Chapter 24: Besieged

"Li'er, Zuo Lengchan is a man who must return every grievance; if you escort the Liu Family dependents, you will certainly encounter danger."

In the side chamber, Yue Buqun waved his hands repeatedly, rejecting Lu Li's proposal to personally escort the Liu Family dependents.

The reason was simple: he understood Zuo Lengchan's style of conduct—better to kill the wrong person than to let one go.

This time, the Songshan Sect had returned in defeat, and they would surely pour their fury onto the Liu Family dependents and Lu Li.

However, Lu Li smiled and said, "Master, rest assured; even if Zuo Lengchan takes action himself, I am not afraid."

"Moreover, the matter at Liu Mansion is only the beginning. I fear Zuo Lengchan will also move against our Huashan Sect. You and the Eldest Senior Brother should return to Huashan to prepare in advance."

Lu Li knew that starting from the incident of Liu Zhengfeng's Golden Basin Hand-Washing, Zuo Lengchan had begun to move against the other four sects.

The Sword Sect of the Huashan Sect would also soon go to cause trouble for Huashan.

"This time, heading to the Western Regions, I also want to take Liang Fa with me."

Lu Li said, "Among all the junior brothers, Liang Fa is steady and reliable; in the future, he can assist the Eldest Senior Brother in managing the Huashan foundation."

"However, he is kind-hearted and has never seen the darkness of the jianghu. This journey west is just the right time for him to witness the actions of the Songshan Sect."

Yue Buqun was somewhat puzzled: "Fa'er is good, but how can he compare to you?"

In Yue Buqun's heart, his eldest disciple was unrestrained and free, made friends widely across the world, and his martial arts were already no weaker than his own.

His second disciple was immensely talented, with a cold sword and a warm heart.

With these two, the danger of Huashan collapsing grew smaller and smaller, and its revival was in sight; he didn't even think about the Evil-Warding Sword Technique in Lin Pingzhi's home anymore.

But at this moment, hearing Lu Li suggest having Liang Fa assist Linghu Chong, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and an inexplicable worry spread.

"Could it be, Li'er, that you intend to..."

Lu Li smiled: "Master, rest assured; before the crisis of Huashan is resolved, I will not leave."

Upon hearing this, Yue Buqun fell silent, sighed, and stopped asking.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next day, Lu Li took Liang Fa and disciples from two other sects to "escort" Liu Zhengfeng's family and disciples toward the frontier, while Yue Buqun led the others back to Huashan.

Lu Li and the others traveled northwest, watching the spring scenery of the south fade away as the wind and sand gradually grew stronger.

After traveling for two more days, they exited the mountain pass and arrived outside the Great Wall.

Along the way, whenever Lu Li was free, he would instruct Liang Fa in Huashan swordsmanship.

He had long since grasped the concept that "no technique is better than technique," and during this period, he had improved the Huashan Sword Technique; although it did not reach perfection, the transitions between moves were more fluid and natural, and the methods of attack were more in line with Sword Intent.

It was also during this phase that Lu Li gradually groped his way toward a higher realm of martial arts.

Shortly after crossing over, he had discovered that above the "Mastery" realm of the Tianxuan Continent, there were even higher realms.

During this time, Lu Li constantly revised and perfected the Huashan swordsmanship, gradually realizing that the realm after Mastery, where body, mind, and technique are one, could be called—Sword Intent.

Mountains have "mountain intent."

Water has "water intent."

All things in heaven and earth have their own intent.

When executing sword techniques, one can also merge with heaven and earth, possessing "Sword Intent."

While cultivation and attainment are certainly important, many people are unable to unleash even half of the strength they possess.

Only by training one's martial arts to a higher realm can one output one's combat power at maximum capacity!

Lu Li instructed Liang Fa while exploring his own Sword Dao, charging toward a higher realm.

On this day, the group arrived at Xiaowenhe Town beside the Helan Ancient Road to rest.

Hengshan Sect disciple Xiang Danian walked over and poured a bowl of wine for Lu Li.

"Many thanks to Young Hero Lu for pleading for us at the assembly and for escorting us all the way."

"Our lives were all preserved thanks to the Young Hero."

Lu Li drank the wine and asked casually, "Do you harbor resentment toward Liu Zhengfeng?"

Xiang Danian was silent for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "A teacher for a day is a father for life; there is resentment in my heart, but I cannot call it hatred."

Lu Li said, "You are not bad. I have two sword moves I would like to exchange with you."

"

Xiang Danian was stunned and smiled: "Today is Minor Heat, but the customs and climate outside the Great Wall are completely different from the Central Plains."

"Never mind martial arts; I fear that in the future, even the reign title 'Wanli' will have no meaning."

