Li Muzhan stepped into the cabin, and a faint, delicate fragrance immediately drifted to him. Li Muzhan was particularly fond of this scent, and he smiled, saying, "Miss Xu, why are you up so early?"

"Heh-heh..." Yi Xiaoru let out a soft, melodious laugh that was utterly captivating.

Li Muzhan sat down beside the low table, chuckling, "When did Miss Xu arrive?"

"What do you think?" Yi Xiaoru gave a light laugh, sat down opposite him, picked up the pot, poured him a cup of wine, and offered it with a smile. "Sir truly put on a marvelous show; I'm impressed!"

Both were using each other's aliases, treating it as if their pretense were reality—it was thrilling and delightfully playful, and neither seemed eager to stop.

Li Muzhan smiled, "I was left with no choice but to employ this tactic. I only hope he performs his duties well."

Yi Xiaoru smiled and shook her head. "Don't worry, Sir. Your scheme is brilliant, undetectable by gods or ghosts. Fan Pingshan won't discover a thing!"

Li Muzhan chuckled, "That remains to be seen. One must never underestimate the heroes of this world!... Why are you dressed like that, Miss? Isn't it rather inconvenient for you?"

"Why take it so seriously?" Yi Xiaoru smiled. "I heard you even acquired a concubine, enjoying great fortune. You must have been lost in a gentle embrace these past few days?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "This place is indeed quite pleasant. I might just settle down here."

Yi Xiaoru nodded gently. "This place is bustling and vibrant; it truly is a place that beckons the young! ... You have handled things exceptionally well, and I believe you will get what you wish for."

Li Muzhan said, "Man's calculations are no match for Heaven's will. Even the most intricate planning may prove useless; I can only entrust it to fate... Aren't you afraid of trouble by coming close to me?"

"I was merely passing by," Yi Xiaoru replied with a smile.

Li Muzhan mused for a moment, looked up at her, but said nothing.

Yi Xiaoru prompted, "Go on."

Li Muzhan smiled, "I noticed quite a few masters hidden around here. Who are they all?"

"You noticed?" Yi Xiaoru shook her head. "Fish and dragons are mixed together here; you find all sorts of people, which is why few dare to draw weapons in Jingzhou City."

Li Muzhan asked, "There are quite a few disciples from your sect, aren't there?"

Yi Xiaoru chuckled lightly, shook her head, and said nothing more. Li Muzhan understood this as tacit agreement, and since she couldn't elaborate further, he didn't press, smiling instead, "The little maid I purchased is very well-behaved."

Yi Xiaoru glanced at him sideways. "You certainly have great spirit, spending such a fortune!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I saw she was pitiful, a rare soul unsoiled by the mud. I merely offered a hand; I have no other intentions!"

"Hmph, as if any of you men are different!" Yi Xiaoru sneered. "Besides, whether you're interested or not—you don't need to tell me!"

Li Muzhan helplessly rubbed the bridge of his nose. That was true; they were friends, intimate as old companions, but they could never be more, or it would mean courting death. Both were exceptionally intelligent, fully aware that crossing that line was forbidden.

————

Silence fell within the cabin. Li Muzhan surveyed his surroundings; the décor was simple and elegant, entirely devoid of vulgarity, showcasing her extraordinary taste.

The faint perfume was subtle yet rich, intoxicating the senses, warm and comforting. Li Muzhan glanced at her and sighed faintly.

Yi Xiaoru also sighed inwardly, and as she looked up, their gazes met. Though she felt a strange stirring, she showed nothing, calmly asking, "What is your plan after you kill Fan Pingshan?"

Li Muzhan replied, "Naturally, I'll leave immediately. It would be absurd to stay after offending Linhai Pavilion!"

"And what about this Miss Xiuxiu?" Yi Xiaoru inquired.

Li Muzhan smiled, "I'll bring her back to the palace, or keep her with me. She's a good girl; if left behind, she's certainly doomed!"

"It's good that you know that!" Yi Xiaoru frowned. "With your intelligence, I can't believe you hadn't considered this before. You really are..."

Li Muzhan laughed, "If Xiuxiu remained on the Hundred Flowers Boat, the outcome is easy to guess. Isn't it better for her to stay by my side?"

"Hmph. Then I'd like to see how you explain this to Miss Liu!" Yi Xiaoru sneered.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Biyun will understand me."

"Women are never that magnanimous in these matters, no matter what kind of woman she is!" Yi Xiaoru shook her head. "You... you're just asking for trouble!"

Li Muzhan smiled nonchalantly, which made Yi Xiaoru grit her teeth secretly. However, this indicated he lacked romantic experience, not a weakness in itself.

Li Muzhan asked, "What brings you here, Miss?"

Yi Xiaoru sniffed, "To see someone and investigate something. You don't need to know."

