Li Miao held the fruits in his hands, just waiting for the drama between Yongjie and that woman to unfold.
Unexpectedly, after Yongjie called out “Sixth Sister,” he remained silent.
The woman prattled on for a while, and hearing no sound from Yongjie, her voice gradually faded, and she also fell silent.
The prison cell became quiet.
Li Miao had instructed the local prefect to arrange a secluded place. Of course, the prefect didn't dare to keep a bunch of ruffians in the prison, fearing what would happen if he offended Li Miao.
Only this woman, whom Bu Lei had detained here a few days ago, the prefect dared not move; everyone else had been cleared out.
At this moment, in the vast prison, there were only Li Miao, Yongjie, and that woman.
The woman was silent for a long time, then forced a dry laugh and said, “Big Brother, where have you been all these years?”
“I…” Yongjie stammered.
“I… Alas—” He sighed deeply, clasping his hands in front of his chest.
“This monk has joined Shaolin.”
“Ah.” The woman responded, but unlike the man whose head was crushed by Li Miao in the inn, she wasn't irritable. Instead, she chuckled softly.
“That’s good. Only a giant like Shaolin can protect Big Brother and let him live a peaceful life for a few days.”
“But, since Big Brother has joined Shaolin, why did he return to Huguang?”
Yongjie said in a low voice, “I came to find something.”
The woman immediately said, “How could that be!? Although our estate is scattered, there are still many enemies in Huguang! They still recognize you, Big Brother!”
“Shaolin is a martial arts giant and doesn’t lack divine skills or supreme techniques, so why would they specifically send you, Big Brother, to get involved in that matter!”
Yongjie was stunned for a moment.
Li Miao, who was covering the sound of him cracking melon seeds with his internal energy, understood—these two were talking about different things.
Sure enough, Yongjie realized.
He said, “What matter?”
The woman said in surprise, “Big Brother, you don’t know?”
“That’s right, that’s right, I was taking it for granted. You haven’t appeared for many years, Big Brother, so you must have been cultivating in seclusion at Shaolin. It’s normal that you wouldn’t know.”
“It’s good if it’s not that, it’s good if it’s not that.” She let out a long breath.
“Near Miao Frontier, martial artists discovered an ancient tomb, rumored to be a Miao King’s Tomb of the Miao people.”
“Miao Frontier’s Witchcraft is strange and hard to guard against. There were an unusual number of poisonous insects and snakes near that tomb, and at first, no one on the Green Forest Road dared to have any ideas.”
“But, a few grave robbers from the ‘Xieling Sect,’ relying on their experience in such matters, secretly snuck in.”
“As a result, out of over a dozen people who went in, only one came out, severely injured, on the verge of death, and insane.”
“A few martial artists rescued him. Although grave robbers are despised by everyone in the martial world, they are very rich. These people originally intended to send him back to the ‘Xieling Sect’ in exchange for some money.”
“But they heard the man, in his delirium, speak a name.”
Yongjie asked, “What did he say?”
“Jia Yi Divine Skill,” the woman said.
“What?” Yongjie asked in surprise.
Li Miao also raised his eyebrows.
He also knew the Jia Yi Divine Skill, but it wasn’t the original. It was the “Li’s Nuptial Gown Divine Skill” that he had deduced from a fragmented text collected by the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards).
That was the martial art he used to treat Gao Ling when she fled from Mount Tai Sect.
The original Jia Yi Divine Skill had been lost for many years. It was rumored to be powerful and overbearing, extremely masculine and firm, and one could become invincible after mastering it.
Of course, Li Miao knew this was just a rumor. The martial arts in this world are essentially icing on the cake, not a lifeline. A person who can become invincible by cultivating the Jia Yi Divine Skill can also become invincible by cultivating other divine skills and supreme techniques.
However, Li Miao also knew how attractive the news that “Jia Yi Divine Skill” was hidden somewhere was to martial artists.
Indeed, the woman continued, “Those few martial artists accidentally leaked the news, causing a sensation in the martial world.”
“Not only in Huguang, but martial artists from the entire Southern Martial World are continuously rushing to Miao Frontier, hoping to acquire the Jia Yi Divine Skill.”
“However, everyone wanted to get in, so no one could. They started fighting at the entrance, and many people died.”
“Heng Mountain Sword Sect, Beggar Clan, Cao Gang, Emei Sect, Qingcheng, Kongtong. All the famous Southern big sects have arrived, refusing to give way to each other. Other small and medium forces and rogue martial artists have also gathered, just hoping to fish in troubled waters.”
“A few of us also wanted to try, but we ran into the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) halfway, and I was captured. I don’t know what happened to the others afterward.”
The woman sighed and continued, “Rumor has it in the martial world that several big sects want to go in, but they don’t trust each other, so they want to invite Master Xing Chi of Shaolin to be a witness. Everyone will go in together and rely on their own abilities.”
“That’s why I thought you also came for the ‘Jia Yi Divine Skill,’ Big Brother.”
The woman let out a long breath.
She was already severely injured and on the verge of death, but seeing Yongjie temporarily boosted her spirits.
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After saying a lot, she gradually couldn't hold on anymore and fainted.
“Sixth Sister! Sixth Sister!”
Yongjie heard the woman’s voice fade and anxiously stood up.
His internal energy was already depleted, and his injuries had only just healed. He was very weak and actually stumbled.
“Alright, alright, Master, rest,” Li Miao said.
He stood up, threw down the melon seeds, clapped his hands, and directly pushed open the prison door. He walked to the woman’s cell door, pointed a finger, and the lock fell to the ground.
Li Miao went in and grasped the woman’s pulse.
The woman’s complexion gradually recovered.
However, Li Miao had no intention of completely healing her; he only kept her alive.
This woman was most likely one of the “Meishan Seven Devils,” captured by Bu Lei and placed here. Li Miao had killed the others, and he would not save this one either.
He just needed to make sure she didn't die in front of Yongjie.
Yongjie slumped to the ground, letting out a long breath.
After a while, he looked up at Li Miao and said, “Benefactor, this prison cell, it’s just a means for you to let this monk recover from his injuries, right?”
Li Miao nodded: “Yes.”
“Thank you for your concern, Benefactor.” Yongjie bowed to Li Miao.
“This monk is a person who deserves to die, but he has something on his mind, so it’s not easy to return his life just yet.”
“This monk made many mistakes back then. Heaven favored me, first by letting me meet my Master, allowing me to escape from a sea of suffering. After leaving Shaolin, I met you, Benefactor, and received much care.”
“If this monk were an innocent person without blood debts, I would surely drink and talk happily with you, Benefactor, and travel the martial world together.”
Li Miao frowned: “Master, what you’re saying sounds like you’re breaking up?”
Yongjie nodded: “This monk can no longer go to Miao Frontier with you, Benefactor.”
“This monk snuck out this time to find something and save someone. But this monk is not sure if that thing is still there.”
“Jia Yi Divine Skill… It is rumored that it can transfer one’s cultivation to others, which might help the person this monk wants to save.”
“This monk must contend for this divine skill.”