Chapter 783: One Hundred Thirty: Invitation from a Beauty

One Hundred Thirty: Invitation from a Beauty

Wu Cui was stunned.

Her gaze flowed over Magistrate Ouyang Rong's face, which held a gentle smile, as if observing something.

As Magistrate Ouyang Rong lowered his head to put away the sword manual, she couldn't help but ask:

"Liu Liu Aliang, you..."

"Hmm?"

She gathered her courage and asked:

"Don't you want to cultivate? I heard from others that your overall performance in the three-level assessment was excellent, and the Bamboo Hall didn't select you only because your bone age was too old, but your talent... at least your talent assessment score was much better than mine... Don't you feel regretful or unwilling?"

"Regretful?"

She saw the dull young man pause upon hearing this, standing in place as if thinking seriously, and then, he shook his head lightly:

"The temple where I worked before had an abbot who often said that cultivation is not everything in life. No matter how high your Dao attainment is, you still have to eat, drink, and defecate. There are no major events in life other than life and death..."

After a pause, the young man patted the stove table, his tone rising slightly:

"Look, don't the Divine Maidens and fairies also have to eat the food we make? We can now deliver food to the Divine Maiden. How many cooks in the world can achieve this? We are no worse than the chefs in the homes of those princes and nobles down the mountain. Why would there be any regret?"

Wu Cui was stunned in place, her eyes fixed on Magistrate Ouyang Rong's face, speechless for a long time.

About an hour later, the vegetarian meals were ready, and Li Li Ruotong arrived outside the dining hall with a dozen Jade Hall fairies.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong carried the food box, prepared to go out, and followed the team.

As he passed by Wu Cui, the silent young girl suddenly spoke:

"Thank you."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong turned his head, met her gaze for a moment, nodded lightly to acknowledge, and then continued out the door.

Tonight was just like usual. Magistrate Ouyang Rong followed the team into the Clear Valley. In front of the largest waterfall, he parted ways with Li Li Ruotong's main force.

Only two Silver-Badge Yue women remained to help Magistrate Ouyang Rong carry the large food box. At the same time, they also implicitly took on the obligation of supervising and waiting above the water prison.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was accustomed to this and took the two women toward the water pool, passing through the waterfall.

Before passing through the waterfall curtain, he glanced at an old, rusty sword stuck on the cliff above. Even though it wasn't the first time he had passed by, every time he saw this sword that had vertically cut through the hundred-foot waterfall, it still touched his heart.

Leaving the two Silver-Badge Yue women above, Magistrate Ouyang Rong fetched a bucket of water in advance and carried the food box toward the water prison.

"Creak—"

Pushing the door and entering, the white-clad Female Sovereign was still sitting at the table, supporting her chin with one hand, slowly flipping through a book, her back to the door.

"Divine Maiden, the food is here."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong spoke, but Yun Yun Xiangyi did not respond.

He was accustomed to this, placed the water bucket by the tightly closed door inside, and then carried the food box, walking lightly to the table, never looking up at Yun Yun Xiangyi the whole time.

As Magistrate Ouyang Rong was setting out the food, the woman at the table suddenly spoke:

"Is the moon full outside?"

She must be talking to him.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong quickly turned the thought in his mind, then spoke, answering cautiously:

"Reporting to the Divine Maiden, tonight the sky is covered with dark clouds, and the bright moon is not visible, so I do not know if it is full."

He felt the Yun Yun Xiangyi in front of him quiet down for a while, as if she were turning her head to look at the door he had entered, not knowing what she was thinking.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was about to continue setting out the dishes when he suddenly found a hand appearing in front of him, pressing on the lid of the box, stopping him.

This hand had slender fingers, and the back of the hand was fair. Magistrate Ouyang Rong's first impression was that it was white—in the dim room, it was dazzlingly white, even abnormally white.

Looking up, it was a beautiful face opposite him at the table.

The owner of this sickly white hand said:

"I will do it, Liu Liu Aliang. You go back first. Thank you for your hard work. Come again tomorrow night."

Her voice was naturally somewhat gentle, and combined with her calm and peaceful tone, it gave people an indescribable sense of affinity.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong somewhat understood why Wu Cui had been thinking about this Fifth Divine Maiden for years, waiting for a chance to meet her.

Even someone as rebellious as Chen Yao Jiaxin was exceptionally respectful whenever she mentioned this Master, restraining her arrogance and sharpness.

"Good."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong pretended to be stunned, nodded, honestly let go of his hand, and handed the food box to Yun Yun Xiangyi.

He retreated slowly, left the room, and took the initiative to close the woodshed door.

Before walking up the stairs, Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked back and gazed deeply at the quiet woodshed door.

Tonight's early dismissal was somewhat beyond his expectations. He had originally planned to follow the plan discussed with Chen Yao Jiaxin and take the initiative to mention to Yun Yun Xiangyi the matter of entering the prison to deliver vegetarian meals.

But it seemed there was no chance tonight.

