Fearing Li Muzhan might be angry, she rushed to his side, explaining anxiously, "I really wasn't scolding you!"

Li Muzhan moved through the air, his robes billowing, and turned with a smile, "It's fine, Junior Sister, how could I not know? Let's go collect some more Snow Lotus Flowers elsewhere."

"Senior Brother, are you injured?" Li Yujiao asked with concern.

The two middle-aged women stopped in their tracks, shaking their heads. The young mistress had been obstinate, but thank heavens, she hadn't completely broken ties with Luotuo Temple; angering Luotuo Temple never ended well.

Although the Sect Master held great animosity toward Luotuo Temple, and even the entire Saint Snow Peak disliked them, they could not afford to offend them. Though Luotuo Temple produced monks, they were not to be trifled with; their skill in subduing demons and subduing evil was immense.

They truly hadn't expected this monk Zhan Ran to be such a formidable figure. Pinned beneath the avalanche, he was not only unharmed but had also saved Monk Xinjue. The relationship between Luotuo Temple and the Canghai Sword Sect would undergo a fundamental shift.

Monk Xinjue was an outstanding disciple, one in a hundred years for Luotuo Temple; his death would have been a massive loss. Since Monk Zhan Ran saved him, even though Luotuo Temple was powerful, they were known to repay kindness and enmity clearly.

………………

"How formidable, Zhan Ran!" Yang Zhiyuan stared at Li Muzhan's retreating figure in the distance, shaking his head in admiration.

A young man beside him stepped on the snow underfoot, sinking in up to his knee. He quickly pulled his leg out, chuckling, "Brother Yang, tell me, if we had been caught in that avalanche, would we have survived?"

Yang Zhiyuan turned to him and smiled, "Brother Song, that question is simple. Let me ask you: submerged beneath, how long could you hold your breath?"

The young man named Song immediately shook his head, "A quarter of an hour? We'd have been dead long ago!"

Even though they possessed profound internal energy, their qi flow was long and steady, and their breathing slower than normal. With effort and breath-holding, they might endure longer, but not a quarter of an hour.

One breath in, one breath out—one life, one death; the cessation of breath meant the extinguishment of vitality. This was true for anyone.

Yang Zhiyuan shook his head and sighed, "Master Zhan Ran could last a quarter of an hour!"

"Good heavens, how did he manage that?" The young man named Song shook his head, finding it unbelievable.

He tried holding his breath after letting out a sharp exhalation, but couldn't sustain it.

The surrounding people tried holding their breath too. Trying made them realize the difficulty; they couldn't last long at all.

Yang Zhiyuan said, "Everyone can guess the power of an avalanche. Master Zhan Ran not only withstood the crushing pressure but held out for a quarter of an hour before emerging. This ability..."

He shook his head, sighing repeatedly.

The crowd followed suit with sighs, suddenly feeling a sense of futility. They were all accomplished young talents, always viewing themselves highly. Though they had heard the names of the Twin Sword Monk and Master Xinjue, they had never truly taken them seriously, thinking that since they were all young, even if their martial arts were slightly superior, they couldn't be that much better.

Only now did they realize they were separated by a vast, insurmountable distance.

"Master Xinjue is also incredibly formidable, to have held on long enough for Master Zhan Ran to save him," one young man murmured, shaking his head.

"Indeed..." Yang Zhiyuan sighed, slowly nodding, his expression heavy.

……………………

Li Muzhan and Li Yujiao arrived at another peak. As they bantered and laughed, they each found more than a dozen Snow Lotus Flowers. Li Yujiao pressed them into juice and poured them into the jade vials she carried.

Li Yujiao's cheeks were flushed crimson, her eyes sparkling, and her entire demeanor radiated vitality, as if she were a different person. With no one else around, only she and Li Muzhan remained, and she had reverted to the liveliness of a girl.

They competed good-naturedly, seeing who could pick more, and even snatched flowers from each other when they found a rare one. Li Muzhan often lost, and Li Yujiao knew he was letting her win, but it didn't diminish her enjoyment.

After collecting thirty plants, Li Yujiao filled the four jade vials she carried and laughed, "Senior Brother Zhan Ran, that's enough, I can't fit any more."

Li Muzhan chuckled, "Then so be it. We shall show mercy and leave the rest."

"Senior Brother Zhan Ran, we'll come back later to gather more..." Li Yujiao said brightly, "These Snow Lotus Flowers have extraordinary effects! My mother has a formula; when refined with Shou Wu and Ginseng into Snow-Ginseng Pills, they can both heal injuries and boost inner power. I'll give you half when we're done."

Li Muzhan smiled, "You don't need to give me half; a quarter share will suffice..."

Li Yujiao giggled softly and shook her head, "Without Senior Brother, I couldn't have collected this many. It's a shame most of the Snow Lotus Flowers were gathered by the Changbai Sword Sect!"

Li Muzhan nodded. This area was within the Changbai Sword Sect's territory; naturally, it was their private garden. With such miraculous effects, how could they let the Snow Lotus Flowers go?

Li Yujiao laughed again, shaking her head, "But you know, even if they took the flowers, it's useless. They don't know the refining formula; just eating them won't have much effect. Besides, Snow Lotus Flowers are Yin in nature, effective for women, but they don't benefit men."

"Oh...?" Li Muzhan looked at her with a smile.

Li Yujiao smiled sweetly, "Senior Brother Zhan Ran certainly doesn't need Snow Lotus Flowers to increase his power. Your Canghai Sword Sect has so many female disciples; take them and win the favor of beautiful maidens—that would be best."

Li Muzhan laughed and shook his head, "You've got quite the devious mind."

