Ye Wen wanted to descend the mountain. Besides needing a way to procure some funds, he also wished to survey the surrounding area of Shushan, and gauge the actual level of his martial arts attainment. Especially within the domain of Shushan, how high a master would he truly rank?

Although he felt he had made significant progress since more than half a year ago—progress that could be described as a complete metamorphosis—martial arts could not be learned in isolation. Staying cooped up on the mountain, no matter how high one's cultivation, meant that in a real fight, he might still lose to an experienced veteran who was technically a notch below him. Of course, if one's cultivation was heaven-defying enough to crush opponents purely through brute force, that would be an entirely different matter.

Even though he occasionally sparred with his junior sister, those were friendly matches between fellow disciples, offering little actual improvement in combat experience.

Therefore, Ye Wen decided to venture down the mountain, viewing it as a chance to test the results of his training over the past six months. If the outcome was gratifying, it would validate his choices, assuring him that continuing down this path would lead to his goals. If the results were lackluster, he would need to seriously rethink an effective method for improvement; in any case, he absolutely could not suffer the indignity of being bullied again due to his weakness.

As for acquiring some wealth upon descending, Ye Wen considered that the easier part. At worst, he could seek out Head Constable Li, whom he had met once, and inquire about any current bounties on fugitives. If the targets weren't too formidable, he wouldn't mind moonlighting as a bounty hunter. Furthermore, it would allow him to build some notoriety, bringing attention to their sect as well.

The current era was quite chaotic anyway; bandits and brigands infested every corner. There were always some truly vicious characters targeted by the authorities who, due to their strength, paid no heed to the constables, forcing the government to issue bounties to attract martial artists to hunt them down. Given the sheer number of martial artists these days, there were certainly many experts to be found.

Moreover, the proliferation of martial artists was currently a headache for the imperial court. By facilitating conflict between thieves and Jianghu figures in this manner, they could somewhat mitigate the growth rate of the martial community (many poorly trained individuals each year overestimate themselves, emerge seeking to slay bandits, only to be slain by them instead).

Thus, issuing bounties and having constables frequently solicit help from martial artists to pursue brigands was, in fact, a subtle strategy by the court to maintain control over the realm.

One could not say no one saw through this tactic, but Jianghu figures could still profit from the required money and fame, so they generally paid it no mind. As for those who died? Once one enters the Jianghu, one is no longer master of their own fate; life here is lived on the edge of a blade. Losing one's life was simply attributed to insufficient skill, not blamed on others.

Based on this reality, Ye Wen wasn't afraid of failing to find suitable targets; besides, Jianghu figures had numerous other ways to earn a living.

Naturally, the specific course of action would have to be determined after assessing the situation upon reaching the foot of the mountain. After informing Ning Ruxue of his decision to leave, Ye Wen and she retired to their respective rooms. They hadn't discussed the matter in detail because it was getting late; they merely mentioned it generally before parting ways.

The next morning, after Ye Wen finished his internal energy cultivation practice via sitting meditation, he and Ning Ruxue sat down to discuss the descent in detail.

"I should go down the mountain alone this time. Junior Sister should remain here in case any unexpected incidents occur." After all, the sect gate had cost a considerable amount of money to erect anew. If both were gone and the gate was looted upon their return, it would be tragic. Furthermore, Ning Ruxue had only recently begun practicing the Carefree Heart Method and needed time to cultivate it properly; this was not the right moment for her to be running around.

Ye Wen was different. Although he had only practiced the Complete Truth Manual for half a year, his numerous advantages had accelerated his progress remarkably. The cultivation of these six months yielded better results than that of an ordinary person over a year. The steady Complete Truth Manual, combined with the effects of the Jade Bed he possessed, resulted in progress so swift it was almost unreal.

If Ma Yu or other Quanzhen experts were present, their initial reaction would not be to assume they had encountered a once-in-a-century martial genius, but rather that Ye Wen's internal arts had gone awry, prompting them to conduct a thorough physical examination immediately.

Additionally, Ye Wen wanted to descend alone to gain a more detailed understanding of this world. If Ning Ruxue were by his side, many things would be inconvenient to investigate—although he could use amnesia as an excuse for forgetting things, a person with amnesia wouldn't suddenly adopt an entirely different personality. Thus, he needed time away. If he returned after being separated from Ning Ruxue, any massive change in his demeanor would have a ready explanation.

Whether he encountered something that caused a dramatic personality shift or simply matured through experience, it would be more plausible than maintaining a drastically altered personality while constantly secluded on the mountain.

Therefore, no matter what, he was determined to descend this time, and he absolutely had to go alone.

Ning Ruxue initially disagreed with Ye Wen's decision. Although his actions over the past six months had somewhat altered her perception of her senior brother, the deeply ingrained image she held made her inherently distrust him.