It was just that why Yun Yun Xiangyi had such a sudden change tonight—could it be related to the question she just asked?

Did whether the moon was full outside tonight affect something?

In addition, Magistrate Ouyang Rong had another doubt.

Yun Yun Xiangyi said she was in seclusion and shouldn't have left the water prison recently, so how was the bloody smell and the possible dead body in the depths of the water prison handled?

Every other day, the bucket of cold water sent in—could it be for cleaning the cell? But how was the corpse of the dead person handled?

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly remembered the water stains on the food boxes sent out every time, and a guess rose in his heart: could there be some underground river in the depths of the water prison that could clean up trash and debris, including corpses? Otherwise, where did the water source come from?

Magistrate Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes slightly.

A moment later, a sound of a wooden fish suddenly rang in his ears. The contemplative look in Magistrate Ouyang Rong's eyes faded, and he came back to his senses.

It was another portion of merit feedback that came regularly every night.

Unsurprisingly, it should come from the water prison. Yun Yun Xiangyi should have already sent the vegetarian meal into the depths of the water prison by now.

The merit might come from the person inside.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong pursed his lips, turned around, and continued to return above.

However, the matter promised to Wu Cui would not be delayed, because he wouldn't mention it to Yun Yun Xiangyi anyway. He would hand over the sword manual he received tonight to Chen Yao Jiaxin as promised, letting her, the personal disciple, provide guidance.

This matter had already been prepared for Wu Cui in advance, and for Wu Cui, who hadn't entered the ranks yet, it didn't make much difference who taught her.

If it weren't for the fact that the bronze mask couldn't be removed and he couldn't show his true self, Magistrate Ouyang Rong wouldn't have bothered so much and would have just taught her himself...

Yueqi Island was an affiliated island near the large island where the Clear Valley was located.

It belonged to the Autumn Hall.

Because of its special location, every night when the bright moon fell from the center of the sky, looking from Clear Valley and other islands, the jade plate would fall behind this island, implicitly misaligned, and thus it got this name.

As it currently stood, the Jade Hall had a special status, located in the Clear Valley, and also hid the water prison guarded by the Fifth Female Sovereign.

And Clear Valley was the name of the large island itself. This large island was the largest among the nearby island groups; whether it was the largest in the Lady Yunmeng Sword Swamp sect was not yet certain.

The islands in Lady Yunmeng Sword Swamp were not concentratedly distributed; many halls were scattered in groups.

Because of this, every time A-Qing went on vacation and traveled back, it was quite far.

Clear Valley could be considered the core of the surrounding island group.

The dining hall where Magistrate Ouyang Rong worked was located on the beach on the back of Clear Valley.

And the many small islands surrounding Clear Valley belonged to halls like the Autumn Hall and Peach Hall, which were relatively close to the Jade Hall.

As for the Bamboo Hall, it was in another island group, quite far away...

At noon, the sun was shining brightly.

On Yueqi Island, which was the residence of the Autumn Hall Yue women, rows of high courtyard walls stood, blocking the view from the outside, letting in only sunlight and a cool breeze.

There were few pedestrians outside. The Autumn Hall Yue women went out frequently, and those who stayed in the Sword Swamp on weekdays mostly practiced in seclusion in their own courtyards.

At this moment, in the southeast corner of the island, in an independent, cold, and elegant courtyard, the courtyard gate was slightly ajar, pushed open by outsiders from time to time.

Figures came and went, and the laughter of the guests was constant.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong yawned under the sun and arrived at the gate of the courtyard where the laughter was constant. Before reaching out to push the door, his right hand subconsciously touched a certain spot on his waist.

He touched nothing.

Looking down, his waist was empty.

He shook his head. He had been woken up "hurriedly" by Miaosi, who was deliberately playing tricks in the morning, and had jumped out of bed and rushed out, feeling a bit confused, and had forgotten to bring the bamboo tube.

However, Miaosi was at home, guarding the Peach Blossom Spring Map, and as the Sword Master, their heart-lines were connected, so she could sense him remotely, so it wasn't a big problem.

Of course, the most important thing was that he didn't have to worry about Li Wan and her son sneaking into his courtyard to hunt for treasures again.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong rubbed his face, which was feeling a bit sleepy from the noon sun, and pushed the door open directly.

"Hey, Brother Liu!"

"Liu Aliang is here."

"Brother Liu."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked up. In the courtyard, there were all familiar figures.

Sha Ergou, Yu Yu Mili, Li Wan, and Lu Mu Jinghong and his son were looking at him with smiles.

Actually, Magistrate Ouyang Rong had heard their voices when he was outside the door just now.

A smile appeared on his dull face, and he greeted everyone.

He saw several people sitting under the sun chatting. Magistrate Ouyang Rong scanned the courtyard.

The courtyard was elegantly decorated, with flower beds, and there was a beauty couch for the owner of the courtyard to rest in the afternoon under the tree in the southwest corner... This layout was clearly a woman's.

