Li Muzhan took a step forward, about to enter, but the two men quickly stood in his way. "Young Master Li, please stop there!"

Li Muzhan frowned. "You won't let me go up?"

"Well..." The two looked troubled. "Young Master Li, you cannot go up."

"I wish to visit Miss Liu, is that not allowed?" Li Muzhan asked coldly.

The two shook their heads. "Young Master Li, we have orders from above; you are not permitted to enter."

"Who issued the order?!" Li Muzhan sneered.

Both men shook their heads but remained silent, only blocking his path apologetically, refusing to let him pass.

Li Muzhan pondered. "Is this an order from your Sect Master?"

They shook their heads and sighed. "Young Master Li, we are truly sorry. We cannot afford to offend, so we must follow orders. If we let you up, we will face severe repercussions!"

Li Muzhan laughed and shook his head. "How interesting!" Very well, then go and send word to Miss Liu that I have arrived and wish to see her."

"Senior Sister Liu will not see you." The two still shook their heads.

Li Muzhan’s face darkened. "Then you are forcing me to break in!?"

They replied, "Young Master Li, we advise you not to do this. It will become very messy, and it will put Senior Sister Liu in a difficult position!"

Li Muzhan frowned. "You two are truly tiresome, not proper men at all, so wishy-washy. Just tell me what is going on!"

"This... we truly cannot say." The two gave wry smiles and shook their heads helplessly.

Li Muzhan hummed in a deep voice. "If you won't tell me, I can guess. She is injured, isn't she?" Who injured her?"

Their complexions shifted slightly. They only shook their heads, refusing to say another word.

Li Muzhan employed his Clairvoyance, and the thoughts of the two men became clear before his eyes. Li Muzhan frowned. "In the current martial world, few dare provoke your Dragon Mountain Sect. Could it be the Linhai Pavilion?!"

Their faces changed again, looking at him as if they had seen a ghost, but they tightly pressed their lips shut, not uttering a sound. They were terrified internally that someone from the sect might see them and think they had leaked information. That would be a huge disaster!

Li Muzhan hummed deeply. "It seems it really was someone from the Linhai Pavilion!"

"Young Master Li, please return!" The two practically begged him.

If they had not been aware of Li Muzhan's astonishing martial prowess, they would have already acted to chase him away, daring not to let him linger at the sect gates, lest someone else notice him—endless trouble would ensue.

Li Muzhan said, "Please trouble yourselves to go up and send word—just say that I have arrived!"

"Young Master Li, we truly cannot relay the message!" The two said with difficulty. "If we do, we won't have a good life from now on!"

Li Muzhan said lightly, "Then I must offend you!"

"Then we must offend you as well!" The two said helplessly, slowly patting towards Li Muzhan's chest. There was no killing intent; it was more like a game.

Li Muzhan understood their intent: they were afraid of angering him and getting beaten.

He shook his head and struck out with both palms. The two men were instantly sent flying, landing on the ground and falling unconscious. They suffered no serious injury, but it would take a while for them to wake up.

—

Li Muzhan paid no further attention to anything else. He floated up the mountain in one breath, arriving at the highest point, at the residence of Liu Biyun.

He proceeded unimpeded. This was not because the Dragon Mountain Sect lacked sentries; upon seeing Li Muzhan, they smiled and nodded, appearing quite friendly.

Li Muzhan was also a notable figure within the Dragon Mountain Sect, especially when he had unhesitatingly gifted the Marrow Cleansing Pill he won to Liu Biyun—an act of boundless generosity that made them feel ashamed of their own shortcomings.

Seeing Li Muzhan float up the mountain, they assumed he had been cleared by the guards below, so they did not stop him, allowing him smooth passage to Liu Biyun's room.

Li Muzhan knocked once on the door, and a weak voice called from within, "Come in!"

Li Muzhan frowned and pushed the door open. The moment he stepped inside, a strong medicinal odor hit him, replacing the room's usual subtle fragrance with a pungent smell.

"Who is it?" Liu Biyun’s hoarse, weak voice came from inside.

Li Muzhan took a step in, moving to the couch. Liu Biyun was lying flat on her back, her face pale, her bright eyes dull and lifeless. Her originally ivory-smooth complexion had dimmed, losing its luster. Her delicate nose and full, cherry-red lips all conveyed a fragile, heart-tugging beauty.

Seeing Li Muzhan, she was startled. "Big Brother?"

She struggled to sit up, but Li Muzhan’s face darkened. He sat before the couch, pressed down on her, and touched her wrist. His internal energy quickly circulated once, and he frowned. "How could you be so severely injured?!"

She had taken a remarkable spirit medicine that prevented the injury from worsening, but the original wound was severe: her internal organs were displaced, and all were damaged. This was clearly inflicted by the opponent using profound internal force—a malicious intent to take her life. A surge of anger erupted within him, impossible to suppress any longer. Killing intent welled up in his heart, and the warmth in the room dropped several degrees.

"Big Brother, I’m fine," Liu Biyun quickly said.

