The stern voice was familiar. It was the Great Chieftain of the Migtou Bandits; he had actually pursued him.

Xiao Yuan sprang off the couch with a delicate cry, "Zhan Ran, he—"

"Shhh!" Li Muzhan held a finger to his lips.

Yuan quickly sealed her small mouth. She whispered, "He’s really found us! What should we do? Let’s run!"

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then shook his head, whispering low, "Let's go. We’ll find Sect Leader Lin."

"Do we really have to ask them for help?" Xiao Yuan asked.

Li Muzhan smiled, nodded, stepped down from the Eight Immortals table, and pulled the door open to step out.

In the small courtyard stood Lin Qiongying and the other five women. Dressed in white gauze skirts, their faces veiled, they gazed distantly toward the direction of the whistling sound.

Hearing the movement, they all turned to look as Li Muzhan and Xiao Yuan emerged.

Lin Qiongying spoke faintly, "Master Bu still isn't asleep? I didn't expect such a master to be in Yangming City."

She shook her head, surprise coloring her gaze.

Li Muzhan sighed, "Sect Leader Lin, he has come for me."

"Oh?" Lin Qiongying was even more astonished.

"Sect Leader Lin, I have a favor to ask of you." Li Muzhan cupped his hands in salute.

Lin Qiongying said lightly, "Tell me what it is. As long as it is not too difficult, I will agree."

Her appearance was young, and her voice was youthful, though her finely plucked brows suggested maturity and hinted at her deep experience.

Another long howl came from due south. It rolled in like a tide, surging toward them.

Immediately, the Great Chieftain's voice boomed like thunder: "Monk, I know you are in the city, come out! If you don't come out, I'll start slaughtering the Mei family people, ha ha, ha ha!"

Li Muzhan's expression changed, and he urged, "I want to ask Sect Leader Lin to take Miss Yuan and leave this dangerous place first."

Diverting disaster—that was just what he had told Xiao Yuan to soothe her; he couldn't bear to implicate these six beauties.

"Zhan Ran!" Xiao Yuan exclaimed with a charming pout, "I'm not leaving!"

Li Muzhan frowned and said sternly, "Xiao Yuan, think carefully. Who runs faster, me alone, or me carrying you?"

Xiao Yuan puffed out her lips and huffed, "Then don't fight him head-on! I'll go find Eldest Sister, let her find people to help you!" "Good, I will do my best to stall him. You must hurry to find Eldest Sister." Li Muzhan nodded.

"Mm!" Xiao Yuan nodded vigorously, watching him with concern.

Lin Qiongying sized him up, her gaze probing and amused. Hearing the voice that echoed across the night sky, she was now certain that this man was indeed being pursued. It was truly admirable that he could still be alive after provoking such a formidable master.

"Why don't you go with Miss Yuan," Lin Qiongying smiled faintly.

Li Muzhan managed a wry smile, "Sect Leader Lin also heard him. If he can’t find me, he will go after the Mei residence. I have to show myself to engage him."

Lin Qiongying laughed, "He's using trickery. He shouts like that everywhere he goes."

Li Muzhan shook his head, "He is a disciple of Luotuo Temple... I was hiding in a valley deep in the mountains before, and he still found me. He probably has some technique for tracking people."

"Yes, that’s truly sinister!" Xiao Yuan chimed in support.

Lin Qiongying's delicate brows furrowed, "Luotuo Temple..."

She shook her head and sighed, "Of all people, you had to provoke, and even killed Feng Shangkun—that's one thing, but why provoke Luotuo Temple? Are those monks easy to mess with?!"

Li Muzhan sighed helplessly, "When a blade is at my throat, I cannot just sit and wait for death."

Lin Qiongying pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Very well. I will take Miss Yuan away."

"Thank you, Sect Leader Lin!" Li Muzhan saluted with cupped hands, "Sect Leader Lin, this man is proficient in the Golden Web Finger. Its power is not..."

"Golden Web Finger?" Lin Qiongying's brow arched, and she smiled, "I've heard of it for a long time. I’d like to see it firsthand."

Li Muzhan paused, "It’s best if you don't! This man is bloodthirsty, and besides, he recognizes little Xiao Yuan."

Lin Qiongying said, "I will send four disciples to escort Miss Yuan away!"

