Among the three, only Wen Yin Yue was recognized. Mistress Zhuzhao was dressed like an ordinary person, much like a disciple of the Canghai Sword Sect, and Li Muzhan certainly didn't look like a martial artist. Of the three, Wen Yin Yue was the most conspicuous.

The Changbai Sword Sect's repeated attempts to kill her were all aimed at catching Wen Yin Yue isolated, seizing a rare opportunity that felt like a piece of fat meat dropped right into their mouths.

Wen Yin Yue said, "Master, I'll go take a look..."

"No hurry, we go together," Mistress Zhuzhao waved her hand dismissively.

This time they must have come prepared. Even with only ten people, they must have heard the news of Fan Dongyuan’s fifty men being utterly annihilated. Naturally, these new arrivals meant trouble.

Few people had truly witnessed Wen Yin Yue’s martial prowess. Most assumed that given her youth and gender, her skill couldn't be too high, which is why they thought they could catch her off guard and eliminate those fifty-plus experts.

These experts would be pillars in any ordinary sect, yet before Wen Yin Yue, they were like mere wooden posts, easily cut down without any power to resist.

The carriage moved slowly, the red horse pulling it looking lethargic, as if enjoying the sun.

Ten white-clad riders were lined up ahead, blocking the main road. From over a hundred meters away, the coachman spotted the abnormality and quickly pulled the reins, bringing the carriage to a halt.

The old coachman turned to look back, "Miss, shall we..."

He was seasoned and unafraid; having witnessed Wen Yin Yue's swordsmanship before only bolstered his confidence.

Wen Yin Yue nodded faintly, "Stop right here. You step aside; don't be afraid."

"Heh heh, with the Young Miss here, all evils keep their distance. This old fellow isn't scared," the old coachman chuckled good-naturedly.

Wen Yin Yue drifted away, reaching the ten white-clad riders in a blink. She tilted her head slightly and asked, "Gentlemen blocking the path, what business do you have?"

The lead rider was a middle-aged man, slender of build with a long, narrow face, his eyes sharp as lightning. "You are Wen Yin Yue?"

Wen Yin Yue nodded, "Indeed. Are you from the Changbai Sect?..."

"Correct. We are ordered to escort Miss Wen back to the mountain. Please come along!" the middle-aged man stated in a deep voice.

Wen Yin Yue smiled faintly, "If you wish to invite me to Changbai Sword Peak, you’ll have to show me what skill you possess."

"The Young Sect Master commands that if there is resistance, kill without question. Miss Wen, think carefully, do not ruin yourself!" the middle-aged man spoke gravely, his eyes stabbing directly into Wen Yin Yue's.

Wen Yin Yue replied flatly, "Enough nonsense."

The middle-aged man regarded her deeply, shook his head with a trace of regret, and said gravely, "Very well. Since you refuse, do not blame us for being ruthless in crushing a fair flower..." "...Kill!"

He raised a hand. The other nine pressed their saddles and leaped into the air, diving down toward Wen Yin Yue like eagles swooping on chicks. Nine long swords were drawn, forming a circle as they swept down overhead.

……………………

Wen Yin Yue shifted aside, slipping out of the nine-man encirclement, and instantly appeared behind the middle-aged man. A flash of sword light, and Lie Jian was already aimed at his back.

"Clang..." The middle-aged man reversed his long sword, parrying the tip of Wen Yin Yue's blade.

Where the two swords met, Wen Yin Yue felt a sudden heat in her palm; her sword nearly flew from her grasp. A faint lotus flower flickered momentarily near her wrist before vanishing, and her arm returned to normal.

She was astonished internally. Appearances could be deceiving; she hadn't expected this middle-aged man to be such a supreme master. He had clearly anticipated her move and was prepared, launching a charged attack to achieve such power.

"Hah!" the middle-aged man roared, his sword light stabbing toward Wen Yin Yue like lightning. Wen Yin Yue gave a gentle deflection and swung her sword casually.

