The carriage rumbled on, passing a hundred paces before two young men in purple robes suddenly appeared, standing side by side in the path, staring coldly at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan reined in the two horses, sat on the carriage shafts, cupped his hands, and said, "Gentlemen, I wonder what guidance you seek? Kindly make way; we are in a hurry!"

The two youths glared at him coldly: "Do you know where this is?"

Li Muzhan shook his head: "Pray, enlighten me!"

The leaner youth stated coldly, "This is the territory of our Wansheng Sect. Outsiders are forbidden entry. Who are you?!"

Yi Xiaoru poked her head out from the carriage and snapped, "Junior Brother Cheng, what is going on?!"

"Se-Senior Sister Yi?!" The two youths froze, their eyes wide.

Zhu Chuyun also peered out: "It's these little punks. No wonder! What are you two doing here!"

"Senior Sister Zhu!" Both rushed forward to pay their respects, their cold expressions instantly melting into wide smiles: "Haha, haha! Senior Sisters, you're back!"

"Why are you two here?" Zhu Chuyun asked, frowning.

The two glanced at Yi Xiaoru, slightly intimidated by her radiance, and shyly lowered their heads: "Senior Sister Zhu, Senior Sister Yi, we are stationed here on orders."

"Guarding against what?" Zhu Chuyun inquired.

The two replied, "Guarding against people from the Divine Sword Sect!"

Zhu Chuyun pondered for a moment, then asked, "Has Elder Hua returned?"

"Yes, Elder Hua was severely wounded, but thankfully, he was brought back!" they replied quickly, adding indignantly, "The Divine Sword Sect is too arrogant!"

Zhu Chuyun waved her delicate hand and turned to Li Muzhan: "Mr. He. Let's go!"

Li Muzhan nodded to the two youths, snapped the whip, and the carriage continued forward.

The two rushed to say, "Senior Sister Zhu, Senior Sister Yi, let us lead the way ahead!"

Zhu Chuyun pursed her lips into a charming smile: "You two little pups, stop trying to curry favor with Junior Sister Yi, and get back to your duties!"

The two hastily shook their heads: "Senior Sister Zhu, even if the Divine Sword Sect is wildly arrogant, they wouldn't dare cause trouble here!"

Zhu Chuyun said testily, "The people from the Divine Sword Sect are indeed incredibly arrogant and capable of anything. You two should be more careful!"

"Hehe, yes, yes, we will certainly be careful!" The two laughed carelessly, not taking her words seriously.

Zhu Chuyun didn't seem to take her own warning to heart either. Seeing their demeanor, she merely glanced at them but didn't speak to reprimand them. Just then, Li Muzhan frowned: "They really followed us!"

"Hmm—?" Zhu Chuyun turned to look.

"Bang!" Three figures in black suddenly burst forth, kicking up dirt as they shot toward Yi Xiaoru and Zhu Chuyun.

"How dare you!" The two purple-robed youths roared, leaping forward to defend, their eyes wide with desperate wish that they could fly—the three attackers were already lunging for the carriage. They were a step too far; it was too late to intercept!

— "Slap!" A crisp sound echoed—the whip cracking through the air. The figures in black instantly froze mid-motion, then retreated violently as if fleeing a venomous snake. In a flash, they vanished deep into the woods.

The two purple-robed youths rushed to the carriage, still shaken, and anxiously asked, "Senior Sister Yi, Senior Sister Zhu, are you alright?"

"They really are from the Divine Sword Sect!" Zhu Chuyun's face darkened, and she frowned: "Junior Sister, we all underestimated them!"

"Mm," Yi Xiaoru nodded lightly, glancing at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan sat on the carriage shafts as if he hadn't been the one who just acted.

Zhu Chuyun smiled: "Mr. He, where did you learn such masterful whip technique? It's superb!"

Li Muzhan shook his head: "If my whip skills were truly superb, I would have kept them here. Unfortunately, they were just shy of that, so it had to suffice!"

