Li Muzhan remained silent. He had already made inquiries; the master of the Tianyuan Pavilion was named Long Jingyue, a renowned expert in the realm.

Pavilion Master Long Jingyue inquired, "Aren't you afraid of offending all the inner disciples and thus becoming unwelcome in the Pavilion?"

Li Muzhan replied, "The Pavilion Master sees clearly; I have not violated the rules. Furthermore, martial artists value the attainment of true mastery above all else. Once everyone comprehends the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan, they will naturally be convinced."

Long Jingyue pursed her lips and let out a soft chuckle. "To see the world so clearly at such a young age—rare indeed!"

"Pavilion Master, you aren't angry with Junior Brother Li anymore, are you?" Zhu Ling asked with a smile.

Long Jingyue offered a dazzling, unparalleled smile, yet shook her head. "They violated the Pavilion rules; I cannot intervene!"

"Pavilion Master..." Zhu Ling grew anxious.

Long Jingyue raised her jade-like hand to stop Zhu Ling, her bright eyes fixed on Li Muzhan. "Li Wuji, are you willing to become my disciple? My disciples enjoy no special privileges; you remain an outer disciple. You must achieve merit before you are allowed to practice the Pavilion's ultimate arts."

Zhu Ling was overjoyed, blinking her almond-shaped eyes rapidly, urging Li Muzhan with incessant glances.

Li Muzhan calmly inquired, "Then what difference is there between a disciple under the Pavilion Master's direct tutelage and others?"

Seeing his composure, Long Jingyue chuckled again. "A difference? There is indeed a slight one."

Observing Li Muzhan’s steadfast demeanor, Zhu Ling’s teeth itched with frustration; she desperately wanted to rush forward, clamp her hands over his mouth, and force him to accept on his own behalf. What difference does it make? How could a direct disciple of the Pavilion Master be inferior? Why is he dawdling and being so long-winded? It’s maddening!

Li Muzhan looked at Long Jingyue, waiting for her to continue.

Long Jingyue smiled charmingly. "As my disciple, I will guide you personally."

Li Muzhan cupped his hands and bowed deeply. "I greet you as Master!"

Long Jingyue nodded slightly and smiled. "From this day forward, Wuji, you are my second disciple. Your senior sister is Ming Qiu."

Li Muzhan was surprised. "Senior Sister Bai?"

Long Jingyue stated, "Both you and your senior sister have violated the Pavilion rules. I cannot show favoritism. Starting tomorrow, you will both go to Tianyuan for one year of wall-facing meditation!"

Zhu Ling immediately protested, "Pavilion Master, Senior Sister Bai she..."

Long Jingyue waved her jade hand. "No matter the reason, she broke the rules. Excuses are useless. Ling'er, stop worrying yourself sick!"

Zhu Ling turned and shot Li Muzhan a glare, a flash of resentment in her eyes.

Li Muzhan touched the bridge of his nose, feeling a touch of awkwardness, but he offered no plea for leniency. He knew that saying more would be futile; his Master would not relent. He was never resistant to taking on a master; respect was something inherent in his heart, not something that needed to be shown through formality. To become the foremost person in the world, one needed to draw from all schools of thought; learning in isolation was useless. Long Jingyue's cultivation was profound; he couldn't discern its depth, which proved she possessed secret methods. To refuse to study under such an expert would be sheer foolishness.

Long Jingyue commanded, "Wuji, hurry back and gather your things. I will take you to Tianyuan at dawn tomorrow for your year of meditation!"

Li Muzhan readily agreed, cupped his fist, and turned to leave.

Zhu Ling hurried after him, twisting her waist. As soon as they left the great hall, she couldn't help but blame him, "Junior Brother Li, this is all your fault!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Yes, yes, blame me."

Zhu Ling pouted and huffed. "If it weren't for you, how would Senior Sister Bai have to suffer this?" You don't even know how terrible Tianyuan is, do you?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. Zhu Ling resented, "Tianyuan is the abyss to the north of us. It never sees sunlight, and not a single sound enters. It's so quiet it can drive a person mad!"

