murmured inwardly, then smiled reassuringly:

"Him! Wretch!" Tian Tian Jiyang, blood-furious, kicked Li Su Guoer away with a single foot as she lunged to deliver a finishing blow.

Hiding Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan inside the room, Li Su Guoer and Li Su Xian each chose a direction and scattered to flee.

"Heh, think splitting up will let you escape? Chase separately—he, take men this way; you... the most important one, ran down that path—I'll pursue him personally..."

A clear blue arc, vast in Tian Tian Jiyang's eyes filled with disbelief, expanded—finally tracing a bloody line across his face. "The arc" entered his body; a light purer and clearer than the sky leaked from his facial wound, blooming together with blood.

The people in the courtyard were puzzled, then stunned.

Sui Sui Qiongqing laughed bitterly, her face hardening, turning away, cruelly uttering seven words: But in that instant, Tian Tian Jiyang froze.

Li Su Guoer's gaze swept, pointing to a room behind:

To earn a beauty's trust, to become her confidant—Tian Tian Jiyang's spirit stirred. He also noticed that when Li Su Guoer mentioned her grandmother, her eyes betrayed an unhidden yearning and admiration—not feigned.

Li Su Guoer looked around helplessly—who had saved her? Everyone remained silent, in perfect unspoken understanding.

Li Su Guoer wiped sweat from her forearm, then suddenly spoke:

Ignoring the trembling elderly and disabled in the courtyard, she suddenly crouched, her fingers brushing and grinding the dust and footprints on the ground.

"He lied to you?" "Wait—stop!"

"Tian Tian Jiyang, before, dare you stare at me with those dog eyes again? Disgusting—I've felt nauseated since the first moment I saw you."

Because of the Cauldron-Sword matter, Tian Tian Jiyang must suppress his advancement at all costs. Tian Tian Jiyang smiled, calm and unhurried.

That Chen Jun Xie man is asking for death. When I become the Sword-Bearer and attempt to ascend to the fourth rank, I'll return to properly settle accounts with you! Before the Sword-Bearer, what does one rank matter? "Nonsensical."

"Hide me—we split up, draw off the pursuers, and Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan will be safer with you."

That experience as a scout had not only fully unlocked the fourth rank of the Military Dao, "Wu Fu," but he had also vaguely touched the threshold of the fourth rank, "Wei Wu Zu"—as if one step away from crossing over.

"No need, I... I want to get closer." "The steamed bun's too hard to chew." His voice was hoarse—not like he was fully unconscious.

"Forget about us." Li Su Guoer waved her hand calmly, then suddenly turned, curiosity flashing: "By the way, cousin, you said earlier—what was that Buddha trace you showed me?"

"Good, good, good! You want a face? Today, I'll use your Taizong-blooded stench to consecrate the sword!"

"If you want to see Sister Chen Jun Xie again, don't make a sound from now on." Li Su Guoer smiled.

Li Su Guoer went to the kitchen counter, scooped a bowl of water from the water jar, then casually took a warm steamed bun and placed it beside Sui Sui Qiongqing's hand.

Li Su Guoer suddenly turned and asked: just now, in her peripheral vision, she'd seen Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, held between her brother and father, slightly lift his head and glance around at those beside him.

"Eighth Young Master, the old monk has finished translating the Sanskrit Buddhist sutras! Against your orders, I delivered it immediately."

"He... he's afraid of death?!"

Tian Tian Jiyang laughed, took the sutra, and ordered a guard to bring the Mojia sword case on his back.

"Only regret I didn't stab him through the heart—but a second stab after death still brings satisfaction." Tian Tian Jiyang screamed, clutching his new shoulder wound.

Tian Tian Jiyang dismissed it lightly: "The Cauldron and Sword." Everything was ready, all in place.

Thus, the family of seven frantically lifted the unconscious county magistrate and fled in haste.

Seeing Li Su Guoer's shocked expression, he smiled warmly.

