Li Muzhan leaned back lazily by the table and smiled, "Teacher, are you truly not afraid of death?"

Cao Ya stroked his long, thin beard and shook his head, "There is great terror between life and death. How could this old man not fear dying? However, life and death follow fate; I cannot struggle against what is destined."

Li Muzhan chuckled, "Teacher's knowledge is vast; I thought you didn't believe in these tales of spirits and gods."

Cao Ya let out a hearty laugh, "Believing everything in books is worse than having no books at all. What is written in texts is merely one perspective. To follow it without question would surely lead to utter ruin!"

Li Muzhan possessed the ability of shared intuition and could sense that Cao Ya’s state of mind was open and unclouded by fear. In this regard, even he himself was far inferior.

This was genuine cultivation, the result of deep study and enlightenment, a true seed of scholarship that someone like himself could not match. Their realms were different; even his profound understanding of Buddhism could not bridge that gap.

He did not fear death not because he truly was fearless, but because he understood what death was. Fear stems from the unknown; once understood, the fear vanishes.

Cao Ya, however, was different. He did not know what death entailed, yet he could resist the corrosion of fear through sheer conviction. This was truly noble, open, and magnanimous; such cultivation deserved his respect as a master.

Li Muzhan asked, "How many martial artists has Teacher offended, in the end?"

Cao Ya stroked his beard and shook his head, "This old man has never held much affection for those in the martial world. When I held office, I eliminated quite a few martial figures and wiped out several sects. Now, they all come seeking to settle old scores."

Li Muzhan frowned, "Then there is no one coming forward to protect Teacher?"

Cao Ya shook his head and smiled faintly, "The world shows its fickleness, and human affection its chill. Now that I am relieved of my post and reduced to a commoner, I am a useless person, not worth their sacrificing their lives for."

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment and nodded, "That is true. Seeking profit and avoiding harm is human nature; one cannot blame them. Teacher need not be saddened by it."

Cao Ya laughed, "What is there for this old man to be sad about? It is merely death. I have lived this long; dying is no great matter."

Li Muzhan frowned, "How old is Teacher?"

"Eighty," Cao Ya replied.

Li Muzhan questioned, "Then Teacher is not very old. Why...?"

"This old man was dismissed and demoted to a commoner." Cao Ya shook his head, sighed, revealing a lonely expression, and patted his beard, lamenting, "The martial world is turbulent, but the official sea is even more treacherous. A moment of carelessness means losing one's official cap. After years of struggling and scheming, this old man is genuinely weary."

Li Muzhan frowned, "You were dismissed? ... Someone must have been working behind the scenes, yes?"

"Mmm," Cao Ya nodded, "How could there not be political rivals?"

Li Muzhan asked, "Then are these people from the Ink Lake Gang perhaps...?"

Cao Ya stroked his beard and smiled faintly, "Wuji, you are astute. To think along those lines, you are much better than Miaomiao."

Cao Miaocheng cried out, "Father! ... Senior Brother Wuji, are you saying this is the work of Father's political enemies?"

Li Muzhan nodded, "Teacher served as an upright official. Opponents might fear Teacher's potential return to power, so they seek to cut the grass and eliminate the roots, removing future trouble."

"Ah, that is highly possible!" Cao Miao nodded softly.

While they spoke, Xiao He kept her eyes fixed outside, her treasured sword grasped tightly, ready to spring out at any moment. From the house on the left came a muffled thump, thump, thump; Xu Bo had not yet returned.

Cao Miao glanced worriedly at the doorway. Xiao He’s face was tense, yet composed and calm; she showed no impulse to rush out and check, merely standing quietly.

Li Muzhan inwardly nodded. This Xiao He usually appeared boisterous, guileless, and innocent, but when faced with trouble, she was surprisingly calm and self-possessed. Her innate talent was truly excellent.

"Teacher, Xu Bo’s skill is quite good, perhaps a top-tier master?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Cao Ya stroked his beard and nodded, "Old Xu’s kung fu is indeed not bad. I owe much to him over the years; otherwise, I would have been killed by those martial figures long ago."

