Chapter 645: 545. Mist and Waves are Hard to Seek

545. Mist and Waves are Hard to Seek

"Why don't you go out and say goodbye to Little Shimei."

"Is this Immortal Mao Yatou the kind of spirit that cries?"

"Seems like it."

"You fart."

"Don't cry quietly by yourself."

"That's you, Little Rongzi. This morning, when Xie girl didn't come back, you sat in her tent like a 'waiting-for-husband stone'."

Ouyang Rong straightened his face, "Nonsense."

"Still not admitting it, you were absent-minded even when drawing talismans."

Ouyang Rong didn't want to listen to the little ink spirit's clamor and turned his head to look at Ye Weilai.

After saying goodbye to Li Xian's family, Ouyang Rong set off alone with Ye Weilai.

One person, one horse.

Plus a little ink spirit and a white sturgeon.

However, the white sturgeon seemed to like the river water very much, bathing in the river water, which can be described as "like a fish in water." Their route was to go upstream along the river, so the white sturgeon kept staying in the water, going against the current, following them.

Ye Weilai was very interested in the white sturgeon, carrying a small bundle, riding a horse along the river, curiously examining the white sturgeon.

Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze and looked at the little ink spirit lying lazily on Dongmei's head:

"Thought you would jump out to say goodbye, or follow Little Shimei and go to Luoyang."

Miaosi gripped Dongmei's sideburns with both hands, turned over lazily, crossed her legs, and said:

"In this Immortal Mao Yatou's opinion, it's you who can't bear to part with Xie girl and the others, and want this Immortal Mao Yatou to help you linger, so you don't have to leave so 'dashingly'. Humph, this Immortal Mao Yatou refuses. Besides, I'm not going to Luoyang. That place is too dangerous."

Ouyang Rong didn't admit it and asked somewhat unexpectedly: "What danger? Your impression of Luoyang shouldn't still be stuck in the Southern Dynasty period, right."

"Not really. Luoyang and Chang'an have some sayings. We spirits can't easily approach, unless there is a noble person to accompany us. Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you."

Miaosi looked at the sky and whispered:

"However, this Immortal Mao Yatou did think about following Xie girl to eat delicious food and drink spicy food, but..."

Her eyeballs rolled around, and she waved her little hand:

"But I thought about it, I'm really afraid that you'll cry and beg this Immortal Mao Yatou to stay, holding this Immortal Mao Yatou's clothes with snot and tears. That scene wouldn't look good. Forget it, forget it. Who told this Immortal Mao Yatou to have a soft heart? I'll reluctantly stay.

"Little Rongzi, you have to treat this Immortal Mao Yatou better. You can't be ungrateful, otherwise, this Immortal Mao Yatou will sleep and curse you to death."

Ouyang Rong: "..."

Miaosi looked around, looked at Ouyang Rong and Ye Weilai's lonely figures, and sighed:

"It's quite cold without Xie girl, but just now there were so many people, and the Long Hushan and Maoshan Daoists were also there. If this Immortal Mao Yatou came out, wouldn't I be seen by them?"

Ouyang Rong nodded: "The main reason is still cowardice."

"Fart." Miaosi's little face flushed, and she said unhappily: "Then, then why didn't you stay and talk to Xie girl a few more times?"

Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly:

"Mm, just like you, there were too many people around."

Miaosi curled her lips: "It's not like it's something shameful. What's there for you to be unable to say? Are the people around unreliable? Humph..."

Halfway through, the little ink spirit suddenly reacted:

"Wait, are you wishing this Immortal Mao Yatou would be caught? Trying to drive this Immortal Mao Yatou away?"

"How dare I."

"No, that's exactly what you're thinking! Wow, Little Rongzi!"

Miaosi widened her eyes and pounced on Ouyang Rong's face with claws and teeth.

But she was grabbed by Ouyang Rong without blinking, suspended in the air, kicking her two short legs.

"Stop making trouble."

"Little Rongzi, you are the worst, no one else! This Immortal Mao Yatou really was blind to follow you for so long."

Noticing Ye Weilai looking over at the sound, Ouyang Rong was somewhat speechless and covered her mouth:

"Keep your voice down. Don't say such misleading things."

Before Miaosi could resist, Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:

"So, you actually prepared a parting gift for Little Shimei?"

Miaosi's little face was puzzled: "Gift? What gift? Who has a gift?"

Ouyang Rong didn't say a word, stretched out two fingers, and pinched two small bamboo tubes from the right sleeve where the young Confucian female crown liked to hide things. The two bamboo tubes were tied together with hemp rope.

Miaosi, who was originally innocent, changed color instantly.

"It's fine, sending it to Little Shimei or sending it to me is the same. I'll do it for her."

Ouyang Rong had a "just as I thought" smiling expression, calmly putting away the two tubes of spiritual ink.

Miaosi:?

A moment later, Ouyang Rong suppressed the struggling little ink spirit and stuffed the little thing into his sleeve.

He took down the scroll from his back and put the two tubes of spiritual ink into the painting.

The eighteen seeds were given to Rong Zhen as agreed, and now he only had this Peach Blossom Spring fake Ding Sword left.

