Chapter 405 Dingjian is a Little Hamster
"Sister-in-law, don't go out. My brother said before he left that no matter what happens in the temple tonight, don't go out."
"Okay, Auntie."
Inside the west wing of the Sanhui Courtyard, the lights were off.
In the darkness, apart from the snores of the elderly Liu's mother as she slept, the voices of Aqing and Yunniang could be heard.
It was the middle of the night, and neither of the two women was asleep.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the commotion outside the window.
Especially not long ago, there was that moment of "bright as day," with faint purple and blue halos painting the starry sky.
Like a dream, it became increasingly mysterious and eerie.
Aqing and Yunniang had no idea what was happening outside.
Awe of the unknown.
They were made to hide inside the house, too afraid to go out.
However, Ah Qing may have vaguely guessed something.
After all, I have experienced the events of the forging of the sword and the battle of the gods, so I have some vague understanding of certain groups.
Furthermore, tonight, my sworn brother Ouyang Rong suddenly returned, carrying a familiar wooden sword case. All of this connects…
Aqing lowered her head, curled up her small body, and buried her face in the quilt.
Having just closed the window and lay back in bed, Yunniang asked curiously:
Why are my aunt's hands so cold?
"It's nothing," Aqing shook her head.
This is a small couch placed next to Liu's mother's sickbed. On ordinary days, if one of the two women was keeping watch over Liu's mother at night, she would lie down next to her fully clothed so that it would be convenient to take care of her and pass her the chamber pot.
However, the strange noises at Donglin Temple tonight made the two women uneasy, so they kept watch together.
However, Liu's mother, being old and prone to sleepiness, was not disturbed and was not woken up.
In the darkness, Yunniang seemed to glance again at the strange scene outside the window, then lowered her voice in fear:
"Luckily, my husband left early. My aunt was right to stop me from keeping him here any longer. Otherwise, if I had come down the mountain later, I would have encountered these strange things outside."
The young woman spoke with a relieved tone, whispering behind closed door.
But Aqing didn't say a word, and instead buried her head even lower.
"Is my aunt feeling unwell...?"
Bang--!
Just as Yunniang was asking the question, a muffled thud suddenly came from the courtyard outside, like the sound of a heavy sandbag hitting the muddy ground.
Yunniang and Aqing, who were lying in bed, fell silent instantly.
Only the old woman's deep snoring remained in the room.
In the pitch-black courtyard outside, no new sounds came for a long time, while in the distance outside the window, above the southwest side of Donglin Temple, the light of purple and clear blue continued to intertwine and shine, undiminished.
From the perspective of the two women inside the house, this scene looked like a silent mime.
The air in front of the bed was silent.
Until a muffled groan from a man could be faintly heard coming from the courtyard outside.
Yunniang suddenly felt a chill in her arms; the blankets had been pulled back. Looking around, she saw her aunt, who had warned her of the dangers outside and told her not to go out, running out the door without a care in the world.
"Little aunt?" she called out softly.
Ignoring him, Aqing ran into the courtyard barefoot, her feet barely covered by white socks, and looked around. Sure enough, she spotted a young man in a scholar's robe.
The pretty young woman silently helped the young man in the scholar's robe into the house.
During this time, the bronze fox mask on the young man in the scholar's robe fell off and was picked up by A Qing, who brought it into the house with him.
As Yunniang rushed to the door, she vaguely caught a glimpse of the young man in the scholar's robe and couldn't help but exclaim softly, "My lord."
Ouyang Rong appeared to be half-asleep, half-awake. In the dim light from afar, one could vaguely see his handsome face with his eyes closed, his brows furrowed, his pale lips pursed, and he occasionally let out a muffled "uh" sound, with blood trickling from the corner of his lips.
Moreover, Yunniang suddenly noticed that every time Ouyang Rong groaned, the strange blue-purple light on the distant southwest horizon would intensify.
If it weren't for the blue light overwhelming the purple aura...
If it weren't for the purple aura counterattacking the blue light...
It's like a breathing rhythm.
"Don't turn on the lights."
Aqing whispered, and Yunniang quickly blew out the lamp on the table.
Aqing helped the trembling young man in his scholar's robe to the bedside. She grabbed the quilt and wrapped it tightly around him, as if afraid he would catch a cold.
Aqing hugged Ouyang Rong tightly through the blankets and asked, "Brother, are you cold? Where do you feel unwell?"
“Dan…Rejuvenation Pill…” A few words were squeezed out from dry lips.
When he spoke, Ouyang Rong kept his eyes closed and his brows furrowed even more, as if he was preoccupied with something and spoke concisely.
However, upon hearing him speak, Aqing immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"oh oh."
Aqing realized what was happening and quickly went to get a small bottle of pills.
This pill was given to Ouyang Rong by Xie Lingjiang when they were in Longcheng. It came from Gezao Mountain and was later left with Liu's mother. She instructed Aqing and Yunniang to feed Ouyang Rong half a pill every ten days, mixed with water, as a way to nourish and recuperate.
