Li Muzhan reached out, then finally let his hand drop, stepping into the cave right behind her. A cool breeze washed over his face, fresh and carrying a faint sweetness, almost like the scent of medicine.

His senses were sharp, and he detected the herbal aroma immediately. He hurried to say, "Lake Mistress, take an Antidote Pill, please!" Leng Wushuang stopped ahead, nodded once, "Mm, take an Antidote Pill." The Antidote Pills from Star Lake Lodge were treasures, capable of neutralizing all the world's poisons. While they couldn't cure every toxin, they could certainly ward off most fatal ones.

Their medicinal power would transform into a pure essence circulating within the body, instantly dissolving any poison upon invasion. This medicinal effect could last a full day.

Li Muzhan turned and said, "Senior Sister Xu, give Brother Song an Antidote Pill, please!" Xu Xiaorou flicked a finger, sending a crimson pellet flying toward Song Jiatian. Song Jiatian caught it smoothly and immediately popped it into his mouth, where it dissolved instantly.

He recognized the taste and sensation; it was identical to the medicine he had administered to his wife earlier. He had long heard of the famed Antidote Pills of Star Lake Lodge—ingesting one guaranteed immunity to all poisons for a day and could cure existing ones; truly an elixir of the highest order.

Xu Xiaorou glanced at him, nodding inwardly; he possessed a certain boldness, making him worth befriending.

Everyone swallowed an Antidote Pill. Leng Wushuang continued walking, her steps slow and measured. The group followed in solemn silence, one step after another.

Li Muzhan kept a distance of about one zhang behind Leng Wushuang—the optimal gap. In times of danger, he could offer timely aid while also ensuring he had room to dodge.

After walking about two hundred steps, they suddenly rounded a corner, and the view brightened instantly, followed by a sharp hissing sound. Leng Wushuang waved her sleeve, and the sound immediately ceased.

Li Muzhan narrowed his eyes to see clearly: they were silver needles, gleaming with a faint blue light. A gentle breeze carried a faint, sweet, yet pungent odor.

Li Muzhan’s spirits lifted—it was that scent. The needles that had struck Senior Sister Zhang and Song Jiatian’s wife, Zhang Xiujuan, carried the exact same smell, poisoned with the identical toxin.

A series of clear bell tolls rang out—clang, clang, clang, clang—followed by hurried footsteps. Taking advantage of the moment, Leng Wushuang charged forward, pushing both palms out flat.

A fierce wind erupted from the ground, roaring like a tiger descending a mountain. She rushed out immediately after, and Li Muzhan and the others quickly followed, emerging from the cave.

Their eyes adjusted to the light: they were in a mountain valley, a vast expanse of green. Bamboo forests covered the area, occasionally interspersed with small patches of cultivated land that didn't seem to hold grain but rather medicinal herbs.

Before them lay a path paved with crushed stones threading through green grass, curving out of sight behind the bamboo thicket about ten zhang away. The scene suggested profound distance and tranquility, irresistibly inviting one to peer further.

The various smells in the air blended into a pleasingly fresh atmosphere that refreshed the lungs and heart.

The pure essence within his body circulated incessantly, like the movement of internal force, accompanied by a slight stinging sensation. Li Muzhan whispered, "Lake Mistress, there is poison here!"

Leng Wushuang glanced around, nodding lightly. "Qiaoyi, Ruoshui, Xiaorou—the three of you guard this spot. Li Zhu, you come in with me."

At the end of the path, ten zhang away, a group of people suddenly surged forward—mostly young women, with a few young men, all around seventeen or eighteen years old. They stopped about three zhang away, staring tensely at Leng Wushuang and her party, gripping their swords and knives tightly.

…………………………………………”,……………………

"Lake Mistress, let's go in together!" Zhang Qiaoyi frowned.

She felt deeply uneasy. Seeing this formation, it looked like a dragon's pool guarded by tigers. Although the Lake Mistress’s martial arts were formidable, a tiger cannot fight off a pack of wolves; sheer numbers demanded caution.

