No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 981 A Beauty's Invitation
Wu Cui was taken aback.

His gaze lingered on Ouyang Rong's gentle, smiling face, as if he were observing something.

As Ouyang Rong lowered his head to put away the sword manual, she couldn't help but ask:
"Liu Aliang, you..."

"Ok?"

She mustered her courage and asked:
"Don't you want to cultivate? I heard from others that you performed excellently in the three tests, but the Bamboo Hall didn't select you because your bone age was a bit too old. But your talent... at least your talent test score was much better than mine... Don't you feel regretful or resentful?"

"Pity?"

She saw the taciturn young man stop upon hearing this, stand there seemingly pondering seriously for a moment, and then gently shake his head:

"At the temple where I used to work, there was an abbot who often said, 'Cultivation is not everything in life. No matter how high your spiritual attainment is, you still need to eat, drink, and relieve yourself. Apart from life and death, nothing else matters in life...'"

After a pause, the young man patted the stovetop, his tone somewhat triumphant:

"Look, even goddesses and fairies have to eat our cooking. We can even serve meals to goddesses now. How many chefs in the world have achieved this? We're no less skilled than the chefs in the homes of princes and nobles down the mountain. What's there to regret?"

Wu Cui stood there, stunned, her gaze fixed on Ouyang Rong's face, speechless for a long time.

About an hour later, the vegetarian meal was ready, and Li Ruotong arrived at the entrance of the dining hall with about ten Jade Hall Fairies.

Ouyang Rong carried a food box and prepared to go out to join the group.

As she passed by Wu Cui, the young woman, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke:
"Thank you."

Ouyang Rong turned his head, met her gaze for a moment, nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and then continued to leave.

As usual, Ouyang Rong followed the group into Qingliang Valley, where he parted ways with Li Ruotong's main force in front of the largest waterfall.

Only two silver-medal Yue women remained to help Ouyang Rong carry the large food box. At the same time, they also implicitly fulfilled their duty of supervising and waiting above the water dungeon.

Ouyang Rong was used to this. He led the two women to the pool and across the waterfall.

Before passing through the waterfall's curtain of water, he glanced at an old, rusty sword stuck in the cliff above. Even though it wasn't the first time he had passed by, seeing this sword that had cut through the hundred-foot waterfall still stirred something within him every time.

Leaving the two silver-medal Yue women behind, Ouyang Rong fetched a bucket of water beforehand and took a food box with him to the water dungeon.

"Squeak-"

Pushing open the door, the woman in white was still sitting at the table, resting her chin on her hand, slowly turning the pages of a book, her back to the door.

"Goddess, the meal is here."

Ouyang Rong spoke, but Yun Xiangyi's back remained silent.

He was used to it, placed the bucket by the closed door inside, then took the food box and tiptoed to the table, without looking up at Yun Xiangyi the whole time.

As Ouyang Rong was setting out the food, the woman at the table suddenly spoke:
Is the moon full outside?

It should be that you are talking to him.

Ouyang Rong quickly considered the situation before speaking cautiously:

"Your Majesty, tonight the sky is covered with dark clouds, and the moon is not visible. I do not know if it is full or not."

He sensed that Yun Xiangyi in front of him had quieted down for a moment, as if she had turned her head to look at the doorway from which he had entered, and he wondered what she was thinking.

Just as Ouyang Rong was about to continue setting out the dishes, he suddenly noticed a hand in front of him pressing on the lid of the box, stopping him.

The index finger of this hand was slender, and the back of the hand was fair. Ouyang Rong's first impression of this hand was its whiteness. In the dimly lit room, the whiteness was dazzling, even somewhat unnatural.

Looking up, I saw a beautiful face across the table.

The woman with the sickly pale, delicate hand spoke:

"I'll come, Liu Aliang. You go back first. You've worked hard. Come again tomorrow night."

Her voice is naturally gentle, and combined with her calm and peaceful tone, it gives people an indescribable sense of approachability.

Ouyang Rong understood why Wu Cui had been so attached to the Five Goddesses and had been waiting for a chance to meet them for years.

Even someone as arrogant as Chen Jiaxin showed extraordinary respect and restrained her arrogance whenever she mentioned this master.

"it is good."

Ouyang Rong pretended to be stunned, nodded, obediently let go of her hand, and handed the food box to Yun Xiangyi.

He slowly backed away, left the house, and closed the wooden door behind him.

Before climbing the stairs, Ouyang Rong turned back and gazed deeply at the quiet wooden gate.

His early departure tonight was somewhat unexpected. He had originally planned to follow the plan he had discussed with Chen Jiaxin and take the initiative to bring up the matter of delivering vegetarian meals to the prison to Yun Xiangyi.

But it seems there's no chance tonight.

Why did Yun Xiangyi suddenly change like this tonight? Could it be related to the question she just asked?

