In Great Shuo, there are a few things that cannot be touched.
For example, the Ming Cult, or rebellion.
Touch them and you die, your entire family annihilated, like a worm split vertically, or an egg yolk shaken apart.
The imperial court generally wouldn't deliberately target a specific martial arts faction, unless they did something extremely outrageous. But the Ming Cult is different; no matter who is in charge or whether they've committed a crime, the court's attitude towards it is only one—kill.
No matter how large or strong a martial arts faction is, it's just a destructible entity. Ten top masters can't stop three thousand iron cavalry.
But the Ming Cult is different; it's a religion, an ideology, a way of thinking that seeks external truth and has its own methodology.
This is very dangerous.
Red Turbans, Yellow Turbans, Fang La, Sun En, Lu Xun, Xu Hongru... there are too many examples to count. With so many precedents, it's no wonder the court has such an attitude towards the Ming Cult.
Especially Ji Tianrui's trip to Miaojiang back then, which was an earth-shattering major case.
You, a professional rebel, go to Miaojiang to learn Witchcraft—what do you want to do?
It's like a dog that can't stop eating shit charging towards a dry latrine.
What you should be thinking now isn't “catching it in the act,” but rather kicking it in the face before it runs in—that's called legitimate self-defense.
Almost the entire Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) went south, killing him in Miaojiang, and incidentally eliminating most of the Ming Cult's high-ranking members.
It was also from then on that the Ming Cult went underground, becoming a taboo topic in Great Shuo.
Now that the words about Zuo Lishan colluding with the Ming Cult came out of the Jinyi (Embroidered Clothing)'s mouth, Gao Ling knew that what she should be thinking about now was not how to kill Zuo Lishan.
Instead, it was how to ensure that as many Mount Tai Sect disciples as possible survived.
“Your Excellency... Sir...” Gao Ling hesitantly began.
“Elder Gao, you don’t need to be so polite,” Li Miao said, spreading his hands. “Your politeness is useless.”
“However, you don't have to think of me, or the imperial court, so badly. I do intend to destroy the Mount Tai Sect, but I also have other plans. Those Mount Tai Sect members who weren't involved, I will spare their lives to serve the imperial court.”
“As for who lives and who dies... well, you'll have to pray that Zuo Lishan behaves himself these next few days and drags fewer people down with him.”
Mei Qinghe, listening from behind, also opened her eyes and was about to speak.
“Ah—,” Li Miao had long heard the changes in Mei Qinghe's breathing and heartbeat, knowing what she was about to say, and raised his hand to stop her.
“The Five Mountains Sword Sect won't be formed. Killing two birds with one stone, since I'm already here. These remaining four sects, who are constantly associating with the Mount Tai Sect, will also have to pay some price.”
“If you're caught, you're caught. Consider yourselves unlucky.”
“The plan for this matter was decided in Shuntian Prefecture and cannot be changed.”
Mei Qinghe's eyes dimmed, and she closed her mouth. Gao Ling also looked utterly disheartened.
“Alright, two heroines. Crying won't solve anything. Do your job well for me, and I can spare a few more lives.”
“Since things have come to this, let's eat first.”
It was already dusk, dinner time. Li Miao got up, taking Gao Ling and Mei Qinghe with him, and went out to find food.
Li Miao had extorted a lot of silver from Pingshan Garrison Commander Xu Siyuan, so now, of course, he chose the best and most expensive food. Having stayed in Tai'an City for a few days, he also knew where to find good food, so he led the two of them to a restaurant with ease.
Upon entering, the waiter came forward, recognized the generous customer at a glance, and enthusiastically greeted him, “Sir, you're here again!”
“The private room upstairs is still empty, and the head chef is free now. The usual, right? Pick some fresh ingredients from today, have the head chef make you a dozen of his best hot dishes and five or six cold dishes?”
Li Miao smiled, “You're sensible.” He pulled some broken silver from his pocket and placed it in the waiter's hand.
The waiter beamed, turned, and led the three to a private room to sit down, served some snacks and tea, and then hurried to the back kitchen to place the order.
As he left, the atmosphere in the private room became heavy.
Gao Ling was worried about the safety of the Mount Tai Sect, fearing what Zuo Lishan might do. Mei Qinghe's internal cultivation technique, passed down from her sect, had been tampered with, and the Huashan Sword Sect was now implicated in matters related to the Ming Cult.
Both lowered their heads, silent and dejected.
Li Miao thought to himself, “Well, it seems I'm destined to eat alone.” He could only help himself to the snacks to relieve his boredom.
Just then, he heard a commotion downstairs as more than a dozen people entered.
A loud voice said, “Just bring us whatever food you have, enough for our number!”
Mei Qinghe's expression changed when she heard that person's voice.
Seeing Mei Qinghe's reaction, Li Miao quickly figured out what was going on. He smiled and focused his hearing to listen to the conversation of the group downstairs.
Ignoring their chaotic chatter about “good weather” and “exhausting work,” let's focus on a smaller group at one table who began chatting idly after sitting down.
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A young male voice said, “Master, we're only half an hour's journey from the Mount Tai Sect. Why don't we just go directly instead of waiting a night here in Tai'an City?”
An old female voice said, “Who pays a visit after dark? Showing up after dark is seeking revenge. When traveling the martial world, you must follow the rules.”
The young male voice said aggrievedly, “Yes, Master.”
After a while, he spoke again, “I wonder where Senior Sister is now. We were still hoping she'd make a name for us at the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting...”
The old female voice sighed, “Alas... Your master does know what she went to do...”
“I had originally planned to take her to settle old scores after the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting, to prevent any accidents due to her lack of experience in the martial world.”
“Who knew she couldn't wait and went down the mountain herself.”
“From the news I've heard these past few days, she has already done what she set out to do, and she might even be on her way to meet up with us.”
“It's just that this matter... I'm afraid Master Zuo won't let it go easily; he'll likely use this as an excuse to pressure us again...”
Hearing this, Li Miao already had a good idea of the situation. He stood up and said to Mei Qinghe, “Let's go, Little Mei.”
“Since we've run into them, no time like the present. Introduce me to them.”
With that, he walked downstairs towards that table on his own. Mei Qinghe and Gao Ling followed closely behind, and together they approached the table.
The owner of the old female voice appeared to be around fifty years old, with half-white hair, well-preserved, and not many wrinkles on her face. Her back was straight, her expression serious, and her long sword lay on the table, ready to be drawn at any moment.
As she watched Li Miao approach, she frowned and was about to ask his purpose, but her gaze swept to Mei Qinghe, and she froze.
A young man at the same table stood up and said in surprise, “Senior Sister! You really came to find us!”
This group was none other than the Huashan Sword Sect contingent, who had come to attend the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting.
The old woman was the sect leader of the Huashan Sword Sect, Mei Qinghe's master, “White Cloud Sword” Liu Baiyun.