Reborn Ouyang Ke: From The Condor Heroes to the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 44 Shang Xiuxun

The footsteps came from outside the hall, barely audible.

In other words, the sound of footsteps came from the covered walkway connecting the sedan hall, less than ten feet from the entrance.

That is to say, Ouyang Ke only became slightly alert when the person approached within a range of four or five zhang. With his current cultivation level, he could hear even falling flowers and leaves within five zhang, yet this person was able to get so close before he noticed him. His lightness skill was no less than that of Dugu Feng.

A hint of interest flickered in Ouyang Ke's eyes, and he looked up towards the door. The firebird also stopped pecking its feathers, tilted its head, and looked towards the hall door, a hint of curiosity flashing in its small, coral-like eyes.

The next moment, my eyes lit up.

A graceful woman in a tight-fitting outfit entered the room. Her beautiful, jet-black hair cascaded down her chiseled shoulders like two small waterfalls, making her exceptionally beautiful, comparable to Dugu Feng.

Her elegant attire accentuated her striking face and tanned, glowing skin, radiating youthful energy and an enviable healthy glow.

Her beautiful eyes were deep and unfathomable, and her thick eyelashes added a touch of mystery to her phoenix eyes, which seemed to be brimming with the finest and most fragrant wine. She moved silently, her steps light and graceful.

In the entire Pegasus Ranch, the only woman with such martial arts skills and temperament is naturally the ranch owner, Shang Xiuxun.

Ouyang Ke was sizing up Shang Xiuxun, and Shang Xiuxun was also openly sizing up Ouyang Ke. Ouyang Ke was dressed in white, with a face like jade, lips like painted cinnabar, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and was exceptionally handsome. Even with his crutches beside him, his refined and elegant demeanor was undeniable.

A tiny, bright red bird perched on her shoulder, extremely cute and emitting a faint, exotic fragrance, which made Shang Xiuxun linger her gaze for a moment longer.

She gracefully approached Ouyang Ke, gave him a brief and confident look, wrinkled her delicate little nose, and said, "Since I became the owner of this venue, Young Master Ouyang is the first person to come and visit me."

Her voice was clear and melodious, with a touch of languor and a hint of shrewdness.

Ouyang Ke smiled slightly: "In that case, please don't blame me for coming uninvited, Master."

A strange light flashed in Shang Xiuxun's eyes, as if she was still sizing him up. Then she gently shook her head and said, "Before Young Master Ouyang showed up, I was always curious about what kind of person you were. But after meeting you today, I am even more curious."

Ouyang Ke said calmly, "I am who I am. Does the venue owner have any further questions?"

A smile, like the moon breaking through dark clouds, appeared on Shang Xiuxun's lips. Her large, affectionate eyes swept over Ouyang Ke, and she slowly said, "I'm just curious, young master, how come you seem to know almost everything at such a young age? You've already befriended the Dugu clan and are highly regarded by them, so why did you suddenly come to the Pegasus Ranch today?"

As she spoke, she recounted Ouyang Ke's actions in Luoyang in detail, as if she had been right there with him. Ouyang Ke was not surprised to hear this. Although the Pegasus Ranch rarely interacted with the outside world, they had their own well-connected sources of information. Luoyang was one of the two great cities of the Central Plains, and the Pegasus Ranch naturally had its own informants there.

As for his association with the Dugu Clan and the Sha Family, it had already spread throughout most of Luoyang City by then, and anyone who was interested could gather this information.

To Ouyang Ke's surprise, Luoyang was at least a thousand miles away from Pegasus Ranch, yet she was still able to keep up with Luoyang's current affairs so closely, which showed that Pegasus Ranch's foundation was far greater than he had previously thought.

Ouyang Ke sighed and said, "It seems that everyone has underestimated Pegasus Ranch."

Shang Xiuxun's delicate eyebrows suddenly furrowed, causing ripples to appear on her forehead. She asked in confusion, "I see that you have not come here with the intention of befriending my ranch."

Ouyang Ke asked, "Why do you say that, Master?"

Shang Xiuxun smiled mischievously: "Young Master, you've only just arrived in the Central Plains and have already fought against Dugu Feng and Ba Feng Han, clearly showing your ambition in martial arts. I, on the other hand, have only recently assumed the position of sect leader and have a shallow reputation in the martial world. You certainly haven't come here to fight me." She paused, then looked back at Ouyang Ke, her tone serious. "So, Xiuxun still doesn't understand Young Master's purpose. Would you please explain directly?"

Ouyang Ke smiled slightly upon hearing this: "The owner guessed correctly. I did not come here for the owner's sake."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on his legs. Shang Xiuxun noticed this as well, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly as she waited quietly for him to continue. The firebird seemed to sense the change in atmosphere as well, abandoning its languid demeanor and straightening its posture.

Ouyang Ke said calmly, "I came to your ranch to seek a cure for my leg ailment."

