“Ah!” Yang Ruoruo cried out in annoyance, only to find her voice small and faint against the echoing roar, almost inaudible.
The roar abruptly ceased. Li Muchen turned around, and Yang Ruoruo felt two streaks of electric light stab into her eyes, compelling her to shut them tight.
When she opened them again, the figure was gone. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream.
“Huh?” She turned her head to look around.
Li Muchen suddenly reappeared, clad in a flowing cyan robe, his skin like fine jade, his entire form carved as if from a single piece of jade, a subtle, crystalline luster faintly coursing beneath his skin.
“Miss Yang?” Li Muchen cupped his hands in a polite smile.
Seeing his easygoing grin immediately irritated Yang Ruoruo. Forgetting to observe his changed appearance, she huffed, “Why are you still here?”
Li Muchen smiled faintly. “I wished to admire Mount Meng in the rain.”
“Hmph, was that just you shrieking earlier?” Yang Ruoruo asked.
Li Muchen chuckled. “Did I startle the young lady?”
Yang Ruoruo scoffed. “Who was startled! … What was going on with you just now?”
Li Muchen shook his head with a smile. “It seems the lightning wished to draw near me.”
“Were you struck by lightning?!” Yang Ruoruo’s bright eyes widened, a smile touching her lips.
Li Muchen rubbed his nose and nodded helplessly. “One might say so.”
“Heh heh…” The cool composure on Yang Ruoruo’s face melted away, replaced by a blossom of delicate laughter. She clapped a hand over her mouth, giggling, then quickly stopped herself, realizing the impropriety, but when she glanced back at Li Muchen, she couldn't help but laugh again.
Li Muchen sighed and shook his head. “Miss Yang, it was truly coincidental, nothing more.”
“Hmph, you must have done too much evil. Enough to anger the gods, so heaven strikes you down!” Yang Ruoruo pouted, stifling her smile to cast him a sidelong glance.
Li Muchen laughed. “Miss Yang wrongs me. I wouldn’t bear to crush a single ant!”
Yang Ruoruo curled her lip in a cold sneer. “Nonsense. Your Ten Thousand Saints Sect kills without blinking!
Li Muchen smiled. “Just baseless rumors. How could someone as astute as Miss Yang believe them! … I must take my leave now. I wonder when we shall meet again!”
“If it is inconvenient, then so be it!” Yang Ruoruo said faintly.
Li Muchen smiled. “In that case, farewell for now!”
Yang Ruoruo quickly raised a hand. “Wait!”
Li Muchen raised an eyebrow slightly, watching her with a smile.
Yang Ruoruo suddenly exhibited an expression of awkward hesitation. “You’ve been traveling the world for a long time, haven’t you?”
Li Muchen nodded. “I’ve journeyed across the land, seeking out all manner of sword arts. It has been quite a while. Does the young lady have some instruction for me?”
“Are the Linhai Pavilion and the Dragon Mountain Sect truly that formidable?” Yang Ruoruo asked.
Li Muchen smiled. “Though they are strong, they are far behind us. Their foundational depth is lacking!”
“I hear the Dragon Mountain Sect is growing stronger, is that true?” Yang Ruoruo inquired.
Li Muchen pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile. “Our sect has kept itself hidden; where there are no tigers, the monkeys rule the roost. Such things are inevitable!”
“Hmph, you certainly don’t mince words!” Yang Ruoruo pouted. “I wish to meet the Dragon Mountain Sect.”
Li Muchen smiled. “Why does Miss Yang wish to see the Dragon Mountain Sect? Do you hold a grievance against them?”
“No, I just heard the Four Heroes of Dragon Mountain are quite skilled, and I wish to see their abilities.” Yang Ruoruo stated.
Li Muchen shook his head with a smile. “No need to meet them. Miss Yang is already superior to them!”
Yang Ruoruo immediately pressed. “Have you fought them before?”
Li Muchen nodded. “Yes. Their sword techniques are far inferior to yours. The sword arts of the Jade Peak Sect are truly exceptional; I hold them in high regard!”
Yang Ruoruo snorted. Even if the Jade Peak Sect’s sword arts were the best, facing him, they were utterly defeated. His words sounded sharp and grating to her.
Li Muchen smiled. “However, if Miss Yang wishes to spar with them, you may go directly!”
“Hmph, my Master says my sword skill lacks maturity and forbids me from leaving!” Yang Ruoruo said coldly.
Li Muchen mused briefly, then shook his head and laughed. “Then I am powerless to help. I cannot very well ask the Four Heroes of Dragon Mountain to come here, can I?”
