Wang Hai’s pupils constricted: “Banner Lord Zhou…”
He immediately understood the identity of the stern-faced middle-aged man: the Banner Lord of Ming Cult’s Thick Earth Banner, Zhou Mingxu.
Despite his name sounding bright and gentle, this person was actually the Ming Cult’s spymaster fifteen years ago. In these past fifteen years, it was mostly his subordinates who had been clashing with the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), back and forth, with considerable success.
He was ruthless and had countless lives on his hands. From his words just now, it was clear that he had been secretly watching Wang Hai torture his subordinate for a while, but had not shown himself. Only when that person could no longer endure the interrogation did he step in and kill him.
From this point, it could be seen that he did not value the lives of others, or even his own subordinates.
This person was skilled in disguise, appearing in different guises multiple times. Sometimes he was an old man, sometimes even a woman, which was why Wang Hai hadn't recognized him immediately.
And this person’s martial arts should be similar to Liu Baiyun’s.
Although he hadn't advanced to the pinnacle, years of arduous training, coupled with Ming Cult's advanced cultivation methods and accumulated resources, had given him an incredibly profound foundation. He was already a top-tier master just below the absolute peak.
With just him alone, Wang Hai was in grave danger.
As for the young one, he was clearly also a member of the Ming Cult. His casual attitude towards Zhou Mingxu suggested he was likely one of the Ming Cult's few high-ranking members.
Wang Hai knew the only two remaining Banner Lords of the Ming Cult, and both were quite old, not matching this young man.
He was probably a newly appointed Protector, or even possibly the Right Envoy of Ming Cult, whose information the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) had never been able to uncover.
Although the situation was critical, Wang Hai was not flustered. He calmly asked, “May I ask what connection Your Excellency has with Li Qianhu?”
Wang Hai’s calculation was that he clearly couldn’t fight them head-on now, so he could only see if he could escape later. But since he had come here and the other party wasn’t rushing to attack, he might as well try to glean some information before making his escape.
He probably wouldn't escape this time without losing half his life, so that half-life should at least be exchanged for something.
The young man, however, showed no hostility and smiled gently: “You know him, huh?”
“Qianhu… how is it that after fifteen years, he’s still just a Qianhu? Is your Commander getting senile?”
Wang Hai suddenly realized a piece of information in his words: fifteen years.
Fifteen years ago was precisely when the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) purged the Ming Cult. Li Miao did not leave the capital that time; he killed the group of Ming Cult members who brought Witchcraft into the capital in Shuntian Prefecture.
Looking at the young man’s appearance, he was at most in his early twenties. Wouldn't that mean he was only in his teens fifteen years ago? Among the Ming Cult members who had seen Li Miao back then, there was absolutely no one that young.
Wang Hai looked at the young man’s face, and the more he looked, the more familiar it became.
He had sent people to investigate You Zi’ang’s past, and naturally, he would also look at the Plum Blossom Bandit’s files from that year.
At this moment, he suddenly realized that the young man’s appearance was exactly like the description in the files!
But how could a description from fifteen years ago match up now!
“What exactly is your connection with Li Qianhu?” Wang Hai asked in a deep voice.
The young man smiled, turned sideways, swept back his long hair, and revealed a plum blossom-shaped birthmark on the back of his neck to Wang Hai: “Young man, since you’ve come here to investigate, you should know this mark, right?”
“Fifteen years ago, the Li Qianhu you mentioned let me go. I’ve been grateful day and night, enduring many hardships, just wanting to see him once and repay him properly.”
“If you know where he is now, can you tell me? I’ll remember your kindness too.”
Wang Hai finally confirmed that this young man was indeed the Plum Blossom Bandit, but for some unknown reason, his face still looked young.
And that unknown Right Envoy of Ming Cult was him!
Just as he was about to continue trying to extract more information, he heard Zhou Mingxu coldly say, “Right Envoy, if you want to play, there are plenty of people at the main altar to play with. Don’t waste time and delay important matters.”
“Lan Left Envoy has already departed many days ago, and you insisted on dragging me here, not moving. Now why are you getting chummy with this wolf cub?”
