Li Muzhan shook his head with a wry smile. Liu Biyun pursed her lips and chuckled, "This Junior Sister Wu, she really is..."

She shook her head with a faint smile, saying this. Wu Jingyi's obvious adoration for Li Muzhan made it easy for others to misunderstand; truly, she had no guile.

She turned her head toward Li Muzhan: "Big Brother, you won?"

Seeing the pleasure on Li Muzhan's face, Liu Biyun guessed that he had triumphed.

Li Muzhan nodded: "Yes, I killed him."

"Killed him... wait—Big Brother, you said you killed Jiang Cheng?!" Liu Biyun gasped in shock.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "Although this man's martial arts were strong, he was a gloomy sort; he could not be left alive."

Although Jiang Cheng's right-hand sword technique was exquisite, it was still a notch below his left. Earlier, when he offered his sword to Li Muzhan, his left-hand sword had struck out suddenly. Had Li Muzhan not been fully aware, catching him completely off guard, there would have been no chance of survival.

"But... but..." Liu Biyun's jade face shifted constantly between shadows and light. This Jiang Cheng was no ordinary person; he was the foremost master of the Linhai Pavilion, and the implications were vast.

Now that Li Muzhan had killed him, how could the Linhai Pavilion let it go? No matter what, for revenge for Jiang Cheng, or for the dignity of the Linhai Pavilion, they would find every means possible to kill Li Muzhan for vengeance.

Li Muzhan laughed, "Biyun, no need to worry, I am fine."

"Big Brother, this matter is too huge!" Liu Biyun shook her head, sighing gravely, "Big Brother has stirred up a massive hornets' nest this time!"

Li Muzhan said, "If I hadn't killed him, he would have killed me. He feared that without him, no one could keep me in check after his death, for the sake of the Linhai Pavilion. He would have used despicable means to kill me!"

Liu Biyun considered this, then slowly nodded, "That is true! ...Big Brother, you can defeat him now. He is old; no matter how good his martial arts, he won't live much longer. Once he is gone, who in the Linhai Pavilion could possibly suppress Big Brother?!"

Li Muzhan glanced at her and smiled, "Biyun, the way you people from the great sects think is so strange, always needing to keep others subjugated."

"There's no helping it," Liu Biyun chuckled, nodding. "The tall tree catches the wind. There are too many rivals!"

Li Muzhan pondered, "Biyun, they may not be able to touch me, but they might target you. You must be careful. Go into seclusion for a while, do not come down the mountain."

"I can't go into seclusion forever!" Liu Biyun laughed.

Li Muzhan said, "When you come down the mountain, call me to go with you. I won't feel at ease leaving you alone!"

Liu Biyun's bright eyes lit up, "Big Brother will accompany me?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "I don't have to stay here the whole time."

Liu Biyun deflated, "Then going back and forth will be too troublesome?... In my view, Big Brother should just stay on the mountain, and the Linhai Pavilion will surely be helpless!"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. He could not rely on the Longshan Sect indefinitely, nor did he wish to; otherwise, he would never hold his head high within the sect and would be exploited by them.

Though the Longshan Sect was good, a distance had to be maintained, lest they harm each other.

Li Muzhan returned to his room. Liu Biyun prepared a full table of dishes for him. After eating, Li Muzhan resumed cultivating and regulating his inner energy, then vanished in a flash, returning to the Hidden Sect... He sat on the couch for a while longer, altered his bearing, affixed a beard, transforming entirely into the likeness of He Zudao, then pushed the door open and went out.

The bright sunlight illuminated the small practice field outside. Gao Jingxuan, Cheng Lian, Zhu Chuyun, and Yi Xiaoru—the master and three disciples—were all there, along with a young man who was currently speaking with the women.

As Li Muzhan stepped out, they turned their heads.

Yi Xiaoru was overjoyed and floated quickly before him, "Big Brother, you are out of seclusion?"

Li Muzhan nodded and smiled, looking toward the young man. He had never seen this person before. He was about twenty, slender, dressed in a green robe, with a thin face. His eyes were bright and full of spirit, and when he looked at someone, there was a sincerity and friendliness that easily generated goodwill.

The young man cupped his fists and smiled, "Senior Brother He, I am Zhuang Zhiping, from the Tiangong Sect!"

