Li Muzhan vaguely suspected that the old man might have been right about the Soul Jade Stone—that it was truly condensed from the blood of an ancient beast, for it pulsed with immense primal energy.
Li Muzhan believed that if he could unlock this energy, he could lay down an array formation; the crucial factor was that this Soul Jade Stone could absorb yuanqi.
Li Muzhan didn't fret about a shortage of yuanqi or the difficulty of storage. Setting up even a minor array would consume hundreds of jade stones, and piling up so many would impede the formation’s structure unless the entire foundation was buried in them.
With the Soul Jade Stone, he could establish the formation and simply replenish the energy as it was consumed over time, a vast improvement over his previous limitations.
Moreover, possessing this stone meant he wouldn't have to flee. He could fortify his residence with the array, and he was confident he could handle any number of assailants.
A smile touched his lips at the thought. Heaven truly favored him; it was as if providence had delivered a pillow just as he was getting sleepy!
He gently lowered his eyelids, beginning to sense the structure of the Jade Stone, trying to devise a way to stimulate its primal energy—but it must be released slowly, thread by thread, not all at once.
This was far from simple. He pondered ceaselessly, only grasping a slight thread of understanding as the lanterns were being lit and Xiuxiu finished her practice.
As she slowly concluded her exercises, her eyes shone with a subtle clarity. Her internal energy had advanced remarkably; her cultivation progress was astonishingly swift, equaling a month of arduous practice for others.
This rapid advancement was due both to Li Muzhan having purified her marrow and tendons, and the unique nature of her cultivation manual, which far surpassed ordinary techniques.
“Young Master, what troubles you?” she asked, approaching to light a lantern, her steps light. Seeing Li Muzhan holding the Soul Jade Stone in deep thought, she inquired with curiosity.
The two maidservants in the rear garden were barred entry; everything, down to lighting the lamps, she handled herself.
Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, giving her a quick look before nodding. “Xiuxiu, you have truly begun to master it. Focus on your training. In a couple of days, I will teach you movement techniques and swordsmanship; you must have the strength to protect yourself.”
“Yes, thank you, Young Master!” Xiuxiu agreed happily.
Li Muzhan chuckled, turning his attention back to the Soul Jade Stone. The more he studied it, the more marvelous he found it. The sheer wonder of nature’s creation truly defied imagination. After half a day of intense study, he gained a profound new understanding of array formations.
Seeing him so engrossed, Xiuxiu refrained from disturbing him further. She helped by brewing tea, pouring wine, and arranging fruit before quietly leaving the rear garden to prepare dinner.
Her culinary skills were exquisite. She knew how to cook when she was home, and after being trained briefly aboard the Hundred Flowers Ship, her cooking had become even more formidable, earning great approval from Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan remained deeply immersed in studying the Soul Jade Stone, and after eating, he resumed his earnest investigation.
The next morning, when Xiuxiu came for her practice session, she was surprised to find Li Muzhan still seated in the small pavilion, holding the Soul Jade Stone. She approached softly, murmuring, “Young Master…?”
Li Muzhan looked up at her, his distant gaze slowly clearing. He glanced around and then smiled. “Oh, Xiuxiu, you’re up?”
“Did the Young Master stay up all night?” Xiuxiu asked softly.
Li Muzhan nodded. “Mm, I was absorbed and forgot about sleep. You continue your practice.”
“Young Master, your health is important,” Xiuxiu urged with some concern.
Li Muzhan laughed. “I’m fine.”
Xiuxiu sighed helplessly. “Young Master, let me boil you some congee first!”
“Mm, go ahead, go ahead.” Li Muzhan waved his hand, already sinking back into the contemplation of the Soul Jade Stone.
Li Muzhan struggled in thought for two days before finally finding a workable method. On the third day, he took Xiuxiu out shopping again, buying several pieces of jade and stone. They spent the entire night setting up the array formation.
When Xiuxiu returned in the evening with the two maids after buying groceries, they could not find their home. Walking near the riverbank, they wandered back and forth, yet could not locate their residence.
The two middle-aged women were equally baffled. Xiuxiu was on the verge of tears; if the women weren't just as confused, she would have suspected she had lost her mind and gotten lost.
The three circled the riverbank fruitlessly, unable to find their home. They could recognize the houses across the water, but when they crossed over, their house vanished from sight—it seemed to have suddenly disappeared, and the courtyard on the opposite bank looked entirely different from before.
They tried asking neighbors, hoping to climb over a wall from their side. They could find the neighbors’ property, which appeared unchanged, but once they climbed the wall, they found themselves deposited directly onto the street.
They tried every method they could think of, but they couldn't return home. Finally, Xiuxiu’s eyes turned red, and she was close to tears.
“Xiuxiu!” Suddenly, they heard Li Muzhan’s gentle voice. Xiuxiu spun around instantly, seeing him standing on the bank with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at them with a faint smile.
“Young Master!” Xiuxiu rushed toward him.
Li Muzhan steadied her, patting her shoulder with a smile. “What’s wrong?”
