Xin Xiaoni went upstairs and soon came down, nodding with a smile: "The Lake Master will be down shortly." Li Muzhan smiled faintly: "Many thanks, Senior Sister Xin!" "No need to be so polite." Xin Xiaoni shook her head and chuckled, "Junior Sister Xu and I are close sisters. She entrusted me to look after you before she left, but I didn't expect your seclusion to last this long." Li Muzhan hurriedly asked, "What else did Senior Sister Xu say?" "She said you have a stubborn personality—outwardly gentle, inwardly firm." Xin Xiaoni pursed her lips and smiled.

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head: "Senior Sister Xu is truly..., why hasn't Senior Sister Xu returned yet?" "Hmm, I've been thinking about that these past few days too." Logically, they should have returned by now." Xin Xiaoni’s smile faded, her delicate brows furrowing. "Could there be danger?" Li Muzhan inquired.

He grew more anxious inwardly. Initially, he had thought the Lake Master might have given them other assignments, hence the delay, but seeing Xin Xiaoni's expression, that wasn't the case.

Xin Xiaoni shook her head and smiled brightly: "The Lake Master even assigned two people to follow them secretly; there's no danger." Li Muzhan frowned, shook his head, his expression solemn. As the two were chatting, with soft footfalls, Leng Wushuang slowly descended the steps.

"Lake Master." Li Muzhan stepped forward. Leng Wushuang kept walking, reached the bottom, and settled into the central Tai Shi armchair, slowly looking up at him: "Li Zhu, what is it?" Li Muzhan cupped his fists: "Lake Master, Senior Sister Zhang, Senior Sister He, and Senior Sister Xu have not yet returned.

Could they have run into trouble on the road?" Leng Wushuang raised an eyebrow and glanced at him: "Trouble on the road?" Li Muzhan nodded: "The bandits of Luoyang Mountain, the Sanxiao Hall, and even the Beijiang Sword Sect might make a move." Leng Wushuang shook her head: "You worry too much. Even if they made a move, Xu Xiaorou and the others could handle it.

Don't fret so much." Li Muzhan insisted: "I only fear they might have colluded..." Leng Wushuang raised a hand: "Enough. Stop overthinking.

I will send a few people over to check." "Yes, thank you, Lake Master!" Li Muzhan quickly clasped his fists. Leng Wushuang gave a faint smile: "What for?

I had intended to send someone even if you hadn't mentioned it." Li Muzhan said: "Lake Master, let me go with you." Leng Wushuang shook her head: "Your lightness skill is subpar; there's no need for you to go." Li Muzhan countered: "I can ride a horse, and besides, my saber technique might still be useful." Leng Wushuang shook her head: "You don't need to go; I will go personally." Li Muzhan looked at her, then slowly said: "...Yes." Since Leng Wushuang was going herself, there was naturally no need for further worry. After spending these days together, though he didn't understand the depth of her martial arts, he sensed they were unfathomably deep.

Even though he had dissolved his internal power, his intuition was sharper, feeling like he was facing the vast, turbulent ocean when sitting opposite her. …………………………………… Li Muzhan left Xinghu Lake and returned to his courtyard.

A vague sense of foreboding arose; his mind was restless. He practiced his saber technique outside for a while, but it was of no use, so he returned to practice Qi.

Practicing Qi required achieving harmony between heaven and man, allowing the spirit to enter a state of tranquility for it to be effective. He soon entered the state of harmony and began his breathing exercises.

His heart was calm, and time flowed exceptionally fast, giving him the sensation of dreaming for a thousand years. When he awoke from the state of harmony, it was already evening.

The setting sun shone through the window, casting a soft light inside the room. He got off the couch and left the house.

The training ground was bustling; the senior brothers who had gone out enjoying themselves during the day were now training with fierce effort, as if trying to make up for the time they had spent playing. Li Muzhan walked past the crowd, left the main courtyard, descended the steps, and went to the lakeside, pacing back and forth along the shore, occasionally looking toward the distance.

