He flashed to Zhu Ling’s side, glancing down to see her face the color of pale gold paper, her breathing faint, yet no visible wounds marred her body.
“Senior Sister Zhu?” he called softly, placing a hand on her chest. His inner force flowed in like fine threads, mapping the condition of her entire body clearly within his mind—from her internal organs and vascular meridians to her flesh and skin, seen inside and out, utterly exposed.
Her sternum was slightly sunken; her elbow bone seemed to have taken a heavy impact, two breaks driving into her lung, blood surging into her viscera. If he had been a moment later, she might have been beyond saving.
Who could be so ruthless as to lay such brutal hands upon such a delicate beauty! He let out an angry snort, and his internal force began to work. In the space of a breath, she broke out in a sweat, tiny beads of blood emerging from her pores.
After realigning the bones, Li Muzhan turned and found several pieces of wood, binding them to her body to immobilize her chest, lest the bones shift again.
It was a long story, but all this took mere moments. The two middle-aged men ignored him, fiercely assaulting Bai Mingqiu, their solidified fist imprints raining down like a torrential storm, intending to swallow her whole.
Bai Mingqiu’s sword light transformed into a silver torrent, slicing away the fist imprints one by one, calm and unhurried, leaving no gap. Seeing Li Muzhan cease his movements, she asked, “Junior Brother, how is Junior Sister Zhu?”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Severely wounded. She’ll need a month to recuperate.”
Bai Mingqiu sighed in relief, inwardly musing that he was being dramatic; looking at his expression, she thought he was done for, yet claiming only a month of rest was clearly meant to frighten them.
Her sword light grew more composed. “What about those other fellows?”
Li Muzhan sneered. “I regret being merciful!”
Bai Mingqiu stated flatly, “There is no need for courtesy with the Divine Fist Sect. Kill one, and we have one less to worry about!”
“Senior Sister. You rest, let me handle this!” Li Muzhan said. “Send them on their way early!”
“Let’s do it together,” Bai Mingqiu replied.
They treated the two middle-aged men as if they were not there. Their relentless attacks yielded no results. Bai Mingqiu grew increasingly poised. The two men exchanged a glance, and their fist techniques suddenly shifted, transforming from a raging storm to a gentle drizzle.
Bai Mingqiu frowned. Her expression grew solemn, and her sword momentum abruptly quickened, facing the soft, yielding fists with some effort. Each punch was graceful and elegant, like a noblewoman stretching languidly.
Li Muzhan’s eyebrow twitched. This set of fist techniques was extraordinary, mastering the principle of overcoming the rigid with the yielding.
The notion of overcoming the rigid with the yielding sounded appealing, but achieving it was difficult, especially in martial arts where raw power was overwhelming. To truly master yielding strength, one first had to cultivate extreme hardness, allowing Yin to emerge from Zenith Yang. Only then could one achieve true yielding. Starting with yielding power would result in something incapable of overcoming hardness, actually putting them at a disadvantage against ferocious boxing styles. Li Muzhan understood this subtlety perfectly.
These two middle-aged men were formidable; their fist techniques had reached an extremely high realm, allowing them to overcome hardness with softness. Otherwise, Bai Mingqiu would not struggle so much.
He said gravely, “Senior Sister, shall I take over?”
“Come on in!” Bai Mingqiu agreed.
Li Muzhan flashed behind one of the men. A sword light flickered at his waist, its roar like a dragon’s cry, coiling toward the man.
“Clang, clang, clang, clang…” The middle-aged man’s fists moved like coiled silk, striking the sword body one by one. Waves of gentle force transmitted through the blade.
Li Muzhan’s brow twitched. This fist technique was indeed profound, actually capable of resisting the Submerged Dragon Stance.
The martial arts essence of this world surpassed what Li Muzhan had previously learned. Even a supreme skill like the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan was being withstood by someone. In his previous two worlds, this would have been impossible.
He gently trembled his sword body, like a quivering spirit snake, deflecting the internal energy transmitted by the fists. Li Muzhan was a master of force manipulation; even though the opponent’s yielding energy was incomparably pure, it was still dissipated… “Junior Brother, this is the Divine Fist Sect’s famous Soft Fist. Be careful,” Bai Mingqiu warned.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Senior Sister, you should be the one to be careful. Does this Soft Fist have any weakness?”
