Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "Senior Fu, please go ahead. I'm listening."

"Your move has placed me in a position of dishonor. Everyone assumes it was the man surnamed Yi who acted, and now I’m facing endless ridicule. I can’t possibly show my face!" Fu Feihong grumbled without good humor. "Tell me honestly, was that the idea of the man surnamed Yi?"

Li Muzhan shook his head and chuckled. "Senior Fu has wronged the Sect Master. The Sect Master knew absolutely nothing about this; how could he have suggested it?"

"You didn't tell him?" Fu Feihong inquired.

"It was a minor matter. There was no need to disturb the Sect Master's cultivation," Li Muzhan replied.

Fu Feihong nodded slowly, snorting again. "This heartless man! ... It seems this was all your wicked scheme, trying to drive my apprentice and me out of the sect, wasn't it?"

Li Muzhan quickly waved his hands. "Senior Fu, this... this... this is going too far."

Fu Feihong shot him a sidelong glance and huffed, "I know you're full of crooked ideas. Lan'er is usually so clever, but you’ve completely muddled her mind; she can’t see your true face clearly!"

Li Muzhan sighed. "Senior Fu, am I really so unwelcome?"

"No matter how welcome you might be, philandering is a grave mistake—unforgivable!" Fu Feihong insisted with a snort.

Li Muzhan felt helpless internally. It seemed there was no hope of earning this Senior Fu's goodwill. He turned toward Hai Yulan, who bit her lip and smiled. "Master, please go easy with your words. Look at what you're saying!"

"You foolish girl, you don't understand the gravity of things. You'll regret this later!" Fu Feihong said irritably, glancing askance at Li Muzhan. "If you ever treat Lan'er poorly, just watch how I deal with you!"

Li Muzhan shook his head and let out a long, meaningful sigh. "Senior Fu, I speak with utter sincerity. Why such suspicion? ... The Sect Master treats you with equal sincerity. It's a pity you don't cherish it, constantly nitpicking. Where in this world can one find a perfect man? ... If not for your temperament, the Sect Master and you would already be immortal companions. Tolerance and acceptance are the way forward for any couple!"

"Impudent boy, lecturing me now!" Fu Feihong's expression shifted slightly, and she rolled her eyes at him.

Hai Yulan watched her Master cautiously. Li Muzhan’s words were rather harsh. Although he had voiced what lay in her own heart, she had never dared say it for fear of striking too close to the core of her Master’s feelings.

Li Muzhan continued with a sigh. "I offer this advice out of pure sincerity. Affection between a man and a woman requires nurturing. If there is too much calculation and constant tallying, it only depletes the relationship to no benefit. I hope Senior will reconsider. I think the Sect Master is also a bit weary; if this continues, I fear..."

"He’s weary?" Fu Feihong sneered. "I’m weary too. That solves things neatly. Go back and tell him to stop bothering me!"

Li Muzhan shook his head helplessly. "Perhaps Senior should tell the Sect Master herself. How can I, a junior, meddle in such affairs? ... Senior Fu, the Floating Cloud Palace is not what it once was. Palace Mistress Leng has surpassed her predecessor, and her martial arts are astonishingly formidable. Your Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Sect will gain nothing by pressing the issue. Consider it settled; the eight Seniors killed quite a few Floating Cloud Palace disciples last time, which should serve as an explanation to that martial sister."

"Hmph, speaking of that, it’s all because you played coy and didn't actually kill anyone!" Fu Feihong grumbled.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Trading eight Seniors' lives for theirs—which is the better deal? Surely Senior Fu can calculate that?"

Fu Feihong snorted. "They are grateful to you. Listening to you, it sounds like you have some deep connection with Leng Chaoyun, getting involved with her too?!"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I was merely obeying the Sect Master's orders to deliver a message, and we exchanged a couple of moves during the encounter. She is truly a formidable opponent!"

Fu Feihong's slender eyebrows lifted, and her expression darkened. She had never been able to discern Li Muzhan's true cultivation, but it seemed unfathomably deep—she knew for certain she was no match, perhaps neither was her Master or the Sect Master. This realization underscored just how powerful Leng Chaoyun must be.

Li Muzhan spoke earnestly. "Senior, I am certainly not exaggerating. This Palace Mistress Leng truly cannot be underestimated. To be frank, even if the hidden masters of your Sect were to emerge, they would still not surpass her. It is best to let this go."

