Seeing that Li Miao had made up his mind, he stood up, ready to pursue the group from the Ming Cult.
Master Zhishēng couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He had just seen Li Miao casually demonstrating the “Taiyi Xuanmen Sword” with a tree branch, and it was exceptionally profound, leading him to realize that Li Miao’s martial arts were excellent, at least on par with the sect leaders of major factions.
However, martial arts aren't solely about techniques. No matter how good one's innate talent, internal cultivation is a slow, painstaking process. Zuo Lishan reaching the peak at thirty-eight was already a rare talent. So, judging by Li Miao’s appearance, which looked to be in his early thirties, even at the most optimistic estimation, he would only be at the level of someone who had just reached the peak.
While astonishing among his peers, compared to Ji Tianrui, the demonic figure who had dominated the martial world for over a decade, he was still incomparable.
However, at least Ji Tianrui wasn't among that group from the Ming Cult.
With him and Li Miao combined, it should be a sure thing.
Thinking this, Master Zhishēng instructed Li Miao and Daoist Li Qing to wait there, then he and Li Miao together pursued the Ming Cult group.
It was past midnight, there were no pedestrians on the road, and no forks, so there was no need to worry about losing them.
The two used their lightness skills and in a moment had pursued them for two li.
Then, faint footsteps could be heard from ahead.
Master Zhishēng's hand was on the sword hilt, ready to charge forward and take the lead.
As soon as his foot moved, he heard Li Miao suddenly say loudly,
“Daoist priest, hold on.”
Master Zhishēng stopped in his tracks, not asking why, and raised his hand to draw his sword, true qi already surging. His eyes shone brightly, scanning the forests on both sides of the mountain path.
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They were in pursuit, and Li Miao suddenly told him to stop, without even lowering his voice to prevent the other party from hearing. The only explanation was that the Ming Cult had already discovered them and was setting an ambush.
He just didn't know how Li Miao had noticed it when he hadn't detected anything at all.
Perhaps it was because the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) were accustomed to hunting people down and had some unique secret methods.
Indeed, Li Miao looked towards the dense forest on the left side of the mountain path and smiled.
“Tired of squatting? Come on out!”
A moment of silence.
Li Miao didn't speak, just stood there with his arms crossed, watching the forest.
After a while, the branches and leaves rustled, and several figures flashed out from within, each holding lassos, hooked chains, and hidden weapons. Judging by their movements, each was a skilled practitioner of at least second-rate caliber.
Master Zhishēng couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Looking at their posture, it was clear that his and Daoist Li Qing's earlier peeking had not escaped these people's notice. They hadn't attacked at that time, but had actually set up an ambush long ago, just waiting for him to walk into it. With them planning and him unsuspecting, he might have been injured the moment they met.
If there was also a peak expert similar to him to hold him back, and these skilled practitioners harassing and tying him down with lassos and hidden weapons, he couldn't really say if he would be able to escape.
It was all thanks to Li Miao.
Master Zhishēng was about to turn and thank Li Miao when another person walked out from the forest.
He was a large man, with hands that hung down to his knees, and he was the leader.
As soon as Master Zhishēng saw his appearance, he knew his conjecture was correct.
He had a gaunt face, prominent cheekbones, and sunken cheeks. Beneath his ink-black thick eyebrows, his tiger-like eyes gleamed with spirit, bearing a six or seven-tenths resemblance to Yang Lixuan of yesteryear. He was undoubtedly a member of the Yang Family, perhaps even Yang Lixuan's nephew or son.
This person stepped out of the forest, first looking at Master Zhishēng, a disdainful sneer appearing on his face.
“Wudang’s stinky Daoist priest, tsk!”
Then he looked at Li Miao, cupped his hands, and bowed slightly in greeting.
“Lord Li.”
“You!?”
This act of judging people and acting accordingly left Master Zhishēng speechless.
Yes, they came with ill intentions, so it was understandable that this person wouldn't be friendly. But why was he a “stinky Daoist priest” while Li Miao was “Lord Li”?
One should never lose face in a confrontation. Master Zhishēng was about to retort when Li Miao reached out and stopped him.
Li Miao looked at the man and smiled.
“What’s your name?”
“Yang Tianyi.”
“What is Yang Lixuan to you?”
“My father.”
“Then, Yang Yueze?”
“He is my humble son.”
“Oh?”
Li Miao looked at the man, raising an eyebrow.
“Do you know who killed your son?”
Yang Tianyi nodded.
“I know. After Lord Li left Shaolin, I used some methods to infiltrate Shaolin and found my humble son’s body. Judging by the injuries, it wasn’t Shaolin’s doing; it should have been at Lord Li’s hands.”
“Oh?” Li Miao said, surprised.
“Since you know I killed your son, why are you still so polite to me?”
Yang Tianyi shook his head.
“We Yang Family members value life and death lightly, but spirit greatly.”
“My son’s spine was broken, and before he died, he probably soiled himself, disgracing our Yang Family. Even if Lord Li hadn't killed him, I would have.”
“Moreover…”
Yang Tianyi looked at Li Miao, a ferocious smile appearing on his face.
“Lord Li, there is only one thing we Yang Family members care about.”
“That is—the Zhu Family, Great Shuo!”
Yang Tianyi said coldly.
“For this, we Yang Family members can die, and we can also put aside hatred and cooperate with that bastard Ji Tianrui.”
“One day, Lord Li will also be our comrade. And with Lord Li’s talent and martial arts, in the future, it’s highly likely you’ll go even further than us. Therefore, we Yang Family members bear no ill will towards Lord Li.”
At this point, Yang Tianyi turned and coldly swept his gaze over Master Zhishēng, letting out a cold snort.
“Wudang, Shaolin, all spineless cowards, two piles of dog shit.”
“They’ve inherited the vast legacies of Damo and Sanfeng Zhenren for nothing, yet they have no backbone whatsoever! They grovel before the Zhu Family, scared and cowering, not even daring to cultivate to the Celestial Realm, utterly disgracing the patriarchs’ names!”
“Bah!”
Speaking of his hatred, Yang Tianyi actually spat on the ground.
Yang Tianyi’s words not only showed his contempt for Master Zhishēng but also cursed the entire Wudang. His words were fierce, almost accusing the two major sects of betraying their masters and ancestors, and wasting their legacies.
Master Zhishēng’s face turned green with anger, and he almost couldn't resist stabbing him with his sword.
What was wrong with the legacies of major martial arts sects being on good terms with the imperial court of the time? Did they have to be like a bunch of lunatics from your Ming Cult, only thinking about rebellion, to be considered to have backbone?
If your Ming Cult is so impressive, why were you also chased by the imperial court, scattered and decimated, even your leader having to fake his death to escape?
If you’re so arrogant, why don’t I see you going to Shuntian Prefecture to assassinate the emperor… No!
Master Zhishēng was startled!
It hadn’t been long since the Ming Cult broke through Shaolin. Counting the days, this group from the Ming Cult should not have detoured, but rather traveled directly after leaving Shaolin, to be able to reach Xiangyang Prefecture today.
Looking at their route, it was clearly a direct path north, straight towards Shuntian Prefecture!
Li Miao had mentioned it briefly earlier, and he hadn't thought much of it, but now hearing Yang Tianyi say it, he immediately understood.
These people… they wouldn’t really be going to the capital to assassinate the emperor, would they!?
Master Zhishēng looked at Li Miao, then back at Yang Tianyi, gripping his sword hilt tightly.
“Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable… things have gotten serious…”