"Thank you," Li Muzhan nodded.

A long howl sounded again, followed by a hearty laugh, "Ha ha, little monk, if you don’t come out soon, I’m leaving!"

Li Muzhan pursed his lips and let out a long whistle, his voice roaring like a flood, echoing across the entire night sky.

Lin Qiongying was surprised once more. Autumn-water-like ripples spun around him in her gaze.

"I'm relying on you!" Li Muzhan saluted with cupped hands, then soared past the courtyard wall, drifting away like a piece of grey cloud.

"Zhan Ran, be careful!" Xiao Yuan cried out sweetly, gazing blankly in the direction he disappeared.

"Don't worry," a clear voice drifted back from afar, ethereal as if from the clouds.

Then came another long laugh, "Ha ha, big monk, come on then!"

The laughter faded into the distance, becoming barely perceptible.

Lin Qiongying said, "I didn't expect Little Master to have such profound skill! Xian'er, Qi'er, you two follow me to see how Master deals with him. Jun'er, you take Miss Yuan and leave."

"Yes, Master!" The five women replied in unison.

Xiao Yuan quickly said, "Sect Leader Lin, please let me go with you!"

Lin Qiongying looked at her and shook her head, "If you go, wouldn't that be letting down the Little Master's heartfelt request?"

Xiao Yuan sighed, pouting, "Well, I won't go then. I must hurry to find Eldest Sister!"

She suddenly looked up, clasped her hands together, "Sect Leader Lin, I beg you, please help Zhan Ran, won't you?"

She was anxious and worried now, feeling utterly helpless; Lin Qiongying was her last straw.

Lin Qiongying shook her head, "I can only watch, I cannot help him... Luotuo Temple is not to be trifled with. Provoking them would bring endless trouble to our sect!"

"But he is an apostate from Luotuo Temple, that’s why they want to kill Zhan Ran to silence him!" Xiao Yuan quickly pointed out.

Lin Qiongying seemed thoughtful, "Is that so..."

Seeing her still hesitating, Xiao Yuan grew more anxious. Her mind raced, and she quickly offered, "Zhan Ran is my Eldest Sister's personal guard. If you save him, she will be incredibly grateful!"

"Your Eldest Sister...?" Lin Qiongying looked at her with a faint, knowing smile.

The other women grew solemn. Moved by Xiao Yuan's distress, their eyes flickered, but they could only sigh inwardly. Luotuo Temple was not to be taken lightly; it was one of the Seven Great Sects of the world. Compared to them, the Jade Immortal Sect was like an ant facing an elephant; provoking them was simply courting death. Moreover, even if he were an apostate of Luotuo Temple, Luotuo Temple had the right to kill him—other sects did not.

Xiao Yuan hurried on, "My Eldest Sister is a registered disciple of the Vast Sea Sword Sect, and next year she will formally enter under the tutelage of Abbess Zhuxi of the Vast Sea Sword Sect."

Lin Qiongying was finally moved, "Could that be Abbess Zhuxi, one of the Twin Swords of the Vast Sea?"

"That’s right!" Xiao Yuan nodded repeatedly, stomping her foot anxiously, urging repeatedly, "Sect Leader Lin, please go save Zhan Ran quickly!" She knew how formidable that big monk was, his finger strikes were razor-sharp. Although Li Muzhan was also skilled, against him, his only option was flight.

At that moment, a long howl echoed from the east, immediately followed by a clear, resounding laugh.

Xiao Yuan breathed a sigh of relief; that was Zhan Ran's voice. It seemed he hadn't clashed with the big monk yet.

A moment later, another long howl came, this time from the west.

By this time, Lin Qiongying had concluded her contemplation. She looked up and said, "Alright, Miss Xiao Yuan, I will do my utmost..." Xian'er, Qi'er, let's go!" With that, she lightly floated up, merging into the night, the two women following closely behind.

Li Muzhan sped around the outskirts of the city, whistling to disrupt the pursuit and prevent the big monk from finding little Xiao Yuan.

"Little monk, come on!" A booming whistle rolled in, accompanied by a hearty laugh, "I’ll count to sixty. If you don't show up, I’ll go straight for the Mei family!"

Li Muzhan cursed inwardly, stopped circling, and swiftly moved south.

