Li Muzhan bade farewell to the Hidden Sect and descended the mountain directly. Midway, he executed an instantaneous shift, returning to the small courtyard.
The courtyard in Jingzhou City remained tranquil and serene. When Li Muzhan arrived, Xiuxiu was still practicing, drenched in sweat, white vapor rising from her body. Her loose, moon-white silk shirt clung to her figure, revealing her exquisite curves.
She wielded her long sword tirelessly, repeating the same sword move again and again. Li Muzhan watched from the side, nodding secretly; only with such arduous effort could one truly grasp the essence of cultivation.
Li Muzhan did not disturb her practice until she was almost spent, slowly collapsing onto the nearby swing. Only then did Li Muzhan clear his throat softly.
“Young Master!” Xiuxiu turned, her face alight with overwhelming joy. “Young Master, you’ve returned!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Not bad, very diligent.”
Xiuxiu replied, “I don’t want to be your burden, Young Master! I’m waiting for you to take me out to see the world!... But Young Master, is something troubling you?”
Xiuxiu’s sharp eyes perceived that Li Muzhan carried a weight on his mind.
Li Muzhan smiled gently. “Xiuxiu, I am going to marry Miss Yi.”
Xiuxiu froze, her expression subtly changing.
Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head. “Xiuxiu, this day was bound to come. Have you thought it through?”
“Does the Young Master no longer want Xiuxiu?” Xiuxiu fixed her bright gaze upon him.
Li Muzhan laughed. “Xiuxiu, if you wish to find someone to marry, I shall restore your freedom.”
Xiuxiu declared, “I belong to the Young Master; I am yours to command!”
Li Muzhan sighed and walked over, taking a seat on another swing beside her. He shook his head. “Xiuxiu, do you wish to remain in Jingzhou City, or follow me to Xiao Ru’s place?”
“I want to stay here, guarding this courtyard. Let it be another home for the Young Master!” Xiuxiu answered without hesitation. “If the Young Master misses Xiuxiu, just return for a visit, alright?”
Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. “Good.”
Xiuxiu beamed. “Young Master, is it not far from here?”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “It’s manageable; returning won't be difficult. However, Jingzhou City is too dangerous; you need better martial arts.”
Xiuxiu nodded vigorously. “Don’t worry, Young Master, I will practice diligently. I won’t return until my skills are perfected!”
Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. “That’s the spirit! ... Come, let me give you another boost!”
He beckoned with his hand, and Xiuxiu followed him joyfully into the main room. Li Muzhan sat on the couch, and Xiuxiu said softly, “Young Master, shall I prepare hot water?”
Li Muzhan replied, “Not necessary this time. It will be uncomfortable later; you must endure it.”
Xiuxiu laughed charmingly. “Don’t worry, Young Master, I can bear it!”
Li Muzhan nodded, then placed both palms on her back, beginning to circulate his energy, once again employing the technique of Marrow Cleansing and Gland Washing to enhance her power.
For anyone else, he absolutely would not have done this, but he felt he owed Xiuxiu too much, and seeing her practice with such self-inflicted torment made his heart ache.
— — —
The next morning, Li Muzhan set out alone, without taking Xiuxiu, heading back toward the Hidden Sect. He decided not to use instantaneous travel this time; he would return step by step.
Just as he left the outskirts of Jingzhou City, three elderly men suddenly emerged before him. The same elders Li Muzhan had encountered before were among them. They smiled at him. “Mr. He, we meet again!”
Li Muzhan reined in his horse, frowning from the saddle. “Why have you three stopped me?”
“Mr. He, let’s continue our previous discussion,” the lean elder said with a smile. “Have you considered it clearly?”
Li Muzhan smiled, lazily touching the bridge of his nose. “Senior, I believe it’s best if we don’t meet!”
“My surname is Wu, Wu Changhe. Mr. He, haven’t you made up your mind yet?” The lean elder chuckled. “Joining our Divine Sword Sect, becoming a man among men—wouldn’t that be exhilarating?”
Li Muzhan laughed. “Senior Wu, I lack such intense desire. Whether there are divine sword-forging techniques or if my spear remains unbowed is irrelevant to me. Our paths diverge; it truly is better if we don’t meet!”
Wu Changhe frowned. “Is Mr. He absolutely determined to refuse us?”
Li Muzhan confirmed, “Indeed.”
Wu Changhe surveyed the surroundings and smiled faintly. “I know Mr. He’s cultivation is profound, so I invited two senior brothers to lend assistance. Can Mr. He truly escape?”
Li Muzhan let out a short laugh. “So, it comes to this step after all!”