Li Muzhan frowned. "Dark and silent?"

"Hmph, for a whole year!" Zhu Ling knitted her brows, her round face crumpling with worry. "Who can endure a year without going insane? The longest anyone lasted was just half a year!"

Li Muzhan remarked, "Senior Sister Bai has a cool temperament; she can withstand it."

"Even Senior Sister Bai can't last a full year!" Zhu Ling shook her head, frowning. "Alas... this punishment is too severe this time!"

Li Muzhan felt a pang of self-reproach. "Was it because of me that someone reported to the Master?" Or perhaps I shouldn't have agreed to become her disciple just now."

"Not agree!?" Zhu Ling’s bright eyes widened in shock. "Are you mad?" To refuse such a wonderful opportunity—how foolish!

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Perhaps it's precisely because I accepted the discipleship that the Master is being so strict with the punishment. Otherwise, the penalty wouldn't have been so harsh!"

Zhu Ling paused, not having considered that angle. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head. "The Pavilion Master has always been fair and impartial; that couldn't be it."

Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior Sister Zhu, don't underestimate Senior Sister Bai too much; I'm sure Senior Sister Bai will be fine!"

"Sigh..." Zhu Ling shook her head and sighed. "I hope I am underestimating Senior Sister Bai! But you definitely won't survive it!"

Li Muzhan chuckled, shaking his head. "Senior Sister Zhu, you underestimate me too much!"

Zhu Ling tilted her head to look at him, then pouted. "You? Humph!"

Li Muzhan proposed, "Senior Sister Zhu, how about a wager?"

"A wager on what?" Zhu Ling huffed, her bright eyes darting around as she considered.

Li Muzhan smiled. "If I can last the entire year, Senior Sister Zhu must grant me one request!"

"What request?" Zhu Ling eagerly asked.

Li Muzhan shook his head with a smile. "I heard Senior Sister Zhu's cooking skills are superb. I want to freeload meals!"

Zhu Ling let out a breath of relief and chided, "Just that? Fine, I promise you!" She immediately her eyes gleamed. "But what if you lose?"

Li Muzhan laughed. "I promise Senior Sister Zhu one thing!"

"Good, it's settled then!" Zhu Ling beamed.

The two quickly arrived in front of Li Muzhan's small courtyard. Zhu Ling waved her hand and headed straight for the small courtyard to the west to find Lin Shaobai. Li Muzhan returned to his own small courtyard to pack his things.

A moment later, Lin Shaobai rushed over, shouting as soon as he entered the yard, "Junior Brother Li! Junior Brother Li!"

Li Muzhan emerged from the house and smiled. "Senior Brother Lin already knows?"

"Sigh..." Lin Shaobai shook his head. "I never thought you'd actually go to Tianyuan for wall-facing meditation! Junior Brother, do you know what kind of place Tianyuan is?"

Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. "I heard about it from Senior Sister Zhu."

"Sigh..." Lin Shaobai kept sighing, looking deeply distressed. "A whole year..."

Li Muzhan assured him, "Senior Brother Lin, don't worry."

"The Pavilion Master’s word is law; once spoken, it won't change. I can teach you a trick!" Lin Shaobai sighed, shaking his head. "Junior Brother Li, do you know how to play chess?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "A little."

"That’s good then." Lin Shaobai relaxed slightly and smiled. "Take a chessboard down with you and play against yourself. Having something to do will make the time pass faster."

"Do I really need to..." Li Muzhan demurred.

Lin Shaobai insisted, "I know you plan to pass the time practicing martial arts, but you can’t practice non-stop. There will be times when you can’t bear it anymore, and then time will drag dreadfully! Almost no one can last a month; anyone over a month goes mad!"

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. His spirit was formidable; he could remain in deep meditation indefinitely, where days merged without notice, so a year was nothing to him. But if he said that, no one would believe him, so it was better to keep quiet.

Lin Shaobai hurried off. "Wait a moment, I'll go get the chess set!"

