Chapter 404: Cooperation

Looking at this sentence, Li Miao understood many things.

For example, why the old Daoist was willing to abandon the principles Mount Wudang had insisted on for hundreds of years, go to Shuntian, and get involved in the court's struggle. After all, in his view, whether it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, the civil officials, or even the Emperor, they were all just one side of the court.

For example, why Ji Tianrui would solemnly leave the four words "River-Upper Master" for him, and why she would get mixed up with Yingzhou.

Just like the Imperial Mausoleum matter.

This story of Zheng Zheng Anqi Sheng being taught by the River-Upper Master, and the Jianwen Emperor inexplicably obtaining the Jizhao cultivation method, are they not too similar? It makes people can't help but think... could this be done by the same person?

Thinking of this, Li Miao closed his eyes and thought to himself.

"Leader Ji, should I say you are neurotic, or prescient and calculating?"

This approach of Ji Tianrui, who relied on only fragments of information to almost blindly determine an imaginary enemy, and was willing to gamble everything just to get one step closer to the imaginary enemy, really had a neurotic meaning.

But what's terrifying is that as time passes, Li Miao can also be more and more certain that the Great Ming, or this world, really has a person hiding behind the scenes, guiding the development of martial arts and the world.

Ji Tianrui launching the Imperial Mausoleum matter was to force this person out.

Cooperating with Yingzhou was to seek information about that person from Zheng Zheng Anqi Sheng, who was an insider.

Thinking of this, Li Miao's fingers paused.

"In this way, Leader Ji attacking Shaolin last year is a bit interesting... maybe she attacked Shaolin just to confirm whether Bodhidharma ascended or disappeared, and that's why she made up her mind to launch the Imperial Mausoleum matter."

"With the disappearance of the two ancestors, the inference that the person Leader Ji mentioned doesn't want Heaven-Man to appear in the world seems more credible..."

"But this person's matter can be put aside for now."

"It's not yet time to deal with this person."

Li Miao closed the ancient book and looked at the old Daoist.

"I already know the matter, Daoist."

"So your Mount Wudang, are you preparing to enter the world, right?"

The old Daoist nodded without any pause.

"Yes."

He stood up, folded his hands, inserted his left thumb into the tiger's mouth of his right hand, bent his right thumb under his left thumb, and pinched the noon pattern, performing a standard and respectful Daoist salute.

"The Mount Wudang Sect has been established for five hundred years. For these five hundred years, we have been waiting for one person. Someone who can blaze their own path, break free from the conventions of their predecessors, reach the realm of Grandmaster Zhang Zhang Sanfeng, and seek the truth behind the disappearance of Grandmaster Zhang Zhang Sanfeng."

"Today, we have finally waited for him."

Seeing the old Daoist so solemn, Li Miao also stood up, no longer in a lazy manner, and responded solemnly.

"Daoist, have you thought it through?"

"I asked someone to invite you here, originally to make an insurance policy against Yingzhou inciting the Ordinary Jianghu. But if Mount Wudang intends to get involved in the court's struggle, it's hard to say if the inheritance will be preserved."

"Furthermore, you know what kind of person I am; although I can't be counted as a demon, the blood on my hands is more than anyone else in the world. Aren't you afraid of ruining your cultivation by standing on my side?"

The old Daoist didn't stand up and said in a deep voice.

"First, if there is no result in the ancestor's matter, how can we talk about cultivation? How can we cultivate, how are we worthy of cultivation!"

"Second, although your means are cruel, what you do is the righteous path, and that is enough."

"We Mount Wudang don't cultivate the path of being pedantic and seeking perfection."

"Today's matter, my Mount Wudang only seeks to obtain the clue about that person from Zheng Zheng Anqi Sheng after Yingzhou is wiped out."

Li Miao smiled.

Indeed, Zhang Zhang Sanfeng was able to perform the feat of the sixty-year crusade against demons, the blood on his hands might not be less than Li Miao's, so how could his successors be pedantic, stubborn, and seeking perfection?

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Daoist."

Li Miao bowed to the old Daoist.

The old Daoist bent his waist slightly, then straightened up and smiled at Li Miao. Both were straightforward people; since they had decided to cooperate, they didn't need to be polite. Li Miao reached out to lead the old Daoist to the table, and Zhu Zai also walked over.

"What realm is the Daoist in now?"

"One and a half paths."

"How many paths can you kill?"

"Anyone below three paths can be killed, and for those of two paths, if there are fewer than five, I can drag them for an hour."

Li Miao raised his head and smiled.

"Mount Wudang's inheritance is indeed extraordinary, and the Daoist is worthy of being a hero who can open a path by himself... In that case, I have a matter to entrust to the Daoist."

Li Miao pointed to a place on the map on the table.

"I have two subordinates who are doing something for me. This matter is extremely important; if something goes wrong, this is the winning move for a comeback, and it cannot be lost."

"Daoist, can you hold this place for me?"

The old Daoist looked at the map, thought for a moment, and his expression became solemn.

"My lord... do you really want to do this?"

Li Miao waved his hand.

"No need to say more, it's a life-and-death struggle, we cannot seek perfection."

"Since the other party has placed their life on the gambling table, how can I spare myself? Daoist, just tell me if you can hold this place for me."

The old Daoist bowed.

"I will definitely not fail your entrustment!"

"Before I die, I will never let anyone step half a step into this place!"

After saying this, he turned and left.

As for this old Daoist, after leaving the palace, he walked non-stop, turned from the Great Ming Gate into the Xuanwu Gate inner street, walked for a while, and stopped outside a Prefectural Yamen.

Just as he arrived at the gate, an Embroidered Uniform Guard ran over, hand on the hilt of his saber, and shouted sternly.

"Who goes there!"

The old Daoist didn't answer, just scanned left and right.

While this Embroidered Uniform Guard was questioning him, dozens of gazes swept over from all directions, nailing onto his vital points.

The old Daoist also harbored some thoughts of wanting to test for Li Miao whether the defense here was strict, and actually also had some pride of a Mount Wudang Heaven-Man, so he didn't answer and walked inside.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard blocking his way changed his expression, retreated half a step, didn't make a sound, and slapped his chest!

Swish-swish-swish-swish—

Thousands of ox-hair fine needles shot out from under his clothes, heading straight for the old Daoist's face!

The old Daoist frowned, raised his hand to use soft force to circulate true energy to gather them in the air and flick them aside.

Just as he wanted to continue walking, a massive white mist suddenly fell from above the gate of the Prefectural Yamen!

Hundreds of pounds of lime powder!

Instantly covering half the street in mist!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard blocking the gate rolled out of the range of the lime powder, first tore at his face, revealing a handsome and slightly pale face, then took a mask from his bosom and put it on, standing up and shouting loudly.

"Rainstorm Pear Blossom! Shoot!"

"Seven-Step Fatal Needle! Heavenly Demon Rain! Intestine-Breaking Soul-Dissolving Powder! Fire Salt! Pill Poison! Yama Post! Don't save money for this Commandant, smash it all in!"

"Yes! —"

An Ziyang gave the order, and dozens of responses rang out from the corners of the walls, underground, trees, and roofs, and then—Tang Men secret hidden weapons, like rain, saturated the white mist.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 405 =====