Li Muzhan frowned for a moment, then nodded slowly. "It's him... Yes, I recall."

His Zen attainment was profound, his memory already extraordinary. After cultivating the Gazing at Heaven and Reflecting the Gods Sutra, it became even more formidable; he now possessed total recall.

Fang Shaohua, the foremost disciple of Kaiyang Courtyard, cultivated the True Shaoyang Scripture and the Shaoyang Sword Technique. His swordsmanship was upright and forthright, possessing considerable power, and he had drawn considerable attention during the last minor competition.

Li Jian hurried to interject, "Muzhan, it's a small matter, please don't let it escalate! ... Guests get overly drunk and act foolishly; it’s common. Don't take it seriously."

"His skill is not insignificant; that one punch was quite enough for you," Li Muzhan chuckled.

Li Jian laughed, "He held back; I'm practically fine now."

Two red lanterns hung above the small courtyard, bathing the surroundings in a festive, joyous crimson glow.

"Xiao Jian, who is it?" Li Mu’s voice drifted from inside, warm and gentle.

Li Jian called out loudly, "Mother, it’s Muzhan come to visit!"

The door curtain was lifted, and a plump woman emerged. In her fifties, her round, chubby face beamed with a smile. Her hair was impeccably neat, giving her a clean and tidy appearance—this was Li Jian's mother.

"Auntie, congratulations, congratulations!" Li Muzhan bowed with clasped hands, a smile on his face.

Li Mu’s eyes crinkled with delight as she beckoned him closer. "Muzhan is here! What are you doing out in the yard? Hurry inside!"

"Auntie, I’ve come to apologize!" Li Muzhan said with a laugh, stepping forward to take her arm as they entered the house. "Is everything settled now that Li Jian is married?"

"Finally, a weight off my mind!" Li Mu nodded happily. "If that rascal had even an ounce of your capability, I wouldn't have to worry so much!"

Li Muzhan laughed. "Li Jian has been tempered by experience now; he’s steady and capable. Don't underestimate him, Auntie!"

"Him—?" Li Mu pursed her lips and snorted dismissively. "It's easier to change mountains and rivers than a man's nature!"

Li Jian followed behind them, shaking his head repeatedly.

Li Muzhan and Li Jian had grown up together; Li Jian's home was Li Muzhan's second home. As a child, he often came over to sneak meals, and Li Mu treated him like family.

Entering the brightly lit room, a lean, aged man sat with a ledger in one hand and an abacus in the other.

He was in his fifties, his face etched with wrinkles. He turned towards Li Muzhan, his eyes twinkling as he watched him—this was Li Father.

"Uncle, congratulations!" Li Muzhan bowed with clasped hands, smiling.

"Muzhan, did that old man Li give you trouble?" Li Father waved a hand, setting aside the ledger and pushing the abacus away. He sized Li Muzhan up and laughed. "You didn't show up for the wedding; the old fool made things difficult for me—his nose wasn't his nose, his face wasn't his face. Unreasonable!"

Li Muzhan laughed heartily. "I just got smacked with two brooms. I truly angered him this time!"

Li Father sighed, shaking his head. "That old fellow is blessed; his son is filial and causes him no worry!"

"Father, I'm not so bad either!" Li Jian quickly chimed in.

"You—?" Li Father immediately snorted dismissively. "Since you were a child, how much trouble have you caused? How many messes have you stirred up? ... I must have owed you in a past life!"

Li Jian glanced at Li Muzhan and offered a bitter smile.

Nine times out of ten, the disasters he got into were instigated by Li Muzhan, yet every time the dust settled, it was Li Jian who took the blame.

Li Mu smiled sweetly. "Enough, old man, let them talk amongst themselves!"

Li Father nodded. "Yes, alright. ... Oh yes, Muzhan, Li Old Man said you’re out of wine. Is that true, or is he just being petty?"

Li Muzhan laughed. "A few friends visited last month; they all had great capacity. They drank it all in one go... I’ll brew some more in a couple of days."