Bai Mingqiu shook her head. “It can only be overcome by superior force; there is no other way.”
Li Muzhan’s sword light shifted, transforming from the Submerged Dragon Stance to the Flowing Water Stance, drifting like willow catkins in the wind. His sword light was continuous, yielding to circumstances. The two seemed to be sparring partners, their fists and swords never directly clashing.
Bai Mingqiu glanced over, shaking her head. Junior Brother Li’s Flowing Water Sword Style was seasoned and incomparably powerful—sufficient to deal with this Soft Fist.
A hundred moves passed in a flash. The Flowing Water Sword moved in concert with the Soft Fist. Li Muzhan yielded to the flow, discerning the maneuvers of the Soft Fist and formulating a countermeasure.
The sword style shifted again, still the Flowing Water Sword, but unlike the previous yielding nature, this time it was like mercury spilling everywhere, infiltrating every crevice.
The Soft Fist maneuvers were exquisite, but they could not be without flaws. After a dozen moves, fist and sword met. With a crisp “Ding…,” the sword light suddenly blazed brightly. Li Muzhan’s retreat instantly morphed into a forward thrust. The sword light flared brightly and then dimmed, the tip piercing out from behind the middle-aged man.
Li Muzhan floated backward as the middle-aged man collapsed, clutching his chest, his breath gone—no possibility of survival from a sword thrust directly through the heart, shattering it instantly.
Li Muzhan had not intended to kill before, as he was unfamiliar with the feud between the Divine Fist Sect and the Tianyuan Pavilion. But seeing Zhu Ling nearly lifeless on the ground, his killing intent erupted, and he desired only to kill.
Bai Mingqiu turned her head, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised. Li Muzhan gave his sword a light shake. “Senior Sister, shall I help?”
“Yes.” Bai Mingqiu nodded.
Li Muzhan instantly appeared beside Bai Mingqiu, drawing his sword.
A sharp, soaring whistle suddenly rang out. The middle-aged man opposite let out a long cry, dissolving into a shadow that vanished abruptly before them, darting into the woods.
Li Muzhan flashed forward, arriving in the forest a dozen zhang away, thrusting out a sword. The middle-aged man zipped past him without hesitation, ignoring the strike.
Bai Mingqiu caught up, seeing Li Muzhan’s face grim. “He escaped?”
Li Muzhan frowned deeply, slowly nodding.
“Forget it. If he fled, he fled. Killing one is a gain!” Bai Mingqiu said.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “He was willing to take a blow just to escape; this person is not simple.”
Bai Mingqiu frowned in thought, slowly nodding. Willing to take a sword strike just to flee, disregarding face and the fate of his fellow sect members—a person like this had no bottom line and would use any means necessary. If such a person sought revenge, they would be impossible to guard against, perhaps targeting the ordinary disciples of the Tianyuan Pavilion, specifically attacking the weak.
Li Muzhan said firmly, “No, Senior Sister, we must catch him. He took a sword strike from me; he can’t have gotten far.”
“…What about Junior Sister Zhu?” Bai Mingqiu asked.
Li Muzhan asked, “Can’t we find the other Senior Brothers or Sisters?”
Bai Mingqiu shook her head. Li Muzhan frowned, then sighed helplessly. “Then let’s send Junior Sister Zhu back first!”
Bai Mingqiu replied, “If it won’t take too long, we can just protect her with a talisman array.”
Li Muzhan nodded. “Then use the talisman array!”
Bai Mingqiu returned Zhu Ling to the edge of the small lake, her original location, and then set up a talisman array. The formation instantly solidified.
Li Muzhan then activated the array he had previously set up. With this dual layer of security, while he couldn't claim it was impenetrable, entry in a short time would be impossible.
Zhu Ling had already woken up, waving her hand to signal them not to worry about her. She could move, she wouldn't starve, and besides, this was a perfect opportunity to sit in meditation within the array to regulate her breath and heal her injuries.