The Taoyuan sword formation of 【Craftsman】 hadn't been constructed yet. As a sword wielder, the weapon he could mobilize at the moment was this only fake Ding Sword of 【Scholar】.

However, this object unexpectedly had good storage capabilities. Although it consumed a little merit purple mist every time, Ouyang Rong still moved all his important belongings out of the Mo family sword box and put them into the painting, including the sword box containing 【Craftsman】 and the Thunder Punishment Pool.

The painting scroll was slender and small, about the length of a forearm, far from being as clumsy and space-consuming as the zither box.

However, Ouyang Rong was still used to carrying it on his back. Now that the spiritual ink was hidden, he measured the length of the scroll and stuffed it into his arms.

After doing all this, Ouyang Rong nodded lightly and looked around.

The river wind blew, his sleeves danced, and he faintly looked lonely.

He was silent for a moment, turned to greet Ye Weilai, and continued on his way with a certain fish.

Half a month later, he finally arrived at Xunyang City.

When entering the city in the evening, he was stopped by the city gate guards, but after seeing Ouyang Rong's face, they immediately let him pass with awe.

No one knew Ouyang Rong's whereabouts on this journey, and naturally, no one welcomed him in advance.

Ouyang Rong let Ye Weilai return to the Huaiye Lane residence, and he rode alone to the Jiangzhou Hall.

His return made the Jiangzhou Hall instantly lively.

Ouyang Rong took the teacup handed by Yan Liulang and inspected the surroundings.

Xunyang City didn't seem to have changed much since he left.

Yan Liulang performed his duties, maintained order in the city, and strictly supervised Commandant Yi Qianqiu and the surviving female officials and armored soldiers.

The number of these survivors who had witnessed the Battle of Xunyang was small, only ten or twenty, all of whom were confidants of Rong Zhen and Commandant Yi Qianqiu.

In fact, there was no need for Yan Liulang to supervise them; they all kept their mouths shut.

They were truly beaten by the majestic figure that was superb in skill.

Some even developed some stress reactions.

For example, when seeing a certain white sturgeon wandering leisurely.

Including Commandant Yi Qianqiu, these survivors of the Battle of Shuangfeng Peak never talked about what happened inside after walking out of Shuangfeng Peak, and were tight-lipped.

The Qin family siblings and the three hundred Bai Hu Guard surrendered generals escorted back by the Xuanwu Camp didn't know about the Battle of Shuangfeng Peak.

The Qin family siblings had left two days before Ouyang Rong returned.

These three hundred Bai Hu Guard surrendered generals, because the handle of "rebellion" was held in Ouyang Rong's hands, also became honest and were strictly managed by Commandant Yi Qianqiu.

After Ouyang Rong returned to Xunyang, he didn't give any more instructions to these people, as if he had forgotten, and went to do his own things.

It wasn't just the confidence given by the Kui Star talismans that Cui Hao had secretly planted in their bodies.

I heard that since returning to Xunyang City, Watching Yuan Huaimin and Commandant Yi Qianqiu had been living in the Zhai courtyard of Chengtian Temple.

The cousin and cousin were eating and traveling together.

Commandant Yi Qianqiu also behaved very honestly, and accepted the constable sent by Yan Liulang to supervise.

These were all reported to Ouyang Rong by Yan Liulang.

To this, Ouyang Rong didn't comment.

Just like this, half a month passed. During this period, Watching Yuan Huaimin came to invite Ouyang Rong to dinner several times, but he declined.

Ouyang Rong knew that this was Commandant Yi Qianqiu wanting to see him.

Because Watching Yuan Huaimin never invited people to dinner.

Yuan Changshi himself was begging for food everywhere, and not sponging off his meals was already Amitabha.

Inviting Ouyang Rong to dinner must be either treacherous or stealing.

And Commandant Yi Qianqiu's words were nothing more than asking about the aftermath of the Battle of Shuangfeng Peak, wanting to probe his tone on how it was handled.

Because since Ouyang Rong returned to Xunyang City, he had been acting like nothing had happened, dealing with people's livelihood and government affairs normally.

And he went out early and returned late every day, never working overtime.

Every evening, he returned to Huaiye Lane on time and read books in the Yinbing Zhai.

Occasionally, he would also go to Pei Shiniang's courtyard.

And the quiet little courtyard by the lake in Xingzi Square, to sit for a while and wait.

When he wasn't there during the day, he also let Ye Weilai and the others guard these three courtyards, keeping them in a state of being occupied at any time.

To avoid missing the return of a certain graceful figure.

Ouyang Rong still didn't pay much attention to Commandant Yi Qianqiu's side.

On weekdays, if they met at the entrance of the Jiangzhou Hall when he was off duty, he would just say a polite hello as usual and turn around and leave.

Commandant Yi Qianqiu didn't dare to ask more.

Although she was famous for her violent temper, she couldn't vent it at all in front of this young Cishi who was as gentle as jade, just wearing a forced smile.

However, Ouyang Rong didn't express his attitude toward the Battle of Shuangfeng Peak for a day, and Commandant Yi Qianqiu and the survivors couldn't feel at ease for a day, somewhat having the meaning of being in a panic all day long.