"Brew a lot more this time!" Li Father earnestly instructed. "Once you get used to your brew, anything else tastes like dishwater!"

"Got it," Li Muzhan nodded, smiling.

"Father, Mother, shall we head over now?" Li Jian quickly interrupted.

"Go on, go on!" Li Father waved them off.

The two left the main house and walked to the side room on the east, which was decorated festively and brightly lit, illuminating the brand-new furniture—a scene full of the energy of newlyweds.

"Why don't I see the new bride?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

After they sat down, Li Jian called out, "Xiao Wen!"

Then he shook his head and laughed. "She's tidying up in the kitchen... Muzhan, how did you rank in the minor competition this time?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "After only two months of training, what sort of standing could I achieve?"

"Heh heh, your Zen skills, always so humble!" Li Jian pointed at him, shaking his head with a laugh. "The disciples from the Mei Residence often come to Chaoran Tower to eat, and they always speak of you!"

Li Muzhan chuckled, shaking his head endlessly.

With the sound of light footsteps, a slender woman drifted in. Her gait was graceful; she wore a bright red, padded outer garment over a plain light-blue skirt.

She had an oval face and fair skin; not strikingly beautiful, but quiet and refined.

Li Jian beckoned, smiling. "Xiao Wen, come here, this is Muzhan! ... Li Muzhan, whose Dharma name is Zhanran, the Abbot of Chengjing Temple!"

"Master Zhanran," she replied, clasping her hands in a deep bow of respect.

Li Muzhan returned the salute with a smile. "No need for such formality... I am Li Jian's childhood friend, like a brother. Sister-in-law doesn't need to be so distant; just call me Li Muzhan."

Li Muzhan knew her name was Zhang Jingwen, the daughter of the Zhang family from Dashi Village. He had caught a glimpse of her from afar once and thought she was a good woman.

Although he wasn't skilled in physiognomy, his intuition was sharp regarding whether a person’s inner world was dark or bright, kind or malicious—he always had a feeling. Looking at her up close now, her eyes flickered with spirit and brightness, very pleasing to the eye.

Li Muzhan smiled inwardly. This Zhang Jingwen appeared outwardly quiet, but there was a streak of wildness beneath the surface. It would be difficult for Li Jian to fully tame her!

Li Jian said proudly, "Xiao Wen, Muzhan is incredible! He understands astronomy above and geography below, and he’s especially skilled in mathematics—no one can match him!"

"Is that so?" Zhang Jingwen’s gaze flowed, looking at him demurely.

Li Muzhan laughed. "Stop flattering me so much; it’s just minor trickery! ... Sister-in-law, I arrived so abruptly, I didn't prepare any gift. I’ll make up for the next time!"

Zhang Jingwen pursed her lips, smiled, and shook her head.

"Muzhan, you better remember, no backing out!" Li Jian warned with a grunt.

Li Muzhan laughed. "I know, I know!"

After they chatted for a while longer, Li Muzhan tactfully took his leave. A spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold; the couple was in their honeymoon phase, and he had no business intruding.

The next morning, he arrived early at Tianshu Courtyard. Zhao Yuzhen and the other three were practicing in the yard.

He stood on the steps and coughed lightly, a smile on his face.

The four stopped and turned to look. Yu Chi Ming, standing under the locust tree, twisted his body and shouted, "What is it, Fifth Junior Brother? If you have something to say, just spit it out!"

Cheng Xiaofeng sheathed his sword, dressed in a sapphire-blue tight-fitting robe, looking energetic. "Has Fifth Junior Brother not rested for two days?"

The four approached him, watching him with smiles.

"I was idle at home anyway!" Li Muzhan laughed. "I barely escaped with my life this time. How about we celebrate at Chaoran Tower?"

"Great idea!" Everyone nodded. He Nanshan shook his head and laughed. "It definitely calls for celebration; Fifth Junior Brother, you were really hanging by a thread this time!"