Li Muzhan touched the bridge of his nose and smiled gently. "I've never truly known the various branches of your Wansheng Sect. Tell me about them."

Yi Xiaoru said coolly, "That is sect secrecy; it cannot be spoken of publicly."

Li Muzhan pressed, "Not even to me?"

"Absolutely not!" Yi Xiaoru stated. "Do you think we are different?"

Li Muzhan laughed, "At the very least, we are good friends, right?"

Yi Xiaoru gave him a slight sidelong glance. "Friends? Barely, I suppose. More than friends? Absolutely not!"

Li Muzhan sighed, "Then I was merely being sentimental."

"Yes, you were being sentimental," Yi Xiaoru nodded slowly.

Her every word was a blade, concealing the strange feelings within her heart. Li Muzhan helplessly rubbed his nose, somewhat bewildered. Since he considered her a friend, he stopped using his mind-reading ability, and at this point, he restrained himself.

Seeing his awkwardness, Yi Xiaoru felt a small measure of satisfaction. She huffed, "If there's nothing else, then I won't trouble myself to see you out!"

Li Muzhan felt awkward standing there, nodded, and said, "Then take care. You can always come over to my place to pass the time."

"I'm not that idle!" Yi Xiaoru scoffed.

Li Muzhan shook his head resignedly. She had suddenly become willful, like a different person. A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the ocean; he truly couldn't handle it and decided it was best to retreat for now.

————

Watching him leave in slight disarray, Yi Xiaoru sat quietly, her bright eyes shifting with thought.

After a long while, she sighed softly, shook her head with a faint smile, and let everything go, wielding her wise sword to sever the threads of affection.

She knew that once that kind of feeling developed between her and Li Muzhan, the consequences would be dire—not just for herself, but for Li Muzhan as well. For both their sakes, and truly for his own good, she could not take that step. It was best to remain ordinary friends, perhaps best not to meet at all.

She sighed inwardly, but a smile surfaced on her face. Having made the decision, even though her heart ached as if being wrung out and felt empty and uncomfortable, she felt a sense of relief.

Li Muzhan stepped ashore and looked back as the small boat drifted away, sensing a vague clue emerging. After thinking it over, he decided to discard the matter for the time being.

Longshan Sect was terrifying, and Linhai Pavilion was also fearsome, but compared to the Wansheng Sect, they were like mere gnats beside a giant. Provoking the Wansheng Sect, at his current stage, was tantamount to suicide. Only by growing strong enough to become the foremost expert under heaven would he earn the right to provoke them.

In truth, even as the world's best, provoking the Wansheng Sect would be unwise. Their lineage was too long, their roots too deep. Even if the branches were sparse, the root system remained staggeringly immense and impossible to guard against entirely.

Li Muzhan surmised that there were many Wansheng Sect disciples in Jingzhou City. The moment any disturbance arose, the sect would surely know, and neither he nor Yi Xiaoru could escape their eyes and ears. Even for her sake, he could not indulge in romantic feelings for her; it would harm her, as he currently lacked the power to protect her. He could only choose forbearance.

Lost in thought, he returned to his small courtyard and went straight to the rear garden. Xiuxiu was tending to the flowers in the flowerbed, her expression focused.

Li Muzhan watched her and felt a measure of peace settle in his heart. He sat in the small pavilion and picked up a book.

"Master," Xiuxiu approached lightly.

Li Muzhan put down his book and said gently, "Xiuxiu, continue with your work; you don't need to attend to me."

"Does Master have something on his mind?" Xiuxiu picked up the teapot and smiled.

Li Muzhan slowly sighed, forcing a bitter smile. "Yes..."

Xiuxiu set down the teapot and carefully inquired, "If Master has worries, perhaps you could share them with me? Though I am weak and can offer little help, I can at least listen."

Li Muzhan smiled. "Thank you for your kindness, Xiuxiu."

Seeing that he showed no intention of speaking further, Xiuxiu tactfully said no more, picked up the teapot, and gracefully moved away.

A short while later, she returned with tea and poured a cup for Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan was reading and said nothing, merely nodding lightly.

————

In the evening, Li Muzhan returned from his stroll through Jingzhou City. The city was teeming with life, and as he walked through it, Li Muzhan could feel a rich sense of vitality, unlike the atmosphere at Zishang Palace or Longshan Sect.

At Longshan Sect, staying in Cheng Suzhen's grand residence gave a feeling of family, but being on the mountain, the ambiance was different. Here in Jingzhou City, it was the concrete prosperity of the mortal world. Li Muzhan was not addicted to it, but he enjoyed the atmosphere; taking the chance to savor it was a pleasure.

He knew it was time to return, lest Xiuxiu worry. He had spent the last few days wandering the city, staying away from home, keeping himself busy to avoid overthinking and hoping to let the feelings for Yi Xiaoru cool down.

