Mistress Zhuzhao knitted her delicate brows, eyeing him: “What strange request is this now? ... Come, let’s hear it, lest Pavilion Master Yang finds cause for amusement!”
Yang Chong stared back at him.
Li Muzhan stated, “If we are to go, I will issue all the commands, and they must not be disobeyed.”
Yang Chong’s eyes widened, the corner of his mouth twitched, he glanced quickly toward Mistress Zhuzhao as if to suppress a smile, then quickly pulled it back.
This Zhanran, truly audacious in his thinking; to dare make such a demand. Even Xiaoyao, for all his boldness, seemed timid compared to this fellow!
Mistress Zhuzhao let out a soft huff: “You are speaking nonsense again!”
Li Muzhan replied, “If Master does not agree, I fear there is no hope of success.”
“Oh, such high aspirations you have!” Mistress Zhuzhao glanced sideways at him, scoffing, “As if nothing can be done without you, are you the greatest under heaven now, even more formidable than Nangong Endao!”
Her tongue was sharp, but Li Muzhan merely shook his head, his expression resolute.
“Master, I have never met Martial Uncle Hua, have I?” Li Muzhan inquired.
He knew that without demonstrating some real capability today, it would be difficult to persuade his Master. Normally, handling his Master alone would be easy; a few words would soften her heart enough to agree. But with Pavilion Master Yang present, his Master, concerned with saving face, would not readily consent. He had to display his true skills.
Mistress Zhuzhao nodded: “Indeed. Emerald Peak Pavilion is a forbidden ground for our sect; men are not allowed entry. Martial Uncle Hua never leaves the pavilion. Naturally, you young man have never seen her.”
Li Muzhan announced, “Martial Uncle Hua wears an inky-green silk shirt and silver flying boots.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of footsteps approached, and Wen Yinyue’s voice drifted in: “Master, Martial Uncle Hua has arrived.”
Mistress Zhuzhao rose to greet her at the entrance of the hall, chuckling sweetly, “Martial Uncle Hua, this disciple offers her respects!”
A middle-aged woman, accompanied by Wen Yinyue, drifted in, dressed in an inky-green silk shirt, silver boots, and a long sword hanging at her waist, looking kindly upon Mistress Zhuzhao.
Mistress Zhuzhao glanced at her, then darted a look at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan stepped forward, pressing his palms together: “This disciple, Zhanran, pays respects to Martial Ancestor.”
“Oh, you are Zhanran. Very good, my good child, no need for such formality.” The middle-aged woman raised her hand, a gentle smile gracing her face as she studied him.
Li Muzhan looked up at her. This Martial Ancestor Hua was beautifully featured; she must have been a peerless beauty in her youth. Especially her pair of phoenix eyes—clear and gentle, like a pool of warm spring water. With that kind smile, she exuded an indescribable warmth that made one feel as if basking in a spring breeze.
“Martial Uncle, this disciple is incompetent, disturbing your secluded cultivation.” Mistress Zhuzhao took her arm, inviting her to the main seat, and said sweetly, “We wish to assassinate Nie Wangqiu, so we must request your assistance, Martial Uncle!”
Martial Uncle Hua arched a delicate eyebrow: “Nie Wangqiu? Is that the young fellow from the Changbai Sword Sect?”
“Precisely,” Mistress Zhuzhao nodded vigorously, her tone filled with indignation, “He actually tried to assassinate Zhanran and the others! Fortunately, Young Hero Wang sacrificed himself to block him, preventing his success!”
“That shouldn’t be. Little Nie has certainly acted wrongly,” Martial Uncle Hua shook her head. …………………… As a sect leader, to strike at a junior—this was not only unbecoming but also violated the established rules. If this precedent continued—you kill my junior disciples, I kill yours—it would only lead to mutual annihilation, the decline of the sects, and ultimately, replacement by others.
The martial world was not solely composed of the Seven Great Sects; numerous other factions were lurking in the shadows, eager to take their place, delighted to see them tear each other apart.
