The other young man named Li had a cold expression, yet carried an air of bright handsomeness, reminiscent of an aristocrat, making a deep impression.

He looked coldly at Li Muzhan and shook his head. "I have long heard that Xia Wufeng is a Ninth-Rank master from Xinghu Xiaozhu, possessing peerless martial arts. I have long wished to test him, but I never expected him not to come!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I am not here to fight, but to see Miss Meng and convey a few words from Senior Brother Xia!" "What words?" the young man named Li asked coldly.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "These must be spoken to Miss Meng face to face." "And Xia Wufeng? Why didn't he come in person?" the young man named Li snorted coldly.

Li Muzhan sighed. "Senior Brother Xia is inconveniently situated, so he sent me to pass on his message... I trust Miss Meng will not refuse to meet me!"

Zhang Chu stated, "Senior Sister Meng is confined to face the wall on Wuyou Cliff because of Xia Wufeng. Don't even think about seeing her. Say whatever you need to say to me."

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Senior Brother Xia specifically instructed that these words must be delivered to Miss Meng personally. I appreciate Young Hero Zhang's good intentions, but I must decline."

Zhang Chu smiled faintly and sighed. "Then there’s nothing I can do to help."

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. "I find it hard to believe you people cannot grant me a meeting with Miss Meng."

Zhang Chu shook his head. "Wuyou Cliff is a restricted area for our Haiyao Palace. We cannot go, and you certainly cannot. Give up that thought!"

Li Muzhan frowned. "Is there absolutely no way to arrange this?"

Zhang Chu shook his head. "Unless your martial arts are heaven-defying, capable of defeating every master in Haiyao Palace and storming the place!"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. "Is there no other method?"

Zhang Chu offered a slight smile. "There is one other way. If you can defeat us, we will collectively plead with the Palace Master on your behalf to let you meet Senior Sister Meng!" "Will that work?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

Zhang Chu gave a cool smile. "The four of us are direct disciples of the Palace Master; our words carry some weight. If the Palace Master does not agree, we will deliver the message for you. How about that?"

Li Muzhan paused, then nodded. Breaking into Wuyou Cliff was unrealistic at this juncture; he wasn't so arrogant as to think he could defeat the entire Haiyao Palace.

His only chance lay in defeating these four men before him.

Zhang Chu spoke. "This matter is difficult, but I have a personal favor with the Palace Master. If I bring it up, she will almost certainly agree. However, this favor cannot be given freely; you must first be able to defeat the four of us!" "All of you against me?" Li Muzhan smiled.

Zhang Chu nodded. "Indeed."

"Senior Brother Zhang!" the young man named Li interjected quickly.

Zhang Chu raised a hand. "Junior Brother Li, the disciples of Xinghu Xiaozhu are not to be underestimated. To be safe, let us join forces."

The young man named Li sneered. "I find him quite ordinary. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? I'll go first. If I cannot handle him, then we can join up, no later than that!"

Zhang Chu glanced at Li Muzhan, seeking confirmation.

Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. "I, too, wish to experience the ultimate arts of Haiyao Palace. As you wish." "Such grand words!" Zhang Chu smiled gracefully, shaking his head. "However, this is a wager. I have put up my stake; where is yours?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "What stake do you desire?"

Zhang Chu stated, "If you lose, Xia Wufeng must clear out and never bother Senior Sister Meng again!"

Li Muzhan chuckled. "You can make decisions on Miss Meng’s behalf?" "Hmph, if it weren't for Xia Wufeng, how could Senior Sister Meng be in such a wretched state?" Zhang Chu’s face darkened, and he frowned. "If not for Xia Wufeng, how could Senior Sister Meng be confined to Wuyou Cliff?"

Li Muzhan asked, "Is being confined to Wuyou Cliff a form of suffering?"

The young man named Li said coldly, "Have you ever tried being alone on a cliff, just one person, with no one to talk to, no one to care for you, as if the entire world has abandoned you?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I have entered solitary seclusion. Does that count?" "How long was your seclusion?" the young man named Li sneered.

"One year," Li Muzhan replied.

The young man named Li paused, then snorted. "One year—that is indeed rare! But surely, one cannot endure it?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes, seclusion is indeed a difficult thing; the loneliness is a pain that gnaws at the heart." "For Senior Sister Meng, a woman, to endure such solitude... more importantly, Wuyou Cliff is swept by icy torrents every night, forcing her to circulate her internal energy just to resist, which is no different from torture! It’s unbearable!" The young man named Li’s face was frosty as he hissed in anger.

Li Muzhan frowned, silent.

The young man named Li sneered. "While Senior Sister Meng suffers, where is that man surnamed Xia? Where is he indulging himself?"

Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head. "Senior Brother Xia is not as carefree as you imagine... Senior Brother Xia strictly forbade me from revealing it, lest Miss Meng worry. I must tell you." "What, has the man surnamed Xia died?" the young man named Li asked coldly.

Li Muzhan’s brow tightened. He possessed great self-control and deep cultivation; he usually ignored insults as if they were just dog barks. But to speak of Senior Brother Xia in this manner made him genuinely angry.

Zhang Chu waved a hand. "Enough, Junior Brother Li, say less... Young Hero Li, tell us then. What happened to Xia Wufeng?"

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed. "Forget it. What difference does it make whether I speak or not? You all harbor such hatred for Senior Brother Xia. Just fight if you wish!" "It wouldn't hurt to hear it," Zhang Chu smiled gently.

Li Muzhan shook his head, disinclined to elaborate, and gave the young man named Li a cool look. "I have yet to learn this gentleman's honored name." "Li Minghui!" the young man named Li snorted.

The two young women smiled and remained silent, clearly unwilling to give their names. Li Muzhan did not press them. "I shall offer a stake as well. If I lose, I will never set foot in Haiyao Palace again!" "What kind of stake is that!" Li Minghui shook his head.

Zhang Chu looked at Li Muzhan and laughed. "How about this: If you lose, you must retreat three bows whenever you encounter a disciple of my Haiyao Palace. How about that?"

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. "Agreed." "Very well, I shall be the first to experience your renowned skill!" Li Minghui grinned, floated a pace away, drew the long sword at his waist, and pointed it diagonally at Li Muzhan. "Come!"

Li Muzhan stepped forward, closing the distance, and drew the long saber hidden at his waist, stating calmly, "You make the first move." "Good, watch the sword!" Li Minghui attacked without courtesy, thrusting with his blade.

The thrust was as swift as the wind, suddenly reaching Li Muzhan. It was light and effortless, completely devoid of killing intent, seeming like child’s play, easily leading one to ignore and underestimate it.

Li Muzhan met the attack with solemnity and parried with a gentle slash of his saber. With a sharp clang, Li Minghui's body trembled, and his long sword flew out of his grasp.

Li Muzhan retracted his saber back into its sheath, stepped back one pace, and said lightly, "I yield."

Li Minghui stared straight ahead, his face slowly reddening as if covered by a sheet of crimson cloth.

Li Muzhan did not look at him but turned to Zhang Chu. "Young Hero Zhang, your Palace is reputed to possess superior martial arts philosophy. I had great expectations... I wonder what level Young Brother Li belongs to?"

Zhang Chu glanced at Li Minghui, coughed lightly, and said, "I admire Young Brother Li’s saber skills. It seems my foresight was correct; it was good that I didn't take things lightly and underestimate him!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "In that case, perhaps the four of you should attack together!"

Zhang Chu saw Li Minghui still stunned and smiled. "Junior Brother Li, don't just stand there foolishly. Come here. You were too careless just now. If Young Hero Li lacked substantial foundation, would he dare come to our Haiyao Palace?"

Haiyao Palace and Xinghu Xiaozhu were indeed at odds, and the disciples were unfriendly to each other. When they met, even if they didn't fight, they would at least exchange hostile glances and sarcastic remarks.

If someone from Xinghu Xiaozhu came, provocation was inevitable. Without real capability, coming to Haiyao Palace only meant inviting humiliation.

Therefore, Zhang Chu had not been careless earlier; proposing a four-against-one fight was necessary, even if it seemed dishonorable, just to vent that bottled-up resentment. Now, it seemed he had been right to do so.

This Li Muzhan had profound internal energy. In a one-on-one match, none of the four were certain of victory, so a four-against-one engagement should be secure.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, drew his saber, and said, "Please!"

The four took their positions, forming a quadrangle pattern. Zhang Chu announced, "Young Hero Li, we shall be using the Zhenhai Liangyi Formation. You must be cautious!"

Li Muzhan nodded with a smile. "Very well, come then!" "Activate the formation!" Zhang Chu suddenly shouted.

Immediately, sword light swept down like a waterfall, spreading flatly toward him. Li Muzhan smiled slightly, swung his saber to cleave through it, like splitting Mount Hua with a single stroke. With a sharp clang, a sword flew out—it was Li Minghui’s.

He stood frozen, staring blankly at Li Muzhan. The other three were also momentarily stunned before immediately continuing their attack, thrusting forward again.

Li Muzhan swung his saber once more. With another clang, a long sword flew out simultaneously, tumbling three or four zhang away.