Is the moon full outside tonight? Could it be affecting something?
In addition, Ouyang Rong had another question.

Yun Xiangyi said she was in seclusion and hadn't left the water dungeon recently. So how did she deal with the bloody smell and the possible dead bodies deep inside the water dungeon?

Every other day, a bucket of ice-cold water is brought in. Is it for cleaning the cells? But what about the corpses?
Ouyang Rong suddenly remembered the water stains on the food boxes that were delivered each time, and a guess arose in his mind: Could there be some underground river deep in this water prison that could clean up garbage and debris, including corpses? Otherwise, where would the water source come from?

Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes slightly.

A moment later, the sound of a wooden fish suddenly rang in his ears, and Ouyang Rong's thoughtful expression disappeared as he came back to his senses.

This is yet another act of merit that is regularly rewarded every night.

As expected, it should have come from the water dungeon. Yun Xiangyi should have already delivered the vegetarian meal deep inside the water dungeon by now.

The merit may come from the people inside.

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips, turned around, and continued back upstairs.

However, he wouldn't delay fulfilling his promise to Wu Cui, because he wouldn't mention it to Yun Xiangyi anyway. He would deliver the sword manual he received tonight to Chen Jiaxin as promised, so that her, his personal disciple, could provide guidance.

This matter had already given Wu Cui a heads-up, and for Wu Cui, who had not yet reached the next level, it didn't make much difference who taught her.

If it weren't for the fact that the bronze mask couldn't be removed, preventing him from showing his true form, Ouyang Rong wouldn't have bothered with all this trouble and would have simply taught him himself...

……

Moon Island is an affiliated island near the main island where Cool Valley is located.

Belongs to Qiutang.

Due to its unique location, every night when the bright moon sets from its zenith, it appears as if the jade disc is behind this island when viewed from islands like Qingliang Valley, subtly misaligned, hence the name.

Currently, Yutang holds a special position, located in Qingliang Valley, where a water dungeon guarded by the Five Women Kings is hidden.

Qingliang Valley is the name of a large island, which is the largest of the surrounding islands. It is uncertain whether it is the largest within the Yunmeng Sword Marsh Sect.

The unknown island that Ouyang Rong visited during the third trial contained a dripping cave and a Yangxin Hall on its summit. It was also quite large, its scale seemingly comparable to Qingliang Valley. It appeared that the halls under the jurisdiction of the eldest female ruler, Xue Zhongzhu, and the second female ruler, Yu Nianyuan, were located there. The islands within Yunmeng Sword Marsh were not concentrated in one area; the numerous halls were scattered in clusters.

Therefore, every time Aqing takes a vacation, the journey back is quite long.

Qingliang Valley is considered the core of this surrounding island group.

The dining hall where Ouyang Rong worked was located on the beach behind Qingliang Valley.

The numerous small islands surrounding Qingliang Valley belong to various halls such as Qiutang and Taotang, and are relatively close to Yutang.

As for Zhutang, it is located in another group of islands, quite far away...

At noon, the sun was shining brightly.

On Yuexi Island, the residence of the Yue women of Qiutang, high walls of courtyards stand tall, blocking the view from the outside world, allowing only sunlight and breeze to pass through.

There were few pedestrians outside. Qiu Tang Yue Nu usually went out frequently and spent most of her time in Jian Ze in seclusion, cultivating in her own courtyard.

At this moment, in the southeast corner of the island, there is a secluded and quiet courtyard with its gate slightly ajar, which is occasionally pushed open by outsiders.

People were coming and going, and the laughter of the visitors was constant.

Ouyang Rong yawned under the sun and arrived at the entrance of the courtyard where laughter and chatter were constantly coming from. As he reached out to push the door open, his right hand subconsciously touched a certain spot on his waist.

I felt empty.

Looking down, I felt a hollowness around my waist.

He shook his head. He had been "hurriedly" woken up in the morning by the mischievous and playful whims. He jumped out of bed with a jolt, rushed out the door, and was still a little dazed. He had even forgotten to bring his bamboo tube.

However, since Miao Si is at home, guarding the Peach Blossom Spring Map, and as the Sword Master, her heart is connected to his, allowing her to sense things remotely, so there isn't much of a problem.

Of course, most importantly, there's no need to worry about Li Wan and her son sneaking into his courtyard to search for treasure again.

Ouyang Rong rubbed his face, which was feeling a bit sleepy from the midday sun, and pushed the door open to enter.

"Hey, Brother Liu!"

"Ah Liang is here."

"Brother Liu."

Ouyang Rong looked up and saw that the courtyard was full of familiar figures.

Sha Ergou, Yu Mili, Li Wan, and Lu Jinghong and her son were all looking at him with smiles.

Actually, Ouyang Rong had already heard their voices when he was outside the door.

