"Hold tight!" Li Muzhan's voice drifted up from below, stretched thin by the wind and curling into her ears.

"Thump! Thump!" His descent slowed. His garments billowed, and with one hand gripping each, he was suspended in mid-air, his speed checked.

Xiao Yuan quickly grasped the fabric, peering down below.

Li Muzhan flapped his arms incessantly, much like a bird beating its wings—a sight rather ridiculous, yet surprisingly effective. His speed dropped drastically, causing Xiao Yuan a huge sigh of relief.

Li Muzhan channeled his internal energy through his hands into the cloth, simultaneously drawing in his breath and executing the Cloud Dragon Nine Manifestations, twisting and turning mid-air to bleed off the downward momentum.

Below was a lush, dense forest. Just as they neared the treetops, Xiao Yuan caught up to him, and they descended side by side.

"Xiao Yuan, let's exchange a palm strike!" Li Muzhan called out.

Xiao Yuan paused for a beat, then reacted, nodding in understanding.

Li Muzhan released his left hand, letting the garment fly free. His left palm struck out toward Xiao Yuan's chest as her right palm met it. Their palms connected, sending both of them flying outward horizontally, further reducing their speed.

Li Muzhan folded his body in the air once, then again. Following the path of a winding 'Z', he floated down onto the treetop with a flurry of "crackles," snapping a swath of branches and leaves.

The moment his feet touched down, Xiao Yuan rushed into his embrace, pounding his chest with her tiny fists, spitting out furiously, "You scared me to death! You scared me to death!"

Warm fragrance and soft jade in his arms, Li Muzhan grinned, feeling utterly comfortable and supremely delighted.

After a pause, he patted her full, fragrant shoulder and laughed, "It’s no time to relax yet. Let's hurry on!"

Xiao Yuan moved away from his chest, her bright eyes wide, "Can he still catch up?"

Li Muzhan seemed slightly lost, the taste of warm fragrance and soft jade lingering pleasantly. He laughed, "This monk isn't stupid. He might try jumping off the cliff like we did."

Xiao Yuan startled and quickly looked up. Thankfully, the sky was empty.

"Let's go," Li Muzhan said.

"Oh," Xiao Yuan responded softly, her face flushed crimson, her bright eyes darting left and right, daring not to look at him.

Seeing her shy demeanor, her delicate face flushed, looking exquisitely ripe, Li Muzhan couldn't resist. He reached out and gently stroked her beautiful cheek—smooth and tender, so delicate it felt like it could yield water with a pinch.

Slap! Xiao Yuan batted his hand away, shooting him a sidelong glance, coquettishly chiding, "Aren't you going to hurry up?"

Li Muzhan chuckled, "Alright, off we go!"

The two stayed in the mountain valley for seven days, growing closer with each passing moment. Xiao Yuan felt both shy and sweet from Li Muzhan's casual acts of affection, yet she wasn't angry.

Afraid to skim the treetops, they could only fly just above the ground.

The terrain was a tangle of knotted roots and coiling vines, with no clear path. They channeled their qi to skim over the grass, pushing off the trees for momentum, their feet occasionally tapping a trunk to launch them forward at dizzying speeds.

They traveled west relentlessly for over a dozen li until they finally burst out of the forest and reached an official road. They stopped to catch their breath.

Twilight was descending rapidly; the four directions were silent, and the air had turned cool.

The two sat on a large rock beside the road. Xiao Yuan pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat. She had rushed this whole way without him helping, breathing heavily, her fine sweat dripping freely.

The official road was quite desolate. In the time they had stopped, not a single person had passed.

Xiao Yuan suddenly turned to look at him, "Zhan Ran, are you hurt?"

Li Muzhan sat cross-legged and nodded, "Yes, I overexerted myself and injured my meridians."

"Is it serious?" Xiao Yuan asked anxiously.

Li Muzhan shook his head, "It will pass in a couple of days. Nothing to worry about."

Xiao Yuan studied him, trying to gauge the truth of his words. After a long moment, she said, "That monk was truly vicious. He must be from the Lan Tuo Temple, right?"

