Leng Wushuang paid him no mind, unleashing another kick. The movement was graceful and ethereal, as if she were merely playing; the moment her slender, delicate foot connected, a massive boulder was sent flying, creating a stunning visual impact that seemed almost unreal.

"Wuuu," the giant stone hurtled down like a falling meteor toward the main hall entrance, just as several figures flashed into view, squarely intercepting the projectile.

"Hmph!" A cold sneer preceded a middle-aged man in gray robes soaring upwards to meet the massive rock.

Man and stone collided mid-air with a dull thud. Both the rock and the man were thrown back simultaneously. The gray-robed man stumbled upon landing at the threshold, staggering back a step before a middle-aged man in black reached out and pressed a hand firmly against his back, arresting his retreat.

A surge of internal energy flowed in. The gray-robed man instantly felt warmth permeate his body, and his circulation of neili resumed. The turbulent rush of blood settled.

That last impact had carried immense force within the boulder; it had nearly knocked him senseless, causing his internal power to seize up completely, as if unable to withstand the shock.

He inwardly cursed the opponent's power, yet a cold smile touched his lips, as if to convey, "Is that all you have?"

Leng Wushuang uttered an "Eh," tilting her head to regard him, then looked at the four figures filing out behind him—four middle-aged men escorting a wheelchair.

All four escorts wore simple gray clothing; their features were unremarkable, revealing nothing of any martial cultivation, resembling nothing so much as honest, rustic farmers.

An elder sat in the wheelchair, his appearance gaunt but refined. Three strands of his wispy beard trailed down his chin, and his hair was white, yet his face held the freshness of youth—a figure truly resembling an immortal, immediately inspiring goodwill.

He stroked his beard, a faint smile playing on his lips as he regarded Leng Wushuang serenely.

After her initial "Eh," Leng Wushuang delivered another swift kick. The largest boulder shot forward, descending upon the five figures with the overwhelming pressure of Mount Tai bearing down.

The black-clad man let out a cold snort and sprang into the air, mimicking the prior man’s move by pressing both palms against the giant stone. Man and stone collided once more.

With a muffled bang, the black-clad man was suddenly propelled backward, ejecting a spray of blood in mid-air that appeared heartbreakingly beautiful under the sunlight.

With another dull thud, he slammed into the wall behind him and slid softly to the ground, collapsing unconscious where he sat.

Leng Wushuang gave a soft huff and lowered her gaze to the few remaining stones, which seemed eager for more; she looked ready to deliver a few more kicks to send the rest flying.

"Stop there!" The elder with the wispy beard shook his head, sighing, "Lake Master Leng of Star Lake Lodge, your reputation precedes you. This old man is truly impressed!"

He turned to the group behind him. "This Lake Master Leng is rumored to possess martial arts that defy heaven and earth, reaching a state beyond the comprehension of gods and ghosts. To challenge her prowess would be to invite nothing but self-inflicted suffering!"

................................................... Leng Wushuang stated coolly, "Valley Master Mo, you are Valley Master Mo, are you not?"

"Heh heh, this old one is Mo Yunshan. Greetings, Lake Master Leng!" The elder, seated in his chair, cupped his fists and smiled gently. "Our humble valley is honored by the presence of the Lake Master; it truly shines brighter!"

Leng Wushuang replied flatly, "Heaven's Secret Tower dares to send assassins after my disciples from the Lake. I have come personally to demand an explanation. Valley Master Mo, tell me your version of events!"

Mo Yunshan smiled faintly. "Oh? Such a matter? This old man knows nothing of it... No wonder the Lake Master is so irate to have forced her way in."

Leng Wushuang said coolly, "Valley Master Mo, you had best investigate. Do not mistake things."

"Heh heh..." Mo Yunshan suddenly burst into a series of chuckles, shaking his head. "Forget it, forget it. Whether this matter is true or not is ultimately inconsequential."

Leng Wushuang offered a slight smile. "What? You intend to silence me permanently?"

Mo Yunshan laughed, clapping his hands. "It saves trouble speaking with an intelligent person. Lake Master Leng, you are remarkably astute for one so young—I admire that. What a pity..."

