Her expression changed abruptly. With a "bang," the window shattered, and four figures slipped inside. Fu Feihong, her violet robes billowing, landed beside Hai Yulan and patted her shoulder. "Lan'er, well done!"

Hai Yulan looked at Fu Feihong in surprise, her mouth opening but no words emerging.

Fu Feihong turned and glared coldly at Li Muzhan: "You surnamed Li, sneaking around harassing Lan'er! Do you think my Nine Heavens Xuan Nü Sect is some place for riffraff? Senior Sister Meng, Senior Sister Hua, Senior Sister Zhu, attack! Show no mercy to this little thief from the Cloud Sky Sect!"

"Good!" With three sharp cries, eight fair, jade-like palms shot out. Their movements were gentle yet sealed off every angle around him, leaving no path for escape.

Li Muzhan looked toward Hai Yulan in unexpected shock. As he was about to move against the incoming strikes, a "puff" sounded, and he spat out a stream of blood, his body faltering.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" Four pure jade palms struck his chest, back, and shoulders, and the other four followed immediately, hitting him again.

His body trembled, and he let out another wretched cry, spitting another jet of blood.

Hai Yulan’s face flushed crimson, her bright eyes flickering. With a flash of purple shadow, Fu Feihong retreated back to her side, patting her shoulder. "Good child, don't show mercy to such a heartless man. Out of sight, out of mind. You can leave now!"

"Heh heh... heh heh..." Li Muzhan threw his head back and laughed, though there was not a trace of mirth in his eyes as he stared coldly at Hai Yulan.

Blood stained his lips and the corners of his mouth, yet he seemed completely unaware as he chuckled. His gaze shifted from Hai Yulan—to Fu Feihong and the other three women.

They were all beautiful matrons, much like Fu Feihong. The cultivation methods of the Nine Heavens Xuan Nü Sect had a youth-preserving effect, making their ages impossible to discern from their appearance.

Their internal power was profound, soft yet unyielding. Upon entering the body, it continuously expanded and contracted, slicing away at the original internal force—an exceptionally overbearing power, yet one delivered with gentle dominance.

Fu Feihong glanced at Hai Yulan, pointed at Li Muzhan, and snorted, "You surnamed Li, I’ll spare your life today. If you pester Lan'er again, I will certainly kill you without pardon!"

Li Muzhan chuckled hollowly and shook his head. "What a Nine Heavens Xuan Nü Sect. Heh heh..."

He slowly turned, staggering with unsteady steps. After two paces, he paused and gasped out another mouthful of blood. He shot out through the broken window. Taking a deep breath, he moved again, slowly exiting Hai Yulan's private chamber.

Watching him depart slowly, silence filled the room. The four beauties looked at Hai Yulan. At this moment, her eyes were vacant, her expression dazed, and her face seemed caught between a smile and a sob.

A beautiful woman with a melon-seed face, charming and alluring, stepped forward and patted Hai Yulan’s shoulder, sighing, "Lan'er, don't blame your Master."

Hai Yulan’s body flinched, and the pressure on her vital points released. Her vacant gaze slowly focused, and her expression gradually returned to composure. Suddenly, she raised her palm and brought it down toward the top of her own head.

"Bang!" Fu Feihong thrust out her palm to block. The two palms collided with a dull thud. Fu Feihong stepped back one pace, and Hai Yulan also retreated one pace as her jade palm rebounded.

Fu Feihong strode forward, grabbing her jade hand, and sternly rebuked with a grim face, "Lan'er, what are you trying to do?!"

Hai Yulan shook her head, saying nothing, struggling to pull her hand free, but Fu Feihong held it tightly, refusing to let go. She scolded, "You would do this for that man?"

Hai Yulan stopped struggling and stared at Fu Feihong with a strange look.

Fu Feihong shivered, quickly saying, "Silly girl, you are truly too foolish. Is dying worth it for a stinking man? Hmm, is it worth it?!"

Hai Yulan lowered her gaze, tightly pressing her trembling lips together. Her once full and rosy cherry lips were now pale, making the bright red teeth marks all the more conspicuous.

The young matron with the melon-seed face sighed and shook her head. "Junior Sister Fu, perhaps we went too far. Look how upset Lan'er is!"

"Too far what!" Fu Feihong shot her a sharp glance, playfully chiding, "I was merciful enough not to kill that brat on the spot!"

"Junior Sister Fu, that's easy for you to say. Could you really kill him?" The young matron with the melon-seed face was unconvinced.

Fu Feihong said coldly, "No matter how strong he is, what strength does he have left after drinking the poisoned wine?"

The young matron with the melon-seed face shook her head. "You struck him too. Didn't you feel it? His protective divine skill is immensely powerful; he wasn't seriously hurt!" This boy's cultivation is truly astounding. I initially thought you, Junior Sister Fu, were exaggerating just to be safe and ensure a fatal blow!"

