Chapter 528

400. Zhao Qingxiu: 【Xie Jie, who is that other sister outside?】

The commotion of Ouyang Rong's arrival was quite loud in the courtyard.

And his footsteps.

Not to mention that both Xie Lingjiang and Zhao Qingxiu were mid-grade Qi Refiners, so naturally, they could hear clearly.

Ouyang Rong walked into the main hall and saw that in the courtyard, Embroidery Maid, who was collecting clothes by the clothes rack, turned her head and "looked" over.

Beside the Eight Immortals table, Xiao Shimei's back still didn't move, as if she were lowering her head to eat noodles.

In the sky above the courtyard, dark clouds were densely covered, and thunder and rain were about to fall, but a strong wind had already risen, blowing the trees in the courtyard.

"Long ling—"

It was the sound of the icy white jade hairpin pendant being blown by the wind.

But Ouyang Rong saw that this hairpin was not on Embroidery Maid's hair; the crisp sound came from the Eight Immortals table side...

Turning his head to look.

It was currently lying quietly beside Xiao Shimei's noodle bowl, near the edge of the table, with the pendant end hanging in the air, being blown by the wind.

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips and walked over.

"Ah ah."

Zhao Qingxiu returned after collecting the clothes, as if she had lightly called out "Tanlang," and stretched out her finger to point at the Eight Immortals table in the main hall.

Ouyang Rong was silent, came to the table, and sat down opposite Xie Lingjiang.

Zhao Qingxiu hugged a few clean Confucian robes and returned to the corridor to hide from the rain. She didn't walk into the main hall immediately, but first went to the main side room to put away the clothes.

Ouyang Rong looked at Xiao Shimei quietly.

The fire-red clothes she loved to wear were a bit dim in the dimly lit main hall at this moment.

As if they had been drenched by rain.

But the fire hadn't been extinguished, following the slight amplitude of her holding the bowl to eat noodles.

This cluster of flames seemed to be jumping lightly.

As if in a fireplace warming the room, in an environment without wind or rain, it was burning silently, evoking some memories in others.

Xie Lingjiang buried her head in eating noodles, her speed even faster, not looking at him.

Ouyang Rong inexplicably remembered the time when the two first met.

That day was at the Sanhui Courtyard of Donglin Temple. He was kicked flying, turned his head to look at her against the sunlight, a bit dazzling, and her voice was as crisp as an oriole, still in his ears:

"Still have an accomplice keeping watch? Little thief."

"What little thief? This is my room; you are the little thief, trespassing in a private residence."

"Turning the tables? Looks like a habitual offender... This is the place where he is recuperating from injuries, how could it be your monk's room? Don't try to fool me."

"Is there such a possibility that I am the unlucky Ru Shixiong..."

"You?"

"In the Buddhist scripture 'Treatise on Rebirth' in your hand, on page 18, line 5, the first sentence 'Mindfulness of Buddha leads to birth in the Pure Land, fearlessness leads to Bodhi', I wrote two annotations when I read it..."

"Hello, Xiao Shimei."

"You... you are somewhat different from the rumors and what is in Father's mouth. They all say Ouyang Lianghan is a righteous gentleman, with a steep and upright character, upright and independent, with brilliant words..."

"You are also... it's just that I didn't expect Xiao Shimei to be so..."

"So what?"

"So approachable..."

The memories in his mind surged like a tide and then receded. In the dimly lit main hall, in front of the Eight Immortals table, Ouyang Rong rubbed his face and suddenly spoke:

"Hello, Xiao Shimei."

Xie Lingjiang's action of eating noodles paused.

She continued to eat, and after a while, she finished the noodles. She placed the noodle bowl gently on the table, and the chopsticks were neatly aligned and placed on the bowl.

Throughout the whole process, she lowered her eyes, her movements meticulous.

Ouyang Rong saw that there were tears on her face.

He stretched out his hand.

Xie Lingjiang suddenly reached out and pressed down on the icy white jade hairpin beside her.

Ouyang Rong's movements didn't stop; it wasn't to take the hairpin, but to pick up her empty noodle bowl and get up to walk to the kitchen.

A moment later, he brought back another bowl of longevity noodles.

"Deng."

A slight sound.

A full bowl of longevity noodles was placed beside Xie Lingjiang's hand. Ouyang Rong also brought back a piece of garlic, held it in his hand, and lowered his head to peel the garlic for her.

Xie Lingjiang looked at the courtyard, looking straight ahead.

While Ouyang Rong was peeling the garlic, he caught a glimpse that half of the Eight Immortals table's surface was wet, and half a bowl of clear water was placed on the table.

Vaguely, some graceful handwriting could be seen on the wet tabletop, but after it was written, it was all wiped away by someone, so it was impossible to see what the two women had communicated at the table before.

At this time, Zhao Qingxiu returned, holding an oil lamp in her hand.

Xie Lingjiang suddenly got up, walked over, helped Zhao Qingxiu hold the lamp, and reached out to help her sit down.

"Ah ah."

Zhao Qingxiu's little face was grateful.

Xie Lingjiang lowered her eyes and turned her head to glance at the oil lamp.