Leng Wushuang asked, "Is it because you know the nature of this valley that you wish to eliminate me?"

"Precisely!" Mo Yunshan nodded, chuckling. "You cannot blame this old man; you can only blame Lake Master Leng's ill fortune. There was a path to heaven, yet you chose the gate to hell!"

Leng Wushuang smiled thinly. "Are you so certain you can kill me?"

Mo Yunshan smiled and shook his head. "In a straightforward duel, you are naturally superior. However, our Heaven's Secret Valley has never been known for fair play. Why should we resort to a head-on clash?"

Leng Wushuang stated, "What method do you propose? Tell me, so I might hear it."

Mo Yunshan smiled gently. "It does no harm to tell you, so that Lake Master Leng may die with clarity."

Leng Wushuang gave a slight smile. "Please proceed!"

Mo Yunshan looked up at the sky. The sun was already sinking low in the west, casting the surrounding heavens in a soft glow as a gentle breeze drifted by.

Mo Yunshan said, "Why doesn't Lake Master Leng circulate her internal energy? Let's see if you can still move it."

Leng Wushuang smiled. "You have poisoned me?"

Mo Yunshan laughed. "Indeed! Poison! ... Lake Master Leng likely anticipated our use of poison and consumed an Antidote Pellet, didn't you?"

"Can your poison overcome the Antidote Pellet?" Leng Wushuang frowned.

Mo Yunshan beamed, stroking his beard with delight. "Whether it can or not remains to be seen this time."

Leng Wushuang smiled faintly, shaking her head. "I simply do not believe it!"

As she spoke, she took another Antidote Pellet. A cool current flowed, circulating throughout her body, safeguarding every part, ready to neutralize any toxin immediately.

"Heh heh... My poison is unique. Although Star Lake Lodge's Antidote Pellet is potent, it cannot dissolve my toxin. Believe it or not?" Mo Yunshan stroked his beard with great smugness.

................................................... Leng Wushuang silently monitored her body, then smiled and shook her head. "Is that so?"

Mo Yunshan gave a mysterious smile. "The Lake Master doesn't believe it, does she?... Heh heh, very well, we shall wait and see!"

Leng Wushuang stated coolly, "So this is where Heaven's Secret Tower resides. No wonder no one discovered it; it is indeed an excellent location!"

Mo Yunshan smiled gently. "Heaven's Secret Tower, Heaven's Secret Valley. Heh heh, most people assume Heaven's Secret Tower is a building, yet they don't realize it's a mountain valley. My camouflage technique has served me well, hasn't it?"

Leng Wushuang smiled faintly. "In the past, you were wise enough not to assassinate disciples of the renowned sects. Thus, even though you killed, no one pursued you severely. Otherwise, whether it was Heaven's Secret Tower or Heaven's Secret Valley, we would have dug you out three feet beneath the earth, leaving no chance for survival!"

Mo Yunshan shook his head and smiled. "Renowned sects, you say... When our strength was insufficient, we naturally avoided provoking them. Now, however, heh heh..."

Leng Wushuang swept her gaze over the group and shook her head. "With this meager strength, you wish to contend with the great sects? I highly doubt it."

Mo Yunshan smiled gently. "Since you are already poisoned, we hardly need many people to deal with you. Most of our high-level masters have departed. How could Heaven's Secret Valley not possess this much capability!" Leng Wushuang's expression shifted slightly, and she turned to exchange a look with Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan frowned. "Lake Master, press him for the one who gave the order."

Leng Wushuang nodded and said coolly, "I still have one thing I don't understand, Valley Master Mo. Who hired you to assassinate my disciples?"

"That, I cannot tell the Lake Master," Mo Yunshan sighed regretfully. "Even though the Lake Master will soon be visiting the Underworld, I still cannot tell you. It is a rule that must not be broken." He paused, then added, "If you ask for something else, this old man will tell you everything without reservation."

Leng Wushuang guessed, "It must be the North River Sword Sect, then?"