“Their sword skills are truly not as good as mine?” Yang Ruoruo asked.
Li Muchen smiled. “Not as good!”
“What about the disciples of the Linhai Pavilion?” Yang Ruoruo asked again.
Li Muchen smiled. “The Linhai Pavilion disciples are hardly worth mentioning. Among the younger generation, you have no equal!”
“You aren’t just flattering me, are you?” Yang Ruoruo asked.
Li Muchen smiled. “Why would I flatter you, Miss?”
“How did you cultivate your sword arts?” Yang Ruoruo asked.
Li Muchen smiled and shook his head. “I actually cultivated on my own initially. Later, I accidentally joined the Sword Sect and began practicing the Sword Canon. Everything is due to the profound mysteries within the Canon.”
Yang Ruoruo curled her lip. “Stop talking nonsense. My Master told me your Sword Canon and our Sword Chapters are on par, and both are incredibly difficult to master!”
Li Muchen smiled. “I have achieved minor success!”
“I hear your most profound core technique is the Primordial Sword Art. What layer have you reached?” Yang Ruoruo challenged him with a sidelong glance.
Li Muchen countered with a smile. “The Twelve Sword Chapters of your sect—how many have you mastered?”
“Me? I’ve only mastered four chapters,” Yang Ruoruo scoffed proudly.
Li Muchen smiled. “And what about your Master and Senior Zhong?”
Yang Ruoruo replied, “Master has reached the sixth chapter. As for Grandmaster, the eighth.”
Li Muchen smiled. “I have reached the ninth level.”
“The Primordial Sword Art has only nine levels; you’ve mastered it?” Yang Ruoruo stared at him in disbelief. “You truly mastered the Primordial Sword Art?”
Li Muchen smiled. “Indeed. After being struck by lightning last night, I attained a sudden, great enlightenment and comprehended the ninth layer immediately. It was truly a stroke of fortune!”
His words were sincere. Achieving full mastery of the Primordial Sword Art this time was indeed a stroke of luck; any slight deviation could have resulted in utter annihilation. His spirit, forged in repeated near-death moments, became infinitely stronger, driving his internal energy through the final metamorphosis to achieve the Gang Qi.
“No wonder I couldn't beat you!” Yang Ruoruo sighed. “Once I master the Twelve Sword Chapters, I will surely defeat you!”
Li Muchen laughed. “That’s not necessarily true!”
Yang Ruoruo pouted disdainfully. “Hmph. Master said our Twelve Sword Chapters are comparable in power to your Sword Canon. But your Canon is too intricate and difficult to master, while our Twelve Sword Chapters are different!”
Li Muchen nodded with a smile. “Very well. I shall await that day with interest!”
He held a good impression of Yang Ruoruo. She appeared cool and detached, but in truth, she rarely interacted with others, possessing a simple and kind heart.
“You are leaving?” Yang Ruoruo asked.
Li Muchen smiled. “We shall meet again. If Miss Yang truly masters the Twelve Sword Chapters, come find me at the Sword Sect, or perhaps at the Hidden Sect.”
“Alright,” Yang Ruoruo huffed.
Li Muchen waved his hand, about to depart, when a cold laugh suddenly echoed.
Li Muchen’s brow tightened slightly. He sensed hostility; his senses were growing increasingly acute. Four old men in black robes suddenly rushed out from the mountaintop.
Yang Ruoruo looked toward them and scoffed. “It’s you lot again!”
Li Muchen tilted his head to look at her. Yang Ruoruo waved her hand. “You go first.”
Li Muchen smiled. “Who are they—?”
“Such a young child, already nursing romantic notions. Your Jade Peak Sect truly is…” One silver-bearded old man stroked his chin and shook his head in mock contemplation.
“Shut up!” Yang Ruoruo’s face instantly flushed scarlet as she snapped, “You people have no shame!”
Li Muchen asked, “Miss Yang, are they—?”
Yang Ruoruo snorted dismissively. “The brutes from the Five Marvelous Mountains. Despicable and shameless!”
The silver-bearded elder chuckled. “Heh heh. We interrupted your little rendezvous, and now you’re embarrassed and angry?”
Li Muchen shook his head. Their strange laughter clearly indicated they were imagining something unsavory. Yang Ruoruo bit her lip and said coldly, “What is it you want?”
The silver-bearded elder cleared his throat seriously and spoke gently. “Little girl, come back with us. As long as you behave, we absolutely won’t harm a single hair on your head!”