Chapter 750 The Precarious Identity (5k views, please vote!)
The main grotto of the Donglin Buddha is semi-open-air, with the Buddha seated against the cliff, its golden head displaying a benevolent expression, and its face turned towards the river.
At that moment, a gust of river wind swept across the high platform at the foot of the Buddha, rustling the clothes of the crowd.
The atmosphere became increasingly awkward and silent.
Granny Song, Duan Quanwu, and the others looked at Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen standing side by side.
Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen both turned their gazes to Yi Qianqiu, who had spoken.
Rong Zhen's face flushed red, but her expression was full of anger:
"What nonsense is Commander Yi spouting?!"
Yi Qianqiu removed the white faceplate, lowered his head as if carefully adjusting its tightness, and casually said:
"When you two stand together, at first glance you do look like a married couple, a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Hmm, I'm just complimenting you. I'm just joking, you won't take it seriously, will you?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Thank you for the compliment, it's not funny."
Rong Zhen seemed to turn her head to glance at Ouyang Rong's expression, then she said coldly with her pretty face:
"Yes, it's not funny. Commander Yi, please don't make jokes like that in the future. Now is the time to talk about serious matters."
Yi Qianqiu's expression was casual. He lowered his head, put his mask back on, and a muffled voice came from beneath the mask:
"Okay, let's get down to business and stop talking about personal matters."
"What do you mean by discussing private matters? What happened before wasn't a private matter; it was about unifying our thinking. That's why I went to chat with Governor Ouyang."
Rong Zhen, with a serious expression, continued:
“If we are not of one mind, even with the Buddha in charge and a perfect plan, we may still be defeated one by one. Fortunately, Governor Ouyang has figured it out himself and agreed to my plan.”
"Next, before the river pirates arrive at Shuangfengjian Ferry, let's do a final review of the defenses to prevent any gaps or omissions."
Yi Qianqiu nodded, adopting an attitude of "Whatever you say, Lady Historian."
Rong Zhen stared at Yi Qianqiu for a moment, then twisted her slender waist and spoke to Ouyang Rong:
“Ouyang Lianghan just now…”
Ouyang Rong suddenly interrupted:
“That’s right, let’s get down to business. Lady Rong, continue from where you left off. How did you deal with the master of the Butterfly Love Flower? What preparations did you and General Duan make?”
Rong Zhen lowered her eyes slightly, composed herself, and stretched out a slender hand, looking at her palm as she said:
"I had a premonition that he would come today. Yes, he would definitely come. There was no way he wouldn't come. I have been waiting for this day for a long time."
Ouyang Rong looked around and asked:
"Are we waiting for him to show up? What if he doesn't come? Maybe he's not interested in the Donglin Buddha at all..."
Granny Song frowned and said in a hoarse voice:
"The trouble with the swordsman is that he lays his sword in the dark to kill people, making it difficult to find where he is hiding. Often, by the time the sword appears, it is already the final stage of the harvest, and heads have begun to roll."
"Rong girl, if we can find his location in advance, I can just go and take his head off. Do you have a way?"
Rongzhen squinted and said:
“He will definitely come. Even if he doesn’t come to Shuangfengjian, he will be in the city, or rather, he has been hiding in the city all along.”
"Senior Song, thank you for your kindness, but for now, there is no need for you and General Yi to take action. I have already made arrangements and will personally kill him, stepping over his corpse to remove that pretentious mask."
Everyone couldn't help but turn their heads to look, and Ouyang Rong stopped turning the prayer beads.
Rongzhen also stopped spinning the white jade prayer beads and took them off her palm.
Ouyang Rong asked with a curious look:
"They can catch them hiding in the city? How?"
Rongzhen nodded, giving Ouyang Rong a look that signaled him to calm down first. She then handed over the white jade prayer beads to Granny Song.
"However, Senior Song, please deliver something to Elder Yu on my behalf. Tell him that the piece can be played now, and the time is..."
She looked up at the sun behind the golden Buddha head, squinted, and gave the order:
"After receiving the prayer beads, the Buddha statue should be almost ready, in time to accompany his music."
Judging from Rong Zhen's words, only she and Granny Song know where the old musician is hiding.
Granny Song accepted the white jade prayer beads and, just in time, asked the question on behalf of Ouyang Rong, who was hesitant to speak:
"What modified piece of music?"
Rong Zhen's pretty face turned cold, and she said in an icy tone:
"Do you remember the zither music that Senior Yu played in Xingzifang last time, the one that made the rebels show themselves? It's the one that can mark hidden Qi cultivators and make their spiritual energy cultivation pillars appear."