The evening glow dyed the western sky red, layers of white clouds outlined in gold, the sky rendered incomparably magnificent, reflecting upon the lake's surface, making the water appear to burn, the ripples dancing like leaping flames. After walking several circuits, he hopped back onto the small boat to the central Water Pavilion.

Xin Xiaoni was practicing her fists in the Luoxing Pavilion. Seeing him approach, she stopped, leaned against the railing, and smiled at him.

"Senior Sister Xin, has the Lake Master returned?" Li Muzhan called up from the boat. A gust of wind blew, causing her green silk robe to flutter.

Xin Xiaoni reached up to smooth a strand of hair near her temple, shook her head, and said with a smile, "Not yet. Don't worry, with the Lake Master going herself, everything will be fine!" Li Muzhan frowned and nodded slowly.

Xin Xiaoni saw through his thoughts and chuckled: "Never mind you overthinking; even if Senior Sister Zhang and the others truly met with danger, the Lake Master possesses the ability to bring the dead back to life, she can save them!" Li Muzhan instantly felt invigorated: "The Lake Master has the power to revive the dead?" "Yes!" Xin Xiaoni pursed her lips and smiled: "The Lake Master's martial arts are divine; even if someone dies, as long as it hasn't been more than a day, she can bring them back to the living world!" Li Muzhan laughed: "Is that so? What kind of medical art is that?" Xin Xiaoni shook her head: "It's not medical art; it's martial arts." "What martial art?" Li Muzhan inquired.

He was extremely curious. He possessed two great esoteric arts from Dayuan—the Crane Control Oil Supplementation Technique and the Yin-Yang Creation Art—both of which were miraculous for saving lives; as long as there was a breath left, they could save someone.

Both arts were incredibly wondrous, but if a person died, they could do nothing—they couldn't snatch souls back from the Halls of Yama. He had never heard of Leng Wushuang possessing such a miraculous technique that could bring people back to life.

Xin Xiaoni shook her head: "I don't know either... The Lake Master's martial arts are extremely varied.

She has mastered every technique in the Small Residence. Though we are considered talented, compared to the Lake Master, the gap is immense!" Li Muzhan nodded.

As far as he knew, there were indeed a great many martial arts in the Small Residence. Besides the ones the Lake Master specifically designated for cultivation, one could also choose several electives.

In total, there were nearly a hundred types of martial arts in the Small Residence, and to master every single one was truly astonishing. …………………………………………”………… Li Muzhan said: "The Lake Master must have a fundamental core art." Mastering one primary art while supplementing with several others was the proper path; he presumed the Lake Master followed this as well.

"The Lake Master has a specialized esoteric art called the Falling Star Technique," Xin Xiaoni stated. "Falling Star Technique..." Li Muzhan murmured.

Xin Xiaoni explained: "This Falling Star Technique can only be cultivated by successive Lake Masters; ordinary disciples are not permitted to practice it." "Oh?" Li Muzhan nodded. Xin Xiaoni then asked: "What martial art are you practicing?" "Qi Cultivation Art," Li Muzhan replied.

Xin Xiaoni thought for a moment, then shook her head: "It doesn't seem to be in the Qunxing Hall." Li Muzhan nodded: "It is passed down orally." Xin Xiaoni's eyes immediately lit up: "Passed down orally? That means it's a martial art exceeding the Ninth Rank!" Li Muzhan gave a wry smile: "It's incredibly difficult to practice.

I spent two months in seclusion, and even with the Lake Master's painstaking effort, I've only just managed to get started." Xin Xiaoni pursed her lips and nodded with a smile: "Those Supreme-Rank martial arts possess immense power, but they are also the most troublesome. Don't expect much progress for three to five years; you have a long road ahead of you." Li Muzhan sighed: "If I'm to practice this Qi Cultivation Art to perfection, judging by the Lake Master's meaning, I might not have that chance." "That's a good thing—though these Supreme-Rank arts advance slowly, their potential has great staying power.

The later it gets, the stronger the power becomes, allowing latecomers to surpass those who started early," Xin Xiaoni chirped. Li Muzhan always felt she was savoring his misfortune, showing no hint of envy.