Mo Yunshan chuckled and shook his head. "This old man will certainly not reveal it. Lake Master Leng, there is no need to waste your energy trying to figure it out."

Leng Wushuang smiled faintly. "Then it must be the South Altar of the Three Smiles Hall!"

Mo Yunshan continued to shake his head, smiling pleasantly. "Lake Master Leng, stop your frantic guessing. Let us settle this debt. I hope in our next lives, we are not adversaries!"

Leng Wushuang exchanged a look with Li Muzhan, recognizing the killing intent in his eyes.

From Mo Yunshan's reaction, they discerned the truth: the instigator was indeed the South Altar of the Three Smiles Hall. Despite Mo Yunshan's desperate efforts to conceal it, both Li Muzhan and Leng Wushuang were sharp individuals, capable of sensing the shift in a person's heart.

Mo Yunshan's outward changes were almost nonexistent—just a slight quickening of the heartbeat, a flicker in his eyes. An ordinary person would struggle to notice the anomaly, but they saw it clearly.

"Alas..." Li Muzhan shook his head with a sigh. "Lake Master, I am to blame for this entire affair. I implicated Senior Sister Zhang and the others! I am ashamed."

Leng Wushuang snorted. "I didn't expect Star Lake Lodge to truly be regarded as a sickly cat!"

................................................... Li Muzhan asked, "Lake Master, isn't he just stalling for time?"

Leng Wushuang smiled faintly. "Yes!"

She had already circulated her neili to detect the toxin, but she needed time to concentrate the energy and force all the poison into a single point. Normally, this would be easy to achieve.

However, this particular poison was strange; it actively resisted the suppression of internal energy, instead proliferating, constantly transforming and intensifying. Despite the sea-like expanse of her neili, she was powerless to stop it.

Furthermore, the poisons seemed to use her internal energy as sustenance, growing stronger as they consumed and devoured her energy under the flow of her power. At this rate, it wouldn't take long before she collapsed, unable to suppress the toxins, which would instead erode her strength, stripping her of the ability to resist.

And the power of the Antidote Pellet had indeed failed. A stream of pure energy circulated, but upon encountering the toxins, it failed to recognize them as poisons, passing them by completely, paying them no heed.

Leng Wushuang pondered for a moment, then simply gave up on her internal energy, sealing it directly within her dantian and condensing it into a single bead. Not a trace of neili remained in her meridians.

With the poisons deprived of sustenance, they became sluggish, motionless. Her body suffered no immediate impact, only the loss of internal power.

She had not cultivated the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art; without neili, she was reduced to a frail woman, appearing so delicate that a slight gust of wind might carry her away—utterly captivating in her fragility.

Li Muzhan was momentarily stunned. He had never imagined the Lake Master’s temperament could shift to that of such a petite, bird-like woman. He wondered which fortunate man would have the blessing to marry her.

The thought brought a sharp pang of bitterness, as if his most cherished possession were being stolen. He could not bear the idea of the Lake Master marrying another man.

She was like a noble princess, held high and admired from afar, seemingly beyond the reach of any man worthy of her. If she were to marry, the man who claimed her deserved death.

Li Muzhan believed that every disciple of Star Lake Lodge shared this sentiment.

These thoughts flashed by, and he quickly perceived the strangeness of the situation, quickly whispering, "Lake Master, is there truly poison?"

Leng Wushuang nodded gently. "Yes, a poison that specifically devours internal energy. Do not use yours."

She sighed inwardly. Fortunately, he possessed innate divine strength; there was a sliver of hope today.

Li Muzhan glanced at Mo Yunshan, who was still stroking his beard with a smile. "Understood."

Mo Yunshan roared with laughter, shaking his head repeatedly. "Oh, Lake Master Leng, Lake Master Leng! Your profound martial arts blinded you. I never expected the dignified Lake Master of Star Lake Lodge to be deceived so easily—I am truly disappointed! I never imagined it! Hahaha..."

He laughed uncontrollably, his face alight with joy.

Leng Wushuang’s expression remained unchanged, though a hint of annoyance flickered in her eyes—yet she was helpless.