Everyone nodded in agreement: "We remember."
Granny Song seemed to be deep in thought: "Rong'er, you mean..."
Ouyang Rong stood next to Rong Zhen, turning his head to gaze at her profile, which was as cold as an iceberg, and a bad feeling crept into his heart.
The girl in palace attire narrowed her eyes slightly:
"This zither music is related to Emperor Wen's divine sword and cauldron abilities, and it also originates from it."
"As the former swordsman of Emperor Wen, the old senior intercepted a piece of its echo before leaving the palace, which is why it was able to be used in Xingzifang that day to give us an early warning and make the enemy appear."
"But that is ultimately just a captured echo of the sound, limited in the number of times it can be used and in a limited range, and cannot compare to the true sound."
"But today is different. The Great Zhou Songde Tian Shu and the Four Directions Buddhas are all completed. The Tian Shu Formation can be activated. The old senior can once again use the Donglin Buddha to mobilize the Emperor Wen. This time, the music he plays is no longer an echo, but the true sound!"
Ouyang Rong asked, "So what if it's the true sound? How is the effect different from the previous echoing sound?"
Granny Song calmly spoke:
"Judging from the current situation, although the incense energy required for the first activation of the Tian Shu Grand Array at Donglin Buddha is not yet sufficient, it can still cover a radius of 100 miles around Shuangfeng Peak. Therefore, the true sound can also be transmitted within 100 miles. In other words, it can detect all Qi cultivators within a 100-mile radius, causing their spiritual energy pillars to appear and be exposed to the daylight."
Rong Zhen nodded: "That's right, a hundred miles is enough, more than enough to sweep through Xunyang City."
Yi Qianqiu asked in a deep voice:
"Leaving aside those lurking rebels, there are quite a few Qi cultivators here at Shuangfengjian, and there are also Qi cultivators in Xunyang City, within the Xunyang Prince's Mansion... How can we be sure that the pillar of Qi belongs to the master of Butterfly Love Flower? What if we mistakenly identify him?"
Ouyang Rong nodded in agreement:
“That’s right. Commander Yi and General Duan are both Qi Refiners. My junior sister is also a Qi Refiner and is currently at the Xunyang Prince’s Mansion. Oh, and I am too. I know a little bit.”
Rong Zhen remained completely calm, looked at Ouyang Rong, and slowly said:
"I forgot to tell you, one of the conditions for obtaining that special spot is to comprehend the sword technique of the Emperor Wen. Old Master Yu was once the swordsman of the Emperor Wen, and also its most powerful figure."
"His purpose in passing through Xunyang City this time is to impart the sword technique to me. Only by learning this sword technique can I master this great Buddha. To be honest, one of the reasons why Master Yu hasn't left yet is that I haven't learned this sword technique."
She paused, seemingly giving Ouyang Rong time to process what she was saying, while also hinting at something.
With Yi Qianqiu and Granny Song around, Rong Zhen couldn't openly reveal that Ouyang Rong had heard the zither music beforehand and was even more familiar with it than she was...
As if this were the first time Rong Zhen had spoken to Ouyang Rong, she said calmly:
"[Emperor Wen] The current sword technique is a top-secret zither piece, which Senior Yu will play after two incense sticks have burned. This will be the last time I hear him play it personally, but there's no need to worry. This zither music will be hidden inside the Great Buddha, and I will be able to review and study it later..."
Ouyang Rong glanced at Rong Zhen, nodded in tacit agreement, and then asked:
"I understand. So, what's the connection between this sword technique, the melody, and the owner of the Butterfly Lovers"?
Granny Song also asked hesitantly:
"Since this is Emperor Wen's top-secret sword technique, wouldn't it be inappropriate to activate the Heavenly Pivot Formation and have that Yu fellow play it using the Great Buddha's True Sound, directly transmitting it over a hundred miles? What if the sword technique is leaked?"
"This is called 'you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub.' Anyway, most people don't know that this is the 'Emperor Wen's' sword technique. They'll forget it as soon as they hear it. Besides, unless you're a genius with extraordinary talent, who can remember an unknown zither piece after hearing it once, let alone fully comprehend it? Even I can't do that... So, it's not a big problem that Senior Yu will only play it once today."
After answering Granny Song, Rong Zhen turned to look at Ouyang Rong and said in a clear, cold voice:
"Of course there is a connection. Senior Yu is the one here who understands the Dao lineage of the Swordholder the most. He said that ordinary Qi cultivators may not be able to hear the sword techniques and music of Emperor Wen, but the Swordholder will definitely be able to hear them."
