In the space of a breath, Li Muzhan stepped out of the carriage, his spirit bright and commanding. The surrounding guards snapped to attention and bowed; Li Muzhan simply clasped his hands together and smiled. Without uttering a word, he moved past the circle of guards and approached Mei Ruolan.

Mei Ruolan turned and glanced at him, her voice soft. "You recovered so quickly?"

"I couldn't keep everyone waiting. I'll take my time recovering later," Li Muzhan replied with a smile.

He quickly surveyed the area—Xiao Yuan and Gong Qingyun were nowhere in sight—but he didn't press the matter. "Young Miss, regarding the Bald Bandit..."

Mei Ruolan said, "They are at Wohu Mountain. If you insist on going, I won't stop you. But you must take Qingyun with you."

Li Muzhan hesitated for a moment, then gave a wry smile. "Sister, I'm just going to take a look. If things prove impossible, I won't waste my effort!"

He instantly grasped Mei Ruolan's intention. Having Senior Sister Gong accompany him was a measure to restrain him; while he didn't fear risks, he had to consider Senior Sister Gong. He privately admired the move—it was remarkably astute, a tactic most others wouldn't conceive.

"If you don't agree, I won't either," Mei Ruolan stated calmly, her hazy eyes fixed on him.

Seeing her resolute expression, Li Muzhan sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Fine, I agree."

"That's better," Mei Ruolan pursed her lips into a brilliant, radiant smile that illuminated her features.

She turned her head. "Elder Ouyang, please show him the way."

"Very well." Elder Ouyang sized up Li Muzhan and said in a deep voice, "Zhanran, the Bald Bandit's reputation isn't grand, but he is not to be trifled with. Do not underestimate him! The martial world of Hexi is far crueler than our Haidong; it's survival of the fittest, with no room for sentiment. If your skill isn't enough, you'll be eliminated quickly."

"Yes, Elder. I understand," Li Muzhan replied solemnly.

Elder Zhang blew out a breath, causing his long, snow-white beard to flutter. He chuckled, "Zhanran, these Bald Bandit scoundrels are savage and tyrannical. Kill them if you can; it's acting on heaven's behalf! However, secure yourself first. Don't get yourself killed along with them!"

"Yes, Elder," Li Muzhan replied with a smile.

Elder Ouyang's face was icy. He stated sternly, "Hmph. Every one of these thieves deserves death. If my skill were sufficient, I would have wiped them out long ago, saving good people from further harm!"

Mei Ruolan frowned, glanced at the two elders, and said calmly, "Zhanran, if they make no aggressive moves, don't provoke them."

Li Muzhan smiled. "I'll act according to the situation."

Mei Ruolan looked at him deeply, then shot the two elders a displeased glance, annoyed by their instigation. Zhanran appeared calm and composed, yet he was a man who killed without batting an eye but possessed a heart of compassion. How could he not act after hearing their words?

Elder Zhang quickly chuckled, "The Young Miss is correct. Let it go this time. If they don't bother us, you don't bother them. Deliver the items, and we can settle accounts with them upon return!"

Li Muzhan smiled and said nothing more.

Xiao Yuan and Gong Qingyun emerged gracefully from the woods. They had changed into white robes, their long hair unbound, gleaming like black satin in the sunlight. Their loose white attire obscured their figures, but when the wind blew, their slender curves flickered into view. They moved with fluid grace in the breeze, captivating to behold. Li Muzhan stared, unable to look away, filled with admiration.

The gazes of the other guards were also drawn in; such beauty was truly irresistible.

Mei Ruolan coughed lightly and said, "Qingyun, come here."

Xiao Yuan and Gong Qingyun had been heading toward the carriage, but upon hearing the call, they turned and approached.

"Young Miss." Gong Qingyun arrived before Mei Ruolan, quickly glancing at Li Muzhan, then hastily averting her eyes from his intense gaze.

Mei Ruolan instructed, "Qingyun, Zhanran is going to cause trouble for the Bald Bandit. You will accompany him."