The two left the array, Bai Mingqiu leading the way. Li Muzhan observed that she moved perfectly straight, trailing that man from a distance, knowing she must also understand tracking secret arts, which was not surprising. For a sect like Tianyuan Pavilion, rare arts and secret techniques would certainly not be few. Knowing a tracking secret art wasn't extraordinary; otherwise, Long Jingyue wouldn't have sent her down the mountain to find the missing disciples in the first place.
“Senior Sister, what about the two Junior Brothers?” Li Muzhan asked.
The two were speeding along side-by-side, their feet barely touching the ground, as if riding the wind, the surrounding scenery rushing backward. Li Muzhan asked casually.
Bai Mingqiu’s delicate face darkened, and she shook her head.
Li Muzhan frowned. “They’re gone?”
“Yes.” Bai Mingqiu nodded.
Li Muzhan snorted. “The Divine Fist Sect has quite the audacity!” There were grievances between sects, but most did not strike at the fundamental structure. Killing people outright like this crossed a line and would escalate matters greatly.
Bai Mingqiu said, “They are becoming increasingly arrogant and disrespectful toward us!”
Li Muzhan frowned and glanced at her. Bai Mingqiu sneered, “Hmph, the disciples of this generation are lacking spirit. They haven't established any formidable reputation, so it’s no wonder others bully us.”
Li Muzhan frowned. “Lacking spirit?”
Bai Mingqiu glanced at him. “The Outer Disciples are too weak, and there are no geniuses among the Inner Disciples. If others don't push us around, who will?!”
Li Muzhan frowned. “Senior Sister, are you not considered a genius yourself?”
Bai Mingqiu said flatly, “My unique methods cannot sustain the sect alone, and my aptitude isn't top-tier. I’ve tired myself out letting the sect’s prestige diminish!”
She stated it coldly. Li Muzhan could hear the anger in her voice, and he sighed. “Senior Sister, as long as you master the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan, you will surely make a name for yourself.”
“The Twelve Swords of Tianyuan are not so easy,” Bai Mingqiu shook her head.
As they spoke, they rushed dozens of li. The sky was now bright, a red sun rising in the east, cloaking them in an outer layer of rosy light.
“It should be about here,” Bai Mingqiu suddenly said.
They arrived at the foot of a continuous mountain range. Li Muzhan frowned as he surveyed it. Bai Mingqiu said, “Let’s go kill him.”
“Senior Sister, we should be cautious,” Li Muzhan advised.
Bai Mingqiu said, “He can’t stir up any real trouble.”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Perhaps he’s planning a counter-attack, setting an ambush.”
Bai Mingqiu pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. “Let’s go.”
The two floated into the woods and headed up the mountainside, soon reaching a cave entrance halfway up. Li Muzhan stepped forward and charged inside.
Bai Mingqiu shook her head slightly and followed him in.
As soon as they entered the cave, a sword light rose from Li Muzhan’s waist, forming a luminous barrier in front of him. A continuous, clear ringing sound began: “Clang, clang, clang, clang…”
Bai Mingqiu’s eyes narrowed slightly. The cave was pitch black, sunlight unable to penetrate, yet she could clearly see four middle-aged men inside, watching them with cold smiles, unleashing their fist imprints like hidden projectiles.
Bai Mingqiu snorted. The influence of the Divine Fist Sect was indeed growing stronger; within just a few hundred li, they managed to gather three masters. It seemed the disciples of their previous generation were indeed exceptionally talented, far surpassing the Tianyuan Pavilion.
Li Muzhan deflected the fist imprints with his sword, catching sight of the situation inside in a quick glance. The wounded middle-aged man was sitting cross-legged on a tiger skin, motionless in meditation. The four middle-aged men blocked him, their fist imprints pressing down like mountains, forcing him to remain immobile.
“Junior Brother, fall back. Fire attack,” Bai Mingqiu snorted, withdrawing from the cave.
Li Muzhan parried with his sword and retreated, positioning himself at the cave mouth, sealing off the exit. He had already taken in the layout of the cave; it had no other vents, making it suitable for a fire attack.
Bai Mingqiu quickly gathered some branches, tossed them near the cave entrance, and then lit them. Morning wood was damp, so the fire quickly produced thick, rolling smoke.
