Chapter 406

One hundred sixty-three: Who is looking for me?

No way, a gentleman also guards against craftsmen. One hundred sixty-three: Who is looking for me? Huang Xuan went to the back kitchen to get porridge, which did not disrupt the progress of Rong Zhen and the others in setting up the formation.

When Yan Zhang said the formation was ready, Huang Xuan walked out with the porridge and walked toward Ouyang Rong.

And Rong Zhen, who was on the side, walked to the center of the courtyard and put on the golden four-eyed mask again.

Ouyang Rong's attention had originally been entirely on the little girl in the red jacket walking toward him.

At this moment, he suddenly felt his whole body become heavy, as if someone had placed a heavy object on his shoulders.

Looking to the side, in the center of the courtyard, the hem of Rong Zhen's snow-white palace dress appeared to be shaking like ocean waves.

At the same time, a hazy water mist also spread out with the ground under Rong Zhen's feet as the center, covering a range of ten zhang—which was roughly the area of this old courtyard.

Ouyang Rong turned his head and found that Beside Yan Liulang, who was looking around curiously, didn't have this "feeling of becoming heavy" like him; he was just surprised by the hazy water mist that had appeared for no reason.

He suddenly realized that it wasn't that his shoulders were bearing more weight.

It was that his dantian spiritual energy had been sealed.

Placed within the ten-zhang range of the Moon Under the Pool formation, he had lost his spiritual cultivation, which was why he felt a renewed burden.

It was like a fish returning to the shore, or a bird losing its wings and having to walk on the ground again.

Ouyang Rong immediately mobilized his spiritual energy; sure enough, it was extremely sluggish.

He couldn't even mobilize the Xin Dingjian in the carriage at the courtyard gate.

He turned his head and looked silently at Rong Zhen.

The latter was standing in the center of the courtyard, wearing a heavy golden mask, yet she held her head high and instructed the quiet crowd:

"Everyone to your positions.

"The Fangxiang Mask is another formation eye that requires me to wear it to preside over it. During the time I am presiding, I cannot move around, otherwise, the formation will have leaks.

"Lian Qing, you stay by the side and are responsible for protecting me.

"Yan Zhang, you take the people and draw your swords, get ready, and wait for the earth-escape teleportation."

Having said this, Rong Zhen turned her head and finally looked at Ouyang Rong and Beside Yan Liulang;

"Commandant Ouyang, Army Supervisor Yan, you two follow Yan Zhang and prepare to capture the thief... Commandant Ouyang, where is your sword? Why haven't you taken it yet? Forget it, use mine to kill the enemy or protect yourself."

Rong Zhen frowned slightly and instructed.

Before Ouyang Rong could react, the cold girl in palace attire, who was presiding over the formation, had already unfastened a waist sword, handed it to Lian Qing, and passed it over.

Ouyang Rong lowered his head to look at the sword, then looked at the palace girl who had trustingly gifted him the sword.

"Magistrate..." Beside Yan Liulang squeezed out a sound through his teeth.

Looking to the side, Beside Yan Liulang was looking at him with anxiety in his eyes, his expression seemingly asking what to do next.

If they didn't find a way to destroy this formation, or run out of the courtyard to find Xie and the others to join forces and defend against the enemy, it would be too late.

If he wanted to use the Xin Dingjian for a desperate fight, he should now immediately find an excuse to leave the courtyard, leave this formation, and summon the Xin Dingjian to act.

If the spiritual energy wasn't enough and he couldn't finish killing them, he couldn't finish killing them; it was still better than sitting here waiting for death. Even if he exhausted all his "uneven qi," he could still take two people down with him.

Although by now, the former method of escaping to the Prince's Mansion to find Xie Lingjiang and other trusted helpers to defend against the enemy seemed to have run out of time.

As for drawing his sword to attack Rong Zhen, or killing Huang Xuan, Miao Si, etc., to silence them, that would be no different from jumping out and revealing his identity.

Before Ouyang Rong could speak, a fiery red figure with short legs passed by Beside Yan Liulang, who was holding his saber, and walked in front of him, holding a bowl of warm porridge in both hands and handing it to him.

It was Huang Xuan, who had suddenly asked Ouyang Rong if he was hungry and wanted porridge.

At this moment, the courtyard was also quiet. Rong Zhen, Lian Qing, Yan Zhang, and others all cast their gazes over.

Now they were just waiting for Huang Xuan, who was the other formation eye, to get into position.

Yan Zhang and the others looked impatient and wanted to urge her, but seeing Rong Zhen's calm expression, they had to swallow it back and wait together.

"Commandant benefactor, here."

In front of Ouyang Rong, Huang Xuan stood on tiptoe and handed over the porridge bowl.

"Thank you."

Ouyang Rong said in a low voice, preparing to drink this bowl of warm porridge as a final act.

Until this moment, he, who had fallen into a dead end, still didn't regret saving Huang Xuan in the street that day, which had led to so many things afterward.

If time could return and come again, he would still do it.

Ouyang Rong's eyes looking at the bowl of porridge were incomparably peaceful.

