"Mmm." Long Jingyue sighed. "Wuji hasn't seen the Tai Shang Yu Qing Jing, but based on his guess, I think he has a point. Better not to practice it after all."

Bai Mingqiu was astonished. The Tai Shang Yu Qing Jing was the sole hope of Tian Yuan Pavilion; mastering it would elevate one to the ranks of the world's foremost experts. Her Master had been so dedicated to it, persisting despite its profound complexity and the near impossibility of success. She never imagined she would abandon it so readily.

Long Jingyue said, "You shouldn't practice it either. You're so young, and haven't even tasted love. How could you possibly master the Tai Shang Yu Qing Jing? It would be wasted effort!"

"Yes, Master," Bai Mingqiu replied with a slight bow of her head.

"If you insist on going down the mountain to help Wuji," Long Jingyue sighed again, "I won't stop you. But it is best if you act discreetly."

"Understood!" Bai Mingqiu quickly nodded.

"Go then. If things don't work out, send word back. Your grand-master and grand-aunt will assist," Long Jingyue instructed.

Bai Mingqiu’s bright eyes shone. She nodded slowly, offered a cupped-fist salute, and then turned to leave.

She hurried back to her room to prepare her supplies, eager to descend the mountain immediately. She wished she had wings strapped to her back so she could fly straight to Li Mu Chan’s side and offer her aid.

As she was packing, footsteps sounded. Zhu Ling ran in, clad in a pink silk luo shan, appearing as lovely as a flower. Curious, she asked, "Senior Sister, where are you off to?"

Bai Mingqiu shook her head. "Going down the mountain for a bit."

"To find Junior Brother Li, aren't you?" Zhu Ling pressed immediately.

Bai Mingqiu frowned at her. Zhu Ling snorted. "Li Canghai is Junior Brother Li, right?"

"Nonsense!" Bai Mingqiu said, displeased.

Zhu Ling huffed and pouted. "Senior Sister, I know Li Canghai is Junior Brother Li... Don't worry, I won't tell a soul!"

"Humph," Bai Mingqiu frowned. "Ling'er, you must know where the weight lies. Don't bring a disaster upon us!"

"I know, I know!" Zhu Ling waved her jade-like hand dismissively. "I'm only telling you, Senior Sister—I wouldn't even tell Junior Brother Lin!"

"That’s good!" Bai Mingqiu nodded, then returned to packing her satchel.

Zhu Ling sighed, worried. "Senior Sister, Junior Brother Li is too reckless! Killing so many disciples from the Qinghe Sword Sect—how will he possibly settle things in the end?"

Bai Mingqiu replied, "He’ll lie low."

Zhu Ling shook her head, pouting. "It’s never that easy, not with the Qinghe Sword Sect!"

If it were that simple to hide, the Qinghe Sword Sect wouldn't command such fear. Anyone could do what he did, and no one would fear the sect.

Bai Mingqiu said, "Junior Brother Li intends to hide within Tian Yuan, where they cannot find him."

"That's not necessarily true," Zhu Ling countered, shaking her head. "The Qinghe Sword Sect is formidable. If they find our Tian Yuan, won't we face catastrophe?"

Tian Yuan Pavilion was strong, but the fact remained that they could not defeat the Qinghe Sword Sect.

Bai Mingqiu insisted, "Junior Brother Li's recent upheaval has severely damaged the Qinghe Sword Sect's strength. They won't dare to act too rashly!"

"Hee hee, that is true!" Zhu Ling laughed cheerfully. "Junior Brother Li truly has skills! I heard he killed three or four hundred Qinghe Sword Sect disciples—that’s terrifying!"

Bai Mingqiu nodded. "That is precisely why he is a thorn in the Qinghe Sword Sect's side, something they must eliminate."

"Senior Sister, can you help him?" Zhu Ling asked.

Bai Mingqiu shot her a glare. Zhu Ling tucked her neck in, giggling. "I’m just afraid you might drag Junior Brother Li down with you! It seems the Qinghe Sword Sect can’t touch him!"

"The Qinghe Sword Sect must not be underestimated," Bai Mingqiu huffed.

Zhu Ling nodded. "I wonder how Junior Brother Li is doing, if he's injured."

Bai Mingqiu waved her away. "Enough. I will take good care of him. Stop worrying yourself sick... And watch your mouth!"

Zhu Ling reluctantly bid farewell.

