Li Muzhan smiled faintly. “Grand Master Jiang overpraises me. Please, no need to see me off!”
“...Go!” Jiang Guiliu fixed him with a deep stare, then suddenly waved his hand, and his followers mobilized. Some supported injured comrades, others lifted Huang Zongqi’s corpse; some moved out ahead, others protected the rear—an organized, disciplined retreat that vanished in the blink of an eye.
The bare ground was crisscrossed with footprints, testaments to the intensity of the recent battle.
Li Muzhan let out a long breath, and his body suddenly went limp. Liu Biyun rushed to support him, crying out, “Brother Li?!”
Li Muzhan shook his head with a wry smile. “I truly can’t handle any more of that!”
Liu Biyun anxiously asked, “Brother Li, are you alright?”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “It’s nothing, just completely drained. We need to leave quickly.”
“Yes, yes, hurry!” Mo Jiye nodded quickly.
Xie Jianfeng scoffed. “Are we supposed to be afraid of them!”
Mo Jiye shot him a glare. Cui Shaoqing chided, “There are no outsiders here, why be so stubborn!”
Xie Jianfeng retorted, “Those fellows from Linhai Pavilion are complete cowards; what good is overwhelming numbers!”
Cui Shaoqing shook his head. “But weren’t we doing the same against Yin Zhaojiang?”
Xie Jianfeng irritably shot back, “Senior Brother Cui, whose side are you on?!”
Cui Shaoqing replied calmly, “I stand with whoever is right.”
Mo Jiye waved a dismissive hand. “Enough. Let’s move quickly before they manage to regroup. Brother Li, can you manage the journey?”
Li Muzhan chuckled. “I’ll manage.”
Mo Jiye nodded decisively. “Good, then let’s go!”
He plunged into the woods first, followed by the others. They moved like five wisps of light smoke, utilizing their movement techniques to the fullest, carrying the distinct air of a party fleeing a rout.
Initially, Liu Biyun worried that Li Muzhan’s internal energy was depleted. Only when Li Muzhan gently channeled a stream of neili into her did her anxiety subside; his cultivation ran too deep. Even diminished, his power far surpassed that of the four of them!
They maintained a relentless pace for nearly a hundred li. Sticking to a straight northward trajectory, they scaled hills and crossed rivers without deviation, driven by the need to return at top speed.
Midway through their journey, they encountered an intercepting force of Linhai Pavilion disciples. Li Muzhan sent forth small pebbles whistling through the air, resolving the situation in moments and causing no delay.
From dawn until dusk, they drank no water, running over two thousand li before finally stopping to rest in a patch of woods as the sun began to set.
Liu Biyun asked with concern, “Brother Li, are you truly well?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “My neili has recovered... Now that we’ve left the territory of Linhai Pavilion, I can finally consolidate my gains!”
The other four looked pale; this desperate dash had required every ounce of their strength. Li Muzhan, however, looked rosy-cheeked. To them, it seemed he was merely strolling, using the time to circulate and restore his energies.
“Brother Li, you’re leaving?!” Liu Biyun asked quickly.
Li Muzhan nodded. “All good things must come to an end. It is time for me to return.”
Liu Biyun pleaded, “Brother Li, please return to the mountain with us!”
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. “I have other matters to attend to. Perhaps another time, when opportunity allows!”
Liu Biyun looked deeply reluctant. Mo Jiye chuckled warmly. “Brother Li, we owe you our lives twice over for this ordeal!”
Li Muzhan laughed. “Very well. There will be time to repay me in the future. Biyun, Brother Mo, Brother Cui, Brother Xie—until we meet again!”
Liu Biyun knitted her brows, her eyes holding a veiled sense of pained disappointment.
Li Muzhan glanced south with a bitter smile, then sighed and shook his head.
“Brother Li, what is it?” Liu Biyun immediately pressed.
Li Muzhan sighed again. “We can’t leave! ...Linhai Pavilion truly won’t let up; they’re tracking us down again!”
“So fast!?” Mo Jiye frowned. “They come with ill intent; these must be top masters!”
