Having released the Great Bright King Sutra and executed the Heaven-Viewing Divine Illumination Technique, he departed at dawn, taking in his surroundings: the crisp birdsong, the fresh air, and the drifting scent of grass and trees.
With senses sharper than any ordinary man, his perception of the world profoundly acute, he savored the morning atmosphere, a wave of emotion rising within him—the beauty of nature was unparalleled.
He stood at the very tip of a branch, the gentle breeze swaying the treetop, causing him to sway in rhythm, rising and falling.
After a moment of thought, he suddenly flickered, appearing thirty yards away, then quickly returned to the inner camp. He then requested leave from Elder Ji, wishing to make a trip back.
Elder Ji, feeling guilty for being unable to assist, readily granted permission.
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Beneath the colossal jade statue in the Boundless Hall of Canghai Mountain, Abbess Zhuzhao and Wen Yinyue sat motionless on their prayer cushions, eyes closed, breathing shallowly, the great hall so silent one could hear a pin drop, save for the faintest sound of their exhalations.
Abbess Zhuzhao wore a robe the color of moonlight, utterly immaculate, as pure and majestic as snow and ice. Wen Yinyue was clad in a light green silk gown, her skin luminous white, appearing like a statue carved from jade.
A sound of light footsteps suddenly broke the silence, stopping outside the hall doors.
“What is it?” Wen Yinyue spoke without opening her eyes.
“Senior Sister, Plum Sister, Palace Sister, and Little Yuan Sister have returned and are waiting below to pay respects to the Abbess,” a clear voice drifted in from outside.
Wen Yinyue opened her bright eyes, like autumn water spilling forth. Abbess Zhuzhao also opened hers and gave a slight nod.
“Let them enter,” Wen Yinyue instructed.
“Yes.” The light footsteps retreated. “We pay our respects to the Abbess!” In a moment, the curtain shifted, and the three entered the hall, bowing low—it was indeed Mei Ruolan and the other two.
“Rise,” Abbess Zhuzhao said, raising a hand with a gentle smile.
The three gracefully stood and moved toward the cushions opposite, looking toward Abbess Zhuzhao.
“Why have you returned?” Abbess Zhuzhao observed the three, letting out a silent breath of relief. Thankfully, that boy hadn't done anything foolish. Surrounded by three such stunning beauties, any other man would have lost control; this boy was truly worthy of his profound Buddhist learning and deep self-control.
Mei Ruolan reported, “Abbess, Junior Brother Zhanran has encountered trouble. To avoid implicating him, we returned to the mountain first.”
“Oh?” Abbess Zhuzhao’s delicate eyebrows arched. Far from being tense, she smiled broadly. “What trouble has that rascal gotten into?”
Mei Ruolan explained, “Junior Brother killed Feng Baishan of Thunder Sword Peak, drawing the pursuit of the Thunder Sword Peak Master. He has hidden himself in the military camp… so we came back.”
“Thunder Sword Peak?” Abbess Zhuzhao’s expression shifted.
Mei Ruolan confirmed, “It is Thunder Sword Peak from Xizhao.”
“Abbess, how dare people from the Xizhao martial world act so presumptuously within our Dayan territory? Isn't anyone going to manage them?!” Little Yuan asked with clear displeasure.
Abbess Zhuzhao stared blankly into the distance, her bright eyes unfocused as she gazed out the window.
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Seeing her reaction, the three women fell silent, waiting for her reverie to pass.
After a long moment, Abbess Zhuzhao sighed softly, “Is it truly Thunder Sword Peak?”
“Yes,” Little Yuan replied, looking at her curiously.
Mei Ruolan reassured her, “Abbess, rest assured. Zhanran is hiding in the military camp. No matter how powerful Thunder Sword Peak is, they wouldn't dare cause trouble in the Divine Might Camp. He is safe.”
Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head, her willow-leaf eyebrows tightly knitted. “That’s not it! Li Tianlei is a man full of schemes; I fear Zhanran might not be a match for him…”
Little Yuan, unwilling to listen further, interrupted immediately with a sweet voice, “Abbess, you overestimate our worries about Zhanran! Who in this world is smarter than he is?”
Abbess Zhuzhao shot her a sidelong glance. “Little girl, you certainly have confidence!”
Little Yuan insisted, “Abbess, I’ve been following Zhanran closely… I know best how formidable he is—nothing can escape his grasp!” Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head with a smile. “Zhanran is sensible; surely he won’t confront Li Tianlei?”
“Logically, he shouldn’t…” Mei Ruolan hesitated.
Abbess Zhuzhao noticed her pause. “What? Is there still an issue?”
Mei Ruolan pondered for a moment. “Abbess, this matter also involves Miss Fan… If the people from Thunder Sword Peak resort to dishonorable tactics and threaten Miss Fan, Zhanran will leave the military camp… Though he is calculating, he is fundamentally a man of deep feeling.”
Abbess Zhuzhao nodded. “Ah, you understand Zhanran well. This little monk is a romantic at heart… Is that Miss Fan exceptionally beautiful?”
