"Go on then," Lan Chunhe waved his hand. "Everything you need to know is in my letter. Follow those instructions, and return quickly!"

"Yes, Disciple takes his leave!" Li Muzhan cupped his hands in salute and turned to depart.

He went straight back to the small courtyard, entered his room, and opened the window to air it out. Bright sunshine playfully streamed in, bathing the room in a soft, gentle light that felt utterly tranquil.

Li Muzhan sat cross-legged on the couch, tore open the envelope, and pulled out a sheet of plain paper. Lan Chunhe’s lean, taut figure immediately came into view.

He finished reading quickly, let out a sigh, and shook his head with a bitter smile.

He rose from the couch, walked to the window, and gazed at the flowers and plants in the courtyard. After a moment's thought, he turned and left, making his way to the Wuji Hall.

Inside the Wuji Hall, only Abbess Zhumei was present. Clad in moon-white monastic robes, with apricot eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, she sat cross-legged on a cushion, radiating a grace both alluring and solemn, which instantly quelled any thought of irreverence.

Li Muzhan did not need to announce his arrival at the Wuji Hall. He stood at the entrance for a while, suddenly feeling a pang of regret. Why should his Master, with such exquisite beauty and still so young, sit perpetually within this grand hall, letting her prime youth fade away?

Though her appearance did not age, his Master’s heart was slowly growing still, growing old—like an ancient well, slowly drying up for lack of nurturing rain and dew.

"Stupid boy, why are you just standing there spacing out? Hurry up and come in!" Abbess Zhumei opened her bright eyes and chided him with a charming smile.

Li Muzhan stepped into the main hall, cupped his hands in salute, and smiled, "Seeing Master in meditation, I feared to disturb you."

"Always finding the sweet words!" Abbess Zhumei shook her head and chuckled. "You don't visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. Trouble again?"

Li Muzhan sat on the cushion opposite her and asked with a placid smile, "Master, is Junior Sister Li doing well?"

"She’s fine," Abbess Zhumei raised an eyebrow delicately and smiled. "Little Yuan is keeping her company sightseeing. Why do you suddenly ask?"

Li Muzhan smiled knowingly, "Master, don’t try to hide it from me. Your expression changed when you saw Junior Sister Li. Is there some hidden story?"

Abbess Zhumei shot him a look. "Nonsense! What hidden story could there be?! We are in the Southern Sky, and Holy Snow Peak is in the far West. They are worlds apart, what connection could they possibly have?!"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Do you have some old grievance with Headmistress Li?"

Abbess Zhumei’s delicate eyebrows arched, and she scolded him sharply, "Stupid boy, always imagining things! If you have something to say, say it quickly!"

Li Muzhan glanced at her and chuckled.

Abbess Zhumei glared back at him. "Hmph! If you’re not going to speak, then scram! Don't waste my time!"

Li Muzhan sighed with mock helplessness, pulled the letter from his robes, and handed it over. "Alright, Master. Great-Uncle has given instructions again; I have to descend the mountain once more!"

Abbess Zhumei's small mouth moved slightly, then closed. She glanced several times at the letter, her delicate brows knitting together tightly. She rose from the cushion and paced slowly within the hall, murmuring thoughtfully to herself.

Li Muzhan also stood up, standing straight as he stared at Abbess Zhumei's exquisite face.

After a long pause, Abbess Zhumei nodded. "Hmm. Since Martial Uncle has given orders, you cannot defy them. Go with peace of mind!"

Li Muzhan unbuckled the two swords from his waist—they were the Dragon Roar and Phoenix Cry Twin Swords. He smiled faintly, "When I descend the mountain this time, I go alone, taking nothing. I possess nothing else, save for these two swords, which are the most precious. Master, please keep them safe for me!"

"Very well," Abbess Zhumei agreed.

She pondered for a moment, then lightly clapped her hands. Immediately, a girl in black floated in. "Headmistress."

