Chapter 148 Hmph, Senior Brother wouldn't be that nice to me.
An unexpected incident occurred during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Everyone inside and outside the gate was shocked.
Even the Jade Cup Fairy's voice changed, letting out a shrill scream:
"You, you've been lying to me the whole way! You didn't drink that cup of wine!"
Xie Lingjiang's right hand, which was gripping the Jade Cup Fairy's wrist, trembled slightly, as if he had been holding on too tightly.
With her other hand, she silently took out a damp, pale pink handkerchief from her red sleeve and tossed it at her feet.
The damp handkerchief faintly smelled of alcohol.
Xie Lingjiang's eyes were cold as she stared intently at the Jade Cup Fairy:
"You're not the senior brother either. The senior brother wouldn't be this nice to me."
Ouyang Rong, his face serious and his hand on his skirt-shaped knife, was speechless.
His lips twitched slightly.
Junior Sister's words were full of resentment...
However, now is not the time to worry about these things.
Ouyang Rong stepped forward, his brows furrowed in a cold stare:
"Take it down!"
"Show yourself!" Xie Lingjiang glared at the incredibly familiar face before her and shouted angrily.
In front of the main gate chamber, with her as the center, it's as if a stone has been thrown into the center of a lake, and the ripples spread outwards in circles.
The Jade Cup Fairy, Ouyang Rong, Shen Xisheng, and others had their robes fluttering and their sleeves swirling.
Especially the Jade Cup Fairy, whose wrist was grabbed by Xie Lingjiang, screamed in pain and her voice completely returned to its hoarse state.
The crowd stared in disbelief as the space around "Ouyang Lianghan," who had previously attempted to kill Shen Xisheng, seemed to be swept by a wave of intense heat, his body contorting before transforming into a black-robed female priestess wearing a beast-faced headdress.
Its true form was revealed amidst the tremors of spiritual energy.
Amid screams, the black-robed priestess's bones cracked and popped, and her right hand, which had been held by Xie Lingjiang, slipped out of Xie Lingjiang's grasp like a boneless eel.
Only a black robe with a broken sleeve remained in the latter's hands.
She flashed into the air like a black whistle arrow.
This scene of fleeing was very similar to the night the tents in the East Warehouse were burned.
This time, however, Xie Lingjiang was not surprised at all; in fact, she had expected it.
"Where do you think you're going, you freak!"
Accompanying the black, arrow-like figure shooting into the sky, a fiery red figure followed closely behind.
In the blink of an eye, the latter overtook the former.
Two figures, one in black and one in red, collided in mid-air.
Ten feet above the Di Gong Gate, black and red colors momentarily mingled together.
Before the crowd below could even look up and see clearly...
Above, the terrified voice of the Jade Cup Fairy echoed throughout the entire arena:
"You who turned the pages! You really are a seventh-rank person!"
Then a cold snort followed.
In the air.
The black and red mixed figure exploded completely.
Xie Lingjiang's red dress was like fire, its hem fluttering wildly.
His figure was like a leaping flame in the air, hovering high in the air.
Waves of crimson spiritual energy enveloped her, along with her red robes, like tongues of fire.
The black-robed priestess, however, was like a spark from a bonfire in the dead of night, bouncing a short distance before plummeting downwards.
Sharp-eyed spectators immediately noticed that the fiery red figure standing above the blazing sun had somehow acquired a bronze mask in his hand.
Xie Lingjiang flipped her hand, putting the bronze mask into her sleeve, and casually discarded the other piece of black robe sleeve.
Without hesitation, his previously airborne figure shot towards the falling black-robed priestess like a rocket.
They relentlessly pursued them without stopping.
However, at this moment, the falling figure in black robes suddenly turned at nearly a ninety-degree angle in mid-air, changing its landing point.
The Jade Cup Fairy sped off, darting into the drainage hole next to the main gate chamber.
Another figure in red followed closely behind with a whooshing sound, like a fiery meteorite piercing through the atmosphere, chasing after the drain hole.
The two women exchanged blows several times, keeping everyone in the audience on the edge of their seats.
