Chapter 89: Watching the Show

In such matters, right and wrong depend only on how the parties involved think.

In martial arts sparring, seeing blood is a matter of course, and injuries or lingering ailments are also common.

After all, from the moment they engage, both sides must be prepared for injury or death. No one can guarantee a hundred percent chance of winning.

Therefore, no matter what injuries are sustained in the arena, according to Paojianghu rules, the friends and family of the loser cannot seek revenge.

However, Yongjie was not considering it from the perspective of Paojianghu rules; he was thinking about good and evil.

He felt he should not have harmed a good man.

Li Miao said nothing.

Being an outsider, anything said is just empty talk. Since Yongjie had already made up his mind, Li Miao would not question his decision.

However, Li Miao seemed to remember something.

Before, Yongjie had never mentioned his life before becoming a monk. When he went to repay debts, the other party would often recognize him at a glance, so there was no need for words.

Only Mrs. Liu Song, who knew absolutely no Wu Gong and was not involved in Paojianghu, had not recognized Yongjie.

That was why Yongjie had reported his secular name.

Tu Qingcang.

Li Miao had seen this name when looking through files at the Embroidered Uniform Guard; it was placed quite prominently.

Famous fifteen years ago, renowned for chivalry twelve years ago, notorious ten years ago, missing nine years ago, life or death unknown.

A top-tier expert.

Now, he had become a monk who went around repaying debts, so much so that he could barely walk steadily.

In fact, Li Miao had always felt that Yongjie’s personality was somewhat fractured. When they first met, he was a hearty, rough man. Once the past was involved, he became a compassionate monk.

It seemed that the hearty personality was his true nature. Something must have happened later to make him the way he was now.

Li Miao became increasingly curious about Yongjie’s story.

However, compared to listening to someone tell it dryly, it was more interesting to explore it bit by bit.

Anyway, their destinations were close, and the journey together was long; there was no rush for this moment.

Yongjie was covered in blood and looked fierce, stumbling along the street; naturally, the commoners were terrified.

Before they even reached the inn, soldiers had already approached.

"Stop!" the soldier shouted.

Li Miao watched with interest, not saying a word, letting Yongjie handle it.

By now, Yongjie was at the end of his rope, his mind hazy, unable to answer, only half-opening his eyes to look.

With his appearance, squinting at people was like spitting in their eyes.

The soldier swallowed, reached out, and drew his sword.

"Don't move!"

Thump!

Yongjie finally could not hold on and collapsed to the ground.

The soldier took a look and then looked at Li Miao beside him. "Are you two together?"

"Come with us to the yamen!"

————————

When Yongjie woke up, he saw the bars of a cell and the straw on the ground.

He sat up and clenched his fists.

"Don't look, I healed you."

From the cell next door came Li Miao’s lazy voice.

Yongjie looked up and saw Li Miao leaning against a pile of straw, arms crossed, watching him with interest.

"Benefactor... this..." Yongjie hesitated.

"What, do you regret that I healed you?"

"No, naturally not."

"Then that’s settled. If I hadn't healed you, you would have died. You’ve suffered enough pain. Don't you still have things to do? I don't want to drag a severely injured person on the road."

"If you feel it wasn't enough, you can come back and let them cut you again after you finish your business."

Yongjie could only nod with a bitter smile.

A moment later, he looked up at Li Miao again. "Benefactor, where is this?"

"A prison, obviously. You were walking down the street covered in blood; wouldn't you get arrested?"

Li Miao said nonchalantly.

"But... you..." Yongjie struggled with his wording.

Li Miao was an Embroidered Uniform Guard, and one who could scare a Regional Commander into fleeing in terror.

If he just showed his badge, the local Prefect would probably crawl to Li Miao to pay his respects.

Even if Li Miao spat in the Prefect’s face, he would probably wipe it off with a smile and say, "My Lord, your spit warms my heart from my face."

How could he have imagined that Li Miao would actually let himself be obediently thrown into a prison by a few soldiers?

Li Miao said, "If I don't let you stay quietly in prison for a few days, what would you do if you ran out to repay debts again?"

"Monks have to follow the rules, right? You can't break out of prison."

"Just lie there quietly for a few days. When I think it’s enough, I’ll take you out."

Hearing this, Yongjie was speechless.

He knew that he and Li Miao were just chance acquaintances; there was no deep friendship to speak of.

Along the way, he had been injured everywhere and had already troubled Li Miao quite a bit. Now, Li Miao was considering him, and with his lazy nature, he was actually willing to spend a few days in prison with him.

Even if Yongjie was unwilling, he was too embarrassed to speak.

Li Miao glanced at Yongjie.

He quite liked this monk.

Although Li Miao did not agree with Yongjie’s methods, he admired anyone who walked their own path firmly and was willing to pay the price for it. So he didn't mind providing some help.

Of course, if Li Miao discovered later that Yongjie had done evil, he would not be soft-hearted when killing him.

Just like Yun Zelin; Li Miao also admired the "seeker of the Dao" quality in him. But because he treated human life like grass, Li Miao would not show him any leniency just because he admired him.

Repaying debts is only natural. Just because a villain is excellent at what he does doesn't mean he shouldn't die.

One thing at a time; that was Li Miao’s philosophy.

Just as Yongjie was silent and Li Miao was closing his eyes to rest.

A woman’s voice came from the innermost cell.

"Is that... Brother Tu..."

Yongjie suddenly turned his head to look into the depths of the prison.

Li Miao also looked over there.

The light in the prison was dim, and it was far away, so an ordinary person wouldn't be able to see clearly, but that didn't stop Li Miao.

In the deepest cell, a rack was nailed to the wall.

A woman was nailed to the rack.

Her hands and feet were bound to the rack, and iron shackles hung from her feet. Her body was covered in bloodstains.

The most severe injury was two sharp steel hooks that had pierced her shoulder blades, pinning her tightly to the wall.

At this moment, she lifted her head, struggling to turn toward Yongjie.

"Tu... Brother Tu..."

"You’re still alive, that’s great, that’s great..."

"You were also caught... are you injured..."

"Is the injury severe..."

The woman was in mortal danger herself, yet she kept asking about Yongjie’s condition.

Yongjie sighed long and hard.

"Sixth Sister... I am still alive..."

Li Miao was instantly wide awake. He reached into the straw behind him, pulled out a cloth bag, grabbed a handful of melon seeds and snacks, and leaned against the straw pile, listening intently to the two talking.

Of course, he wouldn't really wrong himself. The straw in his cell was newly harvested barley stalks, washed and dried in the sun.

The straw pile behind him had long been stocked with wine, food, and fruit. It was more comfortable than an ordinary inn.

After Yongjie fainted, he had shown his badge.

This cell was one he had the local Prefect arrange, purely as an excuse for Yongjie to recover from his injuries in peace.

He hadn't expected there to be a show to watch!