Moreover, she had a solid counter-argument: "How can the Sect Master wander about while disciples are left behind to guard the mountain? Why don't Senior Brother remain here while I make a trip down. There should be many unjust bandits in the vicinity; I can eliminate evil for the people and bolster the prestige of our Shu Mountain Sect."

It appeared Ning Ruxue had the same idea as Ye Wen, but since Ye Wen had other intentions and couldn't afford to miss this opportunity, he insisted on his plan. He ultimately used the pretext that Ning Ruxue's internal energy cultivation was at a crucial juncture and could not be interrupted, demanding she stay and continue practicing.

This immediately struck a nerve. Upon hearing Ye Wen’s words, Ning Ruxue’s delicate eyebrows shot up, and her pretty face became covered in frost. Even a blind person could sense the palpable dissatisfaction radiating from her.

"Are you suggesting my internal energy cultivation is inferior to yours?"

In Ning Ruxue's view, Ye Wen using his cultivation progress to leverage her staying behind clearly implied that his own foundation was solid enough that he didn't need to focus on diligent practice anymore. Or perhaps, it meant his internal skill surpassed hers, making her incapable of handling matters outside?

Ning Ruxue felt Ye Wen was looking down on her, especially in the area of martial arts, which she took great pride in.

"If that's the case, let's spar. Whoever has the deeper internal cultivation will descend the mountain."

Without waiting for Ye Wen's reply, she immediately stood in the courtyard, casually adopting a stance, waiting for him.

Seeing Ning Ruxue behave this way, Ye Wen offered a wry, helpless smile. Although he hadn't explicitly stated that her internal arts were inferior, his preceding words had certainly hinted at such an implication.

The thing was, Ning Ruxue had always been quite strong-willed, and her martial arts had completely overshadowed the original 'Sect Master Ye.' Hearing her 'Senior Brother' now claim superiority naturally caused intense displeasure. Coupled with her decidedly difficult temper, she immediately sought a decisive contest with Ye Wen.

Ye Wen had not anticipated that a serious discussion concerning the sect's survival would lead to this sudden challenge. However, he didn't mind sparring with Ning Ruxue; in fact, a faint thought crossed his mind: 'Let this girl see that I am no longer that useless weakling.'

After all, while Ning Ruxue had shown him superficial respect recently, the condescension gleaming in her eyes had deeply annoyed his proud nature. He also welcomed the chance to teach her a lesson, letting her know who truly held authority in the sect now.

Stepping into the courtyard, Ye Wen casually swept up the hem of his robe, placed his left hand behind his back, and extended his right hand diagonally, palm open, saying, "Junior Sister, please."

Wong Fei-hung's classic stance was undeniably cool and dashing, but to Ning Ruxue, currently in a rage, it appeared excessively pretentious and filled with contempt for her. This posture looked like the opening move of some martial art, but it actually bore a striking resemblance to the casual gesture one makes inviting a guest indoors—a gesture that was merely a form of greeting even if used in combat.

For Ye Wen to adopt this as his starting stance, with no intention of altering it, naturally infuriated Ning Ruxue. She dispensed with further words, intent on teaching this obtuse Sect Master brother a lesson.

"Today, I must make him understand that I am the sole hope of the Shu Mountain Sect."

Taking a few steps forward, she retracted her right fist before striking out swiftly. Channeling the Carefree Internal Energy she had cultivated for months, a thread of inner force coursed through her meridians to her fist, making Ning Ruxue's strike faster and more violent.

The punch Ning Ruxue used was not some profound boxing technique; it was merely the common foundational striking move taught when she first joined the sect. The form itself was unremarkable, and even the move probably lacked a fancy name. If it did have a name, it would likely be something utterly plain like "Black Tiger Strikes the Heart" or "Monkey Steals the Peach." If one were to name Ning Ruxue’s current punch, the term "Directly Targeting the Heart of the Dragon" would be entirely fitting.

This punch had no embellishments; it was a simple advance and a thrusting strike aimed straight at Ye Wen's chest. However, because she channeled her internal energy, the momentum was considerable—an ordinary martial artist would struggle to withstand this blow.

Had it been the original Ye Wen from six months ago, Ning Ruxue’s punch might have ended his life. But the Ye Wen of today was no longer that waste. Setting aside the fact that Ye Wen possessed far richer combat experience than his predecessor, the gap in internal energy cultivation between them was like heaven and earth. Facing Ning Ruxue’s punch, he had countless ways to neutralize it.

Yet, he chose the most direct method: channeling all his internal strength into his right arm to forcibly parry Ning Ruxue’s punch. Simultaneously, he pushed his nearly perfected Quanzhen internal energy to its limit, intending not just to deflect her blow aside, but also to demonstrate exactly how much greater his internal cultivation was than hers.

