86: Chapter 86 Did the Jianghu Inn Not Have All the Information About Mia?

Manager Liu met the Old Sect Leader at the inn just as the latter was leading his team to battle. He handed a kraft paper bag containing information on the Bihe Mountain Shinobi to the Old Sect Leader, but the Old Sect Leader politely declined, saying he already had information on the Bihe Mountain Shinobi, including those who were already dead.

Manager Liu was skeptical at first, but after receiving the intelligence the Old Sect Leader handed him, he was left speechless. "This isn't just intelligence anymore; it's practically divination. And it's perfectly accurate—something the Six Lines divination could never achieve, pinpointing specific people and events. This diviner you hired must have sacrificed quite a bit of their lifespan, right?"

Manager Liu was blunt, and his words were quick, bringing up something the Old Sect Leader of the Tang Clan had been overlooking. It startled the Old Sect Leader so much he slapped his thigh. "I can't ask her anything next time. This... this debt is becoming impossible to repay. What will happen to the Tang Clan's rules in the future? Well, at least she's a first-class Consecrated Elder of the Inner Gate now. Let the youngsters worry about it themselves later."

The Old Sect Leader cupped his hands to Manager Liu, thanking him for the reminder. Manager Liu, however, became interested in this divination that seemed to manifest reality with a word. He discussed with the Old Sect Leader his desire to meet this national hero and honorary major.

The Old Sect Leader pointed to Heaven Room No. 1. "Go knock and ask for yourself. Also, we in the Tang Clan have no antidote for her poison, so be careful. Her poison is a bit different; even the top disciples of Longhu Mountain fell for it, and it's especially potent against those prone to wine and women." Having said that, he sniffed the alcohol scent wafting from Manager Liu and shook his head.

Mia was in the room deducing the upcoming ten-person life-and-death duel, thinking about how their side should respond to minimize casualties. After all, the Bihe Mountain Shinobi were no pushovers.

A knock sounded at the door. This time, Manager Liu didn't enter through the window, fearing he might be poisoned and then hung in a Tang Clan secret room for detoxification.

"Come in!" A raspy, sexy voice sounded in Manager Liu's ear, like heavenly music.

"The manager of the Inn wishes to see the lady's face. Furthermore, having learned that the lady's divinations are incredibly accurate, I urge the lady to be cautious. Leaking heaven's secrets will surely affect one's own fortune. Please be extremely careful."

"I thank Manager Liu for his kind reminder. However, when the nation's survival is at stake, every person bears responsibility. Though I, Mia, am not a man, I understand these principles. A bit of fortune is nothing compared to the high righteousness of the Tang Clan. Still, I thank Manager Liu for his concern."

Mia gave Manager Liu a deep bow, causing Manager Liu's already flushed face to turn even redder. He pushed up his glasses. "Well, just be careful, lady. Liu will take his leave then." In an instant, Manager Liu disappeared from the inn's corridor...

In the alley outside the inn, "Truly a femme fatale... I finally understand why King You of Zhou played with the beacon fires to amuse his concubine... Honestly, tsk tsk~ In this world, it's still more comfortable to be drunk. Besides, such a beauty really goes well with wine..." Though he didn't achieve his goal, Manager Liu, clutching his wine flask, felt greatly comforted. Intelligence more detailed than his own Jianghu Inn's would naturally allow the Tang Clan to sacrifice fewer talents.

A few days later, a train arrived at a station in a certain county in the Northeast. The Tang Clan members and Mia's group left the station and hurried across the vast grasslands on horseback. (Ryan was a professional at riding, at the instructor level.) They finally arrived at the foot of Kulong Mountain.

Tang Miaoxing, who had arrived early as a scout to assess the situation, reported to the Old Sect Leader. The Bihe Mountain Shinobi had been preparing in the mountains for a long time, and their people were everywhere. It would be difficult to enter the mountains without being detected. Therefore, the specific conditions inside the mountains and that 'hole' had not been scouted.

The Old Sect Leader snorted coldly as he dismounted. "This is what they call a ten-versus-ten showdown? Fine by me. I intended to wipe them all out anyway."

