Having practiced the Minor Dragon Form twice, his internal energy surged like rolling pearls, his body encased in a membrane of qi, possessing formidable power. The ground rapidly became a smooth, circular patch, a direct result of his recent practice.

His movements were peerless in might, accompanied by fierce roars, resembling a fierce tiger descending a mountain, the sheer momentum vast. Mei Ruolan and the other two women in the rear courtyard heard it and glided over the wall.

What they saw was a swirling mass of yellow mist, like a tornado; the Zaishu Shu Wang handheld device couldn't see anything else, but they knew Li Muzhan must be within the fog.

"What in the world is happening?" Xiao Yuan asked in a delicate voice.

Mei Ruolan raised her slender, onion-like finger to her lips, signaling silence, but it was too late. Glancing at Mei Ruolan, Xiao Yuan stuck out her tongue, hunched her neck, and offered an embarrassed smile.

Gong Qingyun shook her head, sighing inwardly at Xiao Yuan's rashness, fearing she might spoil things.

Li Muzhan heard the sound and slowly retracted his stance. The flying sand and scattering stones gradually settled, revealing his clean blue robes, giving him an air of unconstrained elegance, as if he were an entirely different person.

The three women, with their excellent eyesight, looked at him in astonishment. Xiao Yuan said sweetly, "Mingkong, what happened to you?"

Li Muzhan turned, saw the three women, and smiled, "You’ve arrived."

"Mingkong, what kind of skill have you mastered? It looks a bit strange!" Xiao Yuan couldn't help but ask.

The current Li Muzhan possessed an ethereal bearing, seemingly detached from worldly concerns, standing outside the mortal realm, unbound by the Five Elements—truly possessing the temperament of a grand monk.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuan felt a pang of anxiety. What if he genuinely chose the monastic life and refused to return to secularity? What would they do then!

Li Muzhan chuckled, "I have mastered the Minor Dragon Form."

"That Minor Dragon Form isn't anything special; how could it cause such a huge transformation?" Xiao Yuan asked, tilting her head.

Possessing the Canghai Divine Art, she couldn't practice the Minor Dragon Form. Watching Li Muzhan practice, she had always found it simple and lacking in true subtlety, looking down upon it. However, witnessing Li Muzhan’s current state, she realized she had gravely underestimated the Minor Dragon Form; how could an ordinary martial art transform a person like this?

Li Muzhan smiled, "The Minor Dragon Form is indeed profound, but unfortunately, I cannot pass it on to you."

His transformation stemmed from two factors: first, his overflowing qi was now completely internalized, returning to simplicity; second, the increase in his Xin Zhu (Heart Pearl) refined his temperament even further, aligning it more closely with his heart—he possessed a detached heart, and thus his demeanor became increasingly unrestrained.

Xiao Yuan pouted, huffing, "I won't learn it unless it means abandoning the Canghai Divine Art!" She had always resented Li Muzhan for subjecting himself to such hardship, abandoning his painstakingly cultivated Canghai Divine Art only to restart his training, falling far behind others and facing the arduous climb back up.

Mei Ruolan studied him, remaining silent, feeling a strange wonder. Standing before him was like standing before the vast ocean: outwardly calm and showing no power, yet subtly instilling a sense of dread, as if she could be swallowed whole at any moment. Though she had sensed his strength before, it wasn't like this—now, hidden, it was far more terrifying. Clearly, his two months in seclusion had brought about a massive leap in his cultivation.

As evening fell, he and the three women left the Ming Residence and headed to Changping Tower to celebrate his emergence from seclusion with a lavish meal, making up for the hardships of the past two months.

Xiao Yuan insisted on inviting the Thirteenth Lady, but unfortunately, she was absent, having already left.

The four arrived at Changping Tower and secured a private room facing a window, allowing them a view of the main street outside, where the lights were beginning to twinkle amidst the bustle of prosperity.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Ruolan, how have you all been these past two months?"

Mei Ruolan nodded, offering a faint smile, "We've been well enough, staying within the residence, practicing, and playing the qin. It has been quiet."

"If you feel bored, you should find something to occupy yourselves," Li Muzhan advised. He felt relieved that Miss Mei seemed to have let go of her anger; her demeanor was natural, intimate yet maintaining a proper distance, just like before, as if nothing untoward had occurred. Amidst his relief, a touch of melancholy surfaced: perhaps she hadn't truly held him in her heart, hadn't developed feelings, making him lack the charm to truly captivate her?

He immediately shook his head, smiling inwardly. His Xintong (Mind Sight) was clearer now; he could sense the emotions Mei Ruolan was suppressing. Her rationality was strong, allowing her to conceal any feelings perfectly. Moreover, her inherent pride meant she would never easily yield or surrender to a man. Such thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Hearing him, Xiao Yuan quickly asked, "Find something to do? ... There’s nothing to do! Could it be we should start a family enterprise?"

Li Muzhan laughed, "We could open a shop, how about that?"

"Open a shop?" Xiao Yuan tilted her head in thought, then turned to Mei Ruolan and Gong Qingyun, "Miss, Sister Gong, what kind of shop should we open?"

Li Muzhan suggested, "What kind of shop would you like to open? Preferably something like cosmetics and powders, catering only to women."

Xiao Yuan let out a crisp, delicate laugh, "Oh, Mingkong, are you afraid we might interact with men? Are you jealous?"

Li Muzhan chuckled, "Precisely!"

