Chapter 342: Missing the Master!
"Li Clan criminal, Xiao Zhan, pays his respects to the Miao King!"
In a luxurious villa in Zun City, Xiao Zhan and a group of Xiao Family elders knelt on the ground, their faces pale with fear. Because of Xiao Long’s actions, the entire Xiao Family had suffered the consequences. Not only had they lost a substantial share of resources in various sectors, but they were also required to offer a considerable tribute to the Miao King every year.
This would last for ten years!
This was an edict personally issued by the Saintess as punishment for the Xiao Family.
This punishment could only be described as severe. However, Xiao Zhan didn’t think it was severe at all. Instead, he felt that the Miao King was being merciful by sparing his Xiao Family.
Offending the Miao King was punishable by death.
Assassinating the Miao King warranted the extermination of one’s entire clan!
That was the iron law.
Because of this, Xiao Zhan personally executed Xiao Long’s direct descendants. If they didn’t die, he would have no way to answer to the Miao King!
Even so, Xiao Zhan still had to personally beg for the Miao King’s forgiveness. He would only feel at ease once the Miao King himself spoke the words to spare the Xiao Family.
"Rise."
Lin Mu, seated on the sofa like a sovereign emperor, said with a majestic expression, "Since I promised Xiao Long I wouldn’t implicate the Xiao Family, you need not worry."
"Thank you, Miao King!"
Xiao Zhan breathed a huge sigh of relief, feeling as if he had just been given a new lease on life.
"Miao King, have you returned to Southern Sky for some urgent matter?" Xiao Zhan asked cautiously.
Lin Mu glanced at him indifferently and said nothing.
Frightened, Xiao Zhan immediately dropped to his knees again, stammering, "I beg the Miao King’s forgiveness! I should not have asked!"
Lin Mu said coolly, "Just attend to your duties. It’s best not to pry into matters that don’t concern you."
"Yes, we shall strictly adhere to the Miao King’s decree!"
The members of the Xiao Family felt as if they were on a roller coaster, their emotions in turmoil, but they dared not utter a single word of complaint.
"By the way, has anything significant happened in the Miao Territory lately?" Lin Mu asked casually.
After a moment of thought, Xiao Zhan replied, "Your Majesty, with the Saintess presiding over the Li Clan, there have been no major incidents. However..."
"Speak."
Xiao Zhan dared not hide anything. "The Xing Family plans to propose to the Saintess next spring."
"The Xing Family?"
Lin Mu was slightly taken aback; he had no idea who the Xing Family was.
At the mention of the Xing Family, Xiao Zhan’s tone grew solemn. "Your Majesty may not be aware, but the Xing Family is, in the truest sense, the number one great family in Southern Sky. It is said that their ancestors were descendants of Xing Tian, giving them a long heritage and immense power."
Through Xiao Zhan’s explanation, Lin Mu began to understand just how powerful the Xing Family was.
Legend says that in Ancient Times, Great God Chiyou had countless war generals under his command.
Xing Tian was one of them, and the most loyal at that.
After Chi You was defeated and killed by the Yellow Emperor, Xing Tian sought to avenge his lord, wielding an axe and shield to battle the Yellow Emperor. The emperor ultimately beheaded him, burying his head on Chang Yang Mountain.
The *Classic of Mountains and Seas, Overseas Western Scripture* states: "Xing Tian fought with the Emperor for supremacy. The Emperor cut off his head and buried it on Mount Chang Yang. Then, Xing Tian used his nipples as eyes and his navel as a mouth, wielding his axe and shield in a war dance."
From this, it was clear that Xing Tian was also a great god of ancient times with heaven-defying strength.
After the defeat, his descendants were implicated and forced to scatter. One branch protected the descendants of Chi You on their long journey to Southern Sky, where they put down roots and survived. But as time passed, the descendants of Xing Tian grew unwilling to remain subservient to the direct lineage of Chi You. Furthermore, with the Li Clan having been without a Miao King for so long, the descendants of Xing Tian gradually broke away from the main Li Clan lineage to establish their own house.
