Chapter 405

One hundred sixty-two: Even if you beat me to death, this fairy won't say

No way, a gentleman also guards against craftsmen. One hundred sixty-two: Even if you beat me to death, this fairy won't say. With Rong Zhen and the others staring from the side, Ouyang Rong didn't talk too much with Miao Si.

Taking advantage of the fact that Rong Zhen's mind was not on him, Ouyang Rong's peripheral vision swept over Yan Zhang, Lian Qing, and others, and the various items being set up for the formation on the field.

Finally, he looked again at the figure of Yan Liulang standing guard with a saber at the courtyard gate.

After Yan Liulang tacitly put the long cloth bundle containing the zither case back into the carriage, he had been keeping a low profile, guarding the courtyard gate and waiting for his instructions.

Ouyang Rong moved his gaze away calmly.

Currently, there was good news and bad news.

The good news was that he had followed the clue of the three thousand merits new blessing all the way here and had accidentally learned in advance about the "sword-breaking package" that Rong Zhen had meticulously prepared to wipe him out.

At least he wasn't walking down the street eating a pancake and riding Winter Plum, only to be confusedly trapped by the "Moon Under the Pool" formation that had earth-escaped and teleported over, and then beaten to death by the cold girl in palace attire and her group of helpers.

It made Ouyang Rong still slightly confused now as to which link this new blessing had actually been effective in; how did it feel like the one he guessed before wasn't reliable...

As for the bad news, he couldn't beat them.

That's right, he couldn't beat them.

When Ouyang Rong was watching from the sidelines just now, he noticed the color of the spiritual energy accidentally revealed by Yan Zhang and Lian Qing when they were setting up the formation.

Vermilion deep red.

Like Rong Zhen, they were both Grade 6 Qi Refiners.

The other six white-clothed Qi Refiners were vermilion light red—Grade 7 Qi Refiners.

Added together with Rong Zhen, who was at the peak of Grade 6, there were a total of three Grade 6 Qi Refiners and six Grade 7 Qi Refiners on the field.

If calculated according to the standard of mid-grade Qi Refiners, that was nine mid-grade Qi Refiners.

Compared to top-grade Qi Refiners like Candle in the Snow and Qiu Shenji, they couldn't form a crushing force in terms of quality, but in terms of quantity, they were very troublesome.

Although as long as the "Return" sword-deployment was successful, the craftsman could solve them like cutting melons and vegetables.

But the "qi" to drive this gluttonous Xin Dingjian was far from enough.

At present, inside the Merit Tower, the merit value on the little wooden fish was only a two-digit number, less than one hundred.

The previous merits had been exchanged by him for a new blessing, and the remaining few hundred merits had been used to learn the Upper Pure unique art "Divine Decree of Descent"... However, the Divine Decree of Descent could not be used yet due to the talisman material problem.

Without the support of the purple merit mist, and furthermore, this wasn't the fish-in-water Mount Dagu, there was no endless incense qi from the Lotus Sect to allow him to trigger the Xin Dingjian with infinite firepower.

Actually, he hadn't failed to think about this kind of embarrassing situation before, and he hadn't failed to make arrangements for a backup plan.

For example, the top-grade qi-replenishing elixir named "Ink Dragon" was to prevent this kind of desperate situation.

It was a pity that today he had returned to the city dusty and tired, and had rushed over carrying his sword in the morning, so the Ink Dragon wasn't by his side.

In short, what he could think of at the moment was only his own dantian spiritual energy, which could be used to deploy the sword.

And Ouyang Rong was currently a Grade 8 sword-wielder; all the spiritual energy in his dantian, when fully driving the Xin Dingjian, was at most enough for him to deploy the sword to kill one Grade 6 Qi Refiner.

Without the purple merit mist and incense qi to replenish it, what about the remaining two Grade 6 Qi Refiners and six Grade 7 Qi Refiners on the field? Leave them alone?

Or overdraw his own "uneven qi" again?