Cao Miao added, "Uncle Xu’s martial arts are extremely high; he is certainly a first-rate master."

"Master." Xu Bo walked in slowly, his upright face still carrying a trace of murderous intent. The room instantly grew cold, several degrees lower.

Cao Ya remained composed, "All cleaned up?"

"Yes," Xu Bo nodded. "More members of the Ink Lake Gang—they just won't quit!"

Cao Ya remarked, "We are about to cross the Bai Huai River; they will certainly become desperate."

The Ink Lake Gang’s influence dares not cross the Bai Huai River, lest they face pursuit and slaughter. They cannot kill him now, but once across the river, they will be powerless. Thus, they must strike here, no matter what.

Li Muzhan commented, "Uncle Xu, the strength of these people seems ordinary to me."

"They don't have many experts, but they are numerous. No matter how capable we are, we cannot withstand sheer numbers," Xu Bo shook his head and sighed. "I fear that with one slip, they might injure the Master."

Li Muzhan thought for a moment and frowned, "Surely the guards outside can hold them off?"

"Them..." Xu Bo shook his head. "They are fine fighting enemies on the battlefield; they are brave warriors, but against martial artists, they are insufficient."

Li Muzhan nodded. Martial arts for the battlefield differ from martial arts for dueling. One emphasizes grand, sweeping movements; the other, precision and subtlety. On an open field, soldiers would naturally have the advantage, but in enclosed spaces like this, battlefield martial arts become constrained and difficult to deploy effectively, making it hard to gain an edge.

Li Muzhan concluded, "If that is the case, we have no power to fight back?"

"Alas..." Xu Bo sighed, giving a bitter smile. "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Since the Master lost his standing, everyone has kicked him when he is down. There is no one bringing charcoal in the snow."

Cao Ya waved his hand, "Enough, Old Xu. We cannot blame others. It is this old man’s failure as a person; I never made any true friends."

"Uncle Hu cannot break away..." Cao Miao frowned. "It seems someone is deliberately tripping us up, isn't that right, Father?"

"Mmm, quite right," Cao Ya nodded. "You have finally realized it. So, do not count on Old Hu either; we must leave things to fate!"

Cao Miao snorted, "Father, you lived a lifetime of integrity, yet you end up in this situation. It chills one's bones; I truly cannot accept that Heaven is so unfair!"

"Silly girl, when has the world ever been fair?" Cao Ya smiled, stroking his beard.

After eating, everyone moved to a nearby inn and rented a courtyard. Although Cao Ya was an incorruptible official, he was not poor; his family had originally been well-off.

Li Muzhan stayed in the West Wing room. Xiao He and Cao Miao shared the West room. Cao Ya occupied the East room, Xu Bo the East Wing room, and the soldiers were housed in the courtyards on either side.

Li Muzhan chatted with Cao Ya for a while, listening to him talk about history.

Li Muzhan listened avidly, absorbing the knowledge. He was utterly blind in this world and desperately needed to understand it; otherwise, he would struggle with every step.

Cao Ya was his source of knowledge. Through him, Li Muzhan learned the local customs, historical anecdotes, and the very structure of this world.

Cao Ya was a veritable knowledge base, saving him countless hours of investigation. Seeing how eager he was to learn, and knowing he had lost his memory, Cao Ya was greatly comforted and taught with diligence. More crucially, Li Muzhan's comprehension was astonishing; he possessed perfect recall and could extrapolate from a single example. Teaching such a disciple was a pleasure.

The two spoke and listened, occasionally discussing a point or two, until the night deepened unnoticed. Seeing Cao Ya growing weary, Li Muzhan stood up and smiled, "Teacher, it is getting late. Let us stop here for today. Teacher should rest well."

"Mmm..." Cao Ya rose and opened the window to look at the moon. The moon, like a silver plate suspended in the sky, had already passed its zenith and was leaning westward, casting a soft, pure radiance. He smiled, "It is indeed late. We have been talking this long! ... Very well, you should go and sleep."

"Yes." Li Muzhan bowed, intending to leave the room, when his expression suddenly shifted. He flung his right hand out, and a streak of white light shot out the window with a muffled bang.

