Chapter 253: Don't move

Yin Minjun's mind was still largely immersed in the joy of practicing sword techniques with Li Miao just moments ago, and she failed to notice her disciple's impolite behavior.

"Xunning, is something the matter?"

Shen Xunning withdrew her gaze and looked at Yin Minjun.

"Master, this disciple wishes to descend the mountain to walk the Jianghu."

Yin Minjun frowned.

"In the past, with your martial arts, I would not have stopped you, but it is inappropriate at this moment."

She sighed softly.

"The Jianghu of the past was like a pot of soup left to sit for many years; it looked clear on the surface, but in reality, everything was hidden at the bottom of the pot, never revealing itself."

"But the Jianghu of today has had a fire lit beneath it, boiling over. The things that were once submerged at the bottom have all been churned up to the surface."

Yin Minjun said earnestly.

"If you must descend the mountain, it would be better to wait until these waters have cooled somewhat. You are the root of our Hengshan Sect's legacy; you must not easily court danger."

Shen Xunning suddenly looked up.

"Master, you see this clearly too, so why are you here wasting time with this... this person?"

She swallowed the words "demon man" back down.

"The Sect Leader is missing, and our Hengshan Sect is already sitting on the lid of this boiling pot!"

"You are the Hengshan Sect Leader; how can you be obsessed with beauty!"

Yin Minjun frowned.

"Do not be impolite!"

"You need only focus on your martial arts! These matters are not for you to worry about!"

"Master!"

"Get out! I punish you to practice three thousand sword strikes today! You are not allowed to sleep until you finish!"

"…Yes."

Shen Xunning gritted her teeth, performed a respectful salute, glared at Li Miao once more, and turned to leave.

"Sigh…"

Yin Minjun sighed, turned, and walked to the table to sit down.

Li Miao chuckled and poured her a cup of wine.

"Your disciple has quite a bit of spirit."

"…Li Lang is making a joke of me."

Yin Minjun gave Li Miao a reproachful look.

Li Miao smiled and waved his hand.

"No, I just find it familiar. Back in Shuntian Prefecture, several of my subordinates were the same—they thought too much but their methods were too soft. They couldn't handle matters at all, and I had to rush back to clean up their messes."

"Perhaps they watch how I interact with the Guard Commander and think they can learn from me, but they ignore the most important point."

Li Miao pointed to his own forehead and then extended a fist.

"Do not try to think about things your fist cannot smash through, otherwise, it is simply overestimating your own strength."

"Li Lang is right."

Yin Minjun sighed softly.

"I have only focused on teaching her martial arts and have taught her too little in this regard. I will have a good talk with her tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Li Miao chuckled.

"You won't see her tomorrow."

"Did you not see how formal that salute she gave you was? If you can find her tomorrow, I'll admit defeat."

Yin Minjun's expression changed, and she reacted instantly.

"Li Lang means?"

Li Miao chuckled.

"Young people, call it pride or call it being high-minded but low-skilled, they can never sit still. The more you forbid her from thinking, the more she will think; the more you forbid her from doing, the more she will insist on doing it."

"If you go looking for her tomorrow, I fear you will only find a farewell letter."

Yin Minjun stood up abruptly, picked up her sword, and was about to walk out, but Li Miao reached out and stopped her.

"What is the use of going now? It will be nothing more than empty words. A living person, how many times can you stop her?"

"Back then, didn't Sect Leader Liu also stop Ruan Mei from descending the mountain, and didn't she end up under my command anyway?"

Yin Minjun was also an old hand in the Jianghu. In the past, when Deng Baixuan was away, she handled all the Hengshan Sect's affairs. Under normal circumstances, Li Miao wouldn't even need to remind her of these things.

But she had been "obsessed with beauty" for over half a year, and since Shen Xunning was her only disciple and the only candidate for the next Hengshan Sect Leader, her concern had clouded her judgment, which is why she hadn't noticed.

Therefore, she understood Li Miao's words instantly.

"Sigh."

Yin Minjun sat down helplessly and rubbed her brow.

Li Miao stood up and patted her shoulder.

"Rest easy, I have experience in teaching little brats."

Li Miao stood up and stretched.

"As it happens, news came in this morning that my subordinates are having trouble handling a few things, and I need to go take a look."

"I have been resting here for over half a year; it is about time I went out and moved around."

"Most of those who needed to show their heads have already done so; it is time to go and slap them each in the face, to let them know how formidable I am."

