After welcoming the three men with a bright smile, he asked in a friendly manner, “Gentlemen, why have you come all the way here?”
Ou Yangming obviously knew they were here to convey their greetings, and he wanted to quickly exchange the pleasantries so that he could shovel down the food.
“Brother Ou, the attack took place because of my lack of consideration. Ah, you almost got killed, it’s all my fault,” Fang Yihai expressed after clearing his throat, then stood up to bow at Ou Yangming.
Ou Yangming’s face quickly changed. The man was the South Camp’s commanding general, who had an extremely noble status in the camp as he was only second to Deng Zhicai. On the contrary, Ou Yangming was only a Military Fire Blacksmith. Even though he had been performing greatly of late, as a simple man, he never intended to be a dominant character. Therefore, Ou Yangming panicked when the general humbled himself to extend a formal apology to him.
At the very least, Ou Yangming was no longer aggrieved and suspicious.
On the other hand, Ni Yinghong, who was watching coldly aside, sighed. ‘When you know what happened, you won’t be thinking that way anymore.’
Once the two men sat down again, Fang Yihai gestured to Yu Hailiang with a wave to present the box to Ou Yangming.
Ou Yangming’s eyes glowed and he thought, ‘You should’ve given it to me long ago. Isn’t it tiring to beat around the bush? I’m starving already!’
However, Fang Yihai said with a stern face, “This incident was caused by me, so I must give you an explanation.”
He asked in all seriousness, “Brother Ou, can you please take a look and tell me if you’re satisfied?”
Ou Yangming was dumbfounded. ‘What does he mean?’
When he noticed the grim expression on the three men’s faces, he somewhat guessed that the wooden box did not contain any food.
After pondering for a while, Ou Yangming moved forward to open the box. Once he saw what was inside, his stomach jerked such that he almost vomited the hot porridge that he ate.
Sure enough, no food was found in the wooden box as it contained a person’s head instead. While the head was not bloody, nobody would feel comfortable after being presented with a person’s head.
Ou Yangming was no longer hungry at all. Even if delicious dishes were placed in front of him at the moment, he could not bring himself to swallow any food.
That being said, he had personally killed someone, chopped his enemy’s head off, and cut the person’s body into pieces. He was more courageous than he was before, so he uttered after identifying who it was, “Zhang Yinfan…”
“Yes, Zhang Yinfan is the culprit behind everything,” Fang Yinhai said with a deep voice, “I guarantee that this matter has come to an end, and nobody will cause you trouble anymore!”
Ou Yangming asked after some thought, “I heard that the Zhang family is quite formidable in the capital?”
Fang Yihai could not help but laugh. “The capital is the capital while the prefecture is the prefecture. No matter who comes to the prefecture, we’ll make sure they bear all the consequences!”
As the saying went, a mighty dragon could not crush a snake in its old haunts. Being one of the well-known tyrants in the prefecture, Fang Yihai could definitely afford to say something like that.
Ou Yangming slowly closed the wooden box and said, “Since you’re so certain, General Fang, the case is closed.”
He understood what the general meant. The Zhang family could never set foot in the military camp anymore, and the Fang family would remember this lesson from now on. Nonetheless, if Ou Yangming was still not resigned to the outcome and wanted to take revenge on the Zhang family in the capital, the Fang family’s hands were tied.
As said by Fang Yihai, a local snake in the prefecture was authoritative enough to suppress a mighty dragon from the outside, but once he was outside his territory, he would be rootless duckweed that would not be feared.
It was evident that Fang Yihai was relieved. He glanced meaningfully at Ni Yinghong before he assured, “Brother Ou, don’t worry, Zhang Yinfan was sentenced to death. Before he died, he was crippled by our furious brothers from the South Camp, so much so that he couldn’t talk anymore.”
Ou Yangming suddenly looked up and curled his lips into a smile. “I understand, thank you, general.”
Ni Yinghong raised her eyebrows and sneered. ‘Fang Yihai is obviously being ironic, I wonder what Zhang Yinfan has told him, but since he said that, it’s clear that he’s determined to keep the secret hidden forever.’