"The sword wielder is naturally sensitive to sword techniques and will have a subtle sense of them. In addition, the new sword technique will also cause fluctuations in the spiritual energy of the sword wielder's Dao meridian, causing his sword energy to rise. In addition, the manifestation of the true voice of the [Emperor Wen]..."
"Senior Yu said that as long as the Donglin Buddha is activated and used as a zither, the true sound of the sword technique and zither music can be spread, and all sword wielders within a radius of a hundred miles can be marked. Their sword energy will also be revealed, just like the light pillars of spiritual energy cultivation of other Qi cultivators."
"At that time, the location and identity of the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower will be immediately apparent."
Everyone looked surprised and remained silent for a moment before Song Mama suddenly asked:
"All the sword-wielders within a hundred miles... could they catch some other big fish? If so, that would be interesting."
Rong Zhen understood what the old woman with the disdainful eyes meant. She pursed her pink lips and said coldly:
"Senior Yu said that whoever controls the Peach Blossom Spring painting is considered half a sword wielder. If I comprehend the sword technique and gain control of the Buddha, I can also barely be considered half a sword wielder... In the music of the zither, these can all manifest as pillars of light. However, today, the white mist is restraining the Blood Bronze, so we should prioritize killing the master of Butterfly Love Flower."
She reiterated and emphasized:
"Remember this: the mysterious cauldron sword in the hands of the Butterfly Love Flower Master has a deep blue sword aura, like a crystal-clear, tranquil lake. The sword aura of the [Humble Scholar] is azure. Kill the former first; the guy who emits a deep blue beam of light is undoubtedly the Butterfly Love Flower Master."
Granny Song used a withered finger to hook the white jade prayer beads, her tone regretful:
"It's a pity that I can't leave Twin Peaks. If this boy were within the Twin Peaks area, I would personally go and take his head off."
Duan Quanwu, his burly frame clad in a white robe and heavy armor, stood there like a colossal steel beast ready to unleash its power at any moment. He raised his hand and tightened the red braces on the shoulders of his chainmail, then grinned, revealing gleaming white teeth, and let out a bloodthirsty sneer:
“Deputy Supervisor Song, please have mercy and don’t take mine. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, and I’ve even been blamed for the loss of Hukou County. But it doesn’t matter, it’s worth it this time. As long as I can catch this sissy, Butterfly Love Flower, chop him into eight pieces and use his head as a chamber pot to avenge Mr. Qiu, I’ll do anything, hehe.”
Rong Zhen stood in the center of the crowd, her sleeves tucked behind her back. She was about to catch the lecherous thief from the Butterfly Love Flower Sect, whom she had been longing for. The day of revenge had finally arrived, but there was no look of satisfaction or relief on her face. Instead, she stared blankly at the cold, hard ground in front of her.
No one knew what she was thinking, but those around her noticed that deep within her pair of dark, pearly eyes, there was a hint of... relief and liberation.
At this moment, Rong Zhen's cold, clear throat gave off a detached and indifferent feeling:
"Duan Quanwu, don't forget what I arranged. Commander Yi will be stationed at Shuangfengjian with Senior Song. The thousand White Tiger Guards under his command cannot be withdrawn. I will give you three hundred Black Tortoise Guards, plus the three hundred White Tiger Guards you brought back from Hukou County, for a total of six hundred armored soldiers. They are already armored and leading their horses, waiting for you on the official road one mile west of the south bank of Shuangfengjian.
"After two incense sticks have burned, when the sound of the Great Buddha's zither begins, you will lead them to accompany me and Governor Ouyang on our journey to capture the master of Butterfly Love Flower!"
"Also, remember this: if you catch this child first, you are not allowed to torture or kill him. Wait for me to come and take a look. I have a question to ask him."
Duan Quanwu's expression showed some confusion and dissatisfaction:
"He's just a dead man, what's there for you to say, Lady Historian..."
The gloomy, burly warrior stopped mid-sentence, for a gaze as cold as a thousand-year-old icy blade had already fallen upon his face.
"Alright, alright, as long as Your Excellency is happy."
Duan Quanwu waved his hand and immediately agreed. He licked his thick lips and grinned, revealing his stubble-covered mouth.
"Then let's keep this kid sober for now, keep him quiet and open-minded. After you and Governor Ouyang come over and finish asking and answering your questions, I'll continue to have some fun with him."
He paused, then muttered to himself, "Ha, women are really vengeful."
