A broad river shimmered, winding like a silver dragon. The noon sun beat down on the desolate water surface where a large boat slowly traveled from north to south. Originally two-storied and quite tall, the vessel appeared solitary and minuscule, like an ant, upon the vast river.

This two-decked boat, perhaps twenty zhang long, bore a stark black banner at its prow, emblazoned with a large character, “” (Cao). Anyone seeing it would immediately recognize it as a government vessel.

A large banner bearing the character “” (Xu) flapped vigorously. Standing at the bow were two ranks of guards, about twenty men, their armor gleaming coldly, each exuding vibrant energy and spirit.

Also at the bow were two young women. One, clad in white, was graceful as a willow, her face veiled by white gauze, revealing only eyes like clear autumn water. The other, in green, was both strong and delicate, possessing a sweet and charming countenance.

The two stood side by side at the bow, smiling as they held the railing, occasionally pointing toward the flanking gorges and discussing what they saw, punctuated by bursts of crisp, lovely laughter.

The guards stood with their backs to them, their gazes fixed on the water, watchful and alert.

Suddenly, the green-clad girl pointed toward the distant water, her voice sweet, "Miss, look quickly, what is that?"

The white-clad girl followed her gaze. Far off was a patch of green shadow, appearing and disappearing. Because of the distance, only a vague shape bobbing on the water could be seen; nothing distinct.

The white-clad girl murmured, "Xiao He, did someone’s luggage fall into the river?"

The green-clad girl shook her head. "Miss, it's not luggage; it’s a person!"

"Ah—?!" The white-clad girl’s expression shifted, and she sighed, "Another poor soul drowned in the river?"

"Miss, I don't think he’s dead!" The green-clad girl shook her head, her gaze fixed intently on the distant green shadow, frowning. "He might still be alive."

"Really?" the white-clad girl asked. "Can you see clearly?"

The green-clad girl replied proudly, "Miss, we martial artists have excellent eyesight!"

The white-clad girl nodded slightly. "Very well, bring him up and let’s see!" Then, louder, "Steward Xu!"

"Miss!" An elder in brocade robes hurried over and said in a low voice, "What are your orders?"

This elder was tall and imposing, with a square face, a purplish complexion, thick brows, and large eyes. His presence was weighty, radiating an aura of innate authority that deterred any disrespect.

"Steward Xu, pull that person up so we can see." The white-clad girl gently pointed at the distant green shadow. As the boat drew closer, she could see a bit more clearly, but still couldn't make out if it was a person.

"...Miss..." Steward Xu hesitated, then shook his head. "Miss, perhaps we should let it be."

"Why?" asked the white-clad girl.

Steward Xu sighed. "Miss, these are sensitive times. We should be cautious. Better to avoid trouble where we can. The Master's tooth is already swollen."

The white-clad girl frowned. "Steward Xu, I cannot bear to watch someone die without offering aid!"

Steward Xu cautioned, "It could be a trick by an enemy. We must be wary."

The white-clad girl shook her head. "Even if it is an enemy’s plot, we can be cautious after bringing him aboard. We cannot stop feeding because of a choking hazard—we won't stand by and watch someone die! Steward Xu, hurry and get him out of the water!"

"...Yes, Miss." Steward Xu sighed helplessly and waved his hand.

Immediately, two guards stripped off their gleaming mingguang armor and plunged from the great boat into the water. The ship slowed its pace, drawing closer to the spot. The two guards were excellent swimmers, and in moments, they were supporting a man in green robes and bringing him toward the boat. With the help of the others, he was pulled back onto the deck.

They laid the man in green on the deck. The two girls looked down. He was thoroughly soaked, his robe clinging to his body, revealing a well-proportioned physique.

His face was pale, his appearance unremarkable; he would easily go unnoticed in a crowd.

The green-clad girl asked, "Steward Xu, is there any hope?"

Steward Xu had already knelt to check the young man's neck. He nodded, then examined the young man's hands. "Xiao He, he still has a sliver of life; he can be saved! He looks like a scholar, not a martial artist."

He then patted the green-robed man's chest a few times. With a poof, a jet of water shot out. Steward Xu sidestepped it and shook his head. "He's about twenty, no external wounds. He must have slipped in himself. He's incredibly lucky to have met the Miss today; any later and he would have been gone."

"Check his belongings," instructed the white-clad girl.

Steward Xu rifled through the young man’s robes, his brow furrowing. He opened his palm; resting there were three throwing knives, crystalline and clear, as if carved from ice.

