Seeing him thus, the two middle-aged women burst into curses. They weren't skilled at it, their repertoire cycling through the same few phrases: "Bald donkey," "Thieving monk," "Not a real man," "Deserving of a thousand deaths," and "Shameless wretch." Li Muzhan listened with a gentle smile, one hand resting on Su Yunyun's back.

Her back was warm and yielding, stirring desire. She was beautiful in every aspect, currently pressing her crimson lips together, her expression aloof and icy.

Li Muzhan understood she wished to flay him alive; being hated by such a beauty was, in itself, a kind of pleasure. He smiled faintly and said coolly, "Ladies, Madam Su has been afflicted by the Snow Fragrance Powder.

It's time to hand over the antidote; cursing achieves nothing." "Sister?" one woman looked over. Su Yunyun slowly closed her eyes and sighed, "Aunt Li, please bring the antidote." ……………… "Fine." ...

The round-faced middle-aged woman turned and slipped out through a hole in the wall. The remaining three watched him with predatory gazes.

The young girl who had led him in gnashed her teeth, glaring venomously, clearly wishing she could lunge forward and throttle him. Li Muzhan offered her a slight smile before turning his attention to the other three.

The middle-aged woman with a melon-seed face possessed skin fair and unblemished, her charm still potent. She regarded Li Muzhan with detached indifference, as if looking at a corpse.

The other two middle-aged figures had eyes blazing with murderous intent. Li Muzhan shook his head at them, sighing, "People, to stay alive, will resort to anything.

I trust you all can show some understanding. Amitabha..." "Ptooey on you, filthy monk!" the young girl spat at him fiercely.

Li Muzhan sighed, remaining silent with an expression of pity. Just then, a figure flashed, and the round-faced woman squeezed back through the opening, approaching Li Muzhan, glaring at him coldly.

"The antidote is here!" the middle-aged woman sneered, opening her palm. In her palm rested a small celadon vial, glowing faintly.

The bottle was painted with a scene of green pines defying the cliff face; an ancient pine stood upon the precipice, a celestial crane resting beneath it. The vial was no larger than two thumbs, and the painting even smaller; achieving such meticulous detail on such a small canvas suggested no ordinary artisan.

Li Muzhan frowned, "Only one dose?" The middle-aged woman let out a cold laugh, "The antidote for Snow Fragrance Powder cannot be shared. Miss only possesses one vial for self-preservation; how could there be more!" "Then what is to be done?" Li Muzhan shook his head, feigning distress.

His palm remained firmly on Su Yunyun's back, his internal energy flowing like fine silk through her body; any slight movement from her would be instantly detected, making it difficult for her to play tricks. He glanced at Su Yunyun, then back at the four, sighing, "Very well, give it to her for now.

But you must promise to procure another dose!" The four faces shifted slightly. They exchanged glances before finally looking towards Su Yunyun.

…………………… Su Yunyun opened her eyes, vast and deep as the ocean, fixing her gaze upon Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan was so close he could sense her breath.

Her skin was like a perfectly boiled egg, flawless and smooth, beckoning a touch. The air she exhaled was fresh and pleasing, like a fragrant bloom.

Her eyes were like the sea, daring one to look too closely, lest they fall in and never find their way out. Li Muzhan met her gaze directly, "Madam Su, please take it." Su Yunyun stared deeply into him, as if trying to pierce the depths of his heart.

After a long moment, she raised a hand and furrowed her delicate brows, "Are you truly giving this antidote to me?" Li Muzhan smiled, "I am not lacking a moment or two; I will give it to Madam Su first." Su Yunyun said, "Aren't you afraid I'll renege afterward?" Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "I’ll just have to take it back again." "Fine then. For the sake of your thoughtfulness, I shall spare your life for now!" Su Yunyun huffed.