Fu Feihong rolled her eyes. "Senior Sister Meng, if I couldn't handle him alone, why would I need your help? Alright, help me persuade Lan'er. Don't just stand there watching the show!"

The young matron with the melon-seed face sighed. "You hurt Lan'er too deeply; we can't persuade her now. Alas... why even bother? Just let them be together!"

"Meng—Senior—Sister—!" Fu Feihong narrowed her phoenix eyes.

The young matron with the melon-seed face quickly waved her hands. "Fine, fine, consider it unsaid! Lan'er, your Master treasures you; after all these years of hardship, just follow her wishes this once!"

Hai Yulan remained motionless, her eyes slightly lowered, as if deep in meditation.

"Sigh..." The young matron with the melon-seed face shook her head helplessly. "Junior Sister Fu, the one who tied the bell must untie it. You should handle this. We'll take our leave!"

Without waiting for Fu Feihong's response, the three matrons turned and left, disappearing from the chamber in a blink.

Fu Feihong pulled Hai Yulan into an embrace, moving her onto the couch as if she were a piece of wood, and made her sit down, sighing, "Alas... silly girl, I am doing this for your own good. Could your Master harm you?!"

Hai Yulan remained silent, her eyelids slightly lowered.

Fu Feihong continued, "I had someone investigate this boy; he’s simply a philanderer! He has a woman in the Song family in North Night State and still dares to provoke you. That is disloyalty, the trait of a fickle heart. If you get involved with him, he will surely do the same again, falling for other women! Lan'er, are you willing to share a man with others? What difference is there between you and those common tarts!"

Hai Yulan still offered no reply.

Fu Feihong pressed on, "You might be resigned, but I am not! I worked so hard to raise you; it wasn't so you could be a mistress to some stinking man!"

Hai Yulan remained silent.

Fu Feihong went on, "Lan'er, tell me, what is so good about him that he deserves you treating him this way! His appearance is average, his reputation unremarkable, and his martial arts are merely passable. There are plenty of martial arts experts in the world. Why should he be allowed to be two-timing you?!"

She waved her hand in indignation: "If he weren't so fickle, I might have just turned a blind eye. But he is such a scoundrel, and he dares to trifle with you, Lan'er! With my temper, I would have killed him with one palm long ago!" Hai Yulan looked up at her briefly, then lowered her gaze again, tightly sealing her lips.

Fu Feihong declared, "It's only because I feared you couldn't bear it that today wasn't his day to die!"

"Master, you cannot kill him!" Hai Yulan murmured softly.

Fu Feihong was overjoyed and secretly breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was good she spoke; she was afraid that if she remained silent and they left, she might actually try to kill herself. This Lan'er had been spoiled rotten since childhood, fiercely willful, doing whatever she pleased, and no one could persuade her otherwise.

Fu Feihong said, "This stinking boy's cultivation is indeed profound; I couldn't handle him myself. But I still have your few martial aunts! Besides, there was that wine earlier!"

"There was poison in the wine, wasn't there?" Hai Yulan asked faintly, head bowed.

Fu Feihong smiled. "Your Master always acts with absolute certainty. Of course, I poisoned it first!"

"What poison?" Hai Yulan asked.

Fu Feihong chuckled, "Fufeng San. It will neutralize all his martial arts! Once his powers are gone, let's see if he dares to remain so faithless!"

"Doesn't Master think that’s too despicable? Why did you frame me!" Hai Yulan suddenly snapped her head up, glaring coldly at her.

Fu Feihong pursed her lips and smiled. "Matters of the heart between men and women are the most fragile. Didn't you see? With a little instigation from me, he believed it immediately!"

Hai Yulan took a deep breath, suppressing the rage that wanted to burn everything. Her body trembled slightly, her jade face pale. Seeing her disciple’s face turn white, Fu Feihong sighed, "Lan'er, you resent me now, but in the future, you will understand my good intentions. This person is absolutely not a suitable companion!"

Hai Yulan suddenly laughed, a bitter, strange smile that was impossible to place.

"Lan'er, what are you laughing at?" Fu Feihong frowned.

Hai Yulan shook her head. "I truly didn't expect Master would harm me like this!"

Fu Feihong chided, "I'm saving you! Tell me, what exactly is so good about this boy!"

"Master, what was so good about Yi Xingzhi back then?" Hai Yulan asked with a cold smile.

Fu Feihong’s jade face changed, and she retorted, "I was blind! There wasn't a single good thing about him; it's just that I was blinded by pig fat back then, which is why I fell for him! That’s why I cannot let you walk the same path as me!"

