The four characters loomed, stern as mountains; a single glance felt like a colossal peak crushing down, instantly stealing one's breath and threatening to buckle the knees. Li Muzhan drew a deep breath, his eyes flashing with purple light. He straightened his body, purple aura swirling around his face, and resisted the immense pressure. He looked at Xiaoyuan, but she appeared entirely unperturbed, showing no sign of distress. "Xiaoyuan, what do you think of these characters?" he murmured with a hidden smile, handing her the silk booklet.

Xiaoyuan glanced at them, nodded with affected solemnity, and said, "Quite good. Very imposing.■■■■■■One can tell a man wrote them!" Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow; it seemed Xiaoyuan sensed nothing unusual.

He suddenly understood: only with a powerful spirit and keen perception could one feel the sheer momentum emanating from the script, allowing one to faintly discern the writer's very character. This person was utterly domineering, with an air of unmatched arrogance. He chuckled softly, retrieved the silk, and continued reading, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. This She Shen Dafa (Self-Sacrifice Great Method) truly lived up to its name; it was a technique for stimulating potential. By striking just a few acupoints, one’s internal power could instantly multiply.

These dozen or so acupoints were all hidden; even though he had achieved the Grand Circulation and his internal landscape was clear, he wouldn't have identified these as vital points without the She Shen Dafa explicitly marking them. The Grand Circulation path never passed through these areas, leading him to wonder if they were truly acupoints at all.

He extended a hand, channeled his internal energy into his index finger, and lightly pressed one spot. A sudden, sharp tingling erupted, instantly spreading through his entire body like an electric shock. He withdrew his hand, marveling silently, completely convinced. Simultaneous stimulation of these dozen-plus points would double his internal power, but the consequence was being unable to use any internal energy for an entire month, lest his meridians rupture, causing him to vomit blood and die. He frowned in contemplation, then nodded after a moment. While this She Shen Dafa was not flawless—if even doubled power couldn't secure an escape, it was merely fate's cruelty—it was still quite remarkable. However, one had to admit, if doubled power wasn't enough to escape peril, then perhaps one's fate was simply sealed regardless. ~∽●r&qu;●●■●●0◆●●r&qu;●●■●∽11 r&qu;●0 L&qu;&qu;+ ●●&qu;+ "Zhanran, have you seen enough?" Xiaoyuan chided, feeling it was strange to see him alternating between frowning and smiling while staring fixedly at the silk booklet. Li Muzhan looked up and smiled: "Yes, I have memorized it." "Good, then give it to me." Xiaoyuan stretched out her delicate, pale hand.

Li Muzhan passed it to her. He watched her rub the characters together, causing the silk booklet to disintegrate into fine dust, and he shook his head. "Miss is truly cautious."

Xiaoyuan whispered, "This She Shen Dafa is a secret tradition of the Penglai Wang family. It absolutely cannot spread. If the Wang family finds out, it will be big trouble!"

Li Muzhan's eyebrow twitched, and he slowly nodded, deeply touched. Mei Ruolan had clearly spared no effort, using every means possible to help him. Privately transmitting martial arts, leaking supreme secrets—for a noble martial family, this was a capital offense. In this world, where status was built on martial prowess, unique secret arts were the very foundation of a family's existence. Illegally transmitting such arts was akin to digging up their roots, potentially inciting the destruction of the entire clan. If discovered, death was certain. Back when he taught his elder sister-in-law, Zhao Yiyi, the cultivation technique, it was merely a rudimentary breathing method, yet his elder brother's face had turned ashen with terror.

Xiaoyuan lowered her voice further, "Zhanran, if the Wang family discovers it, you must swear vehemently that you comprehended it yourself and learned it from no one else!" Li Muzhan smiled: "I understand."

Xiaoyuan let out a slight gasp, lowering her voice even more: "Miss dares not practice this technique herself. It's the ultimate secret art of the Third Miss." "Oh—?" Li Muzhan looked confused. Xiaoyuan whispered, "The Third Miss was the fiancée of the Wang family's heir. The Fourth Young Master of the Wang family was very fond of her and secretly gave it to her for self-defense." Li Muzhan nodded.

