Li Muzhan stood silently at the bow of the boat, contemplating the profound mysteries of the Lotus Fist. Cultivating this technique was no simple feat, but fortunately, his own spirit was formidable, offering him a genuine hope of mastery.
Were it not for his prior cultivation of the Huan Yu Jing (Returning Jade Scripture), Li Muzhan would never have been able to penetrate the subtleties of the Lotus Fist. But having practiced it, he was adept at harmonizing internal energy with spiritual force, allowing him to grasp the very essence of the technique's secrets.
The core of the Lotus Fist lay in its intent—the Quanyi—and this intent was forged through the perfect convergence of spirit and internal energy. For others, unaware of the precise method to blend these two forces, mastering it through independent discovery would take decades of arduous effort, if it were possible at all.
Even with decades of grueling practice, a lack of innate comprehension or timely fortune would render it hopeless, especially for someone of Li Muzhan's Grandmaster status, for whom even this Quanyi was a significant challenge, let alone for an ordinary person.
For his present self, although the Lotus Fist was difficult, it was achievable. Li Muzhan mused that with diligent effort, he could master it within a month or two.
The Lotus Fist carved a unique path; it was truly exquisite in its perfection. He gazed upon it with profound admiration, believing the creator of this martial art possessed wisdom that defied mortal comprehension, a feat he humbly admitted he could not match.
As he became completely absorbed in deducing the intricacies of the Lotus Fist, a sudden awareness pricked him. He turned his head, a faint smile touching his lips, and calmly watched a small boat drifting toward him from the distance.
The small boat approached with the speed of an arrow loosed from a bowstring, drawing near in moments. Standing at its prow was a young man in a cyan robe, perhaps twenty years old, with sharp, defined eyebrows and bright eyes. Li Muzhan's smile broadened; it was an acquaintance—Huang Zongqi.
"Is that you, Li Guanhai?!" Huang Zongqi frowned.
He inwardly cursed his luck; running into Li Muzhan here was the last thing he wanted. He deeply feared Li Muzhan's martial arts prowess, knowing he stood no chance of victory.
Li Muzhan smiled, cupped his hands in salute: "Young Master Huang, we meet again. Truly, one cannot escape fate!"
"Young Master Li, what business brings you here?" Huang Zongqi huffed.
Li Muzhan, eyes crinkling, replied with a smile: "I've come to see a traitor of the Dragon Mountain Sect."
"Are you here assisting the Dragon Mountain Sect in hunting down a traitor?" Huang Zongqi frowned and snorted, glancing towards the other small boat where he spotted the corpse of Zheng Zicong.
Knowing of Li Muzhan's friendship with Liu Biyun and the others, he guessed Li Muzhan was allied with the Dragon Mountain Sect. He must be here to help them.
Li Muzhan nodded: "Precisely, I am here assisting the Dragon Mountain Sect in pursuing a traitor!"
"Is that the fellow surnamed Zheng?" Huang Zongqi pointed toward the other vessel.
Li Muzhan chuckled: "Indeed."
"You beat me to it!" Huang Zongqi snorted. "If you hadn't shown up, I would have captured him already."
Li Muzhan smiled lightly: "Why would Young Master Huang capture a traitor of the Dragon Mountain Sect? Has the relationship between the Dragon Mountain Sect and the Linhai Pavilion suddenly improved, that you'd offer them aid?"
"Though we are not friends, we are all the same toward traitors—we show absolutely no mercy," Huang Zongqi stated.
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head gently: "Young Master Huang, why pretend with such high-sounding words? Who doesn't know that this man surnamed Zheng is carrying a secret manual from the Dragon Mountain Sect?"
Huang Zongqi's expression shifted slightly, his brow furrowing as he scrutinized Li Muzhan: "You know about that, too?"
Li Muzhan smiled: "If not, why would I involve myself in this muddy water?"
"Did you obtain the manual?" Huang Zongqi quickly asked.
Li Muzhan nodded: "I did."
"Which manual?" Huang Zongqi pressed.