"Yes, Lake Mistress, all of us together!" He Ruoshui added.

Leng Wushuang waved her hand, effectively silencing Xu Xiaorou, who could only swallow her words helplessly and look at Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan could only give a wry, helpless shake of his head.

Xu Xiaorou shot him a glare, and Li Muzhan shook his head again.

They exchanged messages with their eyes. She wanted Li Muzhan to try persuading the Lake Mistress; Li Muzhan conveyed that arguing would be useless. Xu Xiaorou huffed, "How do you know it won't work?" Li Muzhan shook his head, his expression firm.

Their brief, silent exchange conveyed a deep, mutual understanding.

Leng Wushuang said, "Martial Brother Song, would you and your wife assist Qiaoyi and the others?"

Song Jiatian chuckled and nodded, "Gladly, I am willing to serve!"

"Thank you for your trouble." Leng Wushuang nodded lightly, her gaze briefly sweeping over his face before immediately turning back to face the group of youths opposite them.

This group was growing restless, slowly shuffling forward, gripping their weapons ever tighter, clearly on the verge of attacking.

Li Muzhan stepped forward, raising a silver needle, and intoned sternly, "Who are you people? And why do you employ such malicious hidden weapons!"

"Outsiders, what business do you have here!" a young man called out sternly.

He strode forward, stepping past the others to stand at the forefront. Clad in a brown short jacket, his limbs showed subtle muscle definition, and his body moved with a smooth, flowing grace that nonetheless contained explosive potential, as elegant as a leopard.

His eyes were narrow and slightly squinted as he assessed Li Muzhan, giving Li Muzhan the chilling sensation of being targeted by a wolf. Li Muzhan’s heart tightened.

The world was vast and full of wonders, especially in Nanli, where martial arts masters constantly emerged. This young man exuded an extreme sense of danger despite his youth.

He turned to Leng Wushuang, "Lake Mistress, it should be them. We must find the true culprit."

Leng Wushuang nodded slightly. "Mm, no need for more talk. We press forward."

"Good!" Li Muzhan agreed, showing a look of admiration. It seemed compromise was impossible; words were useless; the real test lay in the clash of hands.

Just as he was about to draw his blade, his arm felt a weight as Leng Wushuang placed her right hand on his left shoulder, saying coolly, "You step back; I will handle this. Just follow me."

Li Muzhan quickly countered, "Lake Mistress, allow me instead. Why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?"

"To you, they are not merely chickens," Leng Wushuang smiled faintly. Her figure flickered, vanishing from where she stood, reappearing instantly among the group.

She swept her long sleeves, and the two dozen young men and women were sent flying, tossed far to the grassy areas on either side, swallowed by the lush green.

…………………………, "Qiaoyi, guard our rear. Let's go!" Leng Wushuang ordered, turning back, then looked at Li Muzhan, who nodded quickly.

Leng Wushuang’s steps seemed to float, as if riding the wind; though appearing slow, her speed was astonishing. Li Muzhan had to employ his lightness skill to the utmost just to keep pace.

Li Muzhan whispered, "Lake Mistress, be careful—I have a strong intuition that danger lies ahead."

"Mm, I know." Leng Wushuang nodded lightly, her steps drifting, and in a blink, they reached the end of the path.

As soon as they rounded the corner, both halted. A group of men stood two zhang away, watching them silently. These ten men looked to be around twenty, their expressions composed, their eyes bright and piercing.

These young men clearly looked like martial arts experts; their gazes were sharp, far exceeding those of ordinary people, and they carried a subtle, chilling aura of killing intent.

Li Muzhan frowned; he could tell instantly that these were men who had taken lives. Furthermore, their expressions were detached, indicating a clear disregard for life—both others' and their own.

Opponents like these were exceptionally difficult to handle; one careless move and they could capsize in the ditch. Although the Lake Mistress was powerful, they still needed to be cautious.

This was the time for him to step forward. Both as a man and as her disciple, he needed to stand in front. Letting the Lake Mistress handle everything would make him seem too incompetent.

