An old man with lean, wiry muscles slowly walked down the path the crowd had cleared. His imposing air, stern without anger, instinctively stirred a little fear in Mi Hong. He hunched his neck and tried to move aside with everyone else, but Chi Jingyang held him fast, leaving him unable to break free.
As he passed Jiang Yanchuan and the others, Liang Qilüe paused briefly and glanced back at them twice in suspicion. After a few moments, he continued toward the commotion.
Gao Siyuan let out a small breath of relief and whispered, "What an intimidating presence."
Liaochen said, "I think... he might be-"
The rest of his words vanished under Emperor Mingze's sudden backward glance.
All three knew perfectly well that this was likely the veteran general from Beiming they were looking for, Liang Qilüe.
Liang Qilüe walked up to the two men and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"
Someone stepped forward to explain what had just occurred.
Chi Jingyang added, "Lu Jingchu's condition suddenly worsened. This is probably the cause."
Mi Hong still tried to argue his way out. "N-no, it wasn't me-"
But Liang Qilüe's presence was simply too overwhelming. Mi Hong, who had been an honest man all his life, was already weighed down by a guilty conscience. In an instant, his nerve failed him, and his voice gradually weakened.
Liang Qilüe's sharp gaze landed on Mi Hong and swept over him several times in scrutiny. The man's guilty, shrinking eyes gave him his answer, and he let out a heavy snort.
Mi Hong shuddered reflexively.
Mi Hong's string of reactions all but announced to everyone that he was inextricably involved in the sudden worsening of Sixth Son's condition inside. In an instant, the murmurs flew at him from every direction like countless