Near the South City Gate, about five li away, lay a grove of peach trees. In front of the grove, the middle-aged monk stood with his hands on his hips, watching him with a half-smile.

Li Muzhan drifted to the vicinity and sighed, "Big monk, why must you be so aggressive?"

The middle-aged monk waved his hand, "Enough nonsense! I won't feel at ease until you are dead, ha ha. The scenery here is nice; it’s a good place to bury you... I've been decent to you, haven't I?"

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed again.

The middle-aged monk continued, "Let me make it clear first. If you run again, I won't chase. I will go straight for the Mei family and wipe out their entire clan, leaving not even a dog alive... I always keep my word!"

Li Muzhan’s expression gradually turned cold, his eyes narrowing, his gaze sharpening. Killing intent surged within him, and in an instant, he made a resolution: no matter what, even if he lost his own life, he had to kill this man! Otherwise, Big Brother, Li Jian, his senior brothers, Mei Ruolan, Senior Sister Gong, and Xiao Yuan would all die.

The middle-aged monk laughed heartily, "Where is your little beauty? Ha ha. If you die, I’ll still look for that little beauty to be the fortress wife for the third one!"

Li Muzhan frowned. Rage surged, but he suppressed it immediately. The Great Chieftain was deliberately provoking him, trying to unsettle his mind.

"Not bad..." Seeing Li Muzhan remain unmoved and composed, the middle-aged monk chuckled and rubbed his nose.

"Chiii!" A light whistle, and a surge of finger force struck. Li Muzhan cursed inwardly, stepped sideways instantly, and then retreated sharply, drawing an arrow in one fluid motion.

"Chiii!" A light whistle, and the goose-feather arrow shot out. Li Muzhan was quite disappointed; compared to the Ice Jade Bow, this bow was significantly inferior. The arrow speed was slow, and its power greatly diminished.

"Snap!" Mud flew up from the ground, a small crater disrupting his footprints. The middle-aged monk saw the arrow coming, sidestepped to avoid it. The lesson from last time was etched into his bones; he had never suffered such a serious injury, and killing Li Muzhan was now imperative.

The two exchanged finger strikes and arrows, neither able to gain the upper hand, both harboring reservations. Li Muzhan feared the Golden Web Finger, while the middle-aged monk feared Li Muzhan’s arrows.

In the distant peach grove, Lin Qiongying and her two disciples appeared, watching from about a li away. The three stood on a peach tree, positioned on three separate branches, extremely close together. Their white gauze skirts fluttered, and their veils swayed, revealing their faces faintly.

A husky, seductive voice spoke, "Master, this big monk is using the Twenty-Two Finger Technique."

"Mmm, no mistake," Lin Qiongying nodded, watching the two figures in the distance with intense concentration.

Another woman let out a slight snort, "Are the two of them just playing around?" This woman had a graceful figure, her temperament a fusion of ice and fire. Her features were sensual, her eyes cold, as if looking down on all creation, displaying extreme arrogance.

"Zhan Ran is trying to exhaust the opponent’s internal energy," Lin Qiongying stated. She shook her head, "His arrows must have something strange about them that makes this big monk so wary."

The haughty woman said lightly, "Flying Cloud Arrow Technique?"

"Mmm, something similar," Lin Qiongying nodded, then shook her head, "Although the Flying Cloud Arrow Technique is powerful, it shouldn't make him this cautious."

"Clang!" A crisp sound, like metal striking metal, followed by the Great Chieftain's furious roar: "Cunning brat. Die!"

The situation in the arena changed drastically. The Great Chieftain suddenly charged forward like a wild ox, his eyes wide open, his anger reaching the heavens. He had always feared Li Muzhan's arrows, but now he realized they were merely a bluff. Feeling tricked for so long, his rage burned fiercely, and his killing intent grew overwhelming. He struck out with both palms, sending the goose-feather arrows flying, and in moments, he caught up to Li Muzhan, his right palm aimed directly at the monk's chest.

Li Muzhan had been retreating, but he was not as fast as the Great Chieftain. He was quickly overtaken, watching the fan-sized hand strike toward him. Li Muzhan’s figure swayed, transforming into a feather, as if startled away by the palm wind.

