Chapter 4: Disappearance

Of course, Li Muxian had no intention of fleeing; he hadn’t moved an inch from the stone steps.

Meanwhile, Zhu Fang glanced at Yu Zhentian, who was fighting the Seven Thieves of Zha River, hesitated a moment, then scrambled to his feet and sprinted desperately toward the courtyard gate, completely ignoring Yu Ermei and the other.

The other martial arts disciples and apprentices, seeing Yu Zhentian overwhelmed, each focused solely on saving their own lives, with no thought left to rescue anyone.

“Did I give you permission to leave?”

At that moment, the ever-motionless Second Master Zha unleashed a palm strike from afar; a tangible qi blast slammed into the courtyard wall.

It shattered the entire front brick wall—dust erupted, bricks and stones tumbled down, piling up directly across the only escape route.

The overwhelming power of this palm strike froze Zhu Fang and the others; they all halted abruptly before the rubble, daring not to advance an inch.

“Traitorous disciples—all of you, traitorous disciples!”

Yu Zhentian roared in fury; he had seen everything Zhu Fang and the others had done.

His most favored disciple had fled in cowardly betrayal, while the two apprentices he had always looked down upon had refused to abandon him—this left him filled with conflicting emotions.

“Take Ermei and the others—I’ll cover your escape!”

Yu Zhentian’s internal force surged; he swept his sword horizontally, knocking back the three attackers surrounding him.

Then, using the recoil, he flipped through the air and landed before Zhang Dazhuang and the other.

But he noticed these two apprentices were standing still, staring at each other in silence.

“I could carry Miss Ermei, but I’m not sure I could run far with her on my back.”

Zhang Dazhuang muttered; his physical constitution and talent were extremely poor.

After so many years in the martial arts school, he’d learned little in skill, only slightly stronger than an ordinary man in strength.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spent twenty years stuck as nothing more than a martial arts apprentice, just like Li Muxian.

Still, Zhang Dazhuang finally set down Yu Xian and walked toward Yu Ermei.

Because no matter how you looked at it, he was far stronger than Li Muxian, who was a full size smaller.

Seeing this, Yu Zhentian exhaled slightly; he glanced at his second daughter.

He thought to himself: if they survived this, his first act would be to force her to lose weight—otherwise, no one would be willing to carry her in a life-or-death moment.

“Stay close to me!”

Yu Zhentian warned sternly, then turned his gaze—and noticed Li Muxian hadn’t moved.

He was about to call out when the three Zha brothers closed in.

At the same time, Second Master Zha moved, drawing his blade and landing nearby to guard.

“Hand over what you’re hiding—you won’t go anywhere.”

Second Master Zha’s expression was blank; his internal force surged violently, his killing intent sharp and chilling—his aura even surpassed Yu Zhentian’s.

Seeing this, Yu Zhentian’s pupils contracted; his face darkened instantly.

“Yu Old Man, I always said you were stingy—what’s so precious you’d make us all die with you?”

Li Muxian spoke curiously; upon hearing this, Yu Zhentian instinctively glared at him.

But remembering this boy was one of only two who’d stayed to help, he took a deep breath and said:

“This has nothing to do with you—don’t ask!”

Li Muxian shrugged, then turned to Second Master Zha:

“Why don’t you tell me—what exactly are you trying to get from him?”

Second Master Zha glanced at Li Muxian; seeing his youthful, inexperienced face daring to speak to him, he curled his lips into a cruel smile:

“Come closer—I’ll tell you.”

“Kid, I think you’re tired of living!” one of the Zha River Seven thieves snarled.

He swung his blade swiftly; the blade’s flash cut through the air with a sharp “crack,” aimed straight at Li Muxian.

Seeing this, Yu Zhentian instantly lunged to block—but the next instant, his gaze froze.

Yu Zhentian was stunned: in the moment he moved, Li Muxian’s apprentice had vanished from his sight.

At that moment, the piercing clash of blade and sword echoed as the fifth Zha brother was forced back half a step by Yu Zhentian’s sword.

But he didn’t look at the attacker; instead, his pupils widened in shock as he stared at the spot where Li Muxian had stood, exclaiming:

“Where’s that kid…?”

At these words, the three Zha brothers preparing to charge again froze mid-motion, suddenly filled with suspicion and dread.

A living person had simply vanished before their eyes—how could they ignore it?

They immediately searched everywhere for Li Muxian—when suddenly, a voice sounded from behind Second Master Zha:

“I’ve come. Aren’t you going to tell me now?”

Second Master Zha’s body hair stood on end; his expression changed instantly.

But he’d survived countless battles; his reflexes were sharp—he spun instantly, slashing backward with his blade, swift as thunder.

Simultaneously, he channeled internal force into his legs and dashed forward at top speed, trying to put distance between himself and the figure behind him.

Yet his blade cut only air—and Li Muxian’s voice followed him like a ghost, never leaving his side.

“Running off right away? That’s no fun.”

As the words ended, the entire martial arts courtyard fell utterly silent.

The disciples and apprentices hadn’t yet understood what had happened—they stared in shock as six black-clad men, including Second Master Zha, stood frozen like statues.

“I’ve sealed their acupoints.”

Li Muxian’s voice came from beside Yu Zhentian.

Yu Zhentian whirled around; seeing him, he instinctively stepped back several paces.

“You… who are you?”

Yu Zhentian stared at this unremarkable martial arts apprentice with disbelief, his aged face filled with wariness.

Li Muxian shrugged, then slapped Zhang Dazhuang on the shoulder and turned his head:

“Brother Zhang, don’t stare at me like that—I know you’ve always been jealous of my handsome face.”

“Huh??”

Zhang Dazhuang shook his head, snapped back to reality, looked at the paralyzed Zha River Seven, then at Li Muxian, and took a deep, heavy breath:

“Asheng—you’ve become a stranger to me!”

Li Muxian chuckled, then turned to face Yu Zhentian:

“Yu Old Man, you handle these thieves.”

As he spoke, he held out his hand:

“Oh, and I forgot to mention—I’m quitting the school. You promised five taels of silver when I retired—don’t you dare cheat me like before.”

Yu Zhentian stared fixedly at Li Muxian, his shock lingering long without fading.

“You’re really Li Muxian? But I remember you were a complete martial arts waste—how could you possibly…”

But Li Muxian cut him off, asking:

“You’re not trying to renege on the payment, are you?”

Hearing this, Yu Zhentian’s spirit jolted; he hastily waved his hands.

He fumbled in his robes—a moment later, he pulled out a hundred-tael silver note, having no cash on him.

But before he could speak, the note vanished from his hand, appearing instantly in Li Muxian’s.

Li Muxian smiled warmly:

“Good, good—rarely so generous. I’ll take this note!”

(End of Chapter)