Li Muzhan scooped her up in his arms, and they drifted gently to the ground.

Su Yunyun tried to circulate her internal energy, but it felt like being cut by knives; her whole body was weak and limp, unable to muster any strength. Her hands struck his chest, but it was like flirtatious teasing, devoid of power.

Suddenly, a large mouth descended, aiming for her full, red lips. She quickly dodged, crying out in a low voice, "Monk Mingkong, have you gone mad!"

"Heh heh..." A deep chuckle rumbled from Li Muzhan's lips.

She met his eyes; a tiny spark of flame seemed to leap within his pupils. A jolt went through her—he truly had succumbed to Qi deviation, lost control.

Annoyance flared within her. Having studied the Soul-Seizing Art, she understood the human heart quite well; this was a clear sign of being consumed by lust, a sign she had completely overlooked earlier.

Held tight in Li Muzhan's embrace, their bodies pressed together, their thin garments offering little barrier. The sensation of skin against skin was intensely palpable; she had never been so close to a man.

She tried to summon her internal energy again, feeling the agony as if knives were carving her flesh. A sigh of despair escaped her, and she resolved to bite her tongue and end her life.

Better to die with honor than suffer defilement.

...........

Just as she prepared to bite her tongue, a sudden numbness spread across her chest where his large hand clamped down. Her body instantly stiffened; she couldn't move a single finger, only blink her eyes in futility.

With Saintess Peak attacked, she was filled with shame and rage, wishing she could flay Li Muzhan a thousand times, but she knew she was finished. Slowly, she closed her eyes.

As soon as her eyes shut, her senses became exquisitely sharp. She felt herself being slowly lowered to the ground, which was cushioned by a thick layer of soft dead grass, the hardness of a twig pressing against her.

But then, the movement ceased, leaving only heavy, ragged breathing.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw Li Muzhan sitting cross-legged before her, hands formed in mudras, radiating a solemn and dignified air. Yet, his complexion was now shifting rapidly, and his lips moved in silent recitation.

She immediately grasped the situation: he was desperately struggling to suppress his raw desire, warring against himself. Truly worthy of his monastic path; his resolve was profound.

But his face grew redder, his gray monk's robe swelling as an invisible force pushed her back a full meter.

He shifted his hand seal and murmured aloud: "...All sentient beings, when they cease to perceive the self-aspect, the other-aspect, the sentient-being-aspect, the life-span-aspect, have neither the Dharma-aspect nor the non-Dharma-aspect. Why? If beings grasp at aspects, they are attached to self, other, beings, life-span. If they grasp at Dharma-aspects, they are attached to self, other, beings, life-span. Why? If they grasp at non-Dharma-aspects, they are attached to self, other, beings, life-span. Thus, one should not grasp at Dharma, nor at non-Dharma. For this reason, the Tathagata constantly proclaims: O Bhikkhus, my teaching is like a raft for crossing over; even the teachings must be abandoned, let alone non-Dharma..."

At first, his voice was soft and low, but it gradually grew louder, like the booming of a massive bell, each syllable ringing like a pearl echoing and swirling in the air, resounding through the night sky.

As the sound entered her ears, Su Yunyun's heart gradually found peace. Her spirit was cleansed by the recitation, and the extreme thought of suicide slowly faded. A sudden sense of enlightenment washed over her: even if defiled, it might not be the end of the world.

The chanting grew louder, and his complexion slowly returned to normal. Clearly, in the battle between righteous and evil thoughts, he was using the Buddhist scriptures to overpower the darkness.

Su Yunyun let out a silent breath of relief—this calamity had finally been averted!

The chanting gradually subsided, and Li Muzhan opened his eyes. They were dim and lusterless, as if he had aged several years in an instant, weariness etched deep into his brow.

Su Yunyun understood. This silent battle between good and evil had exhausted him more profoundly than any physical fight, draining his spirit far more heavily.

Li Muzhan raised a palm and struck, releasing the pressure points on Su Yunyun. She sprang up.

His hand had thrown her sword deep into the woods; it was nowhere in sight. Her hands were empty, and she glared coldly at Li Muzhan, her gaze icy.

Li Muzhan sighed, "If I have given any offense, Great Scholar Su, please forgive me."

Su Yunyun's pearly teeth ground together, killing intent boiling within her heart.

............

Li Muzhan placed his palms together in a Buddhist salute, his demeanor utterly solemn: "Great Scholar Su, please return. Let tonight be forgotten like a fleeting dream..."

Su Yunyun gritted her teeth, staring fixedly at him.

Li Muzhan sighed, shook his head, and slowly closed his eyes. He now looked as fragile as an old man clinging to life in the wind, a mere breath away from being blown away. His gray robe fluttered, making him seem almost frail.

Su Yunyun's killing intent surged, scorching her very core. Since childhood, she had never so intensely wanted to kill someone, to hate someone so deeply. If she could not kill him, she would never know peace, forever entangled by rage.

The best solution was to end him—to kill him, regardless of the cost. Only by killing him would the world return to its former tranquility, and her own heart find quietude.

With this thought, she said calmly, "Mingkong, what happened just now?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, still not opening his eyes. "Let it pass. I had a slight issue with my cultivation."

He found it strange that Su Yunyun didn't leave. After such an event, she was speaking to him calmly instead of fleeing in shame and anger—she was truly an extraordinary person.

"What meditation method are you practicing?" Su Yunyun asked coolly.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "Just some Buddhist zhan ding practice..."

He had a strong intuition that the Gazing at Heaven and Man Divine Illumination Scripture was no small matter; he could tell no one, not even his Master or his Second Sister.

"You dare not look at me?" Su Yunyun sneered.

Li Muzhan sighed. "Great Scholar Su, I must ask you to leave now. I cannot see you off further!"

"If you won't open your eyes, I won't leave!" Su Yunyun stated coldly.

"Why must you insist?" Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed, slowly opening his eyes.

Su Yunyun stepped forward, gazing deeply at him. They were separated by a foot; she could almost feel his breath, and a faint, delicate fragrance drifted into her nostrils, causing a momentary tremor in her heart.

He quickly gathered his spirit, daring not to relax even slightly.

"Mingkong, you deserve to die!" Su Yunyun suddenly raised her hand, and a streak of dark light instantly shot into Li Muzhan's chest.

Li Muzhan’s spirit was utterly exhausted, his reaction sluggish. Though he sensed her actions were improper, contrary to her nature, he hadn't expected her to be so relentless.

His weakened spirit made his reaction slow; he tried to dodge but it was too late. The dark light pierced his body in an instant. He was struck as if by a massive boulder, sent flying backward.

He slammed into a pine tree, which shook violently, raining down needles. He spat a spray of blood and slid bonelessly down the trunk, collapsing against it.

Su Yunyun sneered, her beautiful face taut. She flashed forward with lightning speed, her left palm striking towards Li Muzhan's chest with electric swiftness.

Li Muzhan was leaning against the tree, his head bowed, seemingly unconscious. But just as her fair left palm made contact with his chest, he suddenly moved. His right hand shot out like a snake, coiling around her delicate wrist, while his left palm struck squarely onto her chest.

These two strikes were incredibly fast, superior even to Su Yunyun's own, striking after but arriving before.

"Heh heh..." Li Muzhan sprang up, laughing with sheer fury.

As he laughed, his face instantly flushed crimson, his rage instantly transforming back into desire, sweeping through his mind faster than the eye could track.