After a long time, the impatient Commandant Yi Qianqiu finally couldn't help it. When she was off duty in the evening, she found the young Cishi who was tidying up the desk through Watching Yuan Huaimin.

The tall girl asked cautiously:

"Ouyang Cishi, sorry to bother you. Where did the princess go? Also, have you forgotten something? If it's not handled, it might be passed to Luoyang by idlers. It's better for us to handle it ourselves..."

Ouyang Rong looked at Commandant Yi Qianqiu, and then at Watching Yuan Huaimin, who was smiling guiltily beside her.

In Commandant Yi Qianqiu's somewhat expectant eyes, Ouyang Rong suddenly turned his head and said to Watching Yuan Huaimin:

"Oh right, I almost forgot. Yuan Changshi, about that meal you said you wanted to invite me to, I haven't been feeling well recently, so I won't go. Yuan Changshi, convert it to cash, and deduct three taels from your salary this month."

Watching Yuan Huaimin:?

Commandant Yi Qianqiu:...

Ouyang Rong smiled and turned to go out.

Commandant Yi Qianqiu, who left somewhat disappointed, didn't see that before leaving the hall, Ouyang Rong called Yan Liulang and asked about the time and date.

"Mingfu, you have been back for a month."

Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes, tidied his sleeves, and estimated casually, muttering:

"That's about it. What should have arrived has arrived."

The next day, Ouyang Rong came to the Jiangzhou Hall to go on duty, brought a memorial, and sent someone to Luoyang.

Immediately, he went to work as usual.

Watching Yuan Huaimin returned that night and told Commandant Yi Qianqiu about this, and the latter suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although she didn't know why Ouyang Rong delayed the time, this young Cishi should have his own plans.

It was just that Ouyang Rong didn't intend to discuss it with her, and Commandant Yi Qianqiu inevitably felt a sense of powerlessness that her fate was not in her own hands.

However, she also politely didn't ask about the content of Ouyang Rong's memorial. The confusion of adults actually already explained the answer.

This day, Yan Liulang came to Ouyang Rong's desk in a dilemma to report:

"Mingfu, we haven't found any clues about the specific location of the Yunmeng Sword Marsh. Some people in the Jianghu are also ambiguous.

"I heard that the Taogu Sword Inquiry wasn't held at the Sword Marsh sect, but was just a small island in the water chosen by those Yue women. I heard that they would change places every time they held a Sword Inquiry Conference...

"In short, no one knows the mountain gate location of the Yunmeng Sword Marsh."

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:

"What about Li Yu? Does he know?"

"Li Yu's little daughter was accepted as a disciple by the Second Female Historian, but he himself doesn't know the direction of the Sword Marsh."

"What about Fang Yiwu, Fang Juxiu, Fang Shengnan, and them? And Chan Master Yizhi."

"I went to ask personally, and they don't know where the Yunmeng Sword Marsh is either.

"The Fang sisters have two Yunmeng Orders, but after the Battle of Shuangfeng Peak, they wanted to enter the Sword Marsh with the Yunmeng Orders, but lost contact. The usual contact place was abandoned.

"The Yunmeng Sword Marsh seems to have cut off all connections below the mountain, and I don't know when it will recover. Now, no Yue women can be found in the Jiang Nan region."

Behind the desk, Ouyang Rong was somewhat silent.

Yan Liulang said unhappily:

"Isn't this Yunmeng Sword Marsh very arrogant? Why are they shrinking back now, hiding so deep... No wonder they are called a hidden sect. I don't know which corner they are hiding in, calling it 'cultivating the Dao out of the world'."

Ouyang Rong interrupted softly:

"Alright. Does Daoist Zhang have any news?"

"Last time Daoist Zhang wrote from Long Hushan, saying he had finished his errand and was preparing to go down the mountain to help Mingfu explore news, but I don't know how it is now."

"Notify this official the first time Daoist Zhang arrives in Xunyang. Also, continue to look for the traces of the Sword Marsh and the Yue women."

"Yes, Mingfu!" ===== CHAPTER 646 =====

"The Yunmeng Sword Marsh seems to have severed all connections with the world below, and there is no telling when they will be restored. Now, one cannot even find a trace of the Yue Mao Yatou in the Jiang Nan region."

Behind the desk, Ouyang Rong was somewhat quiet.

Yan Liulang said with some annoyance:

"Isn't this Yunmeng Sword Marsh quite arrogant? Why have they shrunk back now, hiding so deeply... No wonder they are called a hidden sect; who knows what corner of the world they are hiding in, calling it 'transcending the world to cultivate the Dao' as a pretty name."

Ouyang Rong interrupted softly:

"Enough. Is there any news from Daoist Zhang?"

"Last time, Daoist Zhang sent a letter from Long Hushan saying he had finished his errand and was preparing to come down the mountain to help the Magistrate gather information, but I don't know how things are going."

"Once Daoist Zhang arrives in Xunyang, notify me immediately. In addition, continue searching for traces of the Sword Marsh and the Yue Mao Yatou."

"Yes, Magistrate!"