Li Muzhan grinned: "The Zhen Yue Zhang (Shocking Peak Palm)."
Huang Zongqi frowned, looking at him. He snorted: "The Shocking Peak Palm?"
Li Muzhan smiled and nodded: "Well? Young Master Huang, wouldn't you like a look?"
"Naturally!" Huang Zongqi replied. "Who wouldn't want to see one of the thirty-six arts of the Dragon Mountain Sect!"
Li Muzhan shook his head: "That won't do. Obtaining this manual was not easy for me, and I cannot simply show it to you. You would feel the same way, wouldn't you?"
Huang Zongqi stared at him, constantly guarded because of the vast gulf in their martial skill. If he managed to truly anger this man, his life would be in peril.
He glanced around—no one else was present. His heart began to feel uneasy. He shouldn't have been told this information; if it got out, it would cause immense trouble. Yet, this Li Guanhai told him so carelessly. Did he perhaps intend to silence him by killing him?!
The thought sent a chill down his spine. He had witnessed Li Wuji's swordsmanship; if this man truly intended harm, escape would be impossible.
Li Muzhan smiled reassuringly: "Please rest easy, Young Master Huang. We have no old grudges and no current disputes. Our previous actions were for the sake of the Dragon Mountain Sect. Now that there are no members of that sect around, there is no need for conflict!"
Huang Zongqi let out a breath, instinctively believing Li Muzhan, and said gravely: "Then why tell me this news?"
Li Muzhan chuckled: "Does Young Master Huang wish to obtain this manual?"
"Hm—?" Huang Zongqi looked at him in astonishment.
Li Muzhan smiled. "You rushed here not just to kill the man surnamed Zheng, but to secure the secret manual he carried, didn't you? ... The Dragon Mountain Sect and your Linhai Pavilion are mortal enemies. If you could obtain one of their thirty-six arts manuals, it would be an unprecedented contribution!"
Huang Zongqi looked at Li Muzhan, then nodded helplessly: "You guessed correctly!"
Li Muzhan continued: "This is indeed an excellent plan. Once you secure a manual of the thirty-six arts, you will surely be highly rewarded upon returning to the Linhai Pavilion, perhaps even becoming the heir to the Pavilion Master, wouldn't you?"
"Impossible," Huang Zongqi shook his head. "The Young Pavilion Master is the destined future leader; no one can threaten that position!"
Li Muzhan smiled: "Is the Young Pavilion Master very skilled in martial arts?"
"Yes," Huang Zongqi nodded slowly.
Li Muzhan smiled then asked: "What if you learned the Duan Yue Zhang (Severing Peak Palm)?"
"If I could learn the Duan Yue Zhang, the Young Pavilion Master certainly could too," Huang Zongqi countered. "The Young Pavilion Master is incredibly astute, his talent overwhelming; I am far inferior to him!"
Li Muzhan smiled slyly: "Then why do you strive so hard for advancement?"
Huang Zongqi stated firmly: "I have no ambition to become Pavilion Master, but I wish to determine my own destiny! ... Our Linhai Pavilion's sword arts are not something anyone can simply practice!"
Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow and laughed: "Don't tell me you need to make a significant contribution before you are allowed to study the peak sword techniques!?"
"Exactly!" Huang Zongqi nodded. "The Dragon Mountain Sect is the same; not every disciple is qualified to practice the thirty-six arts!"
Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then inquired: "It’s not just about reaching a certain level of skill to begin training, but rather one must render a specific contribution to qualify?"
He sighed, shaking his head. Major sects had their drawbacks, just as smaller factions had their advantages. The Purple Robe Palace, while a renowned school with a good reputation, had fewer members and lacked such rigid regulations. Its disciples practiced simpler martial arts, only needing to specialize, and they were free to study any technique.
Huang Zongqi broke the silence: "Young Hero Li, how about you let me have this manual?"
Li Muzhan gazed at Huang Zongqi with a gentle smile, saying nothing.
Huang Zongqi gritted his teeth and stated solemnly: "I know this request is perhaps too demanding, but I truly need this manual!"
