Chapter 60 Two Choices

The real Ji Tianrui died fifteen years ago. The current leader of the Bright Cult is named Ji Tianrui.

Whether Ji Tianrui or Ji Tianrui, both were people of the Miao ethnicity, and their original names should have been Gepu Tianrui and Gepu Tianrui. Wishing to conceal their origins, they had adopted "Jipu"—a surname with a similar pronunciation—as a pseudonym, which was subsequently simplified to the single-character surname "Ji."

Why did the Miao people collude with the Bright Cult, and where did the cult's sorcery originate?

It was because both leaders of the Bright Cult were of Miao origin, hailing specifically from the "Gepu Clan," one of the twelve Miao lineages, and thus possessed the authentic heritage of sorcery and witchcraft.

All questions were answered by this revelation.

Yet, at the same time, it gave birth to new questions.

As a Miao person who first emerged thirty years ago and suppressed experts from the five major sects with the supreme arts of the Bright Cult, where had Ji Tianrui acquired such profound foundations in the cult's martial arts? Before Ji Tianrui, who was the one that linked the Bright Cult and the Miao people together?

What precisely was the attitude of the Miao people toward the Bright Cult? If they were enemies, why had they rebelled alongside the cult fifteen years ago? If they were friends, why had they secretly left behind warnings within the Miao King's tomb, allowing Li Miao to discover the Wedding Gown Divine Art, the pupa woman, and the venomous beasts, thereby obtaining the most crucial clues?

What was the relationship between Ji Tianrui and Ji Tianrui? Judging by their names, they seemed to be brother and sister, but when Ji Tianrui died and the Bright Cult suffered a devastating blow back then, where had she been? And why was she surfacing now?

Far from strictly guarding against the exposure of these matters, this Ji Tianrui seemed rather to be guiding Li Miao step by step toward the truth.

Ji Tianrui had been right here not long ago, residing in this very secret chamber. Everything within this room, as well as the Heavenly Realm pupa woman, were clues she had deliberately left behind for Li Miao.

Li Miao put down the stack of papers and looked at the two bound booklets placed on the table.

He picked up the booklets and flipped through them.

One stack consisted of maps detailing various Miao villages in the southwestern frontier. The annotations upon them were exceptionally detailed, clearly indicating manpower, the positions of visible and hidden sentries, the layouts of various buildings, and designated routes. If one were to launch an attack following these booklets, backed by the strength of the Bright Cult, success would be certain.

The other stack contained a map of the city of Shuntian Prefecture, similarly detailing the distribution of markets, garrisoned soldiers, and defensive lines. If this information were leaked, at the very least, a third-rank official would lose his head.

Li Miao let out a cold laugh. "Fitting for family, even their methods are cut from the exact same cloth."

Clearly, Ji Tianrui intended to follow the path of Ji Tianrui from fifteen years ago, dividing the Bright Cult's forces into two distinct routes: one heading to Shuntian Prefecture, and the other remaining in the Miao frontier.

Judging by the distances, the implication was that she wanted Li Miao to visit the Miao frontier first before proceeding to Shuntian.

He just wondered what kind of chaos the Bright Cult intended to stir up in Shuntian Prefecture this time around.

Li Miao smiled silently.

Taking the two stacks of documents, he turned, walked out of the secret chamber, and found An Ziyang, who was peering about cautiously.

"Go to your front gate. There should be someone keeping watch there right now. Tell him it's my command, and bring him here."

An Ziyang accepted the order and departed.

Before long, he brought back the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had been stationed at the entrance and tailing Li Miao's footsteps over the past few days.

Li Miao pulled him aside and spoke a few words to him.

The complexion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard turned pale in an instant, looking exceedingly grim.

"Commander, this, this..."

"This matter is bound to shake the heavens."

Li Miao handed the two stacks of documents to him and said, "Take these items to the Chief Commander, and let his elder self handle them as he sees fit."

