Li Muzhan sized them up with a few glances, then turned to ask, "Elder He, are those people...?" Elder He's expression was rather grim. After a moment of hesitation, he finally shook his head.

Li Muzhan understood instantly. They were members of the He family.

He sighed toward Dong Wanyi, who was sharp enough to grasp the situation; seeing Elder He’s look and sensing the tension in Li Muzhan, she had already guessed their affiliation. All six of those men were top-tier masters.

At this moment, Elder Geng was trapped in an encirclement and gradually falling behind, yet Elder He hesitated, unwilling to step forward. Li Muzhan said, "Elder He, I will go and take a look." Elder He nodded hurriedly, offering Li Muzhan a grateful smile.

"They are from the He family, aren't they?" Dong Wanyi asked softly. Elder He sighed and nodded slowly.

Dong Wanyi’s delicate features tightened, her red lips pressed into a firm line. Li Muzhan drifted forward to the proximity, pressed his right palm out, and with a soft "Woo" whistle, a dragon shadow rushed toward the back of a black-clad elder.

The black-clad elder was powerfully built and tall, currently attacking Elder Geng in a torrential downpour of blows. Hearing the disturbance behind him, he spun around fiercely and pushed both palms forward, sending a surging wave of force to meet the dragon shadow.

The black-clad elder’s eyes were like lightning bolts, his killing aura overwhelming; he intended to crush Li Muzhan with a single strike. "Bang!" Sand and stones scattered beneath their feet.

The wooden pole holding a stall’s sign nearby snapped and slowly toppled over. Li Muzhan pivoted on his foot, remaining rooted to the spot.

The black-clad elder staggered back two paces with a "Deng, Deng," his face flushed. His previously dazed eyes quickly returned to normal, his gaze becoming even sharper as he glared fixedly at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan said, "Elder Geng, fall back." Without the black-clad elder’s fierce assault, Elder Geng’s situation did not ease; rather, it worsened. He was flustered and in grave danger, poised to be knocked down at any second.

Li Muzhan frowned. These six possessed profound cultivation.

In a single combat, Elder Geng held an advantage, but against five attacking him simultaneously, he was no match. "Young Master Li, take the Lady and leave with Elder He first.

I will follow shortly," Elder Geng stated gravely. Li Muzhan shook his head, vanishing from his spot in a flash.

The next instant, he appeared beside Elder Geng: "Elder Geng, you and Elder He go first. I will hold them off for a bit." Elder Geng was about to refuse when he saw Li Muzhan move both palms, sending forth a sky full of dragon-shaped palm shadows that roared and lunged at the five men.

The five met the palms, and a series of "Bang, Bang" sounds erupted as they were all forced to retreat two steps. Li Muzhan said, "Elder Geng, go now!" Elder Geng felt shame seeing this, nodded, and drifted back to Dong Wanyi's side: "Miss, let's leave first!" Dong Wanyi looked back at Li Muzhan, who was once again surrounded by the six, and frowned, "Young Master Li he..." Elder He said, "Young Master Li’s martial arts are supreme.

He can disengage at any moment. Once we leave, they won't be able to stop him either.

Let's go, Madam!" "...Very well," Dong Wanyi murmured thoughtfully, nodding slowly. Elder Geng reached out to support her arm, lifting her feet off the ground, and they floated away.

In the span of a blink, they had exited the snack street and reached the North-South Avenue, heading directly south, intending to return to the Dong residence... Bang!

A muffled thud sounded as Elder He suddenly interposed himself before Elder Geng, exchanging a palm strike with someone who burst from the crowd. "Old Geng, you all go first!" Elder He stared intently at the middle-aged man before him and said in a deep voice.

The middle-aged man wore a dark green long robe; his face was square, projecting an air of righteousness, but now it was ashen, his eyes narrowed as he grunted coldly, "Elder He, are you planning to betray the He family?!" Elder He took a deep breath and said slowly, "He Qi, I am under the Third Young Master's orders to protect the Madam. You should give up!" "She is no longer the Third Madam!" the middle-aged man said coldly.

"You can return as well!" Elder He held both palms across his chest and shook his head, "He Qi, the Madam has done nothing to wrong the He family. How can you do this!" The middle-aged man, He Qi, said sternly, "We act upon the direct command of the Family Head.