His face was pale, eyes closed, head tilted back, breath faint—as if he'd bandaged his own wound.

The guard's face beamed with eagerness, presenting a translated Buddhist sutra book with both hands.

He had not finished uttering "Artisan!" when a sudden warm wind made his hairs stand on end—he twisted midair and barely dodged another thrust aimed straight at his heart.

Turning back, Tian Tian Jiyang stood before all, holding the sword case, reciting the sutra aloud, then raised his head and smiled as he spoke to the rear:

After administering the pill, the siblings lifted the limp, noodle-like young magistrate together.

She realized it was a luxurious kitchen—the lighting dim, and near the counter lay several pale-yellow steamed buns on trays.

To reveal a divine miracle before the mortals of this world, or to look down upon them. "We must split up—otherwise, none of us will escape today."

Though these southern "prey" had grown somewhat seasoned, lacking the cunning of the nomadic tribesmen skilled in counter-surveillance, the two sides still frequently clashed on the grasslands where "the lone smoke rises straight from the desert."

"It's not entirely manipulation—my father and brother were never clever; they've always resented what Grandmother did back then. They're powerless, so instead of accepting their own uselessness, they vent their rage on the boys at the well."

Before he could finish his deception, a graceful figure had already stepped out on her own.

Li Su Xian and Li Su Dalang hesitated, feeling something was off about the plan—but the calm young man had already made his decision, slinging Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan onto his back and carrying him into the room behind.

"No need, no need—as long as Cousin Su Guoer has come to her senses. As for us..." "Artisan... ah!"

Tian Tian Jiyang raised his hand; four guards halted simultaneously within the courtyard. He scanned left and right like a hawk.

Often he brought it to his nose to sniff, elbows resting on knees, lifting his blade's tip to point toward one forked path, signaling pursuit.

The guards' headless bodies fell one after another.

Seeing this, Tian Tian Jiyang was startled for a moment, then threw back his head and laughed fiercely.

After scolding him, he turned, pulled out a folding fan, and gently fanned himself: "I've come to my senses. I'm going to Shenjing Luoyang—to see Grandmother and Uncle Wei. And I'll take the unconscious, blood-loss-stricken Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan."

Tian Tian Jiyang glanced at the direction Li Su Xian and the others had fled, his expression slightly troubled, preparing to turn and give orders.

He tilted his head, his body utterly still.

Tian Tian Jiyang touched the bandage on his arm, turned back, and stared like a wolf toward the Manjushri Bodhisattva Hall—his gaze dark and hot.

"Cousin Su Guoer speaks truly—why run? Uncle is too jumpy. We're kin. Everyone says meeting a fellow townsman is a blessing—how could he harm you?"

The family of four: Li Su Guoer, a girl, weakest in stamina; Li Su Dalang, a young man in his prime, ran fastest.

The surrounding guards rushed forward, finally restraining the fiercely struggling Li Su Guoer.

A Hui Chun Pill was given to her beforehand by Chen Jun Xie Lingjiang, as a precaution before descending the mountain to seek someone, along with a spirit stone.

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside the inner courtyard, faintly carrying Tian Tian Jiyang's voice.

"You—killed—his—whole—family. Unthinkable."

"Father, Mother, you..." Li Su Dalang heard the commotion, turned his head, and sighed helplessly.

As if they had been waiting there specifically for us.

Tian Tian Jiyang, though in pain, turned his head—it was a sword he had given me, slanted into my left shoulder, not far from the vital heart.

And after that journey to Ding Yunmeng Jian, Sui Sui Qiongqing was hastily recalled from the northern frontier troops by the Wei Prince.

Pursued all the way.

In Magistrate Ouyang Rong's courtyard, the courtyards were few, walls layered one behind another; though the pursuers ahead could not be seen at once, their location could be discerned by the chaotic clamor—chickens flying, dogs barking—coming from the courtyard filled with wounded elders and children he had sheltered.

Even setting aside his friendship with Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan.

