Li Muzhan shook his head. With two sharp hisses, two streaks of light shot from Li Muzhan’s sleeve, colliding with the two elders.

The two reacted too slowly; these two streaks of light were moving far too quickly. With muffled thuds, the two were sent flying, splashing into the water ten zhang away.

The crowd scrambled backward, and the small boats became chaotic. Not a single person dared to pilot a boat over to rescue them.

They watched as the two slowly surfaced, lying motionless on the water, looking like fish belly-up. After a long moment, seeing they remained still, the people murmured in disbelief, "They're dead just like that?" Li Muzhan turned toward Yi Xiaoru and smiled faintly, “Miss, who exactly are those people?

Oh, you should hurry and tend to your injuries!” “Thank you, Sir!” Yi Xiaoru cupped her hands in return. Li Muzhan waved a hand.

“Miss, are you alright?” “Nothing serious!” Yi Xiaoru shook her head, a slight chill in her demeanor. She had already taken a pill.

Li Muzhan felt a measure of relief; the elixirs of the Myriad Saints Sect must be extraordinary. After taking it, her injuries clearly eased, which drew his admiration and also let him breathe easier—her wounds were not minor.

Seeing Yi Xiaoru's expression, the surrounding people looked over curiously. Logically, Li Muzhan was her savior; why was he acting so distant?

Li Muzhan chuckled. “Hurry and treat your wounds.

I will handle things here!” “There is no need to trouble you, Sir!” Yi Xiaoru replied coldly. Li Muzhan paused, looking over with interest.

“Who exactly are those three…?” Yi Xiaoru said coldly, “It is better for you not to know these things, Sir. You saved me; I cannot bring harm upon you!” Li Muzhan gave a wry smile and shook his head.

“It can’t be some secret of the martial world, can it?” “Indeed.” Yi Xiaoru nodded slowly. Li Muzhan quickly waved his hands.

“Then let it be. I am not interested in such matters.

Since you are fine, I shall take my leave now that my task is done!” “Thank you again, Sir!” Yi Xiaoru dipped her head slightly, her expression cool, showing no inclination to elaborate, as if she held reservations about him. The surrounding crowd cursed inwardly.

This woman was indeed beautiful, but her temperament was too aloof. To treat her savior with such indifference—who would dare save her next time!

Bang! Suddenly, there was a dull thud.

Everyone looked over in shock to see the small boat Yi Xiaoru was on shake violently, then suddenly capsize. Yi Xiaoru gracefully leaped, landing precisely on the bottom of the overturned boat, frowning as she looked down.

Crack! The small boat shattered into splinters.

The two elders leaped out of the water and shot toward her. Li Muzhan shook his head, and two beams of white light shot out again.

This time, the elders were prepared; their forms shimmered in mid-air, and they immediately dove back into the water. Yi Xiaoru floated lightly onto a piece of wood, her feet not touching the water.

Her cheeks were pale, and her breathing grew ragged. Li Muzhan knew her injury had worsened.

These two old men were truly cunning. They had almost fooled him; first feigning death, then sinking into the water for a sneak attack.

They possessed some secret art, which Li Muzhan hadn't detected beforehand. Bang!

Yi Xiaoru launched herself up again, the piece of wood beneath her feet disintegrating into fragments. But the two elders remained hidden, only attacking from beneath the surface.

Yi Xiaoru landed on another piece of wood, taking a few quick breaths. Her full chest rose and fell sharply, an arresting sight, yet Li Muzhan harbored no improper thoughts, staring tensely at her.

“Miss, you should leave first; healing is what matters most!” “No need!” Yi Xiaoru stared fixedly at the water's surface, speaking in a deep voice. Li Muzhan sighed helplessly, and two small pebbles shot out again with a hiss-hiss, burrowing into the water, but there was no reaction.

