Li Muzhan offered a slight smile. "Immunity in numbers? ...

Think carefully; do you truly believe the Young Mistress will let everyone off the hook?" "Zhanran! Cut the nonsense, you aren't getting away today!" Zhao Zhengfeng sneered disdainfully. "Scared, are you? Begging for mercy is useless now!" Li Muzhan stroked his chin, regarding the crowd with an amused expression, pondering the situation internally.

Zhang Ganxuan was already finished.

If he finished these others too, the Young Mistress would surely fly into a rage.

Suffering severe punishment for the sake of these petty fellows was simply not worth it.

However, letting them go just like that wouldn't do either.

Having just established his authority, to be immediately challenged would be seen as weakness.

They wouldn't be grateful; instead, they would think he was afraid and become even more reckless, leading to endless trouble.

He sighed and shook his head, languidly suggesting, "Fine.

One-on-one, or all at once?" Zhao Zhengfeng roared grimly, "To avenge Senior Brother Fang, what does personal honor matter? Let's all go together!" Song Taihe drew his sword and thrust it toward the sky, shouting loudly, "Charge—!" "Charge—!" The crowd roared in unison, drawing their swords and rushing forward.

The surrounding people scrambled back hastily, retreating twenty-odd zhang to watch.

Every eye glittered with excitement; the fight was finally on.

In the crowd, a youth in blue suddenly changed countenance and bolted, dashing toward the Mei Residence.

He was almost at the residence, less than a hundred meters away, when suddenly a dozen or so figures emerged, dressed in green shirts, each possessing an imposing aura.

They spread out across the street in a straight line, blocking his path.

The youth was forced to stop, his face shifting, and he called out loudly, "Yang Baichi, what are you doing?" "You surnamed Zhang, what are you doing?!" the youth in the center sneered.

He was tall and lean, standing half a head taller than the others, like a crane among chickens.

His features were strikingly handsome, and he held a folding fan, which he waved slowly, radiating composure.

The youth frowned, anxiety showing in his expression. "You dare to gang up on Senior Brother Zhanran? If the Young Mistress finds out, she will surely punish you severely!" "We are avenging Senior Brother Fang; it is only right and proper.

The Young Mistress will have nothing to say!" The tall youth smiled, gently fanning himself. "Zhang Shixiang, give up the idea—don't even think about sending a message!" The youth, Zhang Shixiang, pleaded hurriedly, "If anything happens to Senior Brother Zhanran, how can the seniors of the Tianshu Court let this go? ...

When will the cycle of revenge end? Move aside quickly!" "Zhang Shixiang, enough talk.

You are not getting through today!" The tall youth, Yang Baichi, shook his head. "Will you let me pass or not?!" The youth grew frantic, drew his sword, and pointed it at him.

The tall youth closed his fan, tapping it against his palm, letting out continuous cold laughs. "Very well, I'd like to see what you've got!" "Courting death!" The youth felt his lungs explode with anger.

These muddleheads—disaster was imminent, yet they didn't realize it, even boasting.

They were utterly foolish! He struck out with his sword in anger, transforming into a streak of cold light.

Yang Baichi let out a cold laugh, parrying with his fan.

The sword met the fan with a crisp ding, revealing the fan's ribs were cast iron.

The two engaged immediately, sword against fan, locked in a difficult struggle for a time.

Zhang Shixiang’s swordsmanship was formidable, and the tall youth’s fan technique was equally impressive, executed with graceful and striking movements.

The other dozen or so onlookers merely watched the spectacle, not interfering.

Their only goal was to stall him so he couldn't send a warning; defeating him was unnecessary.

As the two fought without yielding, a shadow of gray suddenly flashed past, sweeping in like a fierce gale.

The gray shadow stopped abruptly, causing the onlookers to narrow their eyes.

The gray monk’s robes billowed wildly before settling down slowly as Li Muzhan appeared.

He scanned the crowd and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? What is this...?" The people stared at him dumbfounded.

In his right hand, he held a bundle of long swords, bound together by a white sash—over thirty blades in total.

Zhang Shixiang was stunned. "Senior Brother Zhanran, you're alright...?" "What would happen to me?" Li Muzhan laughed, glancing at their attire, then shook his head with amusement. "You fellows aren't completely senseless!" With that, a flash of gray—like mist or smoke—whirled around the group, leaving no one untouched, before reappearing instantly.