Xu Bo instantly darted out and pulled a figure up to the window. Clad in black night-crawling attire, the figure's head and face were entirely concealed, exposing only a pair of eyes.

The lamplight from the room illuminated the figure. A throwing knife was lodged in its throat, gently swaying under the light, flashing a faint sheen.

Xu Bo broke out in a cold sweat. If... he dared not imagine the consequences. When had this assassin appeared? He had managed to sneak past Xu Bo completely unnoticed!

Li Muzhan shook his head, "This is also from the Ink Lake Gang, I presume?"

"Good, good. The Ink Lake Gang truly cannot be underestimated; they have such experts!" Xu Bo’s face was ashen, his eyes blazing, and he sneered through gritted teeth. If Li Muzhan hadn't been present, the Master's life would surely have been forfeit today, and Xu Bo would have been too ashamed to live.

"Is this one of the Ink Lake Gang's men?" Li Muzhan peered out.

"Undoubtedly their man!" Xu Bo grunted.

Li Muzhan shook his head, "When did he sneak over? Without a sound, without a trace. If Teacher hadn't looked out just now and he had moved slightly, I wouldn't have sensed him at all!"

Xu Bo retorted, "They must have arranged lookouts in advance. The Ink Lake Gang!"

Moonlight flowed like water. While Xu Bo stood outside, and Li Muzhan and Cao Ya spoke inside, the man had already breathed his last. Xu Bo pulled out the throwing knife and handed it back to Li Muzhan.

Cao Miao and Xiao He rushed out. Seeing the scene, Xiao He huffed, "What happened?"

Xu Bo ground his teeth and recounted the events. Xiao He was startled, and Cao Miao was deeply frightened, looking towards Cao Ya.

Cao Ya remained self-possessed, smiling faintly, "I am fine. We owe thanks to Wuji's alertness again this time."

Li Muzhan replied, "It is Teacher's great fortune that keeps you safe."

Cao Miao looked deeply at Li Muzhan. This Senior Brother was indeed someone worth saving; he had saved her life once, and now he had saved her father two or three times. Had she not saved him, facing the Ink Lake Gang's desperate assassination attempts, her father might already be in grave peril. This was indeed good deeds rewarded.

The moonlight, like water, illuminated her delicate, melon-seed-shaped face, making her look exceptionally charming.

Li Muzhan’s expression remained unchanged. He had long seen past her veil and beheld her true appearance; she was indeed captivatingly beautiful, perhaps a shade less than Feng Mingxue and the others, but still a peerless beauty.

"This old man has truly earned much hatred. Fine, let's bury him," Cao Ya gestured towards the black-clad figure on the ground and sighed, "I wonder when this will end."

"Master, it will be fine once we cross the Bai Huai River tomorrow," Xu Bo reassured him.

"Let's hope so," Cao Ya shook his head. "This man might not be from the Ink Lake Gang; he could be an assassin sent by that other group."

"Teacher's words are sound; we cannot afford to be careless," Li Muzhan nodded.

Xu Bo frowned, "This makes things troublesome!"

Cao Miao suggested, "Shall we ask the escort agency for help?"

Xu Bo shook his head, "Miss, it won't work. Escort agencies are fine against ordinary bandits, but against these assassins, they are useless."

"Then what shall we do?" Cao Miao frowned.

Her delicately arched eyebrows furrowed slightly, making her look even more pitifully lovely.

Li Muzhan proposed, "Teacher, I will stay with you. I seem to be unusually sensitive to killing intent... How about I disguise myself as Teacher?"

"Senior Brother, you impersonate Father?" Cao Miao frowned. "How can you manage that?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Uncle Xu, is there an art of disguise in the martial world?"

Xu Bo pondered and nodded, "There is such a supreme skill, but it only alters superficial features. People can tell upon getting close; it’s hard to truly fool anyone!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "That is enough; looking similar from a distance will suffice."

Cao Ya waved his hand and said sternly, "Enough, Wuji, this idea won't work."

Li Muzhan insisted, "Teacher, I am young and strong, and I have a mastery of throwing knives. I can react to an assassination attempt. But Teacher cannot. Let us settle this!"