"Have they been following us the whole way?" Zhu Chuyun asked.

Li Muzhan smiled: "They were likely waiting outside. Now that we've seen them, we should hurry along before anyone else gets ideas!"

"That makes sense!" Zhu Chuyun nodded.

The two purple-robed youths stared at Li Muzhan, exchanging a glance that revealed their wariness and caution.

The slender youth smiled: "Senior Sister Zhu, may we ask who this senior is...?"

Li Muzhan appeared unassuming; he looked like a middle-aged man, and though his aura was graceful and flowing, he still carried the weight of middle age, enhanced by a weathered quality that commanded respect.

Zhu Chuyun chuckled: "You two little pups will be disappointed. This is Mr. He Zudao, your Senior Sister Yi's beloved!"

"Se-Senior Sister—!" Yi Xiaoru pouted, blushing.

"What are you afraid of!" Zhu Chuyun lightly laughed and shook her head: "They'll find out sooner or later anyway, better sooner than later!"

"Senior Sister Yi...?" The two stared at Yi Xiaoru, unwilling to let it go.

Yi Xiaoru chastised them: "Are you too idle? Get back to your posts immediately!"

The two finally gave up hope. Seeing the faint spring in her eyebrows, it felt like a knife twisting in their hearts; reluctance and jealousy surged up.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly: "Gentlemen, we still need to continue..."

"Hmph, please do!" The two snorted, grudgingly making way.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, driving the carriage forward again. Zhu Chuyun chuckled softly: "Mr. He, you must be careful. Plucking such a delicate flower as Junior Sister Yi will surely attract much hatred!"

Li Muzhan smiled: "A beauty's curse; I am prepared."

"Who is the curse!" Yi Xiaoru chastised him.

Li Muzhan let out a few chuckles, and the carriage passed through the woods, arriving before a massive mountain. The towering peak seemed like a straight sword piercing the sky, a breathtaking sight.

— The carriage stopped. The two women alighted, tilting their heads back to gaze at the peak, letting out a long sigh of relief. The worry they had carried throughout the journey finally lifted.

"Mr. He, this is our stronghold!" Zhu Chuyun said with a smile.

Li Muzhan smiled: "It is a fine location, easily defended and difficult to attack. Furthermore, ordinary people can't reach it—truly an immortal mountain!"

"Then let's ascend," Zhu Chuyun suggested brightly.

Li Muzhan extended his hand with a smile: "Please—!"

Li Muzhan released the two horses to graze, then, along with the two women, utilized their qinggong, floating gracefully upward. In moments, they reached the summit.

The mountaintop was noticeably cooler than below, the air crisp and pleasant. They soon arrived before a small wooden cabin, where they saw a beautiful middle-aged woman sitting in front of it.

This woman wore a yellow gown, sitting quietly in a grand armchair. Her expression was serene as she gazed at the sky, her eyes slightly narrowed as if she had drifted to sleep.

She was beautifully elegant and composed, appearing about the same age as Zhu Chuyun. Li Muzhan assumed she was another of Yi Xiaoru's senior sisters, but the two women approached respectfully and called out, "Master."

Li Muzhan looked over in surprise. It was their master, Gao Jingxuan!

"Mm, you've returned?" The middle-aged woman nodded lightly, slowly opening her eyes: "I heard you were nearly wiped out by the Divine Sword Sect?"

"Yes, Master. We were truly in danger this time!" Zhu Chuyun said sweetly: "It was fortunate we encountered a noble person who turned peril into safety!"

"What noble person?" Gao Jingxuan asked faintly. Suddenly, her bright eyes sharpened, focusing intensely on Yi Xiaoru.

Yi Xiaoru felt uneasy under her piercing gaze and quickly said, "Master...?"

"Girl, have you... been defiled?!" Gao Jingxuan asked coldly.