Bai Mingqiu slowly pushed her palms forward, sending the dense smoke billowing into the cave.
Li Muzhan nodded approvingly. Their method couldn’t harm the four middle-aged men, who had profound internal force and weren't afraid of smoke, but the wounded man could not withstand it.
Soon, coughing sounds erupted from within. Li Muzhan lunged in like a leopard, vanishing instantly into the smoke. Angry roars immediately followed within the cave.
A moment later, Li Muzhan burst out of the thick smoke, shouting, “Senior Sister!”
Bai Mingqiu rushed forward, her sword light sweeping past him like a torrent, sealing the cave mouth and forcing the two middle-aged men back inside.
“Clang, clang, clang, clang…” The fist imprints struck the sword body with crisp sounds. Bai Mingqiu and Li Muzhan took turns darting into the smoke, using their sword light to seal the entrance. When she couldn't hold her breath, Li Muzhan immediately took over; when Li Muzhan was about to suffocate, Bai Mingqiu relieved him. Their year-long tacit understanding manifested at this moment.
The coughing inside grew louder, then more violent. Li Muzhan felt a chilling cold in his heart, his killing intent icy; two fellow sect members dead, and Zhu Ling almost lost—all fueled his murderous intent.
Bai Mingqiu’s jade face was equally cold. Only three middle-aged men were fighting desperately—it seemed their Junior Brother had already killed one, or they wouldn't be able to withstand this massive pressure.
They were genuinely fighting desperately to charge out, but the two women’s sword lights were too fierce, and they stubbornly blocked them, determined to kill them to avenge their two fallen brothers.
“Senior Sister!” Li Muzhan suddenly spun around. Bai Mingqiu followed by sending her sword light to seal the cave entrance.
Li Muzhan’s sword light intensified. Amidst a series of “Clang, clang, clang, clang…” clear chimes, Bai Mingqiu glanced back, only to see two elderly men attacking Li Muzhan. Their fists were enveloped in white radiance, and instead of shooting out fist imprints, they truly met Li Muzhan’s sword with their fists.
“Fist Aura!” Bai Mingqiu frowned and huffed. “Junior Brother, the Fist Aura can injure without visible contact.”
Li Muzhan nodded. His sword body felt as if it struck iron, causing a strong recoil. Faintly, a power that shook the spirit lurked within, extremely subtle and hard to detect. Li Muzhan’s spirit was robust, his perception minute; he could sense its presence. It was like a subtle wind, accumulating bit by bit. Initially, it was imperceptible, but by the time it was noticed, it had already accumulated enough to erupt.
Both elders wore gray robes, their faces grim; one was tall and slender, the other short and thin. They paid no attention to the cave entrance, as if it had nothing to do with them; they only wanted to kill Li Muzhan.
After a hundred exchanges, Li Muzhan’s movements suddenly stalled, and his face changed drastically. Smiles spread across the faces of the two elders; the Fist Imprints, long held back, suddenly shot out.
Li Muzhan appeared to be struck. The smiles on the elders' faces froze the moment they blossomed. Li Muzhan’s shadow dissolved.
“Hmph!” The taller elder grunted heavily, forcing himself to look down. A section of a gleaming, bloodless, spotless sword tip emerged from his chest.
“Ah—!” The smaller elder roared, his robes billowing, and he punched violently toward Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan slowly drew his sword in an arc. The sword light condensed in mid-air, appearing like lightning across the sky.
“Bang!” Li Muzhan slid straight back over ten paces, the ground churned up like a long trench.
“Bang!” Bai Mingqiu also retreated, falling beside Li Muzhan. Three middle-aged men emerged from the cave, one holding the one who had fled injured earlier.
They joined the elders, encircling Li Muzhan. Then, with rustling footsteps, dozens of gray-robed youths swarmed out of the woods, surrounding Li Muzhan and Bai Mingqiu.
Bai Mingqiu slowly scanned the surroundings and frowned. “Junior Brother, do you have any final wishes?”
Li Muzhan said, “Senior Sister, you should leave first.”
“Neither of us can leave now,” Bai Mingqiu stated calmly.