Before Ouyang Rong could see her expression clearly with the help of the candlelight.

"Xiu."

The candlelight in Xie Lingjiang's hand went out.

"I can see clearly, no need."

In the dimly lit main hall, she said calmly to the blind Zhao Qingxiu.

Xie Lingjiang helped Zhao Qingxiu to the position where she had originally eaten noodles, and she sat beside her.

Thus, it became Ouyang Rong and Zhao Qingxiu sitting face to face.

Ouyang Rong saw this, got up, and moved to the side to sit.

He sat down opposite Xie Lingjiang again.

Xie Lingjiang didn't look at him, but turned her head to look at the blind young girl who was smiling softly and "looking around."

The latter dipped her finger in clear water and wrote on the still-dry tabletop:

【Xie Jie, are you full?】

"Mm, your craftsmanship is still as good as ever. I just can't do it. On the day of Aunt Zhen's birthday, I can only send some vulgar gifts and ask others to cook."

【Xie Jie is also still as beautiful as ever.】

"You can't see anymore, why do you say I'm beautiful?"

【Although I am blind, I will always remember what Xie Jie looked like that day. Books say that those with kind hearts are beautiful, and Xie Jie occupies both. I can see it; even if I am blind, I still can.】

Xie Lingjiang turned her head, was silent for a while, and said:

"Embroidery Maid, what happened to your eyes? You were perfectly fine before you left that day..."

Her tone carried a bit of a tremor.

Zhao Qingxiu shook her head, her smile brilliant.

【An accident, I was careless myself. I don't blame others, Xie Jie, don't overthink it.】

Xie Lingjiang, however, stared straight at her, as if in a daze.

After a while, she said:

"Good, good."

At this time, Ouyang Rong tried to ask:

"Xiao Shimei, Embroidery Maid, have you met before?"

Xie Lingjiang turned a deaf ear.

Zhao Qingxiu nodded gently and wrote on the table:

【Before in Dragon City, when you were injured and unconscious, Xie Jie and I met. She took good care of me.】

Ouyang Rong wanted to ask again, but found his sleeve being tugged.

Looking down, Embroidery Maid had already withdrawn her hand.

The silent Xie Lingjiang suddenly also felt her sleeve being tugged. She turned her head to look, and the young girl with her eyes covered by the sky-blue silk ribbon had an optimistic smile, lowering her head to write new words:

【Xie Jie, this hairpin is for you. It's too noisy, I don't like it.】

Xie Lingjiang lowered her head to look at the icy white jade hairpin she had seen on Ru Shixiong's hair before.

She had heard Aunt Zhen Shuyuan tell the origin story of this hairpin; it belonged to the Zhao family girl.

"No, it is yours. No one can snatch it away."

Xie Lingjiang got up, re-inserted the icy white jade hairpin for Zhao Qingxiu, and said softly at the same time:

"Giving it to you counts as him not being blind."

The latter was flattered and hurriedly took out an amulet and handed it to Xie Lingjiang.

【Xie Jie, I originally prepared a birthday gift to see you, but I didn't expect it to be early today... This amulet was made for you. I also made one for Tanlang. It's a pair, and the meaning is really good. If you both wear it, you are truly a fairy couple, a talented man and a beautiful woman.】

Xie Lingjiang looked at her sincere words of blessing, then lowered her head to look at the amulet, and didn't speak.

The two women sat at the table, talking to each other.

Ouyang Rong watched, helpless, and had to lower his head to eat noodles himself.

At some point, Ouyang Rong felt someone writing on his palm.

It was Embroidery Maid.

【Just now when Xie Jie came in, she seemed very angry. After seeing me, she was quiet for a long time, didn't scold or hit me, and later even accompanied me to eat noodles... She wants to cry. Tanlang, you must coax Xie Jie well, otherwise I won't forgive you, really.】

After writing these words, Zhao Qingxiu seemed to say goodbye to Xie Lingjiang and got up to return to her room.

However, before leaving, she carefully left a sentence on the table:

【Xie Jie, who is that other sister outside?】

Xie Lingjiang finally turned her head and looked at Ouyang Rong with cold eyes.

Ouyang Rong immediately explained:

"It's not any sister, at least not the kind you understand. She is, she is a dedicated colleague. Today, I handled things improperly, which brought her here. I will handle it properly in a moment. Embroidery Maid, you rest first, it doesn't matter."

Zhao Qingxiu nodded thoughtfully and walked out the door. In the main hall, only Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang were left.

Ouyang Rong buried his head in finishing the longevity noodles and asked softly:

"Is Xiao Shimei still hungry? The noodles aren't enough, I'll cook some more hot ones."

While Ouyang Rong was speaking, he had already gotten up and walked to the kitchen. Xie Lingjiang suddenly got up and walked toward the courtyard gate in the opposite direction.

Ouyang Rong immediately turned around, following her like a piece of dog-skin plaster, and reached out to pull her hand.

Xie Lingjiang shook him off forcefully, Ouyang Rong pulled again, and the two of them just like that, shook him off three times in a row.

During this period, a small ink stick fell from Xie Lingjiang's sleeve and landed on the floor.

