Li Muzhan flashed a grin, abandoning the tactic of retreating across the expanse. Instead, he plucked a white Go piece between two fingers and flicked it lightly. With a sharp chi sound, a streak of light vanished, immediately blasting a hole in the carriage wall. Dust powdered down softly, just as a volley of arrows arrived.
The two women hastily drew their swords, deflecting the incoming arrows. In that brief window, the dense curtain of rain-like arrows ceased, as if the downpour had suddenly ended, leaving silence.
Li Muzhan picked up another white Go stone, flicked it again with his finger, and it shot out as another beam of light. A muffled grunt echoed from the distance.
Li Muzhan possessed the Void Eye, negating the need to visually confirm his targets, yet those fleeing in the distance could not see him. By the time the streaks of light, which were his Go stones, appeared, it was already too late for them to cry out.
Li Muzhan possessed astonishing natural strength and formidable finger power. Coupled with his deep inner force, the Zhu Jian Jue technique imbued the stones, granting them incredible speed, immense strength, and devastating power.
He proceeded at an unhurried pace, launching one stone after another, none missing their mark. Each stone struck a person. Of the dozen or so archers, ten were felled in an instant.
He paid no heed to who these people were or whether they had mistaken him for someone else; any other man would have been riddled with arrows by now, already sent to the Yellow Springs.
Towards those who sought his life, Li Muzhan showed no mercy. One stone, one life extinguished. These archers were terrified and began to retreat in panic.
But Li Muzhan’s stones seemed to possess vision. Even those hiding behind trees or rocks found it futile; the stones appeared capable of turning corners, accurately finding them one by one and ending their lives.
Of the twenty-odd archers, by the time they fled a hundred meters away, not one escaped. All were claimed by the stones, and the surroundings fell into sudden quiet.
Li Muzhan drew back his hand, shook his head, and sighed, “Such an unwarranted disaster!”
The two women listened closely. Jin Qiaoqiao whispered, “Sir, have you dealt with them all?”
Li Muzhan smiled, “Yes. Let’s go look outside. I suspect they made a mistake—they must have mistaken us for someone else. Truly an undeserved calamity.”
The two women frowned. Su Yunyun suddenly brought her sword down, and the carriage wall slowly collapsed. The world brightened, exposing them completely to the sunlight.
The scene outside unfolded before them. The sturdy, middle-aged carriage driver lay sprawled behind a rock by the roadside—the only living soul nearby.
Lying scattered in the woods were a dozen figures, each wearing an expression of stark surprise, as if unable to comprehend their own demise. Their eyes were wide open, an iridescent white Go stone pressed against their brows.
All twelve were positioned thus. The two women gasped, turning to look at Li Muzhan. They had never witnessed such miraculous skill with hidden weapons.
Li Muzhan smiled, surveying the surroundings, his expression slowly growing grave. ……………………………………………… Su Yunyun frowned, “Your vital points haven’t been sealed?”
Li Muzhan surveyed the area, nodding casually, “No, they haven’t.”
“What happened?” Su Yunyun turned to Jin Qiaoqiao.
Jin Qiaoqiao looked at her with confusion, then at Li Muzhan, “Mr. Li, your acupoints are truly not sealed?”
Li Muzhan turned back, giving a slight smile, “I possess the technique of Yi Mai Zhi Shu—sealing the vital points is useless against me, no matter how deep your inner force is.”
“So that’s it!” Jin Qiaoqiao sighed in relief.
Su Yunyun gave a soft harrumph and turned away, inspecting the surroundings. The carriage behind them was unharmed. Nanny Yang and the other young girl ran down; the old coachman sat placidly.
Such a raid was beneath their notice; it wasn't worth their intervention.
Suddenly, Li Muzhan’s expression shifted, and he spoke gravely, “They finally show themselves!”
As his words fell, two gray shadows abruptly materialized and lunged forward. One targeted Li Muzhan, the other aimed for Jin Qiaoqiao and Su Yunyun.
“Insolent!” the old coachman roared. He shot forward like a gust of wind; before he arrived, his long whip had already lashed out toward one gray shadow.
The gray shadow revealed itself to be an old man. He reached out, grasped the tip of the whip, which immediately coiled around his wrist like a serpent, and yanked backward.
The old man in gray sneered faintly. He clenched his fist slightly, and his sleeve suddenly bulged. With a muffled peng sound, the whip wrapped around his wrist instantly disintegrated into segments, showering down.