Xiaoyuan continued in a hushed tone, "Two years ago, that Fourth Young Master was murdered. No one knows about it now... When the Third Miss heard about you from Miss, she entrusted Miss to send you this mental cultivation method." "Who killed the Fourth Young Master of the Wang family?" Li Muzhan asked, realizing this represented another profound favor. "The Poison Hand Scholar, He Zhiyuan. Have you heard of him?" Xiaoyuan tilted her head. Li Muzhan shook his head: "I used to only sequester myself for meditation practice, studying Buddhist doctrines, ignoring matters of the martial world."

"Then you are hopelessly ignorant!" Xiaoyuan giggled, then continued, "The Poison Hand Scholar is one of the world's top masters. However, this man has an extremely strange temper; if words go awry, he takes a life. He is no good person at all!" Li Muzhan felt a direct hit to his core: "He killed the Fourth Young Master of the Wang family?"

Xiaoyuan nodded vigorously. "Yes! ■■■■■■He was incredibly audacious to kill the Fourth Young Master! Don't you think the Wang family would allow that?!" "And then?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Xiaoyuan’s bright eyes sparkled with excitement: "All the Wang family's masters were mobilized!" That Poison Hand Scholar was truly formidable; he managed to kill over thirty of the Wang family's experts before he himself was slain." Li Muzhan smiled as he observed Xiaoyuan. She touched her delicate, lovely cheek in confusion: "What is it?" "Xiaoyuan, you don't seem to like the Wang family?" Li Muzhan chuckled.

Xiaoyuan pouted, wrinkling her delicate nose: "Hmph, you haven't seen the way those Wang family members carry themselves. Arrogant, as if they were the greatest under heaven. Truly irritating!" Li Muzhan nodded and smiled: "Not all Wang family members are like that, surely."

Xiaoyuan huffed: "Some are a bit better, like the Fourth Young Master. Deep down he was arrogant, but on the surface, he was kind. Still, I didn't like him much!" Li Muzhan lightly tapped her fair forehead and laughed: "You, you are small, but you have quite a few flaws!" His movement seemed slow but was incredibly swift. Xiaoyuan couldn't dodge in time and covered her forehead, complaining: "You are the same! Don't laugh at me!" Li Muzhan teased her a few more times, then turned and departed the Mei estate.

All the way back, his mind churned. Regardless of what might unfold in the future, based solely on the kindness shown by Mei Ruolan and Mei Songwan, he knew he could not simply leave the Mei estate.

Favors were chains, causality was the thread; the affairs of this world truly dragged one deeper and deeper, making escape impossible. He shook his head, filled with emotion.

Returning home, his parents were absent; only his elder sister-in-law, Zhao Yiyi, was there alone. Li Muzhan inquired, and Zhao Yiyi said they had gone to Li Jian's house to see their godson. Li Muzhan circulated his energy to sense the surroundings; there were Golden Armored Guards stationed both east and west, indicating his Second Sister was aware of their presence and felt secure leaving his sister-in-law alone. After saying a word to Zhao Yiyi, Li Muzhan entered his own room and took out the pitch-black Buddha statue.

With eyes like bronze bells, a lion's nose, a face full of coarse flesh, and feet crushing a human head, the moment the bundle was unwrapped and the statue appeared, a wave of sinister energy surged, and the room seemed to grow colder.

Li Muzhan examined it closely, reaching out to gently stroke it, turning it over and over, yet he could discern nothing unusual.

The birthday gift for Old Master Lu of Tiannan was two white jade Buddha statues. He suddenly remembered this black statue; he constantly felt it was extraordinary, but upon close examination, he could find no clue.

With a sigh, he set it down. Since he couldn't decipher its mystery now, the time for destiny had not yet arrived; forcing it would be futile. He let the thought go and stopped dwelling on it.

