Wen Yinyue was indeed exceptionally bright. At first, she struggled intensely, finding every movement awkward and laborious.
But after grasping a couple of moves, she quickly discerned the core characteristics of the military martial arts, completely shedding the imprint of the Canghai Sword School's techniques and immersing herself fully in the military style.
Li Muzhan conceded that he could not match such adaptability; the Eldest Senior Sister was truly the Eldest Senior Sister, a martial genius, and he felt unworthy of the instruction he received—she was the true prodigy.
Li Muzhan marveled inwardly. He taught with dedication, and Wen Yinyue learned with devotion. The two achieved a perfect synergy, and by dusk, Wen Yinyue had completely mastered the forms.
Li Muzhan clicked his tongue in admiration. For anyone else, it wouldn't have been this easy.
Li Muzhan invited her to sit in the small pavilion, where Xiaoyuan served tea, and they settled down to talk.
“Senior Sister, this Jiu Zhuan Xisui Jing (Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture) requires a period of training. The military internal energy must scour and expand the meridians before the stage is considered complete. Only then should the internal energy be dispersed to restore the Canghai Shen Gong (Canghai Divine Art),” Li Muzhan explained.
Wen Yinyue elegantly lifted her cup, took a delicate sip of the tea, and frowned thoughtfully: “Can the military internal energy truly not integrate with the Canghai Shen Gong?”
Li Muzhan nodded. “This has been an immutable rule since antiquity, one no one can break. However, since Eldest Senior Sister is a rare talent, one might attempt it, though the utility would be minimal.”
Wen Yinyue pondered for a moment, took another slow sip of tea, and nodded. “Mm, very well. The Jiu Zhuan Xisui Jing has nine revolutions in total; this is the first, is it not?”
Li Muzhan nodded. “I have only restored the first revolution. The remaining eight are excessively arduous; it seems unlikely they can be achieved.”
Wen Yinyue fixed her bright eyes on him, as if trying to penetrate the depths of his heart.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Even if the second and third revolutions existed, the others wouldn't be able to learn them. The military martial arts form their own system, conflicting with the Canghai Shen Gong. Managing to learn even the first revolution is already a stroke of luck.”
“Mm, alright then.” Wen Yinyue’s delicate lips curved into a subtle, knowing smile.
Li Muzhan managed a wry smile. The Eldest Senior Sister was too intelligent; nothing could be concealed from her. Dealing with such a woman, he thought, would frankly be quite a burden for another man.
However, his own state of mind was transcendent, unattached to material concerns, and coupled with his ability of Ta Xin Tong (Mind-Reading/Empathy), he wasn't offended by her intelligence but rather found it amusing.
Wen Yinyue deliberated a moment, then asked, “At my current pace, when can I achieve completion?”
Li Muzhan estimated. “Perhaps a month.”
“Mm, that’s reasonable.” Wen Yinyue nodded. “Be careful in the military. If you can avoid returning to Canghai Mountain, don’t come back, lest you arouse suspicion.”
Li Muzhan recounted the matter of Gao Tongcheng, to which Wen Yinyue shook her head. “While it might serve to obscure things, if someone truly intends to investigate, they will find the truth.”
Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. “Yes, that’s true. After you finish teaching everyone, come visit me in Tianlong City. I cannot return there, but you can.”
Wen Yinyue gave him a sidelong glance and snorted, “I won’t have the time!”
Li Muzhan chuckled, stroking his short beard leisurely. “When Senior Sister Mei and the others arrive in Tianlong City, I was thinking of having them set up a shop.”
“Exposing themselves to the public?” Wen Yinyue frowned.
Li Muzhan laughed. “They are idle and bored as it is; they might as well find something to do.”
Wen Yinyue said calmly, “We should ask them first. They have been training at Canghai Mountain; they are used to being secluded.”
“Mm, that works too,” Li Muzhan agreed.
They chatted idly for a while, and then Wen Yinyue rose and departed.