Hearing this, Yin Minjun frowned, reached out to grab Li Miao's sleeve, and looked up at him.

"You are leaving…"

Li Miao grabbed her hand, squeezed it, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her forehead lightly.

"Since I have pulled the Emperor off his horse, I cannot just ignore everything. Leave the court matters to the Guard Commander; as for the Jianghu, I still have to manage it."

"When I am finished, you can come to Shuntian Prefecture to find me."

Yin Minjun lay in his arms for a while.

After a long time, she closed her eyes, then reached out and pushed Li Miao away.

"This is my beloved, Li Lang."

"This is the appearance I admire."

The tenderness in her eyes vanished, and her entire being seemed to sharpen instantly.

"I will change your clothes for you."

————————

Late that night.

Shen Xunning tiptoed around the disciples on patrol at the mountain gate and slipped into the dense forest. Following the small path she had secretly forged down the mountain, she reached the mountainside in less than half an hour.

She turned her head to look at the faint firelight in the distance, then suddenly turned around and performed a deep salute toward the direction of the Hengshan Sect.

This salute lasted for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

Only then did she slowly rise, grit her teeth, and walk quickly down the mountain.

"Once the Taishan Sect falls, the Five Mountains Alliance will collapse. The other three mountains are in the north, not far away; only my Hengshan Sect is located in the south, standing alone and difficult to support."

"This is an era of great contention; if one does not advance, one retreats. I must find a way out for the Hengshan Sect!"

She calculated secretly in her heart.

"Bashu Sword King Pavilion, Heaven-Man."

"Our Hengshan Sect does not lack silver or disciples. The only thing we lack is a peak expert to hold the fort."

"I will go to Bashu first to see; as fellow swordsmen, I will find some Sword King Pavilion disciples to spar with and see just how profound this so-called Heaven-Man legacy is."

"As long as I find a path, whether I realize it myself or bring the insights back to the sect, it will be an opportunity for our Hengshan Sect to break the deadlock."

Although she was impulsive, she was not stupid. She had already planned her route and brought all necessary items, even a spare long sword.

Logically speaking, with her martial arts, there shouldn't be any problems on this journey.

But she had overlooked one point.

Although she had spoken with great passion to Yin Minjun that morning, saying the Jianghu was different, that it was an era of great contention, and that the Hengshan Sect was in a precarious state.

She had fundamentally failed to understand what a true "era of great contention" was.

Before she had even left Hengshan, just as she reached the foot of the mountain, a figure appeared faintly on the mountain road ahead, moving in the opposite direction, looking as if they were heading up the mountain.

Shen Xunning frowned.

Visiting the mountain by day, seeking revenge by night.

There were no other households on Hengshan; this person going up the mountain was clearly targeting the Hengshan Sect, and likely harbored malicious intent.

She hurriedly slipped into the dense forest by the road, held her breath, and waited for the person to walk by so she could see their background clearly.

After a while, the sound of footsteps grew closer.

Shen Xunning estimated the distance, and only after the person had passed did she slowly peek an eye out from behind a tree, trying to see the person's figure clearly.

The moonlight was dim, casting the person's shadow extremely long on the mountain road, their face hidden in darkness. She could only see a hunched figure, appearing to be an old man.

Shen Xunning moved her feet quietly, attempting to move forward to see the person's face.

Click.

A light sound beneath her feet.

Swish!

Shen Xunning's vision blurred instantly.

The person on the mountain road had actually vanished!

She thought, "Not good," and reached to draw her sword, but a finger extended from behind her and pressed lightly on her sword hilt.

With just one finger, she was unable to draw her sword!

An old, gloomy voice came from behind her.

"Don't move. Move once, and you die."

"It's over!"

Shen Xunning broke into a cold sweat instantly, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

"How can this be!"

She was at a first-class level; although she didn't have much experience in combat, she was already a figure of note in the Jianghu! If not for that, she wouldn't have slipped out of the mountain gate alone!

It was because she had the qualifications!

How could she have fallen into danger before even leaving the mountain!

The old voice paused, then spoke slowly.

"You—"

Suddenly, another lazy voice came from behind her.

"You've got some nerve, coming to my face to stir up trouble. Didn't you ask around for news before leaving the mountain?"

"You don't move either."

"I have the same rule: move once, and you die."

The finger pressing on Shen Xunning's sword hilt relaxed instantly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 254 =====