Chapter 43: Unbridled Arrogance

Liu Baiyun was seasoned in the ways of the martial world, not a hot-headed novice like Mei Qinghe. With just a few words, she left Zhou Yingxue speechless.

She had no intention of stopping. Her questions came one after another: “Whose rules?”

“Are they the rules of the Songshan Sect, the rules of Master Zhou?”

Liu Baiyun fixed her gaze on Zhou Yingxue.

“Or the rules of the Taishan Sect?” She let her eyes sweep over the faces of the others. “Or perhaps… your rules?”

No one dared answer. At least, not in front of a Jin Yiwei Battalion Commander.

Li Miao sipped his tea in silence, leaving Liu Baiyun to act as she pleased.

Since taking over as head of Huashan, Liu Baiyun had always been careful at the Five Peaks Alliance, wary of giving Zuo Lishan any excuse to target her. When had she ever experienced the exhilaration of commanding the room, pointing out others’ faults from the moral high ground? This felt better than making martial progress or defeating a powerful foe!

Seeing Li Miao’s nonchalance, she knew he was giving tacit consent, so Liu Baiyun pressed her advantage.

“The rivers and lakes, the martial world—these rivers and lakes all belong to Dashuo! The rules here follow the laws of Dashuo’s court!”

“My lord here acts on the emperor’s orders, investigating wrongdoing across the realm. Even the chambers of high ministers and the private manors of nobles are not off limits!”

“Isn’t this Dashuo’s land? Are you saying a Jin Yiwei Battalion Commander can’t even enter through the door?”

With this accusation, who could respond?

The hall fell silent. Zhou Yingxue’s face burned red, her grip on her sword hilt creaking, but she dared not utter a word in reply. Inwardly, she cursed, “How did I never see how shameless you are? Throwing your lot in with the court, now you’re this arrogant?”

Liu Baiyun’s stance made Huashan’s position clear. Yet no one present cared about the past; the Taishan Sect had often used similar pretexts to suppress Huashan. The tables had simply turned.

Seeing Zhou Yingxue cornered and unable to extricate herself, Deng Boxuan, head of Hengshan, noted her qi was becoming unsteady and tried to smooth things over: “Master Liu, you—”

He hadn’t expected this was only the appetizer; Liu Baiyun’s main act was yet to come, and she cut him off with her next words.

“In this world, the only group bold enough to bar the Jin Yiwei from their gates—”

She paused, her gaze sharp. “Are you… colluding with the Bright Sect?”

“Damn!”

“Mother of—!”

“Venomous woman!”

The crowd inside cursed her silently. When had they realized Liu Baiyun could be so malicious? “White Cloud Sword”? She should be called “Black Heart Sword”!

Everyone knew that any faction in Dashuo found colluding with the Bright Sect would face utter extermination.

And for Liu Baiyun to say this in front of a Jin Yiwei Battalion Commander was to push everyone present to the brink of destruction!

Yes, seeking the court’s favor wasn’t shameful; it was just a matter of changing allegiances. Everyone knew Taishan had suppressed Huashan. But now that she’d reached the shore, was it necessary to throw stones at those still in the water?

No one dared let Liu Baiyun speak further, fearing the next label would be “conspiring to rebel.” Who could bear such a charge?

But this was precisely Liu Baiyun’s intent. Her next words were indeed going to be “conspiring to rebel.”

She had heard everything Li Miao said to Mei Qinghe and knew exactly what to do. Unless Li Miao intervened, she would not stop.

Now was the time to be bold, to assert dominance, to hammer the idea of “colluding with the Bright Sect” into everyone’s minds and make them afraid.

Li Miao’s actions in Tai’an City had already scared off the small fry. Now, this scene would drive away those with the ambition to enter these halls.

After this, before the Five Peaks Alliance, all those who came just to watch the show would be frightened away. Whoever remained must have close ties to Taishan, and they would be dealt with together.

After two rounds of screening, the only ones left would be those unstable elements remaining after the destruction of Taishan—and none would be spared.

“Ladies and gentlemen—”

“Master Liu!” Zhou Yingxue’s face was flushed, her qi surging as she called out loudly, cutting Liu Baiyun off.

“It was… my indiscretion,” she said, bowing her head. “Please—accept my apologies!”

She had no choice but to back down.

If Liu Baiyun kept talking, there’d be no graceful way to end this.

Deng Boxuan, head of Hengshan, quickly added, “Master Liu, Master Liu, Master Zhou misspoke in the heat of the moment—she meant nothing by it.”

“For the sake of the Five Peaks Sword Alliance, let’s say no more.”

He turned to Li Miao, who sat drinking tea in silence, and cupped his fist respectfully: “We meant no offense to the court.”

“We martial folk live in wind and rain, accustomed to a loose way of life. If we have been discourteous, we ask your forgiveness!”

Li Miao tapped the lid on his teacup and set it down, placing both hands on the armrests.

He lifted his face and looked Deng Boxuan up and down. “So that’s it.”

“I thought there was some treasonous intent, but it was only a careless remark.”

“Master Liu, let it go.”

“Yes, sir.” At his words, Liu Baiyun fell silent and stepped back behind him.

Zhou Yingxue sat down in anger, saying nothing. Sensing the tense and dangerous atmosphere, the others also fell quiet; the room was as silent as a grave.

After a while, it was Deng Boxuan who broke the silence: “The Battalion Commanders of the Jin Yiwei are all renowned in the martial world, but Lord Li’s face is unfamiliar to me.”

“Have you recently been promoted?”

He was trying to gauge Li Miao’s background.

The Jin Yiwei was split between the Southern and Northern Supervisory Divisions. The Northern was infamous in the martial world, while the Southern was responsible for internal discipline. If Li Miao was from the Southern Division, there was less to fear. If he was a newly promoted Northern Commander, he was dangerous—a newcomer without ties would have a heavy hand, and everyone present could be used as his stepping stone.

Li Miao replied, “I’ve been in Shuntian Prefecture for twenty years and served as Battalion Commander for fifteen, never leaving the capital. It’s only natural if Head Deng doesn’t know me.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room: never leaving the capital likely meant the Southern Division.

Within the Jin Yiwei, duties were clearly divided—the Northern Division handled the executions. Still, they wondered what Li Miao’s true purpose was.

Deng Boxuan smiled and said, “Commander Liu of the Southern Division is famous in the martial world as well.”

“But he seldom leaves the capital, so I’ve never had the fortune to meet him. Seeing Lord Li today, so imposing, I can well imagine Commander Liu’s presence. It makes up for that regret!”

Deng Boxuan was a true veteran—by praising Li Miao’s superior and then Li himself, he ensured no offense could be taken, no matter who he faced.

But Li Miao raised his eyes and looked at Deng Boxuan with a strange expression. “What connection do I have with Liu Zhe?”

“When did I ever say—I was with the Southern Supervisory Division?”