Xu Bo hesitated, looking at Li Muzhan, then at Cao Ya. "Master, this idea is worth trying. Although the young master is in danger, he is sensitive to killing intent and has his knives, so he can react."

Cao Miao looked at Li Muzhan, then at Cao Ya, but remained silent.

This plan meant shifting Cao Ya’s danger onto Li Muzhan. She felt both moved and guilty; this method was truly not ideal. But Xu Bo had a point: Senior Brother Wuji was sensitive to killing intent and possessed the supreme skill of the throwing knife, capable of neutralizing immediate danger. However, this was inherently dangerous; one slip could cost him his life.

Li Muzhan pressed on, "Teacher, didn't you say it yourself? Life and death are by fate. If I survived a great calamity, surely I shouldn't die right after starting my second life?"

Cao Ya simply shook his head, "No, absolutely not. If they come, let them come. This old man is short-lived, but it is not worth such a risk. Wuji, absolutely not!" His expression was firm, allowing no room for argument.

Xu Bo tried to persuade him a few more times. He had immense confidence in Li Muzhan's skills, far surpassing his own. If Li Muzhan couldn't handle them, neither could he, and they would die together. But Cao Ya firmly refused, leaving no room for negotiation. Xu Bo could only sigh helplessly and abandon the idea, looking at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan sighed helplessly, "Since that is the case, I can only sleep in the same room as Teacher."

"Then we will have to trouble Senior Brother," Cao Miao said quickly. This was a good solution; with Li Muzhan standing guard, she felt instantly relieved.

Cao Ya did not refuse this time, laughing, "That is also good. We can chat and pass the time." He found talking with Li Muzhan incredibly congenial and utterly satisfying. Xu Bo, though highly skilled, lacked scholarship, and his daughter, Cao Miao, though quick-witted, was still a woman; there were things he couldn't discuss with her.

So, everyone retreated. Li Muzhan brought in an extra cot and shared the room with Cao Ya. He positioned himself by the window while Cao Ya quickly fell into a deep sleep.

At Li Muzhan's current level of cultivation, whether he slept or not was inconsequential. His spirit was robust and fully energized; half an hour of sleep a day was sufficient.

He pondered how to integrate into this world and eventually acquire the Demonic Artifacts. He knew he could not be impatient; acting rashly might not only fail to secure the artifacts but also lead to his demise.

Lying on the cot, he began to think of the women he knew. It felt like a long time since he had visited the Canghai Sword Sect. He wondered how things were there. It had been a month since his last visit; he wondered about the progress of his Master and the others—had they managed to forge the Canghai Divine Sword? How were Martial Sister Mei and Martial Sister Wen progressing? Were there any setbacks?

Lost in his thoughts, he drifted into sleep. When he awoke, the sky was bright.

After eating breakfast, the group did not immediately leave Bai Huai City. Instead, they sat waiting in the small courtyard until Xu Bo returned in a hurry.

Upon returning, Xu Bo walked directly to Li Muzhan, untied the bundle on his shoulder, and opened it on the table. Inside was a vest.

This vest was somewhat peculiar: an array of throwing knives was attached below it, densely packed. Each knife was small and exquisitely made, identical to Li Muzhan's throwing knives.

"Young Master, time was too tight; I could only make this much," Xu Bo handed the knife-laden vest to Li Muzhan, apologizing, "Thirty-six knives in total."

Li Muzhan smiled as he took it and weighed it in his hand. "Thirty-six knives. Not bad, that should be enough."

"Yes, it should suffice," Xu Bo confirmed. "And these were all cast using the finest refined iron."

Li Muzhan smiled, "Thank you, Uncle Xu."

Cao Ya stroked his beard, watching the vest, and shook his head. "Wuji, you are becoming more and more like a martial artist. Are you truly going to wander the martial world?"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, "Teacher, this is merely for self-preservation. Once we pass this hurdle, I will cast it aside. It's quite heavy to wear constantly!"

Cao Ya smiled, "That is good. Do not become consumed by the desire to fight and prove superiority, thus wasting your exceptional talent!"

