Though Lin Qiongying was at a disadvantage, trapped in a corner, her posture remained graceful and captivating. Her eyes, like water, flickered over, and she sighed, "Zhanran, why must you come?"

Li Muzhan’s martial arts were not weak, but he could not match these men. Moreover, his injuries had not fully healed, further diminishing his strength; coming to her aid was tantamount to seeking death.

Li Muzhan swung his sword right hand toward Feng Junsheng, moving with lightning speed. The tip of the blade condensed into a single point of cold light, instantly reaching Feng Junsheng’s chest. He laughed lightly, "I didn't intend to come out. But seeing so many cowards bullying a single woman! Sect Leader Lin, let us slay these villains side-by-side!"

"Good, side-by-side slaying!" Lin Qiongying laughed heartily. Her sword light shifted, flashing several times rapidly, forcing back the three elders, allowing her to reunite with Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan's sword was incredibly fast and immensely powerful. Feng Junsheng was caught off guard and forced a step back. It was too late to intervene; the two were now fighting together.

Li Muzhan and Lin Qiongying kept their backs to each other, effectively entrusting their blind spots to the other, greatly reducing the pressure.

Lin Qiongying's offensive movements were yielding, soft as a spring breeze, dense and meticulous.

Li Muzhan's sword flashed layer upon layer before him, resembling overlapping mountain ranges, wave after wave. The internal energy in his sword was versatile and subtle, barely defending his position.

Feng Junsheng and his three companions attacked like a gust of wind. When they met Lin Qiongying, their force dissolved into nothingness; when they encountered Li Muzhan, they were blocked by layers of defense, unable to penetrate.

In the blink of an eye, over thirty moves had passed. Lin Qiongying and Li Muzhan had maintained a purely defensive posture, leaving no openings. The situation was stalemated—neither side gaining ground.

Although Li Muzhan’s martial arts were inferior to any single one of his opponents, his sword speed, pure internal energy, and boundless strength allowed him to barely maintain a non-losing position.

Feng Junsheng first joined one elder to attack Li Muzhan, then swapped positions to attack Lin Qiongying, while the other two elders besieged Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan kept his lips tightly pressed together, wielding his sword with his right hand. His demeanor was as still as water, yet he felt the strain increasing. The swords of the two opponents carried a strange internal force that drilled along the long blades.

Fortunately, his internal energy circulated with astonishing speed, instantly dissolving the force. However, the two streams of power grew steadily stronger, like a breach in a dike—the opening widened, and the flood surged with greater violence.

Lin Qiongying sneered, "Surnamed Feng, is that all you’ve got? Show me whatever other skills you possess!"

"Crazy woman, take this arrow!" Feng Junsheng gave a cold laugh, suddenly sheathing his sword. As he retreated swiftly, he brought his hands together, drew a bow, and released an arrow.

"Chii!" A faint whistle accompanied a streak of black light that instantly reached Lin Qiongying's eyes.

Lin Qiongying quickly blocked with her sword. With a crisp "Clang," sword met arrow. A spark flew, and the exquisitely crafted small arrow was cleaved in two.

The small arrow contained internal energy, causing Lin Qiongying's long sword to momentarily falter, revealing her bright, magnificent longsword.

She immediately let out a muffled groan, having been struck in the left shoulder. Her right hand whipped her sword out again. The sword light flashed once more, transforming into the clinging mist of a spring breeze around her body, blocking the immediate follow-up sword attack.

Only then did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Sect Leader Lin, are you alright?" Li Muzhan noticed something amiss and quickly asked.

Lin Qiongying grunted, "It's nothing, just a mosquito bite!"

"Let's break out!" Li Muzhan suggested. "Mm, yes, good!" Lin Qiongying seemed hesitant, then agreed.

"Heh heh, trying to leave?!" Feng Junsheng retreated once more. A short bow appeared in his right hand, white as ivory, curved like a crescent moon, delicate, exquisite, and charmingly small.

Nocked on the white bow was a small arrow, half the length of a standard goose-feather arrow, but twice as thick. It was carved with intricate patterns and looked quite fine; the arrowhead shimmered with blue light, and one glance sent a chill through the body.

Li Muzhan glanced sideways. Seeing the white bow, his heart stirred with the urge to take it for his own use.

Without the Ice Jade Bow, his archery prowess was greatly diminished. A good bow now would be like giving a tiger wings.

