Footsteps broke his words, and Elder Ouyang and Elder Zhang hurried over.

Elder Ouyang glanced at the three women, then looked at Li Muchen: “What happened?” “Elder Ouyang, Zhanran’s leg is broken!” Xiao Yuan said sweetly, a mixture of anger and grievance on her face, as if she were the one injured.

Elder Zhang stroked his snow-white beard: “Little one, how did this happen?

How could Zhanran end up like this overnight!” Mei Ruolan shot an angry glance at the two elders.

They were the instigators of this whole affair, yet they spoke of the bald brigand as utterly wicked, claiming that killing him was acting on Heaven’s behalf, which stoked Zhanran’s murderous intent.

Otherwise, given Zhanran’s temperament, he would have known when to yield; seeing a situation impossible to resolve, he would never have forced it.

It was these two elders’ words that ignited Zhanran’s fighting spirit, leading to this predicament.

It was only because Zhanran was incredibly fortunate that he hadn't perished!

Li Muchen smiled: “Elder Jiyang, Elder Zhang, I have brought shame upon myself.” “Where is the injury?

Let me see.” Elder Zhang pushed past Xiao Yuan and Gong Qingyun, approaching Li Muchen’s couch and bending down to examine him.

As he spoke, he directly lifted Li Muchen’s monastic robe, exposing his upper body, and his eyes narrowed: “Eh?” Elder Ouyang also approached, took one look, and his expression shifted.

Elder Zhang squatted down, leaning in close, staring intently at the two bloody holes on Li Muchen’s shoulder, his eyes gleaming sharply.

After observing for a long moment, he straightened up and turned to Elder Ouyang: “Old man Ouyang, take a look.” Elder Ouyang stepped forward, moving closer for a better view, his face expressionless, his frosty brows knitted.

Xiao Yuan and Gong Qingyun dared not breathe, their hearts pounding fiercely; it seemed Zhanran’s injury was serious, given the gravity of the two elders.

Elder Zhang said: “Doesn't it resemble the Golden Talons Finger?” Elder Ouyang nodded slowly: “It should be the Golden Net Finger!” Mei Ruolan’s expression shifted slightly, and she exchanged a look with Li Muchen.

Elder Zhang, usually jovial, now dropped his smile, his demeanor solemn as he stared intently at Li Muchen: “Zhanran, who did you run into?” “Did you storm Wòhǔ Mountain?” Elder Ouyang inquired.

Li Muchen nodded and smiled faintly: “Yes, I met the Chief of Wòhǔ Mountain.” “What kind of person is he?” Elder Zhang asked quickly.

“A middle-aged monk,” Li Muchen replied.

“A middle-aged monk?” Elder Zhang frowned.

“Is he truly a monk?!” Li Muchen nodded.

Elder Zhang looked toward Elder Ouyang and sighed: “It seems it really is the Golden Net Finger!” Li Muchen said: “I heard a bald brigand mention that this finger technique is called the Golden Net Finger.” Elder Ouyang nodded: “No doubt about it, it is the Golden Net Finger.” The two elders suddenly fell silent, frowning in thought, as if facing a difficult matter.

Xiao Yuan and Gong Qingyun remained silent, exchanging glances, looking from Elder Zhang to Elder Ouyang.

They felt deeply uneasy, knowing the situation was dire.

Mei Ruolan broke the silence: “Elder Ouyang, Elder Zhang, is that monk truly from Lántuó Monastery?” “So the young lady knows about it,” Elder Zhang looked over.

Mei Ruolan nodded: “That monk’s finger strike was fierce, resembling the Golden Net Finger.

The Golden Net Finger is the unique secret art of Lántuó Monastery; it is rarely taught.

I can hardly discern the truth myself.” Elder Zhang sighed: “Judging by Zhanran’s wounds, it should be real, especially since the assailant was a monk!” Mei Ruolan glanced at Li Muchen: “It’s possible someone is falsely using the name of Lántuó Monastery, posing as a disciple to intimidate people.” “Hmm,” Elder Zhang was startled, then pondered for a moment and nodded: “That is not impossible.” He suddenly unbuttoned his garment, pulled open his robe, revealing his chest, which startled the women.

