No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 847: Drunken Enlightenment [Emperor Wen]

Ouyang Rong's sleep was particularly sweet.

While he was drowsy, he knew that the environment around him seemed to be swaying non-stop, but it was like a cradle, making him sleep even more deeply.

A dreamless night.

Or it can be said that it is a big dream and is forgotten after waking up.

In his sleep, Ouyang Rong was completely defenseless, as if he had let go of all his guard and just let it go.

But my mood is surprisingly calm and peaceful.

It was as if he vaguely felt that even if he encountered danger from the outside world while sleeping, he could escape into the dream in an instant, just like the old musician running to the Peach Blossom Spring, and his body would become illusory.

This is a mysterious feeling...

Until the sounds of peddlers shouting their wares, horses passing through the market, and city officials clearing the road slowly entered Ouyang Rong's ears, and the sounds gradually became louder.

He woke up, but didn't open his eyes immediately. His newly awakened brain habitually enjoyed this moment of relaxation.

After waking up from a dream, there is tranquility amidst the noise.

However, when he closed his eyes and stretched, Ouyang Rong felt that the back of his head seemed to be resting on an exceptionally soft place... It seemed to be like this throughout the dream, as if he had been resting his head for a long time.

He also felt his face being gently caressed by Jiang Feng and something soft.

Ouyang Rong opened his eyes and looked around.

Being in a lotus boat, there is a faint fragrance in the narrow space, filling the air.

Pei Shisan Niang sat beside him, looking at him with his loose black hair and smiling.

There were only two of them in the boat.

"Sir, you are awake!"

She said happily, withdrawing her hand.

"Ah."

Ouyang Rong held his forehead and propped himself up with one hand.

After realizing something, he turned around and looked at her legs under her long skirt.

The plump legs are neatly closed together and slightly tilted to the side, making it convenient for people to lean on.

It turned out that he was sleeping on Shisan Niang's legs.

But I remember that when I was drunk last night, I was lying in Ye Weilai's arms, with my head resting on her legs.

Without worrying about the problem with his legs, Ouyang Rong let out a long sigh and looked around.

The lotus boat is quite small, not as big as the pleasure boat we had last night.

The whereabouts of the pleasure boat were unknown.

The lotus boat was docked alone at the pier, with the river water lapping against the stern.

In the distance, an orange-gold light shone on the river water, and a non-dazzling red sun hung in the sky, and it was unclear whether it was rising or setting.

The ferry was very lively, with boats stopping and moving, passengers disembarking, porters unloading cargo, and people selling sesame cakes. You could smell the aroma of the cakes and secretly drool.

The Shuangfengjian ferry was filled with noise, but it seemed to have nothing to do with his sleeping lotus boat.

Although they are very close to each other, the pier and the lotus boat seem like two different worlds.

However, as I woke up from the dream, the noise became louder and louder, and along with the aroma of cakes, it spread into the boat.

The outside and inside of the boat merged together again.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the sun in the distance and was a little confused as to whether it was sunrise or sunset.

He came back to his senses and asked without turning his head:

"Where are Wei Lai and the others? Have they left? How long have I slept?"

Pei Shisan Niang twisted the fire stick in her hand, lit a piece of agarwood, and said softly:
"Miss Ye and Hu Zhong had them leave before dawn. The boat had waited all night and had to leave on time. The young master had slept all day and it looked like night was approaching.

"Young Master is drunk...Young Master is in a deep sleep. You slept soundly before dawn. Everyone is afraid to disturb you. Miss Ye is the same. She asked me to take good care of you and let you rest. She left with the ship to Luoyang."

Ouyang Rong rubbed his face and murmured:

"Not nagging, that's good."

He turned his head and looked at the white mist of agarwood rising in the air.

The lotus boat was docked at the river bank. There were alert guards on the shore, as well as maids and housekeepers carrying food boxes, seemingly waiting for instructions from a hostess on the boat.

Pei Shisan Niang turned her back to the servants and faced Ouyang Rong. She lit the incense with her deft hands and smiled gracefully:
"It is used to help you sleep and wake up. Young master has been drinking, and I am afraid that you will have a headache when you wake up. This incense can help you sober up. I asked for it for you at the Big Buddha Temple in Yangzhou last month. Young master has a lot of social events on weekdays, so using this incense can help you sober up..."

The beautiful woman kept on chattering, but Ouyang Rong was silent for a while and didn't listen much afterwards.

He lowered his head to collect his thoughts, then interrupted:
"Where's Luo Niang?"

"gone."