Fu Feihong nodded slowly, her expression solemn. In matters of the heart, she was steadfast and uncompromising, allowing no flaw. Her disciple could not marry a philanderer. However, she was quite satisfied with Li Muzhan, if only because his martial arts were peerless, ensuring he would never be bullied. She did not treat Li Muzhan as a mere junior. In the martial world, strength commands respect, regardless of age. Whoever possessed formidable skills commanded notice, much like the wealthy in later generations—no matter how young, if they could earn fortunes, they could not be ignored.

Therefore, though Li Muzhan’s words struck directly at her core concerns, she wasn't overly angry. She accepted them calmly and took his assessment of Leng Chaoyun's power seriously, believing he would not fabricate a threat.

Li Muzhan pressed on. "If this entanglement continues, your Sect is certain to lose. There is no doubt about it. The Floating Cloud Palace's strength far surpasses yours; that is an undeniable fact!"

Fu Feihong glared back. "I don't need you to tell me that! ... If the one who died was your martial sister, what would you do?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I would wipe out the entire Floating Cloud Palace!"

"That's the point!" Fu Feihong huffed. "You understand that feeling!"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "That requires the strength to back it up. My anger can wipe out the Floating Cloud Palace, but your sect cannot. Instead of inviting humiliation and suffering needless sacrifice, wouldn't it be better to take this as a disgrace that fuels your disciples' motivation—to train desperately so they can surpass the Floating Cloud Palace one day, rather than sacrificing themselves needlessly now?"

Fu Feihong fell silent. Might makes right; that was the reality of the world. Sometimes, warmth was concealed beneath layers of social convention, but the higher one stood, the clearer one saw the truth.

After a long silence, Hai Yulan murmured softly, "Master, what he says has merit."

Fu Feihong shot her a look. "I know what he says has merit; the problem is, what I say doesn't count!"

Hai Yulan turned to Li Muzhan and shook her head. "The Sect Master makes the decisions within our sect."

Li Muzhan sensed the subtext immediately. Clearly, Fu Feihong was not held in high regard by the Sect Master, meaning his words carried little weight, no matter how much he said.

Li Muzhan frowned, considering for a moment, then sighed. "In that case, Senior Fu, it would be best for you to keep your distance from the Floating Cloud Palace."

"The Sect Master has commanded it; what choice do I have?" Fu Feihong snorted.

Li Muzhan smiled slightly. "Senior Fu, perhaps we should spar for a moment?"

"Hm—?" Fu Feihong looked up and gave him a sharp glance. "You little brat, you want to bully me now?!"

Li Muzhan chuckled. "Senior, where is this coming from? Just a friendly spar."

"Is it because I haven't been speaking to your liking, and you want revenge?" Fu Feihong examined him up and down.

Li Muzhan laughed heartily. "Senior has always wanted to see how strong my martial arts truly are, hasn't she? How about it, do you dare?"

"You impudent boy, using provocation on me! Fine, a match it is!" Fu Feihong declared with a playful pout, then turned to her apprentice. "Lan'er, look at your sweetheart!"

Hai Yulan smiled. "Doesn't Master also want a good spar?" She had known long ago when Fu Feihong and others had conspired against Li Muzhan that he had intentionally retreated, and any injury sustained was not a true measure of his ability; he hadn't used his full strength. She was genuinely curious about Li Muzhan's skill and wouldn't miss this chance. Victory or defeat held little importance for her.

"This girl is already taking his side!" Fu Feihong huffed, then nodded. "I want to see just how profound this brat's cultivation is!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior, please—?!"

"Right here?" Fu Feihong gestured, indicating the cozy but decidedly cramped interior of the room.

Li Muzhan nodded with a smile. "It's sufficient. If Senior finds the space too restrictive, we can move outside."

"Here it is!" Fu Feihong insisted with a snort. She did indeed find the space restrictive but refused to show weakness. "Watch this move!"

She didn't use a weapon, simply extending her palm to strike. A surging force lunged toward him—her internal energy was incredibly pure. A true expert reveals their skill the moment they move.

Li Muzhan swept his left palm in a wide arc, then pushed out. With a dull thud, Fu Feihong staggered back a step, her stance wavering slightly.

A look of surprise crossed her face. This palm strike was remarkably subtle. She could feel that it was her own attacking force reflected back at her, albeit slightly diminished.

"Senior, please use your full strength. There's no need to hold back," Li Muzhan said, hands behind his back, smiling.

Although she knew Li Muzhan was formidable, Fu Feihong hadn't expected his cultivation to be so deep. Since that was the case, there was indeed no need for restraint. She let out a sharp cry, darted forward, and her right hand aimed for Li Muzhan's chest, poised to strike his heart. This was her ultimate hidden technique, intended to deliver a crushing first blow. If the strike failed, there would be no need to continue; it carried an element of sneak attack, yet she was giving it her all—if she still couldn't win, she would have to concede.