Elder Zhang said: “Eldest Miss, look at this wound of mine!” On his fair and well-proportioned chest, a circular scar was extremely conspicuous, also on the right side, almost exactly matching the location of Zhanran’s wound.

Li Muchen glanced over, silently praising him; indeed worthy of the Golden Armor Protector, his cultivation was profound, and his body showed no signs of age, resembling that of a robust man in his forties.

Mei Ruolan remained composed, showing no shyness, gazed at the round scar for a moment, then glanced at Li Muchen’s right chest, and slowly nodded: “Very similar.” Elder Zhang closed his clothes and buttoned them up, forcing a bitter smile: “It happened twenty years ago.

I encountered a young monk from Lántuó Monastery in Hexi, about the same age as Zhanran… Back then, I was young and arrogant, thinking that in this vast world, true masters were few and insignificant.

Seeing he was from Lántuó Monastery, I provoked him into a fight.” He walked to the window and pushed it open; daylight flooded in.

He looked out the window and sighed: “At first, the young monk kept yielding, which only angered me more.

I felt he looked down on me, and my words grew increasingly insolent, finally criticizing Lántuó Monastery…” He finally became enraged and delivered that strike of the Golden Talons Finger to me.” He turned back with a wry smile: “Every time I recall such a finger strike, I break out in a cold sweat!” Elder Ouyang stroked his beard and slowly said: “Lántuó Monastery is one of the Seven Great Sects.

The power of the Golden Net Finger is astonishing, rumored to penetrate everything and shatter all hardness!” “The reputation is well-deserved,” Elder Zhang sighed with emotion, smiling bitterly: “That bald brigand is actually from Lántuó Monastery—that’s a secret history!” Elder Ouyang frowned: “Perhaps he is an apostate from Lántuó Monastery.

The rules of Lántuó Monastery are extremely strict… Zhanran, you must be careful!” Li Muchen nodded: “He intended to silence me.” Then he smiled: “Fortunately, I didn't try to play the hero and never revealed my name.” “Good!” Elder Ouyang nodded.

Mei Ruolan’s brows were tightly knitted, and she looked at Li Muchen’s shaved head: “Xiao Yuan, go find a hat for Zhanran.” Li Muchen shook his head: “A hat is too conspicuous.” Elder Zhang, how should one counter the Golden Net Finger?” It was such hot weather; wearing a hat would be too strange, definitely attracting attention, making it easy for the bald brigand to find him.

Elder Zhang smiled bitterly and sighed: “I’ve thought about this for so many years; to break the Golden Net Finger, one can only dodge and block, if one’s movement technique is fast enough, observing the direction of the finger.” Li Muchen shook his head: “He hid his fingers in his sleeve!” His perception was sharp, and his movement technique was fast, but the middle-aged monk kept one hand visible and the other concealed in his sleeve, launching two fingers simultaneously, which interfered with his senses, causing him to be struck.

Elder Zhang smiled bitterly: “That’s why the Golden Net Finger is so difficult to deal with.

If all else fails, wear a heart-protecting mirror.” Elder Ouyang said gravely: “There is another way to break the Golden Net Finger—force him into a position where he cannot strike!” “Very difficult!” Elder Zhang said: “The finger strike I received was because the young monk held back.

He once said his cultivation was shallow, and his finger force had not reached its peak.

One level higher, and his finger force could melt metal and dissolve stone… Alas, facing such finger force, even a heart-protecting mirror would be useless.

To be struck once is very hard to survive.” Li Muchen pondered silently; there was no martial art in the world that could not be broken.

The Golden Net Finger must have a weakness; he simply hadn't found it yet.

Mei Ruolan said: “That’s enough for now.

Let Li Muchen rest first, and we can discuss it another day.” Everyone then withdrew.

Xiao Yuan and Gong Qingyun glanced back at him, clearly worried, but Li Muchen waved them away with a smile, and they reluctantly left.