"I have some matters to attend to, but I should still manage to catch up with affairs at home. Tell him not to wait for me and to set off whenever necessary."

"Understood!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard acknowledged the command, turned, and strode away.

Only then did Li Miao turn back. With neither sound nor perceptible movement, he appeared like a ghost behind An Ziyang, who was still standing in the corner with his ears pressed against the wall to eavesdrop.

"Have you heard enough?"

"Holy crap!"

An Ziyang started violently, then forced a composed expression as he turned around and flashed a fawning smile.

"Sir, I wasn't—"

"Alright, alright." Li Miao waved a hand.

"Things have come to this, let's eat first."

"Whatever business there is, we'll discuss it after we're full."

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By the time Li Miao finished his meal, dusk was already approaching.

He had spent a full two hours on this single meal.

With martial arts cultivated to his level, daily dining was no longer a necessity as it was for ordinary people; going half a month or even a full month without food was entirely feasible.

However, unlike those martial arts maniacs, Li Miao did not believe in deliberately torturing himself. Fine food and good wine were things he could never afford to miss; otherwise, what would be the point of cultivating such martial arts in vain?

Although the An estate had been thrown into turmoil by the Bright Cult, firstly, their family foundation was undeniably substantial and could withstand the upheaval; and secondly, the art of disguise possessed by the Bright Cult was not mastered by everyone. All things considered, the majority of the servants in the An residence were still present.

Upon receiving the message from An Ziyang, An Wenjie had lost no time in arranging a most luxurious banquet, the table laden with mountain delicacies, sea treasures, and fine wines.

Whenever a dish grew cold, it was removed before Li Miao even had to speak, and the kitchen would immediately serve a fresh dish, ensuring that every single offering on the table radiated a freshly-cooked warmth.

Rather than merely "eating," Li Miao was meticulously savoring each dish one by one.

Having stayed in Shuntian Prefecture for too long, these southern flavors felt novel and possessed a unique charm of their own.

Besides, once he was full, a brief circulation of his internal energy would render his stomach empty once more.

He remained completely relaxed, but the father and son of the An family sat on pins and needles, enduring two full hours of accompanying Li Miao through the meal.

Up to this moment, they still had no idea of Li Miao's true identity. For a rabbit to accompany a tiger in dining and manage to resist the urge to flee was already a testament to their exceptional fortitude.

Having tasted enough and noticing that the served dishes were beginning to repeat, Li Miao finally put down his chopsticks, rinsed his mouth with tea, and spat it into a basin. Then, taking a hot towel handed to him by a servant, he wiped his hands before finally looking toward the two men.

"I almost forgot, I haven't introduced myself to the two of you yet."

"Li Miao, Commander of the Northern Bureau of the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Greetings."

With that, he flashed the token the Embroidered Uniform Guard had returned to him right before their eyes.

The expressions of both men shifted drastically in an instant.

"Lord Commander!"

"We failed to welcome you from afar! Being unaware of your esteemed identity earlier, any offenses committed were unintentional, and we most earnestly beg for your magnanimity."

The two men stood up simultaneously, swept back the hems of their robes, and looked as though they were about to drop to their knees.

"There's no need for that. Rise, both of you, and speak while seated."

With a gentle wave of Li Miao's hand, an invisible force compelled the two men to straighten up involuntarily, leaving them temporarily speechless.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards! A Commander!

The two exchanged a stealthy glance, their hearts filled with nameless dread.

They had long suspected that Li Miao possessed an extraordinary background, but who could have imagined a background of this magnitude!

First the Bright Cult, and now a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards—was there any way for people to live?!

After exchanging another round of silent glances, they spoke to Li Miao with utmost caution.

"My lord, is there anything our An family can do to assist?"

Li Miao smiled, pointing a finger at the father and son.

"Sensible."

"Right now, I do indeed need the two of you to run an errand and escort someone to the Miao frontier for me."

An Ziyang asked with trembling trepidation, "Dare I ask, who is this person?"

"Yongjie, Abbot of Shaolin."