Chapter 173: Four Seasons Thousand-Household

Zhixing walked over quickly, clasped his hands, and performed a salute.

"Patron, please. This inferior disciple of mine is young, down the mountain for the first time, doesn't know the height of heaven and the depth of earth, and if his words offended you, I hope you will be magnanimous."

He was worthy of being from Wudang, his cultivation was good. Even though his status was high and he was a supreme expert, he was still polite when speaking at this moment, without the slightest arrogance.

"Limao, why don't you come over quickly and apologize to the Patron!"

At this point, Li Miao finally realized that the little Daoist's Dao name was pronounced the same as his name.

Limao was still a bit unconvinced; Li Miao had popped out inexplicably, and after knowing he was a Wudang disciple, he had commented on the various experts of Wudang, constantly finding fault, as if there wasn't one he looked up to.

Limao was young and energetic, how could he endure this. Seeing his backer return, he was about to complain.

But he suddenly saw Liqing behind Zhixing, secretly giving him a wink.

Looking down, Zhixing was polite in front, but Liqing's hand was gripping the sword hilt.

Limao was shocked.

He rolled his eyes, and an aggrieved expression immediately appeared on his face.

"Yes... Master..."

He stood up, as if unwillingly walking toward Zhixing.

Walking to Zhixing's side, he flashed and hid behind Zhixing, revealing a head to look at Li Miao.

Seeing Li Miao didn't move to stop him, and Limao walked behind him, Zhixing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Limao was not an ordinary disciple. Wudang had finally found such a good seedling after so many years; if something went wrong, the whole Wudang would be heartbroken.

"Patron, this inferior disciple of mine is young, doesn't know things, and let you see a joke."

"Speaking of which, I haven't asked for your name yet?"

Zhixing said.

"Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Household, Li Miao."

Li Miao said indifferently.

Zhixing frowned and pondered for a moment, but was surprised for a moment.

"Oh my, is it the 'Four Seasons Thousand-Household' in person? This poor Daoist Zhixing, greetings."

"Oh?"

Li Miao raised his eyebrows.

It wasn't "Death Thousand-Household" anymore?

Could it be that after Lao Qifeng finished saying "Death Thousand-Household" that day,

Could it be that after Lao Qifeng said "Death-Dealing Battalion Commander" that day, he saw that he was dissatisfied and mobilized the Beggar Gang disciples to correct the nickname for him?

"How did Daoist Zhi Sheng know of this nickname of mine?"

Li Miao asked curiously.

Seeing Li Miao's look of keen interest, Zhi Sheng began to recount the story in detail.

"The righteous deed you performed in Tai'an City that day has already spread throughout the Jianghu. It's just that opinions vary; some say you wiped out half of the Ming Sect single-handedly, while others say you suppressed half a city of crazed commoners with a single palm. To this day, there is no definitive conclusion."

"Since it was your first appearance in the martial arts world, everyone was quite curious about you, so they went to Shuntian Prefecture to inquire and got a version of the story from a Company Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which then spread."

"It is said that you have guarded the capital for twenty years without ever leaving, and you are like the 'Sea-Calming Needle' of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Whether it be imperial relatives or outlaws of the greenwood, whenever you take action, no matter the time, they are bound to be captured without resistance."

"The four seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter in the Shuntian Prefecture martial arts world are all decided by you."

"Hence the name 'Four Seasons Battalion Commander'."

"Ah?"

Li Miao was a bit stunned.

His nickname, which came from only working four hours a day, could be interpreted like this?

Damn it, the more it spreads, the more outrageous it gets. Do these Jianghu people have nothing better to do?

However...

Li Miao twiddled his fingers.

It still sounds better than "Death-Dealing Battalion Commander"... I suppose that's an improvement?

Seeing Li Miao remain silent for a long time, Zhi Sheng spoke up again.

"Just now, my martial nephew and I heard unusual movement on the mountain path and went to investigate, only to discover a group of thirty-eight people. Judging by the physique of the leader, he looks like a member of the Yang family; I suspect they are scoundrels from the Ming Sect."

"Did you come here, my lord, because of them?"

Seeing that the conversation had turned to serious business, Li Miao stopped dwelling on his nickname.

"Exactly. I have been tracking this group of scoundrels all the way here."

