Li Muzhan shook his head. "This is definitely a trap. If they go in, they'll likely face grave danger. My advice is to send someone to rescue them immediately!"

Yi Xiaoru snorted. "If Elder Chu and the others are no match for them, then there's no point in sending anyone!"

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment. "Alright then, let's go to my place!"

"Go to your place?!" Yi Xiaoru paused, shaking her head.

The middle-aged beautiful woman smiled faintly. "Mr. He, what do you mean by that?"

Li Muzhan explained, "This is just in case. If Elder Chu and the others are truly in trouble, this place will become dangerous too. It's better to take refuge at my residence!"

"That..." The middle-aged woman paused, then smiled and shook her head. "No need. We are very discreet; no one should be able to find us here."

Li Muzhan chuckled. "The fact that they could set such a trap shows their establishment here is quite solid. Given your sharp senses, if the Divine Sword Sect has learned its lesson, their intelligence network shouldn't be lacking either!"

"Hmm..., that makes sense!" Yi Xiaoru deliberated, slowly nodding, then looked up at the middle-aged woman. "Senior Sister Zhu, let's go to their place!"

"What if Elder Chu and the others return..." The middle-aged woman looked troubled.

Yi Xiaoru dismissed the concern with a pout of disdain. "We'll just say we went out to gather intelligence. What can they do about it!"

The middle-aged woman knew this sentiment was aimed at Yin Zhaojiang. Her junior sister harbored a strong aversion to Yin Zhaojiang, despite him being the celebrated prodigy of the Ten Thousand Saints Sect. She couldn't fathom why.

Yin Zhaojiang, touted as the foremost disciple of the Ten Thousand Saints Sect and the top master among the younger generation, was genuinely talented, not just boastful. Many female disciples in the sect were infatuated with him, yet her junior sister remained completely unimpressed.

As her senior sister, the woman was secretly delighted by this, thinking if her junior sister could marry Yin Zhaojiang, the Hidden Sect's status would soar, and they wouldn't be so slighted.

However, their Master and Senior Sister Jiang held opposing views and strongly objected to such a path. They possessed an unyielding integrity, unwilling to elevate the Hidden Sect's standing in such a manner.

The Hidden Sect had managed to survive among the Nine Sects over the years purely due to the Master's support. Once she was gone, the three sisters together could not uphold the sect's legacy; the Hidden Sect would be swallowed up, bringing shame upon their ancestors.

Yet, their sisterly bond was profound. Seeing her junior sister's firm opposition, the middle-aged woman had set aside those thoughts, only to feel a stirring of interest again upon Li Muzhan's appearance.

"Let's go," Li Muzhan prompted.

The middle-aged woman, reflecting on this, nodded decisively. "Very well, we'll visit Mr. He's residence then!"

"Bang!" With a dull thud, the main door was suddenly slammed open. The expressions of the middle-aged woman and Yi Xiaoru changed drastically as they swiftly floated out.

———— Li Muzhan followed close behind, only to see an elder sitting cross-legged on the carpet in the center of the main hall, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth and his face pale. He spoke in a deep voice, "Go quickly!"

"Elder Hua, what happened?" the middle-aged woman rushed over.

The elder cursed bitterly. "Damn it, there was an ambush! We fell right into their trap!"

"An ambush, really?!" The middle-aged woman frowned. "Is Elder Chu alright?"

"They are fine," the elder shook his head. "As soon as we saw things weren't right, we fled immediately. Zhaojiang took some injuries. Elder Chu and the others covered the retreat and sent me to warn you!"

"An ambush indeed..." The middle-aged woman sighed, shaking her head. "Junior Sister was right all along!... Junior Sister, let's leave quickly!"

Yi Xiaoru glanced towards the outside of the hall, then shook her head. "It's too late!"

The middle-aged woman looked up too, and her face changed. She snorted. "They certainly hold us in high regard!... Elder Hua, you should leave first!"

Elder Hua gave a wry smile. "Perhaps I've caused trouble by coming here; if I hadn't rushed over, they wouldn't have tracked us here!... You three should leave first; I will hold them off!"

Yi Xiaoru quickly interjected. "Elder Hua, you are injured; you must leave now before your injuries worsen and you can't move. We can manage somehow!"

Elder Hua shook his head firmly. "You are women; you cannot stay behind!... Little Yue, Little Ru, stop the nonsense and go quickly!"

Saying this, he staggered to his feet, planting himself at the entrance of the hall, glaring fiercely at the dozen or so middle-aged men in green shirts slowly descending.

These dozen men in green shirts maintained expressions of serene calm, as if they were out for a pleasant stroll rather than an assassination, their manner gentle and seemingly welcoming.

The middle-aged woman and Yi Xiaoru felt a chill deep in their hearts. They knew the methods of the Divine Sword Sect well: the calmer these men appeared, the thicker their killing intent.

The leading middle-aged man was handsome and elegant; he must have been a great beauty in his youth, and even now possessed a charm capable of captivating women.

The handsome man smiled, cupped his fists, and said, "Elder Hua, Junior Sister Yi, Senior Sister Zhu, long time no see!"

