Chapter 37: Bargaining Chips, Shredded Meat

“Is that so? Then I must be the ignorant one,” Li Miao laughed.

“As long as you know,” Zhu Zai replied, panting heavily.

“Alright, alright, you’d better keep your words to yourself,” Li Miao teased.

“The wound on your arm is still bleeding; don’t spray it on my face,” he added without sparing Zhu Zai any face.

Zhu Zai snorted coldly and ceased arguing with Li Miao, instead focusing on calming himself and regulating his breath.

After all, he was no ordinary man—his martial skills were profound. With Li Miao’s true qi infused, he recovered quickly.

Supporting himself on his knees, he straightened up but remained silent for a moment.

After a while, Zhu Zai brought his hands before his face, clenched them, then touched his skin and suddenly turned to Li Miao.

“This technique of yours… it not only heals wounds but also prolongs life!?”

He had felt, after his injuries healed, that his body was significantly lighter, and the skin on his hands and face seemed firmer.

At sixty-one years old, he was already half-buried in the earth, with years of hidden injuries from countless battles. Without his internal cultivation, he would have died long ago.

His body had grown heavy, his skin loose, and his joints ached faintly.

Yet now, he felt as though he had returned to the vigor of his forties or fifties.

If he were to fight Bu Lei now, he was ninety percent sure he would win!

Shocked, Zhu Zai nearly grabbed Li Miao by the collar, demanding a full explanation.

“It’s not that miraculous,” Li Miao said. “I merely took the opportunity to treat your accumulated hidden injuries.”

“Think of it this way: you were born to live around ninety years, but these injuries have reduced that to seventy-something.”

“Now that they’re healed, you can still live into your nineties.”

“Well? Aren’t you glad you picked me up back then?”

Zhu Zai was in no mood for banter and instead pondered deeply before speaking coldly.

“This technique—where did it come from?”

“It’s derived from a fragmented manuscript; you could say it’s self-developed.”

“Has anyone else seen it? Tell me the name.”

Li Miao saw through Zhu Zai’s intent immediately and feigned wide eyes.

“Trying to silence me?”

“Of course!” Zhu Zai barked angrily.

“If His Majesty finds out about this, you and I will face the entire court!”

“Everything we’ve discussed is based on one premise—that you and I are still His Majesty’s subjects and haven’t crossed the line. Perhaps the emperor won’t pay a heavy price to eliminate us.”

“If the emperor remains silent, the court is just a group of people I can negotiate with, manipulate, and divide.”

“If the emperor commands otherwise, the court becomes a unified weapon!”

“Do you really think you, a Celestial Realm cultivator, and I, a third-grade commander, can stand against the court?”

“The emperor’s mausoleum is already built—does he want to lie down there? And there are countless more Celestial Realm cultivators hidden within the court!”

Zhu Zai was furious.

This matter was far more dangerous—ten times more sensitive than the Ming Sect or rebellion!

Li Miao, you’re like an onion, peeling back layer after layer—how many things have you hidden right under my nose?

If you’re going to hide things, couldn’t you pick something less deadly!?

Li Miao chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, Commander.”

“I know what I’m doing—I’m not some reckless fool who can’t keep secrets.”

“I’ve used this technique before, but only on you to heal your hidden injuries.”

Li Miao’s eyes met Zhu Zai’s, his smile fading.

“I don’t use it carelessly.”

“This is the bargaining chip I’m giving you.”

Zhu Zai should never have gotten involved with Li Miao. Li Miao wasn’t even his son; it wasn’t worth it.

But since Zhu Zai had already made his choice for Li Miao, Li Miao naturally had to leave him a way out.

“According to your plan, I’m in the martial world, and you’re in the court.”

“If one day something goes wrong on your side, and you get arrested by the emperor, use this information to negotiate.”

“I left a trace of true qi in your meridians. When the court’s Celestial Realm cultivators examine it, they’ll be able to verify its authenticity.”

Zhu Zai was silent for a moment, then looked at Li Miao.

“What kind of deal?”

Li Miao smiled. “Up to you.”

“If you can get yourself out, that’s best. If not, have the emperor spread the word, and I’ll go to Shuntian Prefecture to get you out.”

“Then just wait for me.”

“I’ll come to pick you up.”

Zhu Zai was silent again, clenching his fists.

After a moment, he snorted coldly. “Do I still need you to save me?”

“Such arrogance!”

With that, he shook off Li Miao’s hand and walked over to Bu Lei’s corpse, lifting it with his hand and using lightness skill to head toward the Jinyiwei camp.

Li Miao shook his head with a smile.

“Old stubborn man, such a hard mouth.”

He followed closely.

When they arrived at the camp, Zhu Zai suddenly halted.

Because after the battle between Li Miao and Wan Tianzong, the place had been completely transformed.

The camp had been set up on a flat ground outside Shaolin Temple, with about twenty or thirty scattered tents, surrounded by campfires and cooking pots.

Now, it was all reduced to fragments, strewn across a deeply scarred terrain.

More horrifying was the blood and flesh everywhere.

It was as if a dozen people had been finely minced and spread across the ground.

Zhu Zai abruptly turned to Li Miao.

“How many did you kill?”

Li Miao raised an eyebrow. “Just one—Wan Tianzong.”

Then he looked at the battlefield and smiled.

“Oh, you mean all this?”

“All his doing.”

Li Miao said casually.

“You don’t know, his Silkworm Technique is really something.”

“After nine refinements, it regenerates endlessly. Tear off two or three pounds of flesh, and it grows back instantly.”

“On top of that, he’s a ‘Xumi’—his true qi flows endlessly.”

“He was pretty proud of it, saying meeting him was my bad luck. Others might not beat me, but he could stretch the fight until my Celestial Realm’s fifth decline erupted.”

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