Chapter 186

186 Manager Ouyang
“The county magistrate has taken office. It seems that Second Brother is doomed.” Zuo Qing pondered for a moment and waved at Tu Gang. “Don’t stand there. Go and find Old Cai and get some Golden Injury Medicine to wipe your legs.”
Tu Gang smiled obsequiously. “Yes, Master. I’ll go now.”
Tu Gang had just walked out of the cave when he saw the Third-in-charge coming over with a small beard. He hurriedly bowed. “Third-in-charge, you’re back!”
“Hmm!” The Third-in-charge snorted. Without even looking at Tu Gang, he brought Manager Ouyang into the cave.
Tu Gang looked at them and curled his lips. He thought to himself, “What’s there to be arrogant about? Now that the Second-in-charge is gone, I would become the Second-in-charge in no time?”
In the cave, the leader cupped his fists respectfully at Manager Ouyang. “Brother Ouyang, from your expression, could it be that something has happened?”
Manager Ouyang cupped his fists politely and said, “The general asked me to tell you to collect all the grains and send them away as soon as possible. Also, I heard that the new county magistrate of the Imperial Court, Qing Chuan, is very close to the Shen family. The general asked you to restrain yourself in the next few days and not provoke them!”
Zuo Qing cursed in his heart. Damn it! It’s easy to say! I’ve already given you the food, but you still want me to tuck my tail between my legs. How can I raise my people without food? Zuo Qing smiled arrogantly. “Brother Ouyang, if I bring people down the mountain tonight to kill him. What can they do to me?”
Manager Ouyang glanced at Zuo Qing indifferently and thought to himself, “What an ignorant thing. Does he really think that he is invincible and can defeat the soldiers? After being arrogant for a few years, does he really think that the Green Dragon Stronghold can dominate?”
“Chief, you’d better recall what happened a few years ago when the soldiers were suppressing the bandits. If you insist on doing things your way and provoke the soldiers, don’t blame my general for standing by and watching.”
Zuo Qing thought to himself, Damn it, he’s just a servant of the General’s Mansion. How dare he teach them a lesson?
Zuo Qing cursed Manager Ouyang in his heart, but the smile on his face did not go away. “Brother Ouyang, don’t worry. I won’t cause trouble for General. The food will be transported on time.”
“Master, please be careful. I’ll take my leave.”
“Why are you in such a hurry? I’ve found a few more beauties. Brother Ouyang, stay in the village for a few days before leaving!”
“No, the general is being watched by the Shen family’s descendants and can’t leave. I have to go back and help keep an eye on things. We’ll meet again in the future.”
Zuo Qing and the third-in-charge politely sent Steward Ouyang down the mountain. Zuo Qing said to the Third-in-charge, “Third Brother, send Brother Ouyang down the mountain.”
“Yes, Big Brother.” The Third-in-charge escorted Manager Ouyang down the mountain.
Li Yu and Ruyi returned to the cave they came from. Li Yu said to Ruyi, “That steward called Ouyang might be in cahoots with the bandits. Let’s wait here and see. If we can wait for him to go down the mountain and capture him, we should be able to find out who colluded with the bandits.”
Ruyi said to Li Yu worriedly, “Madam, will the bandits send people down the mountain to attack us after they return to the village? The people from Qingzhou won’t be able to reach Qingchuan in a short time!”
“Let’s capture that manager first.” The two of them found a hidden place and waited for Ouyang to descend the mountain.
Li Yu looked into the cave and saw stalactites hanging upside down on the ceiling. She felt strange. This should have been a karst cave. She didn’t know why it had dried up.
Zhou Jia stood at the entrance of the dilapidated government office and looked at the intersection anxiously. He couldn’t control his mind and kept letting his imagination run wild. Yu’er and Ruyi had already left for a day and night and hadn’t returned. Could something have happened to them?! No, Yu’er’s martial arts were so good. How could something have happened to her? Sigh! It was all his fault for being too weak. Otherwise, how good it would be to fight alongside Yu’er! Zhou Jia put his palms together and prayed. “Heaven, please bless them and let them return safely!”