Do you intend to defy the Head?" "I follow the Third Young Master!" Elder He stated gravely. "Old Geng, what are you still dawdling for!" Elder Geng shook his head.

"You can't beat him." He could sense that He Qi was very young, yet his cultivation far surpassed that of both himself and Elder He. Elder He stomped his foot, annoyed.

"I am, after all, a disciple of the He family. He won't strike lethally.

The Madam's safety is paramount. Hurry up and go!" "Then fine!" Elder Geng nodded reluctantly and shot away, carrying Dong Wanyi.

He Qi suddenly blocked their path, shaking his head, "None of you are leaving today!" "You He family bullies people too far!" Elder Geng's face was grim. "I have already sent the signal.

Our people will be here any moment! ...He Qi, the Miss has done nothing to deserve this from your He family.

For the sake of not revealing something, she was almost exiled from the Dong family, and yet you seek to kill her—what a He family!" He Qi remained unmoved, sweeping a faint glance over Dong Wanyi, and nodded: "We act under orders. Sixth Miss, please do not take offense!" As his words fell, he flashed and vanished, striking toward Dong Wanyi's back from behind her.

Elder Geng pulled, and Dong Wanyi avoided the palm strike. Elder He and Elder Geng simultaneously attacked He Qi.

In a moment, palms and fists flew, locking them in an evenly matched struggle. He Qi’s martial arts were superb; fighting two at once, he actually gained the upper hand.

His palms were like mountains, his movements like those of a phantom, forcing the two to retreat step by step, unable to counterattack. Dong Wanyi glanced around, faintly worried.

Suddenly, a white shadow flashed before her eyes. A young gentleman holding a folding fan lunged forward, flicking the fan sharply toward her heart.

She tried to dodge but it was too late. Just as the fan was about to strike, her mind went blank, and everything seemed to slow down immeasurably.

She could clearly see the fan inching closer, the fan’s owner wearing a triumphant grin, his originally handsome face contorted into something ferocious and terrifying. "Ching!" A light whistle startled her back to reality.

A white light flashed before her eyes, and the folding fan exploded with a "Bang." The fan’s owner instantly recoiled, his face etched with shock. Just as Dong Wanyi was about to turn her head, Li Muzhan was already by her side, whispering, "I'm a little late!" Dong Wanyi shook her head, a trace of a smile touching her pale face, appearing fragile and pitiful.

Li Muzhan sighed inwardly; it was this very smile that had moved him, making him instinctively want to protect her. "He Yun!" Elder He snorted gravely, his voice laced with indignation.

The handsome youth, deprived of his fan, drew the long sword at his waist. The blade shimmered with a cold light, its killing intent palpable.

Li Muzhan frowned; this sword had tasted much blood. Elder He said gravely, "Young Master Li, be careful.

This He Yun is a lunatic. His swordplay specializes in outright killing, aiming for mutual destruction!" "It seems Senior He has truly defected from our He family," He Yun smiled faintly, his eyes fixed on his sword.

He gently stroked the blade with his left hand, as tenderly as if caressing a woman's delicate skin. Seeing this behavior, Li Muzhan knew he was a psychologically twisted deviant—truly a madman, differing fundamentally from the ordinary.

He would need to be extremely cautious. "A hero saving the beauty, truly a marvelous spectacle," He Yun remarked, a gentle smile gracing his handsome face.

Lightly stroking the sword, he murmured, "I shall do a good deed and grant this pair of mandarin ducks their wish!" "Ching!" A sweep of sword light enveloped Li Muzhan and Dong Wanyi. The sword light was dazzling, the cold intense.

Just as Dong Wanyi was about to cry out, Li Muzhan gently pushed out a palm. "Ding..." The myriad sword shadows vanished.

He Yun retreated a step, staring at Li Muzhan in astonishment. Li Muzhan withdrew his right palm and shook his head: "Is this the He family sword art?

Nothing special!" He Yun looked down at his long sword, his face darkening. The cold, shimmering blade actually bore a palm print, the lines clearly visible.

This sword had been with him through life and death, akin to his lover; he even slept clutching it. Now, Li Muzhan had left a palm print with a single strike.

He Yun felt his heart shatter. With a dark expression, he let out a cold laugh.

