Chapter 610 Having fought the evil dragon for too long, this body will transform into the evil dragon itself! [Seeking monthly votes!]

“The ancient Wu and Yue regions were once barren mountains and treacherous waters, teeming with miasma and pestilence. The level of civilization was low, and the people mostly worshipped evil spirits and deities.”

"Only in the last few hundred years, due to the migration of people from the south and northerners to the south, have we become more civilized, but the level of ignorance among the common people has not necessarily improved much."

"This Yunmeng Sword Marsh is no different from the other one, all flashy and eccentric, with some mysterious and terrifying decorative elements to scare the common people and deepen their so-called Yuanjun faith."

Qin Yanqing's voice echoed through the quiet, narrow passageway of the state prison.

This broke the silence outside the water dungeon.

These men were either qi practitioners, executioners, or veterans of military battles, so they were not easily intimidated by such a strangely shaped bronze weapon.

Rongzhen nodded slightly, her expression indifferent.

Old Yang yawned.

Although the elderly sleep little and have shallow sleep, being woken up in the middle of the night to interrogate prisoners... being an executioner or a "lackey of the imperial court" is quite a difficult job these days.

Qin Yanqing, Rong Zhen, and Old Yang looked at Ouyang Rong, who remained silent.

After all, among everyone present, he was the only one from the civil service system.

Qin Yanqing's words just now were most likely intended to take care of and comfort Ouyang Rong.

However, the group noticed that Ouyang Rong showed no fear whatsoever; on the contrary, he appeared quite interested.

Rong Zhen wasn't surprised; this guy had once publicly beheaded Zhu Lingxu, who had tried to break through the gate at the West Gate.

Ouyang Rong lowered his head, examining the bronze short sword.

He actually quite likes bronze artifacts.

I've always felt that bronze artifacts possess a unique, primitive, and rugged beauty, which pairs well with two other elements: fire and blood.

There are words on it.

Ouyang Rong suddenly spoke, his hands, which had been turning and playing with the Yunmeng Token, stopped.

Everyone saw him slowly rubbing one side of the bronze sword blade with his fingertips, near the hilt of the dragon-headed sword with the mask of pain.

"What word?"

Qin Yanqing had just asked a question out of curiosity when Rong Zhen stepped forward, leaning forward unceremoniously and getting close to Ouyang Rong, who was squinting at the inscription on the sword.

Because they were so close, their posture vaguely resembled that she was close to his embrace, but there was no physical contact between them, leaving a thin line between them.

Before Ouyang Rong could speak, he felt a fragrant breeze, like the scent of orchids, wafting through the air.

"Having fought the evil dragon for too long, this body will transform into the evil dragon..."

Rong Zhen seemed unaware of Ouyang Rong's gaze. Halfway through her reading, she frowned slightly and paused.

Before she could compose herself and continue reading, Ouyang Rong had already read the second half of the passage aloud for her:

“If you gaze at Mengyuan for too long, Mengyuan will gaze back at you.”

"Evil dragon? Dream Abyss? What do you mean?"

Qin Yanqing asked in confusion.

No one answered.

Old Yang shook his head.

After a moment, Rong Zhen snorted coldly: "Playing tricks."

Ouyang Rong looked thoughtful as he examined the inscription on the bronze sword.

The handwriting is delicate and elegant, clearly written by a woman.

[If I fight the evil dragon for too long, I will transform into the evil dragon myself.]

If you gaze at Mengyuan for too long, Mengyuan will return the gaze.

After staring for a while, he suddenly said:

“Ancient books say that before the Qin Dynasty, there were indeed dragons in the Wu and Yue regions. At that time, evil dragons roamed freely and occupied waters, lakes and ponds. Coupled with frequent floods, they became the River God and Dragon King, which were invincible in the mouths of the people. In many places, it was popular to throw young boys and girls into the water as sacrifices, and the people of Wu and Yue suffered greatly.”

"That's ancient history, from so many years ago. Where are the dragons in the rivers now? The old folks say they were all killed by those Qi practitioners from the pre-Qin period."

Qin Yanqing shook his head.

