Chapter 293: Who is below the hall

"Regional..."

Xue Zhongjing's lips trembled, and his knees went weak, ready to kneel.

If one were to speak of familiarity with Li Miao, aside from the Battalion Command that Li Miao had personally led, it would be the Battalion Command under An Ziyang.

Xue Zhongjing still remembered the first thing An Ziyang did upon taking office: he called all his subordinates into the courtyard and solemnly set down three rules.

"First, the Regional Commander is Heaven! Even the orders of the Commander-in-Chief or the imperial edict must come after the orders of the Regional Commander!"

"Second, the Regional Commander is a god, a Buddha! When you go home, all of you are to enshrine the portrait of the Regional Commander, kneel and burn incense every day! Memorize every word he says! I will check at any time; those who cannot recite them can wait for death!"

"Third, the Regional Commander is your ancestor! Filial piety is based on obedience! Whatever the Regional Commander does is right; anyone standing against the Regional Commander is wrong! Even if the King of Heaven himself comes, it is the same!"

"Is there anyone who cannot do this... you know I am an elder of the Tang Men, right?"

"I am also learning the witchcraft methods of Battalion Commander Li Xiaosi... hehe..."

After An Ziyang's training, Xue Zhongjing knew Li Miao's every word and action by heart. An Ziyang's endless methods had carved those three rules deep into his mind.

He could not be sure if that was Li Miao... but he dared not gamble.

Just as his knees bent slightly, he saw the middle-aged man protected in the middle by the two young men smile and raise a finger, making a gesture of silence before his mouth.

"It's over..."

Xue Zhongjing was in despair, but the unconditional loyalty to Li Miao that An Ziyang had carved into his bones forced him to hold on, showing no signs of abnormality.

"The Regional Commander does not want to reveal his identity yet... then I must continue the act!"

Xue Zhongjing forced himself to calm down, turned to look at Hua Zhixiu, and said in a deep voice.

"Are these the three thieves... just three?"

Hua Zhixiu nodded.

Xue Zhongjing pretended to think and said.

"With the tablet destroyed, you and I are both sinners who have broken the Regional Commander's rules... there is no room left for hesitation!"

"Sect Master Hua, I remember, the Prefect of Guangxin Prefecture is coming today, right? You, I, the elders of your sect, plus the accompanying garrison troops, will surely be able to capture these three!"

"Make amends for our crimes!"

Hua Zhixiu was happy.

"I think the same as Lord Xue! But there are some things that need to be coordinated; Lord Xue, lend me your ear."

Xue Zhongjing pretended not to notice that he had already gripped the hilt of his sword and leaned his ear over.

*Puchi!

The long sword entered his chest, piercing his heart and lungs!

Xue Zhongjing clutched his chest, staggered back several steps, blood flowing from his mouth, and pointed a trembling hand at Hua Zhixiu.

"You—"

He collapsed to the ground with a thud. Not caring that his life was about to end, his mind raced, thinking about what last words he should say to cooperate with Li Miao and keep the act going.

"Profound Clarity Sect... rebelling!"

"Urgh, cough, cough... Young heroes over there, listen!"

He turned to look at Cao Hanyan.

"Profound Clarity Sect, killing officials, rebelling, treason!"

"Spread the news... report to... the authorities..."

Blood poured from his lungs into his trachea, choking him and stifling the rest of his words. Xue Zhongjing collapsed heavily. Taking this opportunity, he looked at Li Miao and then slowly closed his eyes.

"This way... should be enough to, make amends for my crimes..."

Li Miao raised an eyebrow and pointed a finger in the air, a trace of imperceptible internal energy avoiding everyone's sight and landing on Xue Zhongjing's chest, preserving his life.

If a mission is botched, one must be punished, regardless of the reason; this is the iron rule of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Being stabbed once to learn a lesson is fine; he wouldn't die.

He had heard everything Hua Zhixiu and Elder Qi said.

The Profound Clarity Sect would certainly be wiped out today. But there might be more than just them dying.

He wanted to see if this Prefect of Guangxin Prefecture was also looking for death.

A great Jianghu sect colluding with local government officials to bypass the Embroidered Uniform Guard... those disciples daring to kill innocents to claim merit likely had this reason as well.