"Treatment for a leg ailment?" Shang Xiuxun asked, somewhat puzzled. After a moment, she looked at Ouyang Ke, her tone hesitant. "Feima Ranch has always only traded horses. Even if there are doctors in the mountain city, their medical skills are far inferior to yours, young master. I wonder why you—"

At this moment, Shang Xiuxun suddenly had a thought, as if she had realized something, and her tone paused. Her bronze-colored face showed a fluctuating expression, clearly indicating that she was quickly calculating in her mind.

Ouyang Ke clearly noticed the change in her expression and said calmly, "It seems the owner has already guessed why I'm here."

Shang Xiuxun's expression suddenly turned cold, and her tone instantly became aloof: "Xiuxun doesn't know what you mean, young master. If there's nothing else important, Xiuxun has other matters to attend to." Her words subtly conveyed her intention to dismiss him.

She turned around, her back to Ouyang Ke, her posture showing a hint of defensiveness.

Ouyang Ke remained calm and slowly said, "Does the owner of the arena also have no reaction to that person's death?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Xiuxun's shoulders trembled slightly, but her expression remained icy: "I've said it before, I don't know what you're talking about." Her voice tightened slightly, revealing the turmoil in her heart.

Seeing that she was unwilling to admit it, Ouyang Ke simply shook his head and said, "Now that things have come to this, does the ranch owner still want to deny it? The former number one genius in the world is now living in seclusion on the ranch."

Upon hearing this, Shang Xiuxun's jade-like face turned icy cold, and a rare hint of murderous intent flashed in her beautiful eyes as she stared coldly at Ouyang Ke.

Ouyang Ke remained calm, seemingly unconcerned, and simply said, "I advise the ranch owner not to act this way. I have no grudge against your ranch; I am only here to resolve my leg ailment. Whether it succeeds or not, I will owe your ranch a favor."

At this point, Shang Xiuxun's expression finally changed. She looked at Ouyang Ke, a hint of emotion returning to her beautiful eyes. After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice low: "Where did you learn of this news?" Her gaze was fixed on Ouyang Ke's face, not missing a single subtle change in expression.

Ouyang Ke understood her concerns and simply said, "Please rest assured, Master, only I know about this matter."

But I hope the venue owner won't act rashly.

He paused, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable confidence, "While I may have a limp, it is a fool's dream for the owner alone, along with a dozen or so martial arts warriors outside the hall, to think they could stop me. If the owner does not believe me, he is free to try."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ouyang Ke picked up the teacup with his right hand, lowered his head and took a small sip. His expression was extremely calm, as if what he had just said was just ordinary conversation, rather than a life-or-death struggle.

Upon hearing this, Shang Xiuxun's heart skipped a beat. There were indeed more than ten guards who had accompanied her outside the hall, but they were at least seven or eight zhang away. Yet Ouyang Ke, from such a distance, could perceive them so clearly, demonstrating his astonishing hearing. Recalling the earlier rumors of Ouyang Ke's battle with Ba Feng Han by the river, a hint of hesitation appeared in Shang Xiuxun's beautiful eyes.

She sized up the man in white before her, her mind racing. His ability to defeat Ba Feng Han in a direct confrontation was undeniable; his martial arts skills were exceptional. If they were to actually fight, she and her dozen or so guards might not have the upper hand. Moreover, since he dared to come alone and was so frank, he must have something to rely on.

After a long silence, she gave a soft hum, the hostility in her tone lessening somewhat: "Convince me this time."

Ouyang Ke noticed the arrogance in her tone but didn't point it out, instead smiling faintly, "As expected of a business tycoon."

Shang Xiuxun turned away unexpectedly, her back to him, as if she didn't want anyone to see her expression. After a while, she asked in an icy tone, "Old man—are you really going to die?" Beneath that cold facade, there was a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in her voice.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke spoke calmly yet with a hint of solemnity: "If there are no further unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Lu has at most two more years to live."

Upon hearing this, Shang Xiuxun remained silent for a long time. Her back was to Ouyang Ke, her shoulders heaving slightly, as if trying to calm herself. The firebird seemed to sense the heavy emotion in the air as well, quietly perching on Ouyang Ke's shoulder, motionless.

Ouyang Ke also surprisingly remained silent.

He was well aware of the complicated and entangled past between Lu Miaozi and Shang Xiuxun. Lu Miaozi was a remarkable figure in the Tang Dynasty, possessing expertise in many fields such as martial arts, medicine, gardens, architecture, military strategy, disguise, astronomy, calendrical calculations, and mechanical devices; he was truly omnipotent.

He designed the "Yang Gong Treasure Vault" for Yang Su of the Sui Dynasty, which contained the relics of the Evil Emperor, and authored the "Complete Guide to Mechanical Devices" which has been passed down through generations. Because he fell in love with Zhu Yuyan, the Yin Empress of the Demonic Sect, he was later betrayed and seriously injured by Xiang Yutian for refusing to reveal the whereabouts of the Evil Emperor's relics. He faked his death and went into seclusion at the Pegasus Ranch.