“Young Master, I can’t get home!” Xiuxiu said sheepishly, her cheeks flushed a delicate, intoxicating red.
Li Muzhan chuckled twice. “Let’s go, follow me!”
Xiuxiu quickly agreed, afraid to lift her head, feeling her face burn intensely. She had rushed forward in excitement just now, making a spectacle of herself.
Li Muzhan walked ahead, and after navigating three turns, Xiuxiu followed closely in his footsteps, and suddenly the view opened up—the familiar courtyard gate reappeared before her eyes.
Curiosity overwhelming her shyness, Xiuxiu asked, “Young Master, what happened?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “I set up a mechanism to prevent outsiders from entering. How does it feel?”
“So it was you, Young Master!” Xiuxiu realized with sudden clarity. “How exactly did you do it? We kept going in circles and couldn’t find the door!”
Li Muzhan said, “The principles behind this can’t be explained in a few words. I’ll tell you another day. Come, I’ll teach you movement techniques!”
“Wonderful!” Xiuxiu was overjoyed!
He was in the process of teaching Xiuxiu movement techniques, personally demonstrating the footwork. This could technically be transmitted via the Guanding method, but that process involved great suffering. Since Li Muzhan was in excellent spirits, he chose to teach her personally.
Suddenly, a long, soaring cry ripped skyward, echoing across the heavens. It was late afternoon; the sky was a sea of crimson clouds, and this cry seemed powerful enough to scatter them.
Li Muzhan frowned. He opened his Eyes of the Void, and his expression instantly changed. He urged urgently, “Xiuxiu, you practice first!”
He vanished with a flicker of movement.
He suddenly materialized on the riverbank, looking out at the water not far away, where two small boats floated near each other, their occupants locked in combat.
Li Muzhan frowned. Yi Xiaoru was fiercely battling an old man in gray robes. Li Muzhan guessed that the cry had come from the gray-robed elder.
Yi Xiaoru had returned to her original appearance—stunningly beautiful. Her jade face was icy now as her elegant palm struck out like lightning.
The gray-robed elder possessed deep cultivation; his palms were brutally fierce, but he suffered from a lack of finesse in his moves. He often missed striking Yi Xiaoru, only to be struck by her instead.
As Li Muzhan watched, the gray-robed elder took a blow from Yi Xiaoru, yet with blood staining his lips, he became even more ferocious, attacking in a mad frenzy, ignoring Yi Xiaoru’s strikes, willing to trade blows just to land one on her—a mutual destruction.
Yi Xiaoru’s palms moved like fluttering butterflies, incredibly fast, but facing such a death-defying maniac, she had no easy counter. For the moment, she couldn't subdue him.
Under normal circumstances, a burst of reckless fighting spirit would eventually fade, and the man would tire. Such a desperate state couldn't be sustained. If she just held out a bit longer, she would eventually win. But now, he had called for backup, and she needed a quick victory, which was proving difficult.
Li Muzhan shook his head, deciding not to intervene yet. Just then, another long cry drifted from the distance, followed swiftly by a small boat slicing through the waves, arriving at the scene as if carried by the wind. Two gray-clad elders leaped off onto the water behind Yi Xiaoru.
Li Muzhan frowned. He sprang onto a small boat, drifting closer to the fray. Many small boats like his were gathering, eager to watch the excitement.
In this world, the martial arts community was not far removed from ordinary citizens. When people saw a fight, especially in such a public spectacle, many would gather to watch.
Li Muzhan mingled with the onlookers, slowly closing the distance until he was five or six zhang from Yi Xiaoru’s boat. Spectators were experienced; they knew about ten zhang was the safest distance to avoid being caught in collateral damage.
The two elders landed on the boat but didn't attack immediately. They stood smiling, hands crossed, watching. The elder with snow-white, slender eyebrows asked, “Fifth Brother, what is the situation?”
“A junior from the Hidden Sect!” the gray-robed elder fighting Yi Xiaoru stated gravely. He was short and thin, appearing frail, but he fought with the ferocity of a mad tiger.
The other two gray-robed elders made sounds of surprise: “Oh?”
“Aren't you going to help!” the fighting gray-robed elder shouted. “If you don’t help, I won’t be able to hold on!”
“Fifth Brother, you’re too weak!” the snow-white-browed elder shook his head, sighing. “It’s only a little girl!”
The gray-robed elder snapped back irritably, “Third Brother, don't lecture me when you’re not in the thick of it! This little girl is quite formidable, hurry up and help!”
As he spoke, blood bubbled from the corner of his mouth. Yi Xiaoru’s palm strikes were domineering, and he had already taken two hits. He was enduring them through sheer willpower, and now he was starting to fail. Even then, he maintained a composed, almost joking demeanor, showing no fear.
“Fine, Fifth Brother, stand down, let me deal with this little girl!” The snow-white-browed elder commanded, suddenly slamming a palm strike toward Yi Xiaoru’s back.
Yi Xiaoru was forced to sidestep to avoid it. The thin, small elder seized the opportunity to retreat, slipping out of the arc of her palm strike. Yi Xiaoru sneered, turning to engage the frost-white-browed elder.
