The woman in white sighed softly, "Jinglan, so many years have passed. It's time to let go.

Come back with your master." Zhang Jinglan replied coolly, "This disciple cannot forget." The woman in white, with eyebrows like distant mountains, furrowed them slightly. "Jinglan, do you truly hate your master this much?" Zhang Jinglan remained silent, gazing into the distance, her face icy.

The woman in white stared at her, then sighed again after a long pause, pacing a few steps to stand before Zhang Jinglan. Lan Meier’s long phoenix eyes did not blink.

The woman in white approached Zhang Jinglan and lamented, "You have betrayed the Heavenly Demon Sect and refuse to repent. I have no choice but to cleanse the lineage!" Zhang Jinglan offered a faint, cold, and mocking smile, turning her head away, ignoring her.

The woman in white slowly raised her hand, her snow-white palm gliding towards Zhang Jinglan’s Baihui point. The phoenix eyes above her white veil shimmered, fixed intently on Zhang Jinglan.

Zhang Jinglan closed her eyes, offering no resistance, awaiting her fate. Lan Meier’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.

She never imagined that the Eldest Senior Sister would not fight back; she had expected a confrontation between the Senior Sister and their Master. "Go..." The woman in white sighed, "Rest assured, I will not harm that person!" Her jade palm suddenly accelerated, aiming for Zhang Jinglan's crown, barely missing.

"Swish!" A light whistle abruptly sounded, and a force of finger energy pierced the air, striking directly at Lan Meier. The woman in white flicked her sleeve, dispersing the finger energy.

A grey shadow flashed before her eyes, and a monk in grey robes appeared. His appearance was ordinary, his build average, only his eyes were clear and profound.

Li Muzhan suddenly materialized beside Zhang Jinglan, wrapping an arm around her slender waist. With a flash, they vanished from the spot, reappearing several dozen zhang away.

The woman in white snorted and flashed after them, appearing behind Li Muzhan, her jade palm aimed at his heart. Li Muzhan’s movement did not cease; his left hand held Zhang Jinglan, while his right struck back at his pursuer, colliding with the jade palm.

With a dull thud of "Bang," his speed surged dramatically, like a meteor streaking into the distance. He spat a jet of blood into the air, eliciting a soft cry from Zhang Jinglan.

The scenery rushed past him in reverse. Li Muzhan’s robes billowed wildly.

He turned and smiled, "It's nothing. Your master’s palm strike is indeed formidable!" Blood stained the corner of his mouth, yet his expression remained calm and unconcerned.

This strike felt like a giant hammer hitting his heart, shaking his entire internal system, only narrowly blocked by his protective membrane. Zhang Jinglan frowned, "Master Monk, why did you come to save me?" Li Muzhan laughed, "I was uneasy, and indeed, I came at the right time...

Here she comes again." The woman in white abruptly appeared before them, perched atop a tall pine tree, watching them approach with a gentle smile. A gust of wind blew, causing her white veil to flutter, making her seem ethereal, like an immortal.

Li Muzhan was startled by her lightness skill; she was truly worthy of being Zhang Jinglan's master. ………………………………，……………… The woman in white lightly brushed a strand of dark silk hair from her temples, her graceful brows slightly knit.

"You are Jinglan's man?" Her gaze fell upon Li Muzhan’s shaven head. She hadn't expected her senior disciple to choose a monk.

Hmph, "Jinglan, your taste is truly peculiar." Zhang Jinglan's delicate face flushed red, and she remained silent. Earlier, when Li Muzhan was absent, they had discussed sweethearts, and she hadn't minded.

Now that Li Muzhan was present, she felt a wave of shyness and dared not look at him. Li Muzhan held Zhang Jinglan and smiled faintly, "May I ask the esteemed senior's name?" "Whether you know my name or not is the same," the woman in white replied, her eyes flowing with charm, speaking lightly.

"Since you came to save her, I shall fulfill your wishes and make you a pair of devoted, inseparable mandarin ducks!" She flashed, suddenly appearing before Li Muzhan, her jade palm already aimed at his chest, its speed surpassing human sight, as if traversing space. Li Muzhan flashed, vanishing from the spot, dodging the jade palm.

The woman in white followed instantly, reappearing before Li Muzhan, pressing her palm down. Li Muzhan flashed again, disappearing from the spot, narrowly avoiding it once more.

The two flickered in and out of existence on the pine treetop. At first glance, the woman in white seemed glued to Li Muzhan's front, never leaving, her jade palm hovering mere inches from his chest, constantly threatening a strike.

If Li Muzhan had not ignited his inner power, he absolutely could not have evaded her jade palm; even now, evading was strenuous. In desperation, he pressed his thumb.

"Chiii—" Amidst a sharp whistle, a thick beam of finger energy shot forth, attacking the woman in white. They were only two meters apart, and the finger energy was incredibly fast.

The woman in white swept her silk sleeve, and the finger energy instantly dissipated into nothingness, like raindrops sinking into a lake. Li Muzhan’s heart turned cold.

This woman in white truly possessed transcendent martial arts; he was far inferior. Without his Randeng Shu (Lamp Burning Art), he would have been defeated immediately.