"Then alright, let’s open a perfumery shop, shall we, Miss, Sister Gong?" Xiao Yuan asked.

The two women nodded in agreement.

Xiao Yuan excitedly declared, "I'll be the manager! Selling rouge and powder is my specialty!"

Mei Ruolan smiled, "Xiao Yuan is skilled at selling rouge? I never knew."

Xiao Yuan quickly explained, "Miss, you don't use rouge, but everyone else loves it! I’ve helped out with selections before and seen quite a lot."

Mei Ruolan nodded and smiled, "I see."

Gong Qingyun remarked, "A cosmetics business is a good venture, and it will keep things peaceful."

The three murmured amongst themselves while Li Muzhan pondered, slowly saying, "Our foundation in Tianlong City is too shallow. How about this: let's bring Miss Fan into this."

"That Miss Fan?" Xiao Yuan asked, surprised, then added with a smile, "She seems quite familiar with you, Mingkong."

Li Muzhan sipped his tea, smiling faintly, "Indeed, my acquaintance with her is not slight."

"Doesn't that Miss Fan like that fellow surnamed Feng!" Xiao Yuan pursed her lips, looking triumphantly at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan smiled, unconcerned, "Is that so?"

Possessing the Ta Xin Tong (Mind Reading), he naturally understood Fan Peiyao's feelings. While there were some romantic sentiments, they were not strong, faint like a wisp of smoke. The human heart is the most complex and unpredictable thing; defining the presence or absence of feeling is difficult. He felt no romantic attachment to Fan Peiyao, only friendship. They were kindred spirits, like confidantes; he valued this connection even more than romance, treasuring it deeply. Although he couldn't discern her feelings for him, he could see clearly that she did not like Feng Baishan; her warmth was merely courtesy, perhaps necessitated by their familial ties.

"Forget it, let's not mention that Feng fellow again," Mei Ruolan frowned slightly. She glanced at Li Muzhan, perpetually worried he might resort to murder. Killing an important figure from the Lei Jian Peak would invite enormous trouble, especially since he was currently alone and vulnerable.

Xiao Yuan stuck out her tongue, vaguely grasping Mei Ruolan's concern. Gong Qingyun said softly, "Mingkong, don't do anything foolish; it's just a clash of pride, not worth mentioning."

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. He sent a psychic probe toward the location of his two eagles; they were circling the sky. This suggested that Feng Baishan was actually in Tianlong City. He paused, suddenly sensing his surroundings, and immediately frowned. Opening his eyes, he said gently, "Xiao Yuan, go to the third room next door, see if Miss Fan is there."

Xiao Yuan laughed, "What are the odds?" Saying so, she rose, opened the door, and went out. A moment later, she rushed back, giggling, "It really is her! Miss Fan is there!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Fan Peiyao appeared behind her, dressed in a green gown, looking heroic and spirited, yet retaining a delicate beauty. She performed a slight bow and smiled, "Master Monk, Miss Mei, Miss Gong, we meet again."

Li Muzhan smiled, "What a coincidence!... Is Brother Feng here too?"

Feng Baishan appeared from behind Fan Peiyao, clad in white, every inch of him spotless. He cupped his fists and smiled, "Master Mingkong, we meet again!" He bowed again, "Miss Mei, Miss Gong, a pleasure!" His eyes were sharp, his gaze almost tangible, highly aggressive and presumptuous.

Mei Ruolan's delicate brows furrowed. She sighed inwardly; this man was courting death. After the last incident, Zhan Ran had harbored murderous intent, and only her persistent dissuasion had stopped him from striking secretly. The Lei Jian Peak sect was not to be trifled with; even a surprise attack might be detected by experts like them, leading to a storm of brutal retaliation.

Such retaliation would strain even the Canghai Mountain sect, let alone Zhan Ran alone; thus, killing Feng Baishan would be tantamount to suicide. She understood this logic, and Zhan Ran, with his wisdom, understood it too, which was why he had restrained himself. But now, it seemed Feng Baishan was truly insufferable, acting with impunity, inviting his own doom. She shook her head and sighed, glancing at Li Muzhan, secretly worried.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Why is Young Master Feng still here? Is there some important matter?"

Feng Baishan turned and smiled, "I plan to propose marriage to Peiyao."

Li Muzhan’s expression shifted slightly, then he smiled, "Young Master Feng, please do not joke."

"This matter cannot be joked about!" Feng Baishan shook his head solemnly, turning to look at Fan Peiyao, his eyes gentle and filled with deep affection, "I cannot help myself. I have already sent word to my Master; he will arrive here in the next two days to formally request your hand from Old Master Fan."

Fan Peiyao frowned slightly, "Elder Brother Feng..." Seeing her expression, Feng Baishan quickly added, "Sister Peiyao, I wanted to tell you after my Master arrived."

Fan Peiyao shook her head, "Elder Brother Feng, I will not agree. You should not have your Master come."

"My Master has already set off; he will be here tomorrow," Feng Baishan pressed.

Fan Peiyao's expression grew somewhat unpleasant. She looked deeply at Feng Baishan, "Elder Brother Feng, why must you do this? ... Why put yourself through this trouble?"

Feng Baishan forced a smile, "Sister Peiyao, my affection for you is genuine!"

Fan Peiyao shook her head, "I do not wish to marry right now, Elder Brother Feng; you must give up."

Feng Baishan pressed on, "Sister Peiyao, what have I done wrong?... Or am I somehow not good enough for you?"

Fan Peiyao glanced at Li Muzhan and shook her head.