"When are we going?!" Yu Chi Ming asked urgently.

Li Muzhan smiled. "In a couple of days, once I’ve fully recovered."

"You’re torturing us with anticipation!" Yu Chi Ming grumbled, then strode over and slapped him on the shoulder. "Fifth Junior Brother, tell us! ... Gong Qingyun lunged with her sword; you couldn't dodge, and your meridians were injured, right?"

"Fourth Senior Brother, that’s a strange question to ask!" Cheng Xiaofeng frowned.

Yu Chi Ming ignored him, staring intently at Li Muzhan. "Fifth Junior Brother, is that right?"

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. "Fourth Senior Brother has sharp eyes!"

"Haha, I knew it!" Yu Chi Ming laughed triumphantly, then stuck out his finger, beckoning. "Third Senior Brother, stop wasting time, pay up!"

Cheng Xiaofeng huffed. "I won't short you!"

Saying that, he pulled a piece of silver from his robes and tossed it casually to Yu Chi Ming.

Li Muzhan shook his head with a bitter smile. "I miscalculated. I didn't expect Senior Sister Gong to be so fierce, wanting mutual destruction. Better one death than two... but my sword thrust was too forceful; stopping it meant fighting with my life..."

"You, you still lack experience!" Yu Chi Ming waved his hand, happily tucking the silver into his robes, speaking carelessly. "How can you fight without holding back some strength!"

Everyone nodded, sighing inwardly.

Fifth Junior Brother was a heavenly genius, managing to stand against Gong Qingyun in just two months, but his foundation was naturally weak, leading to inevitable rookie mistakes.

Holding back a third of one's strength when attacking was common sense, a lesson learned through countless encounters stained with blood.

However, precisely because he made mistakes, he seemed more human, which balanced their feelings and reduced any sense of distance.

While they were talking, Xiao Yuan entered soundlessly. Her peach-red silk gown enveloped her full figure, and she smiled sweetly. "Zhanran, the Young Miss requests your presence!"

"Miss Xiao Yuan, why is the Eldest Miss calling for Fifth Junior Brother?" Yu Chi Ming quickly leaned in, his face full of fawning amusement.

"None of your business!" Xiao Yuan chirped coquettishly, her bright eyes wide, tossing her small mouth in disdain. "Yu Chi Ming, don't waste my time; the Miss is waiting!"

"It’s not bad news, is it?" Yu Chi Ming’s smile didn't waver.

"How would I, a mere maidservant, know so much? Move aside!" Xiao Yuan shot him a sidelong glance and waved her hand, turning to look at Li Muzhan. Her expression instantly changed; her dimples appeared faintly as she smiled sweetly. "Zhanran, let's go quickly!"

Li Muzhan clasped his hands towards Zhao Yuzhen and the other three, shook his head, smiled, and followed Xiao Yuan as she left Tianshu Courtyard.

The two walked east along the lake. The willows draped gracefully, and when a breeze blew, their branches swayed, looking like mist or smoke.

"Zhanran, are you really alright?" Xiao Yuan looked him up and down.

Li Muzhan smiled. "I'm fine."

"That really scared me!" Xiao Yuan patted her full chest and shook her head. "You should have just dropped your sword and dodged!"

Li Muzhan smiled but didn't reply.

Xiao Yuan continued, "The Young Miss has great admiration for you; she even scolded Sister Gong fiercely!"

Li Muzhan chuckled. "It's not Sister Gong’s fault; it was my lack of skill."

Gong Qingyun was certainly at fault for being overly serious and taking things to an extreme, but if his power had been deeper, he could have withdrawn his sword calmly and wouldn't have been injured. In the final analysis, it was his insufficient mastery.

Xiao Yuan suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered, "The Young Miss wants you to come over because she's going to teach you the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill!"

The maiden's delicate fragrance washed over him, causing Li Muzhan's heart to waver for a moment before he suppressed it, pretending to be unconcerned. "That's wonderful news!"