Especially since, as Mei Ruolan’s personal guard, he could not abandon his post. Seeing enemies arrive, he could only watch the other guards fight desperately without being able to join in. At this moment, archery skills were most needed.

As Feng Junsheng fell back, only one elder remained nearby. Lin Qiongying’s sword light flashed, and her style changed dramatically, moving as swiftly as a cold west wind. That elder was immediately struck in the arm, his sword flying out of his grasp. He clutched his wrist and rapidly retreated.

Lin Qiongying moved to pursue, but a blue light flashed past. She swiftly swung her sword to chop down.

With a crisp "Hmph," her longsword struck the small arrow. The arrow broke, but the arrowhead suddenly accelerated, as if propelled by a spring.

"Ugh!" Lin Qiongying had not expected the small arrow to have a mechanism. She let out a muffled groan and stumbled back a large step, colliding with Li Muzhan's back.

Li Muzhan spun around sharply, sweeping his left arm around her slender waist. The soft, warm fragrance of her body entered his embrace, and her delicate scent filled his nostrils.

With a dull "Bang," their figures dissolved into several streaks, reappearing a dozen zhang away the next instant, having broken through the encirclement. With another "Bang" and a flash, several more figures flickered, crossing another dozen zhang.

He leaped and sped away like a flying bolt toward the east, his speed astonishing.

"Feiyun Bu (Flying Cloud Steps)!" Feng Junsheng froze for a moment, then shouted, "He killed Kun'er! He killed Kun'er!"

He turned and screamed, "Three Elders, catch him! Bring him back alive! I will slice him into a thousand pieces and carve out his heart to mourn Kun'er’s spirit in heaven!"

At this moment, his face was hideous, all trace of handsomeness gone.

The three elders nodded with grim faces and sped off. The fact that one person had escaped their combined assault set their killing intent boiling, their fury like a raging storm.

Feng Junsheng followed closely behind, then suddenly slowed his pace, turning back toward the crowd. "Follow me! If he isn't caught, you will all be buried with Kun'er!"

"Yes, Hall Master!" The crowd roared their assent, engaging their lightness skills, striving to keep up.

Even those who were injured ignored their wounds in the effort to follow.

In the blink of an eye, the area around them was empty; not a single figure remained, save for the faint smell of blood, as if nothing had happened.

Moments later, a young woman in a white dress drifted into view—it was Li Yuqi.

The sun hung high overhead, the cool breeze just grazing the hem of her skirt. Her veil fluttered slightly, her jade-like features appearing and disappearing. Her bright eyes were fixed toward the east; she frowned in thought. After a moment, she stamped her foot lightly and floated away, moving with incredible speed and silence.

Zhanran was leading them east, not wishing to involve her in his own trouble. But if her Master was in peril, how could a disciple stand by? What joy would there be in surviving alone?!

She could only disappoint the sincere efforts of her Master and Zhanran!

Li Muzhan held Lin Qiongying, continuously executing the Feiyun Bu. In a short time, he had pulled over a hundred meters ahead of the pursuers. He turned his head, "Sect Leader Lin?"

It had only been a few breaths, but Lin Qiongying's face was turning pale, her eyes listless. The small arrow’s poison was vicious, nearly a Seven-Step Heartbreak toxin.

She trembled, reaching into her robes and pulling out a snow-white porcelain bottle. Laboriously lifting her fluttering veil, she brought the bottle opening to her cherry-red lips and drained the contents in one gulp. The bottle immediately slipped from her hand and hit the ground.

While she was lifting her veil, Li Muzhan glanced over. Her lips were gorgeously red, her pointed chin snow-white and delicate, causing a stir in his heart.

He suppressed the distracting thoughts. The three elders were closing the distance. At this rate, they would catch up sooner or later. Once entangled, he couldn't win, and trouble would be endless.

He urged the Feiyun Bu with urgency, dull thuds sounding continuously as he accelerated, occasionally glancing back at Lin Qiongying’s complexion.

In that short span, the greenish pallor had not receded, but neither had it deepened. He breathed a silent sigh of relief.

"Sect Leader Lin, are you alright?" Li Muzhan asked.

Lin Qiongying shook her head. "It's fine for now; I’ve managed to suppress it, but I can't fight. To recover, I must obtain the antidote."

She gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "That surnamed Feng is utterly despicable, using such a potent poison!"

Li Muzhan frowned, "Sect Leader Lin, I fear this poison has no antidote."