"Doesn't Master still like him now?" Hai Yulan said with a half-smile, the corner of her mouth slightly turned up in sarcasm. "Does Master think others can't see it?"

"Nonsense!" Fu Feihong glared at her.

Hai Yulan continued, "To outsiders, his appearance is plain and unremarkable, but I just like him. My eyes can only see him; no one else exists!"

"Is he better than Dugu Heng?" Fu Feihong huffed.

Hai Yulan nodded slowly. "Ten Dugu Hengs are not worth one of him."

"You are truly infatuated!" Fu Feihong shook her head and sighed. "That is why your Master absolutely cannot let you continue down the wrong path!"

Hai Yulan smiled faintly and slowly rose, walking to the window. She gently pushed it open, and a beam of sunlight fell upon her, accompanied by a gentle breeze that carried a hint of coldness straight to her core.

Her heart felt hollow, as if it had been scooped out. There was no pain, only numbness and emptiness. Everything before her had lost its color.

Fu Feihong said, "Lan'er, women can live without men. Now that he hates you and dare not return, just forget him. Treat it as if you never met this person!"

Hai Yulan looked at the bright sunlight, her gaze indifferent. Standing in the bright light, her entire body exuded an aura of desolation.

Fu Feihong felt a pang of heartache, a fleeting thought crossing her mind: Have I done wrong?

Then her heart hardened again. Severing ties now was better than watching her suffer even more deeply later. A short, sharp pain was better than a long, drawn-out one!

Fu Feihong rose. "Lan'er, you should rest well. Don't overthink things!"

"Master, don't worry. I won't seek death," Hai Yulan nodded, her voice flat.

Fu Feihong shook her head and sighed deeply. "Alas... that Li Wuji!"

She turned to leave, glancing back at Hai Yulan before closing the door. Hai Yulan stood quietly in the bright sunlight, motionless, devoid of life, like an aging person nearing dusk.

When the door clicked shut, Hai Yulan slowly turned around and shuffled back to the couch, curling her body into a ball, trembling uncontrollably. The only thing flashing in her mind was Li Muzhan’s cold stare. The emptiness in her heart suddenly regained sensation, as if a knife were twisting inside, the pain intensifying with every surge.

"Miss Hai?" A clear voice laced with amusement sounded. She sprang up violently and whipped her head around. Li Muzhan was standing right before the couch, grinning.

"You... you...?" Hai Yulan’s eyes were wide open.

Li Muzhan laughed. "I’ve come back to claim my life!"

"Are you alright?" Hai Yulan had no patience for jokes and immediately rushed towards him.

Li Muzhan patted his chest and laughed, "My acting skills are not bad, are they?"

Hai Yulan stammered, "You were acting?! Then the poisoned wine...?"

Li Muzhan laughed. "Miss Hai, you’ve become dull. Could such a trick fool me?"

"Hmph, if you're so smart, why did you fall for it!" Hai Yulan regained her spirit, and the previous bleakness vanished instantly.

Li Muzhan chuckled and sat down beside her. The delicate fragrance drifted to his nose, and his fresh, unique scent entered her nostrils. Her face flushed hot, her cheeks a delicate crimson, ripe enough to draw a bite. Li Muzhan desperately wanted to cup her face and kiss her.

Li Muzhan took her jade hand and covered his own with it, warming her icy fingers. He smiled. "This is called turning the plot back on them! This time, Senior Fu will finally be reassured and stop watching you so closely."

Hai Yulan didn't hold back her hand. Warmth spread from his palm, warming her heart. She chided him, "You knew the cup contained poisoned wine, yet you drank it?"

Li Muzhan laughed. "Miss Hai underestimates me too much. Could I not detect poisoned wine? Besides, is a cup of poison enough to deal with me?"

Hai Yulan said, "That was Fufeng San. It not only neutralizes internal power but also seals the Dantian."

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I wrapped it directly in my internal force... Senior Fu is truly vicious to try and cripple my martial arts!"

"Master she..." Hai Yulan shook her head, her expression complex. "Then you really took four heavy palm strikes. Are you hurt?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Although Senior Fu and the others are strong, they are still a bit short of injuring me. Don't forget we both have treasure armor!"

Hai Yulan pursed her lips and smiled. "I forgot! Ying..."

As her face blossomed with a radiant smile, Li Muzhan suddenly leaned in and sealed her cherry lips. They were soft and tender, and the faint, sweet fragrance filled his mouth and nose. Li Muzhan was utterly intoxicated.

Hai Yulan instantly froze. Her vision went blank with a "buzz," followed by a rapid heartbeat and short breath. Her body went completely limp.

Li Muzhan encircled her supple waist, gently caressing her delicate, soft lips—pressing, sucking. When he finally released her mouth, her lips were slightly swollen, alluringly red, truly like plump cherries. Li Muzhan leaned in again and kissed her for a long time until she could barely breathe before stopping.