The small pebbles were incredibly powerful, but once submerged, their speed immediately slowed, and their force diminished. Later generations experimented: even a bullet fired from a gun into a barrel of water might fail to reach the bottom, demonstrating the sheer power of water resistance.

The two elders outside would find it hard to evade the pebbles, but hiding underwater allowed them to avoid them, and both possessed exceptional aquatic skill, moving like fish. Snap!

The wooden plank beneath Yi Xiaoru’s feet shattered again. She suddenly drew her sword and thrust out.

With a clear ding, Yi Xiaoru sank slightly, nearly falling into the water, but managed to use the leverage of her sword to leap again, landing on another small piece of wood. Crack-crack-crack-crack...

A series of crisp sounds followed as the scattered pieces of wood around her turned to splinters—the result of the two elders exerting force from beneath the water. Li Muzhan laughed, shaking his head.

This tactic—scorched earth—was crude, perhaps, but undeniably effective and malicious. Once Yi Xiaoru lost her footing, falling into the water would leave her at their mercy.

Yi Xiaoru held her longsword steady, her bright eyes fixed on the water below, as if spearing fish, unblinking, yet her breathing grew increasingly shallow, her cheeks flushed red as if from a fever. Li Muzhan forced himself to suppress the pang of concern and refrained from intervening, watching to see if she could manage the pair herself.

Crack! With a sharp sound, the wood under Yi Xiaoru’s feet broke once more.

A flash of sword light erupted—Yi Xiaoru’s sword was incredibly fast. Ding-ding-ding...

Yi Xiaoru’s feet dipped into the water, and as she sank, her sword sang out in a continuous, resonant clamor. Li Muzhan shook his head.

It seemed the swordplay of these two elders was also excellent; Yi Xiaoru couldn't gain the upper hand. Moreover, once submerged, she would likely stand no chance at all.

He sighed, then suddenly leaped to Yi Xiaoru’s side, sweeping his left arm around her waist while slamming his right palm down. Bang!

A patch of water surface collapsed; this palm strike materialized emptiness, striking the water as if it were ice. Bang!

The two elders in grey robes were flung out, resembling two fish being tossed from the water. Immediately, two streaks of white light erupted from Li Muzhan’s sleeve, striking them.

Boom! The two were sent flying as if struck by immense logs, tracing a straight line.

Amidst the gasps of the crowd, the two elders soared over their heads and landed a hundred li away. Li Muzhan shifted his form, maintaining his hold on Yi Xiaoru’s slender waist, sweeping an arc in the air before turning back and landing on the boat.

His large hand left her waist, and he lightly pushed off with the bamboo pole. The small boat shot forward like an arrow from a drawn bow, vanishing from sight in moments.

“Oh…” a chorus of inarticulate awe rose from the onlookers. That maneuver was truly domineering, possessing the spirit of a true man!

They began discussing it enthusiastically, ignoring the defeated three elders entirely. As he poled the boat along, Li Muzhan observed Yi Xiaoru’s complexion.

She was pale, but her cheeks were flushed, making her look alluring, yet he knew her injuries had worsened. Li Muzhan put down the pole and frowned.

“Hurry and treat your wounds!” Yi Xiaoru shook her head; her bright eyes were slightly glazed. “I need to go back!” Li Muzhan frowned.

“Go back where?” “Back to the Sect!” Yi Xiaoru’s voice was somewhat dazed. Li Muzhan said, “You are injured now; how can you possibly return?

Attend to your injuries first!” Without waiting for Yi Xiaoru to argue further, he scooped her up by the waist and leaped ashore. The small boat continued to shoot forward like an arrow; if left unchecked, it would drift far away.

The boat’s speed was tremendous; in that brief time, it had covered several li. There was no settlement nearby, only a secluded grove of trees.

Li Muzhan, still holding Yi Xiaoru, floated into the woods, then circled once and reappeared carrying her on his back like a phantom, returning to his small courtyard in the blink of an eye. Xiuxiu was practicing in the rear garden.

