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

Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling exchanged a glance and quickly escaped through the back door of the inn.

They knew that under these circumstances, they couldn't get involved in the conflict, or they would only bring more trouble upon themselves.

However, when they arrived at the back door, they found that the way out had been blocked by another group of assassins.

These assassins were also dressed in black, their eyes filled with murderous intent.

Upon seeing Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling, they charged forward without a word, brandishing their weapons. Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling's hearts sank; they knew they had fallen into a trap meticulously laid by the powerful families of the Southern Region.

Jiang Chuan drew his spirit sword Huangshan and shouted, "Well done!" before charging towards the assassins. Mu Qingling was not to be outdone, wielding her Cuiyan sword and engaging the assassins in fierce combat.

The assassins were formidable; their teamwork was impeccable, and their attacks were swift and deadly. Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling fought valiantly, but gradually found themselves in a difficult situation.

Jiang Chuan had multiple injuries, his clothes stained with blood. Mu Qingling was also exhausted, and her swordsmanship was becoming increasingly erratic.

Jiang Chuan gritted his teeth, silently pondering a solution. He knew that if things continued like this, they would be killed by the assassin sooner or later.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he shouted to Mu Qingling, "Qingling, let's split up and break through! You go to the left, I'll go to the right, and we'll meet up in the woods outside the town!"

Mu Qingling understood Jiang Chuan's meaning, nodded, and said, "Okay, be careful!" With that, the two of them simultaneously exerted their strength and rushed off in different directions. Seeing this, the assassins immediately split into two groups and gave chase.

Jiang Chuan raced forward, his spirit sword Huangshan flashing as he parried the assassins' attacks. His speed was incredible, quickly leaving most of the assassins behind. However, two assassins remained hot on his heels.

These two assassins were among the most skilled in the group, and their attacks became increasingly fierce. Jiang Chuan sustained several more wounds, bleeding profusely.

"Hmph, you think you can kill me so easily?" Jiang Chuan shouted, then suddenly turned around and unleashed a fierce sword technique.

The spirit sword Huangshan, carrying a cold light, pierced straight towards the throat of one of the assassins.

The assassin was unable to dodge in time and was stabbed through the throat by a sword, dying on the spot.

Upon seeing this, the other assassin was startled and slowed down his attack.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Jiang Chuan turned around again and ran towards the woods outside the town. The assassin hesitated for a moment, but still gave chase.

At the same time, Mu Qingling was also struggling to break through.

Although her swordsmanship was exquisite, she was gradually becoming overwhelmed by the siege of numerous assassins. Just as she was feeling desperate, a familiar figure suddenly appeared.

It turned out to be a spirit deer. It sensed the danger posed by Mu Qingling and flew out of the sword without a blade.

The spirit deer flashed and instantly appeared beside Mu Qingling, letting out a cry. Its body emanated a powerful spiritual energy, deterring the assassins from approaching.

Upon seeing this, Mu Qingling was overjoyed and quickly mounted the spirit deer.

With her in tow, the spirit deer broke through the assassins' encirclement like lightning and rushed towards the woods outside the town.

Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling arrived at the woods outside the town one after the other.

The two breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing each other. Linglu also came to their side and affectionately nuzzled against Mu Qingling.

Jiang Chuan looked at Mu Qingling and said, "We need to leave here quickly. Since the Southern Region families have already made a move against us, they certainly won't let this go."

Mu Qingling nodded and said, "Okay, let's go to Heyang City first and find my father. Maybe he can help us."

Before they could leave, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly broke the silence of the night.

Jiang Chuan frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

He quickly got up, walked to the window, and looked out through the crack. He saw thirteen assassins in black riding tall, agile steeds, galloping towards the inn like black phantoms.

The moonlight shone on the longswords in their hands, reflecting a chilling gleam.

"Qingling, there's an assassin!" Jiang Chuan turned around and said to Mu Qingling with a serious expression.

Upon hearing this, Mu Qingling immediately gripped the Emerald Smoke Sword in her hand, her eyes revealing determination and resolve.

"They've come at the perfect time. I want to see just how capable these people are!" Mu Qingling's tone was not afraid at all, but rather carried a hint of excitement.

Jiang Chuan nodded slightly, took a deep breath, and drew the Huangshan Sword.

The assassins arrived at the inn, dismounted, and surrounded it.

The lead assassin's gaze was cold as he scanned the inn, then he waved his hand and growled in a low voice, "Attack!"

In an instant, thirteen assassins surged toward the inn like a tidal wave.

Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling exchanged a glance, then simultaneously leaped out to meet the assassin.