Yi Xiaoru’s jade-like face immediately flushed red, and she lowered her head. Zhu Chuyun quickly interjected: "Master, it's a long story, let me explain!"

"Mm, later," Gao Jingxuan nodded faintly, her expression softening. She then looked toward Li Muzhan.

Zhu Chuyun said: "Master, this is Mr. He Zudao, our savior!"

Gao Jingxuan stood up, cupped her hands, and smiled: "Mr. He, please forgive my lack of courtesy!"

Li Muzhan quickly returned the bow: "Sect Leader, I am unworthy of such praise. Just call me Zudao!"

"You are my junior disciple's benefactor; how can I address you so casually!" Gao Jingxuan smiled, shaking her head: "May I ask which lineage Mr. He follows?"

Li Muzhan smiled: "I am ashamed to say, I am not truly a martial artist. My parents are both gone, leaving me some modest means. I pursue no trade, living a carefree, wandering life. I enjoy reading, and inadvertently, I came across a manual. I practiced what it described, and unexpectedly, I managed to learn a few things!"

Gao Jingxuan looked surprised: "Mr. He, are you jesting?"

Li Muzhan laughed: "How would I dare deceive a senior like you!"

— Gao Jingxuan appraised him from head to toe, then smiled sweetly: "I didn't expect Mr. He to be such a prodigious talent. To teach yourself from a manual and reach this level is almost miraculous!"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head: "Actually, it's nothing much. I have a slight understanding of medicine. Medicine and martial arts are inherently connected, so once you grasp one principle, the other follows easily. Learning wasn't difficult."

"I see!" Gao Jingxuan's delicate eyebrows lifted slightly, and she slowly nodded.

That made sense. For a scholar to master skills from a manual on his own was nearly impossible, but understanding medicine changed things. Martial arts manuals involved meridians; without any foundational knowledge, they were like reading celestial script. A practitioner of medicine, however, understood the body far better than the average person, perhaps even better than some martial artists, allowing them to cultivate with twice the result for half the effort.

But even with medical knowledge, reaching this realm through self-practice was arduous. Even with the guidance of a renowned master, one might not achieve his level of cultivation. It seemed the core mental cultivation he possessed was profoundly advanced!

Li Muzhan smiled: "I see the Sect Leader still carries an old injury."

"It's an old wound; no need to concern yourself," Gao Jingxuan waved her hand, smiling faintly: "Come, let's go inside for tea!"

Zhu Chuyun asked: "Master, where is Junior Sister Cheng?"

"She went down the mountain on an errand," Gao Jingxuan replied, slowly turning and entering the house.

The wooden cabin was elegantly simple; calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, lending an air of ancient refinement and scholarly charm.

After everyone was seated, Yi Xiaoru personally brewed tea and served it. Gao Jingxuan gestured to the chair opposite her: "Xiao Ru, tell me everything, from start to finish!"

"Yes, Master!" Yi Xiaoru replied, sitting down and beginning her narrative.

She was articulate and recounted the events clearly. Gao Jingxuan's face grew grim as she listened, letting out cold sneers repeatedly.

Li Muzhan then noticed that while Gao Jingxuan was gentle and composed when smiling, when her expression soured, she became imposing and awe-inspiring, radiating a fierce aura that made it difficult to meet her gaze. Truly the imposing presence of a Sect Leader; even as a woman, she was formidable.

When Yi Xiaoru finished, Gao Jingxuan sneered: "Hmph, that fellow surnamed Chu is truly despicable!"

Yi Xiaoru said: "Master, Elder Chu was powerless to change things."

"At least he had some conscience and didn't let you go with them!" Gao Jingxuan scoffed: "If you had gone with him, you'd already be reincarnated by now!"

Yi Xiaoru nodded: "Elder Chu had to protect Yin Zhaojiang and couldn't concern himself with me."