"Heh!" The Great Chieftain sneered, sidestepped, and executed a fish-tail maneuver; his right palm shifted direction, following closely behind. Li Muzhan employed the Cloud Dragon Nine Manifestations—one twist, another twist, and a third—moving with fluid agility. The Great Chieftain stepped, stepped again, and stepped once more, his right palm changing direction like maggots clinging to bone, relentlessly pursuing Li Muzhan's chest, drawing ever closer. In an instant, his palm was within a foot.

Li Muzhan’s face remained calm, unhurried, though inwardly he sighed: his movement technique was insufficient; he would have to draw his sword. He placed his right hand on the sword hilt, but his body suddenly spasmed, halting momentarily.

"Pop!" A sound, and a bloody hole appeared on his right chest.

"Master!" The seductive, husky voice whispered softly.

Lin Qiongying frowned, her expression unchanged, and whispered, "Wait a little longer." In her heart, she was amazed. As expected of someone from Luotuo Temple, his internal energy was profound, his finger strikes exquisite, and his palm force extraordinary—he didn't even fear the arrows. If such a strike hit a person, it could shatter tendons and break bones. Against such a character, she knew she did not have complete confidence and should wait until his initial ferocity waned before acting.

Li Muzhan's body had paused, but his actions did not cease. A cold gleam flashed at his waist, and a silver cascade wrapped around the fan-sized hand before his chest.

"Clang!" A sharp sound as palm and sword met. Li Muzhan’s arm went numb. He cursed inwardly; he hadn't expected this monk's palm technique to be so powerful. It surpassed even his own Invincible Golden Net Body, his palm feeling like iron or stone. He pressed his left palm onto the bloody hole, sealing the wound with Taiyin internal energy, while his right hand brandished his sword, weaving a continuous, layered sword light like overlapping mountain ranges amidst his painful retreat.

"Heh!" The Great Chieftain roared in anger, transforming into a fierce tiger leaping out, plunging straight at Li Muzhan.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang"—crisp sounds followed one after another, like rain beating on banana leaves. Li Muzhan’s sword rained down, continuously striking the Great Chieftain's right palm, hitting iron and stone. Waves of immense force traveled up the sword, causing waves of numbness in his arm. His internal energy cycled rapidly, dissolving the numbness, and he thrust out sword after sword.

The two moved—one advancing, one retreating. The sword light was like rain, the crisp sounds unending. In moments, Li Muzhan had retreated over twenty zhang. His sword strikes were incredibly fast, seemingly unaffected by the chest wound, but his face grew increasingly red, as if blood-filled.

The Great Chieftain sneered, "Heh heh, good lad, you’ve got some tricks!" He thought to himself: This kid's sword is very strange, the force shifting between yielding and hard. If his internal energy were a bit deeper, I truly might not be able to block it.

Li Muzhan remained silent, continuing to fight desperately with his sword, gritting his teeth, his expression gradually becoming fierce.

"Die!" The Great Chieftain felt a vague unease and stopped procrastinating. With a furious roar, he suddenly thrust out his left palm. "Whoosh!" A whistle, swift as an arrow loosed from a bowstring. Before the palm even arrived, the resulting wind swept up his monk's robe.

Li Muzhan, whose left hand was covering the wound, suddenly drew his sword and thrust forward flatly. The sword light abruptly brightened, dazzlingly brilliant. The Great Chieftain sneered, his eyes narrowing, his palm stance unchanged, striking toward Li Muzhan's left-hand sword.

"Ah!" He roared in a strained voice, his palm instantly pierced by the sword. Li Muzhan’s sword momentum was not spent; it passed through the center of the palm and lunged toward the Great Chieftain's heart. The Great Chieftain's eyes turned bloodshot, enraged beyond measure. Gritting his teeth fiercely, he disregarded the sword tip and struck out with his right finger toward Li Muzhan's heart—the Golden Finger force tore through the air.

All this happened in the flash of an eye. By the time Lin Qiongying shot forward, both men had fallen.

Subscription numbers have climbed to one thousand two—congratulations and sincere thanks. The monthly tickets are also encouraging. We are nearly catching up to the established great masters; I almost can't believe it. Can we really do it? I feel like I'm still far from being a great master. Can we really catch up? This is all thanks to everyone; every single vote you cast is vital. D