Tian Tian Jiyang glanced at the faint traces of spider silk on his feet, a sly smile on his face. "The... Wang Fu will kill you!"

"But my elder sister runs the fastest," Li Su Xiaolang hesitated. Yet his shoulder sank again, cold and numb—he'd been hit.

Tian Tian Jiyang turned his head and said calmly, "Cousin, if you'd stand farther away, you might avoid injury." In the panic, everyone did as told.

But now, Li Wang Lixian's group had delayed too long rescuing others, and the pursuers behind drew ever closer.

Tian Tian Jiyang found again the feeling he'd had when his righteous father had renamed him and sent him to the northern frontier troops, training among a scouting cavalry unit.

"Brother, what exactly is that?" You stood before Tian Tian Jiyang, head tilted curiously, eyeing the wooden box in his hand.

Wei Wei Shaoqi raised his head, his eyes glowing with clear blue light; the wound on his abdomen pulsed with swift-flowing blue spiritual energy. Sui Sui Qiongqing stepped before Tian Tian Jiyang, whose arms had been severed by the "Arc," and seized his throat. Fear of death surged into Tian Tian Jiyang's heart; his pupils shrank sharply as he roared:

"Don't overreach," Tian Tian Jiyang paused. "Cousin Wei."

Li Wang Lixian scolded sharply; Wei Mei glared at her son.

Su Su Guoer's eyes revealed despair; she had vaguely suspected it was Ding Yunmeng Jian, but now she could not stop it; turning back had meant accepting death—yet she feared only that her father, brother, and Chen Jun Xie's sister would not escape either.

Yet immediately she realized—it was not the entire "Arc" of the world, but this one, quietly hovering before her.

Su Su Guoer lowered her gaze, composed and unhurried, stepping into the room where Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan lay. Seeing the beauty's gentle smile and lowered head, Sui Sui Qiongqing felt only ease and comfort.

"The loser accepts defeat, the victor claims the throne—such a simple truth, why can't they understand?"

"I don't wish to leave with you. That Chen Jun Xie family housekeeper has meddled too far. My grudge with Lord Wei has nothing to do with me."

Su Su Guoer closed her eyes: "My father and brother will avenge me. All who carry the blood of Emperor Taizong will avenge me. He who steals a hook is executed; he who steals a kingdom is made a marquis. If our grandmother were here, what would Sui Sui Qiongqing be?"

Tian Tian Jiyang stared in shock. "I didn't move it! Wait—why can't I control it?"

If I only cared about saving my own life and didn't rescue her, what face would I have to show Miss Chen Jun Xie again? No time to think further.

Su Su Guoer shook her head, biting her lip again; her cheeks flushed faintly pink from the hurried run—utterly pitiable.

"How lucky for them—today we get to witness a divine artifact!" Gao Ang took a sip of cold water, then shoved the bowl back into Su Su Guoer's stunned hands. He crouched, pinching a bit of dust and soil between his fingers.

"That Chen Jun Xie man? I dislike him too. The Chenjun Chen Jun Xie clan always clashes with us at Jingkou, thinking they're safe just because they're far away in Jiang Nan? When Jingkou has the chance, we'll deal with them properly."

One "Arc" appeared above the courtyard.

At that moment, a guard rushed from the direction of the Sutra Copying Hall, knelt on one knee:

The disabled elders and children within the courtyard exchanged glances. The most important prey was right here.

Sui Sui Qiongqing had not expected it—Su Su Guoer shook her head vigorously, and her words surprised him:

Like today, hunting prey.

Before all eyes, Tian Tian Jiyang's face turned purple with shame and rage; suddenly he remembered the two love charms Master Venerable Shan Dao had drawn that day.

"Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, are you alright?"

Su Su Guoer placed the bowl beside the youth's half-conscious, closed eyes, rose, smoothed her sleeves and collar, and walked out gracefully.

She knew this, of course.

"How convenient—it's not a coincidence, hehe. Today, right here, let Su Guoer cousin see what true Buddhist traces look like."