Chapter 459: They

Li Chen had served in the military and worn the uniform, so he could recognize it easily.

Accompanied by footsteps, a deep voice rang out.

"Younger sister, I heard there's a guest—introduce me to him."

Ma He's voice cut off abruptly.

When he saw the face before him, his legs went weak and he nearly collapsed to his knees.

Isn't this the reigning Son of Heaven?!

Ma He had mingled in the imperial capital's official circles and met Li Chen several times.

Before the campaign, Li Chen had summoned him—he certainly remembered.

Why is His Majesty here?!

Li Chen moved swiftly, grabbing Ma He by the arm: "I'm Li Chen, a merchant from the imperial capital."

His words carried deep implication.

Ma He instantly understood—His Majesty was traveling incognito!

As a subject, he must cooperate!

He forced calmness and warmly invited: "So you're Master Li—please, come in!"

Li Meng eyed Ma He suspiciously: "Big brother, what happened to your legs just now?"

Ma He let out a dry laugh: "Too much traveling—legs went weak."

How could I not go weak seeing His Majesty?

Just standing here is disrespectful to His Majesty!

Now that he knew the true identity of this "Master Li," Ma He tried his best to appear natural, but the innate reverence of a subject could not be hidden.

He unconsciously bowed slightly, avoided direct eye contact with Li Chen, and deliberately lagged half a step behind when leading the way.

These subtle actions struck Li Meng as more shocking than witnessing Chi Liu Chuan's defeat.

"What's wrong with Big Brother?" Li Meng muttered to herself. In her memory, this senior disciple of the Black Miao was always the most imposing figure among the younger generation of the Sacred Land.

She had never seen him so cautious, even before the Sacred Master.

Yet now he showed such deference to a merchant from the imperial capital—it was utterly baffling.

Ma He was now drenched in cold sweat.

He carefully chose his words: "Master Li, what brings you to the Sacred Land? If there's anything I can assist with, please command."

As he spoke, his right hand instinctively pressed against his left chest—the standard salute for Tian Ce officers facing superiors.

But remembering Li Chen was incognito, he lowered his hand.

Li Chen gave him a faint, knowing glance and said coolly: "I want to see the Yin-Yang Gu. But I just clashed with the Bai Miao—Li Meng told me the guardians of the Yin-Yang Gu are Bai Miao. Can you help?"

Hearing this, Ma He roughly understood Li Chen's intent. Normally, or if anyone else asked, he would refuse—he was Black Miao, and wouldn't lightly offend the Bai Miao, or risk punishment when the Sacred Master returned. But who was Li Chen?

He was the reigning Emperor. Not just the Yin-Yang Gu —even the Mandate Gu could be given.

"Of course! Of course!" Ma He replied immediately.

Just moments ago, he had wrestled internally: one side, the Sacred Land's rules; the other, the Emperor's command.

But he quickly decided—joking, could the Sacred Master be greater than the Emperor? Especially this one—not a single defeat on battlefield or in sects.

Now the Emperor was asking for a solution—it was an opportunity to prove himself.

If the Emperor grew angry, the entire Sacred Land would be erased. Thinking of this, Ma He wiped sweat from his brow and swore: "Master Li, please wait patiently. Though the Yin-Yang Gu is guarded by the Bai Miao, I am still the Sacred Master's first disciple—they must grant me this small favor."

Li Meng's eyes widened. She clearly remembered that years ago, when a Black Miao elder had requested to observe the Yin-Yang Gu and was flatly refused by the Bai Miao, Big Brother had said, "No tribe's rules may be lightly broken." How could it be different today?

While she puzzled over this, Ma He was already eagerly leading the way toward the core area of the Black Miao.

As they passed a herb garden blooming with strange blue flowers, he noticed Li Chen glancing twice at a glowing plant by the path.

Sensing Li Chen's interest, he immediately launched into an enthusiastic description: "This is 'Soul-Guiding Flower'—the Bai Miao excel at cultivating such rare objects tied to fortune. Our Black Miao's Gu focus more on spirit and will—like 'Iron Bone Gu,' which makes one unyielding, or 'Solid Rock Gu,' which hardens the will like steel."

He spoke with animated enthusiasm, like a shopkeeper hawking goods.

Li Meng followed behind, growing more and more uneasy.

Big Brother was usually silent and reserved—why was he so talkative today?

And the secrets of these Gu were always guarded tribal knowledge—I never spoke of them, yet you're revealing them so freely to an outsider?

The Bai Miao's encampment lay in the Purple Mist Valley on the northern slopes of the Sacred Land.

In the distance, rows of stilted bamboo houses clung to the mountainside, silver bells hanging from eaves glinting in the sunlight.

Most striking was the seven-tiered gilded bamboo tower at the center, coiled with a lifelike bronze serpent carving—that was the "Mandate Pavilion," where the Yin-Yang Gu was enshrined.

As soon as they entered Bai Miao territory, the air filled with a distinctive sandalwood incense.

Bamboo lanterns along the path housed glowing "Mind-Clearing Gu," casting the stone path in a dreamlike glow.

Several Bai Miao girls picking herbs saw Ma He and started to bow—but when they spotted Li Chen behind him, their faces changed and they hastily stepped aside.

"Stop!" A squad of Bai Miao guards with curved blades blocked their path.

The lead warrior growled: "Big Brother Ma He, bringing an outsider into our sacred grounds violates our rules."

Ma He was about to reply when a hoarse voice came from behind: "Stand down."

Everyone turned to see a middle-aged man in a pale moon-colored robe standing with hands behind his back.

His face was sharp as carved stone, with a grotesque scar over his left eye, and a live golden-thread snake Gu coiled around his neck—he was Ma Bu, Bai Miao Elder and the Sacred Master's second disciple.

Seeing Ma Bu appear, Li Meng instinctively shrank behind Li Chen, her small hand gripping his sleeve.

This second elder, who oversaw the Sacred Land's punishments, had always terrified her.

She remembered once sneaking into the herb garden to play, being caught by Ma Bu, and being forced to copy the Gu scriptures for three days and nights—her fingers still ached at the memory.

"Big Brother, why are you back?" Ma Bu's voice rasped like sandpaper. His gaze swept over Ma He, then settled on Li Chen's face.

The golden-thread snake Gu coiled around his neck suddenly raised its head, flicking its crimson tongue as if sensing some dangerous presence.

Ma He straightened his back, forcing calmness: "The southern expeditionary army passed through here—I returned to see if any of our clansmen wish to enlist."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly: "But that's not important. This noble guest from the imperial capital wishes to observe the Yin-Yang Gu."

The meaning was now unmistakable—he was asking Ma Bu to show face.

Though Ma He spoke politely, his eyes carried an unyielding demand.

The atmosphere froze. The Bai Miao guards exchanged glances—they had never seen anyone so bluntly demand the Yin-Yang Gu from Elder Ma Bu.

At that moment, an elderly Bai Miao elder with white hair and beard hurried over and whispered something into Ma Bu's ear.

(End of Chapter)