His right arm cradled over a dozen swords, all still sheathed.

In his left hand, he held a white sash.

He quickly wrapped the sash around the swords, binding them into a bundle, then looked up and laughed. "Junior Brother Zhang, come visit the Tianshu Court when you have time!" He nodded to the remaining group with a smile, picked up the other bundle of long swords, and drifted away, offering a smile to the four burly men guarding the gate before entering the main door of the Mei Residence.

Everyone stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened, stunned by Li Muzhan's movement technique.

They knew Li Muzhan’s sword was fast, and his movement was quick, but they never imagined it would be this incredibly swift.

They hadn't even had time to react before their swords and scabbards were gone.

Over there, another group was approaching—the thirty-odd people from the Kaiyang Court.

Every one of them looked dejected, their expressions crestfallen.

Yang Baichi turned to look at them.

Their waists were bare; both swords and scabbards were missing.

Clearly, Zhanran had taken them all.

Song Taihe glanced at them and frowned. "They had their swords taken too?" "Yep." Yang Baichi managed a wry smile. "What is he trying to pull?" "A show of force!" Zhao Zhengfeng snapped impatiently. "If he can take our swords, he can certainly take our heads!" His honest face flushed red, his eyes bloodshot with intense fury.

He hated his own uselessness, his utter inability to resist.

With that, he turned and walked away, shaking his head and humming, "What are we standing around for? What use is a crowd? ...

Everyone go mind their own business!" Zhao Zhengfeng left with him, not sparing the others another glance.

The rest departed silently; only the sound of their footsteps accompanied them.

The scene they had just witnessed was too demoralizing.

They could only recall a gray blur flashing past, and the swords in their hands, the scabbards at their waists, were suddenly in someone else’s possession.

That feeling of powerlessness sent a chill through their bones when they thought about it.

Watching them all walk away crestfallen and dispirited, Yang Baichi frowned, greatly disapproving.

So they lost a fight.

They should just practice harder and find a way to win it back next time.

He shot a fierce glare at Zhang Shixiang, then turned and left as well.

Li Muzhan returned directly to the Tianshu Court, carrying the two bundles of long swords.

As he entered the courtyard, he ran into Yu Chi Ming just as the latter was heading out.

Yu Chi Ming’s eyes fell on the two bundles of swords, and he chuckled, asking, "Fifth Brother, what’s this?" "Picked them up along the way," Li Muzhan replied with a smile. "A bunch of youngsters from the Kaiyang Court cornered me, wanting to avenge Senior Brother Fang." "You killed them?" Yu Chi Ming asked hastily.

Li Muzhan laughed. "I couldn't be bothered to exert myself over these little fellows...

Taking their swords was just a warning." "Haha, that's a good method!" Yu Chi Ming took one bundle of swords, carried them to the covered walkway, and lined them up one by one, reading the names engraved on the blades.

At that moment, Zhao Yuzhen and the other two also emerged upon hearing the commotion.

Seeing Yu Chi Ming arranging the long swords, He Nanshan laughed, "Fourth Brother, where did all these swords come from?" Yu Chi Ming laughed joyfully, "Haha, some clueless brats from Kaiyang Court tried to surround Fifth Brother, and Fifth Brother took all their swords!" "What were they trying to do?!" Zhao Yuzhen frowned.

Li Muzhan picked up a long sword, examined it carefully, and smiled casually. "They wanted to avenge Senior Brother Fang." Zhao Yuzhen frowned in thought, then shook his head after a moment. "This might cause trouble..." Li Muzhan put the sword down and chuckled. "It’s nothing.

If there’s a next time, I’ll let them taste a bit of hardship and see if they dare again." Yu Chi Ming picked up a sword, swung it a couple of times, and huffed, "If they dare mess around again, just give me a shout!...

These little rascals, if you don't beat them for three days, they’ll start tearing the roof off!" Zhao Yuzhen looked at Li Muzhan and sighed, shaking his head. "I thought Fifth Brother would be the best liked among our Tianshu Court members." "Haha, birds of a feather flock together!" Yu Chi Ming burst out laughing heartily. "Worthy of our Tianshu Court!" Before Li Muzhan joined the residence, the four members of Tianshu Court had a poor standing with the residents of the Mei Residence.