"Me..." Gong Qingyun started, her expression hesitant.

Mei Ruolan said gently, "I worry about Zhanran going alone. If you go, you can keep an eye on things."

"Why not let Xiao Yuan go...?" Gong Qingyun suggested.

Xiao Yuan immediately jumped in front of Mei Ruolan, chirping excitedly, "Oh, alright, alright, Miss! I'll go with Zhanran!"

Mei Ruolan looked at her and shook her head. "You? You'll only cause chaos!"

"Sister!" Xiao Yuan whined coquettishly.

Mei Ruolan ignored her and turned back. "Qingyun, you should go!"

Gong Qingyun saw the determination in her expression, glanced at the grinning Li Muzhan, and slowly nodded. "Yes."

The sight of Li Muzhan's smug smile inexplicably annoyed her. Her martial arts were inferior to his; going with him meant she would only be a burden, not a helper. Did the Young Miss not know this, yet insisted she go? Thinking this, a realization dawned on her: the Young Miss feared he would act recklessly and wanted her to keep him in check.

Mei Ruolan concluded, "Zhanran, I entrust Qingyun to you."

"Yes, Miss," Li Muzhan replied with a wry smile.

Elder Ouyang drew his sword and made three strokes, then two, etching a map onto the ground—mountains, roads, forests, and rivers, all crudely but clearly shaped.

Elder Ouyang pointed with his sword tip. "Zhanran, we are here. This is Jibao Mountain, and that is Xiiannu Peak." He concisely explained the map in a few sentences.

"This is Wohu Mountain. The terrain is perilously steep. To ascend, one must use the mountain path. The Wohu Temple on Wohu Mountain was famous in the previous dynasty."

"The entire Wohu Mountain is one monolithic mass, sheer cliffs straight up and down, impossible to climb. The previous dynasty spent immense manpower and resources carving out a narrow path. To reach the summit, even someone with supreme Qinggong must use this path."

Li Muzhan frowned and interrupted Elder Ouyang. "In that case... the northern side of the mountain is a superb strategic position. As the saying goes, if the pass is held, ten thousand men cannot break through."

"Precisely!" Elder Ouyang nodded. Elder Zhang chuckled, "So, trying to sneak up silently is impossible; you'll be seen."

Li Muzhan stroked his small beard and pondered for a moment. "I still need to see it for myself. Elder Ouyang, is there anything else I should be aware of?"

Elder Ouyang said gravely, "Saying more won't help. You should see for yourself. If things become untenable, retreat immediately. Don't overextend yourself!"

"Good!" Li Muzhan nodded, then turned. "Senior Sister, could you carry a gourd of arrows for me?"

Gong Qingyun snorted coldly and returned to the carriage, slinging the quiver onto her back.

Afterward, the two bid farewell to the group and departed. Gong Qingyun's movement was light and agile, drifting away like a white cloud, vanishing from sight in an instant.

Xiao Yuan was clearly displeased, watching them disappear with a pout, gloomy and unhappy.

Mei Ruolan shook her head and smiled, ignoring her as she went to tend to the injured guards, soothing them with gentle words.

The sky was still relatively clear. Li Muzhan and Gong Qingyun moved swiftly southward, traveling over ten li before turning west into the forest.

Along the way, Gong Qingyun remained silent, her thin lips tightly pressed, her expression cool.

Li Muzhan also stayed quiet, his mind working on two things: traveling and analyzing Mei Ruolan's Zhujian Shu (Stationary Sword Technique). That single sword strike had chilled him to the bone. Every time it replayed in his mind, his hair stood on end, and his body tensed. He conceded that he would have been unable to evade that sword strike himself.

Zhujian Shu, Yujian Shu! This Stationary Sword Technique was truly terrifying. It destroyed everything in its path, much like the Buddhist concept of the Golden Net Sword. His own Flying Cloud Arrow Technique possessed a Zhujian Shu (Stationary Arrow Technique), but compared to the Young Miss's Stationary Sword Technique, it was like the difference between mud and clouds, utterly incomparable. If his Stationary Arrow Technique possessed such power, he wouldn't fear the entire Bi Xue Hall attacking them.