Wu Changhe said coldly, “He, I didn't realize you were so stubborn, insisting on opposing us. Against enemies, we are never polite!”
Li Muzhan asked, “You must have recruited quite a few people, haven't you?”
“Naturally!” Wu Changhe boasted proudly. “How many men in the world can refuse our appeal!”
Li Muzhan frowned, pondering. “If that’s the case, you have quite a few moles within the Nine Sects?”
“It’s better if you know!” Wu Changhe sneered. “I don't fear you spreading the word; it’s useless anyway, as you won't live past today!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “That’s not necessarily true. Attack!”
“All at once!” Wu Changhe grunted heavily, launching the first strike—a flash of sword light, swift as lightning, arriving instantly before Li Muzhan’s chest.
Li Muzhan hadn’t expected his swordsmanship to be so fierce. He retreated lightly, evading the other two, then casually drew his sword and thrust—with a sharp ding—Wu Changhe’s sword was deflected.
Having just concluded days of seclusion, Li Muzhan’s internal power had increased further. With that single strike, Wu Changhe’s sword nearly flew from his grasp, startling him greatly. He had estimated Li Muzhan’s cultivation level highly, but the first exchange showed him he had still underestimated it. Annoyed, he said sternly, “Kill him, no matter what!”
The other two grunted lowly, looking perhaps disdainful, perhaps angry.
The three joined forces, their sword lights weaving into an unending net, completely enveloping Li Muzhan. Within this storm, Li Muzhan’s swordplay was archaic yet slow, a left thrust here, a right finger-poke there—effortlessly executed, yet constantly forcing the three men’s lights to scatter, preventing them from forming a solid attack.
— — —
In the blink of an eye, the three had exchanged over three hundred moves without gaining any advantage over Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan moved with complete ease amidst their flashing blades, appearing as if he were merely amusing himself with them.
“He, your swordsmanship is indeed impressive. No wonder you could save that beauty!” Wu Changhe sneered.
Li Muzhan smiled gently. “Do you have any other skills? Hurry and show them. I’m in a rush to travel and cannot be delayed long!”
Wu Changhe sneered repeatedly, anger mounting in his heart. Li Muzhan showed absolutely no respect for them, which was infuriating. He longed to run his sword through Li Muzhan, but lacked the strength.
The sword light flowed ceaselessly, like a waterfall crashing down, yet Li Muzhan’s sword moved like a stone suspended in mid-air, frequently able to alter the direction of their attack lights, causing them to break apart.
Li Muzhan had been observing their sword techniques all this while. After seeing enough, he lost patience. He shook his head and laughed. “Is this the swordplay of the Divine Sword Sect?”
“He! Take another strike from us!” Wu Changhe roared in fury, provoked by Li Muzhan’s contempt. He shouted sternly, “Soul Severing Sword!”
With a sharp chii sound, the three swords transformed into a sheet of white light, dazzling like a setting sun, making it impossible to keep the eyes open.
Li Muzhan squinted slightly, his own sword light forming an impenetrable shield around him. At this moment, his sword speed was utterly unparalleled, slightly faster than the three opponents.
Amidst a rapid succession of ding ding ding ding sounds, Li Muzhan’s sword clashed constantly with theirs. Suddenly, he lunged forward with a sharp thrust.
“Ugh…” Wu Changhe suddenly stiffened, clutching his chest as he fell.
Li Muzhan followed up with two swift shua shua strikes; the other two elders met the same fate, both pierced through the heart, collapsing beneath Li Muzhan’s blade.
With a light flick, his sword returned to its pristine, clean state. Li Muzhan shook his head. The cultivation of these three elders was deep, but unfortunately for them, his own cultivation had surged, making his sword speed even faster, making their defeat much easier.
Li Muzhan looked down at the three, sighed, then turned, mounted his horse, and continued forward.
He encountered no further obstructions all the way back to the Hidden Sect, which he found very strange, filling him with a sense of dread. How could Yin Zhaoji endure this? Why didn't he send assassins to strike him while he was vulnerable!
Could it be that he had truly given up?
Li Muzhan pondered this as he ascended the mountain, shaking his head repeatedly. Given Yin Zhaoji’s character, he would never give up easily, never easily abandon Yi Xiaoru.
— — —
When he reached the halfway point up the mountain, a sharp shout suddenly rang out: “Stop right there!”
Li Muzhan looked up to see a group of youths standing in the middle of the narrow path, arms crossed, looking down at him dismissively, blocking his way.
Li Muzhan examined them carefully. They were all young men in their early twenties, each with piercing glints in their eyes, possessing respectable cultivation—all young elites.