Li Muzhan’s two best friends had departed with Zhao Jinsheng to handle affairs down the mountain, and he hadn't seen them. He spent two days on the mountain: apart from instructing Wen Yinyue in the Jiu Zhuan Xisui Jing, he guided Gao Tongcheng through the Feng Mo Gun Fa (Frenzied Demon Staff Technique).
Gao Tongcheng had passed the first gate of the Outer Sect but failed the second. He was deeply ashamed, feeling he had betrayed his master’s teachings and had no face to show anyone.
Li Muzhan comforted him briefly, telling him not to rush, assuring him that once he entered the Inner Sect, his Grand Senior Uncle would impart the ultimate secrets of Canghai Mountain, ensuring his future success.
On the third night, while everyone else slept, Li Muzhan, accompanied by Mei Ruolan, Gong Qingyun, and Xiaoyuan, bid farewell to Abbess Zhuzhao and Wen Yinyue, and left Canghai Mountain, heading back to Tianlong City.
Three days apart, and the change was remarkable. Gong Qingyun and Xiaoyuan moved with extraordinary lightness, their speed surpassing a galloping horse. Li Muzhan chastised them mildly for it.
Protected by the Canghai Shen Gong, they remained untouched by dust. They exerted their movement techniques ceaselessly from night till morning, and morning till night, pausing only briefly to eat and drink. Though they possessed the Canghai Shen Gong and superb movement skills, maintaining such uninterrupted rapid travel was a first for them, and they were beginning to tire.
Li Muzhan pretended not to notice, walking ahead alongside Mei Ruolan. Xiaoyuan pouted, quite displeased, occasionally casting him resentful glances for his apparent harshness.
Li Muzhan retracted his Canghai Shen Gong and employed the small-dragon form’s Fei Sheng Shi (Ascension Stance), which moved with incredible speed, rivaling the Suo Di Cheng Cun (Shrinking the Ground to an Inch) technique.
The refined essence of Earth poured ceaselessly into his Yong Quan acupoint. Far from depleting his internal energy, it actually continued to grow. He pondered that in another month, he might be able to cultivate the second layer of the Jiu Zhuan Xisui Jing. If he could master the second layer, his martial power would double again, granting him true self-preservation capability.
However, the level of his Canghai Shen Gong hadn't progressed. Even doubled, it would likely remain at the sixth layer; he wouldn't break through the bottleneck to the seventh. This required an opportunity—deep internal energy was useless here. The Canghai Shen Gong was peculiar, unlike common martial arts; forcing it was futile. Enlightenment was key. Trying to incite a qualitative change through sheer quantitative effort was the wrong path. As it stood, his Canghai Shen Gong was profoundly deep, yet he saw no path to breakthrough.
Li Muzhan surmised this required a catalyst—a moment that might arrive in the next instant, or one that might never come, leaving him permanently stuck at the sixth layer. Even at the sixth layer, he was already considered top-tier, his internal energy as pure as water and his destructive power immense. Yet, he aspired to be the ultimate master under heaven. If he couldn't reach the pinnacle of techniques created by his predecessors, how could he claim to be the best?
Xiaoyuan constantly complained under her breath about the hardship but did not slacken. By the second night, they finally reached Tianlong City, secretly slipping inside and entering the Ming Residence.
Li Muzhan settled them first. The three women were overjoyed to see the waterside pavilion over the lotus pond in the rear garden, each claiming a room, buzzing with excitement. Ultimately, Mei Ruolan’s pavilion was placed in the center, Xiaoyuan’s on the west, and Gong Qingyun’s on the east. Li Muzhan was relegated to the front courtyard.
Li Muzhan first gathered the servants and introduced Mei Ruolan and the others, declaring them the mistresses of the residence from that moment forward.
Xiaoya looked at the three women with visible surprise, her bright eyes flickering. She wondered privately: weren't monks forbidden from marrying? How could there be mistresses?
Li Muzhan dismissed the servants, and the four sat talking in Mei Ruolan’s pavilion. The doors and windows were open, allowing a cool breeze to circulate. The hazy moonlight spilled down like flowing liquid silver onto the broad lotus pond, instantly clearing the mind of anyone who gazed upon it. Small yellow flowers bloomed around the pond’s edge, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance, somewhat similar to mugwort, known to repel mosquitoes.
