Chapter 641: 541. Where Did Little Shimei Go?

541. Where Did Little Shimei Go?

The zither sound echoed in the woods for who knows how long.

Over and over again.

Everyone in the camp who hadn't slept heard it.

It further highlighted the silence of the camp.

The Female Historian tonight seemed exceptionally tolerant; Ouyang Rong could play this zither sound as many times as he wanted.

Until there was a rustling sound amidst the zither music in the woods.

It was the sound of cloth belts being untied and fabric slipping off.

A moment later, the sound of the young girl came from the woods, somewhat gnashing her teeth but also helplessly enduring the shyness:

"Why did you steal another one? Didn't I give you one last time?"

Hua Xuanji, Ouyang Rong felt the small face pressed against his chest burning hot.

Rong Zhen reached out and pinched him hatefully.

"Hiss."

Ouyang Rong gasped.

"Pfft..."

Not knowing which laughing point his action of tilting his head to gasp had poked, Rong Zhen couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pinch his nose. But when Ouyang Rong looked at her smiling face with some rarity, the young girl turned cold again, hummed, and turned her head away.

The two played around for a while. Rong Zhen's black hair was disheveled. Just now, she discovered that Ouyang Rong liked to wrap his fingers around her hair, so she took the initiative to pull out the mandarin duck jade hairpin to make it convenient for him.

At this moment, curled up in his embrace like a little cat, Rong Zhen brushed the sideburns that had slipped in front of her forehead behind her ear, leaving one strand. She twisted it with two fingers and used the tip of the hair to scratch his chest. When he reached out to stop her helplessly, she dodged, lowered her head, and played secretly with a smile for a while. She asked softly:

"Lianghan, haven't you grasped the sword technique yet?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head.

Rong Zhen frowned:

"I will play it again."

"No need."

Ouyang Rong shook his head, "I remembered this zither music long ago, but my dantian didn't react. I had secretly learned a remnant song the old musician taught you once before, and I suddenly grasped half of the true meaning, advancing to the early stage of the 7th Grade. I thought that now that I had obtained the complete sword technique of the Lianzhou song, I could achieve it in one step... Now it seems that my current comprehension hasn't penetrated it immediately."

Hearing this, Rong Zhen couldn't help but feel happy for him first:

"A 7th Grade sword wielder is already very powerful. A traditional sword wielder who doesn't hold a fake Ding Sword is rare to encounter in a hundred years. During the period of the Two Sages, there were so many young talents pouring into the prosperous Luoyang from all over the world, and only one Elder Yu emerged.

"Lianghan is already very amazing, not to mention that you are already standing at the early stage of the 7th Grade, far surpassing Elder Yu at the same age.

"Sword wielders are born to be able to kill across grades. The secret treasury of the Astronomical Bureau records that without other auxiliary situations, a sword wielder holding a Ding Sword is invincible among the same grade, can kill across one grade, and then threaten the next grade.

"A 7th Grade consummate sword wielder can kill anyone below the Upper Grade! You can even faintly threaten Upper Grade Qi-refiners.

"With Lianghan's current cultivation, most 6th Grade Qi-refiners have to go around you, and Upper Grade Qi-refiners have to be slightly careful of your full-force sword deployment... If you can grasp the complete 【Wen Emperor】 sword technique and advance to the 7th Grade consummate, then you will be even safer. You really could kill anyone below the Upper Grade. Regardless of what sect monster or Qi-refining genius, you could break them with one sword."

Speaking of this, Rong Zhen said with some worry: "It's just a little bit off. Did I drag you down..."

Ouyang Rong shook his head and suddenly said: "You get dressed first. It's getting late. Accompany me over there, okay?"

"Go where?"

Ouyang Rong asked back: "Did you boil another pot of soup just now?"

Rong Zhen lowered her head: "Mm, how did you know? Do I have a smell on me?"