He stopped abruptly at the entrance of his residence, which faced the river. He suddenly turned to look.

Two figures stood on a small boat about ten yards away. They were similar in height, but Li Muzhan frowned, a cold smile touching his lips, though inwardly, he felt a surge of satisfaction: They had finally arrived!

One was Fan Pingye, and the other was a middle-aged man of ordinary appearance, leaner and slightly taller than Fan Pingye, with an aura completely different from his companion. He carried the sharpness of a drawn sword. Li Muzhan instantly concluded this middle-aged man was Fan Pingshan, Fan Pingye's elder brother.

He carefully observed Fan Pingshan: slender and tall, with long arms and long fingers—truly excellent bone structure for swordsmanship, much more likely to achieve mastery than the average person. Furthermore, his eyes were clear and piercing, as if he could see straight through a person. He possessed more imposing momentum than Fan Pingye, and Li Muzhan was certain that Fan Pingye's demeanor was largely modeled after Fan Pingshan, imitating his movements and habits unconsciously.

Li Muzhan sneered, "You surnamed Fan, you're quite bold. If you provoke me further, I won't be polite. I won't just stab your wrist this time; I'll aim for your throat!"

"You surnamed He, what's the meaning of this arrogance!" Fan Pingye roared. "Don't think your clumsy little tricks count as swordsmanship mastery. Today, I'll show you what real sword techniques are!"

Li Muzhan said coolly, "Relying on you? Has your hand healed?"

Fan Pingye sneered repeatedly, "You surnamed He, don't gloat! ... You crippled my arm, and I'll take your life. Let's see who can deal with whom!"

Li Muzhan laughed, "Stop wasting breath. If you have the guts, come over!"

"You surnamed He, this is my elder brother!" Fan Pingye pointed to the middle-aged man beside him and sneered, "My brother is from Linhai Pavilion..."

"Second brother, stop talking!" Fan Pingshan waved a hand and said sternly.

"Big Brother!" Fan Pingye protested, "This fellow doesn't know his place. We must scare him!"

Fan Pingshan replied, "Let our skills settle the score then!"

"Fine, Big Brother, you kill him!" Fan Pingye said viciously. "Otherwise, I truly cannot swallow this humiliation!"

Fan Pingshan frowned and glared coldly at him.

Fan Pingye stared back defiantly. "Big Brother, my arm is ruined; I can't practice the sword anymore. Doesn't he deserve to die?!"

"Just cripple his arm!" Fan Pingshan frowned.

"Bi—g Bro—ther!" Fan Pingye exclaimed loudly, full of anger. "If someone crippled my arm, and you only cripple his arm in return, then if someone breaks my leg, must you also break mine?!... If you don't establish your authority now, who will fear you?... I have many enemies. If they find out, they will certainly cripple me!"

Fan Pingshan paused, then slowly nodded. "That has merit!"

"Big Brother, so you agree?!" Fan Pingye asked excitedly.

"Fine, I will kill him," Fan Pingshan nodded. "From now on, you should do less of this reckless behavior. Sailing at night too often eventually leads to capsizing!"

Fan Pingye nodded rapidly. "Yes, yes, good Big Brother, just this last time!"

"You..." Fan Pingshan shook his head helplessly. Having lost their parents early, only the two brothers relied on each other. This was his younger brother, practically like his own son. He knew he had spoiled him too much, but he simply couldn't bring himself to be harsh.

————

Li Muzhan watched the two brothers silently, then shook his head and smiled. "What a touching display of brotherly affection!"

"Who exactly are you? State your name!" Fan Pingshan said sternly.

Li Muzhan asked, "Are you truly a disciple of Linhai Pavilion?"

"Indeed," Fan Pingshan nodded slowly.

Li Muzhan frowned. "I heard Linhai Pavilion is a righteous and prestigious sect. As a disciple of Linhai Pavilion, how can you be so unreasonable?"

"You crippled my brother; how can I ignore it?" Fan Pingshan stated firmly. "How about this: If you cripple your own right hand, I will let the matter drop."

"Bi—g Bro—ther!" Fan Pingye immediately cried out.

Fan Pingshan waved his hand, signaling him to be silent, and fixed his gaze on Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan started to laugh, shaking his head. "He tried to kill me, and I merely disabled his right hand—a minor punishment, and I showed restraint. Yet this is the outcome? Heh heh, what a Linhai Pavilion. What a righteous sect! It truly seems seeing is not believing!"

Fan Pingshan frowned. "This matter has nothing to do with our sect. Does Mr. He agree or not?"

Li Muzhan sized him up and sneered, "I have long heard that Linhai Pavilion's swordsmanship is peerless in this age, rarely matched. I have long wished to experience it firsthand. Come!"

