Chapter 47: Bone-Setting Li Miao

Mei Qinghe and Liu Baiyun had not yet emerged from their sorrow; they stared blankly at Li Miao.

Li Miao did not mind. He stepped forward, pressed one hand onto Mei Qinghe’s shoulder, and circulated his internal energy through her meridians.

The "deviation of internal energy" that made martial artists tremble with fear was suppressed in an instant. Mei Qinghe felt as if her entire body were soaking in warm water; a gentle warmth coursed through her, subduing her rampaging energy and soothing her chaotic state of mind.

"Sen—Senior!" Mei Qinghe realized what was happening and hurriedly stood up.

"My, my Master’s arm—" She choked up as she spoke.

"A small matter," Li Miao said nonchalantly. He stepped forward, grabbed Liu Baiyun’s left arm with one hand, and snapped the severed limb back into place with the other, aligning it perfectly.

"Sect Leader Liu, do not circulate your internal energy. Hold still and endure it."

"This will be enough to make you suffer, but consider it the price for your severed arm."

Having said this, white smoke began to drift from Li Miao’s hands, which instantly turned a deep, glowing red.

"Ugh!!—"

Liu Baiyun felt a piercing pain erupt from her severed arm, as if someone were driving red-hot iron skewers into her bone marrow, accompanied by the numbing itch of countless insects burrowing through her flesh!

Such torture was harder to bear than all the injuries she had suffered throughout her years in the Paojianghu combined!

Even with her years of mental cultivation, she could not help but let out a low groan. Her face turned pale, sweat poured down her forehead, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

Mei Qinghe watched from the side, worried, and asked softly, "Senior... can it really be reattached...?"

Li Miao continued to channel his energy, his face relaxed. "A trifle."

"Except for the head, if any other part is cut off and less than an incense stick of time has passed, I can bundle it up and stick it back on for you."

"The Luomo Remains... never mind, you wouldn't understand..."

"I got the inspiration for this technique from a play years ago. Unfortunately, word leaked out, and a retired Eunuch secretly brought a jar, begging me to reattach that thing for him."

"It’s a good thing he cut it off early; I didn't want to touch that part of him. Old Eunuchs have a foul, pungent stench about them."

Liu Baiyun endured the inhuman torture, her face twisted in agony.

Li Miao looked up at her and smiled. "Sect Leader Liu, it’s not pleasant, is it?"

Liu Baiyun nodded with difficulty.

Li Miao laughed. "I originally intended this technique for treating my subordinates. But once a limb is severed, the blood energy dissipates within an incense stick of time, making it impossible to reattach. I can't spend all day acting like a nanny, so I rarely use it."

"Once, Wang Hai was interrogating a notorious bandit who was stubborn and refused to talk. Wang Hai lost his temper and struck too hard, leaving the man half-dead and nearly finished."

"I went over and stuck back all the legs, arms, and noses that had been knocked off, thinking I’d heal him before continuing the interrogation. As I healed him, he broke down and confessed, begging me to stop the treatment and just kill him instead."

"Who would have thought that my healing technique would end up becoming a method of torture?"

"I have a colleague who used to be at odds with me, but after seeing me interrogate a prisoner with this technique, he vomited all over the floor. Since then, he bows and scrapes whenever he sees me. If my teacup is empty, he scurries over to refill it."

"This time, consider it a lesson for you, Sect Leader Liu. Once you have entered the service of the Imperial Court, if you ever collude with the Bright Cult again..."

"Then this technique... will no longer be used to heal you."

Li Miao said calmly.

Liu Baiyun had been enduring the torture, but hearing Li Miao’s rambling, she wondered why he was saying these irrelevant things to her when they had only just met. Upon hearing his words, she was suddenly startled and couldn't help but shudder.

Had Li Miao actually heard what she said earlier!? She had personally watched him enter the private room and had confirmed that the rooms above, below, and to the sides of Mei Qinghe’s were empty before she dared to reveal everything!

Yet, as she gradually felt sensation returning to her severed arm and faintly felt her fingers move, she sighed inwardly, shocked.

Such a person! Such martial arts! Regrowing a severed limb was treated as a trivial matter—it was beyond her understanding of martial arts. Like a dragon revealing its claws, he was unreachable.

What was so strange about him knowing what she had said?

This healing was both a favor and a warning—a threat. Liu Baiyun had spent her life in the Paojianghu and had never dealt with the Imperial Court, yet she now felt a hint of what the books called "the Emperor's grace, whether it be thunder or rain."

Liu Baiyun was subdued. She nodded and replied, "Yes... my lord."

Another long moment passed.

"Done!"

Li Miao stood up and released Liu Baiyun’s arm. "Try moving it. In ten days or half a month, you’ll be able to use it."

Liu Baiyun felt a sense of relief. Her breath hitched, and she felt as if she had just been pulled from the water; sweat dripped from her cuffs.

Hearing Li Miao’s words, she tentatively tried to move her fingers.

They could move! Although not as agile as before, the severed arm had truly been reattached!

Seeing this, Mei Qinghe suddenly moved to kneel on one knee before Li Miao.

"Hey—" Li Miao raised a hand in a gesture to stop her. With a release of internal energy, Mei Qinghe felt herself being lifted by a gentle yet immense force.

"I don't go in for that here. In the future, just do your job well so I can rest at home more often; that will be reward enough."

Mei Qinghe bowed deeply. "Sen—my lord!"

"I have received many favors and have no way to repay them. From this day forward, I am at your command, even unto death!"

Liu Baiyun wanted to stop her, but upon reflection, she smiled bitterly to herself.

The Huashan Sect had already defected to the Imperial Court, and even she, the Master, had become a lackey. If Mei Qinghe could serve Li Miao, it would at least give her something to rely on—better than following a Master like her, who was mediocre in talent and unable to protect her disciples or her sect.

Thinking of this, Liu Baiyun said nothing more.

Li Miao glanced at Liu Baiyun, then turned to Mei Qinghe with a smile. "It’s the thought that counts; no need to be so dramatic."

He did indeed harbor the intention of recruiting Mei Qinghe to work for him; he had just given her a nudge, not forced her.

Li Miao had remained in the position of Battalion Commander for a long time, and his subordinates came and went; the only one worth mentioning was Wang Hai. After years of cultivation, Wang Hai’s martial arts, methods, and temperament were now well-developed, and he could handle most things for him.

It could be said that Wang Hai, along with the indulgence of Zhu Zai, was the guarantee of Li Miao’s comfortable life.

But one person was still a bit too few; it didn't allow Li Miao to fully "outsource" his work.

Although Mei Qinghe’s temperament was immature, her talent was even greater than Wang Hai’s.

Wang Hai was cultivated by Li Miao, while Mei Qinghe was cultivated by Liu Baiyun... yet they were about the same age and had similar cultivation levels, which showed the gap in their potential.

In the future, Wang Hai could handle the work, Mei Qinghe could kick down the doors, and Li Xiaosi could handle the interrogations.

With Li Miao’s personal guidance, in a few years, he would have two top-tier subordinates and one great shaman... wouldn't that allow Li Miao to live a wonderful life of just signing papers, stamping seals, and collecting money?

By then, even if he were made a General, it wouldn't interfere with Li Miao’s life.

Thinking of this, Li Miao smiled and said, "You call yourselves Master and disciple, but in reality, you are foster mother and daughter. It’s better to speak your minds."

"I won't stay any longer; I haven't even finished my meal. You two should have a good talk tonight."

"Don't delay the business of visiting the mountain tomorrow."

Having said this, he walked out of the room, leaving Mei Qinghe and Liu Baiyun to smile at each other.

(End of chapter)