This Profound Clarity Sect was truly running wild on the path to death, making Li Miao reluctant to interrupt them; he wanted to see just how much death they could court.

Cao Hanyan couldn't help but sigh.

Gao Anyu, however, did not know the inside story. Seeing the trouble he was in growing larger, he was truly anxious now. In the past, others called him a madman, but now, how did it seem like he was the one with the most sense!

"Brother Cao, what do we do!"

After killing for so long, the Profound Clarity Sect disciples were already somewhat afraid, and most were just going through the motions. He no longer needed to fight with all his might and turned to shout at Cao Hanyan.

"Things have blown up! Since Long Haifeng is already dead, there's no point in us staying; we might as well leave!"

"The person you least want to provoke in the Great Ming Jianghu is that Embroidered Uniform Guard Regional Commander. Now the tablet is smashed, his subordinate is dead, and two big pots of blame are on our heads; I'm afraid we've provoked him!"

"Listening to them, the garrison troops will be here soon. Uncle Li and Aunt Zheng don't know martial arts; let's protect our uncle and aunt and leave first!"

"The matter is too big; we can't handle it! My origins can be checked later!"

Although he really wanted to find out his origins, compared to these ethereal things, Gao Anyu chose to take care of the people in front of him first.

Hua Zhixiu shook the blood off his sword and walked down the steps with the elders of the Profound Clarity Sect.

"Want to leave?"

He sneered.

"After killing so many of my Profound Clarity Sect members, destroying the tablet, and killing Lord Xue, you still want to leave?"

"Well, it's not impossible."

Hua Zhixiu stopped and said to Gao Anyu.

"Hand over your inheritance, and I will let you leave, how about that? This is your only chance to get away."

"Killing you, my Profound Clarity Sect doesn't have much confidence. But keeping you here, dragging it out until the Prefect arrives with the garrison, is not a difficult task. Once this village is passed, there will be no such shop."

Gao Anyu naturally wouldn't believe his nonsense and just shouted anxiously at Cao Hanyan.

"Brother Cao! We can't wait any longer!"

"Let's just follow what that Embroidered Uniform Guard said, leave this place directly and report to the authorities! Explain everything clearly!"

Before the words fell, a voice came from the mountain gate.

"Who wants to report to the authorities?"

*Shua, shua, shua, shua—*

The sound of armor plates rubbing together was incessant, and soldiers in armor poured in from outside the gate like a tide, splitting into two sides.

A black gauze cap walked in from outside the gate, stood with hands behind his back, and squinted at the people fighting.

This man was wearing a scarlet silk robe with dark patterns embroidered on it. On the square patch on his chest, a cloud goose was flapping its wings, ready to fly. He wore a gold lychee belt and a silver fish tally at his waist, and a pair of black satin boots on his feet. His forehead was full, and three strands of long beard hung on his chest.

It was the official of Guangxin Prefecture, the fourth-rank official who presided over the livelihood and life-and-death of the region, the Prefect of Guangxin Prefecture—Lord Luo Mingcheng!

This Lord Luo squinted and looked around, glanced at Hua Zhixiu, who was bowing respectfully to him, nodded, then looked at Xue Zhongjing lying on the ground, his gaze pausing, and he pondered for a while.

Finally, he cast his gaze toward Li Miao and the other two.

"Fighting with weapons, killing people."

"Opposing the imperial court, killing officials and rebelling."

"Will you three bind yourselves?"

Before Gao Anyu could speak to refute, he gave a cold laugh.

"It seems not... Then, Sect Master Hua, your Profound Clarity Sect, cooperate with the imperial court to take down the thieves and reduce your crimes of failing to protect."

"Yes!"

Hua Zhixiu bowed and agreed.

"You corrupt official! So you are all in the same boat!"

Gao Anyu shouted angrily.

"Insulting an imperial official, the crime is increased by one degree."

Lord Luo said indifferently.

"Just now, you were the one who said you wanted to report to the authorities, right? This official is observing the people's feelings and has come down to judge the case in person. You Jianghu ruffians, shouldn't you be grateful?"

He flicked his robe sleeves, spread his hands, and looked at Gao Anyu indifferently.

"Who is below the hall, wanting to accuse this official?"