This thrust was exquisitely subtle, perfectly blocking the middle-aged man's attack as if waiting for him to charge into it. The man had no choice but to forcefully change his move.

Wen Yin Yue followed with another soft sword stroke, again sealing his move. He felt awkward and stifled, unable to unleash the full force of his sword style, forcing him to shift tactics once more.

The other nine lunged in. Wen Yin Yue flashed, once again breaking free of their encirclement.

Her lightness skill was superior to theirs, and coupled with her exquisite swordsmanship, the ten of them were instantly like headless flies, forced to chase her aimlessly to no avail.

Li Muzhan laughed, "No wonder Senior Sister is so ferocious, making the slaughter of fifty people last time seem like child's play. It turns out she perfectly counters their sword style! Haha, interesting! Very interesting!"

Wen Yin Yue was a genius, her comprehension of martial arts extraordinarily fast. Otherwise, she wouldn't have achieved so much at her age practicing the Wonderful Lotus Scripture, surpassing her teachers.

Such a genius was rare in this age, but the emergence of Li Muzhan had somewhat overshadowed her brilliance.

There was the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill, the Great Ming King Sutra, and the Canghai Divine Sword—with these around, Wen Yin Yue's practice of the Wonderful Lotus Scripture seemed less remarkable.

She had studied the Flying Immortal Sword Scripture and gained immense insight. In terms of comprehension, she was far superior to Nie Wangqiu. Even if she couldn't grasp the entirety of the scripture in a short time, using it to counter the Changbai Sword Sect's techniques was more than enough.

All the martial arts of the Changbai Sect were derived from the Flying Immortal Sword Scripture; it was their foundation, their source. Having analyzed the scripture, Wen Yin Yue understood the Changbai Sword Sect's swordplay as if reading the lines on her own palm.

Her light, elegant sword strokes, which appeared to outsiders as beautiful and graceful as a sword dance, were, to the Changbai disciples, direct strikes aimed at vital weaknesses—lethal as a serpent’s fang.

Mistress Zhuzhao also laughed, shaking her head, "Who would have thought a lucky stumble could lead to such a wonderful outcome."

From that day forward, the Changbai Sword Sect could never hold their heads up in front of the Canghai Sword Sect; they would be firmly suppressed. Yin Yue’s contribution was monumental; the swordsmanship she displayed had already transcended the confines of the Nine Canghai Swords, subtly merging with the Flying Immortal Sword Scripture to form a unique set of techniques.

The previous time she faced fifty opponents, the initial framework was apparent; this time it was even more complete, showing a quantum leap indicative of her superb comprehension.

Mistress Zhuzhao’s face bloomed with a proud and delighted smile.

The leading middle-aged man suddenly stopped pursuing Wen Yin Yue. In the back-and-forth of pursuit and evasion, their formation had broken down, and two men had already been lost.

He flashed instantly before Li Muzhan and thrust his sword as if parting grass to find a snake, the speed of the strike electric, showcasing his refined sword mastery.

Li Muzhan chuckled lightly and sent out a gentle palm strike toward the sword tip.

The middle-aged man bared a vicious smile; meeting the sword with his bare palm was pure courting death. He pushed his internal energy harder, intending to pierce the palm and simultaneously strike the chest.

"Ding..." With a sharp sound, the middle-aged man shuddered, his long sword flying out of his grip.

Li Muzhan's palm, white as jade, slightly pivoted and sent the sword flying. Following the momentum, he struck the middle-aged man's chest, sending him flying backward.

"Puff!..." He spat a jet of blood mid-air, and something fragmented seemed to spray out with it—his internal organs were shattered.

"Thud!" He fell like a sack of rags, unmoving.

Li Muzhan shook his head and turned to smile, "Even soft persimmons aren't so easy to crush!"

Mistress Zhuzhao pursed her lips and smiled, "He was blind and simply asked for death!"

