In such matters, right and wrong depend solely on what the parties involved think.
During martial arts sparring, it is natural for blood to be drawn, and injuries or lasting ailments are common.
After all, from the moment they engage, both sides must be prepared for injury and even death. No one can guarantee a hundred percent that they will win.
Therefore, no matter what injuries are sustained on the arena, according to the rules of the martial arts world, the family and friends of the loser are not allowed to seek revenge.
However, Yongjie was not considering the rules of the martial arts world; he was thinking about good and evil.
He felt that he should not harm a good person.
Li Miao did not say anything either.
To be an outsider and comment is to speak without understanding the difficulty. Since Yongjie had already thought it through, Li Miao would not question his decision.
However, Li Miao seemed to remember something.
Previously, Yongjie had never mentioned anything about his life before becoming a monk. When he went to repay debts, the other party would often recognize him at a glance, so there was no need for much explanation.
Only this Liu Songshi, because she had no martial arts skills and was not involved in the martial arts world, did not recognize Yongjie.
So Yongjie revealed his secular name.
Tu Qingcang.
Li Miao had seen this name when he was looking through the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) archives; it was placed quite prominently.
He became famous fifteen years ago, his chivalrous reputation spread widely twelve years ago, he became infamous ten years ago, and he disappeared nine years ago, his fate unknown.
A top-tier master.
Now, he had become a monk who wandered around repaying debts, so much so that he could barely walk steadily.
In fact, Li Miao had always felt that Yongjie's personality was a bit fragmented. When they first met, he was a bold and rough man. As soon as old memories were brought up, he would become a compassionate monk again.
It seemed that his bold personality was his true nature. Later, something happened that changed him into his current state.
Li Miao grew even more curious about Yongjie's story.
However, rather than just listening to a dry account, it was more interesting to slowly discover it bit by bit.
Anyway, their destinations were close, and they had a long journey together; there was no rush at this moment.
Yongjie was covered in blood and looked fierce. As he staggered down the street, naturally, the common people looked on in fear.
Before they even reached the inn, government soldiers had already approached.
“Stop!” the soldiers shouted.
Li Miao glanced over with interest, saying nothing, letting Yongjie handle it.
At this point, Yongjie was at the end of his rope, his mind hazy, unable to respond, only half-opening his eyes to look.
With his appearance, squinting at people was like spitting in their eyes.
The soldier swallowed, then drew his sword.
“Don’t move!”
Thump!
Yongjie finally could not hold on and collapsed to the ground.
The soldier looked at him, then at Li Miao beside him: “Are you two together?”
“Come with us to the yamen!”
— — — — — — — —
When Yongjie woke up, he saw the bars of a prison cell and straw on the ground.
He sat up and clenched his fist.
“Don’t look, I’ve healed you.”
From the adjacent cell, Li Miao’s lazy voice came.
Yongjie looked up and saw Li Miao leaning against a pile of straw, arms crossed, watching him with interest.
“Benefactor… this…” Yongjie hesitated.
“What, do you object to me healing you?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then that’s settled. If I hadn’t healed you, you would have died. You’ve suffered enough pain. Don’t you still have things to do? I don’t want to travel with a severely injured person.”
“If you feel it’s not enough, you can come back and let them hack you after you’ve finished your business.”
Yongjie could only nod with a wry smile.
A moment later, he looked up at Li Miao again: “Benefactor, where is this?”
“It’s a prison cell. You were walking down the street covered in blood, so of course you’d be arrested, wouldn’t you?”
Li Miao said lightly.
“But… you…” Yongjie struggled for words.
Li Miao was a Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), and one who could scare a Lord Commissioner into scurrying away with his head in his hands.
As long as he showed his waist token, the local prefect would probably scramble to Li Miao’s feet to pay his respects.
Even if Li Miao spat on the prefect’s face, he would probably smile and smooth it out, saying, “My Lord, your saliva has warmed me from my face to my heart.”
How could he have imagined that Li Miao would actually meekly allow himself to be arrested and thrown into prison by a few government soldiers?
Li Miao said: “If I don’t make you stay in prison for a few days, what if you run out to repay debts again?”
“Monks have to follow rules, they can’t escape from prison, right?”
“Just lie down obediently for a few days. When I think it’s about time, I’ll take you out.”
Yongjie was speechless upon hearing this.
He knew that he and Li Miao had only met by chance; their acquaintance was not deep.
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Along the way, he had been injured everywhere, already troubling Li Miao quite a bit. Now, Li Miao, considering him, with his lazy nature, was actually willing to stay in prison for a few days with him.
Even if Yongjie was unwilling, he could not bring himself to speak.
Li Miao glanced at Yongjie.
He quite liked this monk.
Although Li Miao did not agree with Yongjie’s actions, he admired everyone who steadfastly walked their own path and was willing to pay the price for it. So he did not mind offering some help.
Of course, if Li Miao discovered that Yongjie had committed evil deeds in the future, Li Miao would not go easy on him when killing him.
Just like Yun Zelin, Li Miao also admired his “seeker of the Dao” temperament. But he disregarded human lives, and Li Miao would not grant him any leniency just because he admired him.
Debts must be paid, it is only right and proper. Just because a bad person is excellent at what he does does not mean he should not die.
One thing at a time, that was Li Miao's thought.
Just as Yongjie remained silent and Li Miao closed his eyes to rest.
A woman’s voice came faintly from the innermost cell.
“Is that… Brother Tu…?”
Yongjie suddenly turned his head, looking into the depths of the prison cell.
Li Miao also looked in that direction.
The light inside the prison was dim, and it was far away, so ordinary people could not see clearly, but it did not hinder Li Miao.
He saw that in the deepest cell, a frame was nailed to the wall.
On the frame, a woman was nailed.
Her hands and feet were bound to the frame, and iron shackles hung from her feet. Her body was covered in bloodstains.
The most severe injury was two sharp steel hooks that had pierced her shoulder blades, pinning her tightly to the wall.
At this moment, she lifted her head, turning with difficulty towards Yongjie’s side.
“Brother… Brother Tu…”
“You’re still alive, that’s wonderful, truly wonderful…”
“Were you also captured…? Are you injured…?”
“Is the injury serious…?”
This woman, herself in mortal danger, asked a string of questions expressing concern for Yongjie’s condition.
Yongjie let out a long sigh.
“Sixth Sister… I’m still alive…”
Li Miao immediately perked up, reached into the straw behind him, pulled out a cloth bag, grabbed a handful of melon seeds and snacks from it, leaned against the pile of straw, and listened intently to their conversation.
Of course, he would not truly make himself suffer; the straw in his cell was freshly harvested barley stalks, washed and sun-dried.
Behind him, in the straw pile, food, wine, and fruits were already prepared. It was more comfortable than a regular inn.
After Yongjie fainted, he had shown his waist token.
This prison cell was arranged by the local prefect at his request, purely as an excuse for Yongjie to recuperate in peace.
He had not expected there to be a show to watch!
