Li Muzhan’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged. He took the lead, speaking first: “Senior, I intend to set off for Holy Snow Peak immediately, but leaving right now feels somewhat inappropriate.”
“Hmm…” Wang Xiue’s faint eyebrows arched slightly as she pondered. “With over two months remaining, setting off now is still early. There’s no rush.”
Li Muzhan said, “I wish to depart sooner to take things at a more leisurely pace. …Having witnessed the martial arts of the Nangong Clan this time, I’ve gained some insights. I wish to quiet my mind for a period and then further contemplate the sword techniques.”
“Is that so…” Wang Xiue fell silent in thought, her faint eyebrows knitting together.
Wang Shuangfeng looked up at him, her eyes flickering.
Li Muzhan speaking first was a tactic to preempt Wang Xiue’s intentions. Seeing her demeanor, he guessed she intended to ask for his help in killing Gongsun Qingyun.
He truly did not wish to wade into this murky water. If he were entirely unattached, it wouldn't matter, but now, as a disciple of the Azure Sea Sword Sect, his position was different; he could not act rashly. One misstep could bring grave trouble to Canghai Mountain.
Besides, he was trying to avoid Gongsun Qingyun, so why would he walk willingly into death’s embrace?
Wang Xiue pondered for a long moment before saying, “Zhanran, this old woman has a favor to ask of you.”
Li Muzhan’s heart sank, and he sighed inwardly. The older the ginger, the spicier it is; old age sharpens the mind, and thickens the skin. There was no way to block this request now.
He nodded. “Senior, why be so formal? Just command me.”
“Gongsun Qingyun is the foremost expert of the Gongsun family. I have no certain chance of victory against him, and our Wang family is depleted of talent—it's out of the question,” Wang Xiue sighed, her expression desolate. “The dignified Penglai Wang family has fallen to this state due to my own incompetence!”
Li Muzhan replied, “Senior, everything in the world rises and falls. The wheel of fortune turns; no family remains prosperous forever. …Senior is the cornerstone supporting the Wang family. However, cherishing your life is paramount; dwelling on this too much will only harm your health.”
Wang Xiue nodded. “Alas… as long as this old frame remains, the Wang family can be sustained. Once I pass, the Wang family faces peril! …If it weren't for this, I would have long since gone underground to meet my old man, why endure these lonely days in the mortal realm!”
“Ancestor…” Wang Shuangfeng murmured softly, chidingly.
Wang Xiue smiled, patted her small hand, then turned back. “Zhanran, I have no one else to turn to now; I can only appeal to you.”
“Please command me, Senior,” Li Muzhan said.
He sighed inwardly. At this point, he had no choice but to brace himself and listen. This Senior Wang was truly formidable; she had entirely discerned his temperament.
Wang Xiue sighed once more. “If it is possible, Zhanran, kill Gongsun Qingyun for me.”
Li Muzhan froze for a moment, appearing surprised. He looked at her, then glanced at Wang Shuangfeng.
Wang Shuangfeng lowered her head, her gaze shifting evasively, unwilling to meet his eyes.
“Senior…” Li Muzhan managed a wry smile.
Wang Xiue said, “Yuan Chu told me the sequence of events. You wounded Gongsun Qingyun.”
Li Muzhan offered another wry smile and shook his head. “It was all thanks to the Yellow Dragon Flying Sword making the breakthrough. Moreover, the First Young Master and the others were tying down Gongsun Qingyun at the time; I caught him off guard, which allowed me to injure him… If he were prepared, I would not be his match.”
Wang Xiue stated, “Gongsun Qingyun’s name is not widely known in the martial world, but he is the Gongsun family’s hidden weapon, their foremost expert. Among our Wang family, only this old woman can match him; there is no one else.”
Li Muzhan slowly nodded. He had observed everyone in the main hall; all possessed profound cultivation, yet they were only first-tier masters, not top-tier experts.
Gongsun Qingyun’s inner strength was far superior to theirs; none among them could overcome him.
He shook his head and sighed, feeling a sense of tragedy. The weak are prey to the strong—this is an undeniable law of the world. Such a large household as the Penglai Wang family was being suppressed by a young man.
This explained their desperate yearning for the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture. To save the Wang family and reverse their decline, seizing the Scripture was their only recourse.
Li Muzhan considered this and said, “Reverend Mother, this matter is of immense importance. I dare not decide unilaterally; I must report it to the Sect Master and my grand-uncle.”
“Rest assured, I will speak with that old fellow myself,” Wang Xiue quickly agreed.
Li Muzhan shook his head with a bitter smile. “Senior, I am not being overly modest. I am absolutely no match for Gongsun Qingyun. Even if I were to kill him by sheer luck with the Yellow Dragon Flying Sword, I would not escape unscathed, and it would delay the Holy Snow Peak competition… Reverend Mother, revenge is not urgent. I must first report to my Master… Regardless, shouldn't this wait until after the competition, right?”
Wang Xiue stared at him for a long time. Li Muzhan met her gaze calmly, neither subservient nor overbearing.
“Alas… no wonder that old fellow thought highly of you.” Wang Xiue sighed deeply and nodded. “You are good; your mind is clear… The Holy Snow Peak competition is the most important thing. Revenge cannot be rushed; I was merely carried away by my anger for a moment.”
The Holy Snow Peak competition concerned the fate of the entire clan, making it more crucial than Gongsun Qingyun.
Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. “If this disciple loses, I naturally have nothing more to say. If I win and obtain the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture, then there is no need for this disciple to act.”
Wang Xiue laughed. “That logic holds true! …I hope you achieve victory swiftly! How about this: you stay here first. I will ensure no one disturbs you so you can quietly contemplate your sword arts!”
Li Muzhan insisted, “I still prefer to find a quiet place elsewhere.”