He took a step forward and said sternly, "Where is your leader?" A young man in white laughed coldly, "Based on you?"

Li Muzhan said with gravity, "To attack without asking friend or foe—are you not afraid of causing accidental casualties?"

"All who enter our valley are enemies. Die!" the white-clothed youth sneered, waving his long saber, "Charge! Kill them!" The ten men rushed forward simultaneously. Though only ten, they possessed the momentum of an army of a thousand, their fierce killing intent crashing over the two like a massive wave.

Li Muzhan drew both his blades and struck lightly.

It seemed like a simple, straightforward slash, yet the youth facing him was sent flying out two zhang, landing on his back, unable to move.

Although Li Muzhan’s internal energy cultivation was shallow, his physical strength was astonishing. Even though these youths were masters, they weren't the monstrous freaks found within Star Lake Lodge; their internal energy cultivation lagged far behind, causing them to be immediately flung aside.

Li Muzhan’s feet moved forward instead of retreating. He struck out with one blade after another against the ten men, quickly sending two more flying. His saber technique was like a massive tree trunk.

In moments, three of the ten were down, and the momentum of the remaining seven wavered slightly.

…………………………………………”,………………

Two swift cuts flashed, blinding in their silver brilliance. The seven men involuntarily narrowed their eyes and stepped back. Li Muzhan seized the chance to retreat one step, holding his saber horizontally before his chest: "Please, have your leader come out. Why make things harder for yourselves!" "You are not worthy to see the Valley Master!" the white-clothed youth ground out with a cold laugh.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "You won't weep until you see the coffin. Why the insistence!"

Saying this, he stepped forward again and slashed out. This time, they had learned their lesson; instead of meeting his long saber head-on, they relied on agility, their swords and knives moving like flashes of lightning, elusive and tricky.

Li Muzhan brought one saber down slowly—his movement languid and unfolding—while the other moved incredibly fast, circling his body to form a curtain of light. Their flashing blades and swords, quick and strange, collided with the shield of light.

A continuous sound rang out—ding, ding-ding, ding—like rain drumming on banana leaves. The swords and sabers striking his light curtain sparked momentarily but could not advance an inch beyond the boundary.

Yet his saber technique, though seemingly slow, was lethally sharp. Especially after ten exchanges, he appeared to have seen through the vulnerabilities in their forms and techniques. Every strike landed where it was most difficult for them, forcing them to change their moves and hold their breath.

Leng Wushuang stood behind Li Muzhan, her white robes fluttering, watching the fight calmly, nodding slightly. This Li Zhu was not bad; not entirely foolish. Absorbing the Duanyue Saber style while faintly showing shadows of the Luoyang Saber technique suggested he was merging the two, creating something original.

One saber Yin, one saber Yang; one fast, one slow. He hadn't used the Duanyue Saber style with both blades, but instead kept one slow for defense and one fast for attack—this sort of natural understanding was rare and valuable.

For a martial artist, physical aptitude was certainly important, but insight and spiritual understanding were even more crucial. Without that inner spark, without true comprehension, even a lifetime of hard practice would yield limited achievement.

However, Heaven was inherently fair: it might grant one talent while stripping away another. To possess both superb physical aptitude and high insight was a rarity found perhaps once in ten thousand.

Li Muzhan, relying on his saber skills and immense strength, moved with ease even while surrounded by the seven men. He soon sent two more flying, leaving only five, which allowed him to relax even further and dispatch two more.

When only three remained, they suddenly leaped out of the encirclement, spun around, and fled, vanishing into the dense grass on either side in an instant.

The grass was thick and high, so Li Muzhan did not give chase, merely shaking his head and sheathing his blades.

The seven men lying on the ground could not move, their entire bodies numb. Li Muzhan's Duanyue Saber strikes had a unique quality, producing a strange vibration once inside the body.

However, Li Muzhan had not intended to kill them; he had only incapacitated them. Before confirming friend or foe, striking them down needlessly would only worsen matters.