Li Muzhan laughed, "Then I thank you." Su Yunyun remained expressionless, stating coolly, "Have you noticed nothing unusual?" "Madam Su, you poisoned me long ago, didn't you?" Li Muzhan chuckled, his gaze sweeping the surroundings, finally resting on the palace lantern in the center of the room. The lantern was octagonal, crafted from semi-transparent colored glaze, each piece a different hue.

Flames danced within, emitting a soft, shifting light. Su Yunyun watched his every move intently.

Seeing where his gaze fell, her expression hardened with certainty, and her heart sank slightly, "When did you know?" Li Muzhan smiled, "The Snow Fragrance Powder can be suppressed, so what use are other poisons? Madam Su is an intelligent woman; you shouldn't be making such a blunder, should you?" These toxic gases, when scoured by his internal energy, were immediately consumed and vanished without a trace.

"Good! Aunt Li, bring another antidote!" Su Yunyun commanded.

Having been afflicted by the Snow Fragrance Powder, why introduce other poisons? That Li Muzhan, having taken the powder, could still be running around causing trouble—this was the first time she had encountered such a person.

"Yes, Miss!" the round-faced woman responded, leaping out once more before returning, holding two blue porcelain vials. "Give them to him," Su Yunyun instructed.

The round-faced woman glared at Li Muzhan, "Monk, take the antidote, and release the Miss!" Li Muzhan smiled, "The night is beautiful tonight; such fine scenery should not be wasted. Madam Su, walk with me—we can part ways outside the city, how about it?" He looked at Su Yunyun with a gentle smile.

"Do not push your luck!" the round-faced woman warned, teeth clenched. Su Yunyun looked at him serenely, her eyes shimmering, like ten thousand golden rays reflecting off the sea surface.

Li Muzhan sighed inwardly. The beauty of Su Yunyun's eyes rivaled that of Senior Sister Mei; truly a peerless enchantress, yet destined to be an adversary.

Such a beauty, haughty and proud, would hate him fiercely after this humiliation. "...

Fine," Su Yunyun nodded faintly. "Miss!" the round-faced woman exclaimed.

Su Yunyun said calmly, "Aunt Li, say no more, give him the antidote!" "Miss!" The round-faced woman stomped her foot in vexation, an action reminiscent of a young girl. Su Yunyun shook her head.

The round-faced woman reluctantly threw the vials with force; two streams of blue light shot toward Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan smiled, flicked his sleeve, and then cupped his hand.

The two blue streaks paused momentarily, and the shadows of the two vials in mid-air fell neatly into his palm. Li Muzhan nodded, "Thank you!

... Madam Su, please!" "Miss, it's windy outside." The young girl brought a snow-white sable cloak to Su Yunyun.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Couldn't be better." Su Yunyun accepted the white sable cloak and draped it gracefully. The girl seized the chance, leaning sharply toward Li Muzhan, driving a hidden short sword toward his lower abdomen.

The dagger revealed—she had concealed the blade within the cloak. This lean and fall were perfectly timed; it obstructed any view of the sword.

If he had hesitated out of chivalry, he would have been struck. Li Muzhan shook his head with a smile, his left hand resting on Su Yunyun's back, his right hand flicking a finger lightly.

"Ding..." The sound was crisp and pleasing. The short sword transformed into a white streak of light and embedded itself in the east wall, precisely striking the hawk circling above the snowy peaks.

Li Muzhan flicked, followed by a sweep, and the young girl flew out after the sword. A middle-aged man leaped into the air, catching her mid-flight with an outstretched arm, and drifted softly to the ground.

The girl's delicate face flushed red with unconcealed resentment as she glared at Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan turned and sighed, "Madam Su, you should restrain your subordinates.

I only seek the antidote; I have no desire to kill anyone..." If a fight breaks out, casualties are unavoidable." Su Yunyun frowned, "Enough. All of you, stand down.

There's no need to follow us!" "Miss, we can't rest easy if you go alone," the round-faced woman quickly interjected. Su Yunyun stated coolly, "This Master is not rash.