"Oh?" Lin Qiongying was startled and turned to look at him.

Li Muzhan explained, "This poison takes effect incredibly fast, severing the heart within a few paces. Such a peculiar toxin—even if an antidote existed, there might not be time to use it."

Lin Qiongying was momentarily lost in thought, then grunted, "In that case, I must use the crude method: circulating my internal energy slowly to force the poison out."

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile and looked back. In that short time, he had managed to gain some distance.

He shook his head, "Furthermore, if I wanted to get an antidote from Feng Junsheng, with you present, Sect Leader Lin, there would be a glimmer of hope. Alone, I fear I am insufficient."

Lin Qiongying sighed, furrowed her brows in deep thought, and slowly closed her bright eyes.

Li Muzhan continued executing the Feiyun Bu, enduring the discomfort in his meridians. Ahead lay a forest, then a towering mountain range stretching out endlessly.

"Heaven aids me!" Li Muzhan laughed loudly and disappeared into the woods in a flash.

Once inside the forest, Li Muzhan flew close to the treetops, agile as a dragon, pushing the Cloud Dragon Nine Manifestations movement technique to its extreme. In moments, he had thrown off his pursuers.

They lacked their leader's ability to track through footprints.

Li Muzhan kept running up the mountain. By the time he reached the mountainside, the trees grew thicker, tall and straight, towering upwards as if centuries old.

Several large trees had been struck by lightning, yet green shoots stubbornly sprouted from the deadwood.

Li Muzhan carried Lin Qiongying up to a giant tree. Within its massive branches was a thick, abandoned bird's nest, devoid of any birds.

Li Muzhan tested it with his foot; it was solid, like a meditation cushion.

He bent down and gently set Lin Qiongying down, whispering, "Sect Leader Lin, circulate your energy to force out the poison here. I will go check on Miss Li."

"Qi'er... she...?" Lin Qiongying slowly opened her eyes and frowned. "Qi'er followed?"

Li Muzhan nodded with a bitter smile. "Miss Li insisted on following. I'll check on her; you focus on healing." Lin Qiongying nodded. "Mm, I entrust Qi'er to you. You don't need to come back. Once I expel the poison, I will return directly."

"Good!" Li Muzhan nodded and sprang up, gliding over the treetops and away.

He nodded to himself. Even at this moment, Sect Leader Lin’s thinking was meticulous. If he returned, he might easily expose himself, whereas if he ignored her, she would be harder to find.

Li Muzhan glided west, searching for Li Yuqi. Now he felt confident that, relying on the Feiyun Bu, he could escape if necessary.

After half a li, he suddenly paused atop a pine tree. As the treetop swayed, he tilted his ear to listen. His expression subtly changed; a faint sound of clashing metal drifted in the breeze.

He followed the sound, stopping hidden behind a tree in the distance. Outside the woods, in an open clearing, Li Yuqi was surrounded by more than twenty members of the Emerald Blood Hall faction. Feng Junsheng and the four elders were nowhere in sight.

Li Yuqi's movements were graceful, like dancing, her sword work resembling a spring breeze, much like Lin Qiongying's, though less refined in execution. However, it was sufficient to handle these men.

Several people nearby were clutching their shoulders and backing away, clearly injured by her.

Li Muzhan frowned. Instead of rushing forward, he observed the surroundings, faintly sensing that this was a trap.

A middle-aged man barked, "Men, use bows and arrows!"

"Yes, Fragrance Master!" Over a dozen men responded simultaneously, taking the bows from their backs and drawing them to shoot. The goose-feather arrows flew with a "swoosh-swoosh-swoosh," extraordinarily accurate.

The dozen men maintained their siege, and a dozen arrows pierced the gaps. Li Yuqi was slightly flustered. Her sword technique managed to deflect the arrows, but it exposed major openings.

A longsword pierced through like a snake, aimed at her left chest.

"Chii!" A streak of black light struck the sword tip. Li Muzhan shot forward, leaping to Li Yuqi's side and sweeping her waist up as he turned to leave.

"Haha! Where do you think you’re going!" A burst of laughter rang out. Feng Junsheng appeared, shooting a blue ray from his white bow, blocking his path forward.

The three elders emerged from three other directions, slowly closing in.

This is the final day for double monthly tickets—what are you waiting for? Esteemed leaders, your monthly ticket support grew immensely yesterday; I am deeply grateful! ECH is currently closed. D