But even if he sucked himself dry into a mummy, it still wouldn't be enough to kill everyone and clear the field.

Not to mention that Rong Zhen, Yan Zhang, Lian Qing, and others had also brought several powerful items and set up a "Moon Under the Pool" formation that isolated internal and external spiritual energy.

Within the range, dantian spiritual energy couldn't be used.

How to break it?

The "Moon Under the Pool" formation in the courtyard was getting closer and closer to completion. Danger was approaching. Sweat broke out on Ouyang Rong's temples. He lowered his head slightly, his thoughts spinning urgently.

One by one, seemingly feasible paths were quickly denied after he weighed them.

Ouyang Rong suddenly raised his head and looked at Huang Xuan and Miao Si.

The two of them were the keys to Rong Zhen setting up this formation.

But he couldn't just rise up and kill them to silence them.

Not to mention whether he could escape and explain after doing this in front of Rong Zhen, Yan Zhang, Lian Qing, and others, just the matter of hurting the young and innocent was something he couldn't bring himself to do.

What to do?

Could it be that he would have to fight nine people alone in the spiritual energy vacuum of the Moon Under the Pool formation later?

Wait, Liulang was also there.

But two fighting nine seemed to be no different from one fighting nine.

A sword-wielder was already wary of being approached; physique was a weakness. Who knew if this Rong Zhen, aside from her Qi Refining cultivation, was a sword or martial arts expert.

Wait, a sword expert? Wasn't the Xiao Shimei also a sword expert who didn't fear anyone, and even wanted to ask for a sword duel with Yue Chuzi of the Cloud Dream Sword Marsh in the past?

If only the Xiao Shimei were here.

If he really couldn't avoid this formation, he would just take his trusted helpers and engage in a real blade-to-blade fight at close range with this batch of Imperial Observatory Qi Refiners inside the "Moon Under the Pool" formation.

Ouyang Rong suddenly thought of something and turned his head to look in the direction of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

A while later.

He turned his head back and looked at Yan Liulang, who was standing guard at the entrance.

Yan Liulang, who had been listening from the sidelines like a transparent person, also quietly looked at him.

The two exchanged glances silently.

"Female Historian."

"What is it?"

Ouyang Rong said somewhat embarrassedly:

"You all go ahead and set up the formation. Liulang has something to attend to; I'll go out and take a look."

"What is it?" Rong Zhen's temperament was indifferent; she was about to nod, but Yan Zhang snatched the question.

Before Ouyang Rong could answer, Yan Liulang at the courtyard gate said with a difficult expression:

"Following the instructions just given by you Female Historians and Male Historians, if we are to urgently summon the state soldiers in the city to seal off the entire city... the matter is of great importance. It is best if Magistrate Ouyang can be on the scene to show his face; otherwise, the people below might not believe it. Going through the normal process of sealing the city would take too long."

Ouyang Rong stood beside Rong Zhen, carefully observing her expression with his peripheral vision.

He saw Rong Zhen nod lightly after hearing this: "Very well."

The other Qi Refiners in the courtyard seemed to have no objections.

But just at this moment.

"Wait a moment."

Yan Zhang, who was squatting at a corner of the formation setting things up, suddenly stood up and stopped Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang, who were about to leave.

"What is it?" Ouyang Rong's tone was patient.

Yan Zhang kept a straight face and didn't speak, looking at Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang for a while before saying coldly:

"No need to go. Do not notify the Jiangzhou main hall and the state soldier barracks for now. However, you can notify the city gates to close them. Just send a subordinate to do this. You two stay behind; one more person means one more bit of strength. Come into the formation with us and prepare to deal with that hidden owner of 'Butterfly Loves Flowers' later."

"Why is that? Why not notify them?" Yan Liulang frowned, puzzled.

Yan Zhang had no interest in chatting with a small constable head from the local area, and explained to Rong Zhen, who was also looking over:

"Success depends on secrecy. Notifying them easily leaks the wind. What if that owner of 'Butterfly Loves Flowers' is lurking in an agency under the government? Wouldn't that be alerting the snake?

