Chapter 291: Returning to position

The person who shouted "Hero Li" was surnamed Xiao.

Sect Leader Xiao, the very "loser" who had been jealous of Li Miao at Shaolin for half a day. Of course, after Li Miao personally sent Xingchi away, he no longer had any other thoughts, but was instead filled with respect for Li Miao.

Xingchi used a method that was almost suicide to use the reputation he had accumulated for over ninety years—half to wash away Yong Yong Jie's "Evil Path" background, and half to forge a name for Li Miao.

Consequently, a portion of Sect Leader Xiao's respect for Xingchi was transferred to Li Miao.

After Xingchi passed away that day, he fidgeted for a long time, and only after the sun had set and the other Jianghu people had left did he find Yong Yong Jie, wanting to apologize to Li Miao in person, but he didn't expect Li Miao to have already left.

Since that day, the person in the Jianghu who missed "Hero Li" the most was probably none other than this Sect Leader Xiao.

Yet this "Hero Li" had vanished without a trace. The memories of Jianghu people change quickly, and too many things had happened in the past half year, which led to the fact that when Li Miao's face slowly emerged from the mountain path, only this Sect Leader Xiao recognized him immediately.

"Hero Li? Which Hero Li?"

"Hiss—could it be, the Hero Li Miao who presided over Master Xingchi's succession?"

"Isn't he dead?"

"No, although there was news that he died in the Miao Border, it was ultimately just a rumor. It seems he just hasn't appeared in the Jianghu for the past half year."

As Li Miao left the mountain path and stepped onto the summit of Junji Peak, the inexplicable feeling that had caused the Jianghu people to lose their focus slowly dissipated. The Jianghu people first looked left and right, then began to discuss in low voices.

"Judging from the Shaolin succession matter back then, he should also be a Heaven-Man expert."

"But why did he come up the mountain only now... and whose head did he throw on the ground?"

"He seems to be carrying two people in his hands, also heavily injured and near death."

"The feeling just now, it seemed like killing intent, and also like some kind of cultivation method. If it was killing intent... how many lives does he have in his hands... it's simply ten times more ferocious than Yang Lixuan back then!"

"Forget it! Regardless of Evil Path or Righteous Path, every additional Heaven-Man expert in the Jianghu now adds a point of wariness to the imperial court! His coming is a good thing!"

"That's true, but I always feel something is wrong... I always feel that something has been missed by me... I hope it's my illusion."

Zhou Zijing frowned.

The eunuch who collaborated with him did not inform him of Li Miao's news, fearing he would be afraid and not dare to step forward, so he was only confused.

Suddenly, a figure darted past him, rushing straight toward Li Miao.

It was An Ziyang.

The surrounding Jianghu people hadn't reacted yet when suddenly, a series of uniform footsteps came from all around.

They looked toward the sound.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards guarding the summit of Junji Peak were actually surrounding Li Miao in unison.

The Jianghu people's expressions changed abruptly!

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is going to strike at Hero Li!"

"That's right! Looking at the marks and clothing on his body, it's clear he just had a fight with someone, and the bloodstains on him haven't even dried yet! That head thrown on the ground is probably an expert from the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"The two people he is carrying are the live captives he caught!"

"Was the sentence 'Pity, it still couldn't threaten my life' that Hero Li just said mocking the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Zhou Zijing's eyeballs rolled around, and he suddenly shouted sharply.

"The imperial court is actually so unscrupulous! Actually striking at Hero Li in secret! In the future, it might be someone else's turn!"

"How can such conduct make us believe!"

"Fellow Jianghu..."

"Colleagues..."

The voice weakened abruptly.

Zhou Zijing widened his eyes.

An Ziyang had rushed behind Li Miao without the slightest pause, and without a hint of hesitation or unnaturalness, draped the cloak on his hands over Li Miao's shoulders.

Then he followed behind Li Miao and walked forward slowly.

And the Embroidered Uniform Guards who had surrounded them also slowed their pace after approaching Li Miao, standing still on the left and right along the path Li Miao was walking.

A row of black martial attire and armor extended all the way to the bottom of the high platform, following Li Miao's footsteps.

That black color that made the Jianghu people shudder was spread onto the ground by the blood-colored twilight, willingly and naturally being stepped under Li Miao's feet.

Li Miao threw Zheng Yi and the eunuch he was holding onto the ground. An Ziyang waved his hand, and Embroidered Uniform Guards stepped forward to drag the two away, leaving a scarlet bloodstain on the ground.

"Li, Hero?"

Sect Leader Xiao's trembling voice came from behind.

No one answered.

No one responded.

A guess they couldn't believe appeared in their hearts in unison, and as Li Miao walked forward, it gradually occupied their entire minds.

Li Miao suddenly appeared at Shaolin, then suddenly vanished without a trace, and no one knew his background—so where did his Wu Gong come from?

Yang Lixuan was already one of the demons who had killed the most people in the Jianghu in the past few decades, and the killing intent Li Miao emitted was ten times stronger than his; where did he go to kill so many people?

A line connected the two names.

Tai'an, Witchcraft, Four-Season Battalion Commander.

Shaolin, Ming Sect, Hero Li Miao.

Miao Border, Miao people.

It was rumored that Li Miao died in the Miao Border. Although Li Miao was still alive, there is no smoke without fire; someone must have seen Li Miao in the Miao Border for such a rumor to exist.

That "Four-Season Battalion Commander" and Hero Li were both of unknown origin and unknown destination.

And that mysterious Commander was the same.

With Xingchi vouching for Li Miao, no one had ever associated them before.

Until—now.

Yong Yong Jie sighed, wrapped the prayer beads around his hand, stood up, and walked down the high platform.

Wudang Sect Leader Zhi Qing, Beggar Gang Leader Lao Qifeng, Cao Gang Leader Yu Qing, Dali Duan Clan Head Duan Jue, Sword King Pavilion Sword King Bu Ying, and Liu Chengxuan all walked down.

The other three Heaven-Man experts also had their expressions change, looked at each other, and followed down in silence.

Shen Xunning, sitting at the highest point, lifted the light gauze, looked at An Ziyang following behind Li Miao, rolled her eyes, slapped her head, turned around, carried the chair she had been sitting on for half a day, ran to the bottom of the platform in a flash, and threw it on the ground with a bang.

Li Miao finally walked to the front of the platform.

He stretched suddenly.

"Ha—"

Then he sat naturally in that chair.

Blood beads flowed along the gaps in his muscles onto the cloth, slowly blooming. The mysterious black cloak hung down to his feet, and his black hair hung down from his shoulders, as if it had merged with it.

In the dead silence, An Ziyang knelt on one knee abruptly.

"Commander."

At the same time, the Embroidered Uniform Guards lined up on both sides from the mountain path to Li Miao knelt on one knee in unison.

"Commander! —"

The sound resounded through the clouds.

Then it slowly echoed and dissipated.

Clang—

Sect Leader Xiao's weapon fell to the ground, his lips moving, unable to say another word.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 292 =====