Li Muzhan asked, "Master, should I go forward and help, to end this quickly?"

Mistress Zhuzhao shook her head, "No need. It's best for Yin Yue to hone her swordsmanship against them."

While the two were speaking, two more men fell dead from sword wounds. Li Muzhan called out loudly, "Senior Sister, finish this quickly; we still need to travel!"

"Mm," Wen Yin Yue's faint voice drifted over, as clear as if she were standing right beside them.

She acknowledged and suddenly quickened her movements. Cold starlight dotted her surroundings, scattering like raindrops, instantly enveloping the remaining five.

Following a series of muffled groans, the sword light around Wen Yin Yue abruptly receded. She flashed to Li Muzhan's side, a faint, delicate fragrance drifting after her.

"Senior Sister's swordsmanship is excellent!" Li Muzhan clapped his hands and laughed, "What name did you decide on for this set of moves?"

"Brother Xiao can name it," Wen Yin Yue turned to him.

Mistress Zhuzhao blurted out, "How about the Immortal-Shattering Sword Style?"

Li Muzhan chuckled, "It seems Master already had one in mind... Immortal-Shattering Sword Style, that has presence!"

"Nonsense, stop flattering! Tell me honestly what you think!" Mistress Zhuzhao gave him a look and snorted.

Li Muzhan laughed, "Very good, very good. Immortal-Shattering Sword... it specifically shatters the Flying Immortal Sword Style..." ...But, I think the Flying Immortal Sword Style is better!"

"Flying Immortal Sword Style?" Mistress Zhuzhao frowned slightly and huffed, "Isn't that what the Changbai Sword Sect calls theirs?..."

Li Muzhan rubbed his nose, "What they use isn't the true Flying Immortal Sword Style. Senior Sister's set of techniques is the real one. Others will naturally discern the genuine from the imitation."

Mistress Zhuzhao smiled, shaking her head, "You little rascal, your mind is full of mischief!"

………………

The next ten days passed in calm. Li Muzhan continuously practiced the Heaven-Man Divine Illumination Scripture, his spirit gently nourished within the Divine Illumination Chart. Ten days later, he had fully recovered.

That morning, they left the south gate of a small city and headed straight south.

The three changed horses. Li Muzhan had recovered and no longer needed the carriage; the carriage's speed was truly abysmal. If they relied on it, the return journey would take another half a month.

Li Muzhan rode to Mistress Zhuzhao's left, with Wen Yin Yue to her right, the three riding abreast.

Li Muzhan suddenly frowned while on his horse, turning to say, "Master, we are being tracked. Let's change course!"

"Oh...?" Mistress Zhuzhao turned to look at him.

By now, all three had changed their attire. Mistress Zhuzhao was dressed as a man, and Wen Yin Yue also wore men's clothes, both having affixed small mustaches to their lips and deliberately thickened their eyebrows. The high collars concealed their throats—convenient in winter, though it would be less so in summer.

Both women wore flowing azure robes, appearing dashing and unrestrained. In contrast, Li Muzhan’s attire made him look like a mere servant, in a plain grey long gown, his appearance entirely unremarkable.

"Junior Brother, your divine powers have recovered?" Wen Yin Yue quickly asked.

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother!" Wen Yin Yue beamed.

Mistress Zhuzhao asked, "Rascal, how many are there?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "I sense danger, but I don't know the exact number!"

"Shall we go test them?" Mistress Zhuzhao inquired.

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded, "Alright, let's break through and see."

Although his intuition sensed danger, it wasn't overwhelmingly strong. They were only targeting Senior Sister as the opponent; they hadn't accounted for him and the Master, meaning there might be an opportunity.

"Very well, let's go meet these persistent fellows!" Mistress Zhuzhao waved her hand spiritedly and urged her steed forward.

The three galloped away, rapidly distancing themselves from the small city. (To be continued)