Li Muzhan pressed his fingers to the man’s wrist for a quick assessment, his brow immediately knitting in concern. His other hand moved to rest over the man’s Tanzhong acupoint.
Mei Ruohai crouched down too, grabbing He Nanshan’s other wrist to check his pulse. His face instantly darkened, and he looked up at Li Muzhan, frustration etched on his features: “Damn it! We’re too late!”
“...I’ll give it a try!” Li Muzhan withdrew his hands, sat cross-legged on the sand, closed his eyes, and formed the Vajra Mudra before his chest.
His entire demeanor shifted; his body seemed to merge with the surroundings, becoming like a massive, unmoving boulder.
“What is he doing...?” Mei Ruohai asked, frowning as he looked toward Xiaoyuan.
Xiaoyuan shot him a withering look. “Of course, he’s channeling his energy!”
She was still angry; that Third Young Master had been too rash. Zhanran’s left shoulder was already injured, yet he had only poured fuel on the fire by clapping him on it.
Mei Ruohai rubbed his nose, knowing better than to argue with Xiaoyuan.
Xiaoyuan was the Eldest Sister’s personal maid, having been with her since childhood. Though titled a maid, she was essentially a younger sister.
Footsteps sounded, and a group of people surged out of the woods, moving with haste. Several others raced along the riverbank. Combined, the two groups numbered about fifty or sixty people.
“Third Young Master...” They stopped twenty feet away and formally bowed.
Mei Ruohai waved a dismissive hand and spoke in a low, grave voice: “Silence! ...Zhanran is channeling his qi; do not disturb him. ...You lot return to the manor first and report to the Eldest Sister!”
“Yes...” The group answered in hushed tones and turned to leave. Four middle-aged men remained rooted to the spot.
These four were clad in dark green long robes, a color similar to Mei Ruohai’s. They were of medium build, with distinct features.
Instead, they advanced, stopping near Mei Ruohai and murmuring, “Young Master...”
“Shh—... Don’t speak!” Mei Ruohai raised his hand again, his gaze fixed intently on Li Muzhan.
Xiaoyuan glanced at the four men, then dismissed them, turning her attention back to Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan’s robes fluttered as if buffeted by a strong wind. Fine wisps of white vapor drilled out from the crown of his head, thinner than hair, drifting lazily upward to congregate about a meter above him, dense and unmoving.
At a glance, it looked as if a small white cloud hovered over his head.
He slowly opened his eyes; the light in them was clear, like ripples on a bright lake. He released the hand seal, gathered his fingers into a crane’s beak, and lightly tapped He Nanshan’s chest several times.
These taps were as delicate as a dragonfly kissing water. After withdrawing his hands, he re-formed the seal, closed his eyes, and the white vapor above his head billowed and churned. His monk’s robe was already soaked with sweat.
The white vapor grew denser, obscuring his face, making him appear and disappear, his complexion luminous and jade-like.
Mei Ruohai whispered, “Controlling the Crane and Supplementing the Oil Technique!”
He turned to look at the four men. They nodded slowly, their expressions firm.
“How does he know the secret art of Yingyue Nunnery?” Mei Ruohai questioned, bewildered.
One of the middle-aged men whispered back, “He must have a deep connection with Yingyue Nunnery. ...This technique is exclusive to Yingyue Nunnery; they never teach it outside!”
“Hmm, interesting. Yingyue Nunnery takes no male disciples!” Mei Ruohai chuckled lightly.
Xiaoyuan’s eyes widened as she stared at Li Muzhan. As time passed, the white mist dissipated, and his robe dried. He opened his eyes; the gaze within was piercingly bright.
A smile touched her lips, and she quickly asked, “Zhanran, are you alright?”
Li Muzhan smiled, shook his head, reached out, and pressed his hand to He Nanshan’s Tanzhong. After a moment, he sighed with relief and nodded.
Mei Ruohai checked He Nanshan’s pulse again, then clapped his hands together, laughing: “The Controlling the Crane and Supplementing the Oil Technique is truly marvelous—resurrecting the dead!”
Li Muzhan smiled, then shook his head. “Third Young Master, this is not the Controlling the Crane and Supplementing the Oil Technique.”