Xiaoxiao Sheng expressed all of a sudden, “Master Ou, there’s something that I couldn’t figure out, so I’d like to inquire about it.”
Ou Yangming dared not be negligent, so he quickly replied to him, “Senior Xiaoxiao Sheng, please.”
“I’d like to know how exactly Zhang Yinli died in the forest. Who killed him?” Xiaoxiao Sheng asked seriously.
“What do you think?” Ou Yangming hesitated before he replied with another question.
Xiaoxiao Sheng responded slowly, “When I arrived at the scene, though Zhang Yinli’s corpse was already devoured by the wild beasts in the forest, I could at least deduce that his body was chopped into pieces. Heh, there aren’t many people who have the ability to slice a Yang Grade powerhouse’s dead body into pieces…”
Ou Yangming answered after some thought, “Senior, I can only tell you that I was the one who killed Zhang Yinli. Please forgive me for not disclosing more information about that.”
If Ou Yangming was still the helper he was in the past, Fang Yihai could simply seize him because of what he said and could interrogate him with torture. Nevertheless, the general only smoothed things over when Ou Yangming refused to give Xiaoxiao Sheng a full explanation.
The three men left after 15 minutes.
Subsequently, Ou Yangming was faced with a pair of clear and limpid eyes when he turned around. The eyes were full of curiosity, which gave Ou Yangming a splitting headache.
Chapter 104 - Courtyard Crowded With Visitors
Chapter 104 Courtyard Crowded With Visitors
“I didn’t lie to them, I really did kill Zhang Yinli.” Ou Yangming spread out his hands helplessly, then blurted for some reason, “Even if I lied to them, I won’t lie to you!”
Ni Yinghong blinked her big eyes and chuckled. “Oh, I didn’t know that we’re so close?”
Ou Yangming laughed and said, “If it wasn’t for your help, how could I have learned appraisal art? Based on that alone, I can’t lie to
you.”
Ni Yinghong was shocked. “What? Did you actually learn the art?”
It was true that she had helped Ou Yangming several times throughout the appraisal task by talking about some techniques during conversations, but she did not teach him in an orderly manner. Ni Yinghong only did everything conveniently and agitated Zheng Ziwen to perform appraisal art with her for a number of times.
Yes. Ni Yinghong previously spared no effort in helping Ou Yangming not only because of the strange feeling she had but also because she wanted to do him a favor. As such, Ou Yangming would not refuse to help her in the future if she ever needed help.
However, as much as Ni Yinghong helped, she never expected Ou Yangming to actually grasp appraisal art.
If the art could be fathomed so easily, appraisers would not be rare individuals.
Following that, Ou Yangming grinned and rubbed his hands to release the Appraisal Light.
Nonetheless, there was no equipment around, and as thick-faced as he was, he could not just settle the light on Ni Yinghong’s body. Hence, he shook his wrist to shoot the Appraisal Light on the ground.
[Insufficient mental power, appraisal failed]
A notification suddenly appeared in Ou Yangming’s mind.
He was instantly stunned. ‘What does this mean? I used appraisal art on the ground, so it should appraise the soil for me. Why does it show that I have insufficient mental power?’
Appraisal
art was an exceptionally mysterious ability. Once it was performed, it could automatically appraise the equivalent rank and the specific attributes of a piece of equipment or a person. Why did something like this happen?
Upon seeing Ou Yangming’s confused look, Ni Yinghong finally curbed her thoughts after being taken aback for a moment. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing. Look, what do you think about my appraisal art?” Ou Yangming immediately shook his head and asked, but said to himself, ‘If you use your appraisal art on the ground, you’ll understand how I feel.’
Nevertheless, he understood that the art was extremely precious for normal appraisers, who would never use it so casually as he did.
Although Ni Yinghong did not want to admit it, she knew that Ou Yangming indeed used the Appraisal Light. She scoffed and belittled him. “Isn’t it just appraisal art? I know it too, what’s so amazing about that!”