Although it is an authentic healing pill, as its name suggests, it also has a slight effect of reviving withered trees and relieving pain, making it suitable for elderly patients who are nearing the end of their lives and suffering from illness.
Ouyang Rong never expected that it would come in handy tonight.
The small pills were quickly brought out, and Aqing took the water ladle from Yunniang and carefully fed them to Ouyang Rong.
A short while later.
The young man with his eyes closed let out a long breath.
The battle between the purple and blue rays of light on the southwest horizon outside the window continues.
However, Ouyang Rong managed to open his eyes a crack, first looking at Liu's mother who was fast asleep on the sickbed, and then at the two women in front of him.
Aqing's hair was soaked with water, her little face looking pitiful. Yunniang sat uneasily, looking around worriedly, and asked anxiously:
"Is my lord alright? It's so hot outside..."
Having barely recovered, Ouyang Rong slightly raised his hand to indicate that he was alright.
Immediately, Ah Qing and the other two women saw that he continued to keep his eyes closed, his brows furrowed in confusion.
The candle in the snow was even more powerful than Ouyang Rong had imagined.
It's unclear whether this Yunmeng Grand Empress is exceptionally talented and brilliant, or whether all high-level Qi cultivators possess such true combat strength.
In any case, he is definitely not comparable to Master Xi, who recently "invited a god to possess him".
This woman was able to fight on equal terms with the craftswoman who had used the two great sword techniques, "Dependent Origination and Emptiness" and "Return to the Past," and who relied on the rich incense energy accumulated over a hundred years at Dagushan Mountain. She did not lose any ground.
Good heavens, this is a Dingjian sword! It's a masterpiece crafted by a master swordsmith of the Daoist lineage, who poured his life's work into forging each and every one of them. Every single one of them is renowned and has been recorded in history as a bloodbath.
The Swordsman's severed meridians are hailed as the most lethal force in the world, and this reputation is not undeserved.
Based on past successful experiences, as long as Ouyang Rong can successfully deploy his sword, he can cut melons and vegetables with ease after waiting for fifteen breaths.
Only in the case of Qiu Shenji was the spiritual energy and merit of the purple mist insufficient to feed the craftsmen, which led to the difficult victory of killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of one's own.
However, even with the clever use of the "incense and spiritual energy" equivalent to the dissipation of cultivation power of several high-grade Buddhist Qi cultivators, he still couldn't subdue this woman.
Even her protective inner energy was rarely broken.
On the contrary, Xue Zhongzhu's sword energy became even stronger. With his own body and sword, he clashed head-on with "Craftsmanship" without flinching.
Moreover, the long sword on her back was no ordinary object; it possessed characteristics similar to those of the authentic swordsman Ouyang Rong, who could control a sword remotely. The two worked together perfectly, and of course, it was definitely not the mythical Ding Sword.
One man, one sword, thus he alone stands out with the sharpness of the Dingjian sword.
This was the first time Ouyang Rong had ever seen such a tough woman.
Could there be such a large difference in combat power among fifth-grade Qi cultivators at the same cultivation level?
He managed to free up a little of his attention and fell into deep thought...
Ouyang Rong was unaware of the astonishment a tall Hu woman in the southwestern sky felt towards him, a mere eighth-rank swordsman.
However, Ouyang Rong knew that although he couldn't do anything to her, Xue Zhongzhu couldn't really do anything to the craftsmen or Ouyang Rong either.
The craftsman, who was fighting on his home turf and had an abundant source of incense offerings, used his "Return to the Past" supernatural power to lock onto his aura, leaving Xue Zhongzhu unable to deal with him.
So, taking advantage of the intense battle between the two sides, they reached a stalemate.
The seriously injured Ouyang Rong fled early.
He staggered all the way back to Sanhui Courtyard.
The woman is entangled in a craftsman's work; if she doesn't run now, when will she?
In any case, right now, because of the "origin" that caused this, the spiritual energy for crafting is supplied by the great world of Dagushan, so there is no need for Ouyang Rong's personal microcosm and he doesn't need to stay nearby.
Within the territory of Dagushan, Ouyang Rong's communication with the craftsmen was not limited by distance; at most, it only required more mental effort.
A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall, nor does a man wielding a sword.
Only a fool would stay on the front lines and be attacked head-on, able to secretly deploy swords and wield them to kill enemies. It can be said that in the entire Dingjian-Swordholder system, the Swordholder is the weakest link.
He had heard that the female cultivators of Yunmeng were always united, and besides, Dagushan in Longcheng was right at Yunmengze's doorstep.
Regardless of the reason for Xue Zhongzhu's strange appearance tonight, Ouyang Rong guessed that there were probably other Yue women following behind who had not yet arrived. Xue Zhongzhu was alone and traveled the fastest, arriving at Da Gushan first, and the possibility of her fighting him first was not low.
Right now, the craftsmanship is holding back the candle in the snow, and the candle in the snow is also holding back the craftsmanship.
Given Ouyang Rong's current injuries and distraction while controlling his sword, without the protection of the Ding Sword, if the opponent has Yue Nu's companions who arrive, even if they are only at the ninth rank, they can easily take his head.
