Chapter 448 I'd rather die than tell.
With Rongzhen and others watching from the side, Ouyang Rong didn't say much to Miaosi.
Taking advantage of Rong Zhen's distraction, Ouyang Rong glanced at Yan Zhang, Lian Qing, and the other people, as well as the items used to set up the formation on the field.
Finally, I glanced one last time at Yan Liulang's figure standing guard at the courtyard gate, sword in hand.
After Yan Liulang tacitly placed the long, narrow cloth bundle containing the zither case back into the carriage, he quietly stood guard at the courtyard gate, waiting for his instructions.
Ouyang Rong subtly shifted his gaze.
Currently, there is good news and bad news.
The good news is that, following the clues of the three thousand merits and new blessings, he stumbled upon the "Broken Sword Package" that Rongzhen had meticulously prepared for him, intending to kill him without hesitation.
At least he wasn't riding a winter plum tree through the streets while munching on a pancake, only to be trapped by the Earth Release: Moonlit Pool Formation that teleported in, and then beaten to death by a group of icy palace-dressed girls with a bunch of helpers.
Ouyang Rong was still a little confused. He couldn't figure out exactly where this new blessing had worked, and it seemed like his previous guess wasn't so certain after all...
As for the bad news, it's that he can't beat them.
That's right, we can't beat them.
When Ouyang Rong was observing, he noticed the colors of spiritual energy that Yan Zhang and Lian Qing occasionally revealed when they were setting up the formation.
Deep vermilion red.
Like Rong Zhen, he was a sixth-rank Qi cultivator.
The other six were Qi cultivators in white robes and light red robes, all of whom were seventh-rank Qi cultivators.
Including Rong Zhen, a top-tier sixth-rank cultivator, there were a total of three sixth-rank Qi cultivators and six seventh-rank Qi cultivators on the field.
If calculated according to the standard of a mid-grade Qi cultivator, then there are nine mid-grade Qi cultivators.
Compared to top-tier Qi cultivators like Xue Zhongzhu and Qiu Shenji, he couldn't overwhelm them in terms of quality, but in terms of quantity, he was quite troublesome.
Although as long as the "Return to the Homeland" sword is successfully made, the craftsmanship can be completed as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.
However, the "qi" needed to activate this greedy cauldron sword was far from sufficient.
Currently, the merit points on the small wooden fish inside the merit tower are only in the double digits, less than one hundred.
He exchanged his previous merits for a new blessing, and used the remaining few hundred merits to learn the Shangqing secret technique of summoning spirits... However, the summoning spirits technique cannot be used at present due to the problem of talisman materials.
Without the support of the merit-based purple mist, and because this place is not the Great Lonely Mountain where he can thrive, there is no continuous source of Lotus Sect incense energy to allow him to unleash the boundless power of the Cauldron Sword.
In fact, he had considered this kind of predicament before, and he had made contingency plans.
For example, the top-grade Qi-replenishing pill called "Ink Dragon" is meant to prevent such desperate situations.
Unfortunately, he returned to the city today covered in dust and had rushed here again this morning with his sword, but Mo Jiao was not by his side.
In short, the only thing he could think of right now was his own dantian spiritual energy, which could be used to form a sword.
Ouyang Rong is currently at the eighth rank of Sword Master, and all the spiritual energy in his dantian is used to activate the Ding Sword. At most, it is only enough for him to use his sword to kill a sixth-rank Qi Refiner.
Without the replenishment of merit-based purple mist and incense smoke, what should be done with the remaining two sixth-grade Qi cultivators and six seventh-grade Qi cultivators on the field? Should they be left unattended?
Or is it just another instance of overdrawing one's own resentment?
Even if you suck him dry, it still won't be enough to kill everyone and clear the area.
Not to mention that Rong Zhen, Yan Zhang, Lian Qing, and others have brought several powerful items with them and set up a "Moon Array under the Pond" to isolate the spiritual energy from both inside and outside.
Within this range, the spiritual energy in the dantian cannot be used.
How to solve this?
The "Moonlight Array Under the Pond" in the courtyard was getting closer and closer to completion, and danger was approaching. Sweat beaded on Ouyang Rong's temples, and he lowered his head slightly, his mind racing.
He quickly rejected one seemingly feasible path after weighing them.
Ouyang Rong suddenly looked up and glanced at Huang Xuan and Miao Si.
The two of them were key to Rongzhen's setup of this formation.
But he couldn't just suddenly lash out and kill them to silence them.
Putting aside the question of whether he could extricate himself from doing this in front of Rong Zhen, Yan Zhang, Lian Qing, and others, he simply couldn't bring himself to harm the young and innocent.
what to do?
Could it be that I'll be fighting nine people at once in the moon array under the pool, where spiritual energy is in a vacuum?
