Chapter 506: Three hundred seventy-eight, Blood Bronze!

Three hundred seventy-eight, Blood Bronze!

The Xunyang Grottoes were in full swing finishing the Great Buddha.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen, who were in charge of the Donglin Great Buddha, were idle, accompanying the elderly musician surnamed Yu to tour the mountains and play in the water.

Since that peach blossom forest was cleared and spoiled the fun, the old musician hadn't gone back.

However, over the past few days, the three of them had walked through the Kuanglu Mountains.

Crossing the Pine Stream, passing the Far Bridge, climbing the Dai Rock, flipping over the Emerald Mountain, admiring the Pear Pavilion, touring the Sound Valley...

The old musician seemed to like the Kuanglu Mountains very much, leaving traces at some well-known scenic spots in the mountains.

Coming on impulse and leaving on impulse. For example, landscapes like Dai Rock and Pear Pavilion—they had just climbed up and arrived, and before they could sit for a while, he played a song and stood up to leave.

There was no pattern.

In the words Rong Zhen heard Ouyang Rong complain about in private, elderly Mr. Yu was just checking in.

An eighty-year-old man and an eight-year-old child had the same mischievous personality.

Ouyang Rong observed carefully and discovered that, except for the zither song he played on impulse at the tinkling Pine Stream at the beginning.

Subsequently, at five places including under the bridge, under the rock, under the pavilion, and in the valley, there was a zither song left behind that was played on impulse.

A total of six songs.

Ouyang Rong counted silently, and just like at the Pine Stream, he honestly played them again on the spot.

Rong Zhen, on the other hand, had her little hands behind her back, looking like a cold, emotionless little person.

After all, she was the Lady Historian in charge of the entire Jiang Nan Supervisory Court, who could mobilize the Bai Hu Guard and the Black Tortoise Guard. Being able to patiently accompany the elderly senior of the Astronomical Bureau to wander aimlessly and play was already very patient.

Ouyang Rong expressed understanding.

Every time the old musician stopped to play on impulse, a look of expectation appeared on Rong Zhen's pretty face, preparing to snatch the ancient zither that someone was carrying on his back the whole time.

However, every expectation turned into a look of disappointment.

Not one of the five or six songs was the legendary military formation song she was looking for.

The Lady Historian was too lazy to be patient and record the memories.

After all, there was a follower present.

Although after listening to it in a hurry, Ouyang Rong couldn't fully master the zither song and couldn't reach the point of being exactly the same, he had a rough outline and could play it a bit like the real thing.

Previously, when he first saw the old musician in the bamboo forest at Twin Peaks Peak, Ouyang Rong had tested it. With his spirituality and comprehension, he needed to close his eyes and listen blindly twice to be able to play it decently.

But the old musician's personality was free and easy. He didn't stay too long in any place and didn't give a second chance, not turning back to play again.

Ouyang Rong seriously suspected that he was just doing it on impulse, and perhaps he had forgotten it himself after playing.

However, Ouyang Rong didn't relax his attention.

That golden blessing from a few days ago lingered in his heart. He suspected it was related to this elderly Mr. Yu and the zither songs, so he naturally became serious.

This evening, the three of them bid farewell to the Kuanglu Mountains and finally finished touring. There were still some nooks and crannies that the old musician didn't go to.

They walked down the mountain along the main road. Xunyang City was built with the Kuanglu Mountains at its back, so after going down the mountain, they entered the city directly.

Passing through several wards, the three of them left the city from the West Gate, preparing to return to Twin Peaks Peak.

On the official road, a dazzling white wave rushed toward them.

Yi Qianqiu led three hundred cavalry to meet them, reining in their horses in front of Ouyang Rong, Rong Zhen, and the other three.

To take the old musician back to the city.

"Did the gentleman have a good time?"

Yi Qianqiu asked in a muffled voice, wearing that white silver tiger mask without taking it off.

Although he couldn't see her specific expression, Ouyang Rong heard a respectful tone in her voice.