“Oh—it’s not?” Mei Ruohai paused in surprise.
The Controlling the Crane and Supplementing the Oil Technique was the foremost life-extending art in the world, the exclusive secret study of the Divine Nun Xueyin. Though he hadn’t witnessed it, he had heard of it, and the procedure Li Muzhan performed looked identical.
Li Muzhan grew serious and said in a deep voice, “The Controlling the Crane and Supplementing the Oil Technique is a technique exclusive to Yingyue Nunnery. Though my Second Sister is a disciple there, she dares not pass it on privately!”
“Heh heh...” Mei Ruohai blinked, then burst into chuckles, nodding repeatedly: “Right, right, I was mistaken! I misjudged! Heh heh...”
Li Muzhan also smiled, his gaze showing approval.
This Third Young Master was a clever man, perhaps a step below the Eldest Miss, but superior to most others.
Xiaoyuan looked between them, utterly confused, and quickly said, “Zhanran, you’re injured too! Put some medicine on your wounds quickly!”
“No hurry,” Li Muzhan waved his hand. “Xiaoyuan, let me see your injury.”
Without waiting for her protest, he reached out and pressed his fingers against Xiaoyuan’s fair wrist, nodding once: “It’s fine.”
Xiaoyuan snorted and wrinkled her nose. “I’m not someone who just eats vegetables!”
Li Muzhan chuckled softly. “Indeed, you eat meat!”
Xiaoyuan looked delicate, but her internal energy was profound, surpassing even Zhao Yuzhen and the others by several degrees. It seemed the saying ‘No weak soldiers under a strong general’ held true, likely from training under Mei Ruolan since childhood.
Li Muzhan carried He Nanshan on his back as the group emerged from the woods and headed back.
Although He Nanshan remained unconscious, his breathing was even, his complexion rosy, and the life force within him was robust. His life was secure; he only needed proper recuperation.
Upon entering Jinyang City, Mei Ruolan met them with an escort, accompanied by Zhao Yuzhen and Gong Qingyun.
Zhao Yuzhen looked agitated and stepped forward to examine He Nanshan’s injuries. Li Muzhan yielded the man to her. He then picked up He Nanshan again. Gong Qingyun merely glanced at Li Muzhan twice and remained silent.
The group walked down the main street together. Mei Ruolan inquired about the ordeal. Xiaoyuan pursed her lips disdainfully. “Miss, that Bai Qingshi is truly shameless!”
Mei Ruolan frowned. “You ran into Bai Qingshi?”
Xiaoyuan nodded. “Yes! ...They used He Nanshan as bait to ambush us, attacking with hidden weapons. Zhanran spotted it, and I managed to send a signal. Then they started shouting that they were their own people, approaching while claiming it was a misunderstanding. I actually thought we were mistaken for a moment. ...But Zhanran was cunning; he pretended to be one of them and moved closer, then suddenly attacked and slew one of the wretches! ...Cleverness misused, hehe, it was so satisfying!”
“Your injury isn't serious, is it?” Mei Ruolan turned to ask Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Superficial wounds, nothing major.”
Xiaoyuan added, “There were two others left. They were utterly despicable. One took on Zhanran while Bai Qingshi targeted me, striking me down instantly. It was lucky Zhanran blocked him!”
“You were injured too?” Mei Ruolan furrowed her delicate brows and shot her a glare.
Xiaoyuan giggled. “Just a minor injury! ...Bai Qingshi didn't want to kill me; he meant to capture me alive!”
“And then?!” Mei Ruohai urged impatiently.
Xiaoyuan smiled coyly. “Zhanran rushed over and told me to climb onto his back...”
At this point, her cheeks flushed crimson, and her voice trailed off, betraying clear shyness.
The others secretly chuckled, pretending not to notice. Gong Qingyun took a deep look at Li Muzhan before turning her head away.
“And then?” Mei Ruohai pressed again, huffing, “Xiaoyuan, don’t drag this out, you’re killing me! Just tell it all at once!”