Ouyang Rong smiled:

"Right, I smelled it. There's a smell of firewood on your hair. Next time you squat to burn the fire, pay attention to safety. You aren't even as tall as the stove when you squat—cough, cough..." After coughing, he changed the subject and suddenly said: "Fish soup, serve three bowls. Accompany me to find Little Shimei, okay? She isn't asleep either. The night is cool; let's drink something hot together."

Rong Zhen immediately stopped talking.

Ouyang Rong looked down and found that the Female Historian was burying her little face in his arms, motionless, like a quiet little cat.

Ouyang Rong waited for a moment, raised his hand to gently stroke her back, and coaxed her in her ear in a low voice:

"Okay?"

Rong Zhen suddenly said: "Don't move."

Ouyang Rong stopped moving.

Rong Zhen leaned forward and hugged him tightly with both hands.

Ouyang Rong felt the strength of her arms, as if she wished she could knead her petite body into his chest.

She didn't speak for a long time.

Ouyang Rong was just about to speak.

Rong Zhen suddenly broke free from his embrace, picked up her slipping dress, covered her chest with her slender arms, picked up her shoes, and ran away.

Ouyang Rong was stunned for a moment.

A moment later, he looked around.

He was the only one left around the campfire.

Ye Weilai and Bai Xun didn't know where they had gone. Ouyang Rong hadn't seen them since he started accompanying Rong Zhen, but he wasn't too worried.

Ouyang Rong looked at the place where Rong Zhen disappeared, not knowing for a moment whether she had agreed or not.

There were some family disputes he wanted to handle before parting. A great man cannot even sweep a room, so how can he sweep the world?

Ouyang Rong touched the small tooth mark on his shoulder. It wasn't clear, but it should have been bitten red by her. He tidied his clothes again, covering the "strawberries" on his neck, and prepared to get up. The Female Historian seemed to like planting strawberries on him. This was a trend Ouyang Rong had recently discovered; it was becoming a bit of her little hobby...

Just then, he felt a chill on his chest. He touched his chest and found a large wet patch. It should have been there for a while, and now that it was blown by the cold wind, it was bone-chillingly cold.

Was she crying quietly when she was hugging him tightly just now... Ouyang Rong pursed his lips, preparing to go find Rong Zhen.

Just then, a graceful figure walked out of the woods and returned to the campfire.

Ouyang Rong was stunned:

"Rong Zhen..."

The graceful figure passed Ouyang Rong with decisive steps:

"Let's go, Ouyang Lianghan, don't dawdle."

Ouyang Rong looked down and found that Rong Zhen was holding a food box in her hand, in which soup seemed to be sloshing.

Ouyang Rong reacted and followed quickly.

He was somewhat surprised and turned his head to look at Rong Zhen's usual cold profile.

He asked cautiously: "How many bowls of fish soup?"

"Two."

Before Ouyang Rong could ask, she added with a straight face: "None for you."

"..."

Although he was choked, Ouyang Rong beamed with joy, immediately stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and walked with her toward the tent ahead.

A moment later, Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen brought a box of fish soup to Princess Li Guoer's tent.

Rong Zhen had an expression of reluctance, and her voice was a little louder:

"If it weren't for your begging, I wouldn't have come. You should have let her come out herself..."

Ouyang Rong was just about to speak when Princess Li Guoer walked out of the tent, followed by Caishou, who was rubbing her eyes in a daze:

"Ouyang Young Master? Female Historian Rong, why are you here?"

Ouyang Rong saw that Princess Li Guoer was also yawning, her eyes somewhat sleepy. It seemed she had also been woken up by them.

"Why did you come over?"

Princess Li Guoer glanced at Rong Zhen, as if she had some morning grumpiness.

Rong Zhen had already put the food box behind her back, out of the view of Princess Li Guoer and Caishou.

Ouyang Rong asked immediately:

"Is Little Shimei asleep?"