She, too, had not anticipated that Mo Yunshan possessed such a peculiar poison that could be administered without her notice. It was not an unfair defeat.

She shook her head and sighed, turning to look at Li Muzhan, a question flashing in her gaze.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, signaling her to calm down, while he said in a deep voice, "Mo Yunshan, what poison is this?"

"It does no harm to tell you. This is Sorrow-Ending Grass (Wangyou Cao). Originally, it wasn't a poison but an herb cultivated in the valley. Look, those green grasses around us are it!" Mo Yunshan gestured to the surrounding greenery.

............................................ Li Muzhan suddenly understood. No wonder those green blades made him feel a prickle of alarm. He had suspected hidden dangers or poison lurking behind them, yet they seemed harmless. Still, having taken the Antidote Pellet earlier, he should have been immune.

Mo Yunshan smiled slyly. "Originally, Sorrow-Ending Grass has only a mild toxicity, harmless to ordinary people. But it affects martial artists—the higher the cultivation, the deeper the poisoning. Heh heh... Someone of Lake Master Leng's stature would act swiftly. And indeed, it has!"

Li Muzhan inquired, "How does it manifest?"

Mo Yunshan laughed loudly. "Naturally, by consuming internal energy! The moment neili blends with its aura, it immediately activates their nature, causing a transformation into a strange toxin—truly colorless and odorless! A gift from heaven to my Heaven's Secret Tower—a peerless medicine! Heaven favors our Heaven's Secret Tower!"

Capturing the Lake Master of Star Lake Lodge was overwhelmingly exhilarating for him. He had never dared to hope for such a victory; now it was unfolding before his eyes.

Li Muzhan frowned. "How did you discover this marvelous poison?"

Mo Yunshan shook his head repeatedly, chuckling. "I stumbled upon it by chance and began to study it. It took ten years to fully research it, heh heh..." He laughed with excitement, his face flushed and his eyes bright, fixed intently on Leng Wushuang as if she were a priceless treasure.

Leng Wushuang frowned, shook her head, and turned to leave.

"Hahahaha... Where do you think you're going!" Mo Yunshan bellowed, waving both hands.

The four middle-aged men in gray surged forward simultaneously, darting toward Leng Wushuang, surrounding her, hands outstretched to seize her—intending to take her captive in one swift move.

Just then, Li Muzhan stomped his foot forcefully, launching himself like an arrow from a bow, appearing instantly behind Mo Yunshan. He reached out directly and clamped his fingers around the elder's throat, his voice heavy as he commanded, "Stop!"

He had a vague sense of foreboding, but the immediate situation demanded action. In the current crisis, capturing the leader was the only way to save the Lake Master's life; otherwise, he, too, would perish, given the astonishing martial prowess of the four gray-robed men.

Mo Yunshan merely waved his hand. Though Li Muzhan gripped his neck, he showed no panic, maintaining a calm demeanor as he looked back at him.

Li Muzhan demanded, "The antidote!"

Mo Yunshan only laughed and remained silent, shaking his head.

Li Muzhan frowned and applied slight pressure to his right hand. Mo Yunshan’s face instantly flushed crimson, looking as if blood might burst forth—a truly terrifying sight. As time passed, even his eyeballs reddened, appearing ready to pop out.

................................................... Li Muzhan’s heart was like iron; he stared coldly at Mo Yunshan, his eyes icy, clearly intending to kill him. Yet, Mo Yunshan met his gaze with an eerie smile.

Li Muzhan said calmly, "The antidote!"

The four gray-robed men halted their attack, turning to stare at Li Muzhan, then swiftly moved to surround him instead.

In their eyes, Leng Wushuang was no longer the primary threat; dealing with Li Muzhan took precedence.

If it had been anyone else, they might have seized Leng Wushuang to threaten Li Muzhan. But judging a gentleman by their own petty standards, they feared Li Muzhan would abandon the Lake Master’s life.

Li Muzhan stated calmly, "Lake Master, go ahead first. I will follow shortly!"

