Chapter 33

This was also the first time Fei Junxuan had seen an Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Mount Taishan Sect had many disciples, and all their supplies basically had to be purchased from the Taian Prefecture city. As the steward here, his status in the Mount Taishan Sect was naturally not low.

Moreover, his own Wu Gong was not bad; he was considered a top-tier expert even in this Jinan Prefecture.

He considered himself a person of some standing. Although this Embroidered Uniform Guard had an unfriendly attitude, he thought that one should not strike a smiling face.

A person of my status is being polite to you; surely you should show some respect and not flip the table, right?

Who would have thought that Li Miao didn't even consider him a person at all?

The so-called classification of first-rate, second-rate, and third-rate is essentially a reflection of the regional divisions of the Great Shuo into provinces, prefectures, and departments.

Those who are famous throughout the Central Plains Wu Lin and can find no rivals are the supreme experts.

Those who can make a name for themselves within a single province and have a respectable level of Wu Gong are first-rate experts. Second-rate and third-rate follow this logic.

After all, there are countless Wu Gong and sects in the world, and each family's internal cultivation methods and fighting styles are different. There is no way to set a unified standard of strength, so only this rough method can be used for classification.

Although the classification is rough, it is actually much more valuable than the classifications made by the various sects themselves.

After all, each sect has different focuses. If they were to calculate it themselves, it would inevitably lead to situations like comparing hidden weapons with a monk or sword techniques with a swordsman. Some places with dual religious and sect attributes don't even classify status based on Wu Gong.

Only those who can make a name for themselves and maintain it can be called a certain-rate expert.

Therefore, although the title of second-rate expert for Fei Junxuan didn't sound very impressive, it was a reputation earned through real combat. He was used to throwing his weight around in Jinan Prefecture, and few people would dare not give him face.

This left him in a state of confusion similar to "Even my father has never hit me!"

If it came to social niceties and hidden barbs, he could handle it.

If it came to open confrontation and real blades, he wouldn't be afraid.

But he had truly never seen a situation where you approached with a smile, only to be slapped across the face.

After Li Miao finished speaking, he stopped talking and looked around at the furnishings in the room.

Seeing that no one was stepping in to mediate, Fei Junxuan could only stand up from the ground, his face livid.

Although Li Miao had controlled his strength in that palm strike and hadn't injured him, the fact that a single palm strike from a distance could scatter his stance made Fei Junxuan realize that the people present were likely unable to restrain this Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But, the other party was clearly looking for trouble; could he hide from it?

If he endured it today, what would happen if the other party came back tomorrow?

"My lord... has my Mount Taishan Sect offended you in any way?" Fei Junxuan finally asked.

Li Miao ignored him.

"Then... I apologize for the offense!"

Fei Junxuan drew his sword and charged, and the other disciples also drew their swords and attacked.

Those outside watching the excitement saw the fight break out inside and retreated one after another to avoid being accidentally injured.

One could only hear a chaotic clanging inside the room, with the sounds of metal clashing, shouting, cursing, and collisions all erupting at once.

Before long, it became quiet again.

An idler poked his head in to see what was happening, when suddenly someone was thrown out from inside, rolling on the ground several times, covered in dust and dirt.

The person thrown out stood up with his hands on the ground, revealing a face still filled with shock and anger.

Some Jianghu people on the periphery called out in secret: "Is that Fei Junxuan!? He was just thrown out like that?"

"Who exactly is inside?"

They heard someone in the room say in a loud voice: "Go, go buy food for me, my lord."

"I'll give you half an hour. If I haven't eaten after half an hour, I will cripple one person's Wu Gong for every stick of incense that passes."

Fei Junxuan was still furious, but there was nothing he could do. After hesitating for a long time, he actually stomped his feet in hatred, covered his face with his sleeve, and ran toward the restaurant.

If he considered the face of the Mount Taishan Sect, he would definitely have to go in and fight to the death. But, unless truly pushed to the limit, who would want to die?

And if he really ran away, and all the disciples in the room had their Wu Gong crippled, could he escape the punishment of the sect rules?

Weighing the two, he actually went to buy food obediently.

Inside the room, Mei Qinghe sheathed her sword and asked Li Miao in a low voice: "Senior, what is this?"

Li Miao had taken action, and she naturally hadn't been idle, helping to take down the Mount Taishan Sect disciples. But after it was over, she was also puzzled.

She knew Li Miao wanted to act against the Five Mountains Sword Sects, but shouldn't such things be done by secretly finding an opportunity and striking a decisive blow?

Why did Li Miao look like he was afraid the world wouldn't know the Embroidered Uniform Guard was going to move against the Five Mountains Sword Sects?

At this time, the disciples in the room were all unconscious, so there was no fear of being overheard. Li Miao said indifferently: "Little Mei, this is not a Jianghu vendetta."

"When the imperial court handles affairs, we must be justified and have evidence. We cannot just charge in front of someone and stab them to death to end it."

"If I don't stir up some trouble first, how will those fence-sitters know to stay away? We can't just round them all up and kill them later, can we?"

"If I don't give him some trouble first, how can I force him to call all his men back? What if a few slip through the net?"

"Besides..." Li Miao pointed toward the direction of Mount Taishan.

"A dog will jump over a wall when desperate, a dog will jump over a wall."

"I have to force him to jump over the wall first, so that I can justifiably catch this dog that jumped over the wall and stew it."

"Just watch for now; I definitely didn't come to cause him trouble without a reason."

Mei Qinghe wanted to say a few words; Li Miao's logic sounded somewhat reasonable, but wouldn't letting the other party know and prepare just add a lot of unnecessary trouble?

But then she thought again, Li Miao's Wu Gong was unfathomable, and even a supreme expert might not be able to last a few rounds in his hands. Li Miao's nature was lazy, so he definitely wouldn't look for trouble for himself; he must have his considerations.

So she nodded in agreement and said nothing more.

The two waited in the room for a while, and then saw Fei Junxuan run in, covering his face, and place a food box on the table with a "clatter."

"Set it up," Li Miao said.

"You!?" Fei Junxuan gave a low shout, looked at Li Miao's expressionless face, and couldn't help but shudder involuntarily.

After a long while, he stomped his feet in hatred, and with a livid face, took the dishes out of the food box and set them on the table.

"Little Mei, sit, let's eat."

Mei Qinghe was speechless and could only sit down, eating bite by bite under Fei Junxuan's hateful gaze.

After the two had eaten their fill, Li Miao stood up and walked to the door, suddenly turning to say to Fei Junxuan: "Today's dishes were average, a bit cold, and lacked the 'wok hei'."

"Remember to buy them early tomorrow; I will come to eat at this same time."

"Fine—!"

Fei Junxuan's face was twisted, and he replied hatefully: "Tomorrow, my Mount Taishan Sword Sect will await your arrival!"

Li Miao didn't answer and left with Mei Qinghe.

Fei Junxuan turned, drew his sword, mounted his horse, and left the city, heading toward the Mount Taishan Sword Sect.

(End of chapter)