Li Muzhan nodded, indicating he understood. With his perfect recall and ability to generalize, studying was indeed ideal. Cao Ya intended to cultivate him into a top scholar. In this world, the status of scholars far surpassed that of martial artists. It was a starkly different order: scholars could become officials, while martial artists were common folk. Public opinion is as solid as iron, and imperial law is as unyielding as a furnace. No matter how powerful a martial artist, they must abide by the court's decree.

Xu Bo hired two sedan chairs. Cao Ya rode in the front one, Cao Miao in the rear. Li Muzhan stood by Cao Ya’s chair, while Xu Bo and Xiao He guarded Cao Miao’s.

The two sedan chairs needed to pass through a stretch of woods to reach the riverbank for a boat ride. Once they left this area, they would enter the territory of the Green Bamboo Gang, and the Ink Lake Gang would no longer be a threat.

As soon as they entered the woods, Li Muzhan stopped, held up a hand, and waved it. Xu Bo quickly followed suit, causing both sedan chairs to halt.

"Young Master, what is it?" Xu Bo whispered.

Li Muzhan frowned, "I feel something is wrong..."

"An ambush?" Xu Bo asked.

Li Muzhan nodded, "There might be an ambush. It is better to be cautious for ten thousand years than to risk one moment of carelessness. Let's pause here, just in case my feeling is correct."

"But stopping here is not a solution," Xu Bo looked around. The dense pine forest provided excellent cover for hiding people.

Li Muzhan replied, "Let's wait and see who breaks first."

Xu Bo shook his head and sighed, "We took one wrong step; I shouldn't have sent the soldiers away first."

Li Muzhan laughed, "Even if they were here, they wouldn't be much use. It's better to send them back to avoid being encumbered. Uncle Xu, you did the right thing."

"Let's hope so," Xu Bo sighed, "If they were here, at least we'd have someone to scout ahead. Now, we are utterly blind..."

Li Muzhan suddenly flung his hand out, and with a hiss, a streak of white light flashed by. A muffled thud echoed from the pine forest, followed by a scream: "Charge out! Kill them all!"

Immediately, the sound of footsteps erupted, and a flurry of blade light and sword light surged from the pine woods.

"Young Master, retreat!" Xu Bo quickly shouted, rushing forward first. Xiao He moved to stand before Cao Ya’s sedan chair, holding her sword cautiously at the ready.

Li Muzhan frowned, his right hand continuously sweeping out streak after streak of white light. Each streak of white light took away a figure. Xu Bo was quickly surrounded.

There were over twenty people, all experts. Ten surrounded Xu Bo, preventing him from moving, while the other ten charged toward Li Muzhan. They moved with astonishing speed, like fierce tigers descending a mountain, their presence terrifying. Xiao He's hand gripping her sword showed bulging veins; she was ready to rush forward and fight to the death.

Li Muzhan stood steadily before the sedan chair, his right hand moving ceaselessly. Amidst the torrent of white light, not a single one of the ten attackers managed to survive; all collapsed clutching their throats where the throwing knives were lodged.

Li Muzhan’s right hand did not stop. Another ten throwing knives transformed into white light and shot out. Not one missed its mark, eliminating the second group of ten. Had it been a moment later, Xu Bo would have been injured.

Cao Miao stepped out of the sedan chair. Seeing the situation, her bright eyes widened. She knew Li Muzhan's throwing knives were accurate and had seen him throw them before, but seeing him now—one knife, one life, every throw taking a life—gave her a profound shock. Killing was easier than cutting grass in his hands.

Li Muzhan shook his right hand, relaxing it slightly, and smiled, "Uncle Xu, are you unharmed?"

Xu Bo shook his head, still feeling the lingering fear, then turned to look at the bodies strewn on the ground, shaking his head with a wry smile, "Young Master, I never realized your throwing knives..."

Li Muzhan smiled, "The more I practice, the more skillful I become, and the less I feel when killing. It's no different from killing a bird. Are these still Ink Lake Gang members?"

"Yes," Xu Bo nodded, forcing a bitter smile. "But their martial arts were quite formidable; two of them reached the Second Rate level!"