This unspoken, customary rule was followed tacitly by all, yet Nie Wangqiu had broken it. Naturally, this could not simply be overlooked.
“We must slay him this time as a warning to the entire world: do not break the rules!” Mistress Zhuzhao huffed.
Martial Uncle Hua nodded: “Yes, very well.”
Mistress Zhuzhao continued, “Martial Uncle, I, Yinyue, and Zhanran, and Pavilion Master Yang will bring two seniors. The seven of us will visit Changbai Sword Peak once.”
“Mm. You make the arrangements; this old body will only provide the strength to strike.”
Martial Uncle Hua nodded.
Mistress Zhuzhao laughed: “It is all thanks to Martial Uncle! Without your backing, we would not dare trespass onto Changbai Peak.”
Martial Uncle Hua shook her head: “Changbai Sword Peak has quite a few experts. We must strike and leave immediately; if we get surrounded and forced into a prolonged fight, we won't be able to retreat unscathed.”
“Understood,” Mistress Zhuzhao nodded.
“When do we depart?” Martial Uncle Hua inquired.
“How about tomorrow morning?” Mistress Zhuzhao asked.
Li Muzhan interjected, “Master, the sooner the better. If he has any secret healing arts, going late will be for nothing.”
“Mm, Zhanran speaks sense,” Martial Uncle Hua nodded.
Mistress Zhuzhao smiled: “This mischievous boy, trying to seize command, wanting to order all of us.”
“Oh…?” Martial Uncle Hua gave Li Muzhan a playful glance, “And why is that?”
Mistress Zhuzhao explained, “Since childhood, he has practiced Buddhist Chandana Kungfu and developed a minor divine ability, allowing him to locate Nie Wangqiu’s hiding spot. Before you arrived, he even guessed your attire.”
“He guessed correctly?” Martial Uncle Hua asked.
“He did,” Mistress Zhuzhao replied with a smile, nodding.
“What does Pavilion Master Yang think?” Martial Uncle Hua perceived that Mistress Zhuzhao was leaning toward agreeing.
Yang Chong chuckled: “Master Zhanran’s divine perception is truly astonishing; this humble one admires it… As long as the Mistress does not object, I have no reason to disagree.”
Mistress Zhuzhao cast a sidelong glance at Li Muzhan: “Very well. Since he wishes to strategize, let him take charge. At worst, he can take the rear.”
“Thank you, Master!” Li Muzhan solemnly pressed his palms together in thanks. ……
Li Muzhan hadn't expected his Master to actually agree. After all, this assassination was no trivial matter; one mistake, and they would truly fall into the hands of the Changbai Sword Sect, leading to certain death.
Martial Uncle Hua asked with a smile, “Zhanran, when do you suggest we depart?”
Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then said, “Martial Ancestor, let us go at dusk. We will leave right after dinner; three days and three nights should be enough to reach Changbai Sword Peak.”
“Good,” Martial Uncle Hua nodded. “Zhuzhao, listen to Zhanran’s arrangements.”
“Yes,” Mistress Zhuzhao replied.
Martial Uncle Hua turned to leave to make preparations. Yang Chong said, “Where is that Xiaoyao brat? I’ll go check on him!”
He Fengxia stood up: “Master, please follow me.”
Yang Chong said, “Senior Sister, I will go check on this boy first.”
Mistress Zhuzhao nodded, watching them depart. She turned and glared at Li Muzhan: “You little imp, you truly have the audacity of heaven!”
Li Muzhan rubbed his nose: “Master, was I too rash?”
“You admit you were rash?!” Mistress Zhuzhao huffed, then turned to Wen Yinyue, “Yinyue, go prepare the elixirs. We might get injured, so pack plenty of medicine.”
“Yes,” Wen Yinyue glanced at Li Muzhan and left.
When only the two of them remained in the main hall, Mistress Zhuzhao said, “Zhansha, tell me the truth, what exactly is the nature of your divine ability?”
Li Muzhan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head helplessly, sighing, “Master, it is nothing much, just the Buddhist Heavenly Eye Vision.” He truly didn't wish to elaborate; it would bring endless trouble.