He later married Shang Qingya, the owner of the ranch, and had a daughter. However, he was unable to forget Zhu Yuyan, which led to his wife's death from depression. During his seclusion, he designed the Pegasus Ranch garden and developed the Six Fruit Wine to delay the onset of his injuries. In his later years, he tried to pass on all his knowledge to his daughter, Shang Xiuxun, but failed. However, in the original story, he formed a close friendship with Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling despite their age difference, and imparted all his knowledge to them.

This is the story of Lu Miaozi's life. His unresolved conflict with Shang Xiuxun stemmed from his lingering feelings for Zhu Yuyan, which led to Shang Qingya's tragic death – the very reason Shang Xiuxun hated him. Unfortunately, only after Shang Qingya's death did Lu Miaozi realize his mistake and feel deep remorse, but it was too late to undo the damage.

Shang Xiuxun stood with her back to Ouyang Ke, remaining silent for a long time before finally speaking calmly, her voice devoid of emotion: "Since the old man is so omniscient, why has he still not recovered after all these years?"

Ouyang Ke shook his head and said, "Master, you are unaware of this. Mr. Lu was injured by Zhu Yuyan back then. The Yin Gui Sect's Heavenly Demon True Qi is like a bone-deep carbuncle, extremely difficult to deal with. Once it invades the body, death is almost the only option. Mr. Lu has been able to hold on for so many years, which must be due to his extensive knowledge of medicine and dietary therapy. Otherwise, he would have died back then. However, he is now old, and the accumulated injuries in his body can no longer suppress the Heavenly Demon True Qi."

Shang Xiuxun remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

She had never heard Lu Miaozi mention these things, nor had her mother ever told her.

As for the Yin Gui Sect and "Empress Yin" Zhu Yuyan, she had naturally heard of them. As a well-known force in the world, Pegasus Ranch knew the secret of the existence of the Demonic Sect.

My mother had vaguely mentioned before her death that the old man had become disheartened and lived in seclusion on the ranch to escape someone's pursuit.

After a long silence, Shang Xiuxun suddenly came to her senses, her gaze fixed on Ouyang Ke, and she said calmly, "Since you know of the Empress Yin's reputation, you should understand the immense power of the Demonic Sect. Aren't you afraid of being hunted down by the Yin Gui Sect because of this?"

Ouyang Ke smiled calmly upon hearing this: "The sect leader should have already seen through my ambition. In the future, in order to pursue the martial arts, I will inevitably clash with the demonic sect. If I am afraid of offending them now, then I don't need to practice martial arts and can just find a mountain stream to live in seclusion."

Upon hearing this, Shang Xiuxun scrutinized Ouyang Ke for a long time, seemingly seeing someone like him for the first time in her life. After a moment, she finally spoke, "Rest for a day, I'll come to see you again tomorrow."

Ouyang Ke was not surprised and smiled calmly: "Then I will wait for the owner's good news."

The relationship between Shang Xiuxun and Lu Miaozi is extremely complex. Both are actually deeply in love with each other, but Shang Qingya's death has created a deep rift between them, who should be the closest of friends. This rift is unlikely to be resolved by a stranger's few words.

However, this matter concerned Lu Miaozi's life or death, and Shang Xiuxun needed to think about it quietly by herself. Ouyang Ke had anticipated this, so he was naturally not surprised.

Shang Xiuxun stretched with an incredibly alluring yawn, stood up, and left without looking back. Her figure paused for a moment at the door curtain, as if hesitating about something, but ultimately she did not turn around.

Ouyang Ke watched her figure disappear through the door, his smile unchanged.

A moment later, a maidservant stepped forward and led him to a small courtyard on the ranch reserved for distinguished guests. The courtyard was quiet and elegant, with several slender bamboo stalks casting dappled shadows in the moonlight. In the corner of the courtyard was a small pond with clear water, where several koi carp swam leisurely.

The faint sound of horses neighing in the distance only accentuated the tranquility of the place.

Ouyang Ke patted the firebird and stepped into it. The firebird took flight from his shoulder, circled once in the courtyard, and landed on an osmanthus tree. It tilted its head, surveyed its new surroundings, and let out a few light, low chirps.

That night, Ouyang Ke sat cross-legged on the bed in quiet meditation.

Meanwhile, in the Bird Garden, where Shang Xiuxun of the mountain city resided, the lights shone brightly all night. Clearly, Ouyang Ke's earlier words had plunged this beautiful garden owner into an unusual state of insomnia.

The moonlight, as clear as water, spilled onto the pavilions of the Bird Garden. Shang Xiuxun sat alone by the window, holding a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, her gaze fixed on the bright moon outside the window, unmoving for a long time.

Countless thoughts surged within her mind: hatred, resentment, and a lingering attachment she refused to acknowledge.

Is that old guy really going to die?

PS: To put it another way, this stage of the Tang Dynasty arc will be about giving the protagonist a little power-up, followed by healing his leg.

Healing my leg is a done deal, so please be patient with me—I feel a little guilty about what you've all said!