Lu Li said, "The customs outside the Great Wall are fierce; without strength, one cannot survive."

As he spoke, he drew his long sword and executed three sword moves.

These were precisely the lost Hengshan sword techniques recorded in the stone cave at Siguo Cliff.

Lu Li did not teach too much; these were just the frames of three moves, and the rest would depend on Xiang Danian's own comprehension.

Xiang Danian was horrified in his heart, surprised at Lu Li's attainment in Hengshan swordsmanship, yet he felt no suspicion.

Having seen Lu Li use the Songshan Sword Art to repel Fei Bin, he simply assumed Lu Li's talent had reached such a level, and he immediately bowed to the ground.

At this very moment, Lu Li's ears twitched, and he suddenly heard a sound of horseshoes coming from the southeast, about a dozen riders galloping along the main road.

His heart tightened: "In the dead of night, why would anyone ride like this? Could they be coming for us?"

He whispered, "There is a situation; go and warn the others."

Xiang Danian heard the sound now as well and hurried toward the backyard.

Just as he reached the backyard, he heard someone at the entrance shout: "Is the Jade-Faced Asura of the Huashan Sect inside the courtyard?"

Lu Li frowned and said, "Who are you?"

The person did not answer, only smiling: "Surname Lu, your sword technique is so formidable; even if you haven't practiced the Evil-Warding Sword Technique, you must have practiced some other sword art. Why not bring it out for everyone to see?"

"Many people have been like you, insisting on seeing my sword technique, and now they are all dead."

"Surname Lu, if you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, we will have to use force and come in to search."

In this short time, Liu Jing and the others all woke up, each holding their long swords in full alert.

"The female disciples stand together, back to back.

Brothers, this group of people is not coming for Brother Lu, everyone be careful."

With a *swish-swish-swish-swish* sound, Xiang Danian and the others drew their long swords.

The night wind gradually rose, thick clouds blocked the moonlight, and in the darkness, more than twenty people suddenly rushed out!

They had their faces covered with black cloth and charged over fiercely.

Sure enough, they split off five or six people to entangle Lu Li, while the others charged straight at the Liu Family family members!

In the courtyard, Xiang Danian, Liu Jing, Liang Fa, and the disciples from Taishan Sect and Hengshan Sect responsible for the escort were fighting with over a dozen men in black.

The remaining two men in black broke directly into the rear, attacking the Liu Mansion crowd who were not skilled in martial arts.

Only to hear a few shouts from women and screams from children coming from the crowd.

At this moment, the moonlight was shrouded behind thick clouds, and the lanterns in the courtyard were knocked to the ground during the fierce battle, emitting a faint yellow light that reflected the flickering sword light and swaying shadows.

Everyone fought hard against the enemy, but the enemies were all experts.

The Taishan Sect and Hengshan Sect disciples were locked in a stalemate with their opponents, and Xiang Danian, having just learned sword techniques, could occasionally use exquisite sword moves to take on two enemies at once, but if it went on for long, he would certainly be unable to hold them off.

Liang Fa was displaying great prowess, taking on three enemies at once without falling behind!

Although the Liu Family family members were numerous, they had no experts, and the moment they engaged, cries rang out one after another, and most likely many had already met a tragic end.

Lu Li was taking on six enemies at once, and his heart sank.

His opponents were all experts, and any one of them taken individually had martial arts no weaker than Yu Canghai.

The kung fu of two of them was particularly strange; one of them held a long staff, and on the staff was a piece of canvas the size of a door panel, entirely plain white, just like a soul-summoning banner.

The other held a chain in his hand, and at the end of the chain was a judgment token.

The two men's moves were bizarre and coordinated seamlessly, just like Black and White Impermanence, chilling to the bone.

As for the other four, although they held different weapons, their moves were stern and imposing, like long spears and great halberds, sweeping across a thousand miles.

Lu Li recognized at a glance that what these four were using was Songshan Sect martial arts!

The Songshan Sect had indeed come, and they were so fierce.

Relying on the Dugu Nine Swords, Lu Li believed he could easily defeat any one of them.

But these six people coordinated with each other and formed a formation.

When Lu Li attacked one of them, the others would attack Lu Li, making it difficult for him to unleash his skills.

"Damn it, this kid's sword technique is strange, he really is hard to deal with."

"No matter, he can be stalled, but the others cannot.

Let's kill everyone else first, and with him left alone, he'll be exhausted to death."

The six seemed to have victory in their grasp, looking at Lu Li as if looking at a beast trapped in a snare with no way to escape.

But the next moment, everyone's movements froze.

Because a terrifying sword light suddenly surged forth, illuminating the entire courtyard.