Li Muzhan hummed. "Why didn't you notify me?"

Liu Biyun smiled faintly. "Big Brother, I really am fine."

Li Muzhan said, "You sustain such a heavy injury and don't even inform me. Who did this?"

"A master from the Linhai Pavilion," Liu Biyun shook her head. "I was careless this time. I didn't expect the Linhai Pavilion to be so treacherous and employ such base methods!"

Li Muzhan frowned. "Which one from the Linhai Pavilion? Looking at these injuries, the opponent's internal force is far superior to yours. Which expert in the Linhai Pavilion possesses such power?" Since Liu Biyun consumed the Marrow Cleansing Pill, her internal power progression would be fast. Though the Linhai Pavilion had many masters, one capable of inflicting such injuries on her was no ordinary expert.

"I don't recognize him either," Liu Biyun shook her head gently. "He was an old man."

"Were you alone at the time?" Li Muzhan asked, frowning.

Liu Biyun replied, "Senior Brother Mo was there too. His injuries are even worse than mine."

Li Muzhan pondered. "Is he out of danger?"

"It's a good thing we had the Sect Master's elixir," Liu Biyun nodded. "Otherwise, neither of us would have survived."

Li Muzhan frowned, silent.

—

He helped Liu Biyun sit up, then positioned himself behind her, placing his palms on her back to begin healing her injuries. Although she had taken the spirit medicine, full recovery would take at least a month.

Liu Biyun offered no resistance, settling herself cross-legged. The two began circulating their energies. About an hour later, a group of people rushed over and stopped outside the door.

White vapor steamed from Li Muzhan’s head, and the same was true for Liu Biyun. When a young woman in black gently pushed the door open and saw their state, she slowly retreated.

She came outside, waved a hand to the crowd, and slowly backed away before whispering, "Young Master Li is healing Senior Sister Liu. Let’s not disturb them!"

A male disciple said sternly, "Senior Sister Wu, he forced his way up the mountain, completely disregarding us. Where is the dignity of our Dragon Mountain Sect?!"

"Little Li Zi, I know exactly what your intentions are. Scram!" The girl in black sneered, waving her hand dismissively. "All of you, disperse! I'll stand guard here!"

The others looked at her helplessly, then at Liu Biyun's room, and slowly dispersed.

Night descended, the bright moon hung high, yet Li Muzhan and Liu Biyun remained motionless, as if they had fallen asleep. The girl in black stood guard outside without moving, her arm wrapped around her sword.

Until dawn, the girl in black had not left, though she kept looking into the room curiously. Li Muzhan and Liu Biyun had spent the entire night there, still with no movement. In her experience, no one could circulate energy for an entire night. This Young Master Li was truly formidable!

"Junior Sister Wu, you can come in now," Liu Biyun’s voice floated out gently.

The girl in black floated into the room and saw Liu Biyun sitting up on the couch, looking at her, her eyes bright and her complexion radiant, as if she were a different person.

The girl in black was overjoyed. "Senior Sister Liu, you're well!?"

Liu Biyun nodded gently. "Almost. Junior Sister Wu, thank you so much!"

The girl in black waved her hand casually. "Senior Sister, you’re too polite. What is there to thank me for? It’s what I should do. And Young Master Li...?"

"He is exhausted and needs to rest," Liu Biyun said with a smile, slowly getting off the couch. She joined the girl in black, stepping out of the room to talk outside.

—

"In just one night, Young Master Li healed your injury?" The girl in black examined her closely, looking doubtful.

Liu Biyun smiled and nodded. "But it exhausted him terribly."

"Young Master Li truly is..." The girl in black shook her head in admiration. "Senior Sister, you have such good fortune!"

Liu Biyun chuckled. "Junior Sister Wu, you are so kind-hearted; you will have even better fortune than me in the future!"

"Alas..." The girl in black shook her head. "How many people as formidable as Young Master Li are there in the world? I think there is only one, and Senior Sister, you've managed to pick him!"

Liu Biyun smiled broadly, then chided her playfully. "You little gossip, always talking nonsense!"

The girl in black asked curiously, "Senior Sister, tell me, how exactly did you two meet? How did he get drawn into this?"

"Silly girl, what nonsense are you speaking!" Liu Biyun shot her a sidelong glance. "This was just a matter of coincidence, an arrangement of fate. You will understand when you are older!"

"...Alas, I have no hope of finding a brother-in-law like him!" The girl in black sighed helplessly. "I also wish to find a great hero!"

"You..." Liu Biyun shook her head. "If you think that way, it will be hard to find one. You must trust your own feelings and disregard everything else."

"Alright," the girl in black nodded. "I know it can't be forced, but seeing those who are clearly inferior to me makes my teeth itch. How can I possibly like them?"

Liu Biyun nodded slightly. She felt the same way; seeing men inferior to her truly made her teeth ache, and she couldn't muster any affection for them.

As the two spoke in low voices, Li Muzhan let out a long breath, which they clearly heard.