Ning Ruxue was slightly taken aback by Ye Wen’s reaction. She had expected her senior brother to evade or counter-attack directly, forcing her to change her move. She had not anticipated Ye Wen choosing a head-on collision.

If this had been in the past, Ning Ruxue might have assumed her senior brother was deliberately bullying her because she was slight of build and weak, using brute force to overwhelm her due to her younger age. But since cultivating the Carefree Heart Method, the many subtle uses of internal energy had made her realize her strength had increased substantially. She no longer needed to fear those burly men who relied on brute strength. As long as her internal energy was deep enough, she could even engage in direct collisions with them (though, perhaps no female master, no matter how high her skill, would favor such a fighting style...).

Thus, she was no longer afraid of opponents meeting her head-on; in fact, she hoped to use this opportunity to make Ye Wen suffer a little, so he wouldn't misread the situation and inexplicably underestimate her again.

But then, something truly surprising happened to her.

The instant their arms connected, Ning Ruxue felt an unbearable surge of force through her forearm, and a portion of that force penetrated inward, nearly injuring the meridians in her arm. Had her own internal force not provided some protection, this single exchange could have crippled her arm.

However, Ning Ruxue’s internal energy was only enough to safeguard her meridians from damage; it was entirely incapable of rebounding that formidable sheer strength. Consequently, after their forearms clashed, Ning Ruxue’s punch was immediately knocked violently askew, and her body was pulled into an uncontrolled stagger.

Just as she managed to regain her balance, a pair of bare palms hovered right in front of her face. The long fingers and the faint calluses upon them might lead one to mistake them for a girl’s hands, but Ning Ruxue knew these belonged to the senior brother she had always slighted—Ye Wen used his right hand for his sword, so his left hand bore significantly fewer calluses.

In that instant, Ning Ruxue understood exactly what had transpired. If this had been a fight to the death, having her attack broken, losing control of her body, and then having her head held by an opponent's palm—she would have perished, no matter how many lives she possessed.

"I lost."

Staring blankly as Ye Wen withdrew his left palm, Ning Ruxue was still somewhat disbelieving of what had just occurred.

However, after a brief moment to collect herself, she finally pieced together the sequence of events.

"Senior Brother’s internal energy is profound. It was I, Junior Sister, who underestimated the Sect Master. I concede this match wholeheartedly."

In those two exchanges, Ye Wen first used his superior internal force to deflect the straight punch aimed at her heart. Then, using that momentum, he swept his left palm out directly at Ning Ruxue, who had already lost her center of gravity due to the jarring impact of his block. In reality, the true exchange lasted only that first impact.

And it was that single moment that most clearly revealed the disparity in their internal energy cultivation.

"If our internal energies were nearly equal, or even slightly superior to mine, I wouldn't have been sent staggering by his block. At most, my punch angle would have been deflected; it certainly wouldn't have thrown off my body’s balance."

Yet, Ye Wen’s single contact had stripped her of her balance, proving that his strength far surpassed hers. Although the strength of a blow doesn't perfectly equate to the depth of internal energy, it still provided a very objective measure.

When Ning Ruxue admitted defeat, Ye Wen smiled faintly. "Junior Sister, do not trouble yourself over it. I have been vigorously practicing internal arts these past six months, so a slightly faster rate of progress is not entirely surprising."

But looking at Ning Ruxue’s slightly dejected expression and lost gaze, it was clear she wasn't truly absorbing his words. It seemed the fact that she had lost to the Ye Wen she always looked down upon was difficult for her to accept.

Especially since she had been defeated in a single move—this felt like an absolute nightmare to her.

Seeing her like this, Ye Wen ceased speaking, allowing his cheap junior sister to process things internally. He trusted she wouldn't collapse entirely from such a minor setback. If she did, it would only prove he had overestimated her.

"I will go back, pack up, and prepare to leave for the mountain."

With that, he turned back to gather his meager belongings and change of clothes. Beyond that, he took only a small amount of silver and copper, and a long sword.

During their martial contest, Aunt Zhao had been watching nearby. Only when Ye Wen turned to retreat to his room did she approach and speak to him, "Sect Master..."

Ye Wen was unaccustomed to this address, but Aunt Zhao insisted on using it. No amount of persuasion on his part worked, so he eventually accepted the title.

"Aunt Zhao, what is it?"

Aunt Zhao rarely spoke to him; if he didn't initiate contact or ask something, they would likely never converse. Thus, if she approached him unsolicited, it must be important.

"I overheard Miss Ning this morning mentioning that the Sect Master might be heading down the mountain on business. I wonder if I could impose a small favor upon the Sect Master?" Aunt Zhao regarded Ye Wen through the lens of a landowner or master, so her voice was soft and cautious, and her back unconsciously hunched over further as she spoke.

