Li Muzhan frowned, seeing through her thoughts, and opened his eyes: "If you don't leave now, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

When his eyes snapped open, his gaze shot out like a drawn cold sword, piercing into Su Yunyun's eyes. She started, feeling an immense pressure descend upon her, as steadfast as a mountain.

Seeing his expression, she realized that if she stayed, he truly would resort to murder; such a chilling look was no mere jest. She snorted coldly and drifted out of the cave.

Li Muzhan closed his eyes again, formed a hand seal, and entered a state of chandana (deep meditation).

The "mind monkey and will horse"—a metaphor for the ordinary person's mischievous, hard-to-control mind and will, which slip away at the slightest inattention—he increased his Xin Zhu (Mind Pearls), culminating in seven. His spirit was formidable; his mind was like a dragon, his will like a tiger.

Outwardly calm, his insides churned like a raging sea, dragons and tigers galloping; he was exerting every ounce of his skill to subdue and control the Dragon-Subduing, Tiger-Taming power.

Blazing desire surged up from the Haidi Xue (Sea Bottom Acupoint), passed the Dantian, scaled the Twelve Storeys, and rushed into his mind, ascending like a dragon leaping from the abyss toward the Nine Heavens, unstoppable.

The fierce desire tossed and turned in his mind, impossible to suppress. His lower body was already rigid as iron, hot as a burning rod. Visions of graceful women flashed through his mind: Wen Yinyue, Mei Ruolan, Gong Qingyun, Xiao Yuan, Zhang Jinglan, Fan Peiyao, Lan Mei'er, even Jiang Yuyan, and Su Yunyun. They all seemed to be smiling sweetly at him, enchantingly alluring.

Li Muzhan formed the Immovable Wisdom King Mudra with both hands and recited the Great Bright Mantra. Instantly, rolling thunder echoed in his mind, shattering each delicate phantom figure.

Li Muzhan took a deep breath, then unified his consciousness, focusing entirely on chanting the Diamond Sutra. Every word materialized like a perfect pearl, radiating golden light, manifesting in his mind and driving away all lustful thoughts.

The dragon-like desire met these glittering golden pearls like a raging wind encountering a Wind-Calming Pearl, slowly dissipating. Golden pearls emerged ceaselessly, unending, eliminating the desire.

He didn't know how long it took, but the desire gradually faded. These golden pearls, having integrated with the desire, transformed into golden nectar, merging into his mind and solidifying his concentration.

As a result, his spirit grew ever stronger, and his concentration deepened further.

Suddenly, a warning alarm surfaced in his heart. The Sky Eye shifted from inward focus to outward projection, and a torrent of sword light swept towards him, with Su Yunyun following behind the light.

She pressed her crimson lips together, her bright eyes as tranquil as still water.

Li Muzhan sighed inwardly, extended his thumb, and lightly pressed down toward the myriad sword lights.

With a crisp “Ding…” sound, the sweeping sword light coalesced into a single long sword, held in Su Yunyun's left hand. She frowned and glared at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan opened his eyes and sighed, "Mistress Su, do you truly wish to kill me?" Su Yunyun frowned, "Did you suffer a zou huo ru mo (Qi deviation)?" Li Muzhan let out a dry laugh and shook his head, "Mistress Su is very disappointed, aren't you?" "Intentionally messing with me?" Su Yunyun said coldly. Li Muzhan shook his head, "Mistress Su should have left. Our grievances do not warrant facing death; why press so closely?" "You must die," Su Yunyun stated plainly. Li Muzhan's eyebrows twitched, a flicker of anger suppressed within. He rubbed his nose and waved his hand, "Very well, Mistress Su, please depart. I won't see you off!" Su Yunyun broke into a dazzling smile, "Excellent."

That smile illuminated her face, like a hundred flowers blooming at once, or the sun breaking through the clouds, bathing the vast, snowy landscape in brilliant light.