"Asleep? She left long ago, rode a horse away. I don't know if she was angry. After I came back, she waited for a long time. I told you to come earlier, but you dragged it out so late, and even brought someone else..."

Rong Zhen took a step forward: "Who did you say is someone else?"

Ouyang Rong blocked her with his palm and asked with a frown:

"Riding a horse? Where did Little Shimei go?"

"I don't know." The little girl with plum blossom makeup said unhappily: "I was sleeping. If you ask me, who should I ask?"

Princess Li Guoer squinted at the couple with their hands in their sleeves in front of her: "Maybe she was angered away. Alright, I'm going back to sleep. You go chase after her yourself."

Princess Li Guoer turned around with her head held high and returned to the tent.

Caishou waved goodbye to Ouyang Rong secretly, stuck out her tongue, and followed back into the tent.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen remained where they were.

Rong Zhen looked elsewhere and said: "Alright, that saves trouble."

Ouyang Rong looked around: "Wait a moment..."

Just then, Rong Zhen suddenly walked away, leaving behind a sentence:

"Someone is here, I'm leaving first."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and saw a familiar figure appear.

"Tanlang?"

Li Dalang walked over from afar and asked curiously:

"Why are you here? What are you doing near A-Mei's tent?"

Ouyang Rong coughed: "I was on night watch just now. It's almost dawn, and I wanted to find Little Shimei."

Li Dalang said: "Looking for her? Xie Miss just left."

"Go where?"

"I just ran into her. It seems someone from the Xie clan came to find her. She is now in Hanyang County. She should have gone over to meet them, and she even told us not to wait for her."

Li Dalang was halfway through speaking when he noticed Ouyang Rong had quieted down.

He said subconsciously:

"Are you okay?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "I'm fine. I'm leaving first."

Li Dalang said regretfully:

"Wait, Tanlang, it's probably a family letter or an urgent matter. Why don't you not leave during the day, Tanlang? Stay with us, and wait for Xie Miss?"

Ouyang Rong hesitated for a moment, then shook his head:

"Better not. The time has already been set, and you are all ready. It cannot be changed. Actually... I've already told Little Shimei everything I needed to."

Li Dalang didn't hear the faint depression in his friend's tone and sighed:

"Alright then, it's really a pity."

Ouyang Rong walked forward with big strides. Seeing this, Li Dalang followed quickly.

The two walked side by side,

"Tanlang, Father and Mother were arguing just now. I went to persuade them, so I didn't sleep."

Ouyang Rong asked subconsciously: "Arguing about what?"

"Chatting at night, Mother didn't agree with you staying, saying she was worried you would encounter danger. Father told her he respected your decision. Mother felt Father was wrong and didn't consider your safety, so they started arguing."

Hearing this, Ouyang Rong was somewhat silent.

Li Dalang scratched his head:

"Mother and Father rarely argue. It's not that they aren't harmonious and loving, but mainly because Father never dares to argue with Mother, so naturally, there are no arguments. But this time, Father surprisingly supported you, which Mother probably didn't expect, so they even argued over pillow talk in the middle of the night."

Ouyang Rong didn't say a word.

The two walked forward for a while.

Li Dalang said in a low voice:

"Tanlang, I actually think Mother is very right. I'm always worried about the danger you'll encounter on the way to find Xiuniang. Isn't it said that we share blessings and share hardships? Although you and A-Mei are both very confident that we can turn the tables when we return to the capital, if there really is this blessing, but you aren't there, then it's very tasteless.

"Besides, you and Liulang have always been my best friends. Now you are both staying in Xunyang, and I am the only one going to Luoyang. What is this? How come as we walk, I'm the only one left..."

At this time, Ouyang Rong turned his head and smiled:

"Are you sure it's not because you can't visit the Yunshui Pavilion anymore?"

Li Dalang was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh or cry: "What is Tanlang saying? How could that be the reason? And... and I've already met a girl I like."