Tang Miaoxing leaned in and whispered to the Old Sect Leader, "Sect Leader, we didn't find anything, but someone else did... However, due to the sect rules, I didn't dare take the initiative. What do you think?"

Before Tang Miaoxing could finish, two people walked out of the house. It was the current head of the Ma Family, Liao the Bearded, and a teenage girl.

Liao the Bearded took a puff of smoke and complained, "Boss Tang, this kid of yours is a blockhead. Every other word is 'sect rules' this and 'sect rules' that. I'm offering help at your doorstep, and I'm being treated like I'm in the wrong?"

"Don't blame the child; it is indeed due to the sect rules..." The Old Sect Leader started to say.

Liao the Bearded pulled the Old Sect Leader aside. "Don't give me that bull. That girl, and that other girl, and that foreigner—what are they?"

"They are all first-class Consecrated Elders of our Tang Clan's Inner Gate, and heroes of the resistance against the Japanese, personally recognized by the Chairman." The Old Sect Leader spoke with confidence.

"Then has Lv Ci also joined your Tang Clan?" Liao the Bearded asked, trying another angle.

"This..." The Old Sect Leader was momentarily at a loss for words.

"I have guides arranged for you in the mountains," Liao the Bearded said while smoking his pipe.

Lv Ci handed the letter paper Wang Ai had given him for Guan Shihua to her, but as fate would have it, it was still thrown away.

The mountain wind was a bit cold. Under the lead of Wakasahara Chube, the Old Sect Leader and the others officially met the Bihe Mountain Shinobi.

Lay Buddhist Erli explained their side's ten participants to the Old Sect Leader. The Old Sect Leader scanned the field and realized that those present were basically the entire main force of the Bihe Mountain Shinobi.

1. Eita

2. Wakasahara Chube (Lay Buddhist Erli)

3. Makino Ittosai

4. Chie

5. Aoyama Yohei

6. Homer

7. Amakusa Unzai

8. Xu Duo

9. Kimura

10. A-Yun

After Lay Buddhist Erli finished introducing the ten participants from Bihe Mountain, the Old Sect Leader also introduced his side's ten participants.

1. Lu Huizhong

2. Tang Shiying

3. Mia

4. Ryan

5. Tang An

6. Liang Wuer

7. Tang Jian

8. Lv Ci

9. Tang Houren

10. Tang Wanru

After the Old Sect Leader finished introducing the Tang Clan members, Lay Buddhist Erli took a deep look at Mia and Ryan. "Your sect is truly inclusive. Can Westerners join the Tang Clan now?"

"Ahem, they are our Tang Clan's newly appointed Consecrated Elders." Over the past few days, the Old Sect Leader had also learned the thick-skinned divine technique of the Celestial Master, Zhang Jingqing.

"Very well, then let us begin. Whoever's people walk out of this cave alive wins. Simple, isn't it?" Lay Buddhist Erli said, then had the Bihe Mountain Shinobi enter the cave one after another.

The Old Sect Leader said nothing. He threw the list signed by the ten people onto the table and waved his hand. Everyone filed into the cave...

Several people chatted about the properties of [Yin Paper] on their way in. Liang Wuer patted his chest and guaranteed that if he could get out alive, this paper would soon become a Tang Clan item. After saying that, he glanced sideways at the small medicine bottle hanging from Mia's waist and smacked his lips.

"Tuaner, make it clear to the Old Sect Leader that the Lay Buddhist Erli outside is a puppet. Don't waste the Dan Shi." Mia communicated with Tuaner in the team channel.

"Sister Loran, you go handle the possible exits on the periphery. Try to keep Chie and Aoyama Yohei there. Ryan and I will deal with Nikaido Eita inside the cave."

Tuaner handed the Old Sect Leader a thread-bound book containing the information Mia had prepared in advance about Lay Buddhist Erli. The Old Sect Leader's eyes narrowed. "I was still tricked by the Japs..." he thought. He looked at Lay Buddhist Erli with an unfriendly gaze, then, as if thinking of something, he burst out laughing...