"Just seal the city gates in coordination; there's no need to tell the government the reason. We'll set up this formation, activate it immediately, and arrest this thief to avoid long delays."

Under Rong Zhen's gaze, Yan Zhang had a calm and steady appearance of having everything under control.

Today was his opportunity to perform well in front of Rong Zhen.

"As for you two..."

Yan Zhang glanced at Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang:

"Since you already know, stay and help. Come with us following the formation."

"Makes sense."

Rong Zhen nodded and said to Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang: "Let's do it this way. I've wronged you two."

Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang's footsteps paused.

But they still kept a smile on their faces.

Under Rong Zhen's gaze, Ouyang Rong answered with a peaceful tone:

"Good, makes sense."

"Listen... listen to the Female Historian."

Yan Liulang also answered following Ouyang Rong, but compared to the latter, his smile was a bit forced, and he tried hard to hide it.

Yan Liulang couldn't help but survey the cage that was gradually taking shape around them, feeling anxious for the Magistrate.

And, as time passed, a trace of determination appeared in the depths of his eyes as he stood behind Ouyang Rong.

But in this desperate situation, Yan Liulang discovered that the Magistrate was still chatting and laughing with Rong Zhen.

Rong Zhen asked:

"Did Commandant Ouyang bring his sword? If not, you can use mine later. I need to fully preside over the formation eye later and won't be able to move my hands. You'll have to be the ones to capture the thief."

"I brought it." Ouyang Rong nodded: "It's in the carriage. I'll go get it later."

"Good."

The final plan to slip away from the courtyard and hide back in the Xunyang Prince's Mansion had fallen through.

Unlike Yan Liulang, who was secretly anxious.

Ouyang Rong was unusually calm.

He stood still with his hands down, looked at the carriage at the courtyard gate, then turned to look at the red paper with the "Butterfly Loves Flowers" poem in Rong Zhen's hand, his expression as usual, not knowing what he was thinking.

On the other side, Miao Si was also carefully watching Ouyang Rong's figure.

Unlike Huang Xuan, who still thought she could help the Commandant benefactor and was happily in the dark, Miao Si remained silent throughout.

The young Daoist nun in Confucian robes standing on the stone table suddenly thought that if she had listened to Huang Xuan's advice and hadn't snuck out that night to steal ink in the Hanlei Ink Studio, it would have been fine.

"Stupidest, none other..." she murmured.

"What did you say?"

Lian Qing, who was setting up the formation right next to the stone table, asked curiously.

Miao Si didn't answer, just stretched out a hand, tilted the golden alms bowl, and the viscous ink inside turned into a pitch-black thin stream, falling to the ground.

She was very small, and her hands were very small, and the golden alms bowl she held was even smaller.

But it poured out a black waterfall.

The waterfall was made of ink and was as thick as a water vat.

After landing, a cloud of pitch-black ink mist exploded in the courtyard.

This change was sudden, obscuring everyone's vision.

The figure of the young Daoist nun in Confucian robes disappeared from the stone table.

Rong Zhen, Lian Qing, Huang Xuan, Yan Liulang, and others were all caught off guard, including Ouyang Rong, who also looked surprised.

The little ink spirit was trying to escape!

Rong Zhen immediately took out the golden four-eyed fierce mask and wore it on her face.

But someone was faster than her.

"Looking for death!"

Yan Zhang sneered, and when this sound was made, his figure had already disappeared from where he was.

Seeing this, Rong Zhen didn't call out her real name, pointed her toes, soared into the air, and waved her palace dress sleeves downward, like a long wind shaking her sleeves.

The ink mist obscuring their vision was rolled away by a strong wind, and the courtyard regained its view.

Everyone saw Yan Zhang's figure standing in front of a mouse hole on the north courtyard wall, his hand tightly grabbing a palm-sized little person, who was screaming in pain.