As she spoke, Aunt Zhao produced an envelope and said, "This morning I asked Miss Ning to help me write a letter to my sister in Linshan County. If the Sect Master doesn't find it too bothersome, could you give this to Zhang Er Niu, the cart driver in the county? He can take it to my sister next time he travels to Linshan."

In this era, correspondence largely depended on being carried by others. If one couldn't find a trustworthy friend, the only other option was the official relay stations, which required copper coins. Aunt Zhao naturally lacked the extra funds. In previous years, she had relied on a neighboring cart driver who delivered goods—that same Zhang Er Niu—to send messages or letters to her sister.

"My sister married into Linshan County and used to send word every year through someone. But now the New Year is approaching, and there has been no news at all. I am quite worried. Plus, since I moved up here to Shushan, I fear she might not be able to find me, so I wished to send this letter."

"It’s a small matter. Give me the letter," Ye Wen replied. Since the request was simple and easy to fulfill, there was no reason to refuse. Moreover, Aunt Zhao had managed the laundry, cooking, and vegetable gardening for him and Ning Ruxue for half a year, doing it excellently and without complaint—the key was that she asked for no wages. Therefore, Ye Wen felt he had every reason to help with such a minor task.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" Aunt Zhao was overjoyed when Ye Wen agreed. After thanking him profusely, she made a rare suggestion: "Perhaps the Sect Master should eat before heading down the mountain?"

Just then, Ning Ruxue had largely recovered from the shock. Her large eyes once again sparkled with spirit; it seemed she was back to normal. In truth, she had come to terms with it: she had been defeated by Ye Wen once, but that defeat only proved her progress was too slow and her cultivation insufficient. She was now determined to cultivate diligently during this period, determined to catch up to Ye Wen's internal energy level.

She entered just as Aunt Zhao was repeatedly thanking Ye Wen and immediately interjected, "It's such a small thing; if he hesitates over such a minor task, what kind of Sect Master is he?"

Because over the past six months, Ning Ruxue had come to regard Aunt Zhao as one of their own in the Shu Mountain Sect. She was quite displeased that Aunt Zhao always treated her like a servant while elevating Ye Wen to such a high status.

But no matter what she said, Aunt Zhao stubbornly maintained, "Status and seniority must not be muddled; otherwise, what order remains?" Furthermore, in Aunt Zhao’s eyes, those sword-wielding martial artists were formidable figures, and the Sect Master was the strongest among the strong. How could she dare not serve him with the utmost care?

Her closeness with Ning Ruxue stemmed from the fact that Ning Ruxue was a girl, still young, and spoke to her more like a junior than an employer. Over time, she naturally grew accustomed to interacting with Ning Ruxue. Ye Wen, conversely, stayed locked in his room for days, speaking little even when they occasionally met. Aunt Zhao and Ye Wen were strangers, and with the title of Sect Master hanging over Ye Wen, this imbalance developed.

Ye Wen, immersed in cultivating his internal arts, naturally remained unaware of these subtle dynamics. He found Aunt Zhao's starkly different attitudes towards them strange but couldn't be bothered to delve into the reasons. He also felt that maintaining a certain measure of authority as the Sect Master was beneficial in some situations, so he saw no need to alter the status quo.

After a few more miscellaneous exchanges, Ning Ruxue added a final instruction: "The New Year is only about a month away. Make sure you return before then."

Hearing this, Ye Wen felt a faint current of genuine concern. It seemed that no matter how much his junior sister might look down on him, she still held some residual care for the senior brother she had grown up with.

"But she doesn't know that her senior brother truly left her long ago; the person standing here is merely an outsider inhabiting his old shell."

Putting these thoughts aside, Ye Wen nodded in acknowledgment. "I will certainly be back before the New Year. Is there anything you need me to bring back?"

Ning Ruxue pondered for a moment, finally pursing her lips, "Forget it. I don't know exactly when you'll be back, and waiting for you to buy the New Year's goods might delay quite a few things. I'll go down the mountain with Aunt Zhao in a few days to get what we need. It’s just that once this purchasing spree is over, we truly won't have any spare coin left."

Ye Wen nodded. "I understand. When I go down the mountain this time, I'll find a way to get some money first."

After saying this, Ye Wen hoisted his small bundle onto his back, gripping his longsword in his left hand, and set off down the mountain. Though Ning Ruxue didn't see him off, she kept watching his retreating figure until he was completely out of sight before finally lowering her gaze.

P.S: This is a double-feature chapter, making up for the chapter I owed from two days ago and today's first update. Also, regarding the 'Lion's Roar Blast,' my intention was for Ye Wen to realize that the items summoned by this ring aren't guaranteed to be useful. It simply dispenses a standard martial art based on the energy absorbed, without regard for whether it's actually usable.