Li Muzhan sighed inwardly; trouble was clearly approaching. He cupped his fists and said mildly, “May I ask what business you gentlemen have with me?”
“Are you He Zudao?” The youth standing at the forefront was robust, not particularly tall—a bit short and stout—with a round face and a voice like a great bell. He snorted, “Are you the He Zudao who wants to marry Senior Sister Yi?”
Li Muzhan nodded. “Indeed, this is He.”
“A toad really does dream of eating swan meat! I advise you to scram down the mountain quickly!” The round-faced youth sneered. “With your meager abilities, how are you worthy of our Senior Sister Yi!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Why am I not worthy of your Senior Sister Yi?”
“Why don’t you take a good look at yourself in a puddle! You have no talent, no family background, nothing special except some martial arts skills. What’s so good about you!” The round-faced youth mocked. “To think you could marry Senior Sister Yi is sheer fantasy!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Sect Leader Gao already agreed to my request.”
The round-faced youth snorted and pouted. “Uncle-Master Gao agreed, but we certainly do not! ... And did Senior Sister Yi agree?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Naturally!”
“Nonsense!” The round-faced youth grunted heavily. “Senior Sister Yi has her standards set high; how could she look favorably upon someone like you? Even that Yin fellow couldn’t catch her eye!”
“Senior Brother Chang!” A youth beside him tugged his sleeve.
The round-faced youth snorted, sneering, “What, did I say something wrong?! That Yin fellow relied on his good family background to pester Senior Sister Yi, but he still got snubbed!”
“Senior Brother Chang, say less!” The youth beside him urged in a low voice.
The round-faced youth pouted dismissively. “You’re afraid of that Yin fellow; I’m not. Doesn't he just have a good master? Any common stray dog would be no worse than him!”
Li Muzhan smiled. It seemed they were not sent by Yin Zhaoji, but were incited by him. This Yin Zhaoji certainly had deep schemes!
Li Muzhan saw through Yin Zhaoji’s plot immediately. He must have found some way to let the round-faced youth learn the news and then provoke him into coming here. If Li Muzhan were to fight here, Yin Zhaoji could enjoy the spectacle and perhaps have some follow-up plan. Thinking this, Li Muzhan grew cautious; one truly couldn’t underestimate Yin Zhaoji.
A youth nearby whispered, “Senior Brother Chang, you’re straying!”
The round-faced youth started, then snapped back to attention with a snort. “Right, right! How could I stray! ... He, if you’re sensible, get off the mountain now, stop dreaming of marrying Senior Sister Yi!”
Li Muzhan smiled mildly. “If I am not sensible, what will you gentlemen do?”
“Then we’ll ruin your sensibility!” The round-faced youth’s eyes widened, becoming even rounder, and he huffed, “Ruin your face, and see if you still have the nerve to appear before Senior Sister Yi!”
Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head. “How malicious!”
— — —
“Hmph, He, you forced our hand. Tell me, are you leaving or not?” The round-faced youth stood proudly. He was quite pleased with his idea; ruining the man’s appearance was an excellent plan, he praised himself internally.
Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled. “I will not leave!”
The round-faced youth gave him a thumbs-up. “Fine then, you’ve got guts. In that case, we needn’t be polite anymore. Brothers, deal with him!”
“Senior Brother Chang, should we attack together?” the youth beside him asked.
The round-faced youth’s eyes went wide. “Of course, we attack together! Who could beat him in a one-on-one fight!”
“Good, all together!” The crowd responded with a roar, rushing forward with smiles. Some held swords, some carried blades, but most were bare-fisted.
Facing the surging crowd, Li Muzhan shook his head, feeling this was just a farce. Moreover, this was a narrow path, so not many could charge at once.
Li Muzhan did not retreat; instead, he advanced to meet them. With a qiang sound, a flash of sword light sliced out amidst a dragon’s roar as the long sword left its sheath.
He shouted sternly, “Then do not blame me for being impolite!”
With that, his sword light flickered, and the youths charging at the front instantly fell, like trees being felled—a swath of them collapsed in moments, all motionless on the ground.
The round-faced youth had remained stationary. He watched the others charge up, while he observed carefully from the side, trying to discern Li Muzhan’s true capabilities to ensure a single, fatal blow.
Li Muzhan’s sword light flashed fiercely. Every strike found its mark precisely—sometimes slicing the wrist, sometimes piercing the shoulder. None could evade it. Furthermore, after being struck, it seemed their bodies were no longer their own; an influx of internal energy snaked in, coursing through their bodies and disrupting the flow of their own vital energy. Once their internal energy stagnated, they became helpless tigers, forced to collapse or freeze, subject to Li Muzhan’s control.