“Heavenly Eye Vision?” Mistress Zhuzhao knitted her brows, “Can one truly cultivate the Heavenly Eye Vision?”
Li Muzhan nodded: “Yes, when cultivation reaches a certain level, these divine abilities naturally manifest. However, Master also understands that all such powers are merely external paths; one should not place too much emphasis on them.”
Mistress Zhuzhao inquired, “Though they are external paths, their power is considerable… How far can you see?” She was a Buddhist practitioner; although she hadn't witnessed such powers, she had read descriptions in Buddhist scriptures and knew a little.
“About two li,” Li Muzhan said. He wasn't telling the whole truth; if he claimed five li, he feared he would frighten Mistress Zhuzhao.
“Only two li…” Mistress Zhuzhao shook her head.
Li Muzhan smiled: “My cultivation is shallow; I can only see two li.”
“Can you see things clearly?” Mistress Zhuzhao asked.
Li Muzhan nodded: “Yes, if I focus, I can see clearly… However, it exhausts the spirit greatly, leaving me feeling as if I’ve suffered a serious illness afterward, similar to using the Great Illumination King Sutra. I rarely use it normally.” He did his best to downplay its efficacy, emphasizing that it was powerful yet extremely draining, making him hesitant to employ it often. ………………
“I see…” Mistress Zhuzhao nodded.
She pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up: “Does that mean, in the residences on our Canghai Mountain, you could look into whichever room you wished to see?”
Li Muzhan’s heart sank; he knew the inevitable question had arrived. He quickly laughed, “Master, where is your mind wandering! How could I expend such spiritual energy on such a trivial matter?!”
Mistress Zhuzhao looked at him with a half-smile.
Li Muzhan stared straight ahead, his gaze open and clear: “Master…!”
“Fine, I suppose I was just guessing!” Mistress Zhuzhao waved her hand, chuckling sweetly, “If the Heavenly Eye Vision were used for such mundane things, it would have lost its divine nature long ago.”
“Exactly,” Li Muzhan nodded quickly.
After chatting for a while, they went together to the small courtyard where Wang Xiaoyao was staying.
As they entered the courtyard, before even reaching the room, they heard Yang Chong’s furious roar: “You brat, stop feigning death! You have the nerve to rebel!”
“Life…” Yang Xingyun’s gentle voice chimed in.
Wang Xiaoyao erupted in violent coughing, followed by a flurry of activity. He Fengxia and Yang Xingyun asked with concern. Yang Chong grumbled resentfully a few times before falling silent. Li Muzhan and Mistress Zhuzhao smiled and withdrew.
Toward evening, after everyone had eaten, they quietly descended Canghai Mountain, employing their movement techniques to rush forward like seven wisps of smoke skimming the earth.
Li Muzhan kept Li Yujiao in the dark, arranging for Tu, Yuan, and Mei Ruolan to keep her company and play.
The sun dipped low, bathing everything in the crimson glow of the afterglow.
Li Muzhan led the way, taking a direct path: crossing mountains when he met them, spanning rivers when he encountered them, gliding over trees—like a swift bird traversing the heavens, taking the shortest route.
The movement skills of everyone present were already consummate. Since they had accepted him as their commander, they offered no further objections, following him swiftly and silently.
Li Muzhan pushed his Qinggong to the extreme, moving with phantom speed, unparalleled in swiftness. The six following him did not find it easy. Seeing this, Yang Chong realized that their previous journey up Canghai Mountain had been somewhat comical in comparison.
They stopped halfway only for necessities: drinking when thirsty, eating dried rations when hungry, consuming elixirs when tired, and using elixirs when internal energy was depleted—they traveled with fierce urgency.
They knew that each of the Seven Great Sects possessed their own secret healing arts or miraculous elixirs. Besides Canghai Mountain’s Yin-Yang Creation Art and Luotuo Temple’s Medicine King Sutra, the other five sects possessed potent pills. With the aid of these elixirs, Nie Wangqiu’s injuries might heal quickly. They needed to arrive before he recovered, or their journey would be in vain.