Li Muzhan swept Dong Wanyi into his left arm and said lightly, "There must be an ambush as well, right? Bring them all out for a go!" "What arrogance!" He Yun scoffed, pursing his lips and whistling sharply.

Immediately, more than twenty people emerged from the gawking crowd—some old, some young—indistinguishable from ordinary folk when mixed in. Elder Geng and Elder He had also stopped fighting.

Elder Geng looked around, frowning deeply. Why hadn't his own people arrived yet?

It had been so long, they should have been here! Li Muzhan said, "Elder He, Elder Geng, you go first.

I will be right behind you!" "What about the Miss?" Elder Geng asked. Li Muzhan smiled: "I will ensure the lady's safety!" "...Very well," Elder Geng stated gravely.

"We shall take our leave first!" Elder He glared at him in disapproval. Elder Geng signaled him with his eyes.

Having been together for two or three years, Elder He had some rapport with him and nodded. Li Muzhan said in a deep voice, "Everyone attack together.

Let me see the true skill of the He family!" "Charge!" He Qi stepped to the front of the group, saying coldly, "Kill them in the shortest time possible!" "Kill!" The twenty-odd people lunged forward together, splitting into inner and outer layers of three, weaving and shifting between the layers in a dizzying display. Elder He shook his head.

"This is our Lesser Origin Return Formation!" "Let’s go!" Elder Geng said heavily. Elder He said, "Old Geng, don't you find it strange?" "It is strange," Elder Geng replied as he moved through the crowd like a fish in water, agile and swift.

"Someone should have been here by now!" Elder He sneered, "It seems the Dong family also wishes to eliminate the Madam!" "No!" Elder Geng shook his head, his expression changing. Dong Wanyi’s face was pale; she dared not look at the expressions of the men around her, who all seemed eager to devour her, filling her with dread.

Li Muzhan embraced her waist with his left arm, sending a wave of warmth into her body. She instantly relaxed, her fear and terror vanishing, replaced by an inexplicable sense of security.

Waving his right hand, Li Muzhan unleashed a sky full of dragon-shaped palm shadows that enveloped and struck the attackers, protecting the two within. "Ding, ding..." "Dang, dang," "Bang, bang"—the palm shadows collided with fists, feet, swords, and blades, the sounds continuous.

The crowd attacked desperately but could not break through his right palm's defense, like trying to chop stone with wood. After a dozen strikes, despair began to creep into their hearts.

Li Muzhan threw his head back and roared with laughter: "Haha, the He family is nothing more than this!" His laughter shook the heavens, soaring toward the clouds and slowly spreading until the entire city of Dongyang could hear it. He Qi frowned.

"Bring out your ultimate, treasured skills!" "Good!" The crowd roared in unison. The formation shifted again.

Some grew bulky, others slender; some had eyes glowing, others faces flushed crimson. Each individual's power surged.

Li Muzhan felt this most acutely and his expression turned serious. It seemed that secret arts stimulating potential existed in this world too, not unique to any single realm.

"Young Master Li, let's go," Dong Wanyi whispered. Her voice was soft, almost inaudible amidst the surrounding roar of palms, whistles of fists, and singing of blades.

Li Muzhan smiled and lowered his head: "Don't worry, Miss. Their skills are limited; they cannot harm us!" "Don't be too reckless," Dong Wanyi murmured softly.

She felt as if everything around her was distant, immersed in Li Muzhan's warmth. Her heart was calm; danger no longer seemed important, and she felt no fear.

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded: "If we can't win, we flee. Let's test their limits first!" "Ching, ching!" A deluge of cold light shot out, engulfing the pair.

The crowd took advantage of his downward gaze while speaking to Dong Wanyi, simultaneously unleashing hidden projectiles. Li Muzhan shook his head and chuckled.

"Ding, ding, ding, ding..." The projectiles rained down onto the bluestone pavement. "Hmm—?!" Li Muzhan frowned.

One nearly imperceptible projectile had broken through his palm barrier and instantly reached Dong Wanyi. Li Muzhan reached out and caught the projectile in his hand.

He Qi revealed a smile and suddenly waved his hand. The crowd immediately stopped and retreated two steps.

Li Muzhan frowned as he looked at the pitch-black iron needle in his hand. It appeared forged from meteorite, dense despite its thinness, and possessed hidden barbs.

It had actually pierced his palm.