Jiang Chuan brandished the Huangshan Sword, unleashing the "One Sword Swimming Dragon" technique. Nine waterfall-like sword energies surged forth from beneath his sword, intertwining and resembling a nimble giant dragon pouncing towards the assassins.

Not to be outdone, Mu Qingling let out a delicate shout and unleashed her "Sword Clone" technique.

The Emerald Smoke Sword instantly transformed into seven swords, spinning rapidly around her, their sword energy weaving together, rushing towards the enemy along with Jiang Chuan's sword energy. In an instant, sword energy crisscrossed outside the inn, blade light flashed, and shouts of battle shook the heavens.

However, the assassins' strength should not be underestimated.

They coordinated perfectly, remaining completely composed in the face of Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling's attacks. An assassin flashed past, dodging Jiang Chuan's sword aura, and thrust his longsword straight at Jiang Chuan's chest. Jiang Chuan quickly dodged to the side, simultaneously swinging his sword to block.

With a loud clang, the two swords clashed, sparks flying. Jiang Chuan felt a tremendous force surge through him, making his arm go numb.

Before he could recover, two more assassins attacked from both sides. Jiang Chuan fought back with all his might, but gradually felt his strength waning.

In the midst of the fierce battle, an assassin seized the opportunity and thrust his sword at Jiang Chuan's chestnut horse.

The chestnut horse neighed and was thrown back. Jiang Chuan was also knocked to the ground by the impact, crashing heavily and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Jiang Chuan!" Upon seeing this, Mu Qingling was extremely anxious and wanted to rush over to help, but she was entangled by several assassins and could not break free.

At the critical moment of life and death, Jiang Chuan felt his blood and qi surging within him, and his injuries became increasingly severe.

Just when he thought he was about to die, the Mountain Demon Seal between his brows suddenly emitted a faint light, echoing the emerald light in the Sword Without Edge. In an instant, Jiang Chuan felt a surge of powerful true energy erupt from his body, and his cultivation actually broke through to the Other Shore Realm at this critical moment between life and death.

Jiang Chuan was overjoyed and quickly circulated his true energy to unleash the Buddhist Golden Bell Shield.

A layer of golden light instantly enveloped his body, like a solid fortress. Upon seeing this, the assassins all swung their swords at the Golden Bell Shield.

The sword energy rained down on the golden bell shield, making a clanging sound.

However, despite its power, the Golden Bell Shield gradually developed cracks under the attacks of numerous assassins.

Finally, the old man in the straw hat joined the battle. His cultivation was unfathomable. With a swing of his long sword, a sharp sword aura instantly slashed towards the Golden Bell Shield.

With a "crack," the Golden Bell Shield was shattered, and Jiang Chuan was once again seriously injured, collapsing to the ground.

But Jiang Chuan didn't give up. With his indomitable willpower, he struggled to his feet. At this moment, the Nine-Colored Spirit Deer sensed the danger to Jiang Chuan and flew out of the Sword of No Edge, its body radiating a rich jade energy that merged into Jiang Chuan's body. Jiang Chuan felt a cool sensation at his wound, and his injury healed rapidly.

"Ah!" Jiang Chuan roared, swinging his sword again and unleashing "Sword One, Waterfall".

This time, his sword energy was even sharper and more powerful than before.

A massive waterfall of sword energy surged forth from beneath his sword, hurtling towards the assassins. The assassins scrambled to dodge, but several were unable to avoid it and were struck by the sword energy, sustaining serious injuries.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the inn, the duel between Duke Zhao Dun of Yan and Huang Yaoshi reached its climax. Huang Yaoshi was infamous in the martial arts world; his evil sword was incredibly powerful, striking fear into the hearts of all. Zhao Dun, as the foremost swordsman of Yan, possessed unfathomable strength.

The moment the two met, they engaged in an earth-shattering battle.

Zhao Dun wielded a long saber, unleashing the Limitless Saber Technique. Each strike contained immense power, seemingly capable of cleaving the heavens and earth. Huang Yaoshi, on the other hand, was possessed by the Evil Sword, his movements elusive and his swordplay unpredictable, making him impossible to defend against.

The energy of the blade and the energy of the sword collided, producing a deafening sound.

The entire inn shook violently during their fight; walls collapsed and tables and chairs were shattered. The other guests inside were already terrified and scattered in all directions.

Zhao Dun shouted and unleashed the "Three Blades of Limitless".

The first strike, its energy like a rainbow piercing the sun, slashed straight at Huang Yaoshi. Huang Yaoshi hurriedly swung his sword to block, but with a clang, he felt his arm go numb and staggered back a few steps.

