The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Mu Qingling slowly woke up, feeling dizzy as if she had been hit by a heavy hammer. Before her were the rough stone walls of the cave, and the air was filled with the damp smell of earth.

She subconsciously moved her body, but the movement aggravated her wound, causing her to gasp in pain.

"You're finally awake." A familiar voice came, and Jiang Chuan walked in from the shadows of the cave entrance, his face showing some fatigue but unable to hide his joy. "You've been unconscious for two days, I was so worried about you."

Mu Qingling then remembered the fierce battle they had fought with the Du family in the valley, during which she had collapsed from exhaustion.

She looked around and found herself in a cave, with the faint sound of flowing water coming from outside. "This is... Dushan? How did we get here?"

Jiang Chuan walked to her side and squatted down. "After you fainted that day, the situation was critical, so I took you and Linglu and hid deep in Dushan. Fortunately, Linglu was familiar with the terrain and found this hidden cave. I used the spiritual herbs that Linglu found to heal your injuries, and you slowly recovered, and your internal strength also recovered somewhat."

Mu Qingling looked down and saw that her wounds had been carefully bandaged. She was immediately filled with shame and indignation. "You...you bandaged my wounds?"

Jiang Chuan looked innocent and spread his hands. "Otherwise what? The situation was urgent. I couldn't just watch you bleed to death. Besides, I'm a gentleman. I was only focused on saving you and didn't think about anything else."

As he spoke, he deliberately winked.
"But your reaction suggests you might have some thoughts about me?"

"You...you're talking nonsense!" Mu Qingling was both embarrassed and angry. She grabbed a stone from the side and threw it at Jiang Chuan. Jiang Chuan nimbly dodged it and did not forget to tease her: "Oh, such a temper. It seems that your injury has recovered well."

After the two playfully wrestled for a while, Jiang Chuan got up and brought a simple stone bowl from the campfire near the cave entrance. Inside were some roasted kudzu roots and frogs, all golden brown.

"Come on, have something to eat to replenish your energy. I went through a lot of trouble to find these ingredients. Although they can't compare to delicacies, they'll fill your stomach."

Mu Qingling looked at the stone bowl, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She took the bowl and silently began to eat. Jiang Chuan watched her from the side, a gentle smile on his face.

After eating, Mu Qingling felt much better.

Jiang Chuan took out several items from a package and placed them in front of her. "Look, these are the spoils we seized from the Du family."

There was a spirit sword named Huangshan that exuded an ancient aura, a fiery red flying sword belonging to the Du family's evil Taoist, a pile of spirit stones radiating spiritual energy, Rejuvenation Pills, and a bulging money bag.

Jiang Chuan picked up the fiery red flying sword and handed it to Mu Qingling, saying, "This flying sword looks quite suitable for you. If you form a blood pact with it, your strength will increase considerably in the future."

Mu Qingling took the flying sword and felt the intense spiritual energy emanating from its blade. A warm feeling welled up in her heart. "Thank you, Jiang Chuan."

Jiang Chuan waved his hand, picked up the spirit sword Huangshan, and held it with great affection. "I really like this Huangshan. I feel that it is more compatible with my cultivation level. Maybe I can dominate the world with it in the future."

The next day, morning light filtered through the branches and leaves at the cave entrance, illuminating the cave floor. Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling packed their belongings, preparing to leave Dushan. They rode their spirit deer, slowly making their way along the mountain path.

Looking at the surrounding mountains and forests, Jiang Chuan sighed, "We can't easily spread the news about Hidden Spirit Mountain. My cultivation level isn't high enough yet. If too many people find out, we'll be in big trouble."

Thinking of Ouyang Mu, he frowned slightly. "I wonder how that guy Ouyang Mu is doing. I hope he's safe and sound. It's just that my strength is limited right now, and I can't help him."

The spirit deer seemed to understand his words, letting out a soft neigh before transforming into a streak of green light and disappearing into the bladeless sword. Jiang Chuan smiled and said, "That's good. From now on, we can be more discreet in our actions."

Mu Qingling watched this scene with envy in her eyes, "You're really amazing, you actually managed to tame the spirit deer."

Jiang Chuan straightened his back and said with high spirits, "What's this? In the future, I will become a legend in the martial arts world of Kyushu, and let everyone know my name!"

Looking at his confident demeanor, Mu Qingling's heart stirred. "I believe you can do it, and I look forward to that day."

Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard in Lefeng Town, Yu Youwei, the young master of the Chamber of Commerce, and He Zongzheng, the head of a branch of the He family, a prominent family in the Southern Region, were having a secret talk.

Yu Youwei, dressed in fine clothes, said with a fierce expression, "This time we're using the Du family as pawns. Regardless of whether the Du family can kill Mu Qingling, as long as Mu Suifeng finds out about this, he will definitely take action against the Du family. At that time, he will be confirmed as a traitor, and our plan will be half successful."

He Zongzheng frowned slightly, "But Mu Suifeng commands a large army, can we really deal with him?"

Yu Youwei sneered, "No matter how strong his army is, he can't withstand the public's criticism. As long as we confirm his crimes, the Prince of Yan will definitely not let him go. At that time, he will become the target of everyone's anger."

At this point, a cold glint flashed in Yu Youwei's eyes, "Furthermore, Duke Zhao Dun of Yan has brought the sixth princess of the King of Yan with him on his southward journey. He is a legitimate descendant of the royal family. If we do not eliminate him, he will surely become a major threat to us in the future."

He Zongzheng's expression changed. "Zhao Dun's strength is unfathomable. If we act rashly, I'm afraid..."

Yu Youwei interrupted him, "We must kill him! The Chamber of Commerce will also participate in the operation. This time we have made careful preparations and adopted a multi-pronged approach to ensure that he does not return alive."

He Zongzheng was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. "Alright, in that case, let's proceed according to plan."

On the path in Dushan, Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling rode spirit deer down the mountain.

Jiang Chuan looked at the road ahead, while Mu Qingling silently accompanied him. She knew that the road ahead might be full of thorns, but as long as Jiang Chuan was by her side, she would have the courage to face everything.

With the deer's light and quick steps, they gradually moved away from the depths of Dushan Mountain.

Along the way, Jiang Chuan told Mu Qingling interesting stories he had heard about the martial arts world, trying to ease her worries. Mu Qingling was amused by his stories and laughed from time to time, temporarily forgetting her injuries and the dangers ahead.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Jiang Chuan stopped the spirit deer, looked back at Dushan, and secretly vowed that when he was strong enough, he would definitely return here again.

The two continued on their way, heading towards the town. Along the way, they encountered some hurried passersby, but paid them little attention.

However, what they didn't know was that among these passersby might be spies sent by the Southern Families and Chambers of Commerce, secretly watching their every move.

After returning to town, Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling found an inconspicuous inn to stay in.

Jiang Chuan told Mu Qingling to rest well, while he went out to buy some daily necessities and medicine for healing. At the market, he heard some rumors about the situation in the Southern Region, and a sense of unease crept into his heart.

Back at the inn, Jiang Chuan told Mu Qingling about the rumors he had heard.

Mu Qingling frowned slightly. "It seems the situation in the Southern Region is more complicated than we imagined. Perhaps we have already been drawn into a huge conspiracy."

Jiang Chuan nodded. "No matter what, we must be careful. From now on, we should try to minimize our whereabouts to avoid unnecessary trouble." Night fell, and the inn quieted down. Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling returned to their rooms to rest.

Jiang Chuan lay in bed, his mind filled with thoughts. He thought about his origins, the mysteries of Cangling Mountain, and Ouyang Mu and their shared dream.

He knew that he had to improve his strength as soon as possible in order to gain a foothold in this treacherous world.

In Mu Qingling's room, she also had difficulty falling asleep.

Thinking of her father, Mu Suifeng, and the conspiracies of the Southern Region families, her heart was filled with worry. She secretly vowed to protect herself and Jiang Chuan and not let those conspiracies succeed.

The next morning, Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling got up early, ready to continue their journey. They didn't know what awaited them, but they were prepared to face anything.

Just as they left the inn, a mysterious figure watched them from the shadows. After they had gone some distance, the figure quickly disappeared around the corner of the street, running off in a certain direction, seemingly to deliver some important message.

After leaving Dushan, Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling didn't dare to delay. They bought two sturdy chestnut horses and spurred them on, traveling day and night towards Heyang City. The sound of hooves pounded the night, raising a trail of dust.

Several days later, they arrived at Liuying Town. Liuying Town was named after the place where King Zhao of Yan and King Cheng of Qi confronted each other, and the traces of time have left deep and shallow marks on this small town.

The town's streets are lined with shops, bustling with people, yet exude a unique sense of antiquity and tranquility.