But before anyone could react, another unexpected event occurred.
Two loud "bangs" followed in quick succession.
Two spectacular bursts of water suddenly erupted from the drain hole.
It was like a fish leaping onto the shore.
The Jade Cup Fairy flew out backwards, but this time she was soaking wet and entangled in a net.
Many of the ropes binding her had broken off, but most of them were still hanging on her body, making her look extremely disheveled.
That's not the main point. The main point is that Xie Lingjiang came back standing up, while she came back lying down.
In front of everyone present, Xie Lingjiang, with a cold face, carried the dying Jade Cup Fairy.
Just like casually tossing away a piece of trash, the Jade Cup Fairy casually tossed it onto the ground.
Xie Lingjiang stepped on her, bent down, and sealed her dantian acupoint.
Completely subdued.
Xie Lingjiang pursed her lips and spoke slowly and deliberately to the priestess coughing up blood on the ground:
"Don't worry, I won't let this go so easily. You'll learn that sometimes death is a relief."
The Jade Cup Fairy coughed up blood, clutching her mouth tightly: "You...you..."
The clash between the Qi cultivators, and Xie Lingjiang's thunderous suppression, silenced everyone present.
Ouyang Rong shook his head, stepped past the jade cup fairy on the ground, and strode forward.
"I am the real magistrate of Longcheng County, Ouyang Lianghan, without a doubt."
He faced the entire audience and spoke in a serious and clear voice:
"As you all just witnessed, today this audacious fiend impersonated me and attempted to assassinate Inspector Shen. He has an audacity that is simply outrageous!"
Ouyang Rong turned his head and said to Shen Xisheng and Wang Lengran:
"My lords, you have been frightened today. It is my fault for not being a good host and for this mishap caused by such villains. I deserve to be punished for my negligence. However, I have an important matter to report, which concerns the safety of most of the people in Longcheng County and even Jiangzhou. I hope you will forgive me."
Shen Xisheng straightened his official hat again and turned to look at the Jade Cup Fairy who was being held captive by Xie Lingjiang not far away.
The lingering fear on his face faded, and he returned to normal, nodding solemnly.
"Magistrate Ouyang, please speak. If this matter is truly as serious as you say, then it is naturally the most important matter! What do you say, Lord Wang?"
Shen Xisheng suddenly turned his head and asked.
Wang Lengran's facial muscles seemed somewhat stiff as he forced a smile and nodded to the inspector and the magistrate of Longcheng County, who were both looking at him:
“Lord Shen is right. Magistrate Ouyang can speak frankly. If justice is on your side, Lord Shen and I will give our full support.”
Ouyang Rong nodded. "Thank you both."
He pointed sharply at the coughing black-robed priestess on the ground, and addressed the guests and common people in a powerful voice:
"I hereby file charges against the Liu family of Longcheng, and the ringleader, Liu Ziwen!"
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent. Most of the guests turned their gazes toward the backs of certain figures in the front row of the crowd. Liu Ziwen swayed slightly without any wind; Liu Zian's sickly face was ashen, and he took a step back; Liu Zilin hurriedly looked around.
Ouyang Rong continued speaking, his voice resounding throughout the entire venue: "The Liu family has not only plagued Longcheng for many years, but also taken advantage of floods every year to seize fertile land, their evil deeds are beyond description!"
"Today, they even sent this sorcerer assassin to impersonate an official of the imperial court and assassinate the Inspector General. This sorcerer assassin comes from the Dragon King Temple on Xiaogushan Mountain, which is wholly owned and operated by the Liu family. He is the priest of this temple and has been supported by the Liu family for many years!"
"Besides that, there is one more important matter, which concerns the safety of millions of people."
Ouyang Rong paused, then suddenly turned to Liu Ashan, who had rushed over, and said:
"Take some men and take control of the main gate room first. Make sure no one destroys the evidence at the scene. Then bring the things out for everyone to see."
"Yes, sir!"
Liu Ashan led his men into the main gate chamber behind Ouyang Rong and the others, and then carried out the wooden barrels that were full of food from the main gate chamber and placed them in the sun.
