It was white and delicate as ivory, curved like a new moon, the bow body carved with fine patterns, feeling excellent in the hand, as if connected to flesh and blood, making it impossible to set aside.
Li Yuqi said cautiously, “This bow… Zhanran seemed to like it very much.
After he killed Hall Master Feng, he asked me to put it away for him.” She glanced at Lin Qiongying somewhat bashfully, lowered her head, and remained silent.
“Why didn’t you say so sooner!” Lin Qiongying glared at her, then her expression suddenly changed: “Hmm—?!” You said he killed Feng Junsheng?” Li Yuqi nodded vigorously: “Yes, he killed Feng Junsheng with just that one sword strike...
otherwise, how could we have found the antidote?” As she spoke, she even waved her hand forcefully, mimicking Li Muzhan’s move.
“He actually killed Feng Junsheng?” Little Lin Qiongying frowned, disbelievingly.
Li Yuqi laughed, “Zhanran seems to know a peculiar martial art.
His sword suddenly flashed, blinding one’s eyes.” Lin Qiongying nodded: “No wonder.” Li Yuqi shook her head and sighed, “It’s a pity; this swordplay seems to injure the body.
After using that strike, he immediately became unwell and is currently healing below.” Seeing her shift suddenly from beaming smiles to regretful worry, Lin Qiongying frowned inwardly.
“Alright, take this bow and deliver it to him,” Lin Qiongying instructed.
“Yes.” Li Yuqi responded, picked up the bow and a quiver of arrows, and drifted toward Li Muzhan, her white skirt fluttering like a falling leaf.
Li Muzhan remained seated, maintaining an air of solemn dignity.
Li Yuqi stared at him, noticing his chest was unmoving.
Feeling very strange, she frowned, thought for a moment, but dared not touch him, afraid of disturbing him.
She simply placed the bow and arrows before him.
“Qier!” Lin Qiongying called softly.
Li Yuqi quickly sprang up and rushed up the tree trunk in a few quick movements: “Master?” “Catch a mouse for me; I’ll test which bottle is the antidote,” instructed Little Lin Qiongying.
“O-okay.” Li Yuqi hesitated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing.
She floated down from the tree, and in a short while, captured a white mouse.
With a pained expression, she presented it to Lin Qiongying, whispering, “Master...” “Little one, you’re soft-hearted again?!” Lin Qiongying shot her a look.
She shook her head inwardly.
This apprentice was perfect in every way, except that her heart was too soft; she couldn't bear to see death.
Knowing this about her, Lin Qiongying had only asked her to catch a mouse or some other small creature, but even then, she still felt reluctant! Li Yuqi lowered her head, twisting her slender, white fingers, and said, “Master, first sprinkle a little on a leaf.
If it’s poisonous, it should...” Lin Qiongying pushed the three porcelain bottles toward her: “Then you figure out a way.
In any case, just find the antidote!” The bluish tint on her face had not lessened; the exertion of her internal energy during this period had been ineffective.
Li Yuqi took the three porcelain bottles, frowning in deep thought, trying to devise a method to distinguish the antidote without testing it on the mouse.
She pondered deeply, turning the three bottles over and over endlessly.
After a long pause, she was still lost in thought, her brow deeply furrowed.
“Forget it, forget it! It’s useless thinking your head sore.
Just let it go!” Lin Qiongying said impatiently, tossing the little white mouse away.
Li Yuqi quickly flew to catch it, landed lightly, and sped away to return it to its original spot before coming back.
Suddenly, she cried out: “Zhanran, you’re awake!” Li Muzhan was playing with the small white bow.
He looked up and smiled: “Miss Li, how is your master?” He set down the small bow and looked at Li Yuqi with a beaming smile, clearly in good spirits.
This time, executing the Jiuyuan Divine Sword, the situation had been much better.
His meridians felt tougher, offering greater resistance to the Solar Essence, and his endurance had increased significantly.