Li Muzhan started, his brow furrowing. Second Rate level? Doesn't that mean Grandmaster?

He recalled someone once saying that in the Xuán Qīng Heaven realm, Grandmasters were merely second-rate experts. It seemed their cultivation here was far from that of true Grandmasters!

Li Muzhan soon clarified this: their cultivation might not equal that of a Grandmaster, but the Grandmaster's cultivation, deep as it was, would suffer some loss upon entering this place, unless they possessed their own Void Qi Guiding Art. Most Grandmasters' inner energy methods relied on absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, rather than the essence of grains, so such skills became useless here.

More crucially, the martial arts here emphasized technique and form, whereas the Grandmaster realm relied on illusory concepts and paid less attention to precise movements. Thus, they would be at a disadvantage upon arrival. However, Li Muzhan believed that if these Grandmasters could learn superior energy cultivation methods and work diligently, they could certainly reach the ranks of first-rate masters. The danger was if a Grandmaster arrived and refused to humble themselves, refusing to recognize reality, still believing themselves invincible—they would be killed before they could adapt and grow stronger.

By Li Muzhan's estimation, for a Grandmaster to fully reclaim their prowess would require at least several years of focused, secluded cultivation, provided they could locate a top-tier mental cultivation technique. This world differs fundamentally from the other one in its martial arts philosophy; here, the essence of internal techniques lies in the quantity of Wugu Qi (Five Grains Vitality) that can be converted, whereas in the previous world, the key was the conversion of ambient spiritual energy (Tien Di Ling Qi).

These two principles are utterly distinct, rendering the former Grandmaster techniques inapplicable. Yet, the Grandmaster status was not without its advantages, one of which was sheer mental fortitude.

Given the same cultivation manual, a Grandmaster could cycle ten Heavenly Circuits in the span of one shichen (two hours), where an ordinary person might manage only five, or even fewer. This disparity was the Grandmaster’s edge.

Furthermore, their meridians were inherently broader, allowing for swift advancement; it would take only a few years to restore the Grandmaster’s dominance. "Are these all the experts from the Mo Hu Gang?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Steward Xu shook his head. "If the Mo Hu Gang's might is limited to these few masters, they hardly qualify as dominant forces!

... The true heavy hitters haven't shown themselves yet.

Be cautious; I suspect they intend to deploy all their elites!" Cao Miao laughed lightly. "Steward Xu, with Junior Brother's flying dagger skills, even true experts shouldn't make us fear!" "These experts move with impossible speed; the flying daggers might not find their mark," Steward Xu countered, shaking his head with a sigh.

"We should hurry along." "Steward Xu, what about these men...?" Cao Miao began. Steward Xu merely shook his head.

"We can't afford to worry about them now. Someone else will deal with the cleanup.

Let's move, and quickly at that, to avoid any further ambushes!" Li Muzhan nodded. "Steward Xu speaks sense.

Let us go, Junior Sister. The Mo Hu Gang will certainly dispatch others; they won't simply ignore this." Cao Miao sighed, shaking her head.

"Why must they go to such lengths!" Many Mo Hu Gang members had died along this path, yet they pursued them relentlessly, like rabid dogs, obsessed with killing Father. Instead of succeeding, they only delivered themselves to their doom; they should have been terrified long ago.

Steward Xu explained, "They are being directed by someone else; they have no choice but to fight desperately. At this point, it’s kill or be killed; there is no room for hesitation!" "Sigh...

let's go." Cao Ya leaned out of the sedan chair and waved her hand. The group rose and moved onward, quickly traversing the thicket of trees.

As soon as they emerged, ten figures stood arrayed in a wide fan formation across the main road, watching them silently. Steward Xu narrowed his eyes, taking in the sight, a wry smile touching his lips.

He sighed. "Young Master, these are all first-rate experts.

Be careful." Li Muzhan nodded. "Steward Xu, allow me to test them first." He could sense the surging, powerful auras emanating from the ten figures opposite him—like crashing waves—vastly superior to those encountered before.

They were indeed first-rate masters. Comparing them to himself, their cultivation levels seemed almost identical.