"This person..." Steward Xu knitted his brows.

The green-clad girl quickly asked, "Steward Xu, is he a martial artist?"

Steward Xu surveyed the green-robed youth lying on the deck and shook his head. "This old man cannot be sure. He doesn't look like one, but these are certainly not children's toys..."

He weighed the three small knives. They were quite heavy, made of a strange material he had never seen before. They looked carved from ice but were definitely not ice, possessing no chill.

The green-clad girl commented, "He doesn't look like a martial artist. Maybe he just practices for fun?"

Steward Xu slowly nodded, his brow still furrowed. "Possibly... but we must remain cautious, very cautious. Don't let a wolf onto the ship!"

The green-clad girl patted her full chest. "Don't worry, Steward Xu, I will watch him carefully!"

Steward Xu looked at her and nodded. "Stay close to the Miss at all times! It is best not to meet him alone. I will assign someone to watch him."

"Steward Xu," the white-clad girl waved her hand slightly and sighed softly. "No need. Since we've already saved him, excessive precautions now might look bad."

"Miss..." Steward Xu hurried to object. "Human hearts are unpredictable; we cannot afford to drop our guard!"

"I find this person's appearance honest and upright; he does not seem malicious," the white-clad girl stated, shaking her head. "Arrange accommodations for him properly; do not neglect him."

"...Yes, Miss." Steward Xu nodded reluctantly.

When Li Muzhan slowly awoke, he felt the gentle sway of movement. Opening his Void Eye, he immediately discerned his location: a small, somewhat cramped but very clean cabin.

The small room rocked gently, confirming he was on a two-decked boat. At either end of the vessel stood over twenty soldiers, each with considerable cultivation, radiating full vitality, their eyes sharp and bearing the killing aura of men who had seen battle.

In a room at the very front of the upper deck sat an elder in brocade robes, thin and refined, dressed in dark crimson. Judging by his bearing, he exuded official authority—clearly a government official.

In an adjacent room were the two young women, presumably mistress and maid. The white-clad girl was likely the mistress, possessing no martial arts, while the green-clad girl was the maid, yet she possessed formidable martial skill. There was also a tall, robust steward who also possessed significant martial arts.

Lying on the couch, Li Muzhan gauged the situation. The steward was a Grandmaster expert; the green-clad girl, despite her youth, was also a Grandmaster. The soldiers were close, perhaps Martial Masters. He discovered one other peculiarity: the spiritual energy of heaven and earth here was weak, not only less abundant than his previous world but even less than his original world, resembling the spiritual density of his later life.

His Void Eye was unaffected, but the power of a Great Grandmaster was nullified. Everything around him refused his command, leaving him like an impotent commander.

He sighed profoundly. No wonder Great Grandmasters became second-rate experts here, no different from Grandmasters. He deduced that the martial arts here must differ fundamentally from his original world.

He recalled entering the Xuan Gate: following a feeling in his heart, he walked slowly south, traveling further and further until he reached the seashore. He then sailed south, eventually entering a massive whirlpool. Because he possessed the Void Eye, no whirlpool was visible until he drew close. As he approached slowly, the whirlpool formed and grew larger.

He knew this was the work of the power of heaven and earth. Without hesitation, he leaped into the vortex. Immediately, immense, surging power washed over him. As a Great Grandmaster, he could control his surroundings, but inside the vortex, he was powerless, forced to drift passively with the current.

The surrounding pressure grew increasingly intense until he could bear no more, and he lost consciousness, knowing nothing further. When he awoke, he was already on the great boat.

From the anomalies around him, he realized this was Xuanqing Heaven, entirely different from his expectations. He had anticipated a celestial realm overflowing with spiritual energy, yet it was a place where energy was sparse. Why were the lifespans of the people here so long? He found it puzzling.

He could even sense that the sparseness of the spiritual energy here was nearly identical to his later world—in such an environment, cultivation would be slow, and achieving true mastery would be difficult.

He shook his head and managed a few bitter laughs. Creeak... The door was pushed open, and the green-clad girl walked in slowly. She approached Li Muzhan’s couch in a few steps and placed a hand on his forehead; her small hand was ice-cold.

Li Muzhan slowly opened his eyes.

"Ah, you’re awake!" the green-clad girl cried out in surprise, then broke into a sweet smile. "You’re finally awake!"

Li Muzhan managed weakly, "Water..."

The green-clad girl quickly stepped forward, poured water, and handed it over. Li Muzhan struggled to sit up and took a sip. The burning sensation eased. He surveyed his surroundings, feigning confusion.