He thought to himself that perhaps after using the Jiuyuan Divine Sword a few more times, his meridians would become resilient enough to withstand the Essence of the Sun and Moon entirely, without such strenuous effort! He had vomited blood because he had exhausted his internal energy through the frequent use of the Feiyun Step.
Now, circulating the Tianyuan Breath Circulation Art had quickly nourished his meridians and refilled his Dantian.
Li Yuqi examined him, seeing his complexion was rosy and his spirit vigorous, completely different from how he had looked before.
She was greatly delighted: “Master is still above, forcing the poison out through internal cultivation.” “Let’s go and see.” Li Muzhan shot upward, briefly pushing off the tree trunk before landing lightly on the branch, joining his palms in a salute: “Sect Master Lin.” Lin Qiongying, seated on the thick branch, smiled: “Zhanran, we owe you a great debt this time.” Li Muzhan shook his head with a smile, chuckling, “Pure luck.
The poison isn't too serious, is it?” “No, it’s suppressed, but forcing it out is troublesome,” Lin Qiongying nodded, then pointed to the three porcelain bottles across from her: “It’s hard to distinguish which of these three is the antidote.” Li Muzhan glanced over and shook his head: “By my estimation, there might not be an antidote, but we can try.
I’ll capture two people to test them.” The moment he said this, Li Yuqi’s eyes widened.
Li Yuqi shook her head and said crossly, “Forget it.
Qier will only get sad again.
I’ll slowly force the poison out myself.” Li Yuqi looked somewhat embarrassed and lowered her head.
Li Muzhan smiled: “I’ll help Sect Master Lin.
Two working together will certainly be faster.” “Good!” Lin Qiongying looked at him and slowly nodded.
After spending an hour, the skin on Lin Qiongying’s white gauze covering her body returned to snowy white and delicate; the arrow poison had been completely forced out.
Li Yuqi watched from the side, utterly astonished.
The poison that her Master struggled so hard to expel was removed so easily with the combined effort of two people? Li Muzhan knew it was luck.
This arrow poison was extremely bizarre, as cold as ice, residing within Lin Qiongying’s body like a coiled viper.
Lin Qiongying’s internal energy was inherently Yin and gentle, and coupled with her female physique, also Yin, she was helpless against this poison; she could not move it out.
Li Muzhan was different.
He circulated the Taiyang True Scripture, and his pure, ultimate Yang internal energy flowed in ceaselessly, like hot soup poured over ice and snow, quickly driving the poison out.
An hour later, the three descended from the great tree and returned to the small courtyard.
Passing by the spot where the fight had taken place, the three glanced over.
No one was around; it was peaceful and serene, with no trace of the recent struggle remaining.
Lin Qiongying sighed, shaking her head.
As soon as they entered the small courtyard, Li Muzhan paused in surprise, then smiled: “Miss, why are you here?” He saw several women standing in the courtyard.
The one at the forefront was tall and graceful in a purple dress, with a silver-sheathed longsword at her waist—it was Mei Ruolan, whom he hadn't seen for several days.
Behind her was Gong Qingyun, also dressed identically in purple.
Seeing Mei Ruolan again after several days gave him a feeling of being separated by an age.
Li Muzhan stared at her, overcome with emotion for a moment.
Then he recovered.
He smiled at Gong Qingyun: “Senior Sister, you’ve come too.” Gong Qingyun nodded faintly, her expression cold.
“Little Zhanran, are you alright?” A flash of pink shadow appeared as Xiaoyuan rushed over, grabbing his hand and examining him from all angles, her delicate face full of tension.
Li Muzhan patted Xiaoyuan’s small hand and chuckled: “How could I be hurt? I have a tough life.
Don't worry!” “You really scared me to death!” Xiaoyuan glared at him, then quickly asked, “What about that big monk?” Li Muzhan smiled: “I took care of him.” “Little one, you killed him?” Xiaoyuan’s bright eyes widened in disbelief.