Li Muzhan nodded, "It seems so. But thankfully, he’s likely a traitor. Otherwise, he wouldn't be chasing me so relentlessly, trying to silence me."

Xiao Yuan patted her chest, letting out a breath of relief, "That’s a relief, that’s a relief. Those monks from Lan Tuo Temple are formidable; you don't want to provoke them. I heard Miss say that."

Li Muzhan’s gaze dropped to her chest. Already proud and high, her thin garment was stretched taut. With the fine sweat glistening, the outline was faintly visible through the damp fabric. The slight movement caused a thrilling, captivating tremor.

Xiao Yuan blushed, coquettishly chastising, "Zhan—"

Li Muzhan turned his eyes away and smiled, "Let’s go to the town ahead. I'll regulate my breathing for one night, and tomorrow we can chase after the convoy. We’ll catch up soon enough."

Xiao Yuan hesitated, "Do we really have to go?"

Miss had ordered her to keep Zhan Ran here, but now that he was recovering so quickly, she knew she couldn't hold him back.

Besides, she was worried. If the people from the Crimson Blood Hall sought revenge, Zhan Ran's martial arts were profound, comparable to Elder Ouyang and Elder Zhang. His presence made a huge difference.

Li Muzhan laughed, "Don't worry. If Miss scolds you, just say I insisted on going, and you couldn't stop me."

"Miss will call me useless," Xiao Yuan murmured.

Li Muzhan chuckled, "Let her curse a bit. Miss and the others are bound to run into the Crimson Blood Hall members. How could we not go?"

Xiao Yuan tilted her head in thought, then nodded helplessly, "Fine. But you must speak to Miss properly and plead my case."

Li Muzhan laughed, "Shouldn't it be the other way around? You should be pleading my case!"

Last time they stormed Wòhǔ Mountain, he had angered Mei Ruolan, and she had played a trick on him before leaving. Now, he was going to disappoint her good intentions again.

He imagined Mei Ruolan's face when she was furious.

Xiao Yuan saw his strange smile and quickly asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Come on, let's go to the town ahead and rest well for a night!"

"Okay!" Xiao Yuan agreed. The two rose and sped along the official road as the twilight deepened.

By the time lamps were lit, they arrived at a small city—Yangcheng.

The moment they entered the city, they saw streets bustling with people, carriages and horses in constant motion—a lively atmosphere. A smile broke across Xiao Yuan’s face; returning to a familiar environment, she instantly relaxed.

They inquired around and found the best inn in the city: the White Stream Inn.

Li Muzhan requested a private courtyard. Thankfully, Xiao Yuan was meticulous, and her bundle held enough bank notes for Li Muzhan to indulge in a bit of extravagance.

Once inside the courtyard, Li Muzhan went into the room, sat cross-legged on the couch, and said, "Xiao Yuan, buy me two swords. Preferably find a blacksmith to forge two heavy swords."

Both of his original swords were unusable; one had been left embedded in the valley rock face, and the blade of the other bore two pits caused by his Diamond Finger force.

"Mm. And the bow?" Xiao Yuan nodded and inquired.

His archery was divine; now that the Ice Jade Bow was gone, he must be heartbroken. She had deliberately avoided mentioning it, not wanting to cause him pain.

Li Muzhan considered it, "The bow... buy one of those too."

The power of his Arrow Control Technique was severely diminished without a good bow. It was a pity he couldn't freely channel the Sun’s essence into the arrows anymore; that was his limit. The residual force had scattered onto the Ice Jade Bow, turning it to dust.

At this moment, his Solar Meridian throbbed with agonizing pain, like a knife cutting him. Any other person would have collapsed long ago, but having cultivated the Adamantine Imperishable Body, his tolerance for pain was extraordinary, allowing him to remain composed and conversational.

"Go quickly, the sooner you go, the sooner you return," Li Muzhan urged.

"Got it, you rest," Xiao Yuan replied, rising gracefully and closing the door behind her.

Li Muzhan immediately entered meditative stillness. His consciousness suddenly plunged into the Heart Pearl. A phantom body appeared on the lotus flower; the two Heart Pearls drilled into the phantom body, transforming into vertical eyes. The phantom body then formed a hand seal.