He left the room and sat beneath the grape trellis to the south. Zhao Yiyi was standing on tiptoes, hanging laundry. She had a compulsive need for cleanliness and washed clothes frequently, unable to tolerate even the slightest stain.

The weather was hot, and she wore a loose green silk blouse and a skirt of moon-white pleats. Her neck was smooth and ivory-white, so graceful he had an urge to reach out and touch it.

Li Muzhan asked about her breathing technique. She laughed, saying she practiced it for fun when she had time; it felt very comfortable, and his younger sister-in-law had also offered pointers a few times.

Li Muzhan nodded, looked at her a few times, and smiled: "Sister-in-law, if you practice a bit longer, you'll soon surpass Big Brother!" "Me?" Zhao Yiyi pursed her lips, shaking her head with a soft chuckle. "He's busy from dawn till dusk; how can he find time to practice? The moment he gets back, he collapses onto the bed and sleeps!" Li Muzhan chuckled lightly, not daring to press the matter.

Big Brother probably didn't know that he kept ten beautiful concubines hidden within the Mei estate; demure and gentle as still water. Big Brother was likely too charmed to want to leave.

He chatted with Zhao Yiyi for a while about trivial family matters. Once she finished hanging the clothes, they went together to Li Jian’s house. They spent time with their godson there; the little fellow was adorable, laughing non-stop with delight.

Time flew like lightning, and half a day was gone in an instant. They decided to simply eat dinner at Li Jian's house. Everyone gathered together, making for a lively scene.

Just as they were eating, Li Mufeng arrived as well. The five men formed their own table and began drinking. Li Mufeng usually had a good tolerance for alcohol, but this time he became drunk quickly, after only three cups of his own home-brewed wine.

Once intoxicated, he started to cry and talk excessively, lamenting that he shouldn't have sent his third brother to the Mei estate, even slapping his own face. Fortunately, Li Muzhan was quick-witted and managed to restrain him, helping him back home.

The next morning, as soon as the sky was bright, Li Muzhan ate with his family and announced that he would be leaving on an assignment today, heading to Tiannan to deliver the birthday gift to Old Master Lu. Hearing this, everyone seemed relieved, considering it a minor matter.

Li Zhuzi even lectured him: "Though this matter is small, it is very important. Don't dawdle on the road and miss the birthday banquet, bringing shame upon the Mei family!"

Li Muzhan nodded and smiled: "I just entered the estate; major responsibilities aren't for me yet."

Li Zhuzi tried to say more, but Qin Shi shot him a look, so he kept his speech brief: "Don't cause trouble. Take a step back in everything, don't argue with anyone!" "You, you really make us worry sick!" Li Muzhan smiled and nodded, feeling his father's deep concern.

Li Zhuzi glared at Li Mufeng and sneered: "Big Brother, last night was truly humiliating! You've disgraced my old face!" Li Mufeng hung his head, saying nothing.

Li Zhuzi shook his head and sighed: "What happened to your tolerance for drink? To be made drunk by Old Man Li—truly disappointing!" Li Muzhan chuckled: "Father, after Big Brother and I left, did you take the field personally?" "Hmph, of course I did! Do you think I'm a coward!" "I drank Old Man Li under the table! Haha!" Li Zhuzi beamed with delight. Qin Shi shot him a side-eye: "Enough boasting! It's hardly something to be proud of!"

Li Zhuzi coughed and fell silent.

Li Muzhan laughed as he bade farewell to everyone, and before Li Mufeng could react, he slipped away. He truly couldn't stand his elder brother; he would surely launch into another long-winded monologue. Upon arriving at the Mei estate and entering the Tianshu Courtyard, Zhao Yuzhen and the other three were all present, their expressions heavy.

In the room lay two long, dark-black swords, and a wide leather belt studded with small arrows—about a hundred in total, arranged in two rows. He strapped the belt around his waist; it was heavy, and though the arrows were small, the entire collection weighed twenty or thirty catties.

The two long swords felt perfectly balanced, weighing more than a dozen times that of ordinary swords. They felt comfortable in his hands and swung smoothly. He knew they must have been forged personally by Master Cheng.