Though the whip failed to ensnare him, it had briefly obstructed his attack. Su Yunyun and Jin Qiaoqiao recovered and advanced with their swords, switching from defense to offense.
On the other side, the gray shadow pounced toward Li Muzhan, bringing his right palm down with the force of Mount Tai crushing the summit, aiming directly for Li Muzhan’s head. Li Muzhan gracefully sidestepped, narrowly evading the blow.
“Hmph!” the gray shadow snorted, revealing his form. He was also an old man, his features strikingly similar to the other, clearly indicating they were twins.
These two men had their hair and eyebrows dusted with white frost, appearing fifty or sixty years old. Their looks were ordinary; in a crowd, they would be mere common elders, but their eyes shone brilliantly, shooting forth piercing divine light.
Their movements differed: one was thin as a monkey, swift as lightning, engaging the old coachman and the two women in a messy brawl. The other attacked Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan remained seated cross-legged on the couch, only moving to evade the old man’s downward strike. When the elder attempted another attack, he flicked out an iridescent white Go stone.
Chi! A white light shot towards the elder, arriving instantly at incredible speed. The elder arched his back into an ‘iron bridge’ posture, barely avoiding it, unwilling to meet it head-on.
Just as he tried to straighten up, chi—another streak of white light targeted his waist.
The elder had no choice but to arch back again, falling straight onto the ground, only to roll away instantly to evade a third stone. He tumbled amidst dozens of arrows, utterly humiliated.
Li Muzhan smiled faintly and picked up another stone, flicking it toward the other fight. …………………………………………………… The old coachman was a martial arts master, and both Su Yunyun and Jin Qiaoqiao were experts, yet they were clearly outmatched by the frost-haired, gray-robed elder. Despite the three of them attacking, he not only held his ground but gained the advantage.
Nanny Yang watched from the side, anxiously scanning around, fearing another assailant might emerge, which would put their side at a disadvantage. She sighed inwardly, filled with regret; she should have brought more people.
Observing the battle, she marveled at Li Muzhan’s prowess. These two elders looked ordinary, and their martial arts seemed comparable, yet one managed to hold off three opponents, while the other was relentlessly crushing his opponent. The disparity was obvious.
This Li Zhu was far more formidable than she had imagined!
Li Muzhan held his stone box in one hand and flicked stones with the other. One by one, the stones transformed into streaks of light, harassing the two elders into desperate straits.
The elder opposite him suddenly went ruthless, transforming his hand into an eagle’s claw and sweeping down fiercely. It collided with a white stone, resulting in a sharp ding as the stone was deflected and bounced away.
The sound suggested the stone had struck iron or rock. It sprang far away. Li Muzhan narrowed his eyes, focusing on the elder’s hand.
If not for the profound inner force attached to the stone, it would have shattered into powder from that blow. This eagle claw technique was fiercely sharp, akin to striking metal.
He narrowed his gaze, his ten fingers slightly curved into an eagle claw shape. His fingers looked devoid of flesh, nothing more than skin stretched over bone, presenting a sinister, skeletal appearance.
Li Muzhan frowned, noticing a faint sheen flowing over the fingers of both men, resembling the gleam of metal. They looked like iron-forged eagle claws.
“The Eagle Claw Duo!” Su Yunyun snorted.
One elder cackled, his voice hoarse and unpleasant, “Well said, young lady. You have some discernment. Indeed, we are the Eagle Claw Duo!”
Su Yunyun said coldly, “Have we offended you in any way that requires the two of you to act personally?”
The fame of the Eagle Claw Duo was immense; they were top-tier masters from the previous generation, rarely seen in recent years, rumored to have retired to the mountains. It was astonishing that it was truly them.
The elder cackled again, “What this old man seeks is the youth from Star Lake Villa. It has nothing to do with you. If you know what’s good for you, step aside quietly, and you won’t be implicated!”
Su Yunyun frowned, “You mean to kill him?” She turned to Li Muzhan, asking with feigned confusion, “Why would he be killed?”
The elder glanced at Li Muzhan and shook his head with a cold smile, “Heh heh, he offended someone he shouldn't have. Even if he hides in Star Lake Villa, he must die!”
“Someone he shouldn't have offended?” Su Yunyun pondered, slowly saying, “Could it be the Lin family?”
“The young lady is quite clever!” The elder gave her a thumbs-up, then shook his index finger, “A wise person knows the times. Young lady, are you still going to help him?”
