Liu Baiyun was experienced in the jianghu, not a hothead like Mei Qinghe, and a single sentence rendered Zhou Yingxue speechless.
She didn't even plan to stop, continuing with a rapid-fire series of questions: “Whose rules?”
“Are they… Songshan Sect’s rules, Headmaster Zhou’s rules?”
Liu Baiyun looked into Zhou Yingxue’s eyes.
“Mount Tai Sect’s rules?”
Then she swept her gaze over the faces of the others: “Or… everyone’s rules?”
No one dared to answer that question.
At least, not in front of a Jinyiwei Commander.
Li Miao lowered his head and drank his tea, remaining silent, allowing Liu Baiyun to act as she pleased.
Ever since Liu Baiyun took over Mount Hua Sect, she had been struggling to maintain it, treading carefully at the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting, afraid that Zuo Lishan would find an excuse to deal with her. When had she ever experienced this feeling of being imperious, standing on moral high ground, and pointing fingers at others?
She felt even better now than if she had made progress in martial arts or defeated a powerful enemy!
Seeing Li Miao act as if he hadn't heard anything, knowing that he was tacitly allowing her to continue, Liu Baiyun further pressed her advantage.
“Jianghu, jianghu. The river belongs to Great Shuo’s river, and the lake is also Great Shuo’s lake. The rules of this jianghu must also follow the rules of Great Shuo’s imperial court!”
“My Lord, acting on Imperial decree, investigates all unlawful activities under heaven, and can even enter the back halls of high officials and the private residences of dukes and marquises!”
“Is this not Great Shuo’s territory!? Is it true that even a Jinyiwei Commander cannot enter the gate!?”
With this accusation, who dared to answer?
Silence filled the hall, Zhou Yingxue’s face was flushed red, her hand gripped the hilt of her sword, making a creaking sound, yet she dared not utter a word in response.
She only cursed inwardly: “Why didn’t I see how shameless you were in the past!? Is this how rampant you become after joining the Imperial court!?”
Liu Baiyun’s behavior had already made Mount Hua Sect’s stance clear.
However, those present didn't realize that in the past, Mount Tai Sect had also repeatedly used similar pretexts to suppress Mount Hua Sect. Now, it was merely a change of positions.
Deng Boxuan, the Headmaster of Hengshan Sect, saw Zhou Yingxue cornered and unable to back down, and at this point, his true qi showed signs of becoming chaotic, so he was about to speak up to smooth things over: “Headmaster Liu, you—”
He didn't expect that what had just happened was merely an appetizer; Liu Baiyun’s true main course had not yet been revealed, and as soon as he opened his mouth, her next sentence cut him off.
“In this world… it seems there is only one faction that dares to prevent Jinyiwei from entering—”
“You all… aren't you colluding with the Ming Cult?”
“Damn it!”
“Her mother!”
“Vicious woman!”
Everyone in the room cursed inwardly, wondering why they had never realized Liu Baiyun’s intentions were so malicious!
Why are you still called “White Cloud Sword”? “Black Heart Sword” would be more fitting!
Who didn’t know that any jianghu faction in Great Shuo that dared to collude with the Ming Cult, every single one of them, would face annihilation.
Liu Baiyun’s words, spoken in front of a Jinyiwei Commander, were pushing everyone present towards a dead end!
Yes, joining the Imperial court is not shameful; it’s just moving to a different circle. Everyone knows Mount Tai Sect has been suppressing you. But you just got ashore, and now you’re throwing stones at your brothers still in the river—isn’t that a bit much?
Everyone present dared not let Liu Baiyun continue speaking, fearing that the next sentence would be an accusation of “gathering a crowd to plot rebellion, intending to revolt,” which no one could bear.
But Liu Baiyun truly thought so, and her next sentence was indeed going to be that phrase, “gathering a crowd to plot rebellion.”
She had heard everything Li Miao said to Mei Qinghe, and she understood what she needed to do.
If Li Miao didn’t speak, she wouldn’t stop.