Rong Zhen shifted her gaze from the bronze dagger in Ouyang Rong's hand to the water prison behind her, her eyes narrowing slightly:

“Ouyang Lianghan, my premonition was right. It is now clear that the rebels in the southern Jianghu, led by Yunmeng Jianze, have made peace with the Southwest Restoration Army.”

"Don't forget what we discussed yesterday at Xunyang Grottoes. We may not have time to waste any more time."

Ouyang Rong glanced at her solemn profile and nodded gently.

Dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, Qin Yanqing waved the blood-stained confession in his hand, his voice loud and clear:

"According to this person's confession, this Yunmeng Token is extremely precious, and Yunmeng Sword Swamp has always issued very few of them."

"In the past, in the entire Jianghu region of Tiannan, there were only a handful of sects and forces that could possess this token. In addition, there were some Qi Refining guest families at the foot of the mountain who had intricate connections with Yunmeng Sword Marsh. According to some busybodies, there were only twenty or thirty such tokens circulating outside Yunmeng Marsh, and each one was priceless."

"Moreover, it is also divided into levels. Based on the number of claws on this bronze dragon handle, it can be divided into three grades. The one that Zheng Jun has in our hands should be considered the lowest grade... The level of trust in Yunmeng Sword Swamp varies depending on the grade."

"However, it is still very rare. Yunmeng Sword Marsh is one of the most reclusive sects in the world, the leader of the Jianghu in the south, and even the famous Three Mountains of Talismans have to show it some respect."

"Possessing a Yunmeng Token means gaining the recognition of Yunmeng Sword Marsh, and the family's incense offerings can be blessed by the so-called Yuanjun. With this Yunmeng Token, one can enter Yunmeng Marsh once and invite a Yue Maiden, or even a Yue Maiden of the Queen level, down the mountain."

"Furthermore, if a mountain-based power or family possesses the Yunmeng Token and is lucky enough to reach a certain age and a favorable time, they can recommend their unmarried daughters to enter the Yunmeng Marsh to cultivate, holding the Yunmeng Token..."

"Thus, these forces and individuals possessing the Yunmeng Token can be considered as a kind of secular representative planted by Yunmeng Sword Swamp in the martial arts world below the mountain. They hold a transcendent status, and no one in the Tiannan martial arts world dares to offend them too much, or at least not to go too far, such as wiping out entire families..."

Qin Yanqing shook his head:

"Things are valued for their rarity. In the past, Yunmeng Sword Marsh was high above, and the Yue women lived in Yunmeng for a long time without ever coming out. It was common to not see one for several years. As Yunmeng Tokens were used, they became one less token available, which is why they became rare treasures in the Jianghu of the South."

"And right now, for reasons we all know, the current Grand Queen of Yunmeng is leading a group of Yunmeng Yue women away from the Great Swamp and down the mountain to enter the world..."

"This time, they have issued a new batch of Yunmeng Tokens, which is quite rare. It seems that quite a few people have obtained this Yunmeng Token. This Master Zheng is one of them, which is still thanks to his good reputation in the martial arts world."

"However, this person is definitely not a core figure in the secret meeting of Yunmeng Sword Marsh. The Yunmeng Token he holds is also the most basic one, and he has not yet gained full trust."

"According to this confession, the last time he went there was also the first time he participated in the secret meeting. He knew nothing about the specific content and was only told to continue to stay in Jiangzhou and wait for instructions... Ha, these Yue women are indeed cautious and under martial law. According to Zheng Jun, it was the Second Lady, who was called 'Yu Nianyuan,' who was in charge of them. He and seven others were received by this woman once."

"As for the people from the Kuangfu Army, this Master Zheng only looked at them from a distance, about ten rows away, and they called out something like Mr. Wei and Young Master Du..."

"It's really flashy and over-the-top."

Rongzhen interrupted, flicking her sleeve:

"What else can a bunch of rebels do when they're all together? Wait for orders? Ha, isn't that just like the Xingzifang attack last time? Chief Secretary Qin, does anyone else know that Zheng Jun has been captured?"

"Our Xuanwu Camp acted swiftly this time, and it was late at night, so there shouldn't be any news of his capture yet."

Qin Yanqin shook his head seriously and handed the statement booklet to Rong Zhen.

"That's good."

Rongzhen took the booklet, shook off the water stains, turned her head, and stretched out her free, fair hand toward Ouyang Rong.

