In the Qi-Lu Region, Jinan Prefecture, Tai'an State.
After a journey, Li Miao and Mei Qinghe finally arrived at this state city next to the Mount Tai Sect.
The two did not go to an inn to rest, but instead went directly to the Tai'an Governor's Yamen.
Mei Qinghe waited at the entrance, holding the horses. Li Miao dismounted, brushed off the dust from his clothes, adjusted his collar, and handed the reins to Mei Qinghe.
Then, with a steady gait, he walked to the yamen entrance.
“Come, come.” He raised his hand and waved at a yamen runner.
The profession of a yamen runner was one that relied on keen observation for survival.
When encountering someone they couldn't afford to offend, they had to humble themselves and be overly solicitous. When encountering someone they could easily manipulate, they would be ruthless and extract every last drop of profit.
Especially in Great Shuo, they also had to be wary of some seemingly impoverished martial artists. If they accidentally provoked a lawless one, the person might just cut them down with One Slash, declare it as eliminating evil for the people, and then leave, with no place to cry for justice.
Therefore, in Great Shuo, the martial arts world and the imperial court actually served as checks and balances for each other. On one hand, the imperial court would restrict martial artists from acting too excessively; on the other hand, the existence of martial artists would also make local officials slightly more restrained, trying their best not to do things that would provoke heroes to eliminate evil for the people.
Returning to the present, the yamen runner, seeing Li Miao's composed demeanor, naturally wouldn't be so tactless.
He cautiously stepped forward and bowed to Li Miao: “This… Sir?”
Li Miao did not beat around the bush: “Take this waist token to your patrol inspector and tell him to come out and see me.”
With that, he handed the Jinyiwei Commander's waist token to the yamen runner.
The yamen runner was illiterate, but just by looking at the form of the waist token, he knew it was not someone easy to deal with. He nodded and quickly ran back into the yamen.
A moment later, a middle-aged man quickly walked out and bowed to Li Miao: “Commander.”
“Do you know why I am here?”
“The family sent a message. This is what the family sent for you.”
The middle-aged man handed Li Miao a heavy package.
He was precisely the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) secret agent planted in Tai'an State, and he already knew Li Miao's purpose, so all the necessary items had been prepared.
Li Miao took the package, nodded, turned around, called Mei Qinghe, and left.
He did not go to see the Governor of Tai'an State.
This brings us to the relationship between martial arts sects and local officials.
Martial arts, in essence, is a form of violence.
And martial arts sects are organizations that control this violence.
A large sect like the Mount Tai Sect, which is deeply rooted, has been cultivating in this region for a longer time than the succession of political powers, and the power it wields is also stronger than that of the local government.
Therefore, it was logical that the Governor of Tai'an State was in collusion with the Mount Tai Sect.
It could be said that when Zhu Zai made the decision to “exterminate the Five Mountains Sword Sect,” the Governor of Tai'an State was already a target to be swept away along with them.
Li Miao had no interest in playing mind games with a man who was about to die. Anyway, the subsequent matters would not require local soldiers, so he didn't bother to pay a visit.
As for the governor's subsequent reactions, he had already anticipated them.
Returning to the present, Li Miao and Mei Qinghe arrived at an inn and checked in.
By noon, Mei Qinghe knocked on Li Miao's door: “Senior, would you like to eat?”
The door opened wide, and Li Miao stepped out.
Mei Qinghe, however, was startled, taking two steps back, and stammered: “Se… Senior…”
Li Miao had changed into a new outfit: a dark black close-fitting suit, a copper sunflower belt, black patterned boots, and an embroidered spring blade hanging from his waist, with one hand resting on the hilt. The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) waist token hung conspicuously at his waist.
His back was straight, and his demeanor was grand. A pair of sword-like eyebrows slanted towards his temples, and not a single strand of his dark hair was out of place.
What a heroic appearance!
Mei Qinghe had traveled with Li Miao for over a month and had only ever seen Li Miao's lazy and casual attire and attitude. He would sit if he could, lie down if he could, his shoulders were slumped, his back was relaxed, and his words had drawn-out endings.
When had she ever seen Li Miao act like this?
Li Miao's own appearance was inherently very good, but his previous demeanor was like that of a street idler. Although Mei Qinghe knew Li Miao's martial arts were astonishing and would not look down on him, she couldn't say he was particularly pleasing to the eye.
Now, with this sudden glance, Mei Qinghe's face involuntarily turned red.
Li Miao glanced at Mei Qinghe and smiled: “Do you know how to bully people?”
“Huh?”
“Bullying people, being overbearing, eating without paying, do you know how?”
“No… I don't…”
“Learn. I'll show you today, and you'll start tomorrow.”
After Li Miao finished speaking, he stepped onto the street. Mei Qinghe was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed.
Li Miao's demeanor was clearly very eye-catching. Pedestrians on the road turned their heads, but few people were literate enough to recognize the characters on the waist token. They only sighed inwardly: “What a fine man!”
Only a few martial artists carrying swords and sabers, their eyes sweeping over Li Miao's waist token, changed their expressions as if they had encountered a viper, and quickly dodged away.
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Li Miao walked straight to a civilian house, looked it up and down, nodded, and then kicked the main door.
Bang!
The door panel opened with a crash, hitting the wall.
“Who!?”
Immediately, a dozen people with swords ran out from inside, shouting questions at Li Miao.
This place was precisely the Mount Tai Sect's “office” in the state city, and those who ran out were all Mount Tai Sect disciples stationed there.
Li Miao did not answer, but stepped inside.
The Mount Tai Sect disciples were unsure, so they surrounded Li Miao, their eyes fixed on his vital points.
Finally, someone saw Li Miao's waist token, their face turned pale, and they quickly walked towards the backyard, presumably to invite the person in charge to come out.
Mei Qinghe stood at the entrance, unsure what to do. She had been coerced into working for Li Miao, and seeing Li Miao's attitude now, it was clear he wasn't planning to act discreetly.
She wasn't someone without connections. In previous years, she had also attended the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting, and there were people in the Mount Tai Sect who recognized her.
After hesitating for a while, she sighed, her hand on the hilt of her sword, and stood beside Li Miao, her eyes coldly looking at the Mount Tai Sect disciples.
She had already made her choice.
Li Miao leisurely said to himself: “Don't you understand the way of hospitality? First, bring some seasonal fruits, pastries, and tea!”
A middle-aged man walked out from the backyard, walking with powerful strides, his martial arts foundation clearly not bad. He should be the person in charge.
He was Fei Junxuan, the manager of the Mount Tai Sect, a second-rate expert.
He walked to the table and first bowed to Li Miao: “Sir.”
He turned and ordered: “Didn't you hear what Sir said? Bring tea!”
With that, he was about to sit opposite Li Miao.
Li Miao looked up and glanced at him, then directly struck his chest with a palm from a distance.
Bang!
The middle-aged man stumbled back a few steps, falling to the ground, and looked up in shock and anger: “You!?”
“You, a commoner, are fit to sit at the same table with me?”
Li Miao said indifferently.
“First, bring some cold dishes, and then about a dozen hot dishes.”
“Sir, I'm hungry.”
