Chapter 23: Going Separate Ways

“Brother, brother, were you hurt by those bandits?”
Xu Siyuan stepped down from his horse, hurried to Li Miao’s side, grasped his hands and looked him up and down.
“What a mess this is! The Wu family has been a prominent household here for generations, never showing any outrageous behavior, yet who would have thought they’d hide a witch in their home!”
“If anything had happened to you, brother, I truly wouldn’t know what to do!”
He had received word from his trusted aide early that morning and came straight to the Wu residence. Only upon seeing Li Miao safe and sound did he finally breathe a long sigh of relief.
No matter how wild the rumors about the Wu household’s haunting grew, they were still mere gossip, and hadn’t yet reached his ears. That’s why he felt comfortable letting Li Miao stay there.
Had Li Miao encountered trouble under his watch, it would have spelled disaster for him.
Sorcery, Imperial Guards—either term alone was sensitive enough, representing calamities of confiscated homes and exterminated families, and now both had converged in his domain.
If an Imperial Guard commander suffered misfortune in the accommodations he arranged, what would the court think?
If an Imperial Guard commander was harmed by witchcraft under his administration, what would the Emperor think?
Was it intentional, or negligence?
If intentional, it showed rebellion; if negligent, incompetence and dereliction. No matter the explanation, he could not hope to escape unscathed.
Even if Li Miao remained unharmed, as soon as the court learned there was a witch in his jurisdiction, he’d inevitably face repercussions.
The more Xu Siyuan thought, the more fear gave way to rage. His eyes flashed fiercely toward Wu, subdued in the courtyard by his soldiers.
He silently resolved to thoroughly punish the Wu family, to teach them the true meaning of ruin at the hands of a magistrate.
Li Miao, smiling, patted Xu Siyuan’s hand. “Brother, mere petty thieves—why trouble yourself?”
“This matter, I think, need not be handled as a case of witchcraft. Let’s spare ourselves the paperwork.”
He winked at Xu Siyuan.
Xu Siyuan’s eyes brightened with understanding. “You mean?”
“Just call it attempted robbery and murder. Have your clerks draft the report, send me a copy and I’ll polish the wording before submitting it. As long as Wu is implicated, that’s enough; too many people would make it difficult to keep things under wraps.” Li Miao gestured at the crestfallen Wu.
“With both accounts matching, we won’t risk any oversight.”
“Ah, brother!” Xu Siyuan patted Li Miao’s hand. “You’ve truly eased my worries!”
“We’re kindred spirits, no need for courtesy,” Li Miao replied warmly.

“Only…” Li Miao continued, frowning,
“Last night, during the struggle with the witch, I was splattered by her blood.”
“The money you gave me yesterday, brother, was stained by her blood.”
“Ah, truly careless of me… Your kindness was wasted…” Li Miao looked remorseful.
“Huh? Hahaha…”
Xu Siyuan frowned, then burst out laughing. “I thought it was something serious—no need to worry, brother. I’ll replace it for you, just to calm your nerves!”
“Thank you, brother.” Li Miao accepted graciously, bowing slightly.
Having settled their arrangements, Xu Siyuan invited Li Miao to dine at his residence, which Li Miao accepted.
By afternoon, when he returned, the Wu residence was deserted, its occupants taken away by Xu Siyuan’s men.
Thanks to Li Miao’s words, he wasn’t concerned that Xu Siyuan would vent his anger on anyone but Wu.
At the gate, Wang Hai, Xiao Si, and Mei Qinghe waited with their horses, while You Zi’ang sat dejectedly on the ground.
Li Miao approached and took a stack of banknotes from his chest, handing them to Xiao Si.
Xiao Si counted them carefully, grinning. “Master, you got so much?”
“That Xu fears I might report what happened, so he’s naturally more generous,” Li Miao laughed. “I know how to spend—and earn.”
“Yes, yes, you’re truly capable.” Xiao Si, delighted with the money, quickly thought about how much to squirrel away for her dowry.
Li Miao, however, took half back and handed it to Mei Qinghe.
“All right, let’s divide it among ourselves.”
“Hai, take Xiao Si to Jinan Prefecture, bring You Zi’ang along, and have the family send reinforcements.”
Li Miao’s task wasn’t meant for just a handful of people.
He had claimed to be traveling on official business, leading a small group ostensibly to scout ahead, but in reality, he’d been touring and enjoying himself, accompanied only by Wang Hai and Xiao Si.
Now, after two months on the road, it was time to send You Zi’ang to Shuntian Prefecture and request the Imperial Guard dispatch more men.
He had already taught Wang Hai the method to suppress Xiao Si’s poison. With Wang Hai’s internal strength, it’d be no problem for several months.
“You two head east to Jinan Prefecture. Xiao Mei and I will go south to visit the Taishan Sword Sect.”

“Wait in Jinan for the reinforcements. Once they arrive, come to Tai’an and find me.”
Xiao Si, robbed of half her prize, sulked in silence.
Wang Hai, hearing it was official business, straightened and nodded, then mounted up with Xiao Si and You Zi’ang and rode away.
When the trio had gone, Li Miao turned to Mei Qinghe. “Mei, I have something to tell you.”
With You Zi’ang present, Li Miao hadn’t mentioned the Plum Blossom Thief to Mei Qinghe, afraid she might react impulsively.
Now that Wang Hai had taken him away, Li Miao disclosed the scheme he’d discovered last night regarding the Plum Blossom Thief.
Mei Qinghe listened, closed her eyes and pondered, unconsciously gripping and releasing her sword.
After a while, she opened her eyes and said, “Thank you, senior, for your honesty.”
“Is it because you feared I’d take it out on You Zi’ang that you waited until Wang took him away?”
“That’s part of it,” Li Miao spread his hands.
“Your temperament is rigid and extreme, and this concerns your mother’s murderer. I couldn’t know how you’d react.”
Mei Qinghe was silent for a moment before replying, “You worry too much, senior.”
“When I heard the Imperial Guard had already killed the Plum Blossom Thief, I wished I could have done it myself. But debts die with their debtor. I won’t blame the innocent.”
“But now that I know of his scheme, I won’t let him succeed.”
“If someone uses the name Plum Blossom Thief in the martial world again, I’ll come for them with my sword. If they’re wicked, I’ll kill them. If they’re merely mischievous, I’ll warn them and grant them another path.”
Li Miao nodded. “I’m glad you understand.”
“Let’s set out then. By my count, the Sword Alliance of the Five Mountains isn’t far off.”
Mei Qinghe agreed, and the two mounted up and rode out of the city, heading toward the Taishan Sword Sect.