In the dark blue sky hung a bright moon, casting down a milky white column of light that enveloped the lotus flower. The phantom body bathed in it, every cell seemingly coming alive, feeling relaxed and refreshed, as if newborn.

Unaware of the passage of time in his trance, he suddenly awoke to complete darkness and silence, save for the faint, almost imperceptible sound of breathing nearby.

Li Muzhan narrowed his eyes, and the darkness before him brightened.

He stepped off the couch and moved to the writing desk by the window. He patted Xiao Yuan’s fragrant shoulder. She was slumped over the desk, apparently asleep.

"Oh," Xiao Yuan stirred, rubbing her eyes and looking up at him, "You’re better?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Much better. What time is it?"

Xiao Yuan pushed open the window, glanced at the moon, and said, "Almost midnight. Are you hungry?"

"Let's go to a restaurant and eat," Li Muzhan chuckled.

"Okay!" Xiao Yuan nodded and darted out.

On the writing desk lay two swords and a bow. Li Muzhan drew a sword to examine it; it gleamed menacingly. While not as fine as his originals, it would suffice.

The bow was ordinary. Li Muzhan shook his head; there was no telling where a small city like this would have quality goods. They would have to make do.

He strapped the swords to his waist and slung the bow across his back.

Xiao Yuan returned quickly, having washed up and changed into a goose-yellow silk dress, looking stunningly beautiful. She rushed in and urged, "Let's go!"

Li Muzhan rose with a smile. The two left the courtyard and stepped onto the main street.

Lanterns hung high on both sides of the street, row upon row, illuminating Yangcheng as if it were day. Watching the crowds pass by, Xiao Yuan exclaimed excitedly, "It’s so lively! Not much less than our Jinyang City."

Stalls lined both sides of the street, filled with cries of vendors, shouts of hawkers, the haggling of prices, mixed with the laughter of children and the scolding of adults—a vibrant clamor.

Li Muzhan nodded with a smile, stopped a middle-aged man to ask which restaurant in the city was the best, and then they navigated through the crowds to stand before a magnificent, towering building.

This structure, the Three Wonders Pavilion, rose three stories high, shooting up from the earth towards the sky, possessing an imposing aura.

Lights blazed from every window, accompanied by the faint, ethereal sound of silk and bamboo music seeming to drift down from the heavens.

A host ushered them in, leading them directly to a table on the second floor. Li Muzhan ordered four dishes—two vegetarian, two meat—one soup, and a jar of wine.

The surroundings were simply decorated with bright colors. Each table was encircled on three sides by low railings, perfectly balancing the lively atmosphere with a sense of private space, ensuring no disturbance between parties.

About eighty percent of the tables were occupied. Some tables had requested musicians, others were clinking cups, playing drinking games, while yet others spoke in hushed tones—each group absorbed in their own affairs.

Li Muzhan surveyed the surroundings; there were quite a few martial artists present, all bearing sabers or swords, their eyes gleaming sharply—clearly not people to be trifled with.

The food arrived quickly, exquisitely presented in color, aroma, and taste. Li Muzhan smiled, "Xiao Yuan, it’s been a long time since we’ve eaten a proper meal like this."

Having spent the past stretch confined to the valley, eating only grilled or raw fish, seeing such cuisine made them feel a sense of familiarity, and their appetites sharpened instantly.

"Hmph, you think my cooking isn't good?" Xiao Yuan glared at him.

Li Muzhan laughed heartily. Xiao Yuan poured him a cup of wine, "You're injured. Can you drink?"

"It's nothing," Li Muzhan waved his hand dismissively.

His gaze suddenly shifted toward the staircase. Xiao Yuan also turned curiously.

Six women suddenly appeared at the staircase landing. All wore white gauze skirts and veiled faces, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present.

Their figures were graceful, the white gauze obscuring their exquisite curves. The veils were thin as a cicada's wing, their faces faintly discernible. Beneath the veils, their eyes shimmered like autumn water, captivating and stirring.