Rong Zhen looked away and noticed that Ouyang Rong seemed to have been silent the whole time, so she looked over at him.
"What are you looking at?" she asked curiously.
Ouyang Rong stood sideways to Rong Zhen, his hands behind his back, gazing up at the majestic Donglin Buddha statue before him, which he had personally built.
His gaze was quite focused.
"Ouyang Lianghan, why do you look like that?"
Rong Zhen asked, her face full of confusion, and Yi, Song, Duan and the others all looked over.
Ouyang Rong didn't turn around, but suddenly pointed at the Buddha and asked:
"I was thinking, thankfully the true voice of the Emperor Wen only caused Qi cultivators to reveal the pillar of their spiritual energy cultivation. If it were like cutting down wheat with a knife, causing people to lose their heads, wouldn't we be doomed and wouldn't be able to escape either?"
He chuckled to himself.
Everyone laughed along.
Ouyang Rong glanced in the direction of Xunyang City, as if remembering something, and said directly:
"By the way, Lady Rong, the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower is most likely in the city. I won't waste any more time here. I'll go back to the city to gather troops and have Military Advisor Yan prepare some men as well. When the music of the zither appears, we'll join forces to besiege the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower..."
"no."
"Don't."
Rong Zhen and Yi Qianqiu spoke almost in unison.
The two women exchanged a quick glance before looking away.
The young governor then raised his hand and inexplicably touched his right eyelid.
It jumped again.
Yi Qianqiu spoke first:
"Those constables in your prefecture are hardly soldiers; they're more like troublemakers. You'd better not fall into enemy hands and be taken hostage by the Butterfly Love Flower Master. That would only cause more trouble. Governor Ouyang, don't go."
Rongzhen nodded in agreement and explained:
"Actually, I have people planted in Xunyang City, elite female officials from the Censorate. I have already instructed them that if the master of Butterfly Love Flower is in the city, they will go there immediately, so that he will not have time to deploy his sword..."
She gently comforted him:
"So don't worry about it. When the music starts, stay close to me and follow me. It's not like I'm not taking you with me. We agreed on this beforehand."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong recalled the scene he had witnessed not long ago in the pavilion on the south bank of Shuangfengjian, where Rong Zhen met with the middle-aged female official and gave her instructions.
It seems that this was planned in advance.
Incidentally, it also blocked his escape route at that moment.
Ouyang Rong's back was soaked with sweat. Despite standing in the bright sunlight, he felt a chill. He remained calm and smiled as he said:
"Hmm, that makes sense..."
At this moment, Granny Song put the white jade Buddhist beads that Rongzhen had given her into her sleeve and prepared to leave.
Rong Zhen said softly, "Thank you for your hard work, Senior Song. In principle, since I am in charge of the Buddha statue, I should deliver it myself."
Granny Song waved her hand impatiently:
"It's nothing, don't be so polite. Just keep a close eye on this kid; he's got his sights set on getting to the city, humph..."
Ouyang Rong clenched his fist under his sleeve.
The old woman with the white eyes, her palace skirt fluttering, rose from the ground with her hunched body, and rode away on the wind, carrying her Buddhist prayer beads.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ouyang Rong noticed that Yi Qianqiu and Duan Quanwu were both secretly sizing him up.
Before his heart could even skip a beat, Duan Quanwu had already spoken, chuckling:
“Governor Ouyang, you know how magnanimous and shrewd a woman can be. You should listen to what Lady Rong has to say today. There are some things that are not shameful. I’m more than envious of them.”
Ouyang Rong, his sleeves tucked in, frowned slightly: "What does General Duan mean?"
Duan Quanwu ignored it.
He looked at Yi Qianqiu, but she kept her eyes down, seemingly lost in thought.
Rongzhen remained still, standing quietly beside him with her sleeves up.
The air was so still you could hear a pin drop.
Ouyang Rong realized that the atmosphere was strange, very strange.
It seems to have started after Yi Qianqiu suddenly called out "the young couple".
After that, whenever people talked about him, whether it was the occasional words they uttered or the glances they gave him, things became somewhat strange...
Atmosphere is something that can't be explained or defined.
It's like everyone is secretly watching you. Even when they're discussing serious matters, even if you're not saying a word, there's still attention on you...
In the silent atmosphere on the stage, Ouyang Rong remained expressionless, secretly pondering the words that Granny Song had left behind before she departed.
Judging from the tone of the old woman's disdainful eyes, she knew he was in a hurry to run back to the city.
But why point it out so blatantly? Aren't you afraid he'll hear it?
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but ponder this in secret.
(End of this chapter)
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