16. Forced to Bow One’s Head
“Uncle, Guo’er is really, really hungry…” The little girl spoke plaintively, her voice laden with grievance.
Li Miao sat beside her on the ground, hearing her stomach growling audibly. He chuckled, “Bear with it. As a cultivator, you must learn to endure many things—hunger, thirst, heat, cold, pain, and so on. In the future, we might face all kinds of hardships. If you can’t endure these minor troubles, you’ll bring greater misfortune upon yourself.”
His tone was light, but the words themselves were by no means a jest.
Guo’er was clever and knew he spoke the truth, so she gritted her teeth and persevered.
Sweat dripped down her cheeks, sliding from her chin. Li Miao watched her, as if seeing a reflection of his own childhood, struggling through rigorous training.
“All that others give you is fleeting. The only thing truly worth relying on in this world is strength.”
He repeated, word for word, what his teacher once told him, passing it on to Guo’er.
Guo’er nodded, biting her lip. “I… understand. Guo’er wants her own strength, just like uncle, just like master, just like the ancestors said.”
Li Miao nodded with satisfaction.
Though it pained him to see such a pitiable little girl suffering, he knew that if he truly wished her well, he must be strict, letting her toil and study hard, so she might become someone able to protect herself.
A fledgling must one day take flight, while the parent bird will inevitably grow old.
He did not know how long he could remain in this world. If Guo’er did not strive, and instead lingered beneath his wings, then should he someday depart, she would be swallowed by the calamities sure to follow.
“Uncle…”
Guo’er called softly, asking, “That night, when you said you wouldn’t leave Guo’er—was that true?”
She seemed anxious, as if Li Miao’s words hinted at a warning of future departure.
How could Li Miao not understand her thoughts?
He smiled gently, replying, “It’s true. I always keep my promises. I won’t abandon you. But that doesn’t mean we’ll be together every moment. In a few days, for example, I’ll go with Guo Yunyi and the others to Qianyuan Mountain to deal with monsters. I can’t bring you into situations like that. So you must grow strong, so you can protect yourself while I’m away.”
“Mm. I will, I will…” With his reassurance, Guo’er felt much more at ease.
She bit her lip, determination shining in her large eyes. Though the sun beat down and her legs trembled, she stubbornly kept herself upright.
Drip.
Drip.
The blue stone ground beneath her was soaked with sweat. Under the sun, her small body seemed as if it had been fished from the river, drenched with heat.
Suddenly, without warning, a blaze of fire appeared in the western sky!
A red-robed, red-haired elder streaked across the horizon like a meteor, descending to hover above Qihuang Peak!
With his arrival, a forceful, overwhelming aura poured down from the sky, sweeping arrogantly across the entire Hundred Herbs Sect, scanning every person on Qihuang Peak.
Flight upon the wind!
And so fast—it was terrifying. This man’s cultivation was at least at the Profound Realm!
His appearance sent shockwaves through the Hundred Herbs Sect.
Li Miao was also taken aback; he had only been in this world a few days, yet now encountered such a formidable figure.
When that powerful aura swept over him, he felt as though his entire being had been laid bare—no secrets could be hidden.
The red-haired elder hovered, surveying the Hundred Herbs Sect, before fixing his gaze on the direction of the Hall of the Old Master.
“Initial Return Realm… could it be him?”
With a flash of fire, the elder descended directly to the entrance of the hall.
At that moment, Steward Huo Zhong of the Hundred Herbs Sect happened to be nearby.
Seeing the unknown elder seemingly about to barge into the hall, Huo Zhong hurried forward, “Senior, the sect master is refining pills, please don’t—ugh!”
The red-haired elder didn’t even glance at him, flicking his hand. Huo Zhong spat blood, hurtling dozens of yards away, smashing against a huge stone, his fate uncertain.
The disciples of the Hundred Herbs Sect watched in terror.
Huo Zhong’s cultivation was already at the late Condensation Realm, second only to Sect Master Xu Yong and Elder Ge Rou.