Thinking this, he let out a breath of relief. He had constantly worried that if the Hall Master of Bi Xue Hall attacked, the Mei Manor contingent would have no defense, but he realized he had worried needlessly. With the Young Miss's sword strike, what was there to fear from Bi Xue Hall?

He kept replaying the move in his mind, trying to decipher its mystery. Unfortunately, the strike looked utterly ordinary, the posture common. No matter how much he analyzed it, he could find no secret.

He played it back in slow motion in his mind, from Mei Ruolan raising her sword to her piercing the man. Before her body moved, the Cold Moon Sword suddenly brightened, and then both she and the sword flew out—it was as if her delicate body was being pulled forward by the sword, a truly strange sight.

Li Muzhan recalled the Xianxia stories he read in the modern era. Could there be Sword Immortals in this world? Sword Flight? He shook his head, dismissing the idea. This world was similar to ancient China, where martial arts flourished, but even the greatest contemporary master, Nangong Sidao, was merely known for deep inner force and exquisite swordsmanship, unable to move mountains or drain seas.

This suggested the Young Miss had deep ties to the Canghai Sword Sect, and this move must be an extremely profound secret art to possess such power.

As he pondered, Li Muzhan scanned the surroundings, ensuring he could retreat calmly, inadvertently neglecting Gong Qingyun.

Gong Qingyun had maintained a cold expression, inwardly annoyed, walking silently while also surveying the area.

Unnoticed, the sun began to set, painting the sky with sunset hues, and the light in the forest dimmed.

They stopped abruptly at a certain point. Li Muzhan snapped back to attention, leaped onto a jujube tree, and looked up. Before him, a towering mountain stood, exuding a chilling aura.

Li Muzhan sighed. This mountain shouldn't be called Wohu Mountain; it should be named Poqiong Mountain (Sky-Shattering Mountain). It was so sheer, straight up and down, like a sword piercing the heavens, threatening to cleave the firmament.

Li Muzhan turned. "Senior Sister, I'll go take a look. You wait here for me, how about that?"

Gong Qingyun shook her head, her expression firm. "I'm going too."

Li Muzhan looked at her; she met his gaze stubbornly. Their eyes locked across the air. After a moment of entanglement, Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed. "Alright, we go together then. Be careful; there are likely hidden sentries nearby."

"Mmm," Gong Qingyun replied, a slight upward curve appearing on her lips; she was secretly pleased.

Leaping down from the jujube tree, they started walking out. Just as they were about to leave the woods, they suddenly stopped and exchanged a look.

Outside the forest was a wide expanse of barren land, where tree stumps were densely arranged, stretching nearly two li down to the entrance of the mountain path. The entire mountain was a single, massive block of stone, bisected by the narrow path. The cliff face was smooth and sheer, rising about a hundred meters high. No matter how good one's Qinggong was, ascending the mountain required using the path. The path was paved with bluestone, hanging like a blue silk ribbon in the air, seeming as if a strong breeze could make it flutter.

Li Muzhan scanned the area. This place must have been a forest that had been cleared to facilitate surveillance; there had to be hidden sentries nearby. He gestured, and Gong Qingyun, understanding immediately, retreated back into the woods with him.

"We just wait until it's dark," Li Muzhan said.

Gong Qingyun stated coldly, "Let's go back. Trying to sneak in secretly is as difficult as scaling the heavens!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Let's try anyway. If it doesn't work, we leave. We can't have come all this way for nothing, can we?"

Gong Qingyun glanced at him and kept quiet.

Li Muzhan, feeling helpless, smiled. "Senior Sister, are you a disciple of the Canghai Sword Sect?"

"Yes, a registered disciple," Gong Qingyun nodded faintly. "The Young Miss will formally enter the Canghai Sword Sect in a year."