Huang Xuan looked up at the young man drinking the porridge, pulled a sheathed dagger from her sleeve, and in front of everyone in the courtyard, drew the rusty blade and stabbed it toward Ouyang Rong's right chest.

The event was sudden, and everyone in the courtyard looked surprised.

Ouyang Rong was also stunned.

"Magistrate, watch out!"

Only Beside Yan Liulang, who was closest to him and Huang Xuan, reacted, drawing his saber and rushing forward.

Huang Xuan's action of stabbing someone with the dagger was not skillful, and even appeared somewhat clumsy and slow. The dagger hadn't even touched Ouyang Rong when Beside Yan Liulang's blade arrived, about to hack at her small body from behind.

"Wait, Liulang, stop!"

Ouyang Rong suddenly reacted, pulled Huang Xuan, who was in front of him, into his arms, dodged Beside Yan Liulang's blade, and at the same time twisted his body to block Beside Yan Liulang's second anxious strike.

"Magistrate, you..."

This act of pulling the guard close and then turning to protect the assassin made everyone, who had been surprised throughout, stunned again.

At the same time, a muffled sound of a dagger entering flesh rang out in the courtyard.

With no one to block it, and even with her own desperate approach, the dagger stabbed Ouyang Rong in the right chest.

Huang Xuan, who had been held by him, hurriedly broke free from his embrace.

With a clatter, the blood-stained dagger fell to the ground.

Huang Xuan retreated slowly, her innocent spiritual eyes staring wide at Ouyang Rong, who was "seeking death."

The bowl of warm porridge in his hand had never fallen from beginning to end, and not even half of it had spilled; he had even held his arm further away, fearing it would be stained with blood.

In the open space of the courtyard, the young man holding the porridge lowered his head and looked at the bloody wound on his chest.

He didn't know if Huang Xuan was inexperienced or intentional, but the dagger's initial direction was toward his right chest, and the wound was also there, not hitting his heart.

However, due to excessive blood loss and immense pain, Ouyang Rong's body was somewhat swaying.

"Magistrate!" Beside Yan Liulang rushed forward, supporting him with a face full of worry.

Except for Rong Zhen, who was presiding over the formation, Yan Zhang, Lian Qing, and others quickly surrounded them.

Lian Qing pressed her palm on Huang Xuan's shoulder, restraining her to prevent another accident.

Yan Zhang walked up, first glancing at Ouyang Rong's wound, then looking at the porridge in his hand that hadn't spilled, and curled his lips:

"According to Female Historian Rong Zhen, Commandant Ouyang has some Qi Refining cultivation, so how could he be approached and stabbed by a little girl? He couldn't even prevent this little danger, and almost got hit in a vital spot. Being an official really makes one slack."

Beside Yan Liulang immediately glared angrily:

"What kind of damn formation is this? All spiritual cultivation is gone. You tell me how to dodge. If you have the ability, you come. Standing there talking doesn't hurt your waist."

Lian Qing smiled and said:

"Don't talk nonsense. Commandant Ouyang didn't even spill the porridge in his hand. Doesn't he look quite dashing? With ease..."

Yan Zhang's eyes lit up:

"Oh, I understand. No wonder he protected this little girl just now. Commandant Ouyang is also afraid of delaying Female Historian Rong Zhen's investigation and ruining this 'formation eye,' right? So he yielded, tsk tsk tsk."

Having said this, the male historian with the mole on his brow showed a serious expression, cupped his fists at Ouyang Rong, his tone admiring:

"So that's it. Commandant Ouyang truly considers the big picture. Female Historian Rong Zhen did not trust you wrongly."

"You..."

Beside Yan Liulang always felt that this sissy in front of him was being sarcastic, and glared angrily while holding his saber.

"Liulang."

Ouyang Rong didn't even look at Yan Zhang, who seemed to be displeased with him and was speaking sarcastically, and pressed down on Beside Yan Liulang.

Supported by the latter, Ouyang Rong covered the bloody wound on his chest and looked silently at the little girl in the red jacket whose hands were stained with blood.

Huang Xuan, who was restrained by Lian Qing, was dazed for a moment. Suddenly, she saw her eyes cast hatefully toward Ouyang Rong, her little face full of resentment:

"That time at Xunyang Tower, it was all your fault. Originally, my father and I could have lived in a big house. It was all your fault. For the sake of your so-called clean reputation, you refused Lady Pei's win-win strategy. You really deserve to die.

"Ouyang Lianghan, you say, what kind of good person are you pretending to be? Isn't it just that you want to win the reputation of loving the people like a son? It would be fine if you had selfish motives, but you have to pretend.

"Even now you're still pretending, pretending to protect me and letting bygones be bygones. Heh, can you hurt me? I am a cultivation seed, and I have a pair of spiritual eyes, and I am the key to the Female Historian's formation today. If you had dared to hurt me just now, the Female Historian would have already twisted your head off. Still pretending to be benevolent, bah, hypocrite!"

Huang Xuan stared at Ouyang Rong, cursing angrily, but for some reason, her little face was covered in tears.