Now was the time to be rampant, to establish authority, to hammer the concept of “colluding with the Ming Cult” into these people’s hearts, to make them afraid.
What Li Miao did in Tai'an City was to deter the small fry. This current action was to deter those who were qualified to enter the inner circle.
After this incident, before the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting, everyone who came to “watch the show” would be deterred by this news. Those who remained were those with close ties to Mount Tai Sect, and they would be dealt with all at once.
Those who remained after two rounds of screening were unstable factors after the suppression of Mount Tai Sect, and none would be spared.
“Everyone—”
“Headmaster Liu!”
Zhou Yingxue’s face turned red, and she channeled her true qi, shouting out loudly, interrupting Liu Baiyun’s words.
“It was… it was my slip of the tongue.”
“Please—forgive me!”
She could only yield, and she had to yield.
If Liu Baiyun continued, she wouldn’t be able to get out of this situation.
Deng Boxuan, the Headmaster of Hengshan Sect, also spoke: “Headmaster Liu, Headmaster Liu, Headmaster Zhou’s words were a momentary slip, with no other meaning.”
“For the sake of the Five Mountains Sword Sect being connected by shared spirit, please don’t say any more, don’t say any more.”
“Lord Li.” He cupped his fists towards Li Miao, who was still drinking tea with his head down: “We have no intention of offending the Imperial court.”
“People of the jianghu, we are used to living freely, coming and going with the wind and rain. If we have been impolite, please forgive us!”
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Li Miao scraped the lid against the teacup, then put down the teacup, placing both hands on the armrests.
He raised his face and swept his gaze over Deng Boxuan: “So that’s it.”
“I thought there was an intention to rebel, but it turns out it was just an accidental remark.”
“Headmaster Liu, then let it be.”
“Yes, Lord.” Liu Baiyun stopped speaking at his words and retreated behind Li Miao.
Zhou Yingxue sat down resentfully, saying nothing. The others present sensed the strange and dangerous atmosphere and stopped chatting, and the room became silent.
After a long while, it was Deng Boxuan who broke the silence: “The several Jinyiwei Commanders are all well-known in the jianghu, but Lord Li is a new face.”
“Have you been recently promoted?”
He was trying to gauge Li Miao’s background.
The Jinyiwei is divided into the Northern Garrison Division and the Southern Garrison Office. The Northern Garrison Division is the one that strikes fear into the jianghu, while the Southern Garrison Office is responsible for the internal discipline and military law of the guard itself. If Li Miao was a Commander of the Southern Garrison Office, then there would be no need to be overly fearful.
If Li Miao was a newly promoted Commander of the Northern Garrison Division, then they would need to be careful. Newly appointed individuals often have no existing connections and tend to be ruthless and heavy-handed. It was very possible that everyone present was being used by him as a stepping stone for his advancement.
Li Miao replied: “I have been in Shuntian Prefecture for twenty years, serving as a Commander for fifteen years, never leaving the capital. It is only natural that Headmaster Deng does not recognize me.”
Phew—
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief: never leaving the capital, so he must be from the Southern Garrison Office.
The Jinyiwei had clear internal divisions of authority, and all the harsh tasks were carried out by the Northern Garrison Division. They just didn't know what Li Miao’s purpose was.
Deng Boxuan smiled and said: “Lord Commissioner Liu of the Southern Garrison Office is also very famous in the jianghu.”
“It’s just that Lord Commissioner Liu rarely leaves the capital, and I, Deng, have always been unable to meet him. Seeing Lord Li today, you are indeed awe-inspiring, and I can imagine Lord Commissioner Liu’s demeanor, which can certainly make up for my regret!”
Deng Boxuan was indeed experienced in the jianghu; these words first praised the superior and then praised Li Miao. No matter who was on the other side, they would likely not be displeased by these words.
Li Miao, however, looked up at Deng Boxuan with a strange expression: “What do I have to do with Liu Zhe?”
“When did I ever say—that I was from the Southern Garrison Office?”