Her palm felt the fabric of Li Muzhan's outer garment, and she felt a surge of triumph. Just as she was about to unleash her full power, a tremendous force struck her between the shoulder blades, like a giant hammer blow. Her vision instantly blurred, and she collapsed limply.

"Pfft!" "Master!"

She spat out a stream of blood, and Hai Yulan cried out, rushing forward to support her.

Hai Yulan held Fu Feihong close, quickly examining her injury. She looked up and glared fiercely at Li Muzhan. "You..."

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "Was my touch too heavy?"

"You... you..." Hai Yulan’s full chest heaved violently as she pressed her crimson lips together and glared at him.

Li Muzhan explained, "If I wanted the Senior to stay away from the Floating Cloud Palace, a trick involving self-injury was the only way. Don't worry, this blow looks severe, but it didn't hit a vital spot. She just needs careful recuperation."

Hai Yulan understood instantly, but seeing her Master unconscious still twisted her heart with pain. She scolded him tenderly, "You are so ruthless!"

Li Muzhan said, "It had to be done this way. Please apologize to the Senior for me when she wakes."

"I won't bother with you!" Hai Yulan pouted.

Li Muzhan chuckled. "For whose sake was I taking this risk? ... Relax, you don't trust my medical skills?"

Hai Yulan recalled that he did indeed possess the wondrous ability to bring the dead back to life. Still unable to shake her anger, she muttered, "You... When Master wakes up, I wonder how she’ll berate you!"

Li Muzhan laughed. "Not necessarily. Perhaps the Senior will even thank me. I'll apologize to the Sect Master and ask her to come visit."

Hai Yulan immediately bit her lip and smiled. "You always come up with the worst ideas!"

Li Muzhan said, "The sharp warning I delivered earlier—I wonder how effective it was. Let's have the Sect Master test it out... Alright, I should take my leave now!" He saw signs that Fu Feihong was beginning to stir and hurried to depart. Hai Yulan saw through his haste and scolded him, "Hurry up and go! Master will definitely curse you when she wakes!"

Li Muzhan laughed softly, leaned over, kissed her smooth forehead, and vanished abruptly.

Hai Yulan shook her head watching the direction he disappeared. That maneuver was truly vicious. Her Master had taken a stunning blow. He had managed to look after both public and private interests: helping his Master escape the situation while taking his own small revenge.

As she pondered this, Fu Feihong moaned faintly and slowly regained consciousness. She struggled to sit up, wiped the blood from her mouth, and hissed hatefully, "Li Wuji!"

Hai Yulan quickly helped her sit up on the low couch, saying cautiously, "Master, he already left. He asked me to apologize and said he would ask Sect Master Yi to come visit you."

"That brat left?!" Fu Feihong said with lingering hatred.

Hai Yulan nodded timidly. "He just left a short while ago. He called this move a self-injury ploy to make a clean getaway and distance himself from the Floating Cloud Palace."

"Is he helping me or hurting me!" Fu Feihong’s remaining fury left her face pale as paper. "That palm strike nearly killed me! Did he truly want me dead so no one would stop you two anymore?"

Hai Yulan stamped her foot and chided, "Mas—ter—!"

Fu Feihong snorted. "You may not have those thoughts, but he might!"

Hai Yulan retorted, "Master, you think too little of him. If he truly wanted to marry me, he would have already abducted me directly. Why all this...?"

Fu Feihong glared at her. "You girl, you’re siding with outsiders! What good is raising you! I was nearly killed by his palm strike, and you’re still speaking up for him!"

Hai Yulan said impatiently, "Master, you are being completely unreasonable. Fine, fine! I’ll tell him not to interfere with our affairs concerning the Floating Cloud Palace anymore!"

"Oh, are you taking your anger out on your Master?" Fu Feihong challenged, glaring.

Hai Yulan said testily, "Good intentions yield no reward! Just looking at this upsets me!"

Fu Feihong waved a hand dismissively. "Alright, alright, I can't argue with you. He’s right, he’s always right. It’s your Master who failed to recognize a kind heart and has to be grateful after taking a beating, is that it?"

Hai Yulan managed a small smile. "Alright, Master. He was driven to that extreme; please be magnanimous and don't hold a grudge against him. ... Will Sect Master Yi actually come?"

"Who knows!" Fu Feihong immediately flushed and turned her head away.

Hai Yulan persisted, "Master, your injury is severe and won't heal quickly. You must rest well. If Sect Master Yi does come, how should I receive him?"

"Send him away!" Fu Feihong huffed.

Hai Yulan shook her head. "His Sect Master? I wouldn't dare!"