Xiaoyuan, holding her teacup, suddenly giggled. “Zhanran, you just said we were the mistresses—did you see their eyes widen?”
Li Muzhan laughed. “With the Jinsu Ling (Prohibition of Common Customs Edict) in place, it’s no wonder they were astonished.”
Xiaoyuan pursed her lips, chuckling softly. “Then what identity should we use? Are we truly your wives?”
Gong Qingyun tugged her sleeve and shot her a glance. Xiaoyuan giggled again. “This is hilarious!”
Mei Ruolan frowned, her bright eyes flickering with confusion. After contemplating for a long moment, she suggested, “How about we pretend to be brother and sisters?”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “I told the military I was an orphan; I can’t go back on that now. So, for a time, just be my wives.”
“But what about the Edict on Customs?” Mei Ruolan asked, forcefully suppressing her shyness, feigning composure.
Li Muzhan smiled. “The Jinsu Ling was issued a few years ago. We can just say we married early, before the edict was enforced.”
“Hehe, that’s a great idea! First Madam, Second Madam, and the little maid!” Xiaoyuan trilled, pointing at Mei Ruolan, Gong Qingyun, and herself in turn.
Li Muzhan laughed heartily. “If it were truly possible, that would be magnificent.” To marry Mei Ruolan, Gong Qingyun, and Xiaoyuan all at once—that would be a beautiful thing; adding Wen Yinyue would be even better. Alas, it was merely a fantasy. Senior Sister Mei held affection for him, but not to the point of absolute necessity; Gong Qingyun loved him deeply but was unwilling to marry him; as for Xiaoyuan, she was rather indecisive—marriage would be fine, but not marrying was also acceptable.
Mei Ruolan finally couldn't contain her blush, which bloomed vividly like a flower. She shot him a glare, mock-annoyed. “Zhanran, stop being improper. This is just to deceive outsiders!”
Li Muzhan laughed. “Senior Sister Mei, we had best act convincingly, lest we betray ourselves. If anyone in the military becomes suspicious, it could cost us our lives!”
He spoke cheerfully, but the faces of the women sobered, understanding the gravity of the situation. If his true identity were discovered due to suspicion, it would lead to immediate pursuit. Being hunted by the power of an entire nation—even Nangong Side Dao wouldn't survive that.
While they joked and chatted, time slipped away unnoticed. Dawn was breaking when Li Muzhan realized the hour and urged them to sleep quickly, reminding them to wear veils when they went out to avoid startling anyone.
Li Muzhan sat on his own couch, lost in thought. It felt like a dream that Mei Ruolan and the others had actually followed him. He supposed they found it just as unbelievable. If they stopped to consider it carefully, they too would likely find it absurd. Fortunately, it was an order from the Sect Master; otherwise, if they realized the implications now, they would be mortified.
He suddenly felt the Ming Residence was transformed. With them present, the air in the entire residence was exquisitely sweet, invigorating him with vitality and spirit upon every breath.
His thoughts drifted into fantasy, and unknowingly, the sun rose. He quickly dispelled the distracting thoughts and began cultivating the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing to restore his energy; having gone without rest for a day and a night, he was somewhat weary.
For the following days, he remained within the Ming Residence, simultaneously practicing the small-dragon form and teaching the three women the Jiu Zhuan Xisui Jing. They were all intelligent and learned quickly. Li Muzhan considered giving them Gu Yuan Dan (Essence Nurturing Pills) but ultimately decided against it, fearing it would compromise the purity of their internal energy and thus affect the efficacy of the Jiu Zhuan Xisui Jing. It was better for them to cultivate slowly, step by step; there was no hurry anyway.
He stayed in the residence for five or six days. When the holiday period ended, he returned to the Inner Camp and told Old Ji directly that he planned to travel to Western Zhao to find a specific eagle, hoping to train it to counter the Black Eagle Cavalry’s mounts.
(To be continued)