Leng Wushuang shook her head and sighed. "Forget it. We admit defeat today. I suspect he has no antidote. Let him go, and we will fight our way out!"

Li Muzhan gave a bitter laugh. "Can we fight our way out?"

Leng Wushuang glanced coolly at the four middle-aged men and smiled faintly. "For these few to keep me here? They are still a little short. Let's go!"

Li Muzhan nodded slowly. "Good!"

Saying this, he tightened his grip, intending to kill Mo Yunshan. The man was too cunning; leaving him alive would invite endless future trouble.

A sudden alarm flared in his mind, compelling him to twist and evade. His left flank stung sharply, as if a drill had bored into him, causing excruciating pain.

"Heh heh..." Mo Yunshan's triumphant laughter rang out, overflowing with arrogance.

Li Muzhan twisted his head to look; Mo Yunshan's left palm was still pressed against his side, not yet withdrawn, and he stared at Li Muzhan with smug satisfaction, the two men inches apart.

Suddenly, Li Muzhan flicked his wrist. A flash of cold light appeared. Mo Yunshan clutched his throat, his eyes wide with disbelief, fixed on Li Muzhan.

Leng Wushuang exclaimed in surprise, darting forward instantly. She grabbed his arm and shot away like a gust of wind, vanishing before the four gray-robed men in an instant.

The four men wanted to give chase, but Mo Yunshan had fallen to the ground, and they could not abandon him. They rushed forward to help him up, prying his hand away to discover a throwing knife lodged in his throat.

The knife was thin and plain—an ordinary throwing blade, unremarkable in itself. Yet, plunged into Mo Yunshan's throat, it was the greatest anomaly imaginable.

They truly hadn't expected a simple throwing knife to fell their Valley Master, whose martial arts had reached the pinnacle of 'returning to simplicity,' making him outwardly impervious. Otherwise, they would never have allowed Li Muzhan to get close, ensuring one man always guarded Mo Yunshan. They never imagined their Valley Master would drown in a ditch, killed by a tiny flying knife.

Leng Wushuang’s steps were like the wind; her pale, flawless face gradually flushed a beautiful crimson, but Li Muzhan had no leisure to admire it. His entire focus was on the injury his body sustained.

................................................... That palm strike had directly impacted his spleen. Worse still, it was not just palm force; it was infused with poison.

Otherwise, with the resilience of the organs forged by his Vajra Indestructible Divine Art, he would have recovered quickly without major issues. Now, however, his spleen was nearly shattered by the blow.

Waves of excruciating pain flooded his mind, bringing a touch of despair. A ruptured spleen meant death; he feared he could not escape this fate.

He smiled wryly. He hadn't expected his grand ambitions to be cut short so quickly. He was unwilling to leave this world now and begin the next journey. He hadn't completed his master's task, hadn't married Senior Sister Mei, Senior Sister Gong, or Senior Sister Wen, and hadn't yet become the foremost martial artist under heaven.

A life that should have been magnificent was ending abruptly—it was far too unsatisfying. He refused to die.

He could not bear to leave his parents, his elder brother, his two elder sisters, and his sister-in-law; he couldn't leave his friend Ji Jian, nor the tranquility of his home. How heartbroken would his parents be if he died? He realized how unfilial he had been, rarely staying by their side since reaching adulthood. What would happen to Senior Sister Mei, Senior Sister Gong, and the others? Would Senior Sister Hun be saddened? And his master? Would Mount Canghai remain strong?

He pondered countless thoughts, then suddenly felt a surge of clarity; his mind cleared. He could not die yet. As long as he refused to die, he would not die. He still had the Divine Illumination Scripture of Celestial Observation!

Leng Wushuang’s speed was increasing, and her gasps grew heavier. Li Muzhan knew she must be using a secret technique to stimulate her potential, forcing herself through the poison.

He felt a pang of guilt but could not afford to dwell on it; he had no strength left to run, nor could he use his Lamp Lighting Technique to force his potential.

Moreover, in his current state, stimulating his potential would lead directly to death. He could only burden the Lake Master, watching as she pulled him along in a floating rush.