……………………………………

Leng Wushuang shook her head and stepped forward. Li Muzhan followed her. They rounded another bend to find ten women standing in a line, all wearing crimson tight-fitting uniforms and holding long swords, looking at the pair with indifferent expressions.

Li Muzhan frowned. "Lake Mistress, it seems this will be endless."

Leng Wushuang replied calmly, "No hurry." Li Muzhan stepped forward, drew his saber, and charged straight ahead without a word, slashing down upon meeting the first opponent. A red-clad girl met him, her sword light shooting toward his chest like a streak of flowing light.

Li Muzhan’s saber met the tip of her sword, precisely.

With a crisp ding, the long sword was flung back. The girl shuddered as if electrocuted and collapsed limply.

A woman behind her floated forward, catching the girl, and shouted, "Attack together!"

The nine remaining girls converged on him, surrounding him, ignoring Leng Wushuang, who was content to stand aside, watching the fight with her white robes flowing.

These ten girls were a notch above the previous group of young men in skill, and they were adept at coordinated attacks. The nine moved in concert, continuously shifting their offense and defense.

Although Li Muzhan’s saber light was swift as lightning and powerful enough to cleave anything, he couldn't strike them; they seemed to merge into shifting shadows. Even when his saber appeared to connect, it was only a phantom.

Li Muzhan frowned. He realized they were using a formation designed to confuse the senses and trick the vision. He closed his eyes, protecting himself with both sabers circling like two coiled dragons.

The clear metallic clang of weapons meeting rang out incessantly—ding, ding, ding-ding... After a while, the rhythm of the ringing slowed and softened, as if the number of attackers had decreased.

It was the recoil from Li Muzhan’s blades numbing their arms, leaving them too weak to strike effectively. The varying depths of their skills were evident.

Only four girls in the fray remained untouched, continuing their relentless assault—clearly, they possessed techniques to deflect impact or could withstand Li Muzhan's vibrations.

Li Muzhan suddenly shifted from defense to offense, his saber light blazing with the Luoyang Saber technique. In moments, he enveloped the four girls like a cascading waterfall.

The four girls scrambled frantically. Before the remaining five could react, they too were on the ground. Seeing this, the other five turned and fled, quickly disappearing into the dense grass on either side.

Li Muzhan frowned, shaking his head with a sigh. "Lake Mistress, this is truly troublesome—one barrier after another. They aren't tired of it. I suspect they are using a delaying tactic; we need to hurry."

"A delaying tactic?" Leng Wushuang looked thoughtful.

Li Muzhan said, "I suspect there is an underground passage leading outside here. While we are occupied, they are all evacuating, aren't they?"

"Mm, quite possible," Leng Wushuang nodded.

…………………………………………，“Then what should we do?" Li Muzhan asked.

Leng Wushuang replied, "I will clear the path."

Li Muzhan nodded. Leng Wushuang moved ahead lightly, and he followed closely. In a short time, they rounded another corner. Before them stood ten more men, slightly older, perhaps twenty-four or five.

Their eyes radiated sharp light, and they stood with the imposing stillness of a deep pool or a towering mountain. It was clear they were experts, the kind who wouldn't be underestimated even among established martial artists.

Suddenly, Leng Wushuang’s figure flashed, instantly appearing behind them. Before they could react, she flicked her silken sleeve, and all ten men flew backward.

Li Muzhan watched, shaking his head with a wry smile. If he could execute the "Ruthless Sleeve," it wouldn't have this much might. He realized he still had a long way to go to catch up to the Lake Mistress—it seemed unattainable.

After this, the pair continued forward. Leng Wushuang used no other move; every person she encountered was swept away by a mere flick of her sleeve, an irresistible force, making her utterly unrivaled.

The two passed ten groups in total. The farther they went, the older the opponents were and the stronger their martial arts became, until they encountered true first-rate masters, and even some supreme experts.

Li Muzhan whispered, "Lake Mistress, which sect do these people belong to? With this many experts, their strength is astounding. They can't possibly be unknown, can they?"

Leng Wushuang murmured back, "Based on their style, they seem like assassins. Could this be the Heavenly Secret Tower?"