“First, subdue him, cripple his limbs, and flay his flesh. Whatever you want to ask, it would be much more efficient if I interrogate him first.”
Yun Zelin spread his hands and smiled helplessly: “Banner Lord Zhou, there are still four days until the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting. We can arrive today, there’s no rush.”
He gently stroked his long hair like a woman and said, “Besides, I hate fighting the most.”
“Young man, I’m sorry.”
Yun Zelin gave Wang Hai an apologetic smile: “Banner Lord Zhou has a big temper, and I’m useless, so my words don’t count.”
“Hurry and escape, Banner Lord Zhou is very powerful.”
“Hmph!” Zhou Mingxu snorted coldly and charged forward.
Before he even arrived, a cold glint flashed from his cuff, and dozens of fine needles, like ox hair, scattered towards Wang Hai, aiming for the vital acupoints all over his body!
Wang Hai retreated a step, turned, and kicked the door panel.
Boom!
The door panel, like a cannonball, blocked the fine needles and smashed towards Zhou Mingxu.
Zhou Mingxu punched the door panel in mid-air, sending wood chips flying as it instantly shattered into several pieces.
But when he looked back into the room, there was a large hole in the roof, and Wang Hai had vanished.
Zhou Mingxu turned to look at Yun Zelin in the courtyard.
Yun Zelin smiled and spread his hands: “Don’t look at me.”
“You’re the one who insisted on fighting him, why would I stop him?”
Zhou Mingxu cursed under his breath, flipped onto the roof, and seeing Wang Hai’s figure rapidly moving away in the distance, he immediately used his Qinggong to give chase.
He was much older than Wang Hai, with profound internal energy. Moreover, as the Banner Lord of Thick Earth Banner, his job for many years had been covert operations, making his Qinggong his specialty.
In less than an hour, he had caught up behind Wang Hai.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Zhou Mingxu flicked his hand, and more than ten poisoned darts flew towards Wang Hai’s back.
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The current situation was similar to when Li Miao chased You Zi’ang; once the hidden weapons reached him, whether he blocked or caught them, any momentary delay would allow Zhou Mingxu to catch up.
Although both were first-rate, Wang Hai’s foundation was still shallow. A direct confrontation with Zhou Mingxu would be a near-certain death.
Wang Hai knew this truth and didn't turn back, relying only on his hearing to roughly gauge the direction, while simultaneously grabbing backward with his right arm.
Clang, clang, clang, clang—
More than ten darts struck the iron plates of Wang Hai's gauntlet, making crisp sounds.
Pfft!
However, one poisoned dart slipped through and was lodged in Wang Hai’s right shoulder!
With a powerful enemy behind him, it was difficult to protect himself completely. Wang Hai could only roughly guard his vital points. For other areas, he could only rely on luck.
There was no time to pull out the poisoned dart. Wang Hai just kept his head down and ran wildly.
A numb sensation gradually spread from his shoulder.
Wang Hai gradually felt a bit dizzy: “The Thick Earth Banner’s poison is indeed potent.”
“Today, I’m afraid it will be difficult to escape…”
——————
Tai'an Prefecture, official road.
Xiao Si was galloping on her horse when she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Pfft—!
She clutched her chest, startled and uncertain: “The love Witchcraft is damaged… Hai Gege is in trouble!”
“How could this be, how could this be…”
Xiao Si’s face turned pale, and she panicked for a moment, tears streaming down.
“No, I can’t panic.”
“The love Witchcraft is not dead yet, Hai Gege is not dead yet.”
Xiao Si gritted her teeth.
“It’s too late to turn back for help now. To injure Hai Gege to this extent, it must be a Banner Lord of Ming Cult, or a Protector, or a Right/Left Envoy!”
“I still have to go to Mount Tai… Only by going to Mount Tai!”
Xiao Si reached out and pressed on the horse's neck. The horse's eyes suddenly turned red, and its speed abruptly increased by another notch.
“Faster! Faster!”
Xiao Si wiped away the blood and tears from her face, spurred her horse, and galloped all the way towards the Mount Tai Sect.