Li Muzhan was momentarily caught off guard, and upon seeing such radiant beauty, his heart gave a violent lurch. Normally, after such a tremor, he would immediately dispel it and regain tranquility, but things were different now.

A tangible flame drilled up from his Sea Bottom Acupoint, passing the Dantian, scaling the Twelve Storeys, and erupting into a vast fire in his mind. His lower body sprang up, rigid as a pillar.

He cursed inwardly, quickly forming hand seals and silently reciting the Great Bright King Mantra. Flashing golden pearls surged into his mind, suppressing the towering blaze.

Su Yunyun's left hand, close to her sword, transformed once more into a curtain of sword light, sweeping toward him again.

She saw Li Muzhan's perilous state and naturally would not let the opportunity slip away, deploying the Jade Cold Palace’s most mysterious ultimate skill: the Soul-Seizing Technique.

The power of Buddhist scriptures relied on the blessing of spiritual focus; one part of mental energy could be transformed into ten parts through the sutra. Lose one part of focus, and the power suffers a massive reduction. Li Muzhan could not maintain singular focus; lacking even a sliver of concentration meant the scripture's power was greatly diminished. The golden pearls fell, yet they could not suppress the raging fire in his mind.

He sighed helplessly and extended his thumb again, pressing gently outwards.

A “Ding…” sound of clashing metal rang out. Su Yunyun frowned and stepped back. Under her Soul-Seizing Technique, Li Muzhan had surprisingly not succumbed, still maintaining clarity. This was the first time—her infinitely powerful Soul-Seizing Technique had failed!

Li Muzhan’s Mind Pearls had increased, his internal energy hadn't grown, but his speed was faster, and his intuition sharper. Though he couldn't clearly see the changes in Su Yunyun's sword movements, he pressed out a finger purely on feeling.

Judging by the results, his intuition was incredibly accurate; both fingers had struck Su Yunyun’s blade.

Li Muzhan kept his eyes closed and shouted sternly, "Mistress Su, I am about to lose control! Leave quickly!" Su Yunyun sneered, glancing sideways at him. Unsure what trick he was playing, she wasn't frightened, feeling strongly that something was wrong with him; leaving now would be foolish.

She thrust out another sword strike. Li Muzhan, eyes closed, pressed out his thumb and repelled it again. His internal strength was profound, his intuition precise, but Su Yunyun possessed deep inner power and peerlessly exquisite techniques. Li Muzhan could defend adequately, but lacked the force to attack.

Su Yunyun thrust out more than ten swords in succession, all of which were parried by Li Muzhan’s downward press of his thumb. ... Li Muzhan’s face grew redder, his gray monk's robe billowing.

Su Yunyun pressed her attack relentlessly, determined to kill him while he was distracted. Having trained since childhood in the Ice Jade Divine Art, her heart was like ice and snow—devoid of desire and emotion, free from romantic attachment. Never mind that Li Muzhan was plain-looking; even if Song Yupantian himself arrived, she would not be moved. If he must die, he must die; she would never show mercy or let him go.

Li Muzhan was clearly unwell; anyone could see it. Su Yunyun, deeply aware of Li Muzhan's terrifying potential, vaguely guessed that the Great Bright King Sutra required time to enact. Naturally, she wouldn't heed his request to leave. If she left, he would certainly employ this mystic art, and she would have no power to resist pursuit. Better to kill him now than let him kill her later.

With this thought, Su Yunyun was determined to slay Li Muzhan—it had to be one or the other. After another dozen exchanges, Li Muzhan suddenly opened his eyes. Red light burst forth from them, and flames seemed to flicker within his pupils—a bizarre sight.

Su Yunyun started, feeling a tremor in her spirit. Her breathing hitched. Her sword attack did not cease; the Ice Jade Divine Sword transformed into a sky full of light as it hacked down. With a “Ding…”, Li Muzhan slapped his left palm onto the sword, closing the distance and reaching out with his right hand to grab.