Pei Shisanniang rolled her eyes slightly, looked at Ouyang Rong's face, and whispered:

"She left at the same time as Hu Zhongshi and Miss Ye. It was almost morning, and I guess her family would be coming back soon. She needed to avoid suspicion. She was a merchant family, and she was just passing through Xunyang to do business, so she couldn't stay for long."

Without waiting for Ouyang Rong to ask, Pei Shisan Niang continued:

"We asked her to take away the "Pipa Song" that the young master wrote for her. However, Envoy Hu and Yuan Changshi all liked the young master's poem very much and copied a copy each. Envoy Hu, in particular, said he would take it to the Luoyang Palace. He said that a noble would definitely like it..."

Ouyang Rong was silent.

He lowered his head and checked his sleeve, where he saw a painting scroll and a small ink stick lying quietly.

As soon as he put his finger in, his face changed slightly, his middle finger felt a stinging pain, and he clenched his fist, but did not pull his hand out of the sleeve. He just glanced at Pei Shisan Niang.

In the sleeve, the little black spirit who was helping to look after the Peach Blossom Spring painting finished biting it, wiped his little mouth, looked complacent, and put his hands on his hips proudly.

A gentleman does not hold grudges overnight, and those who have brilliant ideas are not gentlemanly.

Just stay, just stay!

Ouyang Rong exhaled a breath of foul air, and under the gaze of Pei Shisan Niang, he pushed away the little black spirit with sharp teeth and mouth.

He pulled his hand away as if nothing had happened and wiped the ink-like saliva from his fingertips under the table.

Pei Shisanniang stood up and sat behind Ouyang Rong, taking over from him and massaging his temples on both sides.
"Are you hungry, sir?"

"A little bit." Ouyang Rong nodded and asked again: "Where's Liu Lang?"

"There was something going on in the office, and Yan went back during the day. He didn't disturb you. He asked me to leave a message, saying that you don't need to worry about Jiangzhou's official business, just leave it to him. You don't need to go to Jiangzhou Hall often, just take a good rest for a while. If there is anything urgent, he will secretly call you."

Hearing the word "agreement", Ouyang Rong looked up at Pei Shisan Niang:
"Um……"

Before he could speak, Pei Shisan Niang said:

"Yuan Changshi sent people back in the morning. He said he didn't sleep well on the boat and stayed up all night, so he went back to the city first."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand: "I didn't ask him."

Pei Shisanniang smiled and said softly:
"When Commander Yi left, Yuan Changshi looked very reluctant to see him go. He even turned his back and looked up at the sky. I wonder if he was shedding tears."

Ouyang Rong curled his lips, Pei Shisan Niang turned around with a smile and went to call the maid outside to bring the food.

She personally opened the food box, rolled up her sleeves, and placed the hot dishes on the table one by one.

Ouyang Rong picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of food and put it into his mouth.

The chopsticks paused, and he asked:
"Liu Lang is busy, and Shisan Niang has a lot to do too. You've been sitting here for so long, wasting a day."

"It's not a waste." Pei Shisan Niang immediately shook her head, but under Ouyang Rong's calm eyes, she timidly nodded and whispered:

"Yes, there is one thing. Just now, the shopkeeper came to report the matter of Xunyang Grottoes. There is business to discuss..."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand to interrupt:
"Go and do your work. No need to stay."

Pei Shisan Niang hesitated for a moment, then stood up and poured a cup of hot tea for Ouyang Rong:
"Okay, enjoy your meal, sir."

The beautiful woman passed by and was about to get off the boat. Ouyang Rong, who had been picking up food with his head down, suddenly said:

"Wait, there's something."

Pei Shisanniang paused and bowed politely:
"Sir, please speak."

Ouyang Rong looked at the swaying water in the teacup and said softly:
"I will stay at home to recuperate for a while. If Shisan Niang needs anything, please consult Liu Lang first, and he will report to me."

Pei Shisan Niang heard this and stared at Ouyang Rong for a while. She seemed to understand something but did not say it out loud. She nodded slowly:
"Yes, son."

After a pause, she couldn't help but ask with concern:
"Sir, have a good rest. Don't worry about what's happening in the city. General Yan and I are here."

Ouyang Rong glanced at the beautiful woman who was intelligent, capable, loyal and sincere, and nodded gently:

"it is good."

Pei Shisan Niang didn't move, but the middle-aged woman tilted her head like a young girl and said boldly:

"Sir, I like your piece "Pipa Xing" very much. I copied it like the Hu envoy did. I wonder if you would allow it to be spread out."