The female historian has a cold and stern face.

Ouyang Rong remained silent and placed the bronze short sword back into her palm.

Rongzhen stuffed the confession and the bronze dagger into her sleeve.

She tucked her hands into her sleeves, turned her back to the door, and a cold voice came from behind her:

"Gentlemen, you've all had a hard night. Dawn is approaching, so I won't waste any more time. I'm off to arrest someone. Old Yang, that guy in the water dungeon, don't let him die yet."

"good."

Ouyang Rong and Qin Yanqing exchanged a glance.

The two followed and walked towards the entrance of the state prison.

Old Yang put away the stool that Ouyang Rong had made, dragged it to the nearest spot under the torch at the entrance of the water dungeon, and leisurely sat back down. He took out a thick book and continued to bury himself in reading it...

On the road leading to the prison gate.

Rong Zhen suddenly spoke, seemingly addressing Ouyang Rong who had followed behind:

"Based on this testimony... I never imagined that within the Xunyang City area, there were others like him who dared to privately accept the Yunmeng Order."

"Didn't you see the wanted posters that were all over the streets before? The Supervisory Commission and the Jiangzhou government have already done a good job of publicizing them, right? And there are still people who knowingly break the law?"

“Ouyang Lianghan, it seems there’s more than one Li Yu in this city. Do you think we should be lenient with them? They’re all like this, will they ever stop?”

"Heh, I don't care whether they acted impulsively out of greed or because of their unwavering faith. Since they accepted this decree, they have stood on the opposite side of the court and must be prepared to pay the price. The Yunmeng Decree, is it? Let's see if this can save their lives."

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips, pondered for a moment, and said:

"I will go to the main hall of Jiangzhou later. Liu Lang will bring people there in the morning to assist Lady Historian."

"Aren't you afraid that I'll confiscate too much property this time? In the past, when I and the people from the Censorate sealed off neighborhoods and searched the city's residents, you always looked unhappy, as if you were afraid that we would affect the people's livelihood."

Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, then said softly, "Didn't I say yesterday that Lady Rong is actually very gentle?"

In the dimly lit passageway, he casually uttered this sentence.

Rong Zhen turned around instantly: "Be serious, don't talk nonsense."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yanqing initially doubted whether he had misheard. He couldn't help but take another look at the two people, whose heights were quite different.

Ouyang Rong clasped his hands in a fist salute and offered his apology.

"Regarding the matter of submitting a petition for aid, I will discuss it with the Prince today." He spoke earnestly.

Rong Zhen nodded slightly, satisfied.

"Could Chief Secretary Qin and the soldiers of the Xuanwu Camp stay a little longer and cooperate with me today?" She narrowed her eyes.

"good."

Qin Yanqing interjected:

"Judging from the rebels' actions, we really need to gather more people."

"Recently, in the investigation of the rebels, our central army camp also feels that the Xuanwu Battalion, with its five hundred men, is not enough. We need to transfer more men from the Xuanwu Guard in Luoyang or other guards..."

As the three talked, they arrived at the door.

The jailer struggled to open the door, and a flood of dawn light rushed in, piercing the darkness of the cell.

It's a brand new day.

Although it's sunny today, a bloody storm is brewing.

...

It was just after nightfall.

In the inner courtyard of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, there is a private flower hall.

There is a dining table laden with a sumptuous feast.

Li Xian, Li Guo'er, and Xie Lingjiang, who were sitting at the table, were all dressed in comfortable, ordinary home clothes.

Li Guo'er held the snow-white tabby cat in her arms, gently stroking it with her hand. She had just returned from the kitchen... Today, Princess Wei Mei personally cooked two dishes, just like when they were at the Su Mansion in Longcheng. This banquet was a private affair.

However, it wasn't prepared for Li Fusu, as he hadn't returned to the city yet.

"Why hasn't our senior brother arrived yet?"

Xie Lingjiang rested her chin on one hand, gazing at the night outside the door, her clear eyes filled with longing.

Li Guo'er leisurely picked up a piece of food, but Li Xian slapped her hand away with a "smack" and glared at her father.

Li Guo'er's expression remained unchanged. Instead, she bent down to tease the "Youzi" at her feet.