My life is not more valuable than his. Why worry?" Li Muzhan chuckled softly.

Her words were veiled, laced with sarcasm, implying he was a coward cherishing his life. Opposing such a woman, he mused, was truly entertaining.

Earlier, he had only asked for one vial of the antidote. Li Muzhan surmised that the single vial was a trap; had he taken it rashly, he would have been long dead.

"Yes, Miss!" The round-faced woman shot him a look full of warning. Li Muzhan smiled, resting his hand on Su Yunyun's back, and began walking slowly outward.

The two middle-aged men glared with icy intent, taking a deep breath before slowly stepping aside. Despite being targeted by such intense killing intent, Li Muzhan remained utterly unconcerned.

Su Yunyun, clad in the sable cloak, walked ahead, Li Muzhan following close behind with his hand on her back. The two middle-aged men, the two middle-aged women, and the girl who admitted him trailed closely.

They escorted him all the way to the main gate, where the five stopped, watching Li Muzhan and Su Yunyun slowly depart, melting into the deepening twilight. The four exchanged glances, seeing the ashen look on each other's faces and the raging fire in their eyes.

They had never suffered such a massive defeat. This monk had to die to wash away the shame of this night!

The four sprang into action, shouting to summon personnel. Orders were issued, and the entire Su residence mobilized; teams of experts were dispatched.

Li Muzhan withdrew his hand and began walking side-by-side with Su Yunyun. The bright moon hung like a jade plate in the sky, showering down water-like silver radiance that bathed the surroundings in a soft haze.

The air was cold, yet clean. On this frigid night, few were privileged enough to enjoy such scenery.

"Madam Su, where exactly is the Jade Cold Palace?" Li Muzhan asked, his breath forming visible white puffs. Su Yunyun showed no sign of having her acupoints sealed; her steps were light, graceful, and swaying, but her expression remained cold as snow, her gaze fixed straight ahead, refusing to glance at him.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Aren't you curious who I am, Madam Su?" Su Yunyun looked ahead and stated coldly, "General Ximen Zhan was assassinated, leading to a great defeat at the Battle of Divine Light City. The assassin was a monk; that must be you." "Indeed," Li Muzhan acknowledged.

Su Yunyun's lips curled slightly, glancing at him sideways, "Even if I let you go and overlook your insolence tonight, do you think you will survive?" "Oh?" Li Muzhan smiled. Fine wisps of white vapor drifted distinctly from her mouth and nose, condensing instead of dissipating—clearly, her internal cultivation method was superb.

She was currently breathing to circulate energy and unblock acupoints. Her words were merely bait to draw his attention; otherwise, she was too proud to waste breath on trivial talk.

Su Yunyun said indifferently, "None in the martial circles of Eastern Chu wish you alive." "That is understandable," Li Muzhan nodded. Su Yunyun curled her lip slightly, revealing a sarcastic smile, "Do you think they only talk and never act?" Li Muzhan shook his head, "They have acted.

I have already faced several waves of assassination attempts, all resulting in mutual destruction. Only this last one succeeded in afflicting me with the Snow Fragrance Powder." Su Yunyun said coolly, "The mettle of Eastern Chu's martial arts practitioners far surpasses that of your Great Yan.

From this point onward, people will ceaselessly attempt to kill you until you are dead! ...

As long as Ming Kong remains, Eastern Chu is disgraced!" Li Muzhan offered a wry smile, "I've become the public enemy of Eastern Chu!" "It's good you realize that," Su Yunyun nodded, looking deeply at him, "If you wish to live, you had best find a place to hide!" Li Muzhan suddenly shifted his stance and struck Su Yunyun's back with a palm strike. Su Yunyun glanced at him dismissively with a sneer.

Her pace did not falter. Li Muzhan frowned; there was no immediate reaction, yet he felt a vague sense of unease, something amiss.