The two stopped in front of the town's only inn and dismounted.

Jiang Chuan handed the reins to the waiter who came to greet him and said, "Waiter, take good care of these two horses and make sure they have plenty of hay." The waiter quickly agreed and led the horses to the backyard.

Upon entering the inn, they found it bustling with noise; some diners were engaged in lively conversation, while others were engrossed in eating and drinking. Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling found a corner to sit down, and Jiang Chuan waved and called out, "Waiter, bring some wine and dishes!"

Before long, steaming hot food and a pot of wine were served on the table.

The two had been traveling for a long time and were starving. They didn't care about anything else and just wanted to fill their stomachs first.

After a satisfying meal, Mu Qingling leaned back in her chair, looked around at everything, and said softly, "This is Liuying Town. Back then, when King Zhao of Yan and King Cheng of Qi confronted each other, it must have been a thrilling scene."

Jiang Chuan picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and sighed, "Yes, that period of history was truly magnificent. King Zhao of Yan resisted the strong with the weak, held his ground, and finally waited for a turning point, turning the tide of the war and achieving great hegemony."

The two chatted back and forth, recalling the dramatic changes in the history of national wars, their hearts filled with emotion.

However, Mu Qingling's mind could not be fully immersed in the memories of this history. Her father, Mu Suifeng, was now in a complicated situation, and his safety was unknown, which made her very worried.

As night fell, the noise in the inn gradually subsided. Mu Qingling lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

She was worried about her father's safety, and all sorts of bad thoughts kept surfacing in her mind.
After hesitating for a long time, she got up, put on her coat, and gently knocked on Jiang Chuan's door.

Jiang Chuan heard the knocking, got up and opened the door. He was slightly taken aback when he saw Mu Qingling, and then said, "What's wrong? Can't you sleep?"

Mu Qingling nodded, walked into the room, and sat down in a chair.

Jiang Chuan poured her a cup of tea and said, "Don't worry too much. General Mu is a veteran of many battles, he will definitely be fine."

Mu Qingling took the teacup, took a sip, and said, "I know, but I just can't control myself. So much has happened lately, and I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen."

Jiang Chuan sat down opposite her and comforted her, "Don't overthink it. Let's go to Heyang City first. Maybe we'll find out more information there."

As the two were talking, a faint sound suddenly came from the distance.

Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling's expressions changed simultaneously. Both of them were experienced in battle and had a keen sense of danger. Jiang Chuan quickly got up, walked to the window, gently pushed it open, and looked outside.

Six assassins dressed in black, riding swift Ferghana horses, arrived silently in front of the inn. These assassins were agile and had cold eyes; they were clearly not ordinary killers.

They dismounted and quickly approached the inn.

Jiang Chuan was startled and whispered, "Oh no, there's an assassin!"

Mu Qingling also stood up and gripped the Emerald Smoke Sword tightly. The two quickly walked towards the door, preparing to deal with the impending crisis.

Meanwhile, in another room of the inn, an old man was resting with his eyes closed. He was none other than Zhao Dun, the Grand Duke of Yan, the foremost swordsman of Yan, whose strength was unfathomable. He had naturally noticed the arrival of the assassins.

He slowly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.

The assassins arrived at the inn's entrance and, without hesitation, burst through the door. The lead assassin brandished his longsword and shouted, "Zhao Dun, today is your death day!"

With that, he led the other assassins toward Zhao Dun's room.

Zhao Dun snorted coldly, and in a flash, he appeared at the doorway. In his hand, he held an ancient-looking longsword, the blade gleaming faintly with a cold light.

"You think you can kill me?" Zhao Dun's voice was deep and cold, as if it came from the deepest hell.

Undeterred, the assassins brandished their weapons and attacked Zhao Dun. Zhao Dun moved with lightning speed, his longsword flashing, creating a flurry of light.

His Wuji sword technique had reached a level of unparalleled skill, with each strike containing immense power.

The assassins' attacks were like ants trying to shake a tree in front of Zhao Dun, posing no threat whatsoever.

Zhao Dun's swordsmanship was incredibly fierce; in the blink of an eye, two assassins fell to his blade. The other assassins, seeing this, were startled, and their attacks involuntarily slowed.

Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling came out of their room and were shocked by the chaotic scene inside the inn.

They hadn't expected that these assassins' target would be Zhao Dun. And the formidable strength Zhao Dun displayed made them realize the profound danger they were in. (End of Chapter)