Ouyang Rong and a maidservant who was leading the way finally appeared at the door.

"Everyone's here, why aren't we eating yet?" He hurried out of the night, looking travel-worn. He immediately ran to wash his hands after entering the room and asked helplessly. Ouyang Rong was on time, not late, but the others had arrived even earlier.

The people at the table remained silent. They noticed the handsome young man who had just arrived, still wearing his wrinkled crimson official robes, and with sweat stains around his neck at the collar...

"My dear, you're here! Come on in, the dishes are all ready, let's eat!" Wei Mei personally carried a plate of stir-fried dishes into the room, greeting him with a familiar smile.

Everyone sat around the table and began to eat.

"Is Tanlang so busy today? Didn't you go home? Did you come directly from the government office?" Li Xian asked curiously.

Ouyang Rong nodded, picking up some food as he spoke, "By the way, there's something..."

He explained in detail the request for help that Rong Zhen had mentioned, and also told everyone about the captured Li Yu and Zheng Jun...

After listening, Li Xian pondered for a moment and asked, "What does my lord think?"

"Lady Historian could have submitted her own memorial and bypassed us. The fact that she is now asking for our opinion is quite a show of respect... In addition, we can take this opportunity to send some of our own people over."

"Understood. After we finish eating, I will go back to my study to draft a memorial. Tanlang, please come and help polish it."

Ouyang Rong nodded. Li Xian's expression remained calm as he picked up a bite of food, ate a few bites, and then suddenly said:

"The Empress's things belong to the Empress, and the Yuanjun's things belong to the Yuanjun... Actually, this statement isn't too rebellious, at least not when things were going on like this before."

"When I was a child, my father seemed to have told us princes that when the Great Gan Dynasty was first established, the then Yuanjun, the Yue Chuzi of that generation, once entered the Chang'an Palace at night and sat down to talk with Emperor Taizong. In the end, my Li clan and Yunmeng Jianze made a tacit agreement."

"The gist is that our dynasty will not interfere with the Jianghu (martial arts world) of Tiannan. Similarly, the Yunmeng Sword Marsh and the Qi cultivators who rely on them must also accept the governance of the former Southern Dynasty by the Great Gan court and must not harm the officials sent by Chang'an to govern the region in Jiangnan..."

"Before the Sui Dynasty established a unified empire, Yunmeng Jianze had close ties with the Southern Dynasty royal family. The Southern Dynasty royal family was destroyed by the Northern Dynasty's Sui cavalry marching south. Our Taigan Emperor Taizong only replaced them later and regained control of the North and South. Therefore, he did not have a direct blood feud with the remnants of the Southern Dynasty, and the same was true for Yunmeng Jianze."

“These past few days, I received a letter from the Prince of Xiang’s residence. My younger brother mentioned this matter to me. He said regretfully that when the Empress decided to build a large Buddha statue in Jiangzhou and Guizhou last year, he brought up this ancestral law in court and suggested that it would be best to send an angel to Yunmengze to inform them and also to see who the current Yuanjun is… However, the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Liang rejected it in court. The Wei clan… including the Empress Dowager, does not recognize the ancestral law of the Li clan.”

"That's right. It's Holy Week now. How can we follow the old agreements of the previous dynasty? The atmosphere in the court is like this, and no one dares to mention it. My brother had no choice but to give up. However, he didn't expect things to get so bad. It's as if he has offended Yunmeng's sore spot. The relationship has deteriorated to this extent. Both sides have shed blood and people have died. They have already torn off their masks. There's no need to mention the old agreements of the previous dynasty..."

"But I still think that we were the ones who were not very ethical first, and we broke the contract first. Yunmeng Jianze's reaction was understandable."

"Of course, now that they've colluded with the rebel army of the Restoration Army, and that their refusal to acknowledge the Holy Zhou Dynasty is treasonous and a serious offense against the majesty of the Empress Dowager, there's nothing more to say. Well, that's all we can do for now. Some people are bound to die soon..."

Wei Mei, Li Guo'er, and Xie Lingjiang listened to the old story with curious expressions, while Li Xian sighed softly.

Ouyang Rong, who was engrossed in eating, paused with his chopsticks.

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(End of this chapter)