They had pushed themselves to their absolute limits on the road, yet their pursuers still managed to catch up. Their qinggong surpassed theirs, and superior lightness skill usually implies higher cultivation. Moreover, the people of Linhai Pavilion would surely know that top experts were involved on this side, meaning any who were sent would not be mere cannon fodder, but those with confidence in victory.
Li Muzhan managed a bitter smile. “Brother Mo is right.”
“Hmph!” A sharp shout suddenly echoed, causing the four of Mo Jiye’s group to flinch; the sound was like a clap of thunder right beside their ears.
Li Muzhan called out smoothly, “Which senior master honors us with this visit?”
“Indeed, you possess some skill!” Two elderly men in blue robes suddenly materialized directly in front of the five, as if they had simply popped into existence in their field of vision.
Mo Jiye and the others recovered their senses, their eyes widening in alarm, their hearts sinking heavily. Possessing broad knowledge, they instantly recognized the elders as men well over a century old, whose cultivation time dwarfed their own. How could they possibly stand a chance? If these were elders from an ordinary sect, it might be different; even if their cultivation was deep, refined techniques could bridge the gap. But these were established masters from Linhai Pavilion; their techniques were of comparable caliber, meaning cultivation alone would determine the victor.
Li Muzhan sized up the two elders. Both were of medium height; one was stout and somewhat round, the other lean and gaunt, both possessing an air of refined scholarly grace.
The scholarly elder stroked his silver beard and spoke calmly. “Young man, state your name for us to hear.”
Li Muzhan smiled slightly. “Li Guanhai of Qingmei, just an insignificant nobody. Are the two seniors esteemed guests of Linhai Pavilion?”
“Precisely. I am Zong Tianliang. Li Guanhai of Qingmei, I certainly have never heard the name.” The scholarly elder nodded slowly. “To possess such cultivation at your youth, who is your master?”
“My master has already ascended to immortality,” Li Muzhan replied.
“Hmm.” The two elders exchanged a look. Zong Tianliang asked, “Why did you aid the Dragon Mountain Sect?”
Li Muzhan smiled faintly, glancing toward Liu Biyun.
“The valor of a hero tempered by the affections of love—I see!” Zong Tianliang stroked his beard and nodded. “A pity that with your level of mastery, you chose to provoke us. What a shame, what a shame!”
Li Muzhan smiled lightly. “Do the two seniors intend to strike lethally?”
“It’s best you understand that!” Zong Tianliang said slowly. “You only have yourself to blame for provoking those you shouldn't have!”
Li Muzhan turned his head. “Biyun, Brother Mo, you all go ahead. I will engage these two seniors and sample their superior techniques!”
“Brother Li, we fight together,” Mo Jiye stated gravely.
Li Muzhan chuckled. “If I cannot win, I will flee. If you remain, it will actually hinder my actions!”
“This...” Mo Jiye hesitated.
Zong Tianliang smiled and shook his head. “In my estimation, there’s no need for such trouble. Once we dispatch you, the others won’t escape either.”
Mo Jiye frowned deeply. “Senior Zong also intends to kill us?”
“Lesser crimes may be forgiven, but severe crimes will not escape punishment!” Zong Tianliang chuckled lightly.
Mo Jiye countered with a stern snort. “Senior uses his age to bully the young—are you not afraid of being scorned by the world?!”
Zong Tianliang ignored Mo Jiye and addressed Li Muzhan. “Young Brother Li, make your move. Let me witness your true abilities!”
Li Muzhan smiled, drew his long sword, and shot forward in a gliding step. Zong Tianliang’s expression instantly grew solemn, all previous casualness evaporating.
“Clang...” He drew his sword to parry. The two blades met with a sharp crack. The stout elder frowned slightly, looking at Li Muzhan with surprise. He knew his senior brother’s cultivation was unfathomably deep, yet this youth managed to block the strike without his sword being jarred from his grasp.
Li Muzhan felt a surging, immense power flow through his blade, but with a gentle flick of his wrist, he transformed the incoming force into forward momentum, thrusting his sword out again with astonishing speed.