Li Muzhan smiled and nodded: “Yes, I used a stratagem and finally managed to deal with him.” “Thank heavens!” Xiaoyuan breathed a deep sigh of relief, saying sweetly, “That big monk was a persistent nuisance, truly annoying.
It’s good that he’s dead.” She was most unnerved by the big monk’s tracking skills; no matter where they hid, he could find them.
It was simply unbearable.
Moreover, his Qinggong was superb and his internal energy deep; once entangled, they couldn't win the fight nor escape, which was truly despairing.
The two chatted and laughed, treating everyone else as if they weren’t there.
Mei Ruolan watched them with a faint smile, while Lin Qiongying observed Mei Ruolan.
Li Yuqi approached her Senior Sister and spoke quietly, occasionally glancing over in their direction.
Once Xiaoyuan’s excitement subsided, Li Muzhan turned: “Miss, allow me to introduce everyone.” He then introduced the ladies to each other.
The entire large courtyard was filled with beauties: Lin Qiongying’s six disciples, along with Mei Ruolan, Gong Qingyun, and Xiaoyuan—all of them stunning women.
For a moment, Li Muzhan felt somewhat intoxicated, immersed in the faint, delicate fragrance, gazing at the beautiful faces surrounding him, wishing he could remain in this moment forever.
Everyone was talking in the covered walkway.
Li Yuqi and her four junior sisters, along with Xiaoyuan and Gong Qingyun, were on the west side.
Li Muzhan, Mei Ruolan, and Lin Qiongying were talking on the other side.
Mei Ruolan smiled faintly: “The Azure Blood Hall and my Mei Estate are now at daggers drawn.
With Feng Junsheng dead at this juncture, countless troubles have been averted.
Thank you, Sect Master Lin!” Lin Qiongying quickly waved her hand: “Miss Mei, please don’t say that! Zhanran killed Feng Junsheng; if it weren't for Zhanran, I would have perished too.” She pursed her lips and smiled: “It’s a pity Zhanran is a monk and cannot return to secular life, otherwise, I would certainly make Zhanran the son-in-law of the Jade Immortal Sect!” Li Muzhan offered a bitter smile and shook his head.
Xiaoyuan glanced over immediately, shooting Li Muzhan a sharp look.
“To receive the favor of Sect Master Lin is Zhanran’s fortune,” Mei Ruolan smiled faintly, glancing at Li Muzhan.
Li Yuqi also stole a glance in this direction, her face instantly flushing red upon hearing those words.
“Little Zhanran, how about you become an honorary Elder in my Jade Immortal Sect?” Lin Qiongying laughed, waving her hand to cut off Li Muzhan’s words, and smiled sweetly: “I’ll marry my Xian’er to you! Even if there's the rule against marriage, just don’t take the title of husband and wife; as long as you two are together, why fuss over so much?!” Li Muzhan was stunned.
He had assumed Lin Qiongying was going to marry Li Yuqi to him, but he hadn't expected it to be the Eldest Disciple.
He scanned the Eldest Disciple; she was captivatingly sexy, with cherry lips and a delicate nose, possessing more wildness than Li Yuqi, yet as cold and aloof as ice, stirring up a strong desire for conquest.
Li Yuqi lowered her head, while the Eldest Disciple frowned and gave Li Muzhan a cold, sharp look.
Mei Ruolan smiled faintly: “That’s wonderful.
I will fulfill your good intentions.
If Zhanran agrees, I will absolutely not stand in the way.” “What do you say, Zhanran?” Lin Qiongying asked with a smile.
Xiaoyuan and the others stopped talking, turning to look over here, staring at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan offered a wry smile: “Sect Master Lin, please spare me! I am a monk, one who has renounced emotion and desire; I truly cannot accept Sect Master Lin’s kind offer!” Lin Qiongying burst into laughter, shaking her head repeatedly: “You foolish boy! You don’t know how to enjoy good fortune!” Mei Ruolan looked on with an ambiguous smile: “Zhanran, think it over carefully; don't refuse so quickly.” Thanks again for the support, my friends! D