Wait, Liu Lang is here too.
However, it seems that two against nine is no different from one against nine.
Sword wielders are inherently wary of being approached, as physical strength is a weakness. Who knows if Rong Zhen, aside from his Qi cultivation, is actually a master of swordsmanship or martial arts?
Wait, a swordsmanship master? Isn't Junior Sister also a swordsmanship master, not afraid of anyone, and even wanted to challenge Yue Chuzi of Yunmeng Sword Swamp to a sword duel before?
If only my junior sister were here.
If he couldn't avoid being caught in this formation, he could simply bring his trusted helpers and engage in a close-quarters melee with these Qi cultivators from the Imperial Observatory within the "Moon Formation Under the Pool."
Ouyang Rong suddenly thought of something and turned to look in the direction of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
A short while later.
He turned around and looked at Yan Liulang, who was standing at the door.
Yan Liulang, who had been listening in quietly like a nobody, also secretly watched him.
The two exchanged a silent glance.
"Master Female History."
"What is it?"
Ouyang Rong said somewhat embarrassedly:
"You all set up the formation first. Something has happened to Liu Lang. I'll go out and take a look."
"What is it?" Rong Zhen, who was usually indifferent, was about to nod when Yan Zhang interrupted with a question.
Before Ouyang Rong could answer, Yan Liulang, standing at the courtyard gate, looked troubled and said:
"Following the instructions of the ladies and gentlemen, if we are to urgently summon the state troops in the city to seal off the entire city... this is a matter of great importance. It would be best if Your Excellency could be present and make a move. Otherwise, the people below may not believe it, and following the normal procedures for sealing off the city will take too long."
Ouyang Rong stood next to Rong Zhen, carefully observing her expression out of the corner of his eye.
After listening, Rong Zhen nodded slightly: "Okay."
The other Qi cultivators in the courtyard seemed to have no objections either.
But just then...
"Wait."
Yan Zhang, who was crouching in a corner setting up the formation, suddenly stood up and called out to Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang, who were about to leave.
"What is it?" Ouyang Rong asked patiently.
Yan Zhang remained silent with a stern face. After observing Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang for a while, he said indifferently:
"No need to go. Don't notify the Jiangzhou government or the state army camp yet, but you can notify the lower city gate to close it. Send one of your men to do this. You two stay here. More people means more strength. Come with us into the formation and deal with the hidden Butterfly Love Flower Master later."
"Why? Why weren't we notified?" Yan Liulang frowned, puzzled.
Yan Zhang had no interest in talking to the local constable chief, and explained to Rong Zhen, who was also looking at him with the same gaze:
"If the matter is done in secret, it is easy for news to leak out. What if the owner of Butterfly Loves Flowers is lurking in a government agency? Wouldn't that alert the enemy?"
"Just seal off the city gates, no need to inform the government of the reason. Once we've set up this formation, activate it immediately and arrest this thief, lest things get complicated."
Under Rongzhen's gaze, Yan Zhang appeared calm and composed, as if he had everything under control.
He wanted to make a good impression on Rongzhen today.
"As for the two of you..."
Yan Zhang glanced at Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang:
"Now that you know, stay and help us. Come with us to join the battle."
"That makes sense."
Rong Zhen nodded and said to Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang, "That's settled then. I'm sorry to trouble you two."
Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang stopped in their tracks.
Yet she still maintained a smile on her face.
Under Rongzhen's gaze, Ouyang Rong answered calmly:
"Okay, that makes sense."
"Listen, listen to the Lady Historian."
Yan Liulang also agreed along with Ouyang Rong, but compared to the latter, his smile was somewhat forced, and he had to try hard to hide it.
Yan Liulang couldn't help but look around at the gradually forming cage, feeling somewhat anxious for the prefect.
Furthermore, as time went by, a hint of resoluteness appeared in his eyes as he stood behind Ouyang Rong.
But when he was at his wit's end, Yan Liulang discovered that the Mingfu was still chatting and laughing with Rongzhen.
Rongzhen asked:
"Did Chief Secretary Ouyang bring his sword? If not, you can use mine later. I need to focus all my attention on the array and won't be able to leave. You'll have to catch the thief."
“I brought it.” Ouyang Rong nodded. “It’s in the carriage. I’ll get it later.”
"good."
His last plan to slip away from the courtyard and retreat back to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion failed.
Unlike Yan Liulang, who was secretly anxious.
Ouyang Rong remained surprisingly calm.
He stood still with his hands at his sides, glanced at the carriage at the courtyard gate, then turned to look at the red paper with the poem "Butterfly Loves Flowers" in Rongzhen's hand. His expression remained unchanged, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
On the other side, Miao Si was also carefully watching Ouyang Rong's figure.