Li Yujiao gave a charming smile, "I am looking out for your future, Senior Brother."

Li Muzhan laughed, "You know the Emperor issued a prohibition against secular attachments. As a monk, I cannot involve myself with women."

"Hehe, if you marry up on Canghai Mountain, who can stop you?" Li Yujiao replied dismissively, laughing.

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Then my reputation would be utterly ruined; I couldn't do it..."

Li Yujiao pouted her crimson lips, "Why bother with empty fame? It can't be eaten!"

The two displayed their light movement skills, chasing and snatching playfully; it was quite lively. Li Yujiao's blood surged, her cheeks were flushed, and her lips looked exquisitely moist and red.

Li Muzhan smiled, shaking his head, and said no more.

…………

Unbeknownst to them, a day had passed... The sun hung low in the west.

The two returned to Changbai Sword Peak and went their separate ways, agreeing to continue gathering Snow Lotus Flowers the next day. She would bring several large jade vials, determined to collect enough.

Snow Lotus Flowers are only truly potent in extremely cold environments; in generally cold settings, they grow, but their effect when consumed is mediocre.

Li Muzhan agreed. He had nothing pressing and desired some true relaxation—a balance between scholarship and martial arts.

Being with Li Yujiao, free from romantic entanglement, felt more like a sibling relationship—an experience he had never known, and he found it very relaxing and amusing.

He returned to his courtyard with a smile, stopping abruptly the moment he stepped inside. Wen Yinyue was sitting in the small pavilion, casting a faint glance his way.

The sun was setting now, the western sky burning like fire.

On the stone table in the pavilion sat a small red clay stove, its embers crackling, emitting white vapor.

The white vapor drifted upwards from in front of Wen Yinyue, forming a veil that obscured her face, hazy, indistinct, mysterious, and coldly beautiful.

"Senior Sister," Li Muzhan stepped forward into the pavilion and sat opposite Wen Yinyue.

Wen Yinyue poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward him, saying faintly, "Did you have a good time?"

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded, "Junior Sister Li and I gathered some Snow Lotus Flowers. They can be made into Snow-Ginseng Pills, which not only heal injuries but also enhance internal power..."

"The Snow-Ginseng Pills from Saint Snow Peak are indeed exceptional," Wen Yinyue nodded.

Her expression remained perpetually cool; outsiders found it hard to detect any shift in her demeanor, but Li Muzhan could perceive the slightest unusual tremor, sensing her thread of coldness.

"Senior Sister...?" Li Muzhan stared at her.

Her skin was as white as jade, with elegant brows and a straight nose, long phoenix eyes, and alluring red lips—truly a peerless beauty. The more he looked, the more beautiful she seemed.

Wen Yinyue frowned, staring at him for a long moment. Li Muzhan touched his own face.

She gave a soft huff, "Junior Brother, you..." Now everyone on Changbai Sword Peak knows you fought Monk Xinjue of Luotuo Temple to a draw!"

Li Muzhan raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled, "The news travels fast?"

"And you're still smiling!" Wen Yinyue frowned, huffing, "You two are quite capable, managing to trigger an avalanche—truly impressive skills, I am in awe!"

She always spoke softly, making light of things; even when reprimanding or cursing, it was usually just a few measured words, light as passing clouds. She never used such sarcastic barbs before.

Li Muzhan felt a warmth in his heart, realizing her words stemmed from genuine concern, and he laughed, "Senior Sister, I was forced to fight. As soon as Master Xinjue saw me, he attacked directly. Was I supposed to retreat three paces?"

……………………

Wen Yinyue let out a cold "Hmph," "That Xinjue is excessively arrogant!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Master Xinjue does indeed have grounds for his arrogance. Arhat Divine Fist, A-Luohan Divine Fist, Vajra Finger Force, Great Strength Demon Subduing Fist—each is astonishingly powerful. I was fortunate to have mastered the Coiling Dragon Hand, otherwise, I would have surely suffered defeat, with no chance of victory."

"So, you won?" Wen Yinyue shot him a sidelong glance.

Li Muzhan shook his head, "It was a draw. I used a secret technique to stimulate my potential, yet I still couldn't defeat him—unless I used the Great Bright King Sutra..." "...However, I suspect he also held back some ultimate techniques."

"Mmm, that Xinjue is indeed not to be underestimated," Wen Yinyue nodded.

Li Muzhan smiled sweetly, "In everyone's eyes, Master Xinjue ranks alongside you, Senior Sister. The foremost young master is one of the two of you."

"It's merely an empty reputation," Wen Yinyue shook her head, unconcerned.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Fame is seldom unmerited. Even if Master Xinjue isn't quite your equal, Senior Sister, he is close—a formidable adversary."

He had mastered the Canghai Divine Skill and completed the first two stages of the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture; his internal energy was unfathomably deep. He might surpass Wen Yinyue, but only by a slight margin.

The Canghai Sword Sect stood firm in the world, ranked among the Seven Great Sects—a feat of predecessors, relying on the might of the Canghai Divine Sword. However, later generations failed to master the Canghai Divine Skill fully, and the Divine Sword was lost. Yet the sect did not decline, all thanks to Mistress Zhuzhao.

The Marvelous Lotus Scripture was endlessly profound, and Wen Yinyue surpassed her predecessors, a true prodigy. By the time Li Muzhan entered the mountain, she had already earned such great renown that she rarely needed to fight.

Her prestige in the martial world was immense. Cold Lotus Fairy was already hailed as the foremost young master; even though Xinjue was a once-in-a-century genius from Luotuo Temple, he could not eclipse her fame.

Wen Yinyue frowned in thought, and after a moment, she looked up, "Tell me about how your fight transpired." (To be continued)