Su Yunyun glanced at Li Muzhan, then shook her head, “He is my enemy too. Since you are also set on killing him, I will not meddle further. I leave him to you!” …………………………………… “Haha, good! Excellent!” The elder laughed triumphantly, “Refreshing! A woman who is no less capable than a man—one who can take and one who can let go. You are a character!”
“You flatter me,” Su Yunyun replied blandly.
“Sister Su!” Jin Qiaoqiao cried out urgently.
Su Yunyun waved her hand, “Qiaoqiao, you don't need to say more. My mind is made up. We are no match for these two seniors. Even if we wanted to help him, it would be useless. We had better protect ourselves!”
“Sister Su!” Jin Qiaoqiao exclaimed, her bright eyes wide open.
Su Yunyun shot her a sharp look. Jin Qiaoqiao opened her mouth, then turned to look at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan remained seated on the long couch in the carriage, cross-legged, waving his hand with a smile, “Qiaoqiao, just listen to her. You two go ahead first; I will follow shortly.”
“Sir, you...?” Jin Qiaoqiao hesitated, startled.
Li Muzhan waved his hand and smiled, “Without you two slowing me down, I can focus entirely on the fight. Dealing with these two is not a problem. Go on, go on!”
“Heh heh, what big talk!” the elder sneered repeatedly, his eyes narrowing, radiating cold light.
Li Muzhan smiled, “We shall see the truth of it in action. No need for empty boasts. Eagle Claw Duo, heh heh, I have long heard your names!”
“We have long heard of Star Lake Villa too. Dealing with a disciple from Star Lake Villa for the first time is novel. I wonder if the rumors are exaggerated!” the elder chuckled.
Li Muzhan smiled, “We shall know soon enough!”
Su Yunyun gave Li Muzhan one deep look, then turned and waved, “Let’s go!”
Nanny Yang and the old coachman nodded. They also felt staying was pointless; combined, they couldn't handle the situation, and staying would only be a burden. It was better to leave quickly.
Li Muzhan sat on the carriage’s long couch, watching Su Yunyun and the others depart. Once the field quieted down, he shook his head and sighed, “The Lin family truly has remarkable audacity!”
The two elders slowly approached, their hands forming eagle claws, cold smiles playing on their lips.
One elder snorted, “Kid, you only have yourself to blame for being too bold, daring to kill a member of our Lin family. Can the dignified Lin family tolerate such an act?”
Li Muzhan sat cross-legged, deftly moving Go stones between his fingers, and smiled, “Aren't you Lin family afraid of our Star Lake Villa?”
“Hmph hmph, Star Lake Villa!” The two elders sneered, shaking their heads. “Just a toothless tiger, with a mere girl in charge. What can they accomplish!”
Li Muzhan’s brow twitched slightly. Their contempt for the Villa Master stung deeply. Any disciple of Star Lake Villa would be enraged; he considered himself rather restrained. ……………………………………………… His expression turned cold. He shook his head, and before the two could close the distance, he flicked his fingers twice, sending two streaks of white light slicing towards them.
Both men swept their claws—ding, ding—two sharp sounds as the white stones were deflected. The two elders stepped back.
They exchanged a look, startled by the inner force contained within the stones. They realized this kid was unexpectedly troublesome and they truly needed to exercise caution.
They exchanged a cautious glance and lunged forward again.
This time, Li Muzhan suddenly raised his stone box, scattering more than a dozen stones outwards, engulfing the two. The elders rapidly retreated, wildly waving their claws.
Li Muzhan seized the opportunity, flying out, merging his form with the scattering stones, and directly struck one elder’s eagle claw.
Peng! A muffled thud sounded, and both men staggered backward. Li Muzhan’s form drifted up, he spun mid-air, then tapped the low table with his toe, launching himself toward the other elder. He moved gracefully, almost like dancing, carrying a distinct air of effortless elegance.
The first elder stumbled back five or six paces. Crack! The table behind him shattered into fragments that littered the floor before his momentum finally stopped.
His face was flushed, as if drunk, swaying slightly before managing to stand firm, his hazy eyes fixed on Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan was already engaged with the second elder.
He threw a punch as if cleaving space itself; the strike seemed to bypass any intermediate motion, landing directly on the elder’s chest. Li Muzhan was employing the Divine Fist technique he learned from Leng Feng, and its power was fully unleashed now. Peng! A dull impact as the fist and the claw met again.