Li Muzhan moved like a wolf among sheep, invincible. In a short time, he had subdued over twenty men. When he reached the round-faced youth, he smiled mildly. “Brother Chang, please enlighten me with your guidance!”
With that, the tip of his sword was already incredibly fast, aimed squarely at the round-faced youth’s chest. His sword momentum appeared slow and measured, seemingly harmless, but it was actually terrifyingly swift, leaving almost no opportunity for evasion.
The round-faced youth grunted in anger and delivered a sudden, powerful punch.
Ding… The long sword rang clearly. Li Muzhan looked surprised. “Fine fist work!”
This punch was supremely rigid and Yang-aligned; it actually managed to withstand the invasion of his internal energy—truly rare. Li Muzhan became interested and smiled. “Again!”
Chii! The sword tip was instantly near again, forcing the round-faced youth to meet it head-on.
— — —
Ding ding ding ding… The youth’s fists and Li Muzhan’s sword clashed ceaselessly. Li Muzhan experienced his supreme rigidity and great power, marveling continuously. Such a core cultivation method was truly rare.
“Excellent skill, excellent skill! Not bad, not bad!” Li Muzhan praised as he continued his strikes.
While fighting the round-faced youth, he simultaneously dealt with the remaining few, one sword strike each, without fail. Only the round-faced youth remained.
After twenty-odd exchanges, the round-faced youth’s face turned pale. While his boxing style was supremely rigid and seemingly indestructible, it severely drained internal energy; every punch was fueled by the entirety of his internal power.
Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed. “You all…”
The round-faced youth suddenly stopped. “Enough, we admit defeat. No more fighting!”
Li Muzhan also lowered his sword and smiled. “Well, what do you think? Is my martial skill worthy of Miss Yi?”
“Truly formidable martial arts!” The round-faced youth nodded. “No wonder you could snatch Senior Sister Yi from that Yin fellow. Impressive!”
“Do you hold a grudge against Young Master Yin?” Li Muzhan asked with a smile.
The round-faced youth spat out hatefully, “Of course!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Tell me about it.”
The round-faced youth pouted, clearly annoyed. “Why talk about such depressing things? He, you go ahead. We won’t stop you anymore!”
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. “You were sent by Young Master Yin, weren't you?”
“Nonsense!” The round-faced youth’s expression darkened instantly. “We are us, and he is him. Even if he invited us, we wouldn’t agree!”
Li Muzhan’s brow twitched slightly, and he smiled. “So you really weren’t invited by Young Master Yin?”
The round-faced youth sneered coldly. “He, what do you take us for? Do you think that Yin fellow can command us? What a joke!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Then why stop me? Are you trying to help Young Master Yin?”
“Who says stopping you is helping that Yin fellow?!” The round-faced youth sneered. “You actually married Senior Sister Yi? That makes you a target for public execution!”
Li Muzhan touched the bridge of his nose, forcing a wry smile. “It’s not that serious, is it?”
“Hmph, you simply don’t know how wonderful Senior Sister Yi is!” The round-faced youth huffed indignantly. “Such fine jade being soiled by a pig!”
Li Muzhan’s brow arched, and he glanced sideways at him. “Soiled by a pig? ... How about we fight another hundred rounds?”
“Alright, stop bullying us. If you have the guts, go deal with that Yin fellow!” The round-faced youth, beneath his rough exterior, had some cunning. He spoke carelessly, “That Yin fellow isn't as easygoing as us. He just wants to disfigure you; he intends to take your life!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “How so?”
The round-faced youth snorted triumphantly. “You’re still completely in the dark!”
Li Muzhan nodded. “I’ve been thinking these past few days about what move Young Master Yin would use. I didn’t expect him to incite you all; that’s truly too low-grade!”
At first, he thought the round-faced youth was entirely unreasonable, but after this bout of fighting, they had come to an understanding of sorts. He could tell the round-faced youth was blunt and honest, not truly malicious.
The round-faced youth paused, looked around at his companions, stamped his foot fiercely, and said indignantly, “Forget it, I might as well tell you. I can’t stand by and watch Yin bully Senior Sister Yi. I’m not helping you; I’m helping Senior Sister Yi!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Good, good, tell me quickly!”
“Alright, that Yin fellow plans to have someone deal with you during the wedding banquet!” the round-faced youth grumbled.
Li Muzhan’s brow twitched. “Wedding banquet?”
“First, they’ll ply you with wine, and then they’ll poison it. See how you manage to live then!” the round-faced youth said bitterly.
Li Muzhan frowned. “Surely not?”
“Hmph, you underestimate him too much!” The round-faced youth said. “You don't think he dares, do you?”