The journey in had not felt so far, passing through one barrier after another. Now, rushing back, it seemed like endless loops; it felt like a maze. After turning through more than a dozen circuits, they still hadn't broken free.

At this point, Leng Wushuang seemed to reach her limit. Her figure staggered, and she suddenly stopped, struggling to steady her breathing. She turned back to look; Li Muzhan’s face was pale, his forehead glistening with sweat.

"What is wrong?" Her perfectly beautiful face remained expressionless as she asked coolly.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, his face ashen. "I took a blow—a poisoned palm. It seems hopeless now."

"Let me see!" Leng Wushuang reached out and took his right wrist. Her delicate eyebrows immediately furrowed, and her expression darkened as she looked at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Fortune rests in heaven; life and death are determined by fate. Lake Master need not grieve. It is nothing."

....................................................

"Shut up!" Leng Wushuang shot him a look, pulled out a jade bottle from her embrace, opened it, poured out a snow-white pill, and pressed it into his mouth: "Take this."

Li Muzhan quickly turned his head away: "Lake Mistress, you should use it!"

He knew there was only one pill in that bottle, and it was clearly a life-saving medicine. Now the Lake Mistress was gravely poisoned, the Detoxification Pill was useless, and her life was hanging by a thread after recklessly using a method to stimulate her potential.

"Don't worry, I won't die!" Leng Wushuang glared at him and tried to force it in with strength.

Li Muzhan twisted his head away; Leng Wushuang now had no internal energy, and her strength was less than Li Muzhan's, making it impossible for her to forcefully administer the pill.

Li Muzhan retreated two steps and murmured: "Lake Mistress, my death is insignificant. You carry the legacy of Star Lake Villa; the matter is of paramount importance and cannot allow you to perish."

Leng Wushuang snorted: "I won't die!"

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed: "You are poisoned too deeply. Take this pill quickly to save your life; I'll be fine!"

He was confident in his Gazing at Heaven and Man Divine Illumination Sutra (Guān Tiān Rén Shén Zhào Jīng); even the most severe injuries could recover. He could not let Leng Wushuang die because of this pill; he would be uneasy for the rest of his life.

"Be quiet, eat it!" Leng Wushuang frowned.

Li Muzhan retreated another step, shook his head without speaking, his expression resolute.

Leng Wushuang snorted: "You won't listen to me anymore? Are you no longer a disciple of Star Lake Villa?"

Li Muzhan slowly sighed, reluctantly stepped forward, and took the pill. Leng Wushuang showed a faint smile and nodded: "If you do this again, I'll punish you with ten years of face-walling!"

Li Muzhan suddenly moved his hand, pressing the pill into Leng Wushuang's mouth with incredible speed. The soft, delicate sensation traveled from his palm straight to his heart.

"You..." Leng Wushuang tried to turn her head, but she could not overcome Li Muzhan's strength; moreover, the pill dissolved the moment it entered her mouth, flowing down her throat with her saliva.

She took a deep breath, extremely annoyed: "Do you know that I can't perform the Resurrection Art right now? You are courting death!"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head: "I won't die, Lake Mistress, rest assured!"

After speaking, he directly sat down cross-legged and said softly: "Please guard me, Lake Mistress. Do not let anyone disturb me!"

"Mm," Leng Wushuang nodded.

The pill was miraculously effective. In this short while, the allure faded from Leng Wushuang's face, restoring it to an ivory white, showing no trace of her previous weakness.

She gazed at Li Muzhan, watching him close his eyes, settle his breath, and form a hand seal. His bearing was solemn and dignified, truly possessing the demeanor of a great monk. She sighed inwardly.

It seemed that that passage from the Diamond Sutra (Jīngāng Jīng) had influenced him deeply. Meditating like this was no less profound than the greatest monks in the world. It was almost a pity he pursued martial arts; he should have become a monk. With his understanding, he might have become a renowned high monk, far superior to a martial arts master.

Currently, the Great Yan Emperor favored Buddhism, and the Southern Territory was even more devoted to it, surpassing Great Yan. If Li Muzhan could become a high monk, his status would far exceed that of a mere Star Lake Villa disciple. What a pity!