Abbess Zhumei instructed, "Go summon Yin Yue."

"Yes." The girl in black glanced at Li Muzhan, inclined her head gracefully, and turned, drifting away.

Wen Yin Yue entered in an instant. "Master."

Abbess Zhumei commanded, "Yin Yue, go fetch five Creation Pills and one bottle of Heart-Protecting Pills."

"Yes." Wen Yin Yue turned and left, returning moments later with two small bottles—one tiny white jade vial and one porcelain bottle, both flat and about half the size of a palm.

Abbess Zhumei picked up the porcelain bottle and handed it to Li Muzhan. "These are Creation Pills. You know their efficacy. This time, do not give them away easily!"

Li Muzhan bowed and accepted them without demur. One Creation Pill was a life; his Master’s kindness was as vast as the sea; a few more would not matter.

Abbess Zhumei then picked up the jade vial and passed it over. "This is the Heart-Protecting Pill; it is quite miraculous for stopping bleeding and healing injuries. You will inevitably be wounded in the army; take good care of yourself!"

Li Muzhan took both bottles with both hands and smiled, "Don't worry, Master. I have a tough life, and my Adamantine Indestructible Divine Art protects me; I won't die so easily!"

Abbess Zhumei’s delicate eyebrows shot up, and she spat, "Stop that unlucky talk! If you want to join the army, the first thing you must do is abolish your internal energy!" If your Adamantine Indestructible Divine Art has no internal energy, how can it stop blades and spears?"

Li Muzhan’s face changed; he hurriedly asked, "Abolish my internal energy?"

Abbess Zhumei assessed him, then shook her head. "It seems you don't know. Well, I must explain it clearly to you, lest you blunder into trouble without understanding the reason, and I cannot save you!"

"Please enlighten this humble disciple, Master!" Li Muzhan said quickly.

Abbess Zhumei waved her hand, and the three sat on cushions. Wen Yin Yue sat beside her, and Li Muzhan sat opposite the two women. The faint scent of sandalwood filled the air, mingling with and yet masking the natural fragrance of the two women.

Wen Yin Yue inquired, "Junior Brother is going to the military?"

"Yes, Great-Uncle commanded it. The old man must have his profound reasons," Abbess Zhumei nodded, glancing at Li Muzhan, then smiled and shook her head. "If you wish to join the army, you must first scatter your internal energy. There is no other way. You cannot sneak in!"

Li Muzhan frowned and asked, "Master, why is that?"

"It is a rule established by the Founding Ancestor that martial artists are forbidden from entering the army. It has been followed to this day; no one dares violate it!" Abbess Zhumei stated.

Li Muzhan frowned, pondering, "What if his division has martial arts masters? Wouldn't we be at a disadvantage?"

The Dayuan Dynasty where he currently resided, though powerful and flourishing, was not the strongest. At present, five great nations stood balanced, with the Dayuan Dynasty situated in the southeast.

To the southwest lay the Nanli Kingdom; to the northwest, the Xizhao Kingdom; directly north, the Great Khanate; and to the northeast, the Dongchu Kingdom. Dayuan bordered Nanli, Xizhao, and Dongchu. The Great Khanate lay between Xizhao and Dongchu, not directly bordering Dayuan.

In terms of military might, the Great Khanate was first; its iron cavalry ranged invincible, unmatched in this era.

Its neighbors, Xizhao and Dongchu, suffered immensely. Only by forming an alliance could they hold back the Khanate’s cavalry, and their border was perpetually unsettled.

The Nanli Kingdom was secluded, nestled between Dayuan and Xizhao, posing no threat to Dayuan. Xizhao and Dongchu, preoccupied with the Khanate, had no time to concern themselves with Dayuan. Thus, the Dayuan Kingdom enjoyed prosperity and stability, considered number one in this age.

Abbess Zhumei smiled, "You need not worry about that. The military also possesses martial arts manuals, and their power is immense, no less than that of martial sects. It is simply that the cultivation paths are different."