It was Miao Si.

"Ah—ya—! Let, let go of this fairy."

"Heh, still dare to play tricks? Want to escape? Who gave you the guts."

"Let go of this fairy, quickly let go of this fairy! You sissy who looks neither male nor female, what ability do you have to bully those with low cultivation? If you have the ability, wait for this fairy to practice for another twenty years, and we'll see who's better—forget it, you must be a female, sissy, quickly let go of this fairy..."

Yan Zhang sneered, but suddenly let out an "Ah" scream, loosened his palm, bent down, and covered the web of his hand, sucking in air through his teeth.

"Dare to bite me? Little beast!"

His face flushed red, and in front of everyone, he couldn't hold his face.

After Miao Si broke free from his palm and landed on the ground, she took the opportunity to roll a few times, her short legs running wildly forward, but before she ran three steps, she was stepped on by a large foot that was embarrassed and angry in front of the mouse hole.

"Ah—!" The male historian with the mole on his brow used force with the sole of his foot to grind repeatedly against the ground, and the little ink spirit, forced to rub her face against the ground, cried out in pain.

"Don't step on her!"

Huang Xuan rushed up anxiously.

Seeing another one coming, Yan Zhang looked back angrily and was about to wave his sleeve to brush her away, but the next instant, he was blocked by a jade hand reaching out from the side, and the sharp sleeve wind suddenly scattered, not touching the little girl in the red jacket.

"Stop, all of you."

Rong Zhen's figure stood between Huang Xuan and Yan Zhang. She raised her arm to protect the former and ordered the latter with a frown:

"Who told you to hurt her? This little ink spirit is also... if you hurt her, should I use you to set up the formation? Capture her and ask clearly first."

"Yes." Yan Zhang took a deep breath and lowered his head.

Yan Zhang bent down, grabbed the young Daoist nun in Confucian robes who was rolling in pain, and interrogated:

"Speak quickly, why did you run? Being respectful at first and then arrogant, not cooperating with Female Historian Rong Zhen, was someone behind the scenes directing you? Speak quickly."

"Pfft, pfft, pfft." Bruised and swollen, she made a face and stuck out her tongue: "Even if you beat me to death, this fairy won't say! Guess for yourself, you stinking sissy, if you have the ability, choke this grandma to death."

"Little thing, looking for death!" Yan Zhang suppressed his anger.

If Rong Zhen weren't watching coldly from the side, he could have directly pinched this little thing to death.

Ouyang Rong stood to the side, maintaining his turning posture, silently watching this little ink spirit who was deliberately seeking death for a while.

Huang Xuan pushed away Rong Zhen's arm and looked up to ask:

"Miao Si, do you have some difficulty? Why don't you want to help this sister? Aren't you friends?"

The young nun who was originally acting tough lowered her head, not looking at her, and said:

"None of your business, get lost. There's nothing to say to a yellow-haired girl like you who knows nothing."

Her little face was full of tears, and she cursed while biting Yan Zhang's hand.

Yan Zhang was so angry he wanted to smash this crazy little ink spirit to the ground again.

Ouyang Rong suddenly spoke:

"She is doing it on purpose. She might know the owner of 'Butterfly Loves Flowers' and wants to seek death. Female Historian, don't let her succeed. Absolutely do not hurt her, or it will affect the formation to find the person."

Rong Zhen narrowed her eyes slightly and nodded.

Yan Zhang and Lian Qing looked sideways, glancing at Ouyang Rong, who was calmly offering advice.

"Commandant Ouyang is right. Don't let her die; we still need her innate divine ability to set up the formation."

Lian Qing smiled and reminded warmly:

"After this matter is over, take her back to the Observatory and hand her over to the elixir room, and let her live a life worse than death. Don't you think so, Yan Zhang."

Yan Zhang laughed.

"Hehe, makes sense."

He rubbed the little person's head with his finger and turned to say gently:

"Be good, you have to live well. You little thing, maybe you can still produce spiritual ink; we have to make good use of waste."