He soon returned with a chessboard and pieces, bringing a lamp as well, and whispered, "It’s pitch black down there; only light the lamp occasionally."

Li Muzhan accepted the items with a wry smile.

Lin Shaobai then lectured him on a host of precautions, the most crucial being that he must not leave Tianyuan privately, or the penalty would be ten times longer. Moreover, the chambers in Tianyuan were isolated; though he shared the punishment with Senior Sister Bai, they would not be able to meet.

Li Muzhan listened helplessly as Lin Shaobai spoke for over an hour before finally running out of things to say. Li Muzhan was already seated on the stone chair in the courtyard, looking dispirited.

When he finally stopped talking, Li Muzhan breathed a sigh of relief. "Senior Brother Lin, if anyone gives you trouble, try to avoid them for now. We can discuss it when I return."

Lin Shaobai smiled. "Perhaps you should just let it be. I suspect the reason the Pavilion Master punished you so severely is precisely because you offended those inner disciples."

Li Muzhan chuckled. "I've already offended them; offending a few more won't matter!"

"Alright, I will try to endure it," Lin Shaobai agreed. He was often targeted by inner disciples because Zhu Ling adored him. Zhu Ling was stunningly beautiful, and the inner disciples felt inferior to Bai Mingqiu, yet they were jealous that an outer disciple had captured Zhu Ling's heart—how could they not resent him?

At dawn, as Li Muzhan pulled open the door to his small courtyard, Long Jingyue stood waiting outside, clad in white.

"Master," Li Muzhan greeted her with a cupped-fist salute.

Long Jingyue sized him up, her gaze resting on his bundle. "What have you brought?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "A few books and a chess set."

"Knowing how to pass the time with chess; it seems someone gave you advice," Long Jingyue said with a slight smile.

Li Muzhan chuckled. "Bringing these doesn't violate the Pavilion rules, does it?"

"Let's go," Long Jingyue said, turning and walking away.

Li Muzhan followed closely behind. The two headed north, bypassing the main hall to reach an area behind it, where a thick rope hung straight down, its end lost in the abyss below.

"Climb down the rope," Long Jingyue instructed. "Ming Qiu is already in the abyss; follow me." Li Muzhan gave a bitter smile and nodded. Long Jingyue gracefully stepped onto the rope and began sliding down rapidly. Li Muzhan followed close behind.

As the rope descended, at first, it hugged the cliff face, but eventually, they were completely suspended, as if the rope had been dropped into a bottle, with nothing but empty space around them.

They continued to slide down; the light grew dimmer, the stone walls circling everything like a screen. Looking up, the sky seemed smaller, like a distant patch of cloud. Li Muzhan estimated they had descended a thousand meters. The rope was sturdy and long, made of an unusual material that remained soft and pliable despite the cold.

The sky had almost vanished, with only a faint trace of light visible. The surroundings were pitch black and bitterly cold; without circulating internal energy, they would freeze solid.

Long Jingyue suddenly paused her descent. "We're here!"

Li Muzhan turned his head and saw a stone cave entrance before him. With his deep internal power, which allowed him to perceive light in darkness, he could see clearly that the cave was shallow, perhaps four or five paces deep—just enough to offer shelter from wind and rain.

"Wuji, this is your place." Long Jingyue floated into the cave, watching him quietly in the dark.

Li Muzhan surveyed his surroundings. "It is wonderfully quiet!" There was absolutely no sound—no insects chirping, no birds or beasts calling, no sound of the wind, no extraneous noise whatsoever. He could hear his own breathing clearly.

"I will retract the rope. Take care of yourself now," Long Jingyue said.

Li Muzhan asked, "Senior Sister Bai isn't here?"

Long Jingyue shook her head. "She is confined deeper within; you won't find her." She withdrew the rope, making movement impossible. In the absolute darkness of the kettle-like Tianyuan, every step was arduous, and the surrounding stone walls were made of dark ice that could freeze flesh on contact. (To be continued)