The old musician nodded kindly, politely declining the female official who wanted to take the zither for him. He held the zither, turned around, and pointed remotely toward the Xunyang Ward they had passed by.

"Previously, Lady Rong said that Xunyang Tower has zither songs famous in Jiang Nan, and Ouyang Junior Scholar also knows them. When will you take this old man to see them and broaden my horizons?"

Rong Zhen and Ouyang Rong exchanged a glance and answered crisply:

"For safety's sake, if the Old Gentleman is not in too much of a hurry, could you wait a few days to let the Supervisory Court check the city's security again?"

Ouyang Rong took over the conversation and said sincerely:

"The junior and the famous pipa player, Miss Qin, of Xunyang Tower are quite familiar. It just so happens that in these few days, I will have her gather more famous pipa masters in Jiangzhou, and then hold an evening party so that Mr. Yu can listen to his heart's content and exchange musical arts."

The old musician laughed heartily and stroked his beard: "Good."

Rong Zhen cast a look of praise at Ouyang Rong.

Hua Xuanji, the old musician boarded the carriage, and the crowd rode their horses, sending him back to the Xunyang Grottoes.

The pitch-black night wind on the official road scraped people's temples like a comb.

Beside the carriage, Rong Zhen inadvertently moved closer to Ouyang Rong and said casually:

"You've worked hard these two days. The Old Senior looks quite happy."

"Did Lady Historian Rong find the song you wanted?"

"Not yet, but it should be soon. Tonight, this palace and elderly Mr. Song will go find the Old Gentleman to talk."

Ouyang Rong stroked the zither case on the horse's back and asked softly:

"Then what about the pipa evening party at Xunyang Tower? Should it still be organized?"

Rong Zhen didn't think for too long:

"You arrange it first."

"Good."

"These two days, the Supervisory Court and the Bai Hu Guard will send people into the city to assist you and strengthen the security of Xunyang City."

Ouyang Rong glanced at Rong Zhen.

The latter remembered something and added casually:

"Rest assured, these people entering the city will listen to your arrangements. Without your permission, they will not break into private houses and disturb Xunyang's reputation."

Ouyang Rong nodded lightly.

Just at this moment, Yi Qianqiu whipped her horse and moved closer.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen's conversation stopped.

Yi Qianqiu glanced at the sandalwood prayer beads Ouyang Rong was playing with in his hand and asked:

"Was this bestowed by the Sage?"

Ouyang Rong didn't react in time, but Rong Zhen had already nodded on his behalf:

"Mm, the Sage's great grace, not worse than Lin Cheng's treatment back then."

Yi Qianqiu's white silver tiger mask covered her expression. The two eye sockets revealed by the mask seemed to look back and forth between Rong Zhen and Ouyang Rong.

The look in her eyes as she watched this pair of handsome man and beautiful woman was quite meaningful.

Ouyang Rong asked casually:

"By the way, how is General Duan's situation in Hukou County?"

Yi Qianqiu turned her head, her eyes a bit sharper:

"Those water bandits are very cunning. There are too many marshes in Hukou County. Every time there is a clue, we chase them to the edge of the marsh, and these water bandits scatter in all directions. The Bai Hu Guard's cavalry is not very good at chasing, and getting off the horse to enter the marsh on foot makes it easy to get lost. Although Commandant Duan found locals to lead the way, the water bandits broke into pieces... The effectiveness of the pursuit is too weak."

Ouyang Rong frowned slightly:

"This kind of Mobile Corps Commander tactic, how come it looks a bit like military strategy? It doesn't look like something that ordinary undisciplined, lazy Jianghu people could organize. It's clearly well-trained."

"That's right."

Yi Qianqiu nodded. After listening, she glanced at Ouyang Rong, looking at him with a bit more respect.

She squinted her eyes while riding, looking at the hazy lights of the Xunyang Grottoes at the end of the official road, and analyzed:

"According to the intelligence summarized so far, there should be a small unit of the Kuangfu Army lurking within the territory. These water bandits are disguised by them. There is no lack of Jianghu people from Tiannan among them. The leader should be that kid named Du Shuqing beside Li Zhengyan. This person comes from the Jingzhao Du clan, which is on par with the Wei clan that Commandant Wei comes from. Both are elite children of aristocratic families, and they have some ability..."