Alone in the room, Li Muchen rested his head on his hands, looking up at the ceiling, contemplating the gains and losses of this battle.

The preceding scene replayed in his mind.

Everything happened too quickly; the middle-aged monk moved like a bolt of thunder, and he had no time to think.

In reality, breaking the Vajra Finger was not difficult.

He should have seized one of the bald brigands to use as a shield.

No matter how powerful the Golden Net Finger was, after being slowed by a fleshy shield, its power would be discounted.

With that slight delay, he could have evaded it.

Then, fighting while retreating—why end up in such a pathetic state?

However, this middle-aged monk’s internal energy was incredibly deep.

If he evaded the Golden Net Finger, there would surely be other formidable techniques.

The secret arts of Lántuó Monastery were no small matter; he was still no match for them.

If his skill was inferior and he was constrained, the best plan was to retreat; the superior plan was to cultivate desperately.

Fortunately, when climbing the mountain, he had already considered how to escape if he fell from the summit, thinking of using a parachute; otherwise, he wouldn't even have been able to escape running.

After summarizing the gains and losses, he began channeling his internal energy to heal.

Although both legs were broken, forcing him to sit with his legs extended, he could still enter meditation.

He entered the visualization state of the Observing Heaven and Reflecting Man Sutra, his consciousness merging into the two heart-beads.

His projected body appeared on a lotus, and the two heart-beads drilled into the baihui point of his projected body, transforming into a vertical eye between the brows.

The projected body formed a hand seal and drew down a pillar of moonlight to envelop its surroundings.

It felt like bathing in a hot spring, incredibly comfortable.

Every single cell in his body seemed to awaken, the sensations becoming exquisitely clear and subtle, beyond description.

When he awoke, the room was brightly lit, coinciding with two gazes as clear as flowing water.

Xiao Yuan was sitting by the table, supporting her head with her arm, tilting her head and staring intently at him with wide, bright eyes.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Yuan?” Li Muchen asked with a smile.

Xiao Yuan blinked her bright eyes: “Zhanran, you can meditate like this?” Li Muchen smiled and nodded: “Yes, I am a monastic, cultivating Zen arts since childhood.” “Truly amazing!” Xiao Yuan exclaimed, blinking her bright eyes.

She nimbly poured tea and brought it to him: “I’ll go call the Young Miss!” Mei Ruolan, clad in purple robes with the Cold Moon Sword at her waist, strode in quickly: “Zhanran, how is it?” She stepped forward, took his wrist, and probed his pulse, then nodded: “Mm, you just need proper recuperation.” Li Muchen inhaled the faint, subtle fragrance and smiled: “The Seven Treasures Heart Protection Pill is indeed extraordinary!” “Stop flattering me; we aren't done with what happened yesterday!” Mei Ruolan said with a sharp tone, turning to instruct: “Xiao Yuan, you stay here to look after Zhanran.” Xiao Yuan quickly nodded in agreement, looking excited.

Li Muchen quickly said: “Young Miss, are you abandoning me?” Mei Ruolan glanced at him sideways and sneered: “You are injured, how can you leave?

Besides, the bald brigand is hunting you; they are the local snakes, and they will surely find you if you appear… This place is very safe; no one will find you.

Just focus on recovering!” Li Muchen said: “Young Miss, my legs are injured, but I still have my archery skills…” “Enough, no need to say more.

You must stay no matter what!” Mei Ruolan waved her hand coldly and turned to Xiao Yuan: “Xiao Yuan, take good care of him, and don’t let him run around!” “Yes, Young Miss!” Xiao Yuan answered cheerfully.

“Young Miss—” Li Muchen reached out a hand.

Mei Ruolan snorted, ignored him, and left directly.

Li Muchen lowered his hand and sighed helplessly.

Xiao Yuan saw Mei Ruolan out, and upon returning, saw his wry expression.

She comforted him: “Zhanran, the Young Miss is worried about you, that’s why she’s angry… Let’s focus on healing first, okay?” “I don’t have wings, so this is all I can do!” Li Muchen reluctantly agreed.

Danger: Everyone cast many votes yesterday; thank you immensely!

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