Chapter 34: Beating the Grass to Startle the Snake

This was also Fei Junxuan's first time seeing an Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Taishan Sect had many disciples, and all supplies were basically purchased from Tai'an Department City. His status as the manager here was naturally not low within the Taishan Sect.

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

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

"A person of my standing is being polite to you; surely you should consider your own face and not flip the table, right?"

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

The so-called classification of first-rate, second-rate, and third-rate is essentially a reflection of the administrative divisions of the Great Ming: province, prefecture, and department.

Those who are famous in the Central Plains Jianghu and hard to find rivals for are top-tier experts.

Those who can make a name for themselves in a province and rank high in Wu Gong are first-rate experts. Second-rate and third-rate follow accordingly.

After all, there are countless Jianghu sects, and each has different internal energy methods and fighting styles. There is no way to set a unified standard of strength, so they can only use this crude method of classification.

Although the classification is crude, its actual value is much higher than the classifications of individual sects.

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 blade 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 title earned through real combat. He was used to throwing his weight around in Jinan Prefecture, and few people would not give him face.

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

If it were about social niceties or secret barbs, he could handle it.

If it were about open confrontation with real blades and guns, he wouldn't be afraid.

But he had truly never seen a situation where you approached with a smile and were met with a slap in the face.

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

Seeing that no one was smoothing things over, Fei Junxuan had to stand up from the ground, his face livid.

Although Li Miao had controlled the force of that palm and didn't injure him, the fact that a palm strike from a distance could shatter 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 Taishan Sect offended you in any way?" Fei Junxuan finally asked.

Li Miao ignored him.

"Then... I apologize!"

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

There were onlookers outside, and seeing the fight break out inside, they retreated to avoid being accidentally injured.

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

Before long, it was quiet again.

Some idlers poked their heads in to see what was happening, when suddenly someone was thrown out, rolling on the ground, covered in dust.

The person thrown out supported himself with his hands and stood up, revealing a face still filled with shock and anger.

Jianghu figures on the periphery whispered in shock: "Is that Fei Junxuan!? He was just thrown out like that?"

"Who exactly is inside?"

They heard someone inside say loudly: "Go, go buy food for the lord."

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

Fei Junxuan's anger had not yet subsided, but he was helpless. After hesitating for a long time, he stamped his feet in hatred, covered his face with his sleeve, and ran toward the restaurant.

If he were considering the face of the Taishan Sect, he would certainly have to go in and fight to the death. But, unless truly pushed to the edge, who wants to die?

And if he really ran away, and the disciples inside all had their Wu Gong crippled, could he escape punishment by 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 Taishan Sect disciples. But after it was over, she was still confused.

She knew Li Miao wanted to act against the Five Mountains Sword Sects, but shouldn't such things be done by finding the right opportunity in secret to deliver a decisive blow?

Why did Li Miao act as if he were afraid the world wouldn't know the Embroidered Uniform Guard was about to move against the Five Mountains Sword Sects?

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 does things, it must be justified and well-founded. You cannot just kill your way to someone's front door and stab them to death."

"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 all at once, can we?"

"If I don't give them a warning first, how can I force them to call all their people back? What if some slip through the net?"

"Besides..." Li Miao pointed toward Taishan.

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

"I have to force him to jump the wall first, so I can justify catching this dog that jumped the wall and stewing it."

"Just watch. I came to cause him trouble, and it certainly wasn't without reason."

Mei Qinghe wanted to say something. Li Miao's logic sounded reasonable, but wouldn't letting them know and prepare just add a lot of trouble?

But then she thought again: Li Miao's Wu Gong was bottomless; even a top-tier expert might not last a few rounds against him. Li Miao's nature was lazy, and he certainly wouldn't look for trouble for himself; he must have his reasons.

She nodded in agreement and said no more.

The two waited in the room for a while before seeing Fei Junxuan run in, covering his face, and slamming a food box onto the table.

"Set it up," Li Miao said.

"You!?" Fei Junxuan shouted in a low voice, but looking at Li Miao's expressionless face, he couldn't help but shiver.

After a long while, he stamped his feet in hatred, his face livid, and 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 they were full, Li Miao stood up and walked to the door, suddenly turning to say to Fei Junxuan: "Today's food was average, a bit cold, and lacked the 'wok hei'."

"Remember to buy it in advance tomorrow. I will come to eat at this same time."

"Fine—!"

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

Li Miao did not answer and left with Mei Qinghe.

Fei Junxuan turned, grabbed his sword, rode out of the city, and headed toward the Taishan Sword Sect.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 35 =====