The young woman lowered her gaze to inspect her delicate feet, her face flushed, remaining silent and hesitant. Li Muzhan perceived her internal struggle: she didn't want to burden him by being carried, yet she couldn't walk and desperately wished to return soon, leaving her caught in a web of difficulty and indecision.

Li Muzhan shook his head helplessly; this lady’s temperament was too soft. Who knew when she would ever make up her mind?

He smiled lightly, "May I inquire the name of the fair maiden?" "This humble one is Dong Wanyi," she replied with graceful composure. "And might I ask the esteemed gentleman's name?" "I am Li Wuji," Li Muzhan stated.

"Miss Dong, the day is waning. In matters of urgency, we must adapt to the situation.

Let me carry you on my back!" "This..." Dong Wanyi hesitated. Without waiting for her reply, Li Muzhan immediately bent down and squatted before her.

Dong Wanyi remained still, her blush deepening. Li Muzhan reached out, placing a hand behind her knees.

Her legs instantly weakened, and she tumbled onto his back. She struggled, trying to sit up, but Li Muzhan straightened up, his feet barely seeming to touch the ground.

The scenery blurred past, and she narrowed her eyes, daring not to move again. Li Muzhan called out, "Miss Dong, are we headed in the correct direction?" His voice traveled clearly to her ears.

Immersed in his abundant spiritual energy, he moved as if in water, able to unleash all the subtle applications of his power. Dong Wanyi felt as though she were submerged in a warm spring, experiencing indescribable comfort.

As the scenery rushed past, she could hear the sharp whistle of the wind, yet it seemed to subtly divert around her. Though ignorant of martial arts, her perspective was not shallow.

She glanced down at him and gave a soft nod. "Mm." Li Muzhan asked, "If we keep heading west, will that take us to Dongyang City?" "Mm," Dong Wanyi nodded lightly.

Li Muzhan asked no more questions and increased his speed. The world before them dissolved into distorted streaks of light, a confusing mix of green and pale yellow, indistinct and unclear.

As the sun dipped low and twilight began to creep upward, Li Muzhan halted before a massive, imposing city gate. The people passing through resembled scattered ants.

Li Muzhan estimated the gate stood as tall as a thirty-story building from a later era; the closer one stood, the more insignificant and diminutive one appeared. The mottled walls were patched with black and green—the black being the natural color of the stone, the green being moss that clung thickly to the shaded surfaces.

"This is Dongyang City...?" Li Muzhan frowned as he scrutinized the plaque bearing the city's name. The three characters were exceedingly strange; he could not recognize a single one.

"Yes, Dongyang City," Dong Wanyi confirmed with a slight dip of her head, urging him softly, "Master Li, let us hasten inside." "Very well," Li Muzhan agreed. Dong Wanyi hesitated for a moment, then whispered with difficulty, "Master Li, this humble woman has one request." Li Muzhan replied, "Please, speak freely." Dong Wanyi said softly, "Could you perhaps help me hire a sedan chair upon entering the city, and buy a pair of boots?" Li Muzhan understood instantly and smiled.

"Certainly! Miss, wait here a moment.

I will return shortly!" First, he led Dong Wanyi to a nearby copse of trees and concealed her. Then, he lightly darted into Dongyang City.

No one challenged him; he passed through the gates with ease. While he could not decipher the script of this world, spoken language was universally understood.

He soon emerged leading a small, dark-green sedan chair, accompanied by four agile bearers who moved with surprising speed. ———— After returning to the woods to usher Dong Wanyi into the sedan chair, they re-entered the city.

Following Dong Wanyi’s guidance, they stopped before a sprawling mansion. Two enormous stone lions guarded the entrance, flanked by two young men in white robes.

Their expressions were stern, their gazes sharp as lightning, their swords sweeping left and right as they scrutinized everything. Seeing the small green sedan chair halt at the gate, one of the young men in white stepped forward, about to call out a halt, but his eyes lit up when Dong Wanyi revealed her face.

The cold severity on his handsome features instantly melted into a smile. "Sixth Miss!" Dong Wanyi offered a gentle smile in return.

"Little Jing, are you on duty here?" The young man in white hurried forward. "Sixth Miss, you've finally returned!

Everyone has been terribly worried!" Dong Wanyi apologized lightly. "I apologize for causing concern.

Is Father home?" The young man in white smiled. "The Master is out on business; he is not here." Dong Wanyi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

"That is good. I shall go in now.

