Chapter 181: Ouyang Rong Coasts to Victory, Liu Yuheng is Flustered
Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Ouyang Rong Coasts to Victory, Liu Yuheng is Flustered
CLANG!
The dungeon door opened, and the sudden sunlight stabbed at Ouyang Rong’s eyes, making him squint. He instinctively raised a hand to shield them, only lowering it after he had adjusted to the light.
When he saw the person standing before him, he was dumbfounded.
"Brother... Brother Pei?"
"Brother Ouyang, long time no see. You’re in better shape than I expected," Pei Shaoqing said with a calm smile, looking Ouyang Rong over. Despite being covered in bloodstains, Ouyang Rong could still move freely.
Ouyang Rong was still stunned and took a long moment to process. "You... You... How are you here?"
"If I weren’t here, you might never have seen the light of day again," Pei Shaoqing said with a laugh, extending a hand. "Come on. You’re free."
"What in the world is going on?" Ouyang Rong asked, stumbling as he walked out.
But Pei Shaoqing didn’t answer.
Ouyang Rong pressed him. "Brother Pei, Pei—"
After walking out of Situ Jing’s small courtyard, his voice died in his throat. He stared blankly at the scene before him.
Hundreds of Medicine King Valley disciples in green robes stood in neat formation in the open space before the courtyard gate. Behind them were over a thousand members of the Jianghu, all in different attire.
"We greet the Sect Leader!"
The Medicine King Valley disciples dropped to their knees in unison and shouted.
Their voices were like a great bell, echoing endlessly.
Ouyang Rong stood frozen, wondering if this was a hallucination before death. He instinctively looked up at the sky, and the stabbing sunlight made him narrow his eyes.
It wasn’t a dream, nor was it a hallucination.
’How did I inexplicably become the Sect Leader?’
"What... what is going on? Where is the Sect Leader? My Senior Brother? And Situ Jing?"
He whipped his head toward Pei Shaoqing and fired off the questions.
"The truth about how Wu Tian and Situ Jing colluded to murder your master and frame you has come to light. Sect Leader Song personally cleaned house, passed the position of Sect Leader to you, and has decided to imprison himself on the rear mountain for three years to atone for his sin of failing to teach his disciple properly," Pei Shaoqing said calmly.
"What!" Ouyang Rong was aghast. His voice trembled with disbelief. "My Senior Brother? Are you saying my Senior Brother colluded with Situ Jing to murder our master and frame me?"
"Yes," Pei Shaoqing affirmed with a nod.
Ouyang Rong looked at the Medicine King Valley disciples before him.
"Junior Brother Ouyang... No, Sect Leader, the Lord of Pingyang exposed Wu Tian’s true colors. We were all deceived by that scheming hypocrite."
"Wu Tian and Situ Jing were both wary and jealous of you, which is why they conspired together to plot against you."
"Martial Uncle Song has declared that from this day forward, Junior Brother Ouyang, you are the Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley. Today was originally meant to be Wu Tian’s succession ceremony, so everything is already prepared and the guests are all present. Please proceed to the Medicine King Hall, Sect Leader, to pay respects to the past patriarchs of Medicine King Valley and formally assume the position."
The information was too much, too explosive to take in all at once. It took Ouyang Rong a long moment to process it all. Then, with a THUD, he knelt before Pei Shaoqing and said through his tears, "Thank you, Brother Pei, for avenging my master on my behalf."
’Master, may your spirit in heaven rest in peace.’
"Brother Ouyang, please get up. We are friends; there’s no need for such formality," Pei Shaoqing said gently, stepping forward quickly to help him up. "So many Medicine King Valley disciples and guests are waiting. Go to the Medicine King Hall and formally take your position."
"Brother Pei, this is a debt I will never forget for the rest of my life," Ouyang Rong vowed, enunciating every word.
Without Pei Shaoqing’s help, he wouldn’t just have failed to clear his name, avenge his master, and become Sect Leader—it’s questionable whether he would have ever seen the light of day again.
It was a debt so great he would have to spend the rest of his life repaying it. If he were to be ungrateful, the scorn of the many Jianghu members present would be enough to drown him.
In truth, the two had not been particularly close before, but after this, it would be no exaggeration to say their bond was as deep as the sea.