Before Huang Yaoshi could even get a foothold, Zhao Dun's second strike came.

This strike was even more ferocious, carrying an overwhelming momentum. Huang Yaoshi's expression turned solemn as he unleashed his full power in the Evil Sword Technique, barely managing to block the attack.

However, Zhao Dun's third strike was the most fatal.

He concentrated all his strength into this single strike, the blade energy transforming into a gigantic dragon that roared towards Huang Yaoshi. Huang Yaoshi was greatly alarmed upon seeing this; he knew he couldn't withstand the blow head-on, so he dodged in a flash.

But Zhao Dun's blade energy was relentless, relentlessly pursuing Huang Yaoshi. Left with no other choice, Huang Yaoshi could only possess his body with the Evil Sword to withstand Zhao Dun's blade energy.

With a deafening roar, their attacks collided in mid-air, generating a powerful impact. This force sent everything around them flying, leaving a huge crater in the ground.

The two engaged in a spiritual duel in mid-air, their sword spirits clashing and unleashing powerful fluctuations of soul energy. This energy surged like an invisible force, making it difficult for mortals within a hundred feet to breathe.

The trees around the inn were uprooted by this force, and the houses collapsed under its impact.

During the battle between Zhao Dun and Huang Laoxie, Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling took the opportunity to escape from Liuying Town.

Jiang Chuan carried Mu Qingling, stepped onto the main road, and sped off into the distance.

Seeing this, the old man in the straw hat snorted coldly and led five assassins to follow closely behind, determined to capture Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling.

Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling experienced countless hardships and dangers on their escape route.

They traversed dense forests, forded swift rivers, and climbed steep mountain peaks. Each time they thought they had escaped the assassins' pursuit, the old man in the straw hat and his men would reappear.

In a fierce exchange, Jiang Chuan was injured again. His arm was slashed by the assassin's longsword, and blood flowed freely. Mu Qingling looked at Jiang Chuan's injured arm, her heart filled with worry.

"Jiang Chuan, stop being so stubborn. Let's find a place to hide." Mu Qingling's eyes were filled with tears, and her voice was choked with sobs.

Jiang Chuan looked at Mu Qingling, his heart warmed. He gently wiped away the tears on Mu Qingling's face and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine. We can't hide. Once we hide, we'll never get rid of them. Only by becoming stronger can we gain a foothold in this martial world of Kyushu."

Looking into Jiang Chuan's determined eyes, Mu Qingling felt worried, but she also knew that Jiang Chuan's decision was right.

She nodded and said, "Okay, I believe you. But you must be careful not to get hurt."

Jiang Chuan smiled slightly and said, "I promise you."

The two continued their escape, and with the help of the nine-colored spirit deer, they grew faster and faster.

Although the old man in the straw hat and his men gave chase, they were never able to catch up with them.

Gradually, the old man in the straw hat and the assassins disappeared into the distance.

Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling finally shook off the assassins' pursuit and stopped in a secluded valley. Jiang Chuan sat on a rock, panting heavily with exhaustion. Mu Qingling stood beside him, carefully bandaging his wounds.

Seeing Mu Qingling's focused expression, Jiang Chuan was deeply moved.

A gentle breeze swept through the valley, bringing a sense of tranquility and peace. Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling sat there quietly, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

The twilight, as dark as ink, thickly blanketed the mountains and forests.

With the Nine-Colored Spirit Deer running at full speed, Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling finally managed to shake off the old man in the bamboo hat and the five black-clad assassins who were hot on their heels.

As the deer's hooves slowed, Jiang Chuan and Mu Qingling stopped by a quiet stream. The stream flowed gently, as if telling a story of tranquility and peace, but their hearts were like a small boat in a storm, unable to find peace.

Jiang Chuan rested his hands on his knees, breathing heavily, and looked up at Mu Qingling, his eyes flashing with a thoughtful light: "Qingling, we had been trying to keep a low profile and avoid the pursuit of the Southern Region families, but we didn't expect that this would lead us into their trap."

Mu Qingling frowned slightly and nodded gently, signaling Jiang Chuan to continue.

Jiang Chuan stood up, walked to the stream, squatted down, and gently stirred the water with his hand, creating ripples: "They knew we would hide, so they laid a trap in the dark, making it impossible for us to defend ourselves."

Jiang Chuan suddenly stood up, his face resolute, and said, "We can't keep hiding like this. We have to do the opposite. From now on, we'll act openly and make a big scene, letting everyone see the despicable act of the Southern Region's powerful families in assassinating the Princess of Heyang." (End of Chapter)