Ouyang Rong turned his head, continuing to face the curious gazes of the crowd, pointed to the main gate room, and said righteously:
"Under the instigation of the Liu family, the priests of the Dragon King Temple, together with the sword shop craftsmen who were repairing the sluice gate, took advantage of the sluice gate washing ceremony before the completion of the project to secretly transport these flammable and explosive magical oils into the main sluice gate chamber..."
"The Liu family is plotting against the newly built Di Gong Gate! There is both witness testimony and physical evidence to prove this!"
"The Liu family is so adept at this matter that it's hard not to be suspicious; this isn't the first or second time."
"This official reasonably deduces that every collapse of the Di Gong Gate in the past four years since its construction was caused by the Liu family! The floods and widespread suffering in Longcheng County over the past ten years, and the destruction of countless families, are not only natural disasters, but also man-made disasters caused by the Liu family!"
"His crimes are heinous and his sins are beyond comprehension. He must be killed to appease the public's hatred!"
"Lord Shen, Lord Wang, this humble official requests a public trial for the Liu family!"
Ouyang Rong's words were like metal and stone falling to the ground, resounding and powerful.
It was like a bolt from the blue that struck the hearts of the ordinary people, local gentry, and wealthy landowners who came to witness the ceremony today.
It immediately became the fuse that ignited the entire venue.
"Splash—"
"Whoa—"
The crowd watching the ceremony erupted in uproar.
Countless shocked, angry, and silent gazes fell upon the three brothers, Liu Ziwen, Liu Zian, and Liu Zilin, who stood in the first row of the crowd.
“False accusation…it’s all a false accusation!” Liu Zilin shouted at the crowd around him, feeling like he was being pricked by needles.
However, his voice was drowned out by the overwhelming sound waves and engulfed by angry and suspicious gazes. Liu Zilin trembled all over, and his words became stammering.
"Men, take the Liu brothers away!"
Shen Xisheng frowned deeply and gave a swift and decisive reprimand.
He then charged headlong into the main gate room with great momentum, while Wang Lengran remained silent and followed with pursed lips.
The crowd of onlookers behind them could no longer contain themselves and surged forward like a tide!
Liu Ziwen and Liu Zian were like two nails, being hammered hard by someone, their feet firmly planted in place, unable to move.
Liu Zilin's eyes were filled with terror. He swallowed hard and looked at his two older brothers for help, "Big brother, second brother, what... what do we do!"
However, no one answered him. He only saw his two older brothers, who were usually calm and composed and unflappable in the face of adversity.
Their faces were ashen and grim at that moment.
Amidst the bustling and noisy crowd, Ouyang Rong remained calm, his hands tucked into his sleeves. He led Xie Lingjiang and the others forward with a leisurely stroll, passing in front of the three Liu brothers who had been detained.
As he passed in front of Liu Ziwen and the other two, he seemed to remember something.
The young magistrate calmly pulled out a handful of leftover sunflower seeds from his sleeve, cracked them lightly with his mouth, smiled and spread his hands, handed some to Xie Lingjiang, and led her away while they cracked sunflower seeds together.
Seeing Ouyang Rong cracking sunflower seeds in his familiar manner, the three Liu brothers seemed to remember something.
Liu Ziwen stared intently at Ouyang Rong's carefree departure, his breathing suddenly becoming heavy. His stiff body swayed precariously, but fortunately, Liu Zian and Liu Zilin beside him supported him, preventing him from falling.
"Big brother! What's wrong..."
"No...it's okay, I'm fine..."
The young master of the Liu family, who was about to face the punishment of having his property confiscated, had his eyes twitching violently one after another, and then his vision went black.
...
The ribbon-cutting ceremony in the afternoon temporarily ended amidst a chaotic yet orderly cacophony of sounds.
As the sun sets, the day's conflicts seem to be dragging their weary bodies toward the end, much like the red sun itself.
However, what happened at the ribbon-cutting ceremony included: an assassin impersonating the county magistrate and killing the inspector; the recurring floods being caused by human error; and the young county magistrate exposing the Liu family's heinous crimes.