Miao Si's expression changed, and despair appeared in the depths of her eyes.

Huang Xuan, who was on the side, stared blankly at the young Daoist nun in Confucian robes who had become inexplicable today.

She was dazed for a while, then turned to look at Rong Zhen and the others who were busy setting up the formation in the courtyard, and... the Commandant benefactor who had been silent throughout.

A while later, Huang Xuan murmured in a voice no one else could hear: "Smartest, none other..."

No one noticed the subtle change in Huang Xuan's expression. Rong Zhen, who was presiding over the formation, walked up with a cold face.

She checked the injuries of the young nun who had brought it upon herself, found that there was no major problem, performed a seal to seal her, and handed her over to Lian Qing to watch.

Then, Rong Zhen's gaze fell on Huang Xuan.

Huang Xuan suddenly raised her head and showed a smiling face to Rong Zhen:

"I will listen to the Female Historian."

Seeing her so cooperative, Yan Zhang and Lian Qing looked satisfied.

Lian Qing bent down and touched Huang Xuan's head gently:

"That's good. In the future, I won't let this little ink spirit bully you. Stay away from this monster."

"Mm." Huang Xuan nodded vigorously.

Her eyes, known as the innocent spiritual eyes, were exceptionally clear and innocent at this moment, her pupils ink-black and pure.

Rong Zhen stared at her for a while, but fell silent.

During a break in setting up the formation, the cold girl in palace attire pulled Huang Xuan to the side and pursed her lips:

"I will carefully interrogate the reason, but I won't kill her. I know you have feelings for her, although she doesn't seem to cherish you as a friend at all.

"Don't take Yan Zhang and Lian Qing's words from before too seriously, and don't hold a grudge. They aren't the ones in charge. I will protect her..."

"I don't understand what Sister Rong Zhen is saying." Huang Xuan asked curiously, then shook her head and said: "It's okay. After this time, I see clearly. She doesn't treat me as a friend, and I won't treat her as a friend anymore."

Rong Zhen opened her mouth but stopped, not knowing what to say. She sighed lightly and walked away.

Before long, the formation in the courtyard was nearing its end.

Ouyang Rong silently watched Miao Si's red eyes, which were bound, for a while. He turned his head to look at the carriage outside the courtyard.

At this moment, inside the carriage, on an opened cloth bundle, the wooden box body was trembling and rattling. The bronze mask that had been placed on the wooden box had already been shaken off and fallen to the floor.

Ouyang Rong's dantian spiritual energy was only enough to kill one Grade 6 Qi Refiner.

What if he added this blood qi in his chest at this moment?

Add one more.

But what about the remaining one?

Actually, this one didn't need to be considered, because if he overdrew his "uneven qi" again to kill a Grade 6, he would likely overdraw himself into a coma again.

Why not kill the two who deserved to die the most? Trading one for two wasn't a blood loss.

Ouyang Rong smiled and looked at the male historian with the mole on his brow and the female historian with the mole on her brow.

Huang Xuan, who had been avoiding looking at him, suddenly turned her head and asked Ouyang Rong earnestly:

"Is the benefactor hungry? There is porridge in the pot."

He was interrupted.

Ouyang Rong turned his head slowly and looked at the little girl in the red jacket who was asking with a sincere expression.

The two of them, plus Yan Liulang, didn't need to participate in setting up the formation, so they seemed a bit idle.

Before he could answer, Huang Xuan suddenly turned and ran to the kitchen, seemingly to get porridge.

Rong Zhen and the others didn't bother to care; they were under their noses anyway.

A while later.

"The formation is ready!" Yan Zhang clapped his hands, stood up, and looked around: "Where are the people? That yellow-haired girl, get into position quickly."

The Moon Under the Pool formation was complete.

At this time, from the back kitchen, Huang Xuan walked out holding a bowl of warm porridge in both hands and walked toward Ouyang Rong...

This chapter is a bit long, a slight compensation or2