Ouyang Rong suddenly said:

"Why do you feel you aren't alone?"

Li Dalang was puzzled: "What do you mean?"

"Everyone is alone in the end." He said it casually, smiled easily, and then asked: "Dalang, do you know about affinity?"

"Affinity?"

"Right, affinity."

Ouyang Rong kept his hands in his sleeves, looked ahead, and walked forward in the wind that was about to dawn, his back long and slender.

His steps were somewhat fast, and Li Dalang could only catch up by running, hearing his calm voice:

"Since the night I rode away from Xunyang City to find you, I often let my imagination run wild, thinking of many people and many things."

Li Dalang felt his friend's voice was as elusive as the zither sound from not long ago:

"Buddhism often says that affinity arises from emptiness. The connections between all people in the world are empty. It is just an arising of affinity that we meet each other.

"I actually knew this truth very early, but after Xiuniang left that day, I saw the empty courtyard, saw Banxi crying, saw the pairs of eyes you all looked at me with, and I suddenly understood it more deeply, or rather, this is the true understanding."

"Truly understood what?"

Ouyang Rong turned his head with a smile:

"Actually, no one must stay by your side. No one must be together forever, including parents, wives, and children. There will always be partings and deaths. At that time, you will find that all husband-and-wife relationships and blood relationships are empty. It is not a matter of course. The most important thing is that affinity—the affinity as parents and children, the affinity as wife and husband.

"But affinity is not something you wait for in vain; it is something you have to strive for yourself."

Ouyang Rong said softly:

"If I go to Luoyang with you now, I am just waiting in vain for this affinity with Xiuniang to arrive by my side.

"Dalang, in the past, when I didn't know she existed, I waited for her for a long, long time, so long that I forgot. Every time, it was me waiting for her to come find me, but this time, I finally caught her, yet she left again. This time, I really don't want to wait anymore. Dalang, this time, I also want to go find her."

Li Dalang was somewhat silent. At this time, he heard Ouyang Rong's murmur:

"Affinity arises from emptiness, affinity arises from emptiness. Is the affinity between me and Xiuniang empty? No, even if it is empty, I still want to snatch an affinity back. I want to take her away in front of her senior sisters. I want to take her to Luoyang, to see the most prosperous place in the world, to hear the sound of the so-called prosperous age. Even if she is blind and mute, so what? I just want to.

"No one can stop me, and no one can block me."

A white sturgeon floated out of the dim woods, like a lantern, illuminating a range of three zhang around.

Ye Weilai followed behind.

The white sturgeon wagged its tail and swam to Ouyang Rong's side as he murmured to himself, as jubilant as ever, circling the silent young man.

Ouyang Rong's eyes fell on it and he looked around.

Li Dalang and Ye Weilai, who walked out of the woods nearby, saw that the young man in the Confucian robe's pitch-black eyes were lit up by the white sturgeon's light, clear and bright, flashing.

He opened his mouth to the white sturgeon, and the murmur drifted over faintly. Li and Ye couldn't hear it clearly or surely.

"You miss her too, don't you? I know, I know... Ever since you started circling me in the Xunyang Grotto, I felt it... And the whereabouts of the new sword technique revealed by Mr. Tao... And the hesitation in my cultivation realm while completing the complete zither music of the Lanzhou song just now, failing to grasp the true meaning, I was also 'attached to the appearance'..."

He seemed to be talking to himself, and seemed to be talking to the white sturgeon.

"This is God's will. If there really is a God, this is also affinity, almost explicitly showing my affinity... Alright, stop wandering and circling in place. I'll take you to find her right now. Follow me closely."

Li Dalang and Ye Weilai looked at each other in silence, turned their heads in a daze, and watched the back of the young man in the Confucian robe and the fish as they left, standing in place for a long time.

Far ahead of the young man in the Confucian robe, the sky was white.

A red sun rose slowly.

A new day.

It was time to set off. ===== CHAPTER 642 =====