Chapter 858 The Secluded World [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]
Ouyang Rong's gaze was drawn to a lotus flower.
He, Lu Jinghong, and Madam Li were standing on the same fishing boat they had come from, accompanied by a Yue woman.
After boarding the boat, the beautiful Yue woman took out a white lotus flower with a hint of pink from her sleeve and stood at the bow of the boat.
No one was seen rowing, yet the fishing boats rose up on their own without wind and headed into the depths of the white fog.
This is not the direction to Taoyuan Town.
Instead, they passed the Zhuo Island mentioned by Madam Li and her son, and sailed deeper into the white mist, into the depths of the Great Swamp that the fishermen of Taoyuan Town were reluctant to talk about...
Ouyang Rong sized him up.
The Yue woman was beautiful, dressed in a snow-white Wu-style robe with narrow sleeves and light silk, and adorned with two bracelets in her hair.
The style is similar to the Wu clothing worn by Xue Zhongzhu, but there are some subtle differences. For example, the sword pattern on the cuffs is simpler than that on Xue Zhongzhu's cuffs, and a small silver plaque hangs at the waist.
Upon closer reflection, the Yue women in Yunmeng Sword Marsh should also be divided into different ranks, and the hidden female ruler that Ouyang Rong knew in the past should be among the most noble group.
Besides these female rulers, there are also a large number of Yue women in Yunmeng Sword Marsh to assist them. However, in the past, very little information about the interior of Yunmeng Sword Marsh outside the famous Female Ruler Palace has been circulating in the martial arts world. Even if there is information, it is mostly vague and shrouded in mystery.
It is as mysterious as the white mist that surrounds the Yunmeng Marsh.
At the bow of the boat, the beautiful Yue woman did not turn around, nor did she interact with Ouyang Rong and the others throughout the entire journey.
Ouyang Rong observed for a while and noticed that the lotus flower in her hand was swaying slightly.
Its swaying direction was exactly the same as the direction the boat was traveling, and the direction the lotus swayed also changed from time to time, as if it were guided by something.
The fishing boats circled in the misty white fog, their destination unknown.
Even Ouyang Rong, who has a very good sense of direction, got a little confused and couldn't remember the way he came.
Unlike the focused and honest Madam Li and Lu Jinghong.
He silently glanced around.
The white fog obscured the view, reducing visibility to less than ten feet.
Xue Zhongzhu and the other Yue women had disappeared without a trace. Apart from Xue Zhongzhu, who was able to control qi, the other Yue women who accompanied them also traveled by boat. Ouyang Rong had caught a glimpse of them when they first set off.
However, unlike ordinary fishing boats, their boats are shaped like bamboo rafts, bound together with rattan, and have a very simple and rustic style, as if they were left over from the Spring and Autumn Period.
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips, having already given up on remembering the direction. He glanced at the swaying lotus flower again.
Compared to the solemn Madam Li and her son, Ouyang Rong was perfectly aware of the fishing boats moving without wind.
This beautiful Yue woman was a Qi Refiner with considerable cultivation. The fishing boat was propelled by her external spiritual energy. However, Ouyang Rong could not discern the mystery of this lotus flower.
It looked like a compass, guiding them to a fixed place, most likely the gate of Yunmeng Sword Marsh.
From this perspective, even the Yue women of Jianze couldn't remember the way, and instead relied on this object to find their direction.
When Lu Jinghong turned around, the quiet Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes slightly.
Lu Jinghong looked him up and down.
Madam Li turned around, gave him a complicated look, and asked softly:
"Liu Aliang, do you even know where you're going?"
Ouyang Rong looked bewildered and shook his head.
Lu Jinghong and Madam Li exchanged a glance, speechless.
Madam Li suddenly asked:
"Could it be that you have some connection with the First Queen?"
Lu Jinghong couldn't help but speak up:
“Mother, this guy is just benefiting from our connections. How could a mere innkeeper have any connection with the Great Queen?”
He shook his head speechlessly and said to Ouyang Rong:
"Liu Aliang, right? It's alright to tell you. We're going to Yunmeng Sword Marsh, one of the most mysterious hidden sects in the world. In your barbarian terms, it's the place where the goddess who worships the Yuanjun resides. Once we get there, remember to behave yourself. Whether you implicate us or not, we won't be able to plead for you..."
Madam Li turned her head and glared at her talkative son.
Lu Jinghong shut his mouth, but he nonchalantly picked up his sword and walked to the side.
Madam Li glanced at Ouyang Rong, her tone softening:
"My previous words of dismissal were not out of genuine dislike for you, but merely a temporary measure. Although I do not know why the Grand Lady specifically requested your name, being able to enter today is a stroke of luck. You should cherish this opportunity. Even if it is fleeting, you will eventually emerge, and that will be a great fortune in your life..."