Unlike Huang Xuan, who was still happy and unaware that she could help the Chief Secretary, Miao Si remained almost entirely silent throughout.
Standing on the stone table, the young female Taoist priest in Confucian robes suddenly thought that if she had listened to Huang Xuan's advice, she would have sneaked out at night to steal food from the inner treasury of Hanlei Ink Studio.
“The dumbest, without a doubt…” she murmured.
"What did you say?"
Lianqing, who happened to be setting up an array next to the stone table, asked curiously.
Miao Si remained silent, but simply stretched out one hand and tilted the golden bowl, causing the viscous ink inside to turn into a thin, black stream that fell to the ground.
She was very small, her hands were small, and the golden alms bowl she held upside down in her hands was even smaller.
But instead, a black waterfall appeared.
The waterfall is made of ink and is as thick as a water vat.
Upon landing, a cloud of pitch-black fog exploded in the courtyard.
This change came suddenly, obscuring everyone's view.
The figure of the young woman in Confucian robes and a Taoist priest disappeared from the stone table.
Rong Zhen, Lian Qing, Huang Xuan, Yan Liulang and others were all caught off guard, including Ouyang Rong, whose expression was also one of surprise.
Little Ink Spirit wants to escape!
Rongzhen immediately took out the golden four-eyed fierce mask and put it on her face.
But someone was faster than her.
"court death!"
Yan Zhang sneered, and as soon as he uttered those words, he vanished from his spot.
Upon seeing this, Rongzhen removed her mask, did not call out her real name, and with a light touch of her toes, she leaped into the air, her palace dress flowing downwards like a long wind.
The dark fog that had obscured the view was swept away by a strong wind, and visibility was restored in the courtyard.
All they could see was Yan Zhang standing in front of a rat hole in the north wall of the courtyard. His hand was tightly gripping a small figure the size of a palm, which was screaming in pain.
That's a brilliant idea.
"Ah—ya—! Let go, let go of this fairy maiden."
"Heh, still dare to play tricks? Trying to escape? Who gave you the guts?"
"Release me, release me now! You effeminate man, what ability do you have to bully those with lower cultivation? If you're so capable, wait until I cultivate for another twenty years, and we'll settle this once and for all. Never mind, you're definitely female, you effeminate man, release me now..."
Yan Zhang sneered, but suddenly cried out "Ah!", released his hand, bent over to cover his tiger's mouth, and gritted his teeth and inhaled.
"You dare bite me? You little beast!"
His face flushed red, and he suddenly felt embarrassed in front of everyone.
After Miaosi broke free of the hand and landed on the ground, she did a few somersaults and ran forward with her short legs. However, she hadn't run three steps before she was stepped on by an angry big foot in front of the mouse hole.
"Ah—!" The man with the mole on his eyebrow stomped his feet repeatedly on the ground, forcing the little ink spirit to rub her face against the ground and cry out in pain.
Don't step on her!
Huang Xuan rushed forward.
Seeing another one approaching, Yan Zhang glared back and was about to swat it away with his sleeve when a jade-like hand reached out from the side and stopped him. The sharp, knife-like sleeve wind suddenly scattered and did not touch the little girl in the red jacket.
"Stop it, all of you."
Rong Zhen stepped between Huang Xuan and Yan Zhang, raising her arm to shield the former and frowning as she commanded the latter:
"Who told you to hurt her? This little ink spirit too, hurt her, so you can use her as a formation? Capture her and find out the truth first."
"Yes." Yan Zhang took a deep breath and lowered his head.
Yan Zhang bent down, grabbed the young woman in Confucian robes who was writhing in pain, and demanded:
"Speak quickly! Why did you run away? You were so obsequious at first, but now you're arrogant and uncooperative with Lady Rongzhen. Is someone behind this? Speak quickly."
"Hehehe." With her bruised and swollen eyes, she stuck out her tongue and made a face: "I'd rather die than tell you, you sissy! Go ahead and guess, you little sissy, if you're so capable, strangle this old lady."
"You little brat, you're asking for death!" Yan Zhang suppressed his anger.
If Rong Zhen hadn't been watching coldly from the sidelines, he could have crushed that little thing in one swipe.
Ouyang Rong stood to the side, keeping his head turned away, silently watching the little ink spirit that was deliberately seeking death for a while.
Huang Xuan pushed Rong Zhen's arm away and looked up at her with her small face, asking:
"Miaosi, is something bothering you? Why don't you want to help this woman? Aren't you friends?"
The young female Taoist priest, who had initially been defiant and confrontational, lowered her head, avoiding eye contact, and said:
"Mind your own business. Get lost. There's no point in talking to a clueless brat like you."
Her little face was covered in tears, and she cursed as she bit Yan Zhang's hand.
Yan Zhang was so angry that he wanted to smash the crazed little ink spirit to the ground again.
