Film and Television World Life Record

Li Mu's heart stirred, recalling the portraits he had just seen. Although the drawings were not very clear, they bore a striking resemblance to this man. Whether he carried a curved sword at his waist was impossible to see, but although the man was seated, he exuded a heroic air.

The man had very sharp eyes. When he saw Li Mu looking over, he immediately noticed and looked back.

The two men's eyes met and they both stirred. The man saw that Li Mu had an extraordinary temperament and a restrained spirit. Under his sharp and unyielding gaze, Li Mu remained unmoved, which made him unable to see through him for a moment.

Li Mu saw a glint of light flash in his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, clearly indicating that he possessed extremely profound internal strength.

The man spoke first, calling out loudly, "Young brother, judging from your expression, do you perhaps know me?"

Li Mu asked, "Are you Xiang Wentian, the Left Envoy of the Demonic Sect?"

Xiang Wentian raised an eyebrow and asked, "Huh, you really recognize me? You don't look like a member of the Divine Cult. Have we met before?"

Li Mu laughed heartily and said, "Although I have never met you, I have heard of you for a long time. On the way here, many people have been holding up portraits and asking about your whereabouts. Judging from your attire, they are all members of the Demonic Sect. And since your surname is Xiang, are you not Xiang Wentian?"

Xiang Wentian laughed heartily and said, "Good, young brother, you are straightforward. I am Xiang Wentian, and I will not change my name or surname. I am indeed the old man."

Li Mu said thoughtfully, "Why is the Left Envoy here at Hengshan instead of at Blackwood Cliff?"

Xiang Wentian's expression changed, and he shouted, "I can go wherever I want, what business is it of yours?" As he said this, his tone changed, and he looked at Li Mu with a playful gaze, saying, "Judging from your attire, you seem to be a disciple of the Five Mountains Sword Sect. The Five Mountains Sword Sect and my Divine Sect have always been irreconcilable enemies, no wonder you asked this question. But do you know my temper?"

Li Mu laughed heartily and said, "I heard that Xiang Wentian, the Left Envoy of the Demonic Sect, is unruly and arrogant. It seems that he wasn't lying."

Xiang Wen chuckled and said, "Since you know my temperament, why do you still dare to ask me?"

Li Mu said calmly, "Why wouldn't you dare ask! I am still a little curious about why the Left Envoy has come here. If you want to tell me, then tell me; if you don't want to tell me, I won't force you. I'll leave now."

"I've only heard that the Left Envoy is a bold and generous man. Why be so fussy? Otherwise, people will look down on you."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Wentian's expression changed, but then he suddenly burst into laughter and said, "Good! You've got guts, kid. I consider myself quite arrogant, but I didn't expect you to be just as good as me. I have to look at you with new respect."

"Come on... let me see if your hands are as tough as your mouth?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiang Wentian, who had been sitting upright, suddenly moved and floated up from the ground. He spun around in mid-air and struck Li Mu with a palm. He was extremely tall, and his attack was powerful and domineering.

Li Mu remained unmoved. He shifted his feet, his hands moving in a perfect circle. He thrust out his right palm to meet the attack. The two palms clashed with a loud bang, the force of the impact sending branches and flowers around them snapping.

A purple aura flashed across Li Mu's face, and his body swayed a few times. He took three steps back to dissipate the force, and after circulating his qi, he returned to normal.

On the other hand, Xiang Wentian, who had struck out with a palm in mid-air, was countered by the force of the palm. He tumbled several times in the air before landing on the ground and taking seven or eight steps back to dissipate the force.

His face flushed and paled in an instant, not only because his blood was boiling and he couldn't suppress it, but also because of the embarrassment he felt. He had been so confident before, who would have thought he was actually inferior? Even with his seasoned temperament, he couldn't help but feel somewhat ashamed.

Upon seeing this, Li Mu's expression remained unchanged. He cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "You flatter me, Left Envoy."

Seeing that there was no hint of mockery on his face, Xiang Wentian felt a little better, but he was still unconvinced.

However, he put away his arrogance and cupped his hands, saying, "Young brother, you have excellent skills. I have been wandering the martial world for many years, and this is the first time I have seen a young hero of your age with such superb skills. I underestimated you just now. How about you take a few more of my moves?"