Seeing Li Muzhan enter carrying Yi Xiaoru, she started in surprise. “Young Master…” Li Muzhan said, “Xiuxiu, I need to save someone; do not let anyone disturb me!” Xiuxiu nodded vigorously.

In the past few days, she had been learning from Li Muzhan about the martial world, and she already understood some things. Seeing Yi Xiaoru’s dazed state, she realized something was amiss—likely the injury he mentioned.

Li Muzhan entered his room, set Yi Xiaoru down. She was delirious and barely conscious; her once enticing red lips were now dry and bloodless.

Li Muzhan helped her sit upright, sat cross-legged behind her, placed his palm against her back, and began circulating his internal energy to heal her. The moment his internal power entered her body, Li Muzhan was startled.

The palm strikes from the three grey-robed elders were strange, carrying an overbearing aura that seemed intent on incinerating everything, threatening to burn away her internal energy entirely. In that brief moment, her internal organs had suffered damage.

Fortunately, a cool energy was swirling around her viscera, mitigating the injury; otherwise, her life would have been forfeit. The internal power of those three elders was truly sinister.

His own internal energy was pure, and he quickly suppressed the domineering energy. His power had transformed into the essence of the Lotus Heart Palm—a perfect blend of Jing (vital essence) and spirit, wielding formidable might.

After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, he had cleared away the elders’ invasive energy and slowly began nourishing her internal organs, aiding their repair. However, this was painstaking work that could not be accomplished quickly; healing was slow, like drawing silk thread.

The night grew deep. Li Muzhan slowly opened his eyes.

Moonlight illuminated the window, casting the room in a soft, silvery-blue glow. As he opened his eyes, Yi Xiaoru slowly did the same.

Li Muzhan smiled. “How is it?” “Mmm,” Yi Xiaoru gave a slight nod, slid off the couch, and turned to fix her gaze on Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan sat on the couch and smiled. “What made you look so haggard?

This isn't like you!” “Ran into an old fox!” Yi Xiaoru snorted, glancing at him but finding no immediate retort. Since their last encounter, they felt more familiar with each other, allowing for less formality.

Li Muzhan said, “What is the background of those three? Their energy was so overbearing!” Yi Xiaoru hesitated for a moment, then snorted, “From the Divine Sword Sect.” Li Muzhan frowned.

“The Sword Sect you mentioned?” “Not the Sword Sect; the Divine Sword Sect!” Yi Xiaoru shook her head, her expression showing disdain. “How can they compare to the Sword Sect!?” Li Muzhan chuckled.

“It sounds like they branched off from the Sword Sect, and perhaps surpassed them?” “Hmph, they have nothing to do with the Divine Sword Sect!” Yi Xiaoru sneered. Li Muzhan looked puzzled.

“Are they not from your Myriad Saints Sect?” “They are affiliated with the Myriad Saints Sect, but have no connection to the Sword Sect!” Yi Xiaoru shook her head, frowning. “Stop asking!” Li Muzhan smiled.

“I’m just curious why they call themselves the Divine Sword Sect when I didn't see any swords in their hands. Do they practice the art of having no sword is better than having a sword?!” “Hmph, their swords are not real swords!” Yi Xiaoru blushed slightly, playfully chastising him.

“Just stop asking!” Li Muzhan paused, then suddenly laughed and shook his head. “Could it be they practice the Art of Sublimation and Assimilation?!” “How did you know?!” Yi Xiaoru’s expression shifted slightly, and her cheeks reddened further.

They were both in a state where even the faintest moonlight revealed the slightest detail; they could see the individual hairs on each other's faces clearly. Li Muzhan smiled, shaking his head.

“I heard there is such a marvelous method in this world—the art of forging a Divine Sword, correct?” Yi Xiaoru said coldly, “It sounds fine, but it ultimately harms others without benefiting oneself!” Her look of disdain was mixed with disgust. “They have harmed countless women; they deserve to die!” Li Muzhan asked, “Did you confront them merely because you abhor their methods?” Yi Xiaoru shook her head.