It was too late to employ the Damingwang Jing (Great Bright King Sutra) now. Helpless, he gritted his teeth and whispered, "You go first." As his words fell, Zhang Jinglan was already flying away, propelled by immense force, swift as a meteor, streaking past dozens of zhang and vanishing beyond the small valley.

"Hmph!" The woman in white sneered but did not rush to pursue. She flicked her sleeve towards Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan felt a colossal force surge towards him, like a tidal wave crashing down. He was involuntarily forced backward, unable to resist, drifting a full dozen zhang before landing heavily on the clearing.

Lan Meier stood watching with wide eyes, startled as Li Muzhan landed near her. Li Muzhan’s blood churned, but his internal energy circulated several times faster than an ordinary person’s.

In an instant, his Zhoutian (Circulation) completed several cycles, allowing him to regulate his internal power. As soon as he landed, he raised both hands.

With crisp "Chih-Chih" sounds, his right hand pointed five fingers toward the woman in white, while his left index finger aimed at Lan Meier. Lan Meier let out a soft moan and collapsed limply.

"You!" The woman in white’s graceful brows shot up, a chilling killing intent condensing on her brow. She flashed to Lan Meier's side, catching her just before she hit the ground.

Lan Meier murmured, "Master knows..." The woman in white took her pulse, assessing her injury. Li Muzhan seized the opportunity to flash away, reappearing dozens of zhang distant, and with another flash, he vanished into the forest.

The woman in white sneered. With a flash, she returned to where Lan Meier lay on the ground.

Lan Meier could only stare into the distance, grinding her teeth in hatred, wishing she could tear Li Muzhan apart and drink his blood. Li Muzhan urged his Randeng inner power, moving like lightning.

He secretly cursed in his heart; he hadn't expected this woman in white to be so formidable. It seemed he might meet his end here today.

He suddenly threw his head back and let out a long, piercing cry that soared to the heavens, echoing across the entire Jade Dragon Mountain. "Damn it!" The woman in white flashed, appearing before him.

The killing intent in her graceful brows was even stronger, a chilling murderous aura flashing in her eyes, all gentleness gone. "Bang!" With a bright flash, Li Muzhan was sent flying.

He hadn't seen the woman in white strike, yet a sudden pain flared in his chest for no discernible reason. "Pfft!" He spat a jet of blood mid-air.

Zhang Jinglan flew close to the treetop, leaping up to catch him. They landed on the treetop.

Zhang Jinglan held his waist, attempting to support him, but he pushed her away. Li Muzhan shuddered and spat out another arc of blood, staining Zhang Jinglan’s chest crimson.

He smiled wryly and shook his head, "Jinglan, you..." Zhang Jinglan frowned, "How bad is the injury?" She reached out, pressing his wrist, and found no obvious abnormality, looking at Li Muzhan with surprise. Li Muzhan laughed, "I have tough skin and thick flesh; I can take a beating.

It's nothing... You left.

I could have fled, so why did you come back?" Zhang Jinglan glanced up at the woman in white and sighed softly, "You are no match for Master. You cannot escape.

You should leave first." The woman in white watched the two with a gentle smile, her eyes flowing like water, standing with her hands clasped behind her back, completely at ease. She shook her head and sighed tenderly, "Jinglan, your taste has worsened.

With such inferior martial arts, how could he catch your eye?" Zhang Jinglan gave her a cold look but did not reply, whispering, "You leave first; I will keep Master occupied!" Li Muzhan gave a wry smile, "Shall we face her together?" Zhang Jinglan shook her head, "It’s useless. We can't defeat Master.

Her lightness skill is too strong." "You leave first. I have my own way to escape," Li Muzhan whispered.

Zhang Jinglan insisted, "You cannot stop Master... I also have a way to get away, don't worry!" Li Muzhan smiled.

He understood that if he allowed Zhang Jinglan to stay, she would likely fight desperately, as she had lost the will to live and held no intention of resisting the woman in white. The woman in white spoke gently, "Have you two decided?

Who leaves first, and who stays behind?" Zhang Jinglan said, "Master, the people from Shangqing Guan will arrive soon." The woman in white chuckled lightly, "Those long-nosed monks from Shangqing Guan—the fewer there are, the better." Though she spoke with a smile, her eyes held a killing intent, her voice icy, radiating a chilling malice. Li Muzhan frowned slightly.

He hoped they weren't just ordinary disciples coming, otherwise, if she truly killed them, it would be his fault. "Go," he tugged Zhang Jinglan, flashing away instantly, appearing dozens of zhang distant.

The woman in white chuckled lightly and reappeared, catching up directly, her jade palm striking towards Li Muzhan’s back. Li Muzhan did not dodge but raised his hand to press out his fingers.

"Chih-chih-chih..." Several streams of finger energy sealed off the woman in white’s surroundings. The woman in white swept her silk sleeve, dissipating the finger energy, and her jade palm struck Li Muzhan’s back.

Li Muzhan threw his head back, spitting a jet of blood, his speed increasing. The woman in white chuckled lightly, "The same trick again!" She flashed, appearing before Li Muzhan, and thrust her palm out, making it look as if Li Muzhan were delivering himself into her hands.