"I don't believe you can hold on for this long. So what if you're a fifth-grade Qi cultivator? So what if you're the leader of the sword path? Even spiritual energy has its limits. Do you think your dantian is bigger than Mount Dagu?"
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips.
"My lord, your arm..."
"It's alright."
Ouyang Rong shook his head, glanced at it wearily, and then, with a snap, painfully reattached his dislocated right arm.
However, the fracture in his forearm remained, causing excruciating pain that pierced to the bone, and he clenched his teeth.
Ouyang Rong's thin face turned pale at a visible speed, and Aqing and Yunniang quickly wiped away his cold sweat.
His right hand was trembling and he could barely lift it, so he needed Aqing's help to lift it up.
At this moment, Ouyang Rong paid no attention to these things. He continued to close his eyes, immerse himself in the mind, communicate with the sword, and remotely command it.
In fact, the craftsmanship itself is spiritual and can seek out enemies on its own, without requiring the swordsman to expend too much mental energy.
However, the little guy's intelligence is ultimately limited. He is not good at playing tricks on people and is prone to being irritable and impulsive. He may fall into a trap. He needs Ouyang Rong's focused guidance, especially when facing a terrifying opponent like Xue Zhongzhu.
The room was silent. He didn't speak, and neither did Aqing and Yunniang dared to utter a sound, waiting anxiously.
Ouyang Rong was so tense that he forgot about the passage of time outside.
After an unknown amount of time, the peerless purple figure that had been soaring through the southwestern sky retreated slightly. Before her, phantom images of clear blue lotus flowers bloomed, and for a moment, she exerted her power.
"Ha, so even you have your limits!"
Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief.
On that battlefield, a fierce and domineering female ruler finally retreated for the first time, shifting her tactics and attempting to disengage from the battlefield.
Ouyang Rong, controlling the craftsman, continued the pursuit. Xue Zhongzhu fought and retreated, seemingly taking the opportunity to recover his spiritual energy. At a certain moment, Ouyang Rong ordered the craftsman to feign an attack, delivering a final sword strike, before turning and running away again, shaking off his pursuers and circling back...
Break free from the mysterious and esoteric connection of mind and spirit.
Ouyang Rong opened his eyes in an instant, clutching his chest and panting, finally managing to escape.
His energy and mental strength were almost at their limit. If Xue Zhongzhu did not back down and the stalemate continued, he might faint.
Ouyang Rong immediately threw off the covers and got out of bed to walk around.
After a short wait, the craftsman, having pursued the enemy, returned as scheduled.
The room was dimly lit. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the same scene as when he returned from copying scriptures in the main hall not long ago. Next to the "Azure Sword Arc" he had returned to, something was faintly floating in the halo of light.
Ouyang Rong's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened slightly: "No way..."
However, the floating objects in the halo seemed to be "lively and energetic," rather than a piece of thin and breathable fabric.
Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a snow-white longsword.
The blade of the snow-white longsword was as clear as glass, like an icicle under the eaves covered with winter snow, as pure white as milk.
Ouyang Rong's lips twitched violently.
Directly ahead, a sword arced back to its master, carrying a trophy with it. It even walked with a bit of a swagger, clearly trying to curry favor.
He looked just like a chubby kid who got into a fight after school, bruised and battered, but walking home with his head held high and swaggering.
The main characteristic is that they are stubborn and strong-willed.
The snow-white longsword fell into Ouyang Rong's hand. The glass blade suddenly trembled and emitted a long sword cry. It struggled, as if it were in sorrow and anger, as if it had fallen into enemy hands for the first time and had its purity defiled by a man... He frowned and hurriedly stuffed it into the sword box that isolated its aura. He turned to glare at the craftsman. Before he could speak, the little guy "whooshed" and quickly darted back to its old nest in the sword box that had been bulging tonight.
You son of a bitch, are you a hamster? Every time you come back you bring some stuff. If you keep coming like this, your sword case won't be able to hold it all.
Ouyang Rong suppressed his curses, closed the sword case, and hurriedly looked around.
Xue Zhongzhu was only short of spiritual energy in his dantian, but he was not seriously injured and would soon recover his fighting strength and turn back to find him.
He had just fled and must have left many traces of blood on his way here.
Although the Yue women, including Xue Zhongzhu, are not skilled in observing qi and are not particularly troublesome members of the Yin-Yang school, they can still find it if they are willing to do so. The only difference is whether they find it quickly or slowly.
The pursuers could arrive at any moment, and there was no time to retrace the route and deal with the traces.
We can't let Aqing and the others get dragged down with us!
Ouyang Rong devised a plan.
He turned around, cleaned up the traces in the yard, hid the sword box, took the bloodstained bronze fox mask from Aqing, put it on again, and carefully gave her a few instructions. The two women nodded in agreement.
A moment later, Ouyang Rong, without his sword case, strode out and ran down the mountain without making a fuss, as if he were fleeing...
(End of this chapter)
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