When the people gathered in front of the county office saw the handsome county magistrate praying to the heavens with his hands clasped together, they began to discuss softly. Mr. Qian sighed with red eyes. “My lord is praying for the people of Qingchuan to the heavens. He is praying for the heavens to destroy the bandits as soon as possible and return everyone to a peaceful life.” After Mr. Qian finished speaking, he placed his hands together and prayed. Seeing this, everyone also prayed.
Zhou Jia opened his eyes and saw the people in front of the county office putting their palms together and praying to the sky. This scene stunned him. Mr. Qian moved to Zhou Jia’s side and said loudly, “Sir, the people of Qingchuan are thinking the same as you. They are all looking forward to exterminating the bandits as soon as possible and living a peaceful life.”
Zhou Jia looked at Mr. Qian and nodded awkwardly. “Yes, everyone will work together and will definitely live a peaceful life.”
The woman and the old woman discussed softly, “Lord Zhou is really a good official! He’s good-looking and kind-hearted.”
The old woman held her chest and said, “That’s right! He’s even better-looking than the young actors on the stage in Qingzhou.”
“Aiyo! Old Madam Zhang, no wonder your old man’s jealousy has been churning for decades.”
Mr. Qian looked at the old women with resentment. Why did they keep talking about how good looking Magistrate Zhou was when they are officials and citizens?
The sky slowly darkened. Manager Ouyang and the Third-in-charge of the Green Dragon Stronghold rode their horses to the entrance of the cave. The two of them alighted from their horses and lit torches. They led their horses into the cave one after another.
Li Yu and Ruyi waited at the corner not far from the cave entrance, listening to the approaching footsteps. The faint flames gradually became brighter.
After a while, Manager Ouyang walked past Li Yu with a torch in one hand and a horse in the other. Soon after, the Third-in-charge appeared. Li Yu and Ruyi attacked almost at the same time. Ruyi’s fist struck Manager Ouyang at lightning speed. Before Manager Ouyang could even grunt, he was knocked unconscious by Ruyi.
Li Yu touched the butterfly petal on the sleeve arrow and the sleeve arrow shot towards the back of the Third-in-charge’s neck. The latter felt a strong wind coming at him and hurriedly turned his head to dodge the sleeve arrow. The sleeve arrow brushed past his neck and he reached out his fist to hit Li Yu at lightning speed. Li Yu raised her leg and kicked the his fist away. The dagger in her right hand slid past the Third-in-charge’s neck, causing him to smash into the ground.
Li Yu picked up the Third-in-charge and placed him on the horse’s back. Ruyi tied Manager Ouyang up with a rope and gagged him before placing him on the horse’s back. The two of them held torches and quickly left the cave with the horse. Hearing the wolf howls in the distance, they found a place on the road and threw the Third-in-charge down the mountain stream before rushing down the mountain with Manager Ouyang.
The two of them led the horse and hurried along. Halfway through, Manager Ouyang was woken up and kept twisting around. He was knocked unconscious by Ruyi’s slap. The two of them sped through the night and rushed home at midnight. When they knocked on the door, Li Yu saw Zhou Jia standing behind the door. Seeing Zhou Jia’s happy expression, her heart warmed and she smiled. “This trip was not bad.”
“You’re back!” Zhou Jia didn’t hear what Li Yu was saying at all. He smiled foolishly and held Li Yu’s hand, feeling relieved.
He Xiaoyu looked at Ruyi happily with the oil lamp. “You must be hungry! Are you hurt anywhere? Oh! I’ll go set up the food.”
Ruyi saw how He Xiaoyu was so happy that she was incoherent. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’m not injured! I’m just too hungry. Go and set up the food. I’ll lock him up before coming back.”