Yan Zhang on the side was gloating; these words were truly satisfying. He hadn't seen that this little girl was actually his best mouthpiece.

Yan Zhang turned his head to look at Rong Zhen's expression, but unfortunately, she was wearing the golden four-eyed fierce mask, so he couldn't see her specific expression, which made Yan Zhang feel a bit regretful.

Cursed by Huang Xuan, whose assassination attempt had failed, Ouyang Rong kept his head down throughout, not saying a word.

Beside Yan Liulang on the side discovered that he had silently set down the porridge bowl, not drinking a single mouthful, and placed it on the ground.

"Enough."

Rong Zhen spoke, her voice cold:

"I don't care what deep-seated grudges you have. From now on, no one is allowed to make any more small moves, otherwise, bear the consequences yourself."

Her sharp gaze swept over everyone in the courtyard one by one, and everyone either lowered their heads or nodded.

Beside Yan Liulang bandaged Ouyang Rong's wound, raised his head, and said with an anxious look:

"Female Historian, the Magistrate's wound is quite deep and the bleeding won't stop. That rusty blade might have been smeared with something. How about I take him out to treat the wound? There seems to be medicine in the carriage."

"Take him to be treated." Rong Zhen sighed, her tone seemingly somewhat disappointed: "You don't need to come back later. Leave the matters below to us."

Upon hearing this, Beside Yan Liulang didn't talk nonsense, immediately supported Ouyang Rong, who was covering his wound, and walked out of the courtyard limping together.

With a light "bang," the courtyard gate was closed.

They didn't forget to close the door thoughtfully when they left.

Inside the courtyard, the plan to set up the formation and catch the thief proceeded as usual.

After Ouyang Rong left, Huang Xuan, whose spirit was somewhat dazed, was taken by Lian Qing to the original position of the formation eye.

In addition, Miao Si, whose mouth was blocked, was also thrown by Yan Zhang to the corresponding position in the formation.

"Mm, mm, mm... woo, woo, woo..."

Miao Si looked toward Huang Xuan, who was also being controlled, her eyes red.

The two of them still had to serve as part of the formation to expose someone's identity.

All their efforts today were in vain...

Seeing that everyone on the field was in position.

Inside the Moon Under the Pool formation.

Rong Zhen took out a red paper recording "Butterfly Loves Flowers" from her sleeve. She lowered her head to look at it, and was about to crush it to extract that person's literary qi as a guide.

Just at this moment, all the movements of the cold girl in palace attire stopped. Her little face wearing the golden mask slowly looked up, staring at the sky in a daze.

The palace girl looking up at the sky didn't move, like a statue.

"What's wrong with Female Historian Rong Zhen?"

Yan Zhang noticed the anomaly, his eyes curiously following her gaze toward the sky, and his expression immediately froze.

In the courtyard, Lian Qing and the others also looked up curiously.

They saw that in the sky above, a blue moon appeared, standing side by side with the sun...

No.

It wasn't the moon.

It was an "arc."

A clear blue arc, dreamlike and illusory.

"It's that Xin Dingjian!" Rong Zhen suddenly spoke: "The owner of 'Butterfly Loves Flowers' is nearby."

Xin Dingjian?!

Yan Zhang and Lian Qing suddenly realized.

Only a Xin Dingjian would have this kind of dreamlike appearance method from mythological books.

It was like someone was playing a martial arts game, and suddenly a guy appeared who was cheating with a sword-flying immortal cultivation method.

Dimensional reduction strike, truly damnable.

Lian Qing immediately became anxious:

"It's 'Return'! He is deploying the sword outside the formation, wanting to avoid the Moon Under the Pool. But his sword deployment is useless; the Xin Dingjian cannot enter the Moon Under the Pool! If he dares to enter, his spiritual energy will be cut off, and he will be trapped in the formation.

"Rong Zhen, from now on, do not cancel the formation, otherwise some of us will lose our lives. Quickly activate the Moon Under the Pool formation, earth-escape over, and trap this person!"

Her voice had just fallen when, before Rong Zhen could close her eyes to mobilize the dragon whiskers of the Mysterious Yellow Earth Dragon, a furious roar suddenly came from outside the courtyard wall:

"Magistrate! Watch out for this thief... Ah!"

Everyone in the courtyard only heard the roar outside the courtyard wall being interrupted by a scream.

"Bang—!"

The courtyard gate shattered into pieces, and wood chips scattered.

Everyone saw Beside Yan Liulang's figure flying backward into the courtyard, his constable saber falling crisply to the ground.

He fell to the ground with his eyes closed, unconscious. Everyone in the courtyard looked at each other, and listening to his words just now, that Commandant Ouyang should have also been hit outside.

Everyone's eyes turned toward the entrance in unison.

They saw a young man in Confucian robes wearing a bronze mask, holding a piece of purple, thin fabric in his hand, slowly walking into the courtyard, his voice muffled and somewhat hoarse:

"Who among you is looking for me?"

His tone was curious; he didn't hide, but actively entered the formation.

The whole scene was silent.