Ou Yangming was struck dumb. He suddenly realized that she was right…
‘I must’ve been bewitched, why did I use appraisal art in front of an appraiser, am I not bringing contempt upon myself?’
Ni Yinghong quickly changed the topic. “Come with me!”
She brought Ou Yangming to a side room. Fortunately, Ou Yangming had been given a much better treatment lately such that he was almost at Old Craftsman’s level. He had a master bedroom, a side room, as well as a courtyard. If that was not the case, his previous small unit would be quite embarrassing.
Once Ou Yangming entered the room, he instantly noticed the pieces of equipment he was familiar with, including the waist sash, which was placed at the most eye-catching spot.
Ni Yinghong pouted her lips and said, “There, your things are here. I guarantee that nobody has touched them, and nobody used appraisal art on them.”
Ou Yangming nodded and thanked her from the bottom of his heart, “Thank you.”
He had thanked her seriously because he knew that countless people were curious knowing he had carried Zhang Yinli’s head out of the dense forest. In particular, his unique pieces of equipment would attract their attention.
While Ni Yinghong said it so easily, he knew that she must have paid a huge price.
That said, this was not Ou Yangming’s first time owing Ni Yinghong a favor. When one had too many debts, one stopped worrying about them, thus he did not need to be especially thankful this time.
Another knock was heard on the door at the spur of the moment.
Ou Yangming was slightly displeased, but he swallowed his irritation after he opened the door.
This was because Deng Zhicai was the person standing outside. Being the main general in the military, he was more prestigious than Fang Yihai. Besides, Ou Yangming was even his subordinate. Since the general had paid him a special visit, how could he be irritated? Even if he was courting death, he should not do it so obviously.
Deng Zhicai’s purpose of visitation was very simple; he was here to convey his greetings. Even though he was also curious about Zhang Yinli’s death, he avoided talking about it after seeing that Ou Yangming was reluctant to disclose the full truth.
It was worth noting that Deng Zhicai would not have treated another subordinate the same way, and would only treat a friend, who was on an equal footing as him, slightly better than that.
Deng Zhicai bid his farewell after 15 minutes, but before Ou Yangming could take a seat, Chen Yifan’s loud laughter was heard.
Ou Yangming dared not neglect General Chen, whom he was already familiar with for a long time, by which he respected the general more than he did Deng Zhicai and Fang Yihai. Nonetheless, Chen Yifan had also visited for the same reason but did not talk about Ou Yangming’s encounter in the forest.
After Ou Yangming managed to send Chen Yifan away and thought that he could finally have some peace, a person who he had not expected to see actually visited.
It was commanding General Tian Boguang from the East Camp. Ou Yangming initially thought the big boss in the military had come to pick a fight with him, but the general was so well-mannered and friendly that he felt warm.
Finally, Ou Yangming exhaled deeply after sending off the fourth general. He felt that the need to engage with everyone was even more tiring than his battle against Zhang Yinli.
He did not expect to hear another knock on his door again.
Supervisor Kang Weibo from the Armament Camp, Supervisor Qu Jianming from the Provision Camp, and other respected figures from the other camps had come as though Ou Yangming’s courtyard was a place for gathering. Apart from the North Camp’s commanding general who was still away, the others who were present had visited him.
Only when the sun was slowly setting, the courtyard that was crowded with visitors became peaceful again.
Ou Yangming grinned from ear to ear. He had never been chased after like that, and his visitors were all people with high statuses. Moreover, other than the few generals who had to consider their image, the other visitors spoke to him respectfully.
Since he had never seen such a grand occasion, he was on cloud nine.
Nevertheless, Ou Yangming did not notice that Ni Yinghong had been observing him carefully, and her sharp-witted eyes somehow showed a hint of worry.
At last, when everyone left and Ou Yangming’s residence became quiet again, Ni Yinghong suddenly said, “Brother Ou, there’s actually something I haven’t told you about.”
Ou Yangming smiled brightly. “What is it?”
Ni Yinghong told him slowly, “Brother Ou, the elder from my family said that your mental state was affected this time, so it’s best not to have extreme emotions in the near future.”