Please inform everyone of my return." "Yes, Sixth Miss!" The young man in white nodded respectfully. Li Muzhan stood beside the sedan chair, clearly observing the expression on the young man's face—a blend of deep yearning and tender care, as if he feared a single misplaced word might cause her pain.

The other young man in white mirrored this sentiment, yet he stood motionless, legs seemingly rooted to the ground before the stone lion, his electric eyes sweeping the surroundings, maintaining vigilant watch. The stone lions were massive and majestic, towering over a person, exuding a palpable, intimidating aura that suggested they might pounce at any moment, pressing down with immense pressure.

Li Muzhan studied the pair of stone beasts. They were imbued with spiritual energy, which accounted for the sheer pressure they exerted; without that mental force, no matter how tall they were, they wouldn't command such might.

Looking again at the two young men, Li Muzhan concluded that the Dong family was not to be underestimated. These two, despite their youth, possessed considerable cultivation, and more importantly, were superbly disciplined—a rare combination.

Dong Wanyi turned and beckoned. "Master Li, please follow me." Li Muzhan nodded, waved his hand, and the sedan bearers lifted the chair, hurrying away as if fleeing, while he moved to Dong Wanyi's side.

The expressions of the two young men in white shifted dramatically, their gazes turning into cold electricity, seemingly intent on piercing his very viscera. Li Muzhan felt slightly awkward.

"Miss Dong, perhaps I should not accompany you inside." Dong Wanyi said softly, "Master Li, please come with me." "Sixth Miss, who is this...?" the young man who had remained by the stone lion inquired in a deep voice. Dong Wanyi replied, "Xiao Fan, if it were not for Master Li, my fate this time would have been dire." The young man stared intently at Li Muzhan, seemingly trying to gauge his inner nature, and stated gravely, "Sixth Miss must be cautious of outsiders whose background is unknown!" Dong Wanyi’s expression hardened, and she chided him lightly.

"Xiao Fan, can I not distinguish between a friend and a foe?" "Indeed, the Sixth Miss is as clear-minded as ice and snow, fully capable of discerning loyalty from treachery," the young man immediately assented, cupping his hands toward Li Muzhan. "Master Li, thank you for saving the Sixth Miss!" Li Muzhan smiled.

"You are too kind." "Master Li, please proceed," Dong Wanyi requested gently. Li Muzhan nodded and followed Dong Wanyi past the two stone lions, entering through a smaller side gate.

Before them stood a screen wall, upon which several green pines were painted, wreathed in swirling clouds. Turning past the screen wall, the view suddenly opened into a garden, where a narrow path meandered through the blossoms toward the main hall, enveloped in a faint, delicate fragrance in the twilight.

"Come to my residence," Dong Wanyi suggested softly. Her lotus steps moved lightly, gracefully swaying, her bearing incomparably lovely and captivating.

Li Muzhan replied, "Miss Dong, I believe I should wait outside. If you truly wish to repay me, then allow me to enter an academy.

I wish to study a little and learn to read some characters." "The Master cannot read?" Dong Wanyi inquired softly. Li Muzhan explained, "I have been practicing martial arts in the mountains my entire life; I understand nothing besides combat.

Entering Dongyang City feels like walking around blind, utterly ignorant of everything." "Not knowing the script certainly makes things difficult," Dong Wanyi murmured, nodding gently, her voice soft. "Let me teach you to read then...

Master Li should remain by my side." As she finished speaking, her face once again flushed crimson. Her words were half a gesture of repayment and half for her own sake.

Earlier, leaning against his shoulder as the world rushed by, her heart had felt an unprecedented sense of security and tranquility. Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then gave a wry smile.

"I observe that your household is very strict regarding outsiders, and given that you just experienced trouble, would they permit me to stay?" "Leave that to me, Master Li. Rest assured," Dong Wanyi said gently.

Li Muzhan detected the firmness beneath her delicate tone. He knew this would not be easy, but he didn't press the matter further.

Finding a place to settle here was the best possible outcome. He knew nothing of this world currently, and observing the Dong family seemed to indicate they were no ordinary lineage.

Remaining here would be the fastest way to broaden his horizons and save considerable effort. Furthermore, his weakness for the delicate and pitiable had flared up again.

Dong Wanyi appeared fragile and deserving of pity, seemingly in a precarious situation. He did not wish to simply walk away; he wanted to see his assistance through to the end.