…………………………………………………………

Li Muzhan soon entered the state of the Gazing at Heaven and Man Divine Illumination Sutra (Guān Tiān Rén Shén Zhào Jīng). Immediately, his Xiàngshēn (image-body) appeared atop a lotus flower. In the void, the sun and moon manifested simultaneously, and the inexhaustible essence of moonlight and sunlight drilled into the Xiàngshēn.

After an unknown amount of time, he slowly woke up. The surroundings were pitch black, and a faint fragrance drifted before his nose—it was Leng Wushuang’s scent.

"Lake Mistress?" he whispered softly.

Leng Wushuang's voice sounded from behind him: "Awake?"

Li Muzhan gently nodded: "Are you alright now, Lake Mistress?"

"Mm, I'm fine," Leng Wushuang replied faintly, as coolly detached as ever.

Li Muzhan said: "I'm fine too."

"What skill is that you used?" Leng Wushuang inquired.

Li Muzhan explained: "That is the Diamond Sutra (Jīngāng Jīng). After entering meditative stillness, my body's recovery speed greatly accelerated. I have tested it hundreds of times, and it works every time!"

"Meditative stillness?" Leng Wushuang asked.

Li Muzhan clarified: "Chanting the Diamond Sutra while in stillness, my body felt filled with light, brimming with strength, making me want to leap!"

"Your injuries haven't healed; you cannot engage in strenuous activity!" Leng Wushuang cautioned.

Li Muzhan sighed: "I didn't expect to fall at the hands of that old fellow!"

"Didn't you kill him!" Leng Wushuang snorted.

She had intended to take action herself to wash away the shame of being ambushed, but she never expected that short-lived wretch to be killed by Li Zhu. It was truly regrettable.

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed: "It was sheer luck, and taking advantage of him being unprepared. Otherwise, that small hidden weapon could never have harmed him!"

Leng Wushuang shook her head: "Your flying knife is no ordinary hidden weapon. It seems you have been practicing it all along, haven't you?"

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile: "I knew I couldn't hide it from the Lake Mistress. Indeed, this flying knife was my last trump card for survival. I ask the Lake Mistress to keep it a secret."

"Mm, I certainly won't speak carelessly!" Leng Wushuang nodded, then asked again: "When did you start practicing the flying knife? Your speed seems astonishingly fast."

Li Muzhan replied: "I started practicing the flying knife when I was five. At first, it was just for fun, but later I turned it into a real flying knife, capable of killing."

"Mm, you must have killed quite a few people," Leng Wushuang observed.

Li Muzhan thought for a moment and sighed: "There was no choice. I am alone and weak; I can only struggle to survive. Whether I join the Villa now, I still have to fight tooth and nail for a meager existence!"

…………………………………………………………

Leng Wushuang reached out and placed her hand on his right wrist. Her icy fingers rested on his pulse point, giving an indescribably comfortable, cool sensation that permeated his very core.

Leng Wushuang withdrew her fingers and nodded: "The injuries have stabilized, but recovering fully will require quite some time of rest."

Li Muzhan said: "It was lucky to escape with my life this time!"

Leng Wushuang lightly nodded: "This Heavenly Secret Tower (Tiānjī Lóu) truly cannot be underestimated. I have greatly underestimated the heroes of this world."

Li Muzhan asked: "Lake Mistress, do you recall that Mo Yunshan said he had already sent away most of the experts from the Heavenly Secret Tower? Why not simply eradicate them completely?"

Leng Wushuang pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "Forget it."

Li Muzhan frowned: "In the future, they will constantly cause trouble; the lingering threat is endless!"

Leng Wushuang smiled faintly: "Can a disciple of Star Lake Villa be afraid of trouble? Let them deal with it themselves when the time comes!"

Li Muzhan considered this briefly, then broke into a smile: "The Lake Mistress truly has deep foresight!"

Leng Wushuang glanced at him and said calmly: "It's rare that you can grasp the meaning."