"Look at your lack of backbone!" Fu Feihong was annoyed again by Hai Yulan’s lack of spirit. "A woman without dignity, how can she earn a man's respect?"

Hai Yulan smiled sweetly. "Master, in this regard, I will not listen to you."

Fu Feihong declared hatefully, "This is my teaching!"

Hai Yulan nodded with a smile. "Yes, I am doing exactly what I learned from your teaching."

Seeing her playful demeanor, Fu Feihong knew she couldn't win the argument. She waved her hand impatiently. "Fine, fine. Next time that brat shows up, he’ll definitely take a palm strike from me before I calm down!"

Hai Yulan pouted. "Master, why stoop to his level!"

Fu Feihong snorted. "You girl, hurry up and get out of the way, call Xuemei to serve me!"

Hai Yulan agreed with a coy laugh and went out to summon Hao Xuemei. She retreated to the side, careful not to provoke her Master's anger, knowing that her Master was currently venting frustration and seeing her reminded her of Li Wuji.

In the early morning, Li Muzhan was practicing his Arhat Fist atop Floating Cloud Mountain. It was light and slow, like a dance. Leng Chaoyun was also practicing, but with a set of palm techniques that shared a similar essence with the Fist—both slow and gentle, resembling dance more than combat training.

They spoke little; sometimes only a word or two the entire day. Leng Chaoyun seemed perpetually lost in thought, rarely speaking or moving much, like a statue carved from jade. Li Muzhan found himself intensely curious about what occupied her mind, but her veil was strange, shrouding her entire form, making it impossible to penetrate.

These past few days, the Floating Cloud Mountain had been peaceful, devoid of grudges or vendettas from the martial world. Most disciples trained in the valley below the mountain. The summit was quiet, while the base was lively. The true location of the Floating Cloud Palace lay within a cluster of buildings in the valley; the peak was merely Leng Chaoyun's residence.

While practicing his fist forms, Li Muzhan suddenly paused, nodded toward Leng Chaoyun, and said, "Palace Mistress Leng, I must take my leave now!"

Without waiting for her reply, he vanished abruptly, reappearing in the small courtyard belonging to his senior sister, Feng Mingxue, on Hengbo Island.

Feng Mingxue, clad in snow-white robes, stood with her hands behind her back in a small pavilion. Her delicate eyebrows were faintly furrowed, and her expression was grave. Seeing Li Muzhan appear, she shook her head. "Something has happened."

Li Muzhan asked, "What is it?"

"The Sect Master is injured," Feng Mingxue reported.

Li Muzhan frowned. "The Sect Master is injured?!" He found it hard to believe.

Feng Mingxue sighed. "It is absolutely true, which is why you were summoned back! ... She was injured on the road back to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Sect."

Li Muzhan questioned, "The Sect Master has four Great Protectors with her. Who could possibly injure the Sect Master?" Those four guardians were all peak Grandmasters; while not at the level of Great Grandmasters, their combined strength could hold off anyone short of that level.

Feng Mingxue shook her head. "We just don't know who inflicted the injury."

Li Muzhan asked, "Were there no fatalities among the guards?"

Feng Mingxue sighed. "Fortunately, they were all injured, but not killed... However, the incident is truly bizarre. It's said a masked figure dressed in grey was responsible. Their methods were ruthless; they seemed intent on a mutual destruction with the Sect Master."

"How many assailants were there in total?" Li Muzhan asked.

"Twelve. All were utterly pulverized. It is rumored they used a cruel technique to violently accelerate their potential, resulting in immense destructive power." Feng Mingxue explained.

Li Muzhan pondered. "It seems they held a deep, deadly grudge!"

"Exactly!" Feng Mingxue sighed. "But who among us would inspire such a deep hatred? ... The Floating Cloud Palace? The Sunset Valley?"

Li Muzhan’s expression shifted slightly. "The Sunset Valley?"

Feng Mingxue asked, "Wasn't that matter settled cleanly?"

Li Muzhan considered it, then ultimately shook his head, feeling that the Sunset Valley group was unlikely; he had terrified them, and they probably lacked the courage.

Feng Mingxue sighed again. "The reason for calling you back this time is to help investigate. The Sect Master's journey to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Sect was your idea."

Li Muzhan managed a bitter smile and shook his head. "I truly never expected..."

"We must identify these people, or we will never know peace," Feng Mingxue stated.

Li Muzhan slowly said, "I will uncover the truth. Senior Sister, please assist me!"

"Mm," Feng Mingxue acknowledged with a slight nod.

Li Muzhan smiled. "I will go see the Sect Master now!"