Ouyang Rong listened silently.

Rong Zhen remembered something, took a memorial from her sleeve, and handed it to Ouyang Rong.

"Almost forgot, take it."

Ouyang Rong was curious: "What is this?"

"The latest edict issued from Luoyang."

Ouyang Rong quickly browsed through it by the light of the lantern hanging on the carriage shaft and was surprised:

"Limit Yue Woman Edict?"

Rong Zhen nodded, her voice turning cold:

"That's right. The imperial court has officially issued a decree. From today on, any household in Jiang Nan Circuit or Lingnan Circuit that is connected to the Lady Yunmeng Yue women, or households that privately hide the Lady Yunmeng Order, will be punished according to the heavy laws of the Great Zhou. Those who assist will be implicated and exiled, and their descendants will not be allowed to enter the imperial court as officials...

"This limit edict will be promulgated by you and the Jiangzhou government, first implemented in Jiangzhou and Hongzhou, and other prefectures and counties in the two circuits will follow up."

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips and didn't speak immediately.

If the conflict between the Great Zhou imperial court and the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect had not been fully publicized before, or if the Great Zhou imperial court hadn't paid too much attention to the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect and the Jianghu people related to it.

Then now, with the promulgation of this limit edict, the conflict was completely publicized, with a sense of life-and-death, without any room for maneuver. Everyone in the Tiannan Jianghu had to choose a side, otherwise, it was a capital crime, and there was no room for negotiation.

"This edict was actually pushed by Prince Wei and Prince Liang. The former has the pain of losing a son, and all the civil and military officials in the court are quite sympathetic..."

Rong Zhen continued to narrate:

"Ouyang Lianghan, didn't you say before that the Jianghu is not about killing, but about human relationships? Then take a look at this Tiannan Jianghu and see how many heroes can abandon their families and children to follow the orders of that so-called Lady Yunmeng Yunmeng Yuanjun."

The cold palace-dressed young girl slightly raised her chin, word by word:

"What belongs to the Sage must return to the Sage, and what belongs to the Yunmeng Yuanjun must also return to the Sage."

Seeing Ouyang Rong looking ahead, as if pondering, Rong Zhen waited for a while and frowned:

"Ouyang Lianghan, what are you dazing about?"

Ouyang Rong slowly stuffed the edict into his sleeve.

Default.

Rong Zhen carefully observed Ouyang Rong's expression.

She seemed very concerned about someone's subtle reactions.

Yi Qianqiu suddenly said:

"This edict is promulgated well. The measures taken by Lady Historian Rong and Prefect Ouyang to strictly search for the Lady Yunmeng Order were also very timely."

She took out a blood-stained bronze short sword to signal, her eyes very sharp:

"This thing must absolutely not flow into Jiangzhou in large quantities, especially near the Xunyang Grottoes. Anyone carrying this item will be killed on sight. There is absolutely no injustice!"

Ouyang Rong asked: "Does Commander Yi know the usage of this item? Do you know how the Tiannan Jianghu rebels will use it?"

Yi Qianqiu glanced at him sideways and said nothing.

Ouyang Rong also looked at her generously.

Yi Qianqiu shifted her gaze to Rong Zhen's face, looking somewhat amused.

Ouyang Rong also frowned and turned to look at Rong Zhen.

At this time, Yi Qianqiu turned her head back, her tone slightly cold:

"Since you don't know, forget it. Prefect Ouyang is a civil official; just do your own job well. There is no need to know. This is a secret of the imperial court..."

Rong Zhen suddenly interrupted:

"It's already at this point, actually there is nothing that cannot be said. This palace trusts Prefect Ouyang."

Ouyang Rong shook his head:

"Forget it. Commander Yi is also right. The junior is indeed an outsider."