“Clang...” Zong Tianliang blocked horizontally before his chest, his body sliding back smoothly by a zhang. He looked down at the blade, then up at Li Muzhan in astonishment, realizing the sheer power behind Li Muzhan’s thrust. The speed of the attack was so great that Zong Tianliang hadn’t time to execute a formal technique, managing only a block.
Li Muzhan let out a soft snort. “Fine swordsmanship!”
With a sharp chi sound, his sword shot out, seeming to tear the air like ripping cloth. The sword point appeared instantly at Zong Tianliang’s chest—there was no time for the elder to counter, the tip was already penetrating.
Zong Tianliang’s feet seemed to activate hidden springs, and with a swoosh, he recoiled two zhang. He stared at Li Muzhan hesitantly, then looked down at his own chest. Li Muzhan’s thrust had pierced the flesh, yet it was only a superficial wound. However, that single strike had utterly shattered Zong Tianliang’s composure; the speed was unbelievable.
Li Muzhan stated calmly, “Senior Zong, be careful now!”
As his words faded, the sword tip reappeared at Zong Tianliang’s chest. Zong Tianliang shifted violently at the critical moment, letting out a muffled grunt as his left shoulder caught a glancing blow. Blood sprayed forth.
“Senior Brother Zong!” the stout elder cried out in alarm.
Zong Tianliang looked down at his shoulder and gave a bitter smile. “What terrifying swordsmanship!”
Li Muzhan smiled modestly. “You flatter me!”
Zong Tianliang nodded. “With sword skills like that, it’s no wonder they suffered a loss!... Junior Brother Xiao, it seems we must combine forces!”
The stout elder paused, then nodded, flashing to his senior brother’s side.
Xie Jianfeng erupted in fury. “You two are utterly shameless! ... To bully the young when you’re this old, and now to gang up on one—your Linhai Pavilion is too despicable!”
Zong Tianliang smiled faintly. “The feeling is mutual.”
“Brother Mo, let’s join in too!” Xie Jianfeng growled in anger.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Brother Xie, I appreciate the sentiment, but let me handle this!”
“Brother Li, if those two old fellows attack together, I fear you won’t be able to hold them off!” Xie Jianfeng warned loudly.
Li Muzhan smiled. “I will give it a try!”
Mo Jiye waved his hand. “Brother Xie, don't cause trouble!”
Xie Jianfeng shot a resentful glare at Zong Tianliang. “Old fossil!”
Zong Tianliang’s face darkened, his gaze like lightning shooting toward Xie Jianfeng. Xie Jianfeng met the glare without yielding. “What? You want to kill me?”
Zong Tianliang sneered coldly. “Impudent brat, slap your own face!”
He instantly appeared before Xie Jianfeng, raising his palm to strike. With a chi!, a small pebble flew from Li Muzhan’s sleeve, colliding squarely with Zong Tianliang’s right hand.
“Bang!” A muffled sound like thunder erupted; the pebble disintegrated into dust, and Zong Tianliang was forced back a step.
Only then did Xie Jianfeng react, quickly ducking behind Mo Jiye.
Li Muzhan smiled placidly. “Senior Zong, why stoop to the level of a junior? It diminishes your own standing!”
Zong Tianliang sneered coldly. “Good, good!” His expression was grim, his eyes seeming to spew fire as if he wanted to devour Xie Jianfeng. He fixed Li Muzhan with a cold stare. “Brat, you have considerable ability. Junior Brother Xiao, attack!”
The two elders simultaneously drew their swords and lunged at Li Muzhan—swiftly and unexpectedly. Li Muzhan swung his blade. “Clang, clang, clang, clang...” A continuous cascade of clear ringing sounds filled the air.
As Li Muzhan parried the moves of both masters, he simultaneously studied the Linhai Pavilion sword techniques. The styles employed by these two elders were vastly superior to those of the average disciple. After observing them, Li Muzhan gained significant insight into the martial philosophy of Linhai Pavilion, and a smile finally broke across his face.