The green-clad girl stared at him intensely, her bright eyes sparkling. "Where are you from? Why did you fall into the water?"

Li Muzhan breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, the language here was the same as in his original world. He smiled, clasped his hands, and said, "I am Li Wuji. May I ask which honored lady you are...?"

"My name is Xiao He, and it was our Miss who saved you! //Fastest text updates from Fan Lou"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Miss Xiao He, thank you. Allow me to thank the Miss."

"Oh, no, no, you just woke up; you’re not well yet," the green-clad girl gently pressed him down, preventing him from rising, and giggled, "You're finally awake! Li Wuji, that's a nice name. Where are you from?"

Li Muzhan smiled wryly and shook his head. "Right now, I only remember my name; everything else is a blank slate. I can’t recall anything else."

"Hmm, is that so..." Xiao He studied him intently, seemingly trying to discern if he was lying. Li Muzhan met her gaze with honest sincerity.

Xiao He believed him, nodding. "Perhaps you were unconscious for too long and injured your mind. I’ll go report to the Miss. Are you hungry? Would you like some porridge?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "That would be perfect."

Xiao He floated out. Her movements were light and agile. Li Muzhan watched her with his Void Eye as she left the cabin, went up to the second floor, and first met the white-clad girl, then the thin elder.

The thin, refined elder spoke a few words, then waved, dismissing Xiao He, and returned to his book. Li Muzhan could see a faint cloud of worry etched between his brows.

The white-clad girl had a melon-seed face, skin crystalline as jade, a small nose, and cherry lips—truly beautiful, capable of shifting between charm and severity.

She donned the white veil to cover her face and then returned with Xiao He. The steward followed them as well. The three returned together, and Xiao He carried a bowl of porridge.

Seeing this white-clad girl, Li Muzhan was reminded of Leng Chaoyun. She was still in harsh training on Floating Cloud Peak, waiting for the day she could enter the Great Grandmaster realm, tirelessly supporting the Floating Cloud Palace.

Thinking of this, a feeling of pity arose in his heart, yet it also felt like a dream, distant, as if a long time had passed. This feeling was strange.

Everything from his original world seemed hazy, unreal, like a mere dream; this place felt like the real world.

He mused internally that perhaps this feeling of reality stemmed from this world being similar to his very first one, making him feel as if he belonged here.

The door pushed open. The white-clad girl and the steward entered, with Xiao He following last, carrying a bowl of porridge. "Li Wuji, the Miss and Steward Xu have come to see you."

Li Muzhan sat propped up, clasped his hands in a smile, and said, "I thank the Miss for saving my life. Li Wuji pays his respects! I greet Steward Xu."

"Young Master Li need not be so formal." The white-clad girl’s voice was soft, and her eyes, like clear water, showed a hint of concern. "Young Master Li, are you alright now?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Alas... I cannot recall anything."

Steward Xu’s eyes were piercing, his gaze almost tangible. He said sternly, "You remember nothing? Not how you fell into the water?"

Li Muzhan gave a bitter smile. "My mind is completely blank; I am truly ashamed."

"Then look at this. Perhaps you will remember?" Steward Xu took three throwing knives from his robes and flashed them.

Li Muzhan frowned, looked at them, and slowly extended his hand. Steward Xu handed them over. Li Muzhan gently traced their surface and smiled. "These must be my personal belongings. I feel a strong sense of familiarity and closeness."

Suddenly, he flicked his wrist. With a chi sound and a flash of white light, the three knives embedded themselves in the opposite wall in a triangular formation.

"It seems you have practiced!" Steward Xu nodded in affirmation.

He stepped forward and felt Li Muzhan’s pulse, revealing a slight smile. "Your body is fine now. Rest well for a couple of days, and you can get out of bed."

He could tell that Li Muzhan’s technique was practiced and skilled, but he lacked internal energy; it was purely reliant on dexterity and accuracy—a form of hidden weapon usage. However, since Li Muzhan had no internal energy, he must have secretly learned this technique, perhaps for self-defense. Some scholars practiced swordsmanship, others practiced hidden weapons; one reason was physical fitness, and the other was protection in critical moments. While insufficient against martial arts masters, it was useful against ordinary folk.

Examining Li Muzhan’s body further, there was no trace within his Dantian of any cultivation practice. Steward Xu’s doubts were resolved; it appeared this Li Wuji was indeed not a man of the martial world. (To be continued)