Li Muzhan smiled, cupped his fists in return, "Junior Brother Zhuang, no need for such ceremony."

"Big Brother, Junior Brother Zhuang has come to borrow your treasured sword," Yi Xiaoru explained.

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow slightly. Yi Xiaoru continued, "I heard Big Brother obtained the Yingxue Sword, and he wishes to see it."

Li Muzhan smiled, "Very well, take it!"

Zhuang Zhiping quickly cupped his fists, "Thank you, Senior Brother He. This is the second treasured sword to emerge from Fuyun Mountain; I wish to see what marvels it holds."

Li Muzhan unbuckled his long sword and handed it over, "As long as you don't damage it, Junior Brother Zhuang, feel free."

"Yes, yes, I will certainly be careful!" Zhuang Zhiping nodded repeatedly, carefully reaching out to take it, as if afraid of dropping or bumping it.

Yi Xiaoru smiled, pursing her lips, "Junior Brother Zhuang, no need for that; it's not that delicate!"

"It must be," Zhuang Zhiping insisted. "This is our second treasured sword, just like the Divine Sword the Sect Master possesses; it is certainly not comparable to ordinary swords!"

"Little Zhuang, you mean to replicate it?" Gao Jingxuan asked in a deep voice.

Zhuang Zhiping nodded and smiled, "I have already studied the Sect Master's Yinxue Sword. With this Yingxue Sword as well, I will surely be able to figure it out."

Gao Jingxuan said, "Even if you manage to replicate it, it won't be a divine sword. I suggest you give up that idea!"

Zhuang Zhiping chuckled, "One must try, mustn't one?... Senior Uncle Gao, I'm off then!"

He glanced at the Yingxue Sword in his hand, his eyes gleaming, his eagerness to try it palpable.

"Go on, go on!" Gao Jingxuan waved his hand.

Zhuang Zhiping turned and left without further ceremony, which was slightly rude, but the women did not seem to mind. Zhu Chuyun laughed, "Brother-in-law, your Yingxue Sword is going to be in jeopardy!"

Li Muzhan smiled. Cheng Lian said, "Don't listen to Junior Sister Zhu's nonsense. Although Junior Brother Zhuang is obsessed with swordsmithing, he knows what he's doing."

Li Muzhan chuckled, "It's nothing, just a sword."

"That's true," Cheng Lian chuckled lightly. "For your swordsmanship, the quality of the sword isn't that important!"

Gao Jingxuan asked, "Dao'er, are you really alright?"

Li Muzhan replied, "It's healed; in fact, it turned misfortune into a blessing, and my cultivation has advanced quite a bit! ...Master, is there something wrong?"

Gao Jingxuan mused, "You accompany Xiaoru down the mountain, go to Jingzhou City. It seems the Shenjian Sect is still there, and they are becoming increasingly reckless!"

"Alright," Li Muzhan nodded slowly... At night, Li Muzhan suddenly vanished from the Hidden Sect and reappeared at the Longshan Sect.

As soon as he materialized, he saw Liu Biyun waiting by the couch. Seeing him appear, she quickly said, "Big Brother, the Sect Master wishes to see you!"

Li Muzhan removed his beard, and his temperament instantly changed, becoming that of a young man. He asked, "Have the two elders returned?"

"Yes, it should be about the Linhai Pavilion matter!" Liu Biyun observed him, her expression rather grave. "If the Sect Master says anything unpleasant, don't take it to heart, alright?"

Li Muzhan said, "It's not as serious as you think. I'll go and come back quickly!"

Liu Biyun shook her head, "Big Brother, you've caused huge trouble this time. The Linhai Pavilion absolutely will not let this rest; they might come up the mountain!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "I hope they have the guts to try!"

They exchanged a few words, and Li Muzhan left, arriving at the brightly lit grand hall.

In the hall, besides Wang Duli, Zhou Huairen, and Yang Yesi, there were two other elders. The five of them sat together, quietly watching Li Muzhan enter.

"Guanhai, sit down!" Wang Duli looked spirited, smiling as he indicated the seat opposite him.

Li Muzhan cupped his fists, nodded toward the four elders, and slowly sat down, "Sect Master."