Unlike the main Li Clan branch, the descendants of Xing Tian did not hide away in the deep mountains of Southern Sky. They frequently communicated with the outside world, allowing them to grow and prosper. The Xing Family inherited their ancestor’s tradition of ruling through martial might, and their generations have been filled with talented individuals.
It is said that during the Three Kingdoms period, Xing Daorong, the great general serving under Liu Du, the Prefect of Lingling, was a descendant of Xing Tian.
Today, the Xing Family could be considered the largest clan in all of Southern Sky, filled with countless powerful experts. Though their numbers were small, they were considered at the very top of every field they entered.
"Miao King, after the Xing Family Members learned of your existence, most were quite disdainful," Xiao Zhan said cautiously, glancing at Lin Mu. "They claim that since the time of Great God Chiyou, the Li Clan has been unworthy of having a Miao King."
"Oh?" Lin Mu wasn’t angry, but rather curious. "Why?"
Xiao Zhan sighed. "The Xing Family Members do not acknowledge that their ancestor Xing Tian was a war general under Great God Chiyou. On the contrary, they believe Xing Tian was not much weaker than Great God Chiyou. They feel Xing Tian was killed by the Yellow Emperor because he was implicated by Great God Chiyou. Now that a Miao King has appeared, they find it unacceptable."
Lin Mu suddenly laughed. What kind of reason is that? Holding a grudge against me for something like this... The Xing Family is nothing special after all.
"So they plan to propose to the Saintess, with the purpose being..."
Xiao Zhan lowered his head. "To humiliate the Miao King."
According to the ancestral teachings of the Li Clan, the Saintess is the Miao King’s woman; no other may covet her. The Xing Family’s proposal was a way to prove to the world that they didn’t care about any Miao King.
"Hm, I understand."
Lin Mu remained utterly indifferent. He didn’t place much importance on his identity as the Miao King, and as for Li Lai, she was merely his disciple. If the Xing Family was truly sincere and Li Lai also fancied the man, Lin Mu would simply give them his blessing.
But if the Xing Family was merely trying to humiliate him, he wouldn’t mind taking action to let them know who the true master of the Li Clan is!
"Ah?"
Xiao Zhan was stunned. He hadn’t expected this to be Lin Mu’s only reaction. The Saintess is being pursued and the Miao King humiliated... Can he really swallow this insult?
Lin Mu looked at Xiao Zhan and said, "What? You think I should be angry? That I should teach them a lesson just because the Xing Family proposed to Li Lai and looks down on me?"
"Is that not the case?" Xiao Zhan said subconsciously. "Miao King, your status is noble! No matter how you look at it, their ancestor served under Great God Chiyou. Their actions are a rebellion against a superior, which is... treason!"
"This isn’t a feudal society; it’s not as dramatic as you make it sound." Seeing that Xiao Zhan wanted to say more, Lin Mu waved his hand. "Enough, let this matter rest. If the Xing Family truly wishes to marry Li Lai, I won’t object. But if they have other motives, I will naturally face them."
"Because, after all, I am the king of the Li Clan!"
Xiao Zhan knelt excitedly. "We will obey the Miao King’s decree!"
It’s best to avoid conflict with the Xing Family if possible. After all, they are currently stronger than the Li Clan.
Xiao Qian walked into the hall and said respectfully, "Reporting to the Miao King, the Saintess has arrived."
Lin Mu raised an eyebrow. What’s this girl doing here?
"Let her in."
Soon, Li Lai, dressed in casual clothes, walked into the hall, followed by the brothers Li Zhou and Li Tong.
The moment she saw Lin Mu, Li Lai’s eyes reddened. She knelt respectfully before him. "Disciple Li Lai greets Master!"
"Greetings, Miao King!" the brothers added, kneeling as well.
Lin Mu gave a wry smile. "Get up. All these formalities... if you aren’t tired of them, I am."
But Li Lai replied earnestly, "The ancestral rites cannot be abandoned! This is the tradition of our ancestors!"
Seeing how stubborn she was, Lin Mu said with a sigh of resignation, "Fine, get up. What brings you all here?"
Li Lai immediately flashed a toothy grin. "I missed you, Master..."