He drew his sword and presented it toward Fan Pingshan, his gaze cold, making no attempt to conceal his killing intent. All his arrangements were for this very day.

Fan Pingshan nodded slowly. "Very well. Since you refuse, you have only yourself to blame. Make your move!"

He leaped lightly, gliding across the river surface, landing before Li Muzhan, his hand resting on his sword hilt, staring intently, careful not to let his guard down.

Fan Pingye sneered, "You surnamed He, prepare to die!"

Li Muzhan's long sword stabbed out. With a chi sound like tearing silk, the tip of the blade instantly reached Fan Pingshan. A flash of cold light erupted from Fan Pingshan's waist, followed by the continuous clanging of metal: Ding, ding, ding, ding...—the sound of two swords meeting.

Li Muzhan's sword light was swift as lightning, but he was not using his full strength, wishing to observe the Linhai Pavilion sword techniques. He had seen their style before, but Fan Pingshan was different—a hidden master who had inherited the sect's true essence. Only by watching him could Li Muzhan truly glimpse the profound mysteries of Linhai Pavilion swordsmanship.

Fan Pingye stood on the small boat, eyes wide as he stared at the two men on the bank. The sword light of Li Muzhan and Fan Pingshan was completely interwoven; he could barely make out their movements, only their expressions. Li Muzhan looked relaxed, unconcerned, while Fan Pingshan appeared calm, as if engaged in casual conversation rather than combat.

Fan Pingye couldn't decipher the change in their expressions or the tide of the fight. Initially anxious, he soon reassured himself: Big Brother's swordsmanship was supreme; he was a master from a prestigious school; how could he fear some unknown nobody?!

Just as his heart settled, his expression drastically changed. He saw the sky-filling sword light retract, and Li Muzhan's sword pierced Fan Pingshan's chest, before slowly withdrawing.

Fan Pingshan's eyes widened, and he pointed at Li Muzhan: "You..."

He tried to speak, but blood surged into his throat, choking his words. Unwilling to accept it, he pointed at Li Muzhan again.

Li Muzhan sneered, "Rest assured, I will have your younger brother accompany you!"

With that, he leaped onto the small boat. Fan Pingye finally reacted, shouting, "You... you..."

A cold light flashed and vanished. Li Muzhan pierced his throat with one sword stroke, cutting off his cry mid-sound.

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed, saying no more. He drew his sword, gave it a light shake, and the blade shone brilliantly and flawlessly, unstained by a drop of blood. This was just an ordinary Qingfeng sword; it remained clean because of Li Muzhan's internal energy.

Li Muzhan leaped back onto the shore, lifted Fan Pingshan's corpse, and placed both bodies into the cabin, intending to pilot the boat to find a place to bury them.

"Mr. He!" Yi Xiaoru's voice rang out. He turned to look.

A small boat had silently appeared around the corner ten yards away. Yi Xiaoru stood quietly at the bow, her white robes fluttering, her bright eyes clear as still water.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Miss Xu, we meet again!"

Yi Xiaoru pulled a small porcelain bottle from her inner garment and tossed it casually. It sailed across the ten-yard distance, and Li Muzhan reached out and caught it, looking at her with confusion.

Yi Xiaoru said, "This is Bone Dissolving Powder. You might find it useful."

Li Muzhan's eyebrows shot up. This was the infamous Bone Dissolving Powder, whispered about in the martial world, rumored to melt a person into a puddle of water with just a touch. When this powder mixed with blood, it became a terrible poison, dissolving all flesh and blood into liquid—incredibly malicious and potent.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Thank you, Miss Xu!"

He turned and entered the cabin, then leaped off the small boat onto the shore. The small boat slowly sank until it vanished beneath the river's surface.

Yi Xiaoru watched him complete these actions, nodded, turned, and entered the cabin. Her small boat then drifted away silently.

Li Muzhan smiled, admiring what a clever girl she was, then resumed his casual demeanor, returned to his residence, and went straight to the rear garden, sitting in the pavilion and picking up a book to read.

Xiuxiu had already brewed the tea and was waiting for him. Seeing Li Muzhan enter, Xiuxiu bowed and then pursed her lips, smiling, "Did Master encounter something pleasant?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "You could tell?"

"Your eyebrows are raised a little higher," Xiuxiu replied.

Li Muzhan touched his eyebrow and chuckled, "Is that so!... Xiuxiu, I plan to leave for a while. Do you wish to stay here and guard the residence for me, or come along with me?"

"Will you be gone long, Master?" Xiuxiu asked.

Li Muzhan smiled. "It's hard to say. Maybe one or two months, maybe one or two years, perhaps even ten or eight years."

"Ah..." Xiuxiu frowned. "Then of course I'll go with you!"