"Sun, you have guts!" Elder Hua said sternly.

The handsome man chuckled. "Elder Hua, that's not right. I'm merely visiting Senior Sister Zhu and Junior Sister Yi. How is that considered audacious!"

Elder Hua said gravely, "If you dare harm them, Old Madam Qi won't let you off! She will hunt you down across a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers; you cannot escape!"

"That's not necessarily true!" The handsome man shook his head, smiling faintly. "How is Martial Aunt Qi's health these days?"

Elder Hua cursed fiercely. "She's better than ever, strong enough to kill you!"

"I heard Martial Aunt Qi's health is not as robust as before," the handsome man shook his head and smiled. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to boss Senior Sister Zhu and Junior Sister Yi around, would you!"

Elder Hua's face stiffened, and he let out a cold snort.

———— What he said was true. Old Madam Qi was fiercely protective of her disciples. She usually remained hidden on the mountain, strictly forbidding her disciples from descending or allowing the other eight sects to bother them.

Because two of her disciples had been murdered, Old Madam Qi was furious at the indifference of the other eight sects, yet she felt powerless to act, choosing only to refuse assistance and offer no help.

"Sun Chenghe, bring it on!" the middle-aged woman said lightly. "I wonder how much your skills have improved; will you still be left crawling on the ground looking for your teeth like last time!"

"Heh heh, Senior Sister Zhu, I promise to satisfy you!" The handsome middle-aged man, Sun Chenghe, chuckled, his gaze sweeping over her voluptuous figure.

The middle-aged woman showed no fear, walking to Elder Hua's side. She spoke calmly, "You brought so many people; are you feeling insecure?"

Sun Chenghe smiled faintly and shook his head. "I didn't expect Elder Chu and the others to abandon you. I'm truly disappointed!... It seems Martial Aunt Qi was right; we shouldn't have exerted ourselves for them. Look, they abandon you when it matters most. In my opinion, the Nine Sects should have broken up long ago. What's the point of being united in name only!"

"Shut your mouth, brat!" Elder Hua roared, pointing at him. "What do you know, you mere upstart? Get lost!"

Sun Chenghe became even more amicable, shaking his head with a smile. "Heh heh, Elder Hua, why get angry? Am I wrong in what I say?... Alas, if it were me, I would never do such a thing—fleeing and abandoning two blossoming young ladies. Truly not a man!"

"It's all your fault!" Elder Hua roared. "You injured Zhaojiang! The Sect Master will certainly be enraged. Your Divine Sword Sect is truly finished this time!"

Sun Chenghe waved his hand carelessly. "When hasn't the Sect Master been furious? And yet, we are still living freely, aren't we?"

"The Sect Master is too lazy to bother with you, which is why he only sent a few of us. If the Sect Master truly loses his temper and acts himself, do you think you can withstand it?" Elder Hua glanced at him dismissively.

Sun Chenghe smiled. "Tang Tianyu's prowess is rumored to be godlike. I’d truly like to see just how remarkable he is!"

Elder Hua sneered and shook his head. "You truly do not know the immensity of heaven and earth. How could the surname Sun have such an incompetent son!"

"Shut up!" Sun Chenghe frowned, his smile vanishing, glaring coldly. "It's fine if you insult me, but if you speak ill of my father, don't blame me for turning ruthless!"

"Oh, quite the filial son!" Elder Hua sneered. "If you had even a fraction of your father's ability, you wouldn't resort to bullying women!"

"Yes, yes, my father doesn't bully women," Sun Chenghe smiled again, shaking his head. "And neither do I. So, I'll just kill you instead!"

He turned his head. "Senior Sister Zhu, Junior Sister Yi, don't worry. I, Sun, won't lay a single finger on you. Just surrender quietly, and I guarantee your safety. Joining our Divine Sword Sect is a thousand times better than remaining in your stifling Hidden Sect!"

"Silence!" the middle-aged woman said coldly.

———— "Senior Sister Zhu, am I wrong in what I say?" Sun Chenghe laughed. "If anything happens to Martial Aunt Qi, can your Hidden Sect withstand all those covetous vultures?! Hmph, the Nine Sects are full of scheming and vying for power—it's truly disheartening. You might as well join our Divine Sword Sect. Our disciples are united, and no one can bully us. How about it?!"

"Shut up," the middle-aged woman sneered. "Join you, become your cauldrons? You certainly dream beautifully!"

"Heh heh, Senior Sister Zhu misunderstands. Those are just slanderous rumors spread by the Nine Sects," Sun Chenghe smiled. "Our Divine Sword Sect has female disciples too; we don't just take cauldrons!"

"Give it up. Even if you weave tales of heaven and earth, we won't surrender meekly. A fight is inevitable!" The middle-aged woman waved her hand lightly. "Sun Chenghe, do you dare fight me?"

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Sun Chenghe laughed. "However, fighting a woman is beneath my status!"

The middle-aged woman laughed, shaking her head. "That's a convenient excuse!... Just say it: do you dare to face me in a one-on-one duel?"

