Chen Tang said, "I, Brother Shen, and Miss Su will set off and continue towards the direction of the Sword Pavilion to divert others."

Upon hearing this, Ah Li couldn’t help feeling a little anxious and quickly gestured, not wanting to part with Chen Tang.

Chen Tang smiled and said, "You and Brother Song travel together, not only to secretly protect Elder Mo Ming but also for another matter."

After a pause, Chen Tang looked at Mo Ming and cupped his hands, "Elder Mo, there is something I would like to ask for your help with."

"You’re talking about this little girl’s muteness, right?"

Mo Ming guessed what Chen Tang was requesting; Su Li had also mentioned it to him before.

"Exactly."

Chen Tang said, "If elder can settle down in Peach Blossom Valley, I would appreciate it if you could check her condition to see if there’s a possibility of a cure."

"Don’t worry."

Mo Ming replied, "If I don’t die, I will do my utmost to cure her ailment."

Ah Li understood Chen Tang’s intention.

But in her heart, she still didn’t want to part from Chen Tang.

In this Great Xia, Chen Tang was the only one she could trust.

Regarding others, even though she had met Shen Zhiyuan and the others twice, she still harbored caution and did not want to get involved with these people.

Ah Li thought for a while and gestured again, asking how they would meet in the future.

Chen Tang pondered for a while and said, "It’s three months until the Martial Arts Assembly, a grand event in the Jianghu. By that time, your ailment should be almost cured, and we can meet again there."

Upon hearing this, Ah Li nodded in agreement.

Song Wu said, "Even if the three of you travel, it may not attract attention. If others see that Elder Mo Ming is not among you, they will naturally realize he is elsewhere."

Chen Tang looked at Shen Zhiyuan and said, "This will have to trouble Brother Shen. My physique differs greatly from Elder Mo Ming. Brother Shen’s physique is similar to Elder Mo Ming’s. Ah Li can disguise you, making it hard to tell the difference!"

"No problem."

Being Mo Ming’s stand-in is certainly the most dangerous, but Shen Zhiyuan agreed without hesitation.

The decision was made, and Ah Li immediately set to work disguising Shen Zhiyuan.

In less than half an hour, most of the work was done.

Shen Zhiyuan and Elder Mo Ming stood together, under the cover of night, and it was already difficult to distinguish them without close observation.

In this way, the trio of Chen Tang, Shen Zhiyuan, and Su Li, in the eyes of others, seemed like Chen Tang escorting Mo Ming and his disciple on a journey towards the East Mountain Sword Pavilion.

Song Wu immediately stood up and said, "We should not delay; speed is of the essence. We must travel through the night. Brother Chen, Zhiyuan, Miss Su, be careful on your journey."

"You all take care of yourselves as well."

Chen Tang and the others cupped their hands in farewell.

Song Wu and Mo Ming took advantage of the night to leave and soon disappeared from sight.

Ah Li’s figure also melted into the darkness.

Shen Zhiyuan took Mo Ming’s medicine box, slung it over his back, and left the Taoist temple with Chen Tang and Su Li, heading towards Wu State.

Chen Tang advised, "Brother Shen, if there’s any trouble along the way, try to avoid fighting and leave it to me and Miss Su."

Shen Zhiyuan’s martial arts came from the Book and Sword Hall; once he fought, others would easily discern the origin of his martial arts.

Shen Zhiyuan nodded and said, "But Brother Chen and Miss Su should also be careful; we still don’t know who might come after us."

"Actually, Brother Shen is the most at risk."

Su Li glanced at Shen Zhiyuan with some concern in her eyes.

Whether interceptors or assassins, they were all targeting Mo Ming.

Shen Zhiyuan, disguised as Mo Ming, would undoubtedly become the focus of the attacks.

Chen Tang asked, "How many days’ journey is it to Peach Blossom Valley from here?"

Shen Zhiyuan thought for a moment and said, "If we’re quick, about seven to eight days."

Chen Tang said, "As long as we can delay for two days, by then, even if Brother Shen’s identity is exposed and the Drunken Immortal Tower realizes something is amiss, it should be too late for them to catch Brother Song and the others."

On one hand, Song Wu and the others already had a two-day head start.

On the other hand, Song Wu was an expert tracker. With his experience, taking Mo Ming along, no flaws would be left on this escape route.

He might even leave some deliberate misleading traces to throw off pursuers.

It would almost be impossible to catch up with Song Wu and the others.

Chen Tang and his group made no attempt to hide their tracks, dashing along the official road. As dawn broke, they saw a lush ancient tree lying across the road ahead, clearly felled not long ago.

Chen Tang and his companions, sensing something amiss, immediately reined in their horses, slowing their pace.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The sound of concealed weapons breaking through the air could be heard.

Three dark streaks shot towards Chen Tang and his group from behind the tree.

Buzz!

The Autumn Water Sword was drawn.

Chen Tang’s wrist turned, the sword’s edge created three sword flowers in midair, colliding with the incoming dark streaks.

Clang clang!

Two crisp sounds were heard, sparks flying everywhere.

Two dark streaks fell to the ground.

But the projectile aimed at Shen Zhiyuan bizarrely traced an arc, circumventing the Autumn Water Sword and heading towards Shen Zhiyuan before it could collide with Chen Tang’s sword flower!

This truly took Chen Tang and his companions by surprise.

However, Chen Tang reacted swiftly, instantly entering the Divine Illumination state, striking back and slashing down that dark streak!

"The attacker is a Third Grade Martial Artist, what immense power!"

Chen Tang’s heart tightened with caution.

"Flying Eagle Dart!"

Su Li recognized the fallen weapon immediately.

"The attackers are likely renowned tracking experts in the Jianghu, ’Flying Eagle’ Yan Zhuifeng. Due to the unique shape of the Flying Eagle Dart, once thrown, it doesn’t travel in a straight line but veers off unpredictably, difficult to defend against."

Shen Zhiyuan whispered, "This man is at the Meridian Passage Realm, skilled in the Eagle Strike Thirteen Forms, and quite famous in the Jianghu, having once been listed on the Human Ranking."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure darted out from behind the ancient tree.

The intruder wore a black cloak over his martial attire, had a hooked nose and sharp eyes, and stared at Chen Tang from a distance, slowly saying, "As expected of the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking, One Sword Frost Cold, you truly have some skill."

Chen Tang urged his horse forward, holding the Autumn Water Sword, staying wary and not daring to be careless.

From the previous battles at Cang Mountain to the battle at the Medical Hidden Hall, most Third Grade Martial Artists fell at Ah Li’s hands.

Now, Ah Li was not by his side.

The Lion’s Roar had been used during the battle against the Dongyi Race’s Celestial Concealment, and hadn’t recovered yet.

And while he had a sword, he didn’t have a saber. In the Divine Illumination state, he couldn’t unleash the Burning Wood Saber’s speed to the fullest, making fighting a Third Grade Martial Artist not easy.

Moreover, judging from the earlier projectile, Yan Zhuifeng was likely a Seven Meridians, or even Eight Meridians Martial Artist.

This battle wouldn’t be easy.

Yan Zhuifeng said calmly, "Chen Tang, in consideration of your gallant reputation from the battle at Cang Mountain where you wiped out the Profound Celestial Army, surrender the person to me, and I’ll spare your life."

Chen Tang leveled his sword, saying sternly, "No need for more words. If you want them, you must first get past my sword."

"Good!"

Yan Zhuifeng let out a light shout, suddenly leaping into the air from the ancient tree. His cloak spread, resembling a massive hawk unfurling its wings, as he swooped towards Chen Tang.