One young woman was left empty-handed, her sword having flown away. The remaining two, undeterred, swung their swords again at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan swung his saber twice more, each strike hitting a sword and knocking it aside. All four were disarmed, staring at Li Muzhan in shock.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, sheathed his saber, cupped his hands, and said, "Gentlemen, I yield."

The four exchanged glances. Zhang Chu shook his head and laughed sheepishly. "We are ashamed, truly clumsy! You have made Young Hero Li laugh!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "It is understandable; it is nothing. May I now see Miss Meng?"

Zhang Chu readily agreed. "Fine. Come again tomorrow... I will earnestly petition the Master today, and tomorrow I will definitely take you to see Senior Sister Meng!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Then I shall await the outcome."

He turned and left, inwardly thrilled. He hadn't realized his skills had become so formidable—his internal energy was deep and his power immense.

Such devastating power was not only due to his deep internal energy but also its purity; his saber intent, attached to the blade, amplified its might astonishingly.

He couldn't say much about the swordsmanship of these four, but their internal energy was not weak; however, compared to his own, it was significantly inferior. His saber technique, by nature, specialized in overpowering finesse with brute force.

Thus, they couldn't withstand even a single move before their swords were sent flying. It was a bit unfair, Li Muzhan mused, feeling a bit like he was bullying them. He shook his head with a wry smile.

It seemed Miss Meng had been frank about her affections, which led to this punishment. Or, there was another possibility: Haiyao Palace was employing a harsh strategy.

Li Muzhan could have given the letter to a disciple of Haiyao Palace and asked them to pass it on. The reason he insisted on meeting Meng Qiuxia personally was to see exactly what she thought.

He possessed the Art of Telepathy, capable of perceiving people’s innermost thoughts. Only those with the spiritual cultivation levels of the Lake Master or the Senior Sister Master could isolate themselves from his ability; otherwise, nothing remained hidden from him.

He rested at the Changsheng Inn for the evening. The next morning, he returned to the front of Haiyao Palace to find two figures already standing there: Zhang Chu and Li Minghui.

Their expressions were less than ideal, as if they hadn't slept well and lacked energy. When they saw Li Muzhan approach, their spirits lifted, and they moved forward to greet him.

Li Muzhan cupped his hands and smiled. "Young Hero Zhang, Young Hero Li, you are early indeed. Has the matter been settled?"

Zhang Chu nodded. "It went well. The Palace Master agreed. We will take you to Wuyou Cliff!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Thank you for your trouble." "Let's go; Wuyou Cliff is outside the city." Zhang Chu turned and started walking. Li Minghui glanced at Li Muzhan, snorted coldly, and followed behind Zhang Chu.

Li Muzhan paid him no mind. He knew Li Minghui would naturally hold a grudge for yesterday’s humiliation, but the fact that he could still maintain such sternness showed uncommon resolve. Most people would have been too ashamed to return.

The three exited the South Gate and flew directly into the mountains, disregarding the astonishment of any onlookers. They moved like three wisps of clear smoke using their lightness skill, quickly leaving the city several li behind and entering the mountains.

Li Muzhan wasn't worried about them playing any tricks. His Telepathy was active; he knew they were speaking the truth and there were no traps or ambushes—they were truly heading to Wuyou Cliff.

Wuyou Cliff was situated atop a small peak deep within the mountains. The peak wasn't large or high, but its location was peculiar, seemingly situated at the wind convergence point between two larger mountains.

The three arrived at the summit, and instantly, a howling gale rushed toward them, nearly strong enough to blow them off their feet.

Li Muzhan’s feet seemed rooted to the spot. He stood steady, his robes lying flat as if an invisible wall of energy blocked him. He was utterly unfazed.

Zhang Chu and Li Minghui were inwardly startled by this sight. They exchanged a look, realizing their defeat yesterday was not unjust; such profound internal energy was truly like the deep, inscrutable ocean.

Li Muzhan looked around. The summit was bare, featuring only large, smooth, glistening stones resembling giant pebbles.

At that moment, one person sat cross-legged on the peak, stable amidst the raging wind. Her long hair streamed out, her posture elegant, and she sat with her back to the three arrivals.

Li Muzhan inwardly surmised this must be Xia Wufeng’s beloved, Meng Qiuxia. "Senior Sister Meng! Senior Sister Meng!" Zhang Chu called out loudly.

He projected his voice using internal energy, allowing it to pierce through the gale to the front. Meng Qiuxia’s delicate body stirred, and she slowly turned around to look back.

Instantly, a face of unparalleled beauty was revealed to Li Muzhan: a rounded face, delicate eyebrows, and phoenix eyes. As she glanced around, light flowed between them, her aura noble and magnificent, giving the impression of someone unattainable.

(To be continued)