Su Yunyun used the rebound force of the sword to pivot, drawing an arc. Swish, she thrust again, aiming for Li Muzhan’s heart, fast as lightning. Li Muzhan slightly shifted his body; the tip of the sword pierced his left shoulder. Simultaneously, his right palm struck Su Yunyun’s left shoulder. One palm for one sword, the speed was too fast to blink.

Su Yunyun let out a muffled groan and was sent flying. Li Muzhan followed like a shadow, his left palm striking her chest. Su Yunyun convulsed mid-air and spat out a stream of blood.

Li Muzhan swept his hands, catching her, and they drifted softly to the ground. Su Yunyun tried to circulate her internal energy, but it felt like being sliced by knives. Her body was limp, unable to muster strength. She pounded his chest, but it felt like playful teasing, entirely lacking force.

Suddenly, a large mouth descended, aiming for her full, red lips. She scrambled to dodge, crying out softly, "Monk Mingkong, have you gone mad!" "Heh heh…" A deep, resonant chuckle emerged from Li Muzhan’s mouth.

She met his gaze and saw a cluster of fire leaping in his pupils. Her heart seized—he truly had suffered a Qi deviation, lost control. She felt regret. Having studied the Soul-Seizing Technique, she had considerable understanding of the human heart; this was the sign of being consumed by the Fire of Desire, something she had overlooked earlier.

Held in Li Muzhan’s embrace, their bodies pressed close, their thin robes offering little barrier. The physical contact was intensely sharp. She had never been so close to a man. She tried channeling her internal energy again, but it felt like knives cutting her. She sighed in despair, intending to grit her teeth and commit suicide. Better to die with her purity intact than suffer dishonor.

As she prepared to bite her tongue, a numbness spread across her chest where his large hand rested. Her body instantly froze; she couldn't move a single finger, only blink futilely. Her Sacred Maiden Peak had been attacked; shame and anger warred within her, making her wish to slice Li Muzhan into a thousand pieces. But she knew she was finished; slowly, she closed her eyes.

When she closed her eyes, her senses sharpened intensely. She felt herself being gently lowered onto the ground, which was covered in a layer of thick, soft withered grass, catching on a stray branch. But then the movement ceased, leaving only heavy, ragged breaths.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw Li Muzhan sitting cross-legged before her, hands forming a seal, his demeanor majestic. However, his expression was shifting constantly, and his lips moved silently. She immediately understood: he was struggling fiercely to restrain his lust, battling against himself. Truly worthy of being a man of the Buddhist sect, his resolve was profound.

Yet, his face grew redder, his gray monk's robe swelling. An unseen force pushed her back a meter. He switched his hand seal and murmured aloud, “All sentient beings, have no self-aspect, no man-aspect, no sentient-being-aspect, no life-span-aspect; no dharma-aspect, and no non-dharma-aspect. Why? If sentient beings cling to aspects, they cling to self, man, sentient being, or life span. If they cling to dharma-aspects, they cling to self, man, sentient being, or life span. Why? If they cling to non-dharma-aspects, they cling to self, man, sentient being, or life span. Therefore, one should not cling to dharma, nor should one cling to non-dharma. For this reason, the Tathagata always says: ‘You monks know that my teaching is like a raft. Even dharma-realities must be abandoned, let alone non-dharma realities!’…”

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

The sound entered Su Yunyun’s ears, and her heart gradually calmed. Her spirit was cleansed by the recitation, and her extreme suicidal thoughts slowly receded. She felt a sudden sense of enlightenment: even if dishonored, it wasn't the end of the world.

The chanting grew louder, and his complexion slowly returned to normal. Clearly, in the battle between righteous and evil impulses, he had used the Buddhist scriptures to overwhelm the evil. Su Yunyun let out a silent breath; this calamity had finally been averted!