"Seeing faint firelight here, I searched for it, thinking that if they were Jianghu people, I would drive them away to prevent them from being silenced by the Ming Sect, which would alert the enemy while I was trying to save them."

"I didn't expect it to be a Daoist priest from Wudang."

Zhi Sheng nodded.

"So that's how it is."

"My lord, do you need assistance from Wudang?"

Logically speaking, when the imperial court and the Ming Sect clash, Wudang generally stays out of it and keeps a distance.

But, who could blame the Ming Sect for being too beastly during this period?

The massacre in Tai'an, the breaching of Shaolin, and the nirvana of Xingchi. These three events can be said to have provoked the public anger of the Jianghu. Wudang and Shaolin have been mentioned together for many years, there is a bond of incense, and Xingchi was virtuous and highly respected. Now that they have encountered this, they naturally must contribute their efforts.

After all, there is no definitive account in the Jianghu of what Li Miao did in Tai'an City. Jianghu people are accustomed to exaggerating when passing on news, so Zhi Sheng did not have an accurate estimate of Li Miao's martial arts.

Zhi Sheng only assumed that Li Miao was not confident in taking down the Ming Sect members, so he was just following behind without making a move.

Therefore, his offer now was out of kindness, meaning he wanted to lend a hand.

After all, he was with Li Miao and feared a mishap, so he preferred to avoid trouble. But if he were to cooperate with the imperial court and have no worries behind him, he, as a Peak expert, would not fear the Ming Sect.

Li Miao, however, waved his hand.

"No need."

"I am just seeing if they have any intention of regrouping, thinking of gathering them together before killing them. If I can run into the Ming Sect leader, I'll just slaughter him as well, which will save me some trouble."

Zhi Sheng thought to himself, what a big mouth.

Is Ji Tianrui so easy to kill?

Was the breaching of the Shaolin mountain gate and Xingchi being beaten into nirvana by Ji Tianrui a lie?

You are a "young man" in your early thirties, how high can your martial arts be? Could it be that you are so used to throwing your weight around in the Embroidered Uniform Guard that you have become arrogant and think the Jianghu is nothing more than this?

Zhi Sheng was kind-hearted, and Li Miao was a good official who saved the people of Tai'an; he did not want Li Miao to throw his life away in vain, so he hurriedly advised him.

"My lord, the Ming Sect is, after all, a major sect with a thousand-year heritage, and there are many experts within the sect. Ji Tianrui is also a demon who once suppressed the Jianghu. Although it is unknown how he faked his death to escape back then, I fear he is even harder to deal with now."

"Do not be careless."

Li Miao only waved his hand without a word, his face full of disdain.

Seeing that Li Miao's mind was made up, Zhi Sheng pondered for a moment and sighed.

"How about this: I will have my martial nephew take my disciple back to Wudang, and I will accompany you, my lord."

"Relying on my sect's heritage, I can also be considered a Peak expert. If you take me with you, my lord, and we happen to run into Ji Tianrui, I can at least be a helper."

He thought that if they ran into Ji Tianrui, he would definitely not be able to win. But he had some confidence in taking Li Miao and fleeing.

There are really not many people in the Jianghu who know about the Heaven-Man Realm. In major sects like Shaolin and Wudang, only a few people inside know about it, and Zhi Sheng does not know.

He had never fought Ji Tianrui back then, so he only felt that Ji Tianrui was an extremely formidable Peak expert. If he knew about Heaven-Man, the merging of two paths, and the like, he probably wouldn't be so confident.

Upon hearing this, Li Miao looked Zhi Sheng up and down and couldn't help but laugh.

Wudang, Shaolin.

These two are indeed major righteous sects that have been passed down for many years and emphasize the cultivation of the mind. The few he has come into contact with, whether it be Xingchi, Yong Jie, Xing Xiu, or the Zhi Sheng before him, are all good people.

Li Miao stood up.

"Very well."

"Since we have already reached Yuzhou Province, we are not far from Shuntian Prefecture. The Ming Sect is likely waiting to regroup until they reach Shuntian Prefecture to avoid being wiped out on the road."

"I won't keep these baits anymore."

"There is no time like the present; let's kill these people tonight."

(End of chapter)