A slight smile appeared on his usually expressionless face as he greeted the crowd.

Several people were sitting and chatting in the sun. Ouyang Rong glanced around the courtyard.

The courtyard is elegantly decorated, with flower beds and a chaise lounge under a tree in the southwest corner where the owner rests in the afternoon... This arrangement clearly indicates that it is a woman's home.

As she looked around, a tall and beautiful young woman emerged from the elegant room on the right. She wore a snow-white dress, long and fitted, with the sleeves rolled up to reveal her fair forearms. She carried a tea tray and greeted them with a gentle smile.

"Brother Liu is here, please have a seat."

Ouyang Rong glanced at Song Zhian, whom he hadn't seen for many days. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but although she still possessed a graceful and poised demeanor, she seemed to have a completely refreshed spirit.
His eyes, which used to be somewhat sharp, are now darker and deeper, as if they have undergone some kind of reflection, and he is more... composed and confident than before.

Ouyang Rong didn't look at it much, his eyelids lowered, and responded with a single word:
"Good afternoon, Miss Song. It's been a long time."

Song Zhian gracefully bent down and placed the tray on the small tea table in front of Sha Ergou, Lu Jinghong, and the others. As she straightened up, she used her little finger to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled gently.
"It has been quite a long time, a month or two."

Song Zhian's dark eyes scanned the seemingly unchanged, dull young man in front of her.

Just as their eyes met, Sha Ergou's loud, boisterous voice rang out from the side:

"Brother Liu, you're so late! I was so worried waiting for you. I should have come to your place earlier." "That's right, that's right."

Yu Mili, who was engrossed in munching on pastries like a little mouse, nodded eagerly in agreement.
"I was originally planning to try Brother Liu's cooking. If I had arrived earlier, he could have cooked. Hmm, it's too late now. Sister Song has already called the dining hall..."

The food was being delivered, but it was still the same big pot of rice we eat every day at noon. It can't compare to the fancy meals Brother Liu makes. Sigh.

As she spoke, Yu Mili stared intently at Ouyang Rong, as if expecting something.

For example, Brother Liu was a little embarrassed, but volunteered to cook.

"Alright, Mili, stop pressuring Brother Liu. Besides, what kind of logic is it for guests to cook? What were the hosts doing? This is just nonsense."

Song Zhian shook her head, interrupting Yu Mili, looked around, and said clearly:

"I invited everyone here today to get together. The important thing is to meet. What we eat is secondary. Of course, I wish I had Brother Liu's cooking skills. It's my fault for not being good enough. If there is anything I haven't done well in terms of hospitality, please feel free to tell me. Don't be shy."

Yu Mili quickly shook her head: "No, no, that's not what I meant. I didn't mean to offend Brother Liu. Brother Liu was misunderstood..."

"What are you saying, Miss Song?"

At this moment, Li Wan, a noblewoman who had been listening for a long time, spoke with a smile, attracting everyone's attention:
"Miss Song is busy at Qiutang, so it's already a thoughtful gesture for her to take the time to visit. We cherish our old friendship, so why would anyone be so picky?"

Lu Jinghong, who had been sitting upright and silently drinking tea, nodded without looking to the side.

“That’s right, Miss Song did a very good job.”

Song Zhian looked somewhat embarrassed:
“Madam Li, Young Master Lu is too kind. I’ve been very busy lately… After that trip, I gained some insights and secluded myself in the courtyard for a month. I only came out yesterday and have some free time.”

Lu Jinghong couldn't help but look at Song Zhian with a curious and inquisitive gaze.

However, Li Wan, who was beside him, changed the subject, and the noble lady turned her head to Yu Mili and explained with a smile:
“Miss Yu, Brother Liang has been working the night shift at the canteen lately, leaving late and returning early every day. He’s working very hard. Today is lunchtime, and he rushed over like this. I guess he hasn’t had much sleep. I really want to eat Brother Liang’s cooking. Let’s arrange to have dinner together next time and see if Brother Liang can spare the time.”

Yu Mili blushed immediately and whispered, "Brother Liu, I'm sorry..."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand and didn't join their conversation.

He remained silent, sat down next to Sha Ergou, and unabashedly picked up Ergou's teacup, drinking it all in one gulp to relieve his fatigue.

Song Zhian's invitation to this lunch party at noon today was somewhat unexpected for Ouyang Rong and was not in his plans.

Ouyang Rong only discovered Song Zhi'an's letter when he returned to the courtyard before dawn, which was quite a headache.

She said she had finished her quarantine and wanted to invite everyone to have a meal together on Moon Island.

Ouyang Rong had no choice but to shorten his daytime rest to keep the appointment.

Unlike Lu Jinghong, he had no intention of exuding ambition or charisma.

It's just because he still owes Song Zhian a favor, and he has to repay that favor...

(End of this chapter)