He sighed: "I only fear that by the time I reach that later stage, I'll be old, losing all desire to venture into the Jianghu and make a name for myself." Xin Xiaoni pursed her lips, then suddenly giggled, quickly covering her mouth. Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow: "It won't really be like that, will it?" Xin Xiaoni kept her mouth covered as she nodded, then slowly lowered her hand and smiled: "Most people who practice Supreme-Rank martial arts end up that way—great talents bloom late.

You need to be mentally prepared." "Great talent blooms late!" Li Muzhan gave a bitter smile, shaking his head wryly: "By the time I'm old, I won't have the ambition to compete or strive for fame. What use is supreme martial skill then?" Xin Xiaoni smiled thinly: "Indeed, it's of little use.

Our Small Residence is quiet and peaceful; no matter how high your martial arts reach, there is no arena for them here." As the two chatted and laughed, the sky slowly darkened. Dusk descended, falling onto the lake surface, blurring the distance.

With the Lake Master Leng Wushuang absent, Li Muzhan dared to deploy his Void Eye. He suddenly jolted and quickly retracted the Void Eye.

He had seen Lake Master Leng Wushuang, but thankfully, her mind was focused, and she hadn't discovered him. He felt a chill run down his spine; it was best not to use the Void Eye within the Xinghu Small Residence.

……………………………………, He saw an image: Leng Wushuang, accompanied by Xu Xiaorou and the others, returning safely. He let out a long breath, turned, and said: "Senior Sister Xin, I'll head back first.

Please let me know when the Lake Master returns." "Alright, off you go," Xin Xiaoni waved him off. Li Muzhan slowly rowed the boat back to his courtyard.

Since Senior Sister Xu and the others had returned safely, he was relieved and didn't need to personally greet them. A while later, as he was practicing his saber technique, a crisp voice called out from behind him: "Junior Brother Li!" Li Muzhan turned his head; Xu Xiaorou stood gracefully in the deepening twilight, beckoning toward him.

The training ground was empty now. Lights shone from the surrounding small cabins, softly illuminating the practice area without being dim.

Li Muzhan sheathed his saber and strode swiftly to the edge of the field, approaching her: "Senior Sister Xu!" Xu Xiaorou stood there in a goose-yellow silk shirt, looking exquisitely charming. She pursed her lips and smiled: "I'm back!

Are you happy or not?" Li Muzhan nodded with a reserved smile, his expression restrained: "Are Senior Sister Zhang and Senior Sister He alright?" "Alas, that time was truly perilous!" Xu Xiaorou sighed deeply, shaking her head: "It was fortunate the Lake Master arrived in time, otherwise, Senior Sister Zhang would have been finished!" Li Muzhan's face shifted: "What happened?" Xu Xiaorou huffed: "A group of fellows appeared from nowhere; their martial arts were formidable, and their methods despicable. Senior Sister Zhang was struck by a hidden projectile while saving me—it was a poison that severs the intestines in seven steps!" "Then Senior Sister Zhang...?" Li Muzhan's expression changed.

Xu Xiaorou glanced at him, as if trying to discern something. Li Muzhan quickly asked with concern: "Is Senior Sister Zhang alright?" Xu Xiaorou shot him a sidelong glance and chuckled: "You seem quite concerned about Senior Sister Zhang!" Li Muzhan replied: "All three of you Senior Sisters are very good to me...

how could I not be concerned? Is she okay?" "Hehe, with the Lake Master taking action, what serious trouble could there be." Xu Xiaorou withdrew her direct gaze and smiled: "Senior Sister Zhang had only just drawn her last breath when the Lake Master arrived and brought her back." "Thank Heaven!" Li Muzhan let out a huge sigh of relief.

Xu Xiaorou inquired: "I heard from the Lake Master that you've managed to get started with the Qi Cultivation Art?" Li Muzhan nodded: "Yes. I should go see Senior Sister Zhang!" Xu Xiaorou said: "Senior Sister Zhang has already gone back.

You can't see her today... maybe tomorrow?

Let's go play in Xiushui City together then!"