Abbess Zhuzhao pursed her lips in a light laugh and shook her head, chiding him, "If you knew this would happen, why start it in the first place! When you stormed the Wuji Hall, you were full of such imposing might, such fierce energy, hmm!"

Li Muzhan replied, "My mind was not clear then."

"Hmph, if your mind wasn't clear, how do you still remember trifling with Yinyue?!" Abbess Zhuzhao pressed him relentlessly.

Li Muzhan sighed, "Master, I couldn't control myself."

Li Muzhan clasped his hands together towards Wen Yinyue, "Senior Sister, I truly should not have, but I couldn't control myself. I beg you, Sister, show mercy and spare me this once!"

Wen Yinyue said coolly, "I wouldn't dare presume. Since Master has made her decision, I won't pursue the matter with you further. Rest assured!"

Li Muzhan chuckled gratefully, "Thank you, Senior Sister!"

He sighed inwardly. His Senior Sister did not appear to be the kind of person to let things go easily; she had noted this debt and would not forgive it.

Wen Yinyue glanced at him, offered a faint smile, and paid him no more attention.

Abbess Zhuzhao pursed her lips and lightly patted his shoulder. "Alright, stop dawdling! If we delay any longer, you truly won't finish sweeping today, and you can't blame me then!"

Li Muzhan nodded slowly, picked up the broom, and prepared to leave.

"You little fellow, you aren't even holding the broom correctly!" Abbess Zhuzhao snatched the broom back, demonstrated a posture, and handed it back to him, humming, "See?"

Li Muzhan smiled faintly.

Something was already in his sleeve—it felt like a thin booklet. His Master’s hand was incredibly quick; others would hardly notice her movement.

"Thank you, Master!" Li Muzhan said with a smile.

Although his internal energy was profound, and his Canghai Shen Gong was rapidly improving and nearing mastery, his application methods lagged far behind his deep reservoir of internal power.

It was like possessing immense strength but lacking the knowledge of how to wield it—often resulting in accomplishing half the task with twice the effort.

Starting to sweep the steps in earnest, he estimated he absolutely could not finish within the day.

"Go on, go on!" Abbess Zhuzhao waved him off.

Wen Yinyue gave a faint smile and turned her head away, pretending not to have seen anything.

Abbess Zhuzhao understood. Her Eldest Disciple had witnessed her slight maneuver, and though she only smiled, she was still dissatisfied with the Master, resenting her clear favoritism toward the young man.

However, the young man was genuinely likable. Not only was his comprehension astonishing, but his nature was also pure and kind. While he certainly had a penchant for beautiful women, facing a figure like Yinyue, what man wouldn't lose his composure?

This stemmed from inherent masculine nature, something even deeply enlightened monks like Zhanran could not entirely overcome; they could only forcibly suppress it, which eventually led to the outburst that caused this entire commotion.

Furthermore, even when his mind was clouded, he still showed utmost respect to her, his Master, indicating a fundamental reverence in his heart.

Such a disciple was clever and reliable—perhaps even more reliable than Yinyue.

Though Yinyue had followed him since childhood, seeming more like a daughter than a disciple, her nature was cold and detached. With her Miaolian Jing reaching completion, the Master no longer knew what truly stirred within her heart.

Suddenly, Zhong Bixuan appeared.

Dressed in a light yellow silk robe, perfectly tailored to her exquisite curves, she entered the hall, cupped her hands, and said, "Martial Aunt-Master, Eldest Senior Sister, what did you summon me for?"

She spotted Li Jiazhan, pursed her lips slightly, and offered no greeting.

The entanglement between those two was exceedingly complex. They first met through conflict, had a spar where she was made to bark like a dog, and later, Li Muzhan accidentally wounded her with an arrow, nearly costing her life.

Li Muzhan had then desperately carried her back to Canghai Mountain, allowing Abbess Zhuzhao to perform the Yinyang Zaohua Shu to save her.

Because of this, the balance between gratitude and grievance was impossible to discern.

Abbess Zhuzhao turned her gaze to Wen Yinyue.

Wen Yinyue said, "Fourth Junior Sister, help me supervise Zhanran, make sure he doesn't slack off."

"What is he doing?" Zhong Bixuan glanced sideways at Li Muzhan and asked with a smile.

Wen Yinyue stated calmly, "Sweeping the steps. You are to stay with him."

Zhong Bixuan quickly covered her mouth, giggling, nodding repeatedly, "Oh, yes, yes, that is a wonderful assignment!"

Abbess Zhuzhao laughed, "Bixuan, don't show favoritism now!"

Zhong Bixuan quickly replied, "Martial Aunt-Master, rest assured, I will be completely impartial!"

"Good, that's settled," Abbess Zhuzhao nodded and waved her hand, "Zhanran, be on your way!"

Li Muzhan sighed, gave a cupped-hand salute, took the broom, and began sweeping, first clearing the steps leading up to Wuji Hall, then moving downward.

The South and North Courtyards also had steps, but they were few, which Li Muzhan swept clean in a few quick motions. Zhong Bixuan trailed closely behind him, hands clasped behind her back, looking quite spirited.

As she watched, she muttered that he was brazenly bold and deserved this; now he had finally fallen into her hands, and punishment was inevitable, no matter what.

Li Muzhan ignored her, continuing to move the broom while deeply contemplating the Wuqing Xiu technique.

The booklet in his sleeve was made of a few sheets of fine silk. He had quickly glanced through it when he found a moment to attend to nature, and it was indeed profound.

After reading it once, he had already memorized it—it was a sleeve technique called Wuqing Xiu (Sleeveless Indifference).

Wuqing Xiu was an extremely soft sleeve art, where internal energy was infused into the sleeve and deployed soundlessly, making it very difficult to detect, flowing like running water.

The name was taken from the saying, "Falling flowers have intention, but the flowing water is heartless." He possessed a natural gift for cultivating internal energy heart techniques and quickly grasped the knack. With one sweep of the broom, it was as if a great wind passed, clearing everything within several feet.

Seeing this, Zhong Bixuan’s bright eyes widened. She opened her mouth, stopped talking, and just followed closely, watching his technique gradually become practiced, clearing several steps with a single sweep of the broom.

Li Muzhan engaged in three tasks simultaneously: sweeping the ground, contemplating Wuqing Xiu, and refining the internal energy imbued in the broom, making it increasingly refined and gentle.

At first, it was like a gust of strong wind; later, it became a soft breeze, sweeping soundlessly, leaving the steps perfectly clean.

Li Muzhan enjoyed the process, finding it a wonderful way to practice, though he was slightly disappointed by the burning gazes of curiosity from the other disciples.

The inner sect disciples were an exception; they wore knowing smiles, clearly aware of why he was being subjected to this punishment.

However, the way they looked at him was a mixture of awe and reverence, daring not to mock him, much like their attitude toward Wen Yinyue.

Having witnessed Li Muzhan's peerless might, even though he was sweeping steps as punishment, they dared not ridicule him for fear of bringing trouble upon themselves.

By the end of the day, Li Muzhan had practiced Wuqing Xiu to a considerable level of proficiency, capable of brushing things away from a distance. Though the power wasn't great, he favored it, finding the posture extremely elegant.

Zhong Bixuan remained by his side the entire time. Seeing him master Wuqing Xiu to this extent, she remained silent, stopped teasing, stopped chattering, and became a docile girl, which made Li Muzhan somewhat unaccustomed to the change.

I must return to the city tomorrow and face a full day of carriage travel. Feeling gloomy and restless today, my concentration is truly lacking. Therefore, I can only write two thousand characters. I beg forgiveness, I beg forgiveness. D