The next morning, Murong Qiufeng and the others quietly set out. Without the two elders this time, the three adults and one child, with three horses, easily left the Xianjian Sect behind.
Shangguan Ye was in an exceptionally good mood that day—the best he’d felt since the journey began. Under his gauze hat, the corner of his mouth never stopped curling into a sly, almost flirtatious smile. Leaving the Xianjian Sect made the air feel fresher, more invigorating. Not only had he eaten a satisfying meal, he had also shaken off those two disrespectful old men. From now on, it would be just him and his beloved, their own little world.
As for Xiao Wu and A Si, they were naturally ignored.
Murong Qiufeng had no complaints. This time, their collaboration had successfully dispelled the shadow of the previous night, and his spirits were good—though his body still carried slight fatigue.
Intent on reaching Mufeng Tower quickly, they didn’t rest much at the towns and villages along the way. By the end of the day, they had already left the Xianjian Sect’s domain.
The journey had been smooth and quiet, so when they finally entered the main road and encountered a few roadblocks, they were genuinely surprised.
A group of ferocious-looking men blocked their path, blades in hand, demanding whether they were disciples of the Xianjian Sect. Murong Qiufeng was astonished—he hadn’t expected anyone to dare resist even under the Snow Demon Supreme’s oppressive presence. Though technically beyond the three-mile limit the Snow Demon Supreme had mentioned, these men’s courage was commendable.
“Hey! Are you mute? Answer me, or my blade won’t be polite!” one burly man snarled.
Murong Qiufeng arched an eyebrow, growing impatient. “So what if we are? So what if we’re not?”
“Hmph. If you are, come with us—we have questions. If not, get lost. This road is closed.”
“Closed?” Murong Qiufeng frowned.
Shangguan Ye, sensing a flicker of anger in Qiufeng’s tone, spoke sternly, “Step aside.”
“Ah, very few dare to tell me to step aside! You’ve got guts, kid. Looks like today you’re staying here, whether willing or not!” The men exchanged nervous glances—clearly they weren’t ordinary folk. “Brothers, attack! They must be Xianjian Sect disciples. Bring them back; the master will reward handsomely!”
Where there’s a hefty reward, there are always brave men. Seeing the fine clothing, imposing presence, and the two horses of Murong Qiufeng and his companions, greed had already taken root in the hearts of these men. Many drew their blades and rushed forward.
Murong Qiufeng and Shangguan Ye remained unmoved, but A Si behind them was ready to act.
Before he could, a roar echoed, and a figure shot forward, blade gleaming.
“Little thieves, daring to cause trouble outside Xianjian Sect! Let me show you how I deal with punks like you!”
A chorus of clanging metal followed, dust flying, yet everything seemed to stop just a meter from Murong Qiufeng, scattering harmlessly to the sides.
The sound of galloping horses followed. A man in a blue robe rode a chestnut horse, holding the reins of a black horse alongside him, rushing forward. He only slowed near Murong Qiufeng, turning to bow slightly.
“Little Patriarch Uncle,” he greeted.
It was Yan Qiren. The combatant must be Xiao Yan. Murong Qiufeng raised his eyes to the saddlebags on the two horses. “You’re off to find the Sect Leader again?”
Yan Qiren’s peripheral vision caught Shangguan Ye, sensing a sharp, displeased aura. “The Snow Demon Supreme instructed us to accompany the Little Patriarch Uncle, both to help and to locate the Sect Leader and our master.”
Under his gauze hat, Shangguan Ye’s eyes narrowed. That was nonsense. The disrespectful old man clearly couldn’t bear to see him so smug and had sent these two to interfere. With outsiders around, he wouldn’t be able to show affection to his beloved.
Shangguan Ye ground his teeth, cursing the Snow Demon Supreme enjoying life at Xianjian Sect while simultaneously shooting murderous glares at anyone who crossed their path.
Murong Qiufeng, however, thought little of it and rather appreciated the elders’ concern and help. He nodded. “In that case, just call me Qiufeng while we’re out here. It’s cumbersome to maintain formal titles in public.”
Yan Qiren, no longer rigid, nodded sharply. “Understood.” He glanced at the unflinching Shangguan Ye, stepped quietly to the side with A Si’s horse, and spoke to the excited Xiao Yan, “Junior brother, finish them quickly; don’t waste time.”
“Got it! Then I won’t play with you anymore, punks. Don’t let me catch you again, or luck won’t favor you next time.” With a sweep of his blade, two of the attackers fell, wounded but not fatally.
The group pressed on without delay. Although there were still several roadblocks along the way, with A Si and Xiao Yan acting as vanguard, their journey went smoothly. Soon, they reached a nearby city.
Rumors already circulated wildly through the martial world: though the Snow Demon Supreme resided at Xianjian Sect and claimed not to intervene in worldly affairs, anyone who caused trouble for the sect would not escape punishment. As for Yun Feiyang, the Supreme had dispatched his only disciple, Ye, and the Little Patriarch Qiufeng to handle matters. Anyone seeking to resolve issues efficiently would do well to cooperate.
Suddenly, two previously obscure names in the martial world became the hottest topics. The Snow Demon Supreme taking on a disciple was shocking, especially since no offspring or disciples had been seen in fifty years after the Supreme’s near-death incident. Now, a disciple had appeared, piquing everyone’s curiosity.
As for the Sword Saint Supreme, having multiple direct disciples was unsurprising, but Murong Qiufeng’s name was unfamiliar—likely a recent addition.
Many wondered what exceptional talent these two possessed to earn such positions under the Supremes.
Murong Qiufeng and Shangguan Ye, however, had no idea the Snow Demon Supreme had caused them this much trouble. As they entered the city, their plan was to find an inn to rest and freshen up. After four days of continuous travel, they were dusty and exhausted, especially the ten-year-old child, who was still growing and couldn’t endure the same relentless pace.