Madam Li stopped there. She saw the honest, taciturn man in front of her look up and meet her gaze, then give a muffled "Hmm."
Ouyang Rong was actually thinking about Sha Ergou. Before he left this morning, Sha Ergou had asked if he would be coming back, and Ouyang Rong seemed to have promised him that he would definitely come back.
Now, it's unclear when we'll be able to return. Having finally entered the Cloud Dream Sword Marsh, we certainly can't just leave casually.
Madam Li was about to say a few more words when Lu Jinghong suddenly frowned:
"It's poisonous miasma."
Everyone turned their heads and saw that the white mist in front of them had turned into a dark green, and the air in their nostrils had become difficult to breathe.
"Don't move."
The beautiful Yue woman who was leading the group suddenly spoke up.
She plucked a lotus seed from the lotus seedpod in her hand with two fingers and put it in her mouth.
Then he picked out a few more grains and tossed them to Ouyang Rong, Lu Jinghong and Madam Li.
The three understood immediately and swallowed the lotus seeds.
The lotus seeds melted in his mouth, and Ouyang Rong felt a cool sensation slide down his throat and into his stomach, making it easier to breathe again.
Lu Jinghong was pleasantly surprised and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting to the beautiful Yue woman:
"Thank you, Goddess. My name is Lu Jinghong. May I ask how you are addressed?"
The beautiful Yue woman ignored him and continued to clear the way with her lotus flower in hand.
Lu Jinghong felt no embarrassment whatsoever. With a faint smile, she looked at the unknown land she was about to reach, exuding a high-spirited confidence.
Guided by the swaying lotus flowers, the fishing boat continued into the depths of the poisonous miasma. About an hour later, they passed through the miasma, and the surrounding scenery returned to a hazy white mist.
However, Ouyang Rong noticed that the white mist had thinned considerably, and when he looked up, he could even vaguely see the outline of a red sun high up on the left.
Before he could react, a gust of wind swept over him, causing him to instinctively close his eyes, his ears filled with the sound of howling wind.
When Ouyang Rong opened his eyes again, he saw an unforgettable scene:
The white mist had disappeared, replaced by a scene of the setting sun.
Before them lay a vast, mirror-like lake, dotted with islands like pearls of various colors and shapes.
The setting sun in the distance casts shimmering golden ripples on the lake's surface.
It's like draping the islands in a golden veil.
Ouyang Rong saw that some islands had cliffs and precipices, dotted with magnificent palaces and pavilions; some islands were full of pale pink peach groves; and there were even a few strange small islands in the distance, faintly connected by iron chains, perhaps serving as bridges.
He vaguely saw figures moving about on these islands...
Perhaps it was because we had just been traveling through the fog for a long time, but the scene that suddenly appeared before us was like a paradise on earth.
At this moment, not only was Ouyang Rong staring in a daze, but Madam Li's eyes were also filled with surprise and amazement, and Lu Jinghong swallowed hard.
The beautiful Yue women were used to this. They turned their fishing boat around and headed toward one of the two nearest small islands.
Ouyang Rong looked back and saw that in the direction they had come from, white mist stretched across the sky like a barrier, as if it had been blocked by the strange wind just now, forming a wall of mist...
Thump—!
The sound of a ship hitting the beach made Ouyang Rong turn around.
The fishing boats had already docked, and the beautiful Yue woman had put away her lotus flowers, nodding to them in acknowledgment.
"You will stay here for now; someone will come to meet you."
Ouyang Rong, Madam Li, and Lu Jinghong silently disembarked. The beautiful Yue woman boarded the fishing boat and sailed away towards the direction where the sun was setting. She disappeared in a short while, and it was unknown which island she had gone to.
They looked around and discovered a bamboo forest behind the shallows, with bamboo courtyards and shadowy figures moving about.
Seemingly having noticed Ouyang Rong and his companions, someone emerged from the bamboo grove and curiously examined them.
Ouyang Rong looked closely and saw a young girl with large eyes. She wasn't wearing the traditional Wu clothing worn by Yue women, but rather a plain white cloth skirt and straw sandals... She looked like a child from a poor family.
Besides her, several other figures emerged from the forest, each stepping out of their respective bamboo courtyards.
Most of them are girls similar to those in cloth skirts, ranging from ten to twenty years old. There are also some boys, but their numbers are very small, with a ratio of ten to one.
They also looked like they came from outside, just like Ouyang Rong and the others.
As Ouyang Rong was observing them, Lu Jinghong and Madam Li were also scrutinizing them.
Lu Jinghong held his sword, his eyes slightly narrowed.
Madam Li remained composed, smiling as she observed the young women for a while before turning to Lu Jinghong and saying:
"Let's go, stay for one night and wait for Her Majesty the Great Queen to make arrangements."
After saying that, the two walked towards the bamboo forest, paying little attention to Ouyang Rong.
"Brother Liu!"