As they spoke, their steps were swift. In a blink, they reached the Lotus Viewing Pavilion, passed through it, and arrived at Quiyuan, directly climbing the rockery beside the training grounds to reach the small pavilion.

In the pavilion, Mei Ruolan stood with her hands behind her back, gazing south across the bright lake, her purple robes billowing.

"Miss, Zhanran has arrived!" Xiao Yuan announced.

Mei Ruolan turned, her pair of distant, captivating eyes falling upon him. She clasped her hands together. "Master Zhanran."

Li Muzhan smiled and returned the salute. "Eldest Young Lady, please just call me Zhanran."

Mei Ruolan nodded, gesturing for him to sit, and Xiao Yuan turned and left the pavilion.

The two sat opposite each other. Mei Ruolan’s distant gaze swept over him, and she nodded. "Zhanran, your complexion is very good; that is truly fortunate!"

"I appreciate the Eldest Young Lady's concern; my apologies," Li Muzhan said with a slight smile.

Mei Ruolan smiled faintly, taking out a bright yellow silk pouch from her robes and opening it on the table. Inside lay a yellow silk booklet, about two palms thick, exuding an ancient aura.

Li Muzhan's eyes lit up; he saw the three large characters on the cover: Vajra Sutra.

Mei Ruolan gently pushed it across the table toward Li Muzhan. "This is the original text. I hope you will guard it carefully and study it diligently."

"The Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill?" Li Muzhan stared at her and asked slowly.

Mei Ruolan nodded, extending her hand to indicate he should open it.

Li Muzhan inhaled deeply and carefully turned the cover. Plum blossom calligraphy in vertical lines came into view: "Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was at the Jeta Grove in Shravasti, together with a great assembly of twelve hundred and fifty Bhikshus..."

This was indeed the Diamond Prajna Paramita Sutra. As a disciple of Buddhism, he was naturally familiar with it and had gained profound realization, deeply understanding its profound rigor.

Li Muzhan read on slowly, word by word. After turning over more than ten pages, he nodded: It truly was the Diamond Prajna Paramita Sutra, not a single word amiss.

Further on, it turned into illustrations. Each page depicted only one lean monk—standing, sitting, or reclining—in various postures. The lines were sparse, merely a few rough strokes; the artistry was truly mediocre.

A red line was drawn on the body of the lean monk, varying in length and position. Next to the monk were written the names of several acupoints. There were nine such diagrams in total; each only showed a few acupoint names, with no other text—no narrative, no annotations, no explanation.

Li Muzhan flipped through it again from the beginning, shaking his head and smiling.

Mei Ruolan showed a hint of a smile. "Zhanran, are you very disappointed?"

Xiao Yuan had been standing nearby, holding the tray without moving, but now she set down the tea cups.

Li Muzhan smiled at her, took a cup, sipped the fragrant tea lightly, then carefully set it aside, far from the silk booklet, and sighed with feeling. "I truly didn't expect the manual for the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill to be so simple."

"This is the authentic work of the Divine Monk Huiguo, without a single error," Mei Ruolan stated.

Li Muzhan closed the booklet and gently pushed it back toward Mei Ruolan.

Mei Ruolan looked at him.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Why don't the Young Lady keep the manual? I can come over every day to study it, how about that?"

Mei Ruolan stared at him fixedly, her brows furrowed, her distant eyes flickering as if trying to see into his heart.

After a long pause, she nodded gently. "... Very well. I have observed several people cultivating it; perhaps my experience might be of some benefit."

"Thank you, Eldest Young Lady!"

Xiao Yuan stuck out her tongue slightly. The sun must have risen in the west. The Young Lady always preferred tranquility and disliked being disturbed by others. She rarely associated with anyone, save for Sister Gong and the Second Granny. Even her own younger brother, the Second Young Master, she saw only a few times a year. P: Recommendations have been submitted; to make the charts, it depends entirely on everyone's support. I look forward to everyone's encouragement and saves.