However, with the gradual return of the guests and local residents who attended the ceremony, the news spread like wildfire throughout Longcheng County.
The arrival of night merely concealed the boiling public opinion and turmoil; no one knew how much of a storm would rage on the second day.
As the sun sets, on a main road leading to Longcheng County...
There was a heavily guarded convoy.
Inside one of the carriages, which was positioned in the center, sat a brother and sister facing each other in silence.
The interior of the carriage was somewhat dim.
Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang had been alone together in a carriage before.
However, things were usually quite relaxed and comfortable, but never before had the atmosphere been so silent.
This has been the case ever since we boarded the carriage at Di Gong Gate and set off.
Logically, they could have chosen not to ride in the same carriage.
Ouyang Rong can go and keep Shen Xisheng, Wang Lengran and other officials company.
However, when Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang boarded the train, they tacitly entered the same carriage, while Liu Ashan and the others also tacitly withdrew and did not interrupt.
Ouyang Rong didn't like this tacit understanding between them, but sometimes he was quite grateful for it, as it saved him from a lot of awkward situations.
The carriage was dimly lit.
A long silence followed.
Ouyang Rong suddenly raised his hand, and Xie Lingjiang trembled.
However, Ouyang Rong simply reached out and lifted the curtain of the carriage, without doing anything else.
However, the woman in red seemed to maintain a taut body.
From the moment she accompanied someone away from Digong Gate and onto the carriage, she had been suppressing the impulse to impulsively rush into the man's arms.
She's been so rational this afternoon, just a little more patience, just a little more patience...
Xie Lingjiang stared straight at Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong had no idea what the woman was thinking.
At that moment, he opened his mouth as if to speak: "Junior Sister..."
Xie Lingjiang spoke first, raising her head to ask:
"How did you manage to get from Dagushan to Digongzha this afternoon, Senior Brother? It's such a long way, and we took the fastest waterway. How did you catch up with us so quickly?"
It was that damned unspoken understanding again. Someone fell silent and couldn't help but glance at his junior sister, whose expression seemed perfectly fine.
Ouyang Rong didn't speak, but turned to look out the east-facing car window.
Xie Lingjiang looked out with a hint of curiosity in her eyes, following Ouyang Rong's gaze.
At that moment, the convoy passed the edge of a dense forest, and beyond the sparse trees, a newly built canal could be seen.
Xie Lingjiang naturally recognized the Zheyi Canal, but this was different from every time she had passed by it in the past few days.
Right now, under the setting sun, the straight channel of the Zheyi Canal is filled with patches of golden waves—water that has been dyed like gold.
Xie Lingjiang looked around, her eyes reflecting the scene. She was stunned, and for a moment she felt that the scene was absolutely beautiful.
This is the result of her senior brother's hard work these past few days... Xie Lingjiang's previously melancholy mood has improved somewhat.
"Senior Brother, wasn't the construction of the Broken Wing Canal suspended after the completion of the first phase? How come..."
Seeing Ouyang Rong's bright eyes, Xie Lingjiang paused, not saying anything more, everything was understood without words.
It's obvious that if they took the normal old Butterfly Creek waterway, the same waterway Xie Lingjiang and the Jade Cup Fairy took after picking up the person that afternoon, they would have to go around Longcheng County, adding a lot of distance to the journey.
The Zheyi Canal is an almost straight waterway. If you start from Songlin Ferry and travel along the Zheyi Canal to the Yedu Wharf on the other side, you can save most of the extra waterway.
As for the thick wall used to block the water at Songlin Ferry, Xie Lingjiang remembered that when she accompanied her senior brother on the last inspection, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Works said that it could be breached at any time...
Ouyang Rong suddenly asked, "Then what about Junior Sister? When did she discover that she was a fake Senior Brother?"
Xie Lingjiang bit her lower lip, stared at Ouyang Rong's face for a long time, and then slowly lowered her eyes.
The dappled golden sunlight streaming through the car window shone on her pretty profile, and Ouyang Rong noticed that his junior sister's gaze was fixed on the skirt-shaped knife in his hand...
(End of this chapter)
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