While he was observing, a tall and beautiful young lady walked out of the elegant house on the right. Her skirt was snow-white, long and fitting, with both cuffs rolled up, revealing two sections of fair forearms. She walked over carrying a tea tray, welcoming him with a faint smile:

"Brother Liu is here, please sit down."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked at Song Song Zhian, whom he hadn't seen for many days. He didn't know if it was an illusion, but although she still had a generous and decent temperament, he felt that this woman's spirit was somewhat refreshed.

Her once sharp eyes were now a bit more dark and deep, as if she had experienced some kind of precipitation, and compared to before, she was more... calm and confident.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong didn't look much, his eyelids drooped, and he responded:

"Good afternoon, Miss Song. Long time no see."

Song Song Zhian bent down lightly, placed the tray on the small tea table in front of Sha Ergou, Lu Mu Jinghong, and the others. As she straightened her waist, she used her raised little finger to tuck a strand of loose hair behind her ear, and she smiled gently:

"It has been quite a while, one or two months."

Song Song Zhian's dark eyes looked up and down at the dull young man in front of her who seemed unchanged.

As their gazes met, Sha Ergou's loud voice came from the side:

"Brother Liu, why are you so late? I was waiting until I was almost anxious to death. If I had known, I would have gone to find you on your side." "Exactly, exactly."

Yu Yu Mili, who was burying her head in eating pastries like a little mouse, nodded repeatedly, expressing her approval:

"I was originally planning to taste Brother Liu's craftsmanship. If you had come earlier, Brother Liu could have cooked. Sigh, now it's too late. Sister Song has already called the dining hall—"

"—to send food over. It's still the kind of big-pot rice we eat every noon, which can't compare to the big meal Brother Liu makes, sigh."

While speaking, Yu Yu Mili stared straight at Magistrate Ouyang Rong with a pair of eyes, as if expecting something.

For example, Brother Liu feeling a bit embarrassed and taking the initiative to volunteer to cook.

"Alright, Yu Mili, don't put Brother Liu on the spot. Also, there's no reason for a guest to cook. What would the host be doing? Stop messing around."

Song Song Zhian shook her head, interrupting Yu Yu Mili's words, looked around the circle, and said clearly:

"Inviting everyone here today is because I want to gather. The important thing is to meet; eating is only secondary. Of course, it would be great if I could use Brother Liu's culinary skills, but it's my fault for not being skilled enough. If there is any poor hospitality, just say it, don't be polite."

Yu Yu Mili shook her head quickly: "No, no, I didn't mean that. I didn't put Brother Liu on the spot, Brother Liu was misunderstood..."

"What kind of words are these, Miss Song."

At this time, the noble lady Li Wan, who had been listening for a long time, spoke with a smile, attracting everyone's attention:

"Miss Song is busy in the Autumn Hall on weekdays. Being able to take the time to meet is already very thoughtful. Cherishing old friendships, how could everyone be so picky?"

Lu Mu Jinghong, who had been sitting upright and drinking tea in silence, nodded without looking sideways:

"That's right, Miss Song has done very well."

Song Song Zhian looked a bit embarrassed:

"Lady Li, Master Lu, you are too polite. I was really busy for the past few days... After that trip out, I gained some insights and practiced in seclusion in the courtyard for a month. I only came out yesterday and freed up some time."

Lu Mu Jinghong couldn't help but look at Song Song Zhian, his eyes curious and probing.

However, Li Wan beside him changed the topic. The noble lady turned her head and smiled at Yu Yu Mili to explain:

"Miss Yu, Brother Liu Aliang has been working the night shift in the dining hall recently, going out late and returning early every day, which is very hard. Today is lunch, and he rushed over like this, so he probably hasn't slept much. If you really want to eat the food Brother Liu Aliang makes, let's make an appointment for dinner next time and see if Brother Liu Aliang can spare the time."

Yu Yu Mili blushed immediately and said in a low voice: "Brother Liu, I'm sorry..."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong waved his hand and didn't join their conversation.

He remained dull, sat down beside Sha Ergou, and without formality, picked up Ergou's teacup and drank it in one gulp, using the tea to relieve his fatigue.

Song Song Zhian's invitation to this meal at noon today was somewhat beyond Magistrate Ouyang Rong's expectations and outside his plan.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong only discovered Song Song Zhian's letter when he returned to the courtyard before dawn, which made him feel a bit troubled.

She said she had come out of seclusion and wanted to invite everyone to have a meal together on Yueqi Island.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong had no choice but to shorten his daytime rest and come to the appointment.

Unlike Lu Mu Jinghong, he had no intention of radiating ambition or charm.

It was just because he still owed Song Song Zhian a favor, and this favor had to be repaid... **Chapter 784: Searching for Insects in the Autumn Hall**

Unlike Lu Mu Jinghong, he had no desire whatsoever to radiate any ambitious charm.

It was simply because he still owed Song Song Zhian a favor, and this favor had to be repaid...