Her body was soft as mud, gasping lightly, her cheeks flushed crimson, her bright eyes swirling, yet she dared not meet his gaze. Seeing her intense shyness, Li Muzhan reached out as if to kiss her again, but suddenly flashed away.

Hai Yulan started, a sense of loss washing over her. Footsteps approached: "Junior Sister Hai!"

Hao Xuemei hurried in, her light violet long gown billowing, bringing with her a gust of refreshing wind as she rushed to Hai Yulan’s side. "What in the world happened?"

She looked curiously at Hai Yulan, who was now radiant and captivating, showing not a trace of the sadness and despair she should have felt.

Hao Xuemei sat by the couch and asked strangely, "Master asked me to stay with you, saying she was worried you might do something rash. What happened?"

She suddenly sniffed the air. "Did Dragon Head Li come here?"

"Whoosh!" A blush spread across Hai Yulan's cheeks and neck, continuing down beneath her clothes where it couldn't be seen.

Hao Xuemei grew even more perplexed. "Junior Sister, tell me quickly!"

Hai Yulan steadied herself, her boneless body slowly sitting upright. "Master and Senior Aunt Meng, Senior Aunt Hua, and Senior Aunt Zhu ambushed him..." ...Master poisoned the wine beforehand, and I didn't know. She framed me, pretending I knew, and struck him down while he was heartbroken and distracted."

"Ah—?!" Hao Xuemei’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. "No wonder Master asked me to watch over you. This... this is going too far!"

"Master is too despicable!" Hai Yulan said hatefully.

Hao Xuemei felt a chill but wisely kept quiet. After all, she was the Master. If Junior Sister Hai complained, the Master wouldn't be angry, but if she did, it would be different.

Hao Xuemei asked, "Is Dragon Head Li alright?"

Hai Yulan said angrily, "Master and the three Senior Aunts all struck him..." ...He drank the poisoned wine first, and then his spirit was taken by Master's trickery. If not for that, they never could have beaten him!"

"I asked if he was alright?!" Hao Xuemei said impatiently.

"He left in grief," Hai Yulan shook her head.

Hao Xuemei breathed a sigh of relief and looked her up and down. "Junior Sister, you don't look heartbroken or desperate. What's going on?"

Hai Yulan said fiercely, "If I look sad, Master wins! I absolutely refuse to be sad!"

Hao Xuemei chuckled. "The older ginger is spicier. You two can't outwit Master!"

"Senior Sister, whose side are you on?!" Hai Yulan glared at her crossly, waving her hand. "Enough, I'm fine now. I’ve caught my breath. You can go back. I want to sleep well and argue with Master tomorrow!"

Hao Xuemei pursed her lips and smiled. "I support the two of you in my heart, but Master is not to be disobeyed. I can only support you mentally—at most, I can bring a few jars of good wine! Though it seems you don't need it now, do you?"

Hai Yulan quickly said, "Bring a few jars of good wine!"

Hao Xuemei looked her over and laughed, shaking her head. "Junior Sister, it seems you haven't given up yet!"

Hai Yulan huffed. "I absolutely will not give up!"

Hao Xuemei said, "It's useless. Once he leaves, he might even start to hate you and never return. Besides, you have to worry about traps Master and the others might set..."

Hai Yulan waved her hand, adopting an annoyed expression. "Alright, Senior Sister, I need to lie down. Go attend to your own matters!"

Hao Xuemei reluctantly rose from the couch. "Then fine, I'm leaving. Don't think about ending your life. Women can live without men!"

Hai Yulan turned onto her side and closed her eyes. Hao Xuemei looked at her, shook her head, and departed.

The moment she left, Li Muzhan materialized, lying down beside her. He chuckled, "Miss Hao is quite perceptive!"

"Did Senior Sister see through it?" Hai Yulan asked nervously.

They faced each other, separated by only the distance of a hand's breadth, their breaths audible. Her face reddened, and she quickly leaned back to create distance, shooting him a sideways glance.

Li Muzhan didn't press too hard, stretching lazily. "She's half-convinced, perhaps, or maybe she’s just pretending to be confused."

Hai Yulan thought for a moment, then asked, "How did you know it wasn't me who poisoned the wine?"

Li Muzhan laughed. "If there's no trust like that, wouldn't that be too tragic? ...Your Master’s acting was quite brilliant!"

The thought of this made Hai Yulan’s teeth ache with anger.

"Forget it. From her perspective, she truly had good intentions; I can’t really blame her," Li Muzhan sighed. "I’ll have to use a few more calculated self-injury ploys. Once she knows I won't give up, she’ll continue ambushing me... After a few more times, when I finally give up, only then will they believe it."