Xiaoyuan took a slow breath and rushed on, “Bai Qingshi was so vile! ...He ordered that man to kill He Nanshan. Zhanran intercepted, but Bai Qingshi blocked him, forcing Zhanran to take a direct blow from him. Then Zhanran deliberately endured a sword strike from the other man to finish him off! ...Fortunately, Young Master Third arrived just then!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “It was thanks to the Third Young Master’s timely arrival; otherwise, I feared I couldn't hold off Bai Qingshi. My own safety is trivial, but failing to save Second Senior Brother would have been a grave sin!”
Mei Ruolan frowned. “Bai Qingshi is one of the three top masters of the Bai Manor. His internal energy is deep, and his palm strikes are tyrannical. You are truly alright?”
Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled. “Thank you, Eldest Sister, for your concern. I am unharmed.”
“Miss, that Bai Qingshi wasn’t much after all!” Xiaoyuan said cheerfully.
Mei Ruolan gave her a sideways look, her expression turning cold. “High reputation means a worthy person. If you think that way, you are simply asking for a swift death!”
“Yes..., Miss,” Xiaoyuan immediately lowered her head.
Mei Ruohai nodded in agreement. “Xiaoyuan, don’t blame Eldest Sister for being anxious. Both of our Silver Armor Guards were defeated by Bai Qingshi; we cannot be careless!”
Xiaoyuan stuck out her tongue. Although her martial arts were strong, comparable only to the Silver Armor Guards, facing Bai Qingshi would indeed be perilous.
The surrounding pedestrians saw them and quickly made way. They soon passed the Chaoran Tower and returned to the Mei Residence, heading straight for the Tianshu Courtyard, where two couches lay side-by-side beneath a large tree.
Cheng Xiaofeng and Yu Chi Ming were lying on them, speaking in faint voices. A gentle breeze stirred, making the small courtyard quite serene.
By the time they arrived at the Tianshu Courtyard, Xiaoyuan had already brought Elder An over. Li Muzhan moved another couch, laying He Nanshan down.
Elder An checked He Nanshan’s pulse and smiled. “This little fellow has incredible fortune. Suffering such a severe injury, yet his life force is so vigorous. He just needs careful nurturing.”
“He’ll be fine?” Zhao Yuzhen quickly asked.
“Yes, a couple of months of recuperation, and he should be close to fully recovered!” Elder An nodded.
Xiaoyuan started to speak, then swallowed her words.
Mei Ruolan glanced at Li Muzhan with a half-smile playing on her lips and remained silent.
Zhao Yuzhen let out a long sigh, clasped her hands together, and muttered an Amitabha.
Cheng Xiaofeng and Yu Chi Ming, who had been listening intently with wide eyes, relaxed instantly upon hearing this, their bodies going limp, their cheeks flushing red.
When Li Muzhan returned home, twilight had settled, and the world was darkening. Lanterns were being lit throughout the small village, and the scent of burning firewood drifted in the air.
The moment he smelled it, his entire body relaxed. The fierce battles of the day felt distant, like events from another realm, suddenly turned illusory.
His Second Sister, Li Yurong, had not returned, nor had his Eldest Brother. Inside the brightly lit courtyard, his father, Li Zhuzi, was watering the flowers. His mother, Qin Shi, and his eldest sister-in-law, Zhao Yiyi, sat by the table trimming leeks while chatting.
Seeing him return, Zhao Yiyi pursed her lips into a smile and went into the house.
Mother Qin said cheerfully, “Third son, Li Jian’s wife came by today. That little one, so delicate! Who knows how many women he’ll end up devastating when he grows up!”
Li Zhuzi looked up, cast a brief glance at him, and returned to his task.
Li Muzhan laughed. “Li Jian said I will be the godfather.”
“That’s wonderful news!” Mother Qin said happily.
Zhao Yiyi brought over tea, steaming gently, and handed it to him.
He took it, sipped lightly, and said, “Mother, I won’t be coming back for a few days; I have some matters to attend to.”
“What matters?” Mother Qin asked.
“I need to enter seclusion for training,” Li Muzhan smiled.
Mother Qin glared. “Seclusion again!”
Li Muzhan chuckled, reaching out to help trim the leeks. Zhao Yiyi sat down and said, “Mother, it’s good for him to train well. If his martial arts improve, no one will bully him.”
“Fine...” Mother Qin said, clearly reluctant.