The other elder, burly and tall as a tower, asked quietly, “Fifth Brother, how did she find you?”
The thin, small elder retorted irritably, “The Hidden Sect’s spies are too sharp. How should I know where I slipped up?!” As he spoke, he rapidly tapped several points on his body to seal off the surging internal energy that threatened to rebel within him.
The imposing elder sighed and shook his head. “Fifth Brother, if we want to live comfortably, we have to finish this little girl!”
The thin elder wiped the blood from his lip and sneered, “Finish her, then. It’s nothing major! The Hidden Sect has fallen these years; they’re not worth mentioning!”
“*” The imposing elder shook his head and sighed, raising his voice. “Third Brother, do you need my help?”
The snow-white-browed elder snapped back irritably, “Come on, then!” He had been unable to gain the upper hand and was actually being pushed back by Yi Xiaoru’s elegant palm strikes. If the space weren't so confined, he could have relied on his deep cultivation to fight head-on, but here he was losing ground.
The imposing elder declared, “I’m coming!” He stepped behind Yi Xiaoru and delivered a light punch. Bang! Yi Xiaoru’s left palm shot out to meet the blow, and her body staggered slightly.
“This little girl has astonishingly deep cultivation!” the imposing elder cried out. “Fifth Brother, no wonder you were at a disadvantage—this little girl is this powerful!”
The gray-robed elder snorted. “Now you know how I feel! Her palm technique is even more formidable. Be careful, both of you, don't end up capsizing in a ditch!”
“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her!” the two elders said grimly.
They attacked in tandem, one with palms, one with fists, perfectly coordinated. Moreover, their techniques were exquisite, no less masterful than those of the first gray-robed elder.
Yi Xiaoru’s palm technique was superior, and against one opponent, she would surely prevail. Against two attackers working together so skillfully, she was instantly disadvantaged and gradually found it hard to sustain her defense.
Bang! She took a blow to the shoulder, and her left arm instantly hung limp. Li Muzhan’s heart leaped; he knew that strike had shattered her shoulder; likely not a single bone was intact.
The situation deteriorated sharply. Yi Xiaoru had been able to maintain a tense defense while managing two attacks, but now, with only her right hand free, she was completely unbalanced.
Bang! She took another punch to the back and immediately spat out a spray of blood.
Fifth Brother watched from the side, shaking his head and chuckling. “Little girl, you shouldn’t have been so rash!” He chuckled again. “Have you guys run out of people in the Hidden Sect?!”
Blood trickled from Yi Xiaoru’s mouth, but she let out a cold laugh, still showing no intent to flee.
Li Muzhan frowned, his heart twisting with pain, yet he forced himself to remain calm. Yi Xiaoru was supremely intelligent; she shouldn't be so stubborn when facing certain doom! His left hand was already pinching two small stones concealed in his sleeve as he fixed his gaze on the confrontation.
Bang! Yi Xiaoru took another palm strike to the back and stumbled, nearly falling.
The surrounding crowd muttered among themselves, showing sympathy, but the two gray-robed elders were too skilled, and they dared not intervene. Seeking to help required the ability to save someone; otherwise, a rescue attempt would only result in adding oneself to the casualty list. Any rational person would avoid such folly.
“I’ll do it!” The first gray-robed elder yelled out, slamming a palm toward Yi Xiaoru’s chest, intending to kill her instantly, showing no hint of chivalry toward a woman.
Li Muzhan let out an angry snort. Chi— The small stone transformed into a sharp whistle, instantly appearing behind the gray-robed elder. Bang! He flew high into the air, spitting a jet of blood mid-flight.
“Fifth Brother!” the imposing elder cried out, leaping into the air to catch him.
The snow-white-browed elder’s eyes flashed like lightning, and he roared, “What manner of master dares disrupt our affairs?!”
Li Muzhan urged his small boat forward, weaving through the gaps between the other vessels until he drew close. Standing at the bow with hands clasped behind his back, his blue robe fluttering, he spoke: “It is best to show mercy where possible. At your advanced age, the three of you are ganging up on a young girl. I simply cannot stand by and watch!”
“Kid, you’re asking for death!” The imposing elder floated back to his boat, holding the now unconscious Fifth Brother, glaring furiously.
Li Muzhan said blandly, “You men are shaming the rest of mankind. I find it utterly despicable!”
The snow-white-browed elder beckoned him. “Very well, boy, you have guts. We’d love to exchange a few pointers!”
Li Muzhan sneered. “I can’t be bothered to fight people as shameless as you!”
The snow-white-browed elder glanced at Yi Xiaoru, then shook his head. “Indeed, a beauty brings trouble. Boy, do you fancy her and wish to claim the fair maiden?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “That is correct! A beauty like this deserves to be cherished; how could you bear to kill her?”
“Heh, the kid is quite the romantic,” the snow-white-browed elder smiled and shook his head. “But alas, this is a thorny flower; your efforts are wasted. Second Brother, make your move!”
The imposing elder carefully set the unconscious elder down and the two of them lunged toward Li Muzhan. (To be continued)