The chanting gradually softened. Li Muzhan opened his eyes, which were now dull and lusterless, as if he had aged several years in an instant. Fatigue showed in the lines around his brow. Su Yunyun understood that this battle between good and evil, though fought without physical blows, had been more exhausting than combat, draining his spirit more than a full-scale fight.

Li Muzhan clapped his palm, releasing the seals on Su Yunyun's pressure points. She flipped over and sprang up. His sword had been tossed into the woods by Li Muzhan and was nowhere in sight. Her hands were empty. She glared coldly at Li Muzhan, her gaze icy. Li Muzhan sighed, "If I have caused offense, Mistress Su should not take it to heart." Su Yunyun’s teeth clicked audibly; killing intent boiled in her heart. ... Li Muzhan pressed his palms together in a respectful gesture, his expression solemn: "Mistress Su, please return. Let tonight be treated as a floating dream; forget it." Su Yunyun gritted her teeth, staring fixedly at him.

Li Muzhan sighed again, shook his head, and slowly closed his eyes. At this moment, he looked as fragile as a candle flickering in the wind, as if a slight breeze could blow him away. His gray monk’s robe billowed, looking rather thin.

Su Yunyun’s killing intent surged, burning in her heart. Since childhood, she had never desired to kill anyone so fiercely, nor hated anyone so deeply. If she couldn't kill him, she would never know peace day or night, forever entangled by rage. The best solution was to kill him, to kill him regardless of the cost. Once he was dead, the world would revert to its original tranquility, and her own mind would quieten. Thinking this, she said coldly, "Mingkong, what exactly happened just now?" Li Muzhan shook his head, still not opening his eyes, "It is better left unsaid. A slight problem arose during my practice." He found it strange that Su Yunyun didn't leave. After such an event, she could speak as if nothing had happened, rather than depart in shame and anger—she was truly extraordinary. "What cultivation method are you practicing?" Su Yunyun asked flatly. Li Muzhan smiled slightly, "It is merely the Great Attainment of Buddhist Zen Concentration." His intuition warned him that the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing (Contemplating Heaven and Man Illumination Scripture) was too significant to share with anyone, not even his master or Second Sister. "You don't dare look at me?" Su Yunyun sneered. Li Muzhan sighed, "Mistress Su, please depart now. I won't see you off!" "If you don't open your eyes, I won't leave!..." Su Yunyun said coldly. "Why go to such lengths?" Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed, slowly opening his eyes.

Su Yunyun stepped forward, gazing deeply at him. They stood a foot apart, their breaths nearly mingling. A faint, delicate fragrance drifted into his nostrils, and his heart lurched instantly. He quickly gathered his spirit, daring not to relax even slightly. "Mingkong, you deserve death!" Su Yunyun suddenly raised her hand, and a streak of dark light shot instantly into Li Muzhan's chest.

Li Muzhan’s spirit was exhausted, his reaction slow. Though he sensed something inappropriate in her behavior, contrary to her nature, he hadn't expected her to be so persistent. With a weakened spirit and sluggish reaction, he couldn't evade in time. The dark light pierced his body instantly. He felt as if struck by a huge boulder and was thrown backward. He crashed into a pine tree, which shook violently, raining down needles. He spat out a jet of blood, slid down limply against the trunk, and collapsed sitting against it.

Su Yunyun gave a cold smile, her beautiful face taut. She flashed forward, instantly appearing before Li Muzhan, her left palm slamming toward his chest with lightning speed. Li Muzhan leaned against the tree, head bowed, seemingly unconscious. Just as her pale left palm touched his chest, he suddenly moved. His right hand snaked around her slender wrist like a serpent, while his left palm struck her chest. These two strikes were incomparably fast, even superior to Su Yunyun's, launching after hers but arriving first.

"Heh heh…" Li Muzhan sprang up, laughing in sheer exasperation. Amidst his laughter, his face instantly flushed red, his rage transforming once more into lust, instantly burning through his mind, faster than lightning could strike. (To be continued)A