"Senior Sister, has he finished his circulation?" The girl in black asked quickly.

Liu Biyun nodded, pushed the door open, and re-entered the room. Li Muzhan’s eyes were open, a sharp gleam flashing through them before quickly settling back into an ordinary look.

"Big Brother Li!" The girl in black cupped her fist and smiled. "I truly didn't expect Big Brother Li to be so powerful, healing Senior Sister Liu in just one night!"

Li Muzhan smiled. Liu Biyun said helplessly, "This is my Junior Sister, Wu Jingyi."

Li Muzhan smiled. "Miss Wu, my apologies for the discourtesy."

"Not at all, not at all!" Wu Jingyi quickly waved her hands and chuckled. "Big Brother Li, what kind of technique did you use? How is it so potent?" As far as she knew, the Dragon Mountain Sect did not possess cultivation methods this profound; to heal such a severe injury instantly was simply miraculous.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "The Dharma should not be taught to the ears that hear it. I apologize."

"Is that so?" Wu Jingyi tilted her head. "Does that mean you can't even tell me the name?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. Wu Jingyi looked resigned. "Alright then. Big Brother Li, I did you a great favor—you knocked out the men downstairs, and now someone is making a fuss about it!"

Li Muzhan frowned, then gave a faint smile.

Wu Jingyi said, "I know it was Little Li Zi causing trouble. I'll deal with him for you later!"

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "Then I thank you in advance, Miss Wu!"

"Stop calling me Miss Wu, it's too formal. Just call me Jingyi," Wu Jingyi said cheerily.

Li Muzhan looked at this forward, beautiful young woman and chuckled, nodding slightly. "Very well, I shall impose upon you then, Jingyi!"

"Leave it to me!" Wu Jingyi thumped her chest high up. "I guarantee I'll make him suffer so much he won't dare bother Big Brother Li again!"

Li Muzhan chuckled and nodded.

—

He found these people quite bothersome. Because they were disciples of the Dragon Mountain Sect, he couldn't be too extreme, showing some deference out of respect for Liu Biyun's sake. However, they were truly too presumptuous and had no sense of restraint, insisting on troubling him like irritating, sticky dog skin plaster—very troublesome. If Wu Jingyi stepped in, that would be the best scenario; otherwise, Liu Biyun would be put in a difficult position, and he would get to vent some anger.

"Jingyi, what martial art do you practice?" Li Muzhan said with a smile as he stepped down from the couch.

Wu Jingyi replied, "I practice swordplay!"

"Swordplay?" Li Muzhan's eyebrows rose, and he smiled. "That's excellent. I practice the sword as well. How about we exchange a few pointers?"

"Yes, yes!" Wu Jingyi, being sharp-witted, knew that Li Muzhan was reciprocating a favor and intended to guide her in swordsmanship. She knew how terrifying Li Muzhan's swordsmanship was—he had defeated all the Dragon Mountain Sect disciples with a single sword, proving himself unmatched. Receiving his guidance would be far more beneficial than practicing diligently on her own, even more so than receiving guidance from her master.

"Big Brother, do you need more rest?" Liu Biyun looked at him with concern.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled. "It's better to stretch my limbs a bit. Let's go!"

Wu Jingyi hesitated, looking at him. "Big Brother Li, are you sure you're alright? Perhaps another day?"

Li Muzhan said, "Let's go. I want to see just how good Jingyi's swordplay is!"

"Alright!" Wu Jingyi let out a coquettish laugh. "I've always focused on the sword. In terms of internal energy, I’m not as good as Senior Sister Liu, nor am I as good in unarmed combat, but when it comes to the sword, I’m not afraid of her!"

"You’re just boasting!" Liu Biyun retorted without much heat.

Wu Jingyi chuckled. "Senior Sister Liu, do you dare say you can truly surpass my swordsmanship?"

Liu Biyun gave her a sidelong glance. "You underestimate me too much! Why don't we compete first?"

"Fine!" Wu Jingyi said, unwilling to back down. "Let's compete... but your injury just healed, are you fit to fight?"

"I can beat you even when I’m not fully recovered," Liu Biyun scoffed.

"Great, let's compete then!" Wu Jingyi laughed charmingly. "I'd like to witness Senior Sister's swordsmanship!"

Li Muzhan watched the two women leave the room with a faint smile. Then, he drew his stance, and the glint of his sword flashed as they clashed into a flurry of movement. He could tell that Wu Jingyi’s swordplay did possess some skill, but she was still a notch below Liu Biyun. Her sword lights flashed, yet she couldn't penetrate Liu Biyun's inner circle, like scratching an itch through a boot. Liu Biyun’s sword skills had also improved significantly. The Marrow Cleansing Pill was indeed extraordinary; its benefits were manifest, showing a transformative advancement in her swordplay in less than a month. Wu Jingyi was also surprised. She was expecting Liu Biyun's previous level of skill, but she hadn't realized Liu Biyun seemed to have suddenly grasped a deeper understanding, making a major leap in her sword techniques and immediately widening the gap. (To be continued)