Wang Hai was finally caught.
He had almost bled dry and was too weak to resist.
He could only lean on a long saber he picked up from a corpse, gasping for breath.
Around him, Ming Cult disciples had surrounded him.
Zhou Mingxu did not step forward but instead scrutinized Wang Hai.
He could tell Wang Hai was at the end of his rope, but he still dared not approach. The bandaged wound on his chest reminded him never to underestimate this young man.
Wang Hai's frenzied ruthlessness that night, almost a suicidal attack, had injured him, leaving a deep impression on Zhou Mingxu, who was accustomed to life and death.
However, if he couldn't step forward, then so be it.
Zhou Mingxu slowly pulled a coin dart from his Pregnant, looking at Wang Hai.
"The Great Shuo's dog is quite fierce."
"This one coin will buy your dog life!"
With that, he flung it, and it whistled towards Wang Hai's face.
Wang Hai closed his eyes.
He truly had no strength left.
"Commander... Little Four..." he murmured.
He was already closing his eyes, waiting for death.
Suddenly, he heard Li Miao's light chuckle beside his ear: "What, Hai'er, am I still before Little Four?"
"I'll cut your bride price in half."
Wang Hai instantly opened his eyes.
Clang!—
The coin dart flew backward, piercing through Zhou Mingxu's shoulder.
"Who!?" Zhou Mingxu clutched his wound, shouting in surprise.
Li Miao stood in front of Wang Hai, his tall silhouette casting a shadow that covered Wang Hai.
Wang Hai finally let out a sigh of relief, slumping backward and lying on the ground, but he couldn't help but laugh.
Li Miao turned to glance at Wang Hai, confirming that his injuries would not be a major problem for a short while.
Then he raised a hand and threw something in front of Zhou Mingxu.
Zhou Mingxu looked closely, his face instantly turning pale, and he exclaimed, "Left, Left Envoy!!!"
What Li Miao had carried all the way and now thrown in front of Zhou Mingxu was none other than Lan Lechuan's head, with wide-open eyes!
Ever since Ji Tianrui's death fifteen years ago, the Ming Cult had always been led by Lan Lechuan.
Furthermore, Lan Lechuan had inherited Ji Tianrui's cultivation back then, reaching the peak of martial arts, and was the pillar of strength in the hearts of the Ming Cult members.
How could he have died so silently, his head thrown to the ground like trash!
"It's over..."
Zhou Mingxu's mind raced, his shoulders slumped, and he sighed.
When he looked up again, all he saw was Li Miao's fist, expanding infinitely in his vision.
— — — — — — — —
"...Commander, your subordinate was ineffective, and I had to trouble you to abandon the Mount Tai Sect's task to save me..."
Wang Hai said softly, sitting on horseback.
After Li Miao finished off the Ming Cult, he had already treated Wang Hai's injuries. At this moment, the two had bought two horses from passing merchants and were heading towards the town Wang Hai had escaped from.
"It doesn't matter."
Li Miao mused, "This task, though it mentions the Five Mountains Sword Sect, is actually aimed at the Ming Cult."
"Killing Lan Lechuan is more important than killing ten Zuo Lishans. If, as you said, there's another Ming Cult high-ranking official in this town who can freely associate with Zhou Mingxu, then the Commander will likely be happy to give me a year off."
"However, there's something strange about what Lan Lechuan did."
Wang Hai turned to look at Li Miao: "What is it?"
Li Miao twirled his fingers, slowly saying, "I was originally going to kill Zuo Lishan, and Lan Lechuan was just a chance encounter."
"At that time, I made a move on Zuo Lishan, and Lan Lechuan didn't go to save him, clearly not caring about Zuo Lishan's life."
Li Miao frowned: "I was rushing to save you at the time, so I thought I'd kill as many as I could in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
"But later, when the two were escaping, Lan Lechuan seemed to suddenly go mad, frantically Entangled me, but allowed Zuo Lishan to escape, severely wounded."
"It's inconsistent."
Li Miao mused, "Zuo Lishan is nothing special; exchanging him for Lan Lechuan's life is really a losing deal..."
"To be honest, it might still be because of the parasitic worm on him."
"It seems that the cultivation method Ji Tianrui created back then wasn't as simple as turning a peak master into a short-lived half-peak master."
The two spurred their horses, and the distant small town came into view.
"This Ming Cult has set up a sub-altar so close to the Mount Tai Sect, and has left two high-ranking officials above Banner Lord here, so they probably have other plans."
The two entered the small town, looking left and right.
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Wang Hai let out a soft "Oh?". "Commander, there are fewer people."
When Wang Hai came to investigate a few days ago, it was daytime, and the town wasn't very crowded, but there were still some pedestrians on the street.
But now, it seemed as if half the town's population had disappeared into thin air, and the streets were empty.
A few local residents were looking around at their doorways, apparently also at a loss.
The two walked into the small courtyard Wang Hai had escaped from that night. Wang Hai squatted down, examining the marks on the ground.
Following the marks, the two arrived at the entrance of a large local residence.
Boom!!!
Li Miao kicked open the gate and entered the residence, looking around.
The courtyard was a mess, with discarded items everywhere, as well as broken weapons and worn-out clothes piled in the corner. Clearly, a considerable number of people had lived here.
But now, it was utterly silent, clearly deserted for some time.
Li Miao walked into the main house.
This place looked like a woman's study, with clean tables and a faint scent of ink and perfume. On the table was a piece of paper, with some faint writing on it.
Li Miao stepped forward to examine it.
"To Lord Li Miao, personally:
"Lan Left Envoy sent word that you were at the Mount Tai Sect, and I knew he would die by your hand."
"When I saw Young Brother Wang's face that night, I recognized him. Knowing that you care for your subordinates and would surely come to save him, I fled in a hurry overnight, not daring to defile your eyes with my humble body."
"Banner Lord Zhou's life is my gift to you, a small token of my regard. I hope you do not despise it."
"Fifteen years have passed since our last farewell, and I have missed Lord Li's heroic bearing for a long time. At the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting, there will be another generous gift for Lord Li, which I earnestly hope you will not refuse."
"Respectfully, Yun Zelin, Right Envoy of Manichaeism."
Li Miao smiled, put down the paper, and turned to walk out of the house.
"Hai'er, no need to search, everyone's gone."
"Let's return to the Mount Tai Sect."
Wang Hai walked up to Li Miao, thought for a moment, and asked, "Commander, have all the people here gone to the Mount Tai Sect?"
Li Miao said, "They should have."
"They say they're no longer hiding anything; they want to face me openly."
"Perfect. I was planning to go trouble the Ming Cult after finishing this task anyway, so this is a meeting of minds."
"Let's go. Let's see what he's hidden that's worth Lan Lechuan's life."
The two said no more, mounted their horses, and headed towards the Mount Tai Sect.
Given the distance and the horses' stamina, the two should arrive just in time for the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting.