He stepped onto Mu Tieliu’s leg, pressing down slowly. Mu Tieliu screamed, struggling, but Li Muzhan’s heart was hard as iron, unmoving, as he deliberately and firmly continued to press.
“Ah…” Mu Tieliu cried out repeatedly, watching his leg slowly warp, blood beginning to gush. Terrified to the point of utter despair, he shrieked incessantly, “Stop it, stop it! It hurts too much, stop right now!”
Li Muzhan watched him calmly, his gaze utterly devoid of fluctuation: “When you injured others, did you ever consider that they, too, would feel pain?”
“Who on earth are you?!” Mu Tieliu’s facial muscles twisted as he shouted, “You must be an enemy of the Mu family, aren’t you?”
Li Muzhan smiled: “You’re getting clever!”
Mu Tieliu yelled out, “What exactly do you want?”
Li Muzhan replied, “Relax, I won’t kill you.”
Mu Tieliu spoke quickly, “If there is enmity, we can bury the hatchet. Whatever you desire, I will compensate you!”
Li Muzhan looked at him coolly, spitting out two words: “Too late.”
At the precise moment those words left his mouth, he gently stamped down with the tip of his foot.
“You… you… Ah!” Mu Tieliu let out a sharp, piercing shriek as a distinct crack echoed—his lower leg bone had snapped.
Li Muzhan released his foot, flicked a finger to seal the acupoints on Mu Tieliu’s leg to staunch the bleeding, and retrieved a porcelain vial from his robes, sprinkling the medicine onto the wound.
Watching him lightly apply the medicine, Mu Tieliu desperately tried to retreat, but the wall blocked his way. He was chilled to the bone, wishing he faced a vicious fiend rather than Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan put the vial away and smiled faintly, “Young Master Mu, rest assured, you won’t die.”
Mu Tieliu remained silent, too terrified to look at him again.
Li Muzhan patted his cheek: “Such little courage—not much like a member of the Mu family!… Get out of Dongyang City! If I see you tomorrow, I’ll break your second leg; the day after, I’ll break your third!”
He shook his head, rose, and walked toward the exit. Just as he reached the main gate, Mu Tieliu’s shout came from behind: “Who are you, exactly?”
Li Muzhan smiled, turned back, and replied: “Li Canghai.”
With that, he flickered out the courtyard door and vanished.
Mu Tieliu struggled to stand, leaning against the wall. He glared venomously in the direction of the main gate, about to speak, when Li Muzhan suddenly reappeared, looking at him with a teasing smile: “What was Young Master Mu about to say?”
Mu Tieliu quickly stammered, “Why are you back again!… We’re leaving right now!”
Li Muzhan smiled sweetly: “I almost forgot, this Li has been rather short on funds lately. I hope Young Master Mu will be generous enough to assist!”
Saying this, he entered Mu Tieliu’s room and confiscated every banknote. Then, laughing heartily twice, he strode away, angering Mu Tieliu so much his body trembled, yet he dared not make a sound.
The sheer humiliation nearly made him cough up blood. Unable to curse Li Muzhan, he vented his rage on his own house servants, turning to glare viciously at the two elders hanging immobile on the wall.
They could not move at all; only their eyes could shift.
After a long pause, they dropped limply to the floor.
“Fifth Young Master, are you alright?” Seeing Mu Tieliu glare at them with malice, they knew they were bearing the brunt of his anger. They sighed inwardly with helplessness; this Fifth Young Master had such a habit of misplaced rage.
“Didn’t die, did I? Are you two perhaps disappointed?!” Mu Tieliu snarled, glaring at them: “You are truly useless!”
The two managed a bitter smile. This Li Canghai’s cultivation was too formidable; they hadn’t even managed to resist. If he hadn't shown mercy, killing the three of them would have been as easy as slaughtering chickens.
“Hurry up, damn it!” Mu Tieliu roared.
The two painfully crawled to their feet, using every ounce of strength just to stand steady. The strength in their bodies seemed to be magically constrained by an invisible force, leaving them weaker than unskilled mortals.
“Young Master, I will investigate who this Li Canghai truly is!” one elder stated gravely.
Mu Tieliu cursed loudly: “Idiot, hurry up and leave! I don’t want to spend another second in this cursed place!”
“Yes, yes,” the two quickly replied, struggling desperately to recover their internal energy.
Li Muzhan’s internal energy was so strange that recovery for them was nearly impossible. After a long time showed no effect, they gave up hope, called the servants, packed their belongings, and swiftly fled Dongyang City.
As for who Li Canghai truly was, investigating later wouldn't be too late; survival came first. They packed their meager belongings in disarray and left Dongyang City directly.
Li Muzhan left Dongyang City first, heading into the woods where he wiped the disguise paste from his face, regaining his true appearance. He then flickered back to the Dong Residence, appearing in his small courtyard, and went to find Dong Yufei.
Dong Yufei had already heated the wine and was waiting for him. Seeing him return, he chuckled, “Back so soon? Did you find Mu Tieliu?”
Li Muzhan nodded: “Maimed one of his legs to teach him a lesson. He probably won’t dare come to Dongyang City again!”
“Maimed a leg?” Dong Yufei gestured for him to sit, called a guard over to order food, and then poured a full cup of wine for Li Muzhan. “That’s just right!”
Li Muzhan said, “The Mu family is powerful after all; killing him outright would invite endless trouble.”
“Precisely, precisely!” Dong Yufei nodded repeatedly.
He also feared the Mu family. Dongyang City and Xiyang City—the latter was far more prosperous—and the Mu family far surpassed the Dong family. Fortunately, there was the Tianyuan Pavilion.
Li Muzhan mused: “Eldest Young Master, the Mu family is backed by the Qinghe Sword Sect; you’re aware of that, aren't you?”
“Mm, mm—!?” Dong Yufei’s expression changed drastically.
Li Muzhan said, “It seems you didn’t know.”
Dong Yufei hurried to ask, “The Qinghe Sword Sect? The one in the southeast?”
Li Muzhan nodded and smiled, “Heard of it?”
Dong Yufei gave a wry smile: “Who hasn’t heard of the Qinghe Sword Sect?!”
Li Muzhan continued, “Rest easy, Eldest Young Master, it’s nothing. It’s far away; the Mu family might not come looking for trouble. Besides, I never revealed my identity, so it’s fine.”
Dong Yufei drained his cup, letting out a string of bitter laughs: “Alas… Brother Li, you underestimate the Mu family too much. Even if you conceal your identity, they can still investigate. Coming to Dongyang City, Mu Tieliu only offended my little sister—isn’t that obvious?”
Li Muzhan countered, “The Mu family has countless enemies; how could they conclude it was us?”
“They don't need to conclude; simple inference is enough for them to seek revenge!” Dong Yufei shook his head. “The Mu family has become increasingly arrogant these past few years!”
Li Muzhan laughed: “If that’s the case, our Tianyuan Pavilion is not to be trifled with either.”
“Alas… If it’s the Qinghe Sword Sect, even the Tianyuan Pavilion wouldn’t dare provoke them,” Dong Yufei took another drink, his face bitter.
Li Muzhan said, “That’s not necessarily true… Don’t worry, I will handle it. Come, Eldest Young Master, don’t just drink. Eat some food!”
“Sigh…” Dong Yufei smiled in resigned bitterness: “The deed is done; we can only leave it to fate. Here, eat!”
He began to eat heartily. Li Muzhan smiled, knowing Dong Yufei was under pressure. The Qinghe Sword Sect was indeed formidable; its mere reputation was enough to terrify people.
Dong Yufei was also a capable man of responsibility. Since matters had come to this, blaming Li Muzhan now would be dishonorable. Thus, he suppressed his worries and drank merrily with Li Muzhan.
He soon became drunk. Li Muzhan had not used his internal energy to refine the alcohol; at Dong Yufei’s level, drinking was purely for enjoyment, and using inner strength to process it would be a terrible waste. Li Muzhan was immune to all poisons; wine could not harm him… Towards evening, Dong Wanyi, accompanied by Chunhua, gracefully arrived at his small courtyard, asking him immediately if he had gone to find Mu Tieliu.
Li Muzhan readily admitted it. Dong Wanyi showed anger mixed with tender reproach, chastising him for being too rash. She argued that the Mu family was not to be provoked lightly, and that as she was no spoiled young lady, enduring a minor injury was no great matter—there was no need for such drastic action, as that could provoke a war between the Mu and Dong families, a catastrophe for which she could never atone with a hundred deaths.
Li Muzhan shook his head repeatedly, feeling she lacked self-awareness. As the eldest daughter of the Dong family, how could she allow herself to be bullied, causing the Dong family to lose face?
He explained to Dong Wanyi that if they had let Mu Tieliu bully them unchecked this time, the Mu family would assume the Dong family was swallowing its pride out of weakness and fear of reprisal. This would only encourage them to escalate their actions; they would certainly not feel gratitude or let the Dong family off the hook just because they didn't retaliate immediately.
The Mu family had grown increasingly overbearing in recent years, full of ambition, aiming to swallow the Dong family and become the sole power in Dongyang City. A slight show of weakness from the Dong family would make the Mu family even more unscrupulous.
Dong Wanyi considered his words and found merit in them; the Mu family was indeed arrogant, daring to command their guards to harm her even when they knew her identity.
Li Muzhan comforted her, and then decided to stay in the residence for a while longer. Dong Wanyi immediately smiled, casting aside all thoughts of the Mu family’s actions.
Li Muzhan laughed: “Wanyi, rest assured, at worst, we can all take refuge in the Tianyuan Pavilion!”
“Wouldn’t that be improper…” Dong Wanyi laughed, letting out a sigh of relief.
She cared little for wealth or power; as long as her loved ones were safe, that was enough. Being able to retreat to the Tianyuan Pavilion meant both safety and the ability to stay with Li Muzhan—nothing could be better.
Li Muzhan knew that while Dong Wanyi agreed to go to Tianyuan Pavilion, the Eldest Young Master might not. If they truly hid in the Pavilion, it would be tantamount to handing Dongyang City over to the He family. Once the current crisis passed, returning would be difficult; the He family would not tolerate their comeback, and the Dong family’s power and wealth would be hard to secure. The Eldest Young Master, being deeply invested in status and power, surely could not abandon that easily… Li Muzhan remained at the Dong Residence, spending his days pleasantly chatting and strolling with Dong Wanyi. He wasn't idle; while enjoying leisure time, he was also constantly refining his internal energy.
One evening, the three of them were descending a small hill outside the city. The setting sun dyed the surrounding forest crimson, casting them in robes of brilliant color.
Dong Wanyi suddenly frowned, spotting a group of people coming up the mountain directly toward them, not far off.
Li Muzhan had been helping Dong Wanyi clear her meridians and cleanse her marrow to aid her cultivation over these past weeks, sharpening her hearing and sight, granting her excellent vision.
Li Muzhan asked softly, “What is it?”
“It’s people from the He family,” Dong Wanyi murmured.
Li Muzhan’s brow furrowed, and he quietly asked, “Should we avoid them?”
“Too late,” Dong Wanyi shook her head.
At that moment, the other party spotted them and immediately quickened their pace. Li Muzhan saw there were seven in total: one handsome youth accompanied by four middle-aged men who appeared to be guards.
“Oh, isn’t this Third Sister-in-Law?” A flirtatious voice drifted over from a distance. The handsome youth, dressed in violet robes, wore a mocking smile on his handsome face.
Li Muzhan frowned slightly. If it were just a few barbed remarks, it wouldn’t warrant such a major confrontation.
“Fifth Young Master He…” Dong Wanyi responded quietly, “I am not your Third Sister-in-Law.”
“Hehe, even though Third Sister-in-Law hasn’t formally married in, I’ve always treated her as such. May I ask who this gentleman is…?” The handsome youth looked at Li Muzhan with a smiling gaze.
Li Muzhan stated flatly, “He Wu?”
“Do you have a request?” Fifth Young Master He asked, grinning, “What is your relationship with Third Sister-in-Law?”
Li Muzhan’s face darkened: “There was no marriage, so how can there be a Third Sister-in-Law? Does your He family truly consider yourselves the masters of Dongyang City?”
Fifth Young Master He smiled and shook his head: “Oh, you young lad, you speak quite aggressively. Are you daring to seduce Third Sister-in-Law and show no regard for our He family?”
“Fifth Young Master He!” Dong Wanyi chastised, her jade-like face darkening.