————

After descending the mountain, Bai Mingqiu traveled at breakneck speed, not resting at all. After two days of relentless travel, she reached a small town by evening. Finally exhausted, she decided to rest and gather intelligence on Li Mu Chan’s whereabouts.

She wore a wide-brimmed hat and veiled her face with white gauze; outsiders could not discern her features. However, her bearing and temperament vastly differed from ordinary women, and upon entering the tavern, she immediately drew attention.

She moved to a table by the window, removed her hat and veil, revealing a completely unremarkable face—she had disguised her features.

The surrounding patrons sighed, feeling a mixture of pity and disappointment. They had expected a peerless beauty, only to find her appearance utterly plain.

Bai Mingqiu paid them no mind. She beckoned a waiter, ordered two dishes, and quietly listened to the gossip around her. Just as she expected, the conversation soon turned to Li Mu Chan.

"This Li Canghai is truly incredible! Facing the entire Qinghe Sword Sect alone and not losing ground!" someone exclaimed, slapping the table in admiration, shaking his head repeatedly.

"Hmph, isn't he just being chased like a stray dog by the Qinghe Sword Sect!?"

"I say, Old Li, are you jealous of him?"

"Jealous of what!" the man scoffed. "With what he’s done, he’ll be cleaned up by the Qinghe Sword Sect sooner or later. What good is being strong alone? Can one man stand against an entire sect?"

"Not necessarily!" the person next to him argued, unconvinced. "This is the Qinghe Sword Sect we're talking about. If it were any other sect, he’d have been subdued long ago!"

"True..."

"They say he killed over three hundred masters from the Qinghe Sword Sect. The sect has been utterly humiliated. Even if they manage to kill Li Canghai, their strength will be severely diminished!"

"So what?" someone sneered dismissively. "Even if their strength is diminished, it’s still the Qinghe Sword Sect. Who else dares to act recklessly around them?"

"Alas... In all these years, only one Li Canghai has appeared!"

People murmured their thoughts, shaking their heads in contemplation.

"Where is Li Canghai now?" someone inquired.

"Who knows?!"

"Even the Qinghe Sword Sect probably doesn't know!"

Listening to their discussions, Bai Mingqiu felt a surge of pride. Junior Brother Li had caused such an uproar, achieving fame across the land, even eclipsing Tian Yuan Pavilion in renown.

However, the Qinghe Sword Sect was undeniably more powerful than Tian Yuan Pavilion. Her junior brother needed extreme caution to escape; if he were trapped, his life would be in grave danger.

As she pondered this, the light before her dimmed, and a middle-aged man sat down across from her, offering her a slight smile.

Bai Mingqiu’s face cooled, and she was about to dismiss him when she swallowed the retort, looking up in surprise at the man opposite her. He was lean, with a simple, somewhat dull expression, and dark, sun-weathered skin—the picture of an honest man.

"Junior Brother?" she whispered.

Li Mu Chan smiled. "Senior Sister, what brings you here?"

"You..." Bai Mingqiu glanced around quickly, frowning. "You have some nerve!"

She never expected to run into Li Mu Chan here. She had planned to use his secret signal to find him, which would have taken considerable effort. Instead, she encountered him immediately.

Li Mu Chan chuckled. "Did you come for a specific reason, Senior Sister, or were you looking for me intentionally?"

He gestured, calling the waiter over to add a jug of wine.

Bai Mingqiu replied, "I came to see if I could help you."

The waiter brought a jar of wine. Li Mu Chan broke the seal, and the fragrance immediately filled the air. He poured a cup, downed a large gulp, and let out a satisfied moan before speaking. "I am perfectly fine, carefree and comfortable. Why must Senior Sister wade into this muddy water?!"

"Master is worried." Bai Mingqiu stated.

Li Mu Chan laughed. "Master must have been terrified, eh?"

Bai Mingqiu snorted. "What you've done is far too alarming!"

They spoke in low voices, drawing little attention, largely because Bai Mingqiu’s current plain appearance discouraged others from bothering her.

Li Mu Chan quickly finished the jar of wine, rose, and led Bai Mingqiu out of the tavern. They soon arrived at an inn, where they entered a room to speak privately.

Bai Mingqiu sat on the couch, while Li Mu Chan took a chair, facing her across the small space. Li Mu Chan shook his head and sighed. "Senior Sister really should go back!"

"Afraid I'll implicate you?" Bai Mingqiu scoffed, glancing around the room. It was luxurious and well-appointed; even in this situation, he wasn't roughing it.