Li Mu knew that Xiang Wentian was unconvinced, and he also wanted to see how skilled this Left Envoy was in martial arts, and also to see how well he could fight bare-handed, so he nodded to Xiang Wentian.

Seeing his movement, Xiang Wentian said, "Excuse me." Before he finished speaking, he bent over, suddenly leaped up, as fast as lightning, and launched a powerful palm strike from mid-air.

Seeing his fierce approach, Li Mu spun around, as if a gentle breeze had swept by, and gracefully moved a few feet to the side to avoid the attack. At the same time, taking advantage of the opening, he changed his fists into palms, each palm carrying a strong wind, and suddenly lunged forward, his palms flying as he attacked simultaneously.

Seeing Li Mu move, dodging his attack, Xiang Wentian seized the opportunity to launch his own. He was no ordinary opponent either; he pushed off the ground with both feet, leaping backward to avoid the attack, while simultaneously unleashing a flurry of palm strikes to meet Li Mu's attack. The two tumbled and rolled, locked in combat, their energy surging and dispersing like raindrops or mercury spilling onto the ground.

Both were exceptional masters in the martial arts world, with outstanding skills in fist, palm, and finger techniques, as well as in their knowledge and experience. Their moves were fluid and graceful, with their bodies moving at will and their artistic conception flowing endlessly.

After a few moves, Li Mu changed his attack. He raised both palms, his left hand pointing like a halberd and his right hand pointing like a knife. Xiang Wentian also suddenly changed his palm into fingers, his ten fingers like iron hooks. The two of them moved as fast as lightning and as swift as the wind. Before the previous move was finished, the next move was launched. The moves were continuous and uninterrupted.

Suddenly, Li Mu lowered his body and spun around like a top to attack. His movements were graceful and elegant. He swung his hands out like a whirlwind, attacking from both sides. This was a technique of applying force from the Spiral Nine Shadows.

Xiang Wentian was already at a disadvantage, and this sudden attack caught him off guard. He knew that things were hopeless and that if he continued, he would lose face.

He suddenly gathered all his strength to receive Li Mu's attack, and with a sudden twist of his body, he flipped over and flew several feet away.

Upon seeing this, Li Mu abruptly stopped, not pursuing the attack. He dusted off his sleeves, appearing relaxed.

Having been through many trials, Xiang Wentian recovered instantly and cupped his hands in greeting to Li Mu, saying with a smile, "You truly are a young hero. I, Xiang, am not easily convinced of others' merits, but among the younger generation of the martial world, you are the first."

Li Mu smiled and said, "You're too kind, Left Envoy!"

Then his tone changed: "Speaking of which, the heroes from all walks of life in Hengshan City have not yet dispersed. As the Left Envoy of the Demonic Sect, you dare to come here. You have quite the courage. You should be careful not to be killed by someone who eliminates demons and monsters?"

Xiang Wentian laughed heartily and said, "Thank you for the reminder, young brother. It's not that I'm arrogant, but if you want to slay my demons and eliminate my evil, don't be fooled by how powerful those self-proclaimed righteous people are. If you really ask them to make a move against me, I'm afraid very few of them would dare to do so."

Li Mu said meaningfully, "Oh! Is that so? So that's what you think, Left Envoy. But I seem to be a disciple of the righteous sect as well. Are you so confident that I won't attack you? This longsword in my hand has drunk a lot of blood!" As Li Mu spoke, his fingers lightly brushed against the blade.

Xiang Wentian laughed heartily and said, "Young brother, you are straightforward. However, I don't think you are someone who can't distinguish right from wrong. I suppose you wouldn't attack me for no reason."

Li Mu smiled and said, "That's not necessarily true. You are evil and I am righteous. My Five Mountains Sword Sect and your Demonic Sect are irreconcilable enemies, with a deep-seated hatred. How do you know I won't make a move against you?"

Xiang Wentian's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, and he laughed loudly, "I may not be good at other things, but I do have a good eye for people. However, young brother, you are underestimating me too much. Although I may be a few moves behind you in terms of martial arts, it is not necessarily the case that I will win in a real fight."