"The Heavenly Secret Tower?" Li Muzhan asked.

Leng Wushuang replied, "The Heavenly Secret Tower has always operated in secrecy; few in the martial world know of them. Their methods are clandestine, specializing in assassination and stealth kills. Many peerless masters have died by their hands!"

"Did they ambush Senior Sister Zhang and the others?" Li Muzhan frowned.

Leng Wushuang shook her head. "Logically, they wouldn't dare attack our disciples..."

"Is there some unspoken pact?" Li Muzhan's spirits lifted.

Leng Wushuang glanced at him, shaking her head. "It's merely an implicit understanding. Although they are powerful, they dare not provoke major sects; otherwise, it means self-destruction!"

"Ah..." Li Muzhan nodded slowly.

No matter how powerful their assassination capabilities, righteousness ultimately triumphs over evil. The true power of Star Lake Lodge didn't rely on mystery or stealth.

And major sects like theirs possessed immense, foundational strength—like a massive tree with dense foliage and deep, intricate roots. No one knew the extent of their hidden power.

Take the Vast Sea Sword Sect, for example. On the surface, they appeared to have only a few disciples and perhaps masters at the Hall or Pavilion level. Yet their hidden reserves of strength were formidable.

Many Vast Sea Sword Sect disciples had left to marry, raise families, and establish themselves, but the moment the Vast Sea Command Token was issued, they would all report for duty.

Through generations of procreation, they had rooted themselves in every corner; one never knew when they might emerge, making them impossible to guard against.

This was the true terror of the great orthodox sects: accumulated strength like a mountain or the sea—impossible to gauge.

………………………………”………………,……………………

"So, Senior Sister Zhang's injury last time—was that them?" Li Muzhan asked.

Leng Wushuang replied, "Can't be certain. What do you think?"

Li Muzhan said, "The culprit is here. My intuition is very strong; it won't be wrong."

Leng Wushuang sighed, shaking her head. "It appears this place belongs to the Heavenly Secret Tower. I didn't expect their audacity to have grown this bold..."

Li Muzhan smiled slightly. "Lake Mistress, nothing in the world remains eternally the same; everything develops and changes. Perhaps the Heavenly Secret Tower has grown stronger, developed some ambition, and now dares to provoke our Star Lake Lodge, hasn't it?"

Leng Wushuang remained silent.

Li Muzhan continued, "Lake Mistress, hasn't Star Lake Lodge made a display of power in a long time? Have people started treating us like sick cats?"

Leng Wushuang glanced at him and nodded. "Mm, yes."

Li Muzhan said, "When a tiger doesn't show its might, it's mistaken for a sick cat; that is never a good thing. People have short memories; we must constantly enforce our authority for self-preservation."

Leng Wushuang smiled faintly. "You think too much!" Li Muzhan scratched his head, slightly embarrassed at having spoken so much.

As they were talking, the two rounded another corner, and their vision instantly cleared. The somber green pines vanished, replaced by a stretch of connected buildings, with a grand hall at the very front.

The hall looked crude, seemingly built from fitted pieces of bluestone. The masons’ skill was rough, but the structure somehow exuded a sense of security; it wouldn't collapse.

It seemed no storm, however violent, could shake this hall; it stood unyielding.

Li Muzhan looked around—there was no one. It was eerily quiet, save for the soft shush of the wind whistling through the treetops.

If his senses weren't so sharp, he might have heard nothing but silence.

In this situation, anyone could tell something was wrong; an ambush was certain. But having come this far, retreat was impossible; knowing there was a trap, they had to press on.

Li Muzhan frowned and turned. "Lake Mistress, let me go in and scout first!" Leng Wushuang glanced at him. "Let's go in together; it should be fine." Li Muzhan frowned again. "Something is not right. I feel danger ahead. We had better not go in."

"Can we not go in?" Leng Wushuang looked at him calmly.

Li Muzhan rubbed his nose, shook his head with a wry smile. "Then I will go in first. With the Lake Mistress here, I won't fear losing my life."