"It's good that you understand!" Gao Jingxuan huffed: "You must remember to never take risks. Our lives are far more precious than theirs!"

"Master!" Zhu Chuyun glanced at Li Muzhan and said softly: "Always acting this way is too small-minded. You won't have many friends."

"Hmph, you are simply too naive. Don't count on them!" Gao Jingxuan replied sharply.

— Li Muzhan nodded: "Senior Sister Zhu, the Sect Leader is right. They harbor ill intentions!"

Gao Jingxuan smiled: "Mr. He is an understanding person. You two are still too green; you think too highly of people!"

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile: "The Sect Leader flatters me. I have witnessed the myriad aspects of the human world and have some insight into people's hearts."

Gao Jingxuan sighed: "The worst thing is people. They are consumed by greed. When profit is on the line, they will never speak of loyalty or affection!"

Seeing the two of them looking like kindred spirits, Zhu Chuyun and Yi Xiaoru exchanged glances and shook their heads repeatedly.

"All right, Xiao Yun, tell me what happened with Xiao Ru," Gao Jingxuan commanded.

Zhu Chuyun pursed her lips and smiled, while Yi Xiaoru blushed. Li Muzhan touched his nose and offered an awkward smile, feeling somewhat embarrassed himself.

Gao Jingxuan had already perceived Li Muzhan's involvement; she cast a subtle glance at him before looking at Zhu Chuyun, who then began recounting the events as they unfolded. Yi Xiaoru herself hadn't been fully aware of the initial situation, having been too captivated by what happened afterward, and was only now remembering to ask.

Gao Jingxuan listened with a frown, slowly shaking her head: "The Divine Sword Sect, hmph hmph. They are desperate dogs biting wildly. They are truly at their end!"

"Master, I thought they were formidable!" Zhu Chuyun sighed: "Much stronger than I imagined!"

"They won't last," Gao Jingxuan waved her hand: "It's just a final frenzy; it won't last long!"

"We can't defeat them!" Zhu Chuyun grumbled: "Otherwise..."

Gao Jingxuan snorted: "We don't need to act. Tang Tianyu will handle it himself."

She looked quietly at Li Muzhan and smiled: "Thank you, Mr. He!"

Li Muzhan quickly waved his hands, smiling wryly: "I am content just that the Sect Leader isn't scolding me. I truly don't deserve the praise!"

"If Mr. He has done nothing wrong, why be so modest!" Gao Jingxuan said with a half-smile.

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed: "Sect Leader, to speak plainly, I was very hesitant at the time—whether or not to save them. I couldn't just watch Miss Yi lose her life, but I also worried that saving her might bring not gratitude, but enmity instead!"

"Mr. He, regardless, you saved her life," Gao Jingxuan waved her hand faintly: "As for a woman's virtue and purity—those are things cooked up by men; they shouldn't be taken seriously!"

Li Muzhan was momentarily stunned, showing a bitter smile; this was a difficult line to respond to.

Gao Jingxuan turned to observe Yi Xiaoru briefly, then looked back at Li Muzhan, smiling sweetly: "Now that things have reached this point, what does Mr. He plan to do?"

Li Muzhan said: "If the Sect Leader does not despise me, I wish to marry Miss Yi!"

"Impossible," Gao Jingxuan shook her head.

"Master!" Zhu Chuyun immediately called out: "They share deep feelings; please grant them their wish!"

— "Girl, be quiet!" Gao Jingxuan waved her hand, giving Zhu Chuyun a sharp look, then turned to Li Muzhan: "My Hidden Sect only has these three girls left; I cannot marry them off!"

Li Muzhan smiled wryly: "Sect Leader, do you mean they can never marry?"

"Why should they marry!" Gao Jingxuan scoffed: "Once married, they'll be bullied by your men!" No man is any good, including you, Mr. He!"

Li Muzhan rubbed the bridge of his nose and smiled helplessly.