It was truly impressive that this world's peculiar mental techniques could bring practitioners to such heights. A chill ran through him.

He had held a measure of pride, believing that with his Void Qi Siphoning Technique, he could bypass the years of required cultivation a normal Grandmaster would need here. Aside from being unable to use Grandmaster divine abilities, his own cultivation remained intact.

Now, he saw he had been too complacent. He had assumed the thin spiritual energy here meant slower cultivation and limited mastery.

Seeing the sheer power of these individuals proved his assumption wrong; their cultivation was formidable. And this was only the Mo Hu Gang—a relatively minor faction—managing to field so many masters, each matching his own cultivation level.

This discovery was deeply shocking. If this was the Mo Hu Gang, how much more astonishing would the larger factions be!

His own cultivation, in this context, was far from supreme. This world was truly perilous.

His sole remaining reliable asset was the flying dagger. Coupled with his Void-Piercing Sword Intent, the Hidden Blade, and his unimpaired spiritual energy, its power was undoubtedly terrifying.

Steward Xu warned, "Young Master, be wary. Their cultivation is astonishing; I am no match for them." Li Muzhan smiled faintly.

"Are they truly Mo Hu Gang members? Don't be mistaken, Steward Xu, perhaps you should step forward and ask first." "Very well," Steward Xu agreed.

"Though the likelihood is high, we shouldn't assume incorrectly." He strode forward with imposing gait, stopping before the ten men, cupping his hands in a formal salute. "May I ask, honored sirs, what is the purpose of blocking our path!?" The thin, black-clad elder at the center frowned, glancing over Steward Xu with sharp brows.

"Is Cao Ya seated in the sedan chair?" Steward Xu frowned in return. "May I ask what business you have with the Master?" "Good, good, if it’s Old Thief Cao, then we need hold back no longer!" the thin elder sneered, waving his hand.

"Everyone, attack! Swift and decisive!" "Yes!" the other nine responded in deep unison, suddenly surging past Steward Xu towards the sedan chair.

Steward Xu shouted in a low voice, "Are you members of the Mo Hu Gang?" "This old man is Song Zimo," the thin elder nodded slowly. Steward Xu’s face darkened.

"Mo Hu Gang Leader, Song Zimo?!" "If I can personally dispatch Old Thief Cao, he can die with his eyes closed!" Song Zimo sneered. The other nine had already pounced, and in five or six more steps, they would be able to touch the sedan chair.

"Chik..." Following several streaks of white light came a few faint whistles. The light struck before the sound arrived, piercing the chests of the nine men.

They barely had time to react before the white light pierced them. Those final two steps toward the chair became an impassable gulf.

As they tried to move, all strength drained from their limbs, their vision dimmed, and weakness enveloped them before they fell silent. Li Muzhan stood smiling beside Cao Miao, shaking his head.

"Junior Sister, you shouldn't have come out." Cao Miao stared with wide, bright eyes at the nine middle-aged men slowly collapsing. One hand clutched uselessly at their throats, the other reaching out in vain, until they finally stilled.

Steward Xu was overwhelmed with relief upon seeing this. He had feared Li Muzhan’s flying daggers would fail against these first-rate experts, where projectiles were notoriously hard to land.

He did not know that Li Muzhan’s daggers possessed Void-Piercing Sword Intent—they arrived in an instant, giving no opportunity to dodge, striking directly through the heart. "You..." Song Zimo's expression instantly warped into fury, his eyes wide with disbelief as he pointed at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, shaking his head. "How could mere acrobats like you possibly harm my Master?

If you have sense, leave now; I have no desire to slaughter you all!" "Good! Good!" Song Zimo's eyes turned bloodshot as he glared venomously at Li Muzhan.

"What an exquisite flying dagger skill! This old man must experience it firsthand!" Ignoring Steward Xu, he slowly advanced toward Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Heaven offered you a path, yet you chose the gateway to hell!" Steward Xu spoke gravely.

"You, Song! You will have to pass through me first!" He lunged toward Song Zimo, his palms flashing in a bewildering array of movements, creating a storm of palm shadows.