Li Muzhan flipped his right palm, spun it, and pushed out violently, colliding squarely with the woman in white. "Eh!" The woman in white swayed slightly and retreated several meters, actually knocked back by this single palm strike from Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan’s forward momentum was unimpeded. He streaked through the air like a meteor, already leaving the valley.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his flushed face slowly returning to normal. He had mastered the control of kinetic force, channeling the force from the blow to his back directly into his right palm, adding it to his original internal energy to create an immensely powerful strike.

This palm strike had sent the woman in white flying. His arm and right palm tingled faintly, like a ball stretched to its limit.

The collision of their internal forces was a severe test for the toughness of their meridians. This was thanks to the Jingang Buhuai Shengong (Vajra Indestructible Divine Art) he practiced; most of the impact of that palm was blocked by the membrane, and his muscles and sinews were far stronger than ordinary people’s, allowing him to exert such force.

Otherwise, it would have been inflicting a thousand injuries on the enemy while sustaining eight hundred on himself. "Little monk, you do have some tricks up your sleeve!" The woman in white laughed coyly, instantly reappearing and striking towards Li Muzhan’s back.

Li Muzhan flashed away to avoid it, then suddenly accelerated again—it was Zhang Jinglan transferring her internal energy to him, bolstering his reserves, causing his speed to increase even further under combustion. "Interesting!" The woman in white chuckled, flashed, and blocked his path.

Li Muzhan did not hesitate and threw a punch. With a muffled "Bang," it met her jade palm.

Li Muzhan flew backward, spitting another jet of blood in the air, and forcefully shoved Zhang Jinglan to the left, shouting, "Hurry and go!" Zhang Jinglan shot out, her speed incredible. Li Muzhan had converted the force from the last exchange into a propulsive thrust!

Zhang Jinglan's speed surpassed that of an arrow. Zhang Jinglan glanced back at him in the air, sighed softly, nodded, accelerated again, and vanished into a dense grove of green pines in an instant.

The woman in white drifted over, glancing at the forest where Zhang Jinglan disappeared, then smiled faintly and approached Li Muzhan. "He truly is a man with deep affections." Li Muzhan wiped the corner of his mouth, wiping away the bloodstains, and said calmly, "Senior's martial arts are unparalleled; I admire them." The woman in white laughed, "Whether you admire me or not has nothing to do with me!

Little monk, do you have anything else to say? I can relay it to Jinglan before she leaves." Li Muzhan smiled, "What this humble monk wishes to know most is the esteemed senior's full name." "Telling you is no trouble," the woman in white laughed.

"I am Shangguan Hong, Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect." Li Muzhan inquired, "Senior Shangguan, may I ask what deed caused Jinglan to rebel against the Heavenly Demon Sect? This humble one is truly curious!" "Very well.

Given your profound sincerity towards Jinglan, I shall speak a few more words," the woman in white smiled, glancing towards where Zhang Jinglan vanished. "However, your stalling tactic is not very brilliant." Li Muzhan smiled, making no denial.

"With the Senior's martial arts, why worry about such a scheme?" "You certainly know how to speak!" Shangguan Hong chuckled and nodded. "Finding Jinglan is as easy as turning my hand!" "Does Jinglan possess something on her person?" Li Muzhan asked.

Shangguan Hong chuckled, "Five years ago, I killed Jinglan's beloved, which is why she hates me and defected from the Heavenly Demon Sect." "Beloved?" Li Muzhan’s eyebrows knitted together. For some unknown reason, he felt a strange discomfort, perhaps the masculine sense of possessiveness—seeing a beautiful woman made him instinctively want to claim her.

"That young man was far superior to you," Shangguan Hong said with a half-smile, her eyes flowing charm. "Not only was he handsome and upright, but he was also gentle and considerate, and his martial arts surpassed yours by a great deal!" "May I ask which sect's esteemed disciple he was?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile, nonchalantly.

Shangguan Hong’s smile deepened. "A disciple of Penglai Pavilion." "Penglai Pavilion?" Li Muzhan asked.

Shangguan Hong nodded. "It is also a hidden sect.

Its disciples travel the martial world, but their martial arts remain concealed." Li Muzhan inquired, "Shangqing Guan, Heavenly Demon Sect, Penglai Pavilion—are they all like this?" "Indeed," Shangguan Hong nodded. "There is also Ziwei Academy.

These are the Four Great Hidden Sects; your level is too low, little fellow, you are not yet qualified to know of them." Li Muzhan said, "I see that Shangqing Guan and your sect possess supreme martial prowess; why do they remain hidden from the world?" He was happy to stall for time, allowing Zhang Jinglan to get further away. He was also very curious about these major sects, which he had never heard of, nor heard mentioned by his master or grand-uncle.

Shangguan Hong replied, "This involves a major matter of the sect and cannot be easily revealed... Little monk, has it been long enough?

Should you prepare to depart?" A white shadow flashed, and she vanished from the spot, reappearing before Li Muzhan, her jade palm already pressing against his chest. (To be continued)