An hour later, Ouyang Rong, still injured, bathed and changed his robes. Pale-faced, he entered the Medicine King Hall as the new Sect Leader to pay homage to the sect’s patriarchs. Under the watchful eyes of all, he sat upon the chair that belonged solely to the Sect Leader.
"We greet the Sect Leader!"
"Congratulations, Sect Leader Ouyang."
Gripping the cool armrests of the chair, looking down at his many martial brothers prostrating on the floor, and hearing the chorus of congratulations pouring in from all sides, Ouyang Rong secretly made a resolution: he had to bring Medicine King Valley to new heights of glory.
After experiencing so much.
His mindset had long since changed.
He was no longer content to just get by and look out only for himself; he had become more mature, more steady.
"All disciples, you may rise."
"To our friends from the Jianghu, I hope you all enjoy yourselves to the fullest before you depart."
Ouyang Rong spoke in a gentle tone, then rose from his chair. "That I, Ouyang Rong, can see the light of day again and sit here is all thanks to Brother Pei. Today, with all of you, my peers, as my witnesses, I, Ouyang Rong, swear an oath: If I should one day betray the Lord of Pingyang, may I die by five thunderbolts from heaven and a thousand arrows through the heart!"
By swearing this public oath, he was now bound to it no matter the circumstances. Otherwise, like Wu Tian, his credibility would be ruined, and he would be scorned by all.
"Sect Leader Ouyang and the Lord of Pingyang are truly righteous and loyal friends. This story will surely become a celebrated tale."
"Indeed, indeed! The Lord of Pingyang mobilized the entire Jing’an Guard of Shu State to surround the mountain for Sect Leader Ouyang, and Sect Leader Ouyang has now sworn a public oath. They are both truly men of honor and loyalty."
"Such loyalty calls for a large toast in celebration!"
A smile touched Pei Shaoqing’s lips. Although events hadn’t unfolded exactly as he had planned, a fortunate twist of fate had led to the very outcome he most desired.
’From now on, Medicine King Valley will be mine to command.’
...
As dusk approached, the guests who had come to Medicine King Valley for the succession ceremony began to take their leave, marveling at the day’s events as they traveled.
Pei Shaoqing also dismissed the various Jing’an Guard units.
Of course, Ouyang Rong knew how to handle people. He didn’t let them leave empty-handed, gifting different Elixirs to the Hundred Households Commanders, Standard-Bearers, junior officers, and common guards.
Moreover, he presented the gifts in Pei Shaoqing’s name.
This made the Jing’an Guard members, who had rushed to Yazhou to assemble over several days, feel their trip had been worthwhile. They returned home satisfied, filled with admiration and respect for Pei Shaoqing.
And as these people departed, news of what happened at Medicine King Valley would surely spread throughout the world. In the future, who wouldn’t know of Pei Shaoqing’s righteousness? Reputation +1, +1...
"Young Master, Mistress, now that matters here are concluded, Aqiao and I are preparing to return to our mountain," Jiang Yebai said, approaching Pei Shaoqing and Liu Yuheng with Song Aqiao to bid farewell.
Pei Shaoqing smiled and nodded. "Alright. But don’t forget to have an invitation sent. On the day of your wedding to Miss Song, I will certainly have a grand gift for you."
"Yes," Jiang Yebai replied with a strained smile.
Song Aqiao, however, lowered her head shyly.
Liu Yuheng took Song Aqiao’s hand and led her aside to whisper. A moment later, when they returned, Song Aqiao’s face was as red as a sunset, and she didn’t dare to look up at anyone.
"Everyone’s gone. Sect Leader Ouyang, this old man should be on his way as well." Xu Lian cupped his fist to Ouyang Rong, then turned to Pei Shaoqing. "Lord of Pingyang, when you have the leisure, please come visit my mansion. This old man will certainly be a gracious host."
"Next time, for sure," Pei Shaoqing nodded in reply.
Xu Jing said reluctantly, "To think we haven’t seen each other in so long, Brother Pei, and now we must part again in the blink of an eye. When you’re free, come find me. We’ll get thoroughly drunk with poetry and wine."