He then asked, “Senior, has anyone from Holy Snow Peak come to cause trouble?”
“No,” Wang Xiue shook her head. “Holy Snow Peak is arrogant and proud; they disdain engaging in such petty acts. They will not make a move against the Wang family.”
“It seems Gongsun Qingyun was merely bluffing…” Li Muzhan mused thoughtfully.
He pondered why Gongsun Qingyun had said those things—was it solely to intimidate and disrupt the minds of Wang Yuanchu and the others, or was there some other motive?
Wang Xiue remarked, “That fellow is not only skilled in martial arts but also deeply calculating. You must be wary of him.”
Li Muzhan nodded. “Though this junior cannot defeat him, escaping is not difficult.”
Wang Xiue said, “Indeed. You people of Canghai Mountain have secret life-preserving arts. As long as a single breath remains, taking the Creation Pill can restore you. It is a pity my darling… left a step too early.”
As she spoke, she let out a long, faint sigh, and her figure seemed to stoop suddenly.
Li Muzhan also sighed. This must be fate. Fate is an invisible thing, yet it is the supreme existence. No matter how strong an individual or how high their martial arts, trying to break free from the shackles of destiny is exceedingly difficult.
If only he had arrived one day sooner, while a breath remained, and she had taken the Creation Pill, her life would have been secure. No matter how severe her injuries, a day’s difference meant the gulf between Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang.
Wang Xiue suddenly looked up, her eyes bright. “Zhanran, Canghai Mountain possesses a life-preserving secret art called the Yin-Yang Creation Technique, capable of regrowing flesh on white bones. Have you learned it?”
Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed. “This technique is known only to the Sect Master; this disciple does not know it.”
“Alas… Xiner’s fate was sealed!” Wang Xiue’s gaze dimmed.
Li Muzhan sighed helplessly. “If my Master were here, there might be a sliver of hope. Unfortunately, my Master never descends Canghai Mountain… Senior, there is no need to be overly grieved. Life and death are but one cycle. Births and deaths, deaths and births—it is merely like riding a carriage.”
Wang Xiue shook her head. “You are a monk; you can see through these things. This old woman cannot.”
Her expression turning desolate, she was about to leave when Li Muzhan quickly said, “Senior, I will first pay respects to the Fifth Young Master, and then I will depart.”
Wang Xiue waved a hand faintly. “Mm, as you wish.”
Saying that, she stumbled away, her stooped figure moving slowly. Wang Shuangfeng watched her lonely retreating back, her eyes immediately reddening. She glanced at him quickly before following Wang Xiue out.
A white-haired person sending off a black-haired one—this kind of grief, without personal experience, is impossible to truly understand. Li Muzhan knew that the most painful experience in the world was precisely this.
However, despite his sympathy, he dared not agree to kill Gongsun Qingyun. He was not his match. Although the Yellow Dragon Flying Sword was powerful, it might not even be able to harm him.
He looked up at the sky, let out a long breath, and shook his head. He would not kill Gongsun Qingyun, but Gongsun Qingyun was likely coming to kill him. As the Gongsun family’s foremost expert, being wounded by a nameless nobody would demand retribution.
It was fortunate that while he could not defeat Gongsun Qingyun in a straight fight, escaping was not difficult thanks to the Lamp Burning Art. The current priority was to break through the Azure Sea Divine Art!
His cultivation was significantly inferior; facing Gongsun Qingyun would only result in taking a beating. In a straightforward fight, he was simply no match.
Furthermore, the Gongsun lineage was no pushover. Their enduring presence in the world meant they possessed secret techniques and supreme arts for defense; otherwise, they would have been swept away by the wind and rain long ago, vanishing into smoke.
Two young women in white clothes drifted in and whispered, “Young Master, the Miss instructed us to pack your satchel. Shall we now?”
Li Muzhan nodded.
The two maidens curtsied gracefully and entered the room to begin packing.
Footsteps suddenly sounded, and Wang Shuangfeng drifted in. “Martial Uncle.”
Li Muzhan nodded and looked at her, questioning with his eyes.
Wang Shuangfeng whispered, “The Ancestor said that I am to follow Martial Uncle and help point the way.”
Li Muzhan frowned, his thoughts racing like lightning, countless ideas surging in an instant. Was she uneasy about him, or was this to protect Wang Shuangfeng, fearing Gongsun Qingyun might come seeking trouble?
Wang Shuangfeng quickly added, “The Ancestor said I am to follow Martial Uncle to broaden my horizons; this is a rare opportunity… I hope Martial Uncle will grant this request!”
Li Muzhan sighed. “Feng’er, this journey of mine will be very dangerous.”
Wang Shuangfeng quickly shook her head. “My movement technique is decent; I won't be a burden to Martial Uncle!”
Li Muzhan remained deeply frowning, immersed in thought.
He was considering that if they encountered Gongsun Qingyun, escaping alone would not be hard, but taking Wang Shuangfeng along would make escape considerably more difficult.
However, Wang Shuangfeng following him might stem from Senior Wang’s own insecurity—perhaps if he did win the Holy Snow Peak competition and retrieve the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture, she didn’t want it passing through his hands.
He thought it over, weighing the options, and slowly nodded. “Very well, that is acceptable.”
He mused inwardly that Senior Wang was quite trusting. With Wang Shuangfeng, a young maiden, alone with him, did she truly believe a monk like him wouldn’t cause any trouble?
Wang Shuangfeng retrieved her package, and Li Muzhan proceeded to the front hall to light an incense stick for Wang Yuanxin.
At this moment, everyone in the hall had departed, leaving only Wang Yuanchu sitting motionless before the coffin, staring blankly. Seeing Li Muzhan enter, he remained still.
“Oh?” Li Muzhan’s eyebrows suddenly lifted.