“The Divine Sword Sect betrayed the main Sect during the Rebellion of the Nine Sects, and the Sect has been pursuing them ever since. I finally caught sight of them this time!” Li Muzhan understood immediately and sighed.

“You were alone?” Yi Xiaoru nodded. “This matter was highly secret; if too many people were involved, they would have noticed!” Li Muzhan said, “You were alone, and they still noticed!

What do you plan to do now?” “Return to the Sect!” Yi Xiaoru replied. Li Muzhan nodded.

“That is right; you should report it. Simply confirming their identity is a great achievement.

You don't need to confront them directly. I imagine the Divine Sword Sect, being a group that dared to break away from the Myriad Saints Sect, must possess astonishing strength!” “What rank were those three within the Divine Sword Sect?” “First-rank masters,” Yi Xiaoru said.

“The Divine Sword Sect has been hunted by the main Sect for years, their talent pool depleted. They won't last much longer.” Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow.

“Not the top tier?” Yi Xiaoru replied, “As far as I know, they are three of the Nine Protectors of their sect.” Li Muzhan frowned. “Who is above the Nine Protectors?” Yi Xiaoru said, “Above the Nine Protectors are the Four Directional Envoys, then the two Vice-Sect Masters, and finally the Sect Master.” Li Muzhan smiled wryly and shook his head.

“Are their martial arts stronger than the Nine Protectors?” “Yes,” Yi Xiaoru nodded. Li Muzhan studied her for a moment and shook his head.

“I truly admire your courage!” “I didn't expect them to be so alert!” Yi Xiaoru frowned, showing frustration. “If they can’t kill me, they will leave immediately, and chasing them will become difficult!” Li Muzhan said, “Your injuries are healed now; hurry back!” Yi Xiaoru glanced at him, nodded, turned, pushed open the room door, and walked straight out, leaving the room without looking back.

Xiuxiu had been standing outside. Although the moonlight was soft, she clearly saw Yi Xiaoru’s features.

After a moment’s shock, she became alert, glaring at her guardedly. Yi Xiaoru spared Xiuxiu a faint glance but kept moving.

She merely dipped her head slightly as a greeting and floated away. The sound of the courtyard gate latching signaled her departure.

“Young Master, who was that?” Xiuxiu asked upon entering the room, deftly lighting a lantern. The room instantly flooded with bright light, as brilliant as daylight but imbued with greater warmth.

Li Muzhan sat on the couch in contemplation, shaking his head. “Her identity is classified; you don't need to know!” “Yes, Young Master.” Xiuxiu felt a little wronged but nodded obediently.

“Are you hungry, Young Master? I cooked some porridge for you to fill your stomach first; I’ll stir-fry dishes right away!” Li Muzhan nodded.

“Mmm, go ahead.” Xiuxiu quickly brought the porridge over and handed it to Li Muzhan. The aroma filled the air, and Li Muzhan’s stomach let out a soft rumble.

He gave Xiuxiu an approving smile and drank the porridge in one go. Xiuxiu gracefully went out.

Li Muzhan sat on the couch, lost in thought about the Divine Sword Sect. When Xiuxiu returned with the cooked dishes to call Li Muzhan for dinner, Li Muzhan suddenly stood up from the couch, stretched, and his joints issued a series of sharp wupa sounds, like beans popping.

“Xiuxiu, I need to go out for a moment!” Li Muzhan said. Xiuxiu quickly replied, “Young Master, the food is ready; won't you eat a little first?” Li Muzhan shook his head.

“It might be too late if I wait. You eat first.” Without waiting for Xiuxiu to say more, his figure flickered and vanished.

Xiuxiu stared at the direction he left, biting her lower lip: Is the Young Master going after that beautiful woman?! Her mood instantly turned heavy, and she let out a long, faint sigh.