Mei Ruolan nodded. Little Yuan laughed, “As beautiful as a blooming flower!”
Abbess Zhuzhao sighed and shook her head. “Then it’s settled. That rascal is bound to make a move… Yinyue, you should make a trip.”
“Yes,” Wen Yinyue replied calmly.
She rose from her cushion, ready to depart immediately.
“Wait,” Abbess Zhuzhao waved a hand. “Yinyue, remember this: if you must engage with Li Tianlei, only intervene from the shadows to give Zhanran a hand… In the past, if he couldn't win, he could still run, but now that his martial arts are crippled, practicing the military arts is far inferior to before.”
Mei Ruolan interjected, “Abbess, Junior Brother Zhanran’s skill has advanced greatly, nearly reaching his former peak, perhaps even surpassing it. Senior Sister need not go.”
“Oh?” Abbess Zhuzhao smiled. “The boy hasn't been lazy after all. How far has he reached?”
“It seems the Canghai Divine Art has reached the Seventh Level,” Mei Ruolan stated.
“Good boy, not bad!” Abbess Zhuzhao’s face immediately lit up with joy. She clapped her knee. “Reaching the Seventh Level of the Canghai Divine Art—he is the first person ever!”
“Didn't Senior Sister also achieve that?” Little Yuan asked curiously.
Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head. “Yinyue doesn't count; she achieved it through a clever shortcut using the Marvelous Lotus Scripture.”
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Abbess Zhuzhao thought for a moment. “Yinyue, you should still go and check on things… Just don't let Zhanran escalate the matter too much.”
Wen Yinyue looked at her, puzzled, and did not move.
Abbess Zhuzhao explained, “Zhanran has mastered the Seventh Level now; he has more than enough power for self-preservation. He also has the Great Bright King Sutra, making it easy for him to kill if he wished… Just prevent him from killing anyone.”
“…Understood.” Wen Yinyue nodded and turned to leave. Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside. “Abbess, Junior Brother Zhanran is back!”
Abbess Zhuzhao startled, as did the other women.
Mei Ruolan silently calculated: they had not delayed on their journey and had used their lightest movements to rush back. How could he have caught up so quickly?
Abbess Zhuzhao smiled. “Call him in!”
“Yes.” The footsteps faded away.
Soon, amid a burst of laughter, Li Muchan lifted the curtain and entered. He wore a moon-white monk’s robe, exuding an ethereal aura, the bearing of a lofty monk. After entering, he clasped his hands in greeting: “Master!”
He also greeted the assembled women. Little Yuan couldn't help but exclaim, “Mingkong, Zhanran… how did you get back so quickly?” Then she clapped her hands, giggling sweetly, “Aha! Hiding up on the mountain is even better than being in the military camp, isn’t it? Did you ask for leave again?” She knew that Li Muchan could get leave incredibly easily; for the past two or three months, he had mostly been on leave staying at the manor, making his military service almost meaningless.
Li Muchan smiled. “Mhm.”
Abbess Zhuzhao observed him, smiling without speaking.
Li Muchan chuckled. “Master, why are you looking at me like that? Did a flower bloom on my face?”
“Stop being conceited!” Abbess Zhuzhao waved her hand, laughing. “I didn't expect you, you rascal, to make such swift progress… Yinyue, you need to work harder! If you’re not careful, this brat will step all over you!” Wen Yinyue glanced at Li Muchan and offered a faint smile.
Abbess Zhuzhao waved dismissively. “Alright, you all go attend to your duties. I need a few words with the rascal!”
The women withdrew one by one, leaving behind a lingering, delicate fragrance, exiting the Boundless Hall.
Only the two remained in the hall, which suddenly felt vast and empty. Li Muchan tilted his head back, gazing at the immense jade statue, contemplating the techniques of the Canghai Divine Finger. He felt he was faintly grasping the essence of the Canghai Divine Finger. The technique emanating from the jade statue shared the same core principle as the method he used, but the difference in internal energy levels created a chasm in their power. Although it was a conjecture, his intuition told him it was likely correct.
Abbess Zhuzhao let her smile drop, her beautiful face growing solemn. “Zhanran, did you kill Li Tianlei?” Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her nervousness.
Li Muchan nodded, then immediately shook his head. This startled the Abbess, causing her face to pale slightly, followed by anger. “Rascal, speak clearly!”
Li Muchan replied with a smile, “I used the Great Bright King Sutra; I intended to kill him.”
Abbess Zhuzhao’s expression changed drastically, and she quickly asked, “And in the end?” She knew the sheer might of the Great Bright King Sutra. The last time Li Muchan used it, he had thrown Canghai Mountain into chaos. Now that his Canghai Divine Art was at the Seventh Level—a feat unmatched by any previous disciple of the Canghai Sword Sect—the power unleashed by the Great Bright King Sutra would be terrifying. Li Tianlei’s martial arts, though formidable, were only on par with her own. Zhanran, wielding the Great Bright King Sutra, could kill him as easily as taking something from his pocket.
