Chapter 38: Liu Baiyun

Liu Baiyun was a first-class master. In her youth, she rarely ventured into the martial world, focusing instead on training within her sect and teaching disciples, so she had little reputation. In recent years, as the Five Mountain Sword Sects began to consolidate, she represented Mount Hua in the central plains and only then began to make a name for herself in the martial community.

Because of her seasoned methods and exceptional martial skills, she was considered one of the outstanding female masters to emerge in recent years. As mentioned earlier, there was no unified standard for ranking masters; one was judged solely by how far their reputation extended and how long they could maintain it.

Li Miao, with his commanding perspective, could see at a glance the level of another’s inner strength, force, and technique, thus roughly gauging their proficiency. To use an analogy from the games of his previous life, a person’s rank depended on whether they could hold that rank and for how long. Others would judge your skill by your rank emblem—that is, your reputation.

A player of Li Miao’s level could determine another’s approximate skill simply from their movements, from a single sidestep or retreat. His standards for classification were naturally based on Shuntian Prefecture—or what might be called the "Telecom Zone 1"—as the benchmark.

Such rough, regionally inconsistent divisions meant that the range of ability among first-class masters was extremely broad. Someone like Mei Qinghe, in Li Miao’s eyes, was “barely first-class.” Liu Baiyun, however, was at the very peak within that rank, according to his observations.

Age played a role, after all. One’s repertoire of techniques usually became set by the age of thirty, making breakthroughs increasingly difficult. Yet experience in combat, the depth of internal strength, and the power of one’s energy could all be honed over time.

Liu Baiyun was the archetype of a top-tier master in the martial world—her natural talent and insight were both strong, though not extraordinary, and even exhausting her potential, she would not reach the level of a supreme master. But through years of diligent practice and countless battles, her energy, strength, and techniques had become exceedingly refined, leaving little room for error.

Young talents like Mei Qinghe and Wang Hai, who reached first-class status early due to their gifts, would face near-certain death if they fought Liu Baiyun.

Li Miao was discreetly observing Liu Baiyun, and she was quietly sizing up the three of them as well.

She first recognized Gao Ling, a respected elder of Mount Tai, whom she had met at past Five Mountain Alliance gatherings and was thus familiar with. Now, Gao Ling followed silently behind Li Miao, her usual dignity gone.

Next, Liu Baiyun turned her gaze to Mei Qinghe. She had taken Mei Qinghe as a disciple at a young age and was both teacher and mother to her, so she knew her very well. It was no surprise to find her near Taian.

But now, the look in Mei Qinghe’s eyes was no longer filled with pure trust, admiration, and dependence. Instead, there was an unspoken disappointment and grievance.

Liu Baiyun’s heart trembled.

With so many people around, she could not speak openly and had to set the matter aside for now, planning to speak candidly with Mei Qinghe later.

Finally, her eyes fell on Li Miao.

Both Gao Ling and Mei Qinghe were first-class masters, yet they followed behind this man, making it clear that Li Miao was in command. Mei Qinghe herself was not fully aware of the distance she felt toward Liu Baiyun and, not wanting to face her, subconsciously hid behind Li Miao. All this did not escape Liu Baiyun’s notice.

Her first glance was naturally at Li Miao’s martial ability.

Even Zuo Lishan hadn’t been able to perceive Li Miao’s depth, and Liu Baiyun was no different—she found him inscrutable, though she was inwardly curious.

Her second glance was at Li Miao’s finer details.

This was not about calluses on the hands or such traces, but rather the “aura” a person developed from long holding a particular position. It was not superstition, but rather a sum of many subtle cues—eyes, dress, bearing—that left an impression in one’s subconscious.

From Li Miao, Liu Baiyun sensed a lofty, bureaucratic “official air,” along with another quality that seemed out of place.

She could not know that this discordant aura was, in Li Miao’s own words, the “flavor of the class monitor.”

Liu Baiyun spoke: “Greetings. I am Liu Baiyun of Mount Hua. May I ask if you are a friend of my disciple, Mei Qinghe?”

“You could say that. I am Li Miao, a Commandant in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Given the stir Li Miao had caused in Taian City, there was no hiding his identity; since Liu Baiyun had only just arrived and hadn’t yet heard the news, he decided to be direct.

At these words, the Mount Hua disciples sprang from their seats, gripping their sword hilts nervously.

For a Commandant to leave the capital was a matter of life and death.

A young man who had spoken earlier could not help blurting out, “Senior Sister… why are you—”

He was silenced by a sharp look from Liu Baiyun, swallowing the rest of his sentence about “consorting with a lackey of the court.”

“Lord Li, has my disciple committed some transgression against the law, that you must take her back to the capital for trial?” Liu Baiyun asked.

Her first assumption was that Mei Qinghe, in seeking revenge, had been caught by the Embroidered Guard. She hoped to clarify matters and plead for Mei Qinghe.

Even putting aside personal feelings, Mei Qinghe, already a first-class master in her early twenties, had a chance of becoming extraordinary—she was the future of Mount Hua.

Liu Baiyun subtly shifted her stance, ready to act and subdue Li Miao if necessary.

Mount Hua could not afford to provoke the Embroidered Guard, but right now, she had to save Mei Qinghe. As long as Li Miao was not harmed, it should not bring catastrophe upon the entire sect.

If worst came to worst, she would trade her life to free Mei Qinghe.

Liu Baiyun could not gauge Li Miao’s strength, but she still trusted her own skills.

Sensing Liu Baiyun’s intentions, Li Miao smiled and gestured for everyone to sit. He himself took a seat at the table.

“Your disciple is now working for me.”

“I have treated her well, even removed the hidden dangers in her cultivation technique. Chief Liu, you must be aware of this.”

Liu Baiyun’s face changed at his words, but she remained silent.

A young disciple nearby couldn’t help protesting, “What do you mean? My Senior Sister is a direct heir, trained in the orthodox Mount Hua style—what hidden dangers could you possibly have resolved?”

“Did you use your position to threaten her—”

Swish—

A faint sound of wind passed by, and the young disciple was instantly paralyzed, unable to move, his eyes darting in panic—he had clearly been struck on an acupoint. A peanut fell from his collar and landed on the ground.

Li Miao retracted his hand and said, “When adults are speaking, children should not interrupt.”

“Chief Liu, let us continue.”

“Since we have met, and the timing is right, I will speak plainly and save us all some trouble.”

“The Five Mountain Sword Sects are finished. Zuo Lishan is doomed.”

“Tell me—will Mount Hua join the ranks of the imperial hounds and cheerfully help dig up Mount Tai’s ancestral graves?”