"Different paths?" Li Muzhan asked.

Abbess Zhumei explained, "Yes. Military martial arts are entirely distinct from civilian martial arts. The two cannot be practiced simultaneously, and they are mutually restrictive. Once you master one, forget about mastering the other, like the stars Shen and Can."

"Strange," Li Muzhan stroked his small mustache, deep in thought.

Abbess Zhumei frowned and said slowly, "Zhanran, if you wish to serve in the military, the first step is to abolish your internal energy. There is no alternative."

"I can't just sneak in?" Li Muzhan was startled.

Abbess Zhumei shook her head. "Impossible. Civilian martial arts and military martial arts are naturally antagonistic. As soon as you get close, they will be detected; there is no way to conceal it."

Li Muzhan gave a bitter smile. "Must I really dissipate my power?"

"Yes," she affirmed, smiling faintly. "Don't hold onto any false hopes. For others, giving up hard-cultivated internal energy is painful. But it’s different for you—you haven't been training long. If you dissipate your power, you can regain it in two years. It’s no big deal!"

Li Muzhan sighed, "Alas!"

Abbess Zhumei patted his shoulder in consolation. "I don't know the deep significance of Martial Uncle's orders, but it certainly won't be wrong. Zhanran, just obey quietly!"

Though she was consoling him, a smile played on her lips, looking suspiciously like schadenfreude. Li Muzhan shook his head helplessly.

Abbess Zhumei laughed, "Grand-Master wants you in the Northwest Army. The environment there is harsh, and Xizhao’s cavalry is formidable. The Northwest has been restless these past few years, with battles fought several times annually—it’s dangerous. But standing out is easy, too. Kill a few people, earn a few merits, and you’ll advance!"

Li Muzhan smiled bitterly, "When can I become a General?"

"A General, hmm..." "That will be difficult!" Abbess Zhumei shook her head and laughed. "Let me calculate... Huo Chang, Dui Zheng, Lü Shuai, Xiao Wei, Du Wei, Lang Jiang—that's twelve ranks in total!"

Li Muzhan nodded, calculated, and sighed, "It seems I'll have to kill many people!"

Abbess Zhumei commented, "To become a General, killing alone is not enough. You must possess both bravery and strategy. Military texts and war tactics—you must master them all."

She smiled, "Zhanran, in short, your desire to become a General is much harder to achieve than becoming a direct disciple! Work hard..."

Li Muzhan bade farewell to everyone and descended the mountain. Following the instructions in Lan Chunhe's letter, he headed straight north, arriving at the foot of a great mountain outside Jiang City.

Li Muzhan had already ascertained that there was indeed a temple on this mountain, named Hanshan Temple.

As he walked up the mountain, he recalled the scene from a few days prior. Upon meeting, and then immediately having to part again, Little Yuan and Gong Qingyun were visibly unhappy, and Li Yujiao was also displeased.

However, Li Muzhan had a vague feeling that Li Yujiao had some connection with the Canghai Sword Sect, so when she asked to leave immediately, he stopped her, asking her to stay a few more days.

Who knew how long this departure would last? According to his Master, becoming a General required not only strength but also a large measure of luck; with poor luck, it could take half a lifetime.

She had instructed him that if he did not become a General within five years, he should retire and return. Li Muzhan had agreed.

As Li Muzhan walked, reminiscing about the people on the mountain, a sense of wistful melancholy settled over him, which he quickly suppressed, turning his thoughts instead to his martial arts—how he was to abolish them.

While thinking, he continued upward until he reached the mountaintop, but found no grand compound, only dense forest. Towering pine trees soared skyward like giants, making him appear tiny.

He leaped lightly over the treetops, traversed half the mountain, and finally, relying on intuition, discovered the temple halfway up the slope, completely concealed by the thick woods, making it exceedingly difficult to spot.