Li Muzhan’s figure floated, spinning in the opposite direction in the air, then tapped the low table on the couch again, shooting out toward the first elder.
The first elder was still in a drunken stupor. Just as Li Muzhan’s punch neared his chest, he suddenly contracted his torso and retreated swiftly, managing to pull back two feet. His eagle claw lashed upward in a reverse sweep, aiming for Li Muzhan’s vital meridian points.
This claw strike was incredibly bizarre and sudden, impossible to guard against.
Li Muzhan, however, reacted as if he had known it was coming, abruptly retracting his punch and driving straight into the eagle claw. Peng! Fist met claw again, and the elder was sent flying.
The force contained in this punch was stronger; Li Muzhan used ten parts of his strength, holding nothing back, intending to cripple the elder and teach him a lesson.
The elder tumbled through the air, his movements uncontrolled.
“Second brother!” the other elder cried out in alarm, suddenly flying out to catch his brother mid-air, landing lightly three zhang away. He immediately bent down to examine the injury, momentarily forgetting about Li Muzhan. ……………………………………………… Li Muzhan moved instantly, appearing before the remaining elder. He drove a punch forward, pressing his advantage—once he decided to strike, he never held back.
The elder, concerned for his brother, did not forget self-preservation, whipping his head back and unleashing a claw strike. As the fist and claw were about to connect, the eagle claw suddenly transformed into a sword-finger, pointing toward Li Muzhan’s wrist.
Li Muzhan changed his fist to a palm and struck toward the elder’s fingers.
Crack! A crisp sound echoed. The elder grunted, stumbling backward with his brother. His face was flushed, his eyes hazy, visibly shaken by the internal force Li Muzhan projected.
His index and middle fingers were broken. Furthermore, Li Muzhan’s internal force had drilled into his body along his arm, violently shaking his viscera. Blood churned within him, threatening unconsciousness.
Li Muzhan’s inner force was not only profound but incredibly pure. The two elders were highly skilled, renowned masters of the previous generation, but their deep inner force still lacked the refinement and sheer depth of Li Muzhan’s.
Without equal depth or purity, there was no chance of victory. Li Muzhan himself was surprised that his cultivation had reached this level.
One month of harsh training at Wuyou Cliff had indeed led to tremendous progress, impacting him deeply. Before that period of cultivation, though his inner force was deep, it was arguably inferior to the two elders; the outcome of a fight would have been uncertain. Now, the situation was reversed.
He gazed down with his Void Eye and saw Su Yunyun and the other three cautiously creeping from the woods, seemingly preparing a sneak attack, but they abruptly stopped moving.
They exchanged glances, astonishment evident in their eyes.
They clearly saw the situation unfolding: these two famous senior masters were utterly defenseless, being systematically routed by Li Muzhan.
They had never imagined such a scenario; they found it utterly baffling.
Jin Qiaoqiao turned to look at Su Yunyun, shaking her head. Su Yunyun’s face was dark as still water. She realized Li Xizhan had been playing her all along; he wasn't poisoned, nor were his vital points sealed.
She gritted her teeth, her gums itching furiously. She desperately wanted to step forward and give the hateful fellow a good beating for such blatant trickery!
Li Muzhan’s figure flashed again, instantly appearing behind the two elders. Their movements were sluggish, and they had no time to react. A massive force, surging like a breached floodgate, slammed into their backs, pouring directly into them. Their vision immediately darkened, and they knew nothing more.
Li Muzhan clapped his hands, watching the two elders fly out, landing heavily in the woods three zhang away. They were dead. The mighty Eagle Claw Duo had perished just like that.
Su Yunyun gracefully drifted over, looked down at the two bodies, then slowly stood up, meeting Li Muzhan’s gaze.
Li Muzhan smiled, “Yunyun, worried about me?”
Su Yunyun laughed coldly, “Li, you truly possess remarkable skill!”
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, “My skill isn't anything special; just average.”
Su Yunyun snorted, “Too modest. The Eagle Claw Duo stood unrivaled in the martial world for over forty years, and today they fall to you!”
Li Muzhan smiled, “They tried to kill me; how could I not fight back? The Lin family truly has some nerve, looking down upon Star Lake Villa like that! Hmph!” He felt genuinely annoyed by their disrespect toward the Villa Master.
Su Yunyun said, “You have stirred up great trouble. The Lin family will not let this go!”