The two of them pulled each other all the way, and for a time, neither noticed.

Ouyang Rong still firmly reached out to grab her hand.

But the next second, he suddenly felt a pain in his chest, the scenery in front of him changed, and his body flew backward. When he reacted, he had already fallen flat on his back.

It was Xiao Shimei's kick.

Ouyang Rong widened his eyes, touching his chest somewhat blankly.

Xie Lingjiang turned her head, her eyes red:

"I know what your first sentence meant!"

Ouyang Rong was stunned, reacting that it was the sentence "Hello, Xiao Shimei" just now.

Her eyes were very sore, and she tried hard to look up. When she spoke too much, she couldn't suppress the crying tone:

"But I never understood, at that time, when you saw me for the first time, you said I was approachable. What exactly was going on? Woo woo, clearly the first time we met, I kicked you flying, and now I'm still kicking you flying..."

Speaking of this, Xie Lingjiang covered her mouth with one hand and took continuous deep breaths.

Ouyang Rong fell to the ground, looked up, and against the daylight in front of the courtyard gate, her figure became fire-red again, burning like a raging flame.

An oval face had already been wet by tears, becoming a tear-stained cat.

Ouyang Rong looked at her for a while and suddenly smiled, saying gently:

"It's a secret. When I marry you properly and we have our wedding night, I'll tell you again, okay?"

"Scram! Who cares!"

Xie Lingjiang cursed, turned around and walked away. Her fire-red figure ran to the door, stopped abruptly, and threw down a series of words:

"Ouyang Lianghan, you handle Rong Zhen's matter first and send her away! You must not disturb Embroidery Maid sister. She is both mute and blind. No matter how she became blind, you have a share in it. I am very sure of that. As for others, it doesn't matter if you hurt them, including me, but if you let down such a good girl, don't see me again. I don't have a Ru Shixiong like you! I will never forgive you, never!"

Ouyang Rong was stunned on the spot.

After a while, he finally realized one thing: before Xiao Shimei left, she seemed to have taken away the amulet Embroidery Maid made for her.

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips.

Just at this moment, Ouyang Rong caught a glimpse that a pitch-black object was moving on the ground beside him. Turning his head to look, it was a familiar small ink stick, as if it had grown legs, moving quietly toward the corner of the main hall, afraid of attracting anyone's attention.

Ouyang Rong got up suddenly and gripped the Miaosi main body in his hand.

"Woo woo woo, it hurts, let go, wow, why does your hand still have a garlic smell? Ptooey ptooey, no wonder Xie girl doesn't let you hold her hand. Woo woo woo, Xie girl, wait, wait for this Immortal! Woo woo, can't be like this, we have to unite, unite!"

The small ink spirit turned into a human form from the pain, looking around, crying and shouting.

Ouyang Rong kept a straight face, pinched her little head with two fingers, straightened it, and eyes to eyes, he said word by word:

"Oh, the Immortal Lady is also here. Truly, you are everywhere. What a coincidence, not."

"Haha, what a coincidence, Little Rongzi, our fate is truly good, the best, bar none."

The next instant, Ouyang Rong lifted her up suddenly, making a gesture as if to throw her to the ground.

Miaosi gave an "Ah" sound, subconsciously covering her eyes with both hands.

But immediately after, she found that her body didn't seem to hit the ground. She secretly opened her finger gaps to peek, was stunned for a moment, put down her palms, Miaosi looked around, the surroundings were dim, and she found herself inside a familiar sleeve.

Miaosi touched her body with both hands and found that she wasn't missing any arms or legs.

"Ah ah?"

At this time, she heard the voice of the young girl with the silk ribbon covering her eyes from outside the sleeve.

It turned out that this delicate and pretty mute girl heard the movement of someone falling outside and came out to care and help.

"I'm fine, I fell by accident."

Ouyang Rong seemed to shake his head and speak.

The atmosphere was quiet for a while, and Zhao Qingxiu seemed to be writing.

A moment later, Ouyang Rong's voice came from outside: "Okay, I'll go handle Xiao Shimei's side right away. If you need anything, come find me again. You rest well, don't worry."

"Mm." The two seemed to separate.

Miaosi breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately heard Ouyang Rong's lowered voice from outside:

"Did you report to Rong Zhen? How did she come? Can she locate by smelling ink like you?"

Miaosi was stunned and hurriedly shook her head:

"No! Why would I, this Immortal, harm you for no reason? I just couldn't bear to watch, so I helped Xie girl. You were already in the wrong, but I, this Immortal, still know what's important. How could I collude with the enemy? Unless you bully Xie girl. She is so good. If you dare to let her down, I will scold you as long as I live, and let future generations know that the 'Craftsman' legendary sword master, my, this Immortal's, 99th little follower, is the number one heartbreaker in history, the most shameful, bar none..."

Before she finished her muttering, she was flicked on the head by Ouyang Rong. She was dizzy, turned into an ink stick, and obediently shut her mouth.

Outside, Ouyang Rong brushed off the dust and walked out of the courtyard gate.

But when the gate opened and he saw the scene of red clothes and purple clothes facing each other outside, his eyelids jumped involuntarily.

——————

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