Leng Wushuang stated coolly, "If your head were cut off, no amount of my skill could bring you back."

……………………………………………………………………

Li Muzhan was startled and quickly said, "Lake Mistress, that sounds rather inauspicious."

Leng Wushuang said calmly, "I am merely reminding you not to be careless. Whatever situation arises, you must protect your head, or else I won't be able to save you!" Li Muzhan nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I will definitely keep my head safe!" Leng Wushuang frowned, showing clear displeasure, "There are traps inside. It might shatter you in an instant. You still insist on going in?" Li Muzhan quickly declared, "I simply refuse to believe it! Lake Mistress, wait a moment, I'll go in first!" Leng Wushuang knitted her brow, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face, "You possess such a tenacious spirit, yet you cannot tolerate a small test!"

Li Muzhan rubbed his nose, then suddenly frowned, "Lake Mistress, the poison here seems stronger, doesn't it?"

He could feel the stinging pain within his body intensifying, like being pricked by needles, and he vaguely sensed that the medicinal power of the Detoxifying Pill was straining his endurance, threatening to backfire and fail at any moment.

Leng Wushuang commanded flatly, "Take another Detoxifying Pill!"

Li Muzhan nodded and swallowed another one. Instantly, a clean current surged forth, completely sweeping away the toxic miasma in his body and restoring a state of tranquil comfort; the needle-prick sensation vanished.

Leng Wushuang let out a faint, dismissive "Hmph." "Stop playing your tricks. Come out!"

She spoke casually, yet her voice boomed like thunder, echoing ceaselessly throughout the entire valley, "Come out........." "Come out..." "Come out........." Li Muzhan's mind rippled, his vital energy churning, fluctuating with the rise and fall of the sound's intensity.

The sound slowly subsided, but still, there was no movement. The surroundings were so still that only the whisper of the clear wind brushing the treetops could be heard—nothing else.

Leng Wushuang furrowed her delicate brows and let out a soft snort, "If you won't emerge, do not blame me for tearing this place apart!"

After speaking, there was still no response. Leng Wushuang shook her head. "Li Zhu, go fetch some stones. I want to see just how solid this place is!"

"Right away!" Li Muzhan responded with unexpected excitement.

He hadn't anticipated that Leng Wushuang would resort to such a roguish tactic. The Lake Mistress truly employed any means necessary—which suited his own temperament perfectly.

He quickly retrieved several large stones from the nearby woods. His strength was astonishing; these were not small pebbles, but massive boulders weighing several hundred catties each.

Even an ordinary master of the martial arts world would struggle to move stones of this size, yet Li Muzhan handled them with ease. He swiftly gathered nine of them and placed them before Leng Wushuang.

Leng Wushuang glanced at the great hall opposite them, shook her head, and suddenly delivered a sharp kick. A stone soared into the air, tumbling end over end before embedding itself halfway into the stone wall ten zhang away.

"Bam............"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Lake Mistress, allow me to handle this!"

Leng Wushuang shot him a glance over her shoulder and delivered another kick. A stone whistled past, followed by a tremendous KABOOM, as it smashed straight through the wall, burrowing deep inside.

.................................................................................... A jagged wooden hole immediately appeared. From within the aperture came a rapid whoosh-whoosh-whoosh sound—a flurry of arrows launching simultaneously, dense and terrifying like a swarm of locusts.

Li Muzhan chuckled, "There really was an ambush. If it were me, I couldn't have dodged those arrows!" Leng Wushuang frowned, silent, staring into the opening. It remained quiet, as if truly empty. Another person might have started doubting their own judgment.

She, however, did no such thing. She merely knitted her brows, peered intently at the hole, and then kicked another stone—Whoosh—it flew out again.

"Bam............" With a dull thud, the stone once more smashed into the hall.

"Ssssssss............" A plume of white smoke drifted out and was carried by the wind. Li Muzhan swiftly swallowed another Detoxifying Pill.

Just as Leng Wushuang prepared to kick a third time, a hoarse, rasping laugh suddenly rang out.