Yet such a powerful figure was rendered unconscious with a mere gesture from afar—the intruder’s prowess was simply monstrous!
“Disaster, disaster…” Many felt as if calamity was imminent.
Eyes fixed on the Hall of the Old Master, yet none dared to approach.
Li Miao saw Huo Zhong struck down in the distance, frightened into inaction.
The red-haired elder entered the hall. Everyone on Qihuang Peak held their breath, watching anxiously.
---
Within the hall, there was no sound, but everyone nearby could sense that from the moment he crossed the threshold, the heat radiating from the Hall of the Old Master vanished.
Clearly, Xu Yong’s pill refining was interrupted.
After nearly half an hour, the red-haired elder emerged, holding a small sky-blue crystal in his hand, satisfaction on his face. With a step, he soared into the distance.
“Sect master!”
“Master!”
As the mysterious powerhouse departed, everyone rushed toward the hall.
Li Miao, forgetting Guo’er’s training, told her to rest and eat, then leapt to the hall entrance.
In moments, over thirty people had gathered—almost the entire Hundred Herbs Sect.
The unconscious Huo Zhong was brought back, gravely wounded, barely alive. After feeding him several top-grade pills, his condition was stabilized.
At the door, the short, stout Xu Yong staggered out, a bloodstain on his chest, looking dispirited.
“Master!”
Yan Chengxue cried out, hurrying forward.
Xu Yong waved her off. “I’m fine, just some backlash from hurriedly ending the refinement. But…”
He smiled bitterly, looking at Li Miao, his expression bleak.
The red-haired elder’s arrival had ruined his pill refining, all the precious ingredients wasted, even the small piece of cosmic crystal taken.
His painstaking efforts, destroyed in an instant.
Li Miao sighed inwardly.
Though he had no close ties with Xu Yong, the events weighed heavily on his heart.
Cosmic crystal was incredibly precious in this world—a true luxury, coveted even by powerful cultivators like the red-haired elder, who was at least at the Profound Realm.
If anyone knew Li Miao’s microcosm contained a trove of cosmic crystals, he would be hunted down within days, his corpse left in the wild.
“Li Miao, I’m truly sorry. The promised Tongxuan Pill cannot be fulfilled,” Xu Yong said with a bitter smile, seeming to age a decade in a single sentence.
The Tongxuan Pill was an eighth-grade medicine, requiring rare ingredients; it would be nearly impossible to gather another set soon. All his preparations were lost.
Li Miao replied, “I understand—this is not your fault, but the result of weakness before strength.”
Xu Yong looked grateful, comforted by Li Miao’s understanding.
Even Yan Chengxue, usually mischievous, showed rare seriousness. She asked, “Master, who was that just now?”
Xu Yong replied, “He is the strongest cultivator in Tianxia County, also one of the most formidable rogue cultivators in Longquan Prefecture. His cultivation has reached the peak of the Profound Realm. He is called the Red Demon, with the Dao name Sunflame Immortal.”
Red Demon! Peak Profound Realm!
His words astonished everyone.
Such cultivation—there were few in the entire Bangshan County who could match him.
Yan Chengxue’s face paled; whatever bold words she had in mind were instantly swallowed.
Li Miao was less surprised, asking, “Sect master Xu, why would Sunflame Immortal come to the Hundred Herbs Sect? It didn’t seem as if he came solely to seize the celestial jade.”
When Sunflame Immortal appeared, he was clearly searching for something. Upon obtaining the cosmic crystal, his joy was unexpected, not anticipated. Clearly, he had another motive.
Xu Yong nodded. “Indeed, he didn’t know I had celestial jade at first. He destroyed my furnace as soon as he entered, asking whether I possessed a pale blue jade butterfly. Sigh… I told him no, but he searched my Sumeru space, seized the celestial jade, and departed.”
Jade butterfly!
Li Miao was shocked.