At that moment, a shout suddenly came from the crowd emerging from the bamboo forest.
Lu Jinghong and Madam Li stopped and turned around.
Ouyang Rong was also somewhat surprised.
That voice is so familiar.
Behind the crowd emerging from the bamboo forest, a young man wearing a felt hat was jumping and shouting, trying to attract Ouyang Rong's attention.
The young man excitedly took off his felt hat, pushed through the crowd, and ran to Ouyang Rong.
"Ergou?"
Ouyang Rong looked at Sha Ergou with some surprise: "What are you doing here..."
Before he could finish asking, Sha Ergou grabbed his arm tightly, his eyes reddening, and said excitedly:
"That's great! I almost thought I'd never see Brother Liu again."
Ouyang Rong gave him a helpless push, gesturing to the crowd on either side.
Sha Ergou didn't care about any of that and just laughed to himself.
Lu Jinghong and Madam Li glanced at Sha Ergou. The former lost some interest and prepared to head towards the bamboo forest. In the next instant, his eyes were drawn to a beautiful figure behind the crowd, and he looked straight at her.
Madam Li also looked over and frowned slightly.
Ouyang Rong, who was exchanging pleasantries with Sha Ergou, also noticed the strangeness over there and turned his head away.
Two young women were slowly walking towards them from the direction Sha Ergou had come from.
It is also familiar.
"Miss Song?"
Lu Jinghong was the first to speak.
Song Zhian and Yu Xiaoniangzi walked side by side.
Song Zhian first glanced at Ouyang Rong, then looked at Lu Jinghong, and nodded slightly in response:
"Young Master Lu."
Lu Jinghong's eyes showed a hint of surprise, and he was about to speak when he noticed something.
He suppressed his anger under the watchful eye of his mother.
Madam Li took the lead and said, "Let's go."
Lu Jinghong, sullen and carrying his sword, obediently followed.
Just then, a woman's voice came from behind:
Who is Lu Jinghong?
The crowd, who were about to disperse, turned around and saw a middle-aged woman with a slender sword at her waist. She had a gentle expression and was dressed in snow-white Wu clothing, as if she had just landed and arrived here.
Lu Jinghong subconsciously clasped his hands in a fist salute:
"It is I."
The middle-aged Yue woman sized him up and nodded slightly.
"Let's go, the eldest queen wants to see you and your mother."
Lu Jinghong and Madam Li exchanged a glance and immediately followed.
As Lu Jinghong passed by the crowd, he slightly raised his chin, somewhat enjoying the attention he received, especially the inquisitive gaze from Miss Song... He was secretly delighted.
Lu Jinghong and Madam Li followed the middle-aged Yue woman and boarded the bamboo raft again, heading together to the island deep in the mountains.
Sha Ergou was rather oblivious and didn't pay much attention to Lu Jinghong. After exchanging pleasantries, he enthusiastically pulled Ouyang Rong into the bamboo forest.
Song Zhian and Yu Xiaoniangzi also traveled along the way. However, since they weren't very familiar with each other, they simply greeted Ouyang Rong and then returned to their bamboo courtyard.
As for the other girls and boys, they were not familiar with each other and only came out to observe the newcomer out of nervousness and anxiety about the new environment. They also quickly dispersed.
Ouyang Rong looked around, his eyes seemingly lost in thought.
Sha Ergou tugged at his sleeve, making no attempt to be polite:
"Brother Liu, let's go. Let me settle you in first. I just arrived and picked out a courtyard."
Ouyang Rong gestured to his left and right:
"You know all these people?"
"I don't know them. I arrived a little earlier than Brother Liu, around noon. These young women are just here too, like me. Asking them is useless. In the afternoon, a goddess gave us some instructions. Hmm, I forgot what she said, but basically she told us to stay for now, and they'll come back to choose people in the next day or two..."
Sha Ergou scratched his head:
"I guess they're just picking and choosing the hardest jobs. It doesn't matter where you work, but Madam Yu said the pay is higher here..."
"I thought everyone would be here by the afternoon, but after waiting for so long and no newcomer showed up, I thought I'd never see Brother Liu again. I asked Maid Song and the others, but they said they didn't know anything about you, or where Madam Yu was, or if she would bring you..."
"Brother Liu, so you were also brought in by Madam Yu, right? Why are you so late?"
Ouyang Rong asked calmly:
"You were brought here by Madam Yu? She said there's a job for you here?"
"Yes, and so is Maid Song. She was also sent by Madam Yu..."
Sha Ergou answered without hesitation, muttering to himself as he led the way. Ouyang Rong followed behind, gradually quieting down as he turned his back to the beach, his shadow stretched longer by the setting sun.
The image of the heartless proprietress at the Red Dust Inn that morning, cracking melon seeds while telling him about Song Zhian's friendship to redeem her, flashed before his eyes... A slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.
(End of this chapter)
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