"I truly never expected it!" Wang Duli smiled, shaking his head. "I never expected you would kill Jiang Cheng this time, the foremost master of the Linhai Pavilion!"

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "I didn't intend to kill him, but in the end, I couldn't hold back. Sect Master, please forgive me!"

"Guanhai, he should be too happy to ask for forgiveness, so why apologize!" Zhou Huairen snorted. "Didn't you see his mouth stretched wide?!"

"Heh heh heh..." Wang Duli laughed, "This is a great piece of joyful news; naturally, I am happy. Ancestor Zhou, aren't you happy?"

"If old Jiang is dead, naturally I'm happy," Zhou Huairen chuckled sinisterly. "This old boy, I never expected he'd fall to Guanhai's hands!"

The other two elders appraised Li Muzhan up and down, seeming unable to fully believe it.

"This matter is not Guanhai's fault," Yang Yesi stated in a deep voice. "I also never expected that the dignified foremost master of the Linhai Pavilion, surnamed Jiang, at his age, would resort to ambush and sneak attack!... It had to be Guanhai; if it were someone else, they absolutely couldn't have dodged that sword strike!"

"Indeed, indeed!" Zhou Huairen quickly nodded. "I still break into a cold sweat thinking about it. That old man's left-hand sword was even faster; it was impossible to defend against! Absolutely impossible to defend against!"

Yang Yesi said, "If it were me in that situation, I would have killed him too; it was infuriating!"

"Old Jiang deserved to die!" Zhou Huairen snorted...

"Sect Master, four predecessors, the Linhai Pavilion will absolutely not let this go," Li Muzhan said with a wry smile, shaking his head.

"Then let them come!" Zhou Huairen's eyes immediately widened. "Let's see what they want if they have the guts to come!"

He was full of courage. Without Jiang Cheng, the Longshan Sect no longer feared the Linhai Pavilion. If those fellows from Linhai Pavilion were sensible, they would mind their own business; if they were not, they would be taught a serious lesson.

"Guanhai, is your injury serious?" Yang Yesi asked.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, "It's nothing major."

His sword wound was almost healed, but he did not want to cause a sensation by revealing it.

Yang Yesi said, "You must prepare yourself. The Linhai Pavilion definitely won't drop the matter. If they can't succeed openly, they'll use stealth; they will surely try to kill you."

Li Muzhan nodded, "I understand."

"Here is what we'll do," Wang Duli raised his hand and said with a smile, "Guanhai, you will go into seclusion on the mountain. First, to fully heal your injuries, and second, to cultivate diligently. Descend the mountain again after some time, to let their initial fervor subside!"

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, "Thank you, Sect Master, but I still prefer to go down the mountain!"

Wang Duli said, "Guanhai, you must understand that descending the mountain now means facing a possible siege by the Linhai Pavilion. I know your swordsmanship is extraordinary, but even if you are powerful, you are still just one person; you cannot hold back the tide alone!"

Li Muzhan laughed, "I'd like to witness the strength of the Linhai Pavilion. They cannot kill me!"

"You also shouldn't underestimate the Linhai Pavilion too much," Wang Duli waved his hand. "If they truly want you dead, they can certainly do it. They also possess a Demonic Artifact!"

Li Muzhan's heart stirred, and he smiled faintly, "They have a Demonic Artifact too?"

"Indeed!" Wang Duli stated solemnly. "If they are pushed too far and bring out the Demonic Artifact, you won't be able to defend against it either; it's best to be cautious!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "What is their Demonic Artifact?"

Wang Duli replied, "The Heaven-Slaying Sword."

Li Muzhan frowned, pondering, "Sect Master, what use is a Demonic Artifact?"

"It can multiply one's power several times over," Wang Duli explained. "Someone wielding the Heaven-Slaying Sword immediately becomes an earth-shattering, peerless swordsman!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Impossible, surely?"

"It seems Guanhai, you have never seen a Demonic Artifact," Wang Duli shook his head. "Demonic Artifacts should not be used lightly; otherwise, I could let you experience it firsthand."

Li Muzhan remained silent, contemplating the Heaven-Slaying Sword. He had originally assumed only the Wansheng Sect possessed Demonic Artifacts, but this was a surprise—the Linhai Pavilion had one, and even the Longshan Sect possessed one! (To be continued)RQ