He had never imagined that the item he acquired less than a day ago would attract such a terrifying existence!
A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind, and he guessed that activating the jade butterfly with primordial energy last night must have drawn Sunflame Immortal.
But he dared not tell anyone.
Though his heart was in turmoil, he kept calm, nodding, “There’s nothing to be done. To escape with our lives is blessing enough.”
“Yes.” Xu Yong sighed and forced a smile. “Let’s all disperse. Steward Huo will stay with me—I’ll tend his wounds.”
“Yes, sect master (master).”
The sect members responded, departing with heavy hearts.
---
Li Miao didn’t linger, frowning as he returned to the Tidewatch Residence.
When Consort Qi gave him the jade butterfly, she only said it was a key to a treasure, never mentioning the troubles it would bring.
Now the item was his, impossible to shake off.
He dared not even take it from his microcosm; if the red-haired elder returned, ten lives wouldn’t be enough.
“The matter is settled. I can only keep it secret for now, and wait until I’m strong enough to investigate further.”
So Li Miao thought.
On the clearing before the bamboo house, Guo’er sat feebly eating, her sweat-soaked appearance pitiful.
Seeing his complicated expression as he returned, she asked, “Uncle, what happened just now?”
Li Miao shook his head, “Nothing, just a minor accident.”
He set aside his worries, crouching next to Guo’er, placing a hand on her back, channeling primordial energy to nourish her body. “Are you tired?”
Guo’er nodded, then shook her head.
“A little, but I can still manage.”
“Then after you finish eating, rest a bit, and continue training.”
“Ah? More training?”
Her little face fell.
Her timid expression was so endearing that Li Miao’s gloom dissipated somewhat. He smiled, “No more stance training this time; I’ll teach you a set of boxing techniques.”
“Boxing!” Guo’er’s eyes lit up, nodding vigorously. “Okay, okay! Anything but standing—I’m happy to practice!”
Clearly, after standing all morning, she had developed a psychological aversion.
Eager to practice boxing, Guo’er ate quickly.
After breakfast and a brief rest, she wiped her sweat and asked to continue training.
Li Miao was pleased with her diligence, and began teaching her the most basic long boxing forms.
Guo’er’s talent was undeniable; she learned quickly, remembering most after a single demonstration. Even when she erred, a little guidance brought swift understanding.
Such potential made Li Miao sigh—he was glad she met him; otherwise, this rough gem might have been buried forever on Zhongyun Mountain.
The day passed swiftly. Teacher and student basked in the sun all day before the bamboo house, Guo’er’s once fair skin darkened.
When night fell, Li Miao did not push her further, using primordial energy for a thorough bodily nourishment, then sent her to wash and sleep.
When the moon rose and Guo’er drifted off, Li Miao left the Tidewatch Residence, heading down the mountain.
The red-haired elder’s appearance weighed on his mind, like a blade hanging overhead.
He wished to go to Green Jade Pavilion to ask about the origins and secrets of the jade butterfly.
The night was still as water.
After the red-haired elder’s intimidation, the disciples of the Hundred Herbs Sect threw themselves into cultivation or pill refining, abandoning all recreation.
Li Miao disturbed no one, descending Qihuang Peak alone, moving swiftly, a shadow racing east toward Wu’an Town.
At full speed, a hundred miles was but half an hour’s journey.
The outline of Wu’an Town came into view; all four gates were shut, curfew enforced, and the streets empty.
He reached the western wall, leapt lightly over it, and entered the town.
Following the familiar route, he soon arrived at the Green Jade Pavilion.
The Green Jade Pavilion was a place of pleasure; while nearby streets were silent, here lights blazed, revelry unending.
Li Miao frowned at the sounds of revelry within, but stepped forward and pushed open the door.
As he did so, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from deep within the Green Jade Pavilion!
A hum—
Spiritual energy in the air was stirred, turbulent.
Li Miao sensed clearly: within the pavilion, two presences, each nearly as strong as his own!