"Hahahaha, alright! In that case, Brother Xu, you’ll have to compose more masterpieces for me to appreciate," Pei Shaoqing said with a hearty laugh, then added in a mock-serious tone.
Xu Jing flicked open his folding fan. "But of course."
"Alright, let’s go." Xu Lian, finding his son utterly embarrassing, forcibly dragged Xu Jing away.
Xu Jing shouted over his shoulder to Pei Shaoqing, "Brother Pei, don’t forget! You have to come find me in the Prefecture City!"
"Safe travels, Lord Xu," Ouyang Rong said with a farewell bow.
"Brother Pei..." After personally seeing off the last guest, he turned back to Pei Shaoqing, about to say something.
Pei Shaoqing cut him off. "Stop. I’ve heard enough thanks for one day; my ears are about to grow calluses. If you really want to thank me, how about you let me take a look around the repository in your Medicine King Valley where the pill formulas are stored."
"Well... Brother Pei, the Scripture Pavilion is a restricted area of our sect. Only sect disciples are permitted entry. As the new Sect Leader, it would be improper for me to be the first to break the rules." Ouyang Rong looked troubled, but then his tone shifted. "However, Brother Pei, you could tell me which pill formula you’re looking for. I can have someone find it for you."
"The Spirit Awakening Pill," Pei Shaoqing answered.
"That’s an ancient pill formula." Ouyang Rong frowned. "The pill formulas in the Scripture Pavilion have been collected by Medicine King Valley over generations. No one can remember every formula we have, so I don’t know if we have the one for the Spirit Awakening Pill. I’ll have the disciples search for it first."
"I’ll have to trouble you then, Brother Ouyang," Pei Shaoqing said, cupping his fist.
Ouyang Rong said, "Brother Pei, please return to the hall for some tea. I will arrange for it to be done right away."
With that, he turned and left.
Pei Shaoqing and Liu Yuheng returned to the Medicine King Hall, sat down, and waited for Ouyang Rong’s return while sipping tea.
After a while, Ouyang Rong had not returned, but a Medicine King Valley disciple came in and said, "Lord of Pingyang, the Sect Leader is personally leading the search for the Spirit Awakening Pill formula in the Scripture Pavilion. He asks that you rest and wait patiently."
"Mm," Pei Shaoqing acknowledged with a slight nod.
After relaying the message, the disciple bowed and departed.
Then, tea, snacks, and fruit were brought in.
Liu Yuheng felt it was a little too quiet, so she took the initiative to start a conversation. "After word of today’s events spreads, Young Master, your fame will surely ring through the Jianghu once more. Everyone will be won over by your righteousness and loyalty, and will sincerely admire you."
"It’s all just empty fame. I have never cared for such things," Pei Shaoqing replied lightly, his expression serene. "I simply do what I believe must be done and let others judge as they will."
Watching his calm and unruffled demeanor, indifferent to honor or disgrace, Liu Yuheng’s heart, for some reason, gave a violent tremble. She felt that the Young Master’s charisma was even greater than before.
She felt as if she had returned to her teenage years, when she first fell in love. Flustered, she lowered her head and fell silent, her slender hands tightly clutching the hem of her skirt.
’What has been wrong with me lately?’
Liu Yuheng had already noticed these unsettling feelings taking root. If this continued, she was afraid of what might happen. She secretly resolved that during Jiang Yebai and Song Aqiao’s wedding, she would ask her Senior Brother about leaving the Young Master’s side.
But the moment she had this thought, a stifling feeling welled up in her heart. As someone with experience in these matters, she knew exactly what this meant. She bit her red lip, her face turning deathly pale.
It wasn’t just the Jianghu that Pei Shaoqing had conquered.
It was also Lady Gongsun, who spent her days and nights with him.
Only when the moon was high in the sky did Ouyang Rong finally return, holding a pill formula. "I never expected the Scripture Pavilion to actually have the formula for the Spirit Awakening Pill. I’ve transcribed a copy for you, Brother Pei. We have some of the required materials here in Medicine King Valley, so I’ve had someone prepare them for you as well."
"Thank you, Brother Ouyang." Pei Shaoqing was overjoyed. He rose and strode forward to accept the pill formula.
As it was already late, he and Liu Yuheng decided to stay the night at Medicine King Valley and return to Tongzhou the next day.