Ouyang Rong was silent for a moment, nodded gently, and said something that made Pei Shisanniang feel puzzled:

"Well, it was originally given to an unknown person like Luo Niang. You can also hide my name and let it be passed on anonymously."

Pei Shisan Niang shook her head immediately and insisted:

"How can this be? It was originally written by you, so of course you signed it. I and Hu Zhongshi dare not change it. Well, since you don't mind passing it on, I will show it to others without any worries."

The beautiful woman blinked her eyes and slowly got off the boat.

Ouyang Rong remained silent.

Perhaps Pei Shisanniang knew that Ouyang Rong liked quietness, so she withdrew all the guards, maids, and managers who were guarding outside.

The evening breeze blew gently. On the river bank, a lotus boat was alone, with Ouyang Rong sitting alone.

He had his back to the bustling pier, and in front of him was the red sun slowly setting into the river.

The young man sat cross-legged, lowered his head to eat his rice, leaned forward from time to time to pick up some dishes, and ate voraciously.

Last night, when he was drunkenly writing "Pipa Xing", he heard a faint sound of distant music in the middle, which sounded like a zither but not a zither, and like a pipa but not a pipa.

The music seemed to come from faraway Luoyang.

It is Emperor Wen.

He wrote a brand new sword technique.

A different kind of sword technique.

Different from the "Sound of Prosperity" of the first generation, the later "Music of Qin King Breaking the Formation" and the old musician's seven-character quatrain music.

This new sword technique does not sing praises of Luoyang, nor is it so "prosperous", it even goes against the grain.

Ouyang Rong didn't care that everyone was copying it and spreading it casually.

Because if it is spread out, there is no need to worry about someone stealing and learning the sword skills.

The principle is just like the seven-character poem and music that the old musician left for Rong Zhen. Simply learning it is like looking for a sword on a boat. How can you find the "real sword"?
The true meaning of [Emperor Wen] is unpredictable. The sword technique is a sword technique, but it is not a sword technique. It is a sword technique at this moment, but not a sword technique at the next moment... Even he was almost rejected.

But once you understand it, you truly understand it.

The connection established with [Emperor Wen] will never be broken again.

The music coming from faraway Luoyang kept echoing in the ears of those who had understood it.

Its magical power of Dingjian is also very interesting. There is more than one kind, and it is as diverse as its sword techniques.

Ouyang Rong sat upright in the boat, eating rice from his bowl while quietly listening to the music.

After some silent contemplation, he temporarily classified Emperor Wen's magical powers of the Ding Sword into three categories: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

All three are gradual.

After Ouyang Rong comprehended the sword tactics last night, he temporarily understood the first one.

That is the golden light that transforms between reality and illusion.

Belongs to the supernatural power of "Buddhism".

Ouyang Rong suddenly touched his stomach. The spiritual energy in his dantian continued to surge, and it had lasted from last night until now, and there was no sign of stopping.

It is the "rapid progress" after understanding the full true meaning of the new sword technique and breaking through the bottleneck.

Remembering something, he put down the bowl and took out a pill box from the Peach Blossom Spring painting.

Pick up a golden pill that can transform you into an ordinary person.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the tea on the table.

From last night till now, he had not practiced Qi deliberately, but his spiritual energy cultivation had already broken through the middle stage of the seventh rank, and he was rushing towards the late stage of the seventh rank without looking back, with unabated momentum.

It was only a matter of time before he reached the gate of the Sixth Rank.

If he swallows the Transcendent Golden Pill and improves his Qi Refining talent by one level, his progress will skyrocket and he might even reach the level by the evening.

There were many people on the pleasure boat last night, and I forgot to swallow the elixir when I was gaining enlightenment.

Ouyang Rong stared at the tea for a while but was hesitant to pick it up. After a while, he silently put away the pill box.

"Swallow it or something bad will happen, wait a minute..."

While murmured, Ouyang Rong suddenly wanted to let the old musician see his new sword tactics, but he stopped after a while and laughed at himself.

I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to see you again in the future.

"We are both fallen people at the end of the world. How can we meet each other before?"

Muttering to himself, Ouyang Rong put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up and left.

This is Dragon City.

As for Xunyang City, everything that needed to be arranged has been almost arranged.

Everyone who should have left has left, including Wei Lai.

Now he was alone again.

"Eating alone, huh, eating alone?"

When getting off the boat, a nun's head popped out from his sleeve, then she jumped down, jumped back to the dining table and started eating with relish.