"I see you have a sharp sword at your waist, so you must be a skilled swordsman. But I have also been practicing swordsmanship for decades. If we were to fight with weapons, it would be hard to say who would be better."

He said this because he felt that Li Mu was quite strong and his internal strength was no less than his own. In a hand-to-hand fight, he would naturally be at a disadvantage. He felt that if it came down to weapons, with his swordsmanship honed over decades, how could he possibly be inferior to Li Mu?

Upon hearing this, Li Mu stared at Xiang Wentian with a half-smile and said, "Left Envoy Xiang, you're exaggerating. Who would dare to look down on the Left Envoy of the Demonic Sect?"

"However, what the Left Envoy said is quite right. I really can't be bothered with these trivial matters."

"Farewell!" Li Mu said, turning to leave.

Upon seeing this, Xiang Wentian's expression suddenly changed, and he called out, "Young brother, please wait. I have a big deal for you. Would you be willing to do it?"

Upon hearing this, Li Mu glanced at Xiang Wentian with considerable surprise: "As the Left Envoy of the Demonic Sect, Xiang Wentian holds a high position and wields great power. He has no shortage of money or beautiful women. What business do you want me to do?"

Seeing that he did not refuse outright, Xiang Wentian smiled and said, "This is naturally not an ordinary deal. I would like to ask you to help me save someone. I will definitely reward you handsomely after the matter is settled."

Upon hearing this, Li Mu understood somewhat. He said with a strange expression, "Left Envoy, you've probably come to the wrong person! I'm righteous and you're evil. If we don't fight to the death when we meet, that's fine. But you actually want me to help you save people." He shook his head as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Wentian's expression changed slightly. He pondered for a moment and said, "Young brother, don't be so quick to refuse. I see that you are open-minded and not a rigid person. Your understanding of the difference between good and evil is not like that of ordinary people. If this matter succeeds, there will be great benefits. I would never let worldly things sully your discerning eyes."

Li Mu laughed and said, "Oh, it's not some kind of gold or silver, could it be a martial arts manual?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Wentian's expression shifted slightly, and he said, "If you want a martial arts manual, as long as I can provide it, I will certainly teach you everything I know."

Upon hearing this, Li Mu paced back and forth a few steps, then shook his head and chuckled, "It's not that I look down on Envoy Xiang, but the martial arts of my Huashan Sect are profound and have their own subtle and profound aspects. I, Lin, have not yet learned even a fraction of their essence, so how could I covet other martial arts manuals?"

"Besides, there are different levels of martial arts manuals. Ordinary martial arts are hardly worthy of my attention. Can you produce the Demonic Sect's ultimate martial art?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Wentian's expression changed. He stood there stunned for a long time, gritted his teeth, and as if he had made up his mind, laughed loudly at Li Mu: "If you can help me rescue this person, brother, I might just grant your wish!"

Li Mu laughed and said, "It seems that the person rescued by the Left Envoy is extraordinary. You came to Hengshan to find helpers, do you want to find Qu Yang?"

Xiang Wentian's expression tightened, and he stared at Li Mu, asking, "How did you know?"

Li Mu said with a strange expression, "It seems you really have fallen out with the Demonic Sect. With such poor information, you can't find Qu Yang."

Xiang Wentian said with a wry smile, "Everyone says that Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng escaped from the Liu residence. I searched the area for several days, but I couldn't find them!"

Then, changing the subject, he asked, "Young man, why do you say I can't find him? Do you know where Elder Qu went?"

Li Mu shook his head: "There's no point in saying more. You won't be able to find him anyway."

Xiang Wentian seemed to understand something, so he stopped asking questions and instead looked at Li Mu with a smile: "Young brother, what have you thought about it?"

Li Mu smiled faintly: "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Envoy Xiang. The manual is good, but if I go with you to rescue people, we'll inevitably get entangled in it, and there will probably be endless troubles afterward, and we'll never have peace again."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Wentian's expression changed, but he suddenly laughed and said, "Young brother, you are mistaken. Since we are in the martial world, how can we find peace and quiet? A true man should ride into battle with his sword, wielding his blade across the land. That is what a passionate man should do. If one is afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, wouldn't one have lived a wasted life?"