Ou Yangming was stunned, and he somehow felt anxious.
Without Ni Yinghong’s reminder, perhaps he would not have noticed because he had been immersed in everyone’s flatters, but he immediately became doubtful when Ni Yinghong said that out of the blue.
Almost at the next instant, Ou Yangming quickly recalled someone.
‘Old Craftsman!’
While he and Old Craftsman were not related by blood, they were definitely as close as a father and a son. No, they were actually more intimate than that.
Theoretically, Old Craftsman would not have neglected Ou Yangming after Ou Yangming suffered an attack and survived by luck.
Ou Yangming’s residence had been bustling for a day, where he was visited in turns by people who should or should not have come, as well as those who were either qualified or unqualified to drop by.
When Ou Yangming’s place was full of activity, he did not have the time to think too much as he had to rack his brain to deal with the situation.
However, he was suddenly surprised.
His mouth twitched as he mumbled, “Oh right, where’s Old Craftsman? Why didn’t he come?”
Ou Yangming did not realize that his voice trembled a little when he spoke.
Ni Yinghong looked at him in shock. She did not think that Ou Yangming could figure out what she wanted to say only after hearing a small clue.
When she fixed her gaze on Ou Yangming, she suddenly noticed that the cheerful and high-spirited young man had suddenly become timid. Not only was his voice shaking, but his hands had subconsciously tensed up.
“Hehe, I know, Old Craftsman must be busy smithing a divine weapon for General Chen Yifan, right?” Ou Yangming looked at Ni Yinghong eagerly. “He has delayed it for too long, so he mustn’t delay it any further.”
Ni Yinghong hesitated for a while before shaking her head.
Ou Yangming then slapped his forehead. “I know, Old Craftsman must’ve received news about a place with good ores, so he hurried over to take a look. Hmph, how dare he leave me alone, I must question him once he’s back!”
“Ah…” Ni Yinghong sighed and reached her hand out to put it on Ou Yangming’s chest.
Before she even said anything, Ou Yangming uttered in a hurry, “I guessed it, Old Craftsman must be mad at me for being so bold that I took the risk and contended with Zhang
Yinli, right? As long as I apologize to him, he’ll come to meet me, right…”
Ni Yinghong was startled. Just as she was going to shake her head, she felt something cold on her hand.
When she looked, she noticed a drop of clear liquid on the back of her hand, then big teardrops kept rolling down from Ou Yangming’s eyes.
Despite that, Ou Yangming, who had been talking in a hurry, had not noticed it.
Chapter 105 - A Slim Chance Of Survival
Chapter 105 A Slim Chance Of Survival
Perhaps because it was nightfall and the bright moonlight washed away the noise in the day, the courtyard was so quiet that it was almost soundless.
When Ou Yangming arrived outside the door with Ni Yinghong, he suddenly felt his knees go weak, and could not take another step forward.
His ears twitched slightly when he heard the soft and faint breathings coming from the room.
By looking through the window gap, Ou Yangming noticed a familiar yet strange face.
Old Craftsman had indeed aged. As he lay on his bed, though they had not met for over ten days, Ou Yangming could tell that his face had become shockingly thin. The old man’s eyes were shut, and the wings of his nose undulated. He looked like an old machine that had been operating for years and was lingering at death’s door.
Ou Yangming slowly bent over while pressing where his heart was.
It hurt terribly and was an intense feeling of grief that would explode at any time.
He wanted to cast everything aside and burst into tears by Old Craftsman’s bed. Perhaps that was the only way to soothe the pain in his heart.
Despite that, Ou Yangming did not act on impulse even though he was already biting his lips so hard that two deep blood traces were seen.
He slowly stood up and tipped his toes to back away silently. Just like how Ou Yangming did not make a single sound when he came, he left in silence too.
Before long, he walked out of the courtyard and saw Ni Yinghong in the dark.
Under the indistinct moonlight, Ni Yinghong seemed to have turned into a mysterious yet cold and noble spirit that one dared not treat with disrespect. Additionally, the moonlight made her look more brilliant as though she had a light muslin on her body.
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