Gao Jingxuan snorted: "If a beautiful young woman suddenly fancied you and threw herself at you now, could you resist?"

Li Muzhan paused, silent; this was also hard to answer.

"You couldn't resist!" Gao Jingxuan shook her head: "At least you didn't lie. You men are all like that; you can't control yourselves. How can anyone trust you!"

Li Muzhan offered a bitter smile: "When the Sect Leader puts it this way, I truly have no rebuttal!"

"Master!" Zhu Chuyun quickly called out.

Gao Jingxuan glared at her, and Zhu Chuyun could only fall silent helplessly. Yi Xiaoru kept her head down, mute.

Li Muzhan sighed: "If the Sect Leader thinks like this, will Miss Yi and the others never marry for their entire lives?"

"What's so good about marriage!?" Gao Jingxuan huffed: "I think it’s better if they don't marry!"

Li Muzhan said: "But what about what Miss Yi and I..."

"I don't wish to discuss the matter between you two further. Consider it a beautiful dream for now. Mr. He, since you've come, please stay a few days and let Xiao Ru fulfill her duties as a host!" Gao Jingxuan turned: "Xiao Ru, take good care of Mr. He; do not neglect him!"

"...Yes, Master," Yi Xiaoru replied softly.

Zhu Chuyun tried to speak again, but Gao Jingxuan had already risen and floated out of the cabin, departing swiftly.

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head.

Yi Xiaoru turned to give him a sharp glance and pouted: "And you can still smile!"

Li Muzhan stroked his chin, smiling faintly: "Your Master truly is loath to part with you!"

Yi Xiaoru looked in the direction Gao Jingxuan had gone and sighed: "Once Master makes a decision, she never changes it. Mr. He, we..."

Li Muzhan smiled: "There is always a solution to every problem; don't worry, I will find a way!"

Yi Xiaoru shook her head and sighed: "You are too optimistic because you don't understand Master."

Zhu Chuyun frowned and sighed: "Yes, Mr. He, you think this way because you don't know Master. I fear for you two... alas!"

Li Muzhan said: "Your Master's injury is quite severe; what happened?"

"It was a lingering affliction from a clash with someone, and it hasn't healed," Zhu Chuyun explained.

Li Muzhan frowned: "Who did she clash with?"

"Someone from the Divine Sword Sect," Zhu Chuyun confirmed.

Yi Xiaoru looked surprised: "It really was someone from the Divine Sword Sect?!"

Zhu Chuyun said: "Master went to seek revenge for Senior Sister against the Divine Sword Sect back then, and ended up fighting Zhao Yuanming. Zhao Yuanming was superior."

Yi Xiaoru frowned: "Zhao Yuanming is that formidable?"

"Yes, the people from the Divine Sword Sect are indeed difficult to deal with," Zhu Chuyun said: "I honestly didn't want to get involved in this mess, but Junior Sister, you insisted on being pulled in!"

Yi Xiaoru looked embarrassed: "I wanted to avenge Senior Sister, but with our abilities, it was impossible, so I could only seek external help, which is why I spoke with Sect Leader Tang."

"You, you always make things too simple!" Zhu Chuyun shook her head: "This time, the situation is dire, you two must be prepared."

Yi Xiaoru frowned: "Master doesn't know what's going on either!"

"Master has always favored you since you were little; she's just afraid you'll be bullied," Zhu Chuyun smiled faintly, glancing at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan offered a wry smile: "I'll thank heaven if she doesn't bully me!"

Zhu Chuyun laughed heartily: "You... You better think of a way to move Master. Junior Sister Yi won't be married off so easily!"

"Yes, yes, I will definitely find a way!" Li Muzhan nodded vigorously.

Yi Xiaoru said: "Senior Sister Zhu, please help us think of something too."

"Oh, turning coat so quickly, are we?" Zhu Chuyun teased lightly: "I do have one idea: Mr. He should challenge Master!" (To be continued.)