“In the end, I spared his life!” Li Muchan said with a smile.
The tension in Abbess Zhuzhao’s body eased, and she let out a long breath, only to become instantly furious. She reached out and slapped his shoulder.
Li Muchan rubbed his shoulder, forcing a bitter smile. “Master, I spared his life; shouldn't you be thanking me properly?”
“Hmm?” Abbess Zhuzhao raised a delicate eyebrow.
Li Muchan smiled. “Master, what is your relationship with this Li Tianlei?” He explained, “I announced my sect when I was about to kill him, and I noticed his strange reaction.”
“He didn’t say anything?” Abbess Zhuzhao glanced at him sideways.
Li Muchan shook his head, smiling. “I saw his expression was complex, sensing some hidden history. I feared I might have killed the wrong person and caused you grief, so I held back.”
“Hmph, no relationship whatsoever!” Abbess Zhuzhao shot him a glare.
Li Muchan laughed. “That’s good; I’m relieved. I’ll go kill him then!” He shot up and started moving toward the exit.
Abbess Zhuzhao stepped forward, grasped his ear, and scolded him playfully, “You insolent brat, playing games with me! See if I don't teach you a lesson!”
Li Muchan quickly begged for mercy. The Abbess was so vexed by his evasiveness that her teeth itched, and she struck him quite hard. Li Muchan replied with a cheerful, ingratiating voice, flattering and sweet-talking her, deploying every tactic imaginable, completely abandoning the demeanor of a supreme expert.
Eventually, Abbess Zhuzhao feared she might actually hurt him and let go, shooting him a few hard glares. After this bout of roughhousing, the Abbess’s lovely face was flushed, captivatingly charming, exquisitely beautiful, and incredibly alluring.
Li Muchan, feeling only filial affection, noticed nothing unusual, only that she was captivating. He smiled. “Master, tell me about him. Is this Li Tianlei not quite…?” As he spoke, he chuckled a few times, somewhat suggestive.
Abbess Zhuzhao slapped him again. “What nonsense are you thinking!” she retorted. “He is my younger brother!”
“Brother?” Li Muchan feigned shock.
Abbess Zhuzhao gave him a look. “Yes, my own flesh and blood brother!”
Li Muchan asked, “Why is he in Xizhao? And why is he the Master of Thunder Sword Peak?” This time, he was genuinely perplexed and wanted to know. One was the master of a renowned sect in Dayan; the other was the master of a renowned sect in Xizhao. These siblings were quite formidable. There had to be a bizarre and twisting story behind this, and he was immensely curious, which was why he had rushed back to Canghai Mountain to inquire with Abbess Zhuzhao.
“Alas… this story is long,” Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head, settling back onto her prayer cushion, smoothing her moon-white robe, and sighing. “I was originally from an official family. My father was upright but was dismissed from his post early on. When we returned home, we encountered bandits… My brother was abducted, while my parents and I managed to survive.”
“So, you were separated?” Li Muchan inquired.
“Yes,” Abbess Zhuzhao nodded, sighing. “I later took refuge at Canghai Mountain and never stopped searching for my brother. Whenever I had the chance to leave the mountain, I sought trouble with the bandits, killing many of them, accumulating a fierce aura, and earning a notorious reputation. Still, I never found my brother… In anger, I decided to renounce the world and atone for all that bloodshed.”
Li Muchan looked at her—so charming and beautiful, like a young married woman—hardly resembling a harbinger of death.
Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head and sighed. “Later, I inherited my Master’s mantle and took charge of Canghai Mountain. I sent people to search, and finally, there was a lead: he had already become a disciple of Thunder Sword Peak and was famous in the Xizhao martial world.”
Li Muchan asked, “Why didn't you bring him back?”
Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head. “He refused to return… His Master showed him immense kindness, a debt he felt he could never repay. He had already become part of Thunder Sword Peak; there was no turning back.” She smiled bitterly. “By the time he became the Master of Thunder Sword Peak, returning was even more impossible… My brother and I could not acknowledge each other.”
Li Muchan mused, “Indeed, we could not acknowledge each other.” He paused, then asked, “Have you seen him again since then?”
“Since we cannot acknowledge each other, what is the use of meeting?” Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head, sighing. “It is better to simply assume he died thirty years ago.”
“It’s fortunate I didn’t kill him,” Li Muchan laughed. “Otherwise, if I had killed the Abbess’s brother, the sin would have been immense!”
Abbess Zhuzhao turned serious. “If you can avoid killing, then avoid it. That is what I have learned from personal experience!”
“Yes, your disciple understands,” Li Muchan nodded solemnly.
Abbess Zhuzhao waved her hand. “Alright, go back and rest… Do not let others know about this matter; it could invite trouble.”
“Your disciple knows that,” Li Muchan replied with a sly grin.
Abbess Zhuzhao shot him a look. “You insolent brat, your skills have grown immensely. Hurry up and get out of here!”