Li Mu shook his head and sighed, "Xiang Zuoshi was able to disregard his own safety to save people, which can be considered a heroic act. But whether it's passion or indifference, as long as one doesn't betray their conscience, why bother with so many rules?"

Xiang Wentian said, "Young brother, do you not trust me with these words?"

Li Mu said, "You flatter me, Left Envoy. Whether you trust me or not is another matter. Before I leave, I'd like to remind you that this place is too conspicuous. I'm afraid it won't be long before the Demonic Sect's spies find it. Farewell!" With that, Li Mu cupped his hands in greeting and turned to leave.

Xiang Wentian laughed loudly, "Those good-for-nothings are not worthy? Brother, you underestimate me too much."

Li Mu chuckled lightly: "Then please, Left Envoy, do as you please!"

As Xiang Wentian watched Li Mu gradually leave, he felt that he had been looked down upon by Li Mu today. He suddenly called out, "Young brother, wait! Today I will let you witness my swordsmanship and see if I am just all talk and no action."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he pointed his long sword diagonally, suddenly leaping up from the ground and attacking Li Mu with a single strike.

Li Mu was somewhat helpless, but without turning around, he casually thrust his sword forward, breaking the attack. Xiang Wentian hurriedly withdrew his move, changed his posture, and launched another attack. Li Mu again casually thrust his sword forward, leaving Xiang Wentian helpless, and he quickly changed his move midway...

As Xiang Wentian's attacks grew faster, Li Mu's sword strikes remained casual yet perfectly timed, neutralizing every fierce attack. The two fought at an increasingly rapid pace, until finally only a blur of cold light enveloped their figures, like dragons dancing wildly, their energy radiating in all directions.

Suddenly, Li Musheng let out a soft shout, and with a flick of his long sword, it seemed to be a serpent spitting out, its cold light flashing erratically as it stabbed around Xiang Wentian. The silver light danced endlessly, leaving one dazzled and overwhelmed.

Suddenly, a sword thrust forward. Before Xiang Wentian could react, he only saw a flash of cold light before his eyes. His long knife clattered to the ground as the sword tip pointed directly at his throat. He froze on the spot.

Li Mu suddenly shook his head, sighed softly, sheathed his longsword, and strolled towards Hengshan City.

Chapter 558 Perseverance: Ren Yingying

As time passed, the martial arts figures in Hengyang City gradually dispersed, making the city much quieter.

Li Mu has been living a carefree life lately, taking a stroll around the neighborhood every day in addition to practicing his skills.

That day, he walked alone along the street, the city crisscrossed by waterways. Although it could not compare to the bustling prosperity of Suzhou, Yuhang, or the Qinhuai River, it possessed a unique and elegant charm with a layer of ancient allure. If one were to travel by boat, one could explore almost half of Hengyang Prefecture.

He walked through a long street, and a small river came into view. There was a small blue stone dock on the riverbank, where several light and slender flatboats were moored, and two people were bargaining there.

Looking at the emerald green river, the fish swimming back and forth, and the occasional lone boat passing by, Li Mu suddenly felt interested and hired a boat to go downstream, letting the boatman navigate at his leisure.

He stood at the bow of the boat, facing the gentle breeze, his clothes fluttering, looking around. His heart gradually calmed down, as if he were intertwined with heaven and earth, and a sense of ethereal peace slowly rose in his heart.

The light boat gradually entered the main channel of a river. This area was different from other places. Boats were crisscrossing the river, and the scenery on both banks was beautiful. As the boat was moving, a voice suddenly came from the side, "Young master, please wait." The voice was melodious and smooth, like a silver bell.

Li Mu turned his head and saw a painted boat approaching from afar.

Li Mu instructed the boatman to slow down. At this moment, he could faintly hear singing again. The singing was soft and the melody was strange. Not a single word could be understood, but the tone was extremely thick and sweet. It sounded like a sigh or a chant. When the singing changed, it sounded more like the seductive music between a man and a woman. It was unrestrained and intoxicating.