First, their status was lofty, but their martial arts prowess couldn't suppress Gong Qingyun, so they weren't fully respected.

Second, Yu Chi Ming and the other two were prone to picking fights for sport, bullying and tricking the other seven courts.

Yu Chi Ming added, "Fifth Brother, you’re too soft-hearted.

If it were me, I’d have snapped off an arm today to see if they’d dare cause trouble again!" Li Muzhan chuckled and shook his head.

Cheng Xiaofeng glanced sideways at Yu Chi Ming and scoffed, "Fourth Brother, you only talk big.

Have you ever killed anyone?!" Yu Chi Ming pouted and huffed, "I haven't had the chance yet!" "Enough!" Zhao Yuzhen waved his hand, turning to ask Li Muzhan, "Fifth Brother, what do you plan to do with these swords?" "What does Eldest Brother think they should be disposed of as?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

Yu Chi Ming quickly suggested, "In my opinion, hang them on the tree in front of the Kaiyang Court entrance to shame them thoroughly! See if they have the face to show up again!" Cheng Xiaofeng smiled and nodded. "Not a bad idea!" He Nanshan stroked a lock of beard beneath his chin and chuckled, "The sword lives and the person lives; the sword dies and the person dies.

Fifth Brother’s move was ruthless!" It had been a year and a half since they last saw him, and He Nanshan had grown a small beard under his chin, giving him an air of dashing elegance.

As they were speaking, Xiao Yuan came in. "Zhanran, the Miss is looking for you!" She was clad in a pink silk blouse, plump and round like a ripe peach, exceedingly alluring, but at the moment she looked dispirited, speaking lazily.

Yu Chi Ming's eyes immediately lit up, and he stepped forward obsequiously. "Miss Xiao Yuan, the Young Mistress is looking for Fifth Brother.

Is that good news or bad news?" "Yu Chi Ming, get lost!" Xiao Yuan's delicate eyebrows shot up, and she let out a delicate snort. "He crippled Zhang Ganxuan.

Do you think that’s good news or bad news?!" Cheng Xiaofeng stepped forward, bowing politely with clasped hands. "Miss Xiao Yuan, what punishment will Fifth Brother receive?" "I don't know!" Xiao Yuan huffed, waving her small hand. "Anyway, Zhanran is going to be unlucky this time.

The Miss is truly angry...

Hurry up and go." Li Muzhan smiled bitterly in his heart; the reckoning was finally here.

He put his hands together in a smile. "Four Senior Brothers, it's nothing.

I'll be right back." "Sigh...

Fifth Brother, you really are..." Zhao Yuzhen shook his head with a wry smile.

Yu Chi Ming thrust his neck out. "I'll go speak to the Young Mistress! That surnamed Zhang provoked him; he brought his own doom.

Why should Fifth Brother be punished?!" "Stop making trouble!" Xiao Yuan waved impatiently, her bright eyes wide. "You just mess things up, you don't accomplish anything.

Going there will only add fuel to the fire!" "I..." Yu Chi Ming was unconvinced.

Zhao Yuzhen placed a hand on his shoulder. "That's enough, Fourth Brother.

Let's see what happens first." "Zhanran, let's go!" Xiao Yuan told Li Muzhan, her expression immediately softening.

She sashayed outward, her slender waist swaying.

Li Muzhan smiled at the others and followed behind Xiao Yuan out of the Tianshu Court.

Yu Chi Ming stared blankly for a long moment, then sighed. "Third Senior Brother, you were right.

Xiao Yuan really has a crush on Fifth Brother..." Cheng Xiaofeng gave him an impatient look, shaking his head. "This is the situation, and you're still concerned about Xiao Yuan!" Yu Chi Ming chuckled sheepishly, scratching his head, looking quite pleased with himself. "Last time he killed someone, he was only punished with a year and a half of confinement.

He didn't kill anyone this time, so it shouldn't be a problem!" "You sure know how to put on an act!" Cheng Xiaofeng sneered. "You're doing it for Miss Xiao Yuan to see, aren't you?" "Heh heh..." Yu Chi Ming scratched his head, very smug.