Li Muzhan smiled: "My ties with the Dragon Mountain Sect are quite deep. Wouldn't doing this harm them?"
Huang Zongqi quickly shook his head: "Young Hero Li, you overestimate the Dragon Mountain Sect. Although the thirty-six arts are top-tier, their outward circulation won't cause much damage. Without the foundational mental cultivation methods of the Dragon Mountain Sect, even possessing the thirty-six arts is useless; they cannot be cultivated."
Li Muzhan laughed lightly: "Hearing that reassures me somewhat... However, if you want the Duan Yue Zhang, what price are you willing to pay? ... It wouldn't be right to simply ask for it for free, would it? If the price is right, I don't mind passing it on to you."
"Really?" Huang Zongqi responded immediately.
Li Muzhan smiled: "Why would I deceive you?"
"In that case..." Huang Zongqi fell into silent contemplation. After a long pause, he looked up and said gravely: "What do you want?"
Li Muzhan said cheerfully: "I am perfectly fair. Obtaining the Duan Yue Zhang won't be difficult for you either—exchange it for a sword manual from the Linhai Pavilion!"
"What?!" Huang Zongqi's face instantly darkened, his eyebrows shooting up, a subtle killing intent flickering in his eyes.
However, upon meeting Li Muzhan's gentle, smiling gaze, his murderous intent instantly dissipated, and he forced a bitter smile: "Young Hero Li, this makes things very difficult for me!"
Li Muzhan smiled: "If Young Master Huang finds it too difficult, then let this matter drop. Consider that I said nothing!... Surely your Linhai Pavilion's sword arts haven't remained completely unshared over the years?"
"That's inevitable," Huang Zongqi admitted, shaking his head. "Despite strict regulations, there will always be loopholes; how could nothing leak out?"
Li Muzhan smiled faintly: "Since that's the case, who would know it was you who passed on the sword techniques?"
Huang Zongqi fell silent. If he truly did such a thing, he would have given Li Muzhan leverage, making it impossible for him to hold his head up in front of Li Guanhai in the future!
Li Muzhan, discerning his thoughts, smiled: "Young Master Huang, frankly, if I had wanted to kill you, I could have done so several times already... The Dragon Mountain Sect's thirty-six arts are rarely shared outside. If you miss this opportunity, you might not encounter another for a century. If you don't seize this chance, I fear you will regret it for a lifetime!"
Huang Zongqi's expression flickered between gloom and elation.
Li Muzhan’s words struck directly at his core. First, he made it clear that he had no intention of blackmailing him, nor did he need any leverage; with such a vast difference in skill, Li Muzhan could kill him whenever he pleased.
Then, he seized upon Huang Zongqi's deepest desire—Li Muzhan saw through human nature: desire is the greatest weakness, and grasping it guaranteed success.
Li Muzhan smiled: "If Young Master Huang is interested, meet me at Flying Fish Town ten days from now. We will exchange there. Farewell!"
With that, he chuckled, and his small boat drifted away, shrinking into a tiny black dot in Huang Zongqi's view until it finally vanished.
Li Muzhan was certain Huang Zongqi would agree. This man was ambitious; even the most intelligent person, when overcome by intense desire, has their reason and wisdom clouded, leading to foolish actions.
Although Huang Zongqi was clever, he could not resist this desire. To obtain the peerless secret manual of the Dragon Mountain Sect's thirty-six arts would be such a monumental achievement that it would grant him the qualification to study any of the Linhai Pavilion’s sword techniques.
He had inferred that the Linhai Pavilion's true ultimate sword arts would be inaccessible without immense merit. If Huang Zongqi obtained the Dragon Mountain Sect's secret manual, perhaps he might finally qualify.
However, Li Muzhan had no intention of handing over the Lotus Fist manual. This fist technique's power was too overwhelming. Even though it was nearly impossible to master, he could not risk it. For a martial art of such destructive capability, the more people who knew of it, the greater the inherent danger. The world was full of wonders, and he was not so arrogant as to believe he was the only one who could ever master it.