"Sigh..." Sun Chenghe shook his head, appearing somewhat helpless, and sighed. "Since Senior Sister Zhu insists, I suppose I must request a few pointers!"

"Come then!" The middle-aged woman beckoned.

"Senior Sister Zhu, I know your plan—you want to capture the leader first, correct?" Sun Chenghe chuckled. "Let's step outside to fight!"

The middle-aged woman said coldly, "If we go outside, what if you all swarm us?"

"Senior Sister Zhu, you underestimate us too much!" Sun Chenghe called out with feigned grievance. "If I say a duel, it's a duel; I would never do such a thing!"

"Fine, I'll trust you this once!" The middle-aged woman snorted.

Yi Xiaoru quickly tugged her arm and whispered, "Senior Sister, how can you trust his words? This man is a scoundrel; you can't take his word seriously!"

The middle-aged woman whispered back, "Then what should we do? This is the situation now. Blocked here, a fight is inevitable sooner or later. I'll try!"

Yi Xiaoru scanned the surroundings, not seeing Li Muzhan. Based on her understanding of him, he wouldn't have fled but would be figuring out a solution.

She whispered, "Let's stall a bit longer and see what Mr. He plans to do!"

"He—?" The middle-aged woman frowned. "He probably fled long ago!"

Yi Xiaoru shook her head. "No, he will definitely think of a way. We need time right now!"

The middle-aged woman sighed and smiled wryly. "Sun Chenghe is cunning; he won't give us time!"

"Surname Sun, I'll fight you!" Yi Xiaoru said coldly.

———— The middle-aged woman quickly pulled her back, but Yi Xiaoru persisted. "Surname Sun, do you have the courage to fight me?"

"Junior Sister Yi, you are no match for me," Sun Chenghe shook his head. "Please let Senior Sister Zhu make the move. If you still aren't convinced, I'll fight you after I capture Senior Sister Zhu!"

"What arrogance!" Yi Xiaoru sneered. "With your paltry three-legged cat skills, you think you can defeat Senior Sister? That's a joke!"

"Heh heh, whether it's a joke or not, we'll know after a try!" Sun Chenghe smiled faintly. "Senior Sister Zhu, Junior Sister Yi, stop stalling. Elder Chu and the others aren't coming back; we have people dealing with them!"

Yi Xiaoru glared at him coldly, then remained silent.

The middle-aged woman slowly stepped out of the main hall, standing opposite Sun Chenghe. "Come then!"

Sun Chenghe smiled faintly, examining her ample figure, and praised, "It's been a few years, but Senior Sister Zhu's charm surpasses the past. It truly makes a young man lose his composure!"

Elder Hua said sternly, "Young man surnamed Sun, you are also a person of status. You are disgracing your father; shut your filthy mouth!"

Sun Chenghe shot a sideways glance at Elder Hua. "Martial Uncle Sun, is the injury serious? Don't pass out before we even fight; that would be no fun!"

Elder Hua sneered, "When you pass out, I won't pass out. Don't worry about that!"

"Very good, I hope so!" Sun Chenghe had an excellent temper and smiled gently. "Senior Sister Zhu, please make your move. My progress these past few years has been considerable; Senior Sister must be careful!"

"Too much nonsense!" The middle-aged woman said coldly, pushing out her jade palm.

Sun Chenghe casually pushed out a palm, meeting force with force, without resorting to tricks.

"Bang!" The middle-aged woman was immediately forced back three steps, her expression shifting slightly as she stared intently at him.

Sun Chenghe smiled faintly. "How is it, Senior Sister Zhu? My progress is quite good, isn't it?"

"Hmph, you must have ruined quite a few girls these past few years!" the middle-aged woman said coldly. "Your Divine Sword Sect deserves to die ten thousand times over!"

"Senior Sister Zhu, you misunderstood. We haven't ruined any girls!" Sun Chenghe shook his head. "The incident with Senior Sister Feng back then was truly an accident!"

"Silence!" The middle-aged woman's face changed drastically, growing grim as she glared at him. "Say one more word, and we will perish together!"

"Alright, alright, I won't say it then," Sun Chenghe nodded helplessly. "People from the Nine Sects have always slandered us. Back then, we defected from the Nine Sects because they coveted our cultivation methods, believing ours were superior. Your Hidden Sect should understand this feeling!"

"Stop with your sophistry! Take this palm strike!" the middle-aged woman sneered, striking down with her palm.

"Bang!" She was once again repelled three steps.

She was inwardly shocked. She hadn't expected Sun Chenghe's progress to be this immense. Compared to before, it was like comparing heaven and earth; he was like a different person.

Although the Divine Sword Sect's cultivation methods were perverse, their power was astonishing. Sun Chenghe's aptitude was mediocre; in any other sect, he would have been an unremarkable individual, unable to stand out.

Now, he was completely different, already a formidable master, perhaps only slightly inferior to Yin Zhaojiang. This Divine Sword Sect technique was truly too heretical!

"Heh heh..." A hearty laugh suddenly echoed as Li Muzhan drifted in, hands behind his back. He suddenly passed through the dozen or so men and appeared beside the middle-aged woman. (To be continued.)