Ouyang Rong suddenly spoke:
"She did it on purpose. She probably knows the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower and wants to die. Lady Historian, don't let her succeed. Don't hurt her, or it will affect the formation and the search for people."
Rong Zhen narrowed her eyes slightly and nodded.
Yan Zhang and Lian Qing glanced sideways at Ouyang Rong, who was calmly offering his advice.
“Prefect Ouyang is right. Don’t let her die. We still have her innate ability to set up formations.”
Lianqing chuckled softly, offering a gentle reminder:
"After this is over, take her back to prison and hand her over to the alchemy department. Let her suffer a fate worse than death. Don't you think so, Yan Zhang?"
Yan Zhang smiled.
"Hehe, that makes sense."
He gently rubbed the little boy's head with his fingertips, then spoke softly:
"Good boy, you must live well. You little guy, you might even produce spirit ink. We should make good use of this waste."
Miao Si's expression changed instantly, and despair appeared in his eyes.
Huang Xuan, standing to the side, stared blankly at the young woman in Confucian robes who had inexplicably appeared today.
She stared blankly for a while, then turned to look at Rong Zhen and the others who were busy setting up the formation in the courtyard, and... the Chief Secretary En Gong who remained silent throughout.
A moment later, Huang Xuan murmured in a voice inaudible to others, "The smartest, without a doubt..."
No one noticed the subtle change in Huang Xuan's expression. Rong Zhen, who was in charge of setting up the formation, stepped forward with a cold face.
She examined the wounds of the young nun who had brought this upon herself and found that she was mostly unharmed. She then used a hand seal to seal the wounds and entrusted them to Lianqing for care.
Then, Rongzhen's gaze fell on Huang Xuan.
Huang Xuan suddenly looked up and smiled at Rong Zhen:
"I will listen to Your Excellency."
Seeing her so cooperative, Yan Zhang and Lian Qing looked satisfied.
Lianqing bent down and gently patted Huang Xuan's head:
"That's good. I won't let this little black spirit bully you anymore. Stay away from this monster."
"Yes." Huang Xuan nodded vigorously.
Her eyes, which were known as innocent and bright, were exceptionally clear and radiant at this moment, their pupils dark and pure.
Rongzhen and Rongzhen looked at each other for a while, then fell silent.
During a break in the formation, the aloof, palace-dressed girl pulled Huang Xuan aside and pursed her lips:
"I will question her carefully about the reasons, but I will not kill her. I know you have feelings for her, even though she doesn't seem to cherish you as a friend at all."
"Don't take Yan Zhang and Lian Qing's words too seriously, and don't hold grudges. They can't make the decisions, but I will protect them..."
"I don't understand what Sister Rongzhen is saying." Huang Xuan asked curiously, then shook her head and said, "It's okay. After this, I see clearly that she doesn't treat me as a friend, so I won't treat her as a friend either."
Rongzhen hesitated, unsure of what to say, then sighed softly and walked away.
Before long, the formation inside the courtyard was nearing completion.
Ouyang Rong silently watched Miao Si, who was bound and had red eyes, for a while, then turned his head to look at the carriage outside the courtyard.
Inside the carriage, a wooden box on an open cloth bag trembled and creaked. The bronze mask that had been placed on the wooden box had been shaken off and fallen to the floor.
Ouyang Rong's dantian spiritual energy was only enough to kill a sixth-grade Qi cultivator.
What if we add the current surge of blood and energy in my chest?
Add one more.
But what about the other one?
Actually, this can be disregarded, because if he were to overexert his anger again and kill a sixth-rank official, he would likely collapse from exhaustion once more.
Why don't we just kill the two who deserve the worst? Trading one for two isn't a huge loss.
Ouyang Rong smiled and looked at the male and female scribes with moles on their eyebrows.
Huang Xuan, who had previously ignored him, suddenly turned to Ouyang Rong and asked earnestly:
"Are you hungry, my benefactor? There's porridge in the pot."
It was interrupted.
Ouyang Rong slowly turned his head and glanced at the little girl in the red coat who was asking with a sincere look in her eyes.
The two of them, along with Yan Liulang, didn't need to participate in setting up the formation, so they seemed rather idle.
Before he could answer, Huang Xuan suddenly turned and ran to the kitchen, seemingly to get some porridge.
Rongzhen and the others didn't bother with it, since it was right under their noses anyway.
A short while later.
"The formation is complete!" Yan Zhang clapped his hands, stood up, and looked around: "Where are they? That blond girl, get into position quickly."
The Moon Formation under the Pond is now complete.
At this moment, Huang Xuan came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of warm porridge in both hands and walked towards Ouyang Rong...
This chapter is a bit longer, just to make up for it a little.
(End of this chapter)
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