Ouyang Rong looked at Miao Si with a stern face:
"Stop eating, it's time to go."

"Just eat and eat."

"You eat so much but you don't work. Besides, you are a black spirit. It's useless to eat so much."

Miao Si pushed back:
"You are eating for nothing, you are eating for nothing!"

Ouyang Rong was speechless. He sat down again and sighed while waiting:
"Okay, let's get going when you're full."

Miao Si waved his fist and said unhappily:

"What do you mean by on the road? You are the only one on the road. You are on the road every day!"

"Hush, eat quickly."

"Humph."

Miao Si tried to pull off a duck leg with both hands and said unhappily:

"What happened last night is not over yet. You are pretending to be cool and carefree, but I am not happy! You actually threw me into the inkstone. No one has dared to do this for many years. You are the rudest, no one else!"

Ouyang Rong curled his lips:
"I thought there was an ink stick on the ground, and I thought it was dropped by Luo Niang."

Miao Si's veins popped out, and his fists were clenched:
"Nonsense, you were the one who touched the sleeve first. Don't think that I didn't see it. I already guessed that you had bad intentions."

Ouyang Rong asked seriously: "Just tell me whether you will give me ink or not?"

Miao Si jumped three feet high and said something very tough:
"Here! But I am the fairy lady here, why are you throwing it away, little Rongzi, you are too disrespectful."

"..."

Miao Si was squeezed for juice last night. Although eating human dishes can't make up for anything, it can still satisfy her appetite and comfort her.

With her back to Ouyang Rong, she ate for a while. She noticed that there was no sound from Xiao Rongzi from behind. She thought that she had won the quarrel again. She crossed her arms and turned back, snorting coldly:

"You know you're wrong? It's too late. I will never forgive you this time. You ate three... four... six Hanlei Ink Ingots!"

After Miao Si finished speaking, she saw Ouyang Rong standing there, motionless, with a frown on his face.

She was stunned for a moment, then pulled his sleeve and said, "What's wrong with you? Stop pretending to be sick. You are already an adult."

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked: "Are you full?"

"Difference……"

"Walk."

Ouyang Rong stood up to interrupt, grabbed the little Mojing in an instant, got off the boat and left.

Miao Si was very anxious: "This fairy lady is saying it's far from the truth!"

Ouyang Rong came to the shore without saying a word, and listened silently to the endless clear sounds of the wooden fish.

Merits and virtues increased inexplicably.

This time the increase of more than 500 merits was divided into two waves, which happened just now when Miaosi was eating. The interval between these two waves of merit growth was only "the time when Miaosi was slightly in the upper hand."

While there was no one on the road, Miaosi poked his little head out from his sleeve:
"Xiao Rongzi, if you feel unwell, please tell me. It is not shameful for a man to have kidney yang deficiency. It is better to treat it as soon as possible."

She muttered something and immediately retracted her head. After waiting for a moment, she found that Ouyang Rong's claws did not reach out, which made her feel uncomfortable.

The little black spirit couldn't help but mutter, "How strange... Could it be that what he said was true? Poor little Rongzi."

Ouyang Rong ignored him, passed by Hanlei Ink Shop and suddenly walked in.

Miao Si was suspicious: "Little Rongzi, what are you going to do? They don't know the value of my real body, so they won't accept it!"

"I'm not selling you." Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Go buy some ink sticks. You are in my sleeve, don't move."

"what?"

Miao Si opened his mouth wide: "Have you picked up any money recently?"

He said calmly, "No, it's this month's salary. I have three taels left, enough to buy a few. Don't you want to eat?"

She waved her hands vigorously, stuttering a little: "No, no, you don't have much money, don't buy it, I'm not hungry, I just ate a lot."

The little black spirit who used to mutter all day long that he was "starving to death" has now become surprisingly well-behaved and sensible, and starts to save money.

Ouyang Rong insisted on entering the store and said in a serious tone:

"You should eat something. You may not be able to eat something this good later."

"..."

The little ink spirit suddenly became quiet.

It was not until Ouyang Rong bought two Hanlei ink sticks and went out that she poked her head out, stared at the ink stick snacks with her dark eyes, swallowed her saliva, and spoke carefully:
"Really, don't buy it... Xiao Rongzi, use your salary to buy ink for me... You make me feel strange, too strange."

Miao Si said with a little cry:
"Are we really going to set off?"

Ouyang Rong seemed to have considered this matter seriously and shook his head:
"You are just a few pounds of meat, not worth much."

Miao Si: ...?
(End of this chapter)