Chapter 53: Kill First, Save Later

Three days remained until the Five Peaks Alliance Gathering.

Li Miao had been enjoying a rather pleasant few days.

The elusive state of “just being present is enough” that he had always sought in his work had finally become his reality.

Meals were freshly prepared by Mount Tai Sect’s kitchen, and he could order whatever he wished at any hour. The private residence arranged by Zuo Lishan was tranquil and undisturbed—no one dared to intrude. All other tasks were handled by Liu Baiyun and Gao Ling.

One was the leader of Mount Hua Sect, the other an elder of Mount Tai. Both were seasoned figures in the martial world, thoroughly versed in the thoughts and needs of those gathered on the mountain. With their experience and status, and Li Miao’s backing, they managed all affairs smoothly during these days, especially with Zuo Lishan unable to appear in public.

By now, only the sects of Mount Heng (Northern), Mount Heng (Southern), and Mount Song remained on Mount Tai, alongside a few local minor factions that relied on the Mount Tai Sect for survival. Everyone else had been frightened away by Liu Baiyun and Gao Ling.

They only needed to wait for the Alliance Gathering in three days, when whoever remained would be dealt with at once, and this assignment would be complete.

In the small courtyard, a rocking chair sat beneath the shade. Li Miao reclined lazily, a table beside him laden with fresh fruit and tea cakes.

Creak—creak—

Arms folded across his chest, one leg tucked beneath him, the other dangling toward the ground, Li Miao rocked idly.

“The qi is moving too quickly through the dispersing well, shoulder meeting, and shoulder crevice points along the Triple Burner meridian,” he murmured, eyes closed in languid repose.

Mei Qinghe, seated cross-legged nearby, instinctively adjusted her qi circulation at his words.

Li Miao had spent these days guiding Mei Qinghe in switching her inner cultivation method, the process nearly complete. However, the inner skill the Plum Blossom Thief had previously altered was too forceful, leaving hidden injuries in her meridians. Li Miao had to finely tune her qi flow during the great circulation to gradually heal those wounds.

Suddenly, Li Miao opened his eyes, frowning slightly. “Xiao Si?”

Without any visible movement, Li Miao vanished from Mei Qinghe’s sight in a blink.

A hundred paces from the courtyard, Gao Ling was racing toward him, holding Xiao Si’s hand as she ran with lightness skill.

In a flash, Li Miao appeared before them.

Gao Ling released Xiao Si’s hand and called, “Sir.”

Seeing Li Miao, Xiao Si suddenly burst into tears. “Master!”

Xiao Si, untrained in martial arts and only slightly sturdier than most, had been jostled on horseback for several days, her body worn out by worry for her lover and the backlash from the love gu. She was at her limit.

Now, seeing Li Miao was like a wronged daughter seeing her father—her tension ebbed, and she collapsed in a faint.

Li Miao darted forward, catching Xiao Si in his arms, one hand supporting her waist, the other pressed to her back, gently transferring his qi to her.

“There, there. I’m here,” he soothed softly, then turned to Gao Ling. “Elder Gao, gather our people.”

With that, he carried Xiao Si into the courtyard.

As Li Miao’s qi revived her, Xiao Si gradually regained consciousness and immediately wept, “Brother Hai is in trouble!”

Between sobs, she recounted the recent events: Wang Hai had been tracking the Ming Cult’s Left Envoy, leaving her behind in Jinan. The Imperial City had sent a eunuch, and she came to report. On the way, the love gu was harmed, alerting her that Wang Hai was in danger, so she rushed for help.

The love gu—intended for Wu the Wealthy by the Gupu clan—is a pair of linked insects, mother and child, usually given as a love token by Miaojiang women who practice witchcraft.

It has three effects: First, a man afflicted with the gu can never be with another woman, or he will die instantly of the poison. Second, the mother and child gu are mystically connected, allowing the lovers to sense each other’s location. Third, if the child gu is harmed, the mother will react, no matter the distance.

From Xiao Si’s reaction, it was clear Wang Hai was gravely wounded and on the verge of death.

Li Miao’s brow furrowed at her account.

By now, disciples of Mount Hua and Liu Baiyun had gathered, summoned by Gao Ling’s message.

Li Miao reached out his hand. “Don’t panic, give me the mother gu.”

Xiao Si lifted her hand to her nose, and a centipede the length of a little finger crawled out, its head raised, pointing in a direction.

Li Miao took the insect, tapping Xiao Si on the neck. She slumped, unconscious, into his arms.

“Leader Liu,” Li Miao called, passing Xiao Si to Liu Baiyun, “take her, and all our people, down the mountain immediately. Bring your belongings and provisions, and find a secluded place to hide.”

“Until the Alliance Gathering, make no contact with anyone. Do not let anyone discover your whereabouts.”

“Leave now.”

Liu Baiyun, seeing Li Miao—usually so unruffled—suddenly so grave, understood the severity and did not argue. She nodded and began instructing everyone to pack.

Mei Qinghe, though she had spoken little with Wang Hai, had grown fond of the lively Xiao Si and regarded her as a sister.

Having long since come to admire Li Miao, and worried that Xiao Si would be heartbroken if Wang Hai came to harm, Mei Qinghe stepped forward. “Sir, are you going to rescue Brother Wang?”

“Should I come with you?”

Li Miao waved her off. “No need. I’m not riding—I'll travel by lightness skill. You don’t have enough qi and can’t keep up.”

“Take care of Xiao Si. I’ll return before the Gathering.”

He turned his gaze toward the main hall of the Mount Tai Sect.

“But, before I go, there’s one matter I must resolve.”

For Wang Hai to be so gravely injured, his assailant must be a renowned expert of the Ming Cult—a Banner Lord, a Protector, or one of the Two Envoys.

The Five Peaks mission had dragged on mainly for three reasons: to spread the word and frighten off lesser affiliates, to avoid public backlash against the government; to openly expose Mount Tai’s collusion with the Ming Cult at the Alliance, leaving no grounds for criticism; and, in truth, to wait for Zuo Lishan to appeal to the Ming Cult for help.

Now, with the Imperial City sending a eunuch to seize the credit, and Wang Hai having already clashed with the Ming Cult’s upper ranks, these reasons had lost their importance.

Even so, Li Miao knew he could not abandon the Mount Tai situation entirely to rescue Wang Hai.

Zuo Lishan, for all his flaws, was now truly beyond the ordinary. If Li Miao left, there would be no one to restrain him.

A madman practicing forbidden arts, left unchecked and allied with the Ming Cult, could cause unimaginable trouble.

Trying to fight on two fronts is often the beginning of disaster.

First, kill Zuo Lishan. Then, rescue Wang Hai.

Soon, Liu Baiyun and the others had packed and begun descending the mountain.

With his decision made, Li Miao set off, flying toward the main hall of Mount Tai with all his speed.