The Jianghu and the Imperial Court (Seeking Votes)

"Junior Brother Feng, leave the Demonic Cult to you and your men. This matter is of great importance; do not bother with any martial arts etiquette when dealing with them.

If you cannot repel them head-on, then use sneak attacks to stall their advance. You must secure enough time for the battle of Luoyang."

The destructive power of a supreme master who discards his pride to launch sneak attacks is undoubtedly immense. This is especially true for a sword master like Feng Qingyang, whose lethality is terrifying.

"Rest assured, Sect Leader. My sword has been starving for far too long. If those Demonic Cult scoundrels dare to invade, I shall ensure they never return!

However, once I leave, what of those old monks..."

Before Feng Qingyang could finish, Ning Qingyu laughed heartily and said, "Do not worry, Junior Brother Feng. Those monks at Shaolin Temple cherish their lives dearly.

At their age, if they were to engage in an all-out battle with me, they would likely be meeting their Buddha before long. Without those three old fossils, Yuancong alone cannot maintain Shaolin's current transcendent status."

In the martial arts world, strength is king. Shaolin Temple is able to remain the number one sect not only because of its deep foundations and numerous disciples, but also because it holds an advantage in high-end power.

Yet, supreme masters are not cabbages that can be grown at will. Even a powerhouse like Shaolin cannot guarantee their presence in every generation.

Time spares no one, and martial arts masters are no exception. The older generation of supreme masters at Shaolin are all decrepit, and the 'Yuan' generation has only produced Yuancong.

Relying on their profound internal energy, these old men can hold on for another decade or so to continue Shaolin's glory. But once they engage in an all-out fight and exhaust their internal energy, they will be finished immediately.

Ning Qingyu dared to launch this move now not only because the Mount Hua Sect had developed to its limit, but also because of this very fact.

These old monks might not dare to risk their lives now, but once their lifespans are nearing their end, the situation will be entirely different. To protect the sect they have guarded their entire lives, dragging others down with them before they die would be perfectly normal.

With the departure of Feng Qingyang and his men, the situation in Luoyang grew increasingly tense, with a massive battle appearing ready to erupt at any moment.

Involved with two major martial arts sects and the series of factions behind them, the city officials—or more accurately, the surrounding gentry and powerful clans—became anxious.

When the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat suffer.

On the surface, this conflict had nothing to do with them, but martial arts practitioners are accustomed to being lawless. With all sorts of people gathering, who could guarantee there weren't a few daring souls among them?

To maintain order in the city, not only were the yamen runners and constables working overtime, but the Six Fan Sect, the Brocaded Guard, and the Eastern Depot were all mobilized. Even the surrounding garrison troops entered the city, yet they could only barely maintain control.

Even so, the gentry still felt insecure and pressured the Prefect of Luoyang.

Miao Shixing, who had just ascended to the seat of Prefect, had not yet experienced the wonderful life of "a clean official for three years, earning one hundred thousand taels of silver," before encountering this massive headache.

"Well? What did those damned martial arts people say?"

The secretary looked ashamed and stammered, "My Lord, these martial arts people are truly too lawless. I didn't even get to see their leader before I was chased out."

Hearing this, Miao Shixing turned bright red with rage, cursing, "Preposterous! Absolutely preposterous! I must memorialize the Imperial Court and send troops to exterminate these rebels..."

Although he had anticipated the rugged nature of the northern people, he never expected them to be so bold as to completely ignore him, the Prefect.

Before Miao Shixing could continue, Vice Prefect Liu hurriedly interrupted, "My Lord, be careful with your words! Both Mount Hua and Shaolin are righteous sects; they are certainly not rebels.

I believe there must be some misunderstanding; it will be fine once it is resolved. Martial arts affairs have always been handled by the Six Fan Sect; it is best to leave it to them!"

Vice Prefect Liu, who hailed from a local Luoyang clan, knew the power of Shaolin and Mount Hua. If the label of 'rebel' were truly slapped on them, he didn't know if those sects would be finished, but he was certain his own head would not remain on his shoulders.

Throughout the dynasties, there had been attempts to exterminate martial arts sects, but the results always ended in nothing. The imperial army would arrive, then leave, and the sects would immediately rise from the ashes.

The Great Ming had tried it once at its founding, but the result was a loss of troops and generals. The officials presiding over the suppression died suddenly, several imperial princes were killed, and the Emperor himself nearly met his end in an assassination attempt.

In the end, Wudang had to step in to mediate, and the Imperial Court and the various sects reached an agreement: "Martial arts affairs are to be settled by the martial arts world."

The Imperial Court would not interfere in martial arts disputes, and martial arts disputes would not involve ordinary people. The Six Fan Sect was established specifically to manage crimes involving martial arts practitioners.

These dark secrets of the Imperial Court were naturally not widely publicized. Aside from the six great sects of that time, only a few northern aristocratic families involved in the matter knew the truth.

Miao Shixing, who came from a humble background, naturally did not know these inside stories; otherwise, even if he had thoughts, he would not have spoken so recklessly.

Of course, the conflict between the Imperial Court and the martial arts world would not end so easily. How could an Emperor, a creature who holds grudges, not seek revenge?

Since direct force didn't work, they would incite internal strife and let the sects kill each other.

Of the former six great sects, only Shaolin, Wudang, and Mount Hua remained prosperous; the other three were ruined by these schemes.

However, the Imperial Court's plan was eventually exposed, making the sects vigilant. Now, while they still fought for interests, they exercised restraint.

If not for the fear of the Imperial Court acting as the fisherman reaping the benefits, the Five Mountains Sword Sects and Shaolin would have long since torn off their masks instead of engaging in this 'fight without breaking' stalemate.

In the world of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, Shaolin and Wudang would not abandon their conflicts; when provoked by the Demonic Cult, they would cower and scheme behind the scenes, lacking the aura of martial arts leaders.

"The ignorant are fearless!"

Feeling his dignity challenged, Miao Shixing shouted coldly:

"Hmph!"

"Vice Prefect Liu, do not forget your position. Speaking up for these lawless martial arts people—could it be that there are some unspeakable dealings behind this?"

Adhering to the principle of checks and balances, the duties of Great Ming officials were vaguely defined. Conflict between a superior and his deputy was the norm, and the Imperial Court would even intentionally arrange for political rivals to be partners.

"Since Prefect Miao thinks so, you are welcome to submit a memorial to the Imperial Court to impeach me. I have already warned you; if something happens in the future, do not blame it on me."

Their relationship was already poor, so Vice Prefect Liu naturally would not tell Miao Shixing the truth. If not for the fear that things would escalate and implicate him, he wouldn't even have bothered to warn him.

"I will not trouble Vice Prefect Liu to worry!"

Though he spoke firmly, his heart had already begun to drum. If only he hadn't spoken so definitively just moments ago...

The new book PK tournament has begun; tickets, tips, and ratings are all welcome. Haiyue is not a picky eater...