Li Muzhan walked forward slowly, stopping after about ten paces, a flying dagger held ready between his fingers. Steward Xu was no match for Song Zimo, but Song Zimo's entire being was tense, his focus largely fixed on the flying dagger in Li Muzhan's hand.

The moment Li Muzhan shifted even slightly, Song Zimo's concentration wavered. Li Muzhan simply stood there, holding the dagger, occasionally making a subtle adjustment to its position, his gaze fixed on different points.

Song Zimo felt the path of Li Muzhan’s gaze, knowing it pinpointed the precise opening in his current move—if the dagger flew, he could not evade it. Every glance from Li Muzhan made him tremble, forcing him to constantly shift his techniques.

Though he appeared to be fighting Steward Xu, the majority of his mental energy was devoted to fending off Li Muzhan. After a hundred exchanges, Song Zimo suddenly realized that prolonged defense would inevitably lead to a mistake.

The best approach was not to guard, but to attack. "Hah!" he roared, sending Steward Xu flying back with a powerful palm strike, and then lunged at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan narrowed his eyes. As Song Zimo closed the distance, he suddenly flicked his right wrist.

"Chik!" A streak of white light flashed, followed by a muffled grunt. Song Zimo suddenly slammed heavily to the ground, like a kite whose string had been cut, landing with a dull thud.

Steward Xu also fell heavily to the ground with a thump. Cao Miao gasped softly, and Xiao He flew over to support Steward Xu, a trace of blood staining the corner of his mouth.

"Steward Xu, are you alright?" Xiao He asked anxiously. Steward Xu shook his head, struggling to rise and approaching Song Zimo.

Song Zimo was not yet dead, lying on his back, clutching the dagger embedded in his throat, making choking sounds, unable to speak. Cao Miao dared not look closely.

Xiao He bravely glanced a few times, but Steward Xu squinted, focusing on the dagger, and murmured his admiration inwardly. Song Zimo suddenly jerked a final time and then lay utterly still, his eyes wide open and unblinking.

Steward Xu reached out and gently closed them, shaking his head. "The dignified Leader of the Mo Hu Gang, dead just like that.

This is the Jianghu!" Xiao He exclaimed, "What incredibly powerful flying daggers!" Steward Xu looked up towards Li Muzhan, who was speaking quietly with Cao Miao and seemed completely unconcerned with the aftermath here. Steward Xu walked to the front of Cao Ya’s sedan chair and spoke quietly.

"Master, Song Zimo has been executed. The Mo Hu Gang troubles should cease for now." Cao Ya's voice drifted out.

"Good. Then let us depart." "Yes." Steward Xu nodded, then approached Li Muzhan, handing him the dagger.

"Young Master, marvelous technique!" Li Muzhan took the dagger and slid it back into his vest. "Without Steward Xu tying him down and allowing me to probe his true strength and moves, that strike would have missed." "I was of no use," Steward Xu demurred with a slight smile.

"Young Master need not flatter me." Li Muzhan shook his head. "Steward Xu, I speak the truth.

Song Zimo’s cultivation was formidable, and his movement technique incredibly fast. If I hadn't observed his movements from the earlier fight and calculated the blind spot in his technique, that dagger could never have hit him!" "Mmm..." Steward Xu’s expression shifted slightly, and he slowly nodded, accepting Li Muzhan's words.

Indeed, Song Zimo’s martial arts were exceptional; projectiles should not have hit him. The fact that he was struck down instantly and without resistance was truly bizarre, suggesting his movement flaw had been precisely calculated by the Young Master.

He glanced at Li Muzhan, a fresh sense of awe striking him. Such calculation was terrifying; slaying such a powerful first-rate master with a single throw was astonishing.

Previously, he had doubted whether this Young Master was truly a figure of the martial world. Now, he realized Li Muzhan could not have been one before, otherwise, such an astonishing mastery of flying daggers would have already made him famous across the lands!

"Now that Song Zimo is dead, no one else will intercept us, right?" Xiao He stretched languidly. Steward Xu nodded.

"With Song Zimo gone, there should be no further pursuit." "That's wonderful!" Xiao He chirped sweetly. "This journey has been exhausting; finally, we can rest in peace!"