Rong Zhen shook her head:

"No, you have already participated. Since you have accepted the edict and are going to promulgate the Limit Yue Woman Edict and help the imperial court confiscate the Lady Yunmeng Order, you should know the use of this thing to prevent being accidentally injured."

Ouyang Rong asked curiously: "What do you mean?"

Yi Qianqiu lowered her eyes and didn't speak. Rong Zhen turned her head to look at him.

Ouyang Rong saw her eyes were cold and bright:

"In rumors, the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect guards a great formation left over from the Pre-Qin period. This formation has a vast range. According to the records of the Astronomical Bureau, it seems to be able to cover the Jiang Nan Circuit and Lingnan Circuit currently delineated by the Great Zhou, which happens to be the Tiannan Jianghu that people talk about, and is the radiation range of the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect's power."

Rong Zhen's gaze cast toward the bronze short sword in Yi Qianqiu's hand, squinting her eyes and saying:

"The material of this Lady Yunmeng Order is very special. It is suspected to be a clone of the formation eye of this great formation, a replica of it, and is closely related to the true formation eye. And this material is named... Blood Bronze.

"If the records in the Astronomical Bureau about this item are correct, it can mobilize the unknown killing power of this great formation at any time."

Ouyang Rong's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Blood Bronze?"

Snow Wood Villa.

Spring Pavilion.

The morning sun was bright.

Under the pear tree outside the pavilion, Yu Nianyuan was feeding the insect lady.

Inside the pavilion, Snow Candle sat cross-legged, wiping her sword with a white cloth. On the floor in front of her was an urgent secret report that had been sent.

"Limit Yue Woman Edict?" She laughed lightly.

Yu Nianyuan also nodded:

"Promulgated by the Jiangzhou government. Currently, the officials of the Jiangzhou government should have a close relationship with the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, and there have been reinforcements at the Xunyang Grottoes recently... It seems that the words the Eldest Yuan Shijie asked Sanqing to bring to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion last time were not taken seriously by them."

Snow Candle nodded, her expression as usual:

"Normal. After all, they are the noble descendants of the imperial family. It saves the trouble of explaining, and they did it clearly and without ambiguity, which is convenient. Just don't blame the sword for having no eyes."

She lowered her head slightly, stroking the snow-white long sword, and asked coldly:

"Second Xiao Shimei, when was the last time our sect was wanted by the Northern pseudo-dynasty with a death order?"

Yu Nianyuan said lightly:

"The ninth year of Kaihuang of the Great Sui. The Northerners went south, Jiankang City fell, and the Southern Dynasty collapsed."

Snow Candle asked: "How does the situation compare to today?"

Yu Nianyuan seemed very familiar with it and didn't pause, answering immediately:

"At that time, many seniors of the Female Monarch Hall did not issue the Lady Yunmeng Order and did not use the great formation. The Great Sui imperial court wanted us, but no one dared to take half a step into the Lady Yunmeng Marsh. The limit edict was a mere scrap of paper. Even though everyone knew that we, the Yue women of the Female Monarch Hall, had the bloodline of the Six Dynasties imperial family, who in the world dared to come?"

Snow Candle gripped the sword hilt tightly, her hand trembling slightly, then slowly loosened it, her tone somewhat self-deprecating:

"This seat is ashamed."

Yu Nianyuan shook her head:

"It's not the Eldest Yuan Shijie's fault. The situation didn't give our generation of the Female Monarch Hall time to recuperate. Some things must be done, and someone must stand up. The seniors of the Female Monarch Hall in heaven will be comforted to know that there is still an Eldest Yuan Shijie who can hold her own."

Snow Candle pursed her lips and remained silent, then turned her eyes and asked:

"By the way, what does the Xiao Shimei mean? Has her cultivation broken through?"

Yu Nianyuan's movements paused. She let go of the insect lady, walked into the pavilion, and took out a secret letter from Star Child Lane from her sleeve.

This Second Female Monarch of Lady Yunmeng handed over the letter with a somewhat strange expression.

The tall Hu woman with golden hair reaching her waist looked curious and took the letter...