Chapter 42: Paying Respects to the Mountain

Early the next morning, the party from the Huashan Sword Sect set out toward the Mount Tai Sect. Huashan’s allegiance to the imperial court had already been explained to the disciples by Liu Baiyun the previous night. Although some among them harbored doubts, Liu Baiyun had led the sect for twenty years, his reputation was unassailable. Moreover, Mei Qinghe was one of the only two top-ranked experts in the sect, widely acknowledged as the next leader.

Huashan had long been teetering on the brink, relying solely on Liu Baiyun’s support, and Mei Qinghe was the beacon of hope in the disciples’ hearts for the sect’s resurgence. With the two of them vouching for this path, even if others instinctively resisted submitting to the court, none could find words to object.

Now, as they traveled, Li Miao naturally took the lead, with Liu Baiyun and Mei Qinghe flanking him, Gao Ling and the rest following behind.

Mei Qinghe asked, “Sir, Zuo Lishan must hate you to his core.”

“Visiting him so openly—won’t that push him into a corner and make him lash out directly? If the Mount Tai Sect joins in, I fear it could jeopardize your plans…”

Having shifted her cultivation method, Mei Qinghe’s temperament had somewhat recovered from the influence of the Plum Blossom Thief’s techniques. She had also spoken candidly with Liu Baiyun and now obeyed Li Miao with heartfelt respect, beginning to consider his affairs proactively.

Yet she still had a stubborn streak.

Li Miao did not mind—experience is honed through action, and with time, understanding would dawn.

He began to instruct her, “Of course he’ll attack, but he wouldn’t dare do it in front of others. Otherwise, with no public grievance, how could he justify assaulting an officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?”

“It’s impossible to hide that he and I have crossed swords, but he’ll certainly want to keep news of his injury secret.”

“If he’s uninjured, he has no reason to attack me—challenging an officer of the Guard just because he lost a friendly duel would hardly win him support.”

“If he’s injured, he must explain how he recovered so rapidly.”

Li Miao raised three fingers. “We have three objectives in this mission.”

“First, to break up the Five Mountains Sword Sects—subdue those who can be subdued; those who can’t… kill them.”

“Second, to eliminate Zuo Lishan and the Mount Tai Sect, sending a warning to the martial world. Witchcraft and the Ming Cult—if I handle these, I might spare a few lives. If someone else did, they’d likely wipe them out completely.”

“Third, the Ming Cult itself.”

Li Miao smiled. “Zuo Lishan is likely unwilling to answer to the Ming Cult, which is why he’s refrained from using that forbidden art and those venomous insects. Even now, I suspect he hasn’t contacted them. The Ming Cult is powerful, but he thinks that after uniting the Five Mountains Sects, he can cooperate with them as an equal.”

“Tonight, he’s certain to attempt to silence me in secret.”

“That’s the perfect chance to draw the Ming Cult’s people out.”

With that, Li Miao fell silent, leaving Mei Qinghe to ponder on her own.

So they pressed on, and at last arrived at the gates of the Mount Tai Sect.

With the Five Mountains Alliance gathering near, disciples had long been posted outside to welcome guests. Spotting Liu Baiyun from afar, one hurried forward to greet them.

Although it was well known that the Mount Tai Sect suppressed Huashan, the formalities were never neglected. The disciple, quick-witted, greeted them warmly.

“Master Liu, it’s been a while! You’re a bit late—masters from Hengshan, Hengshan South, and Songshan have already arrived and are in the main hall. Would you—”

He broke off mid-sentence, stunned at the sight of Gao Ling.

The previous day, Gao Ling’s shouts as she fled down the mountain had been overheard and recognized. An elder accusing the sect leader of practicing demonic arts and harming fellow disciples was no small matter. With Zuo Lishan’s prestige and the Alliance about to begin, no one had yet dared bring it to light publicly.

But among the disciples, the rumor had quietly spread.

Seeing Gao Ling here, walking among the Huashan sect, the disciple’s mind raced with speculation and uncertainty.

Liu Baiyun stepped forward. “We rested in Tai’an last night and need no further break. Please take us to the main hall to meet the other masters.”

“Yes, yes…” The disciple nodded, called for someone to take their horses, and led the group toward the main hall.

Entering, they saw the hall already full of people.

One, catching sight of Liu Baiyun, laughed aloud. “Master Liu, it’s been too long! How have you been these years?”

Li Miao glanced around, identifying everyone present.

The speaker was Deng Boxuan, leader of the Hengshan South Sect. Seated nearby were Zhou Yingxue of the Songshan Sect, Zhang Jingfeng of the Hengshan Sect, and heads of various minor, second- and third-rate sects—insignificant to Li Miao, who paid them little mind.

These leaders eyed Li Miao’s group with furrowed brows.

“Who is this man? Never seen him before. And why is Liu Baiyun standing behind him, as if deferring to him?”

“And Gao Ling… an elder of Mount Tai, why has she come with the Huashan Sect?”

Liu Baiyun greeted each in turn, then returned to stand by Li Miao. “Sir, please take a seat.”

“Mm.”

Li Miao replied, seating himself in a prominent spot. Liu Baiyun and Gao Ling stood to either side, the other Huashan disciples behind him.

Mei Qinghe brought tea, which Li Miao accepted and sipped slowly.

This self-contained procession left the others thoroughly perplexed.

For a long moment, silence reigned.

Finally, Deng Boxuan of Hengshan South broke it, smiling at Li Miao. “You’re a new face—could it be that you are the new leader of Huashan?”

“My Hengshan South is far in the south; I hadn’t heard Huashan had changed hands.”

“My apologies for not calling sooner. My apologies indeed, ha ha ha—”

The Hengshan South Sect had little interest in suppressing Huashan, focusing on consolidating its own territory and remaining neutral among the Five Mountains Sects. Hence, Deng was the most suitable to speak first.

Li Miao set down his cup, gave a courteous salute, and replied calmly, “Master Deng, your reputation precedes you. Greetings to all.”

“Huashan remains under Master Liu’s leadership; I am merely a guest.”

Even Deng Boxuan, seasoned veteran of the martial world, was at a loss for words.

Oh, so you, the guest, are seated while Huashan’s leader stands, and her personal disciple serves you tea. Not to mention an elder of the sect standing at your side.

Should we all stand and address you, then?

“May I ask—” Deng Boxuan began.

“Oh.”

Li Miao smiled, as if only just recalling the matter. “I haven’t introduced myself.”

“I am Li Miao, a Thousand Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

“What!?” “The Embroidered Guard!?” “Who!?”

At his words, a commotion erupted in the hall, all eyes turning to him, some visibly trembling, ready to flee—no doubt those with friends or family who had suffered at the Guard’s hands.

The hall fell into chaos, then gradually settled into uneasy silence.

No one dared speak lightly now.

After a long pause, Zhou Yingxue of the Songshan Sect finally addressed Liu Baiyun, “Master Liu… Are the customs of the martial world no longer recognized by Huashan?”

Encounters with the Embroidered Guard rarely bode well for martial sects. Since Li Miao had arrived with Huashan, Liu Baiyun was expected to give an explanation.

Liu Baiyun, having resolved to submit to the court, would not waver. She answered calmly:

“Under the vast heavens, all land belongs to the emperor; within the seas, all subjects serve the sovereign.”

“Our lord is here as a guest… Whose rules could he possibly break?”