Outside the Spider’s Lair.
A figure in black feathered robes landed, studying the Bi’an members before him. A blade as thin as a cicada’s wing spun swiftly between his fingers, somewhat resembling Su Changhe’s Inch-Long Sword.
“A fingertip blade? You’re from the Tang Clan…” Su Luandan pondered briefly before realizing, “Tang Lianyue.”
Tang Lianyue nodded. “Are you blocking my way?”
Su Luandan smiled and stepped aside, the other Bi’an members following suit. He spoke slowly, “We’ve cleared the path, but whether you can enter through this door depends on the玄武使 [Xuanwu Shi] Guardian’s abilities.”
“I come for Tang Clan business, not as the Xuanwu Guardian,” Tang Lianyue stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.
Inside the Spider’s Lair, the imminent battle between Su Changhe and the Patriarch was interrupted by this sudden knocking. He complained irritably, “Didn’t I say no one enters without my command?”
Then the door was pushed open.
Tang Lianyue, clad in black feathered robes, entered as the door closed behind him. He spoke dispassionately, “I knock out of courtesy when visiting others’ dwellings, but my entry requires no one’s permission.”
The red qi gradually dissipated from Su Changhe’s palms as he smiled, “Oh? Brother Lianyue? Is my sister Yumei not good enough that you come here?”
Tang Lianyue ignored him, focusing on the Patriarch instead. “Darkriver Patriarch, we finally meet.”
The Patriarch remained composed. “Tianqi City’s Xuanwu Guardian, your reputation precedes you.”
Tang Lianyue frowned slightly. “Why does everyone address me as Tianqi City’s Xuanwu Guardian? I come to kill you to avenge my Second Uncle, unrelated to Tianqi City matters.”
The Patriarch gave a cold laugh and shook his head. “You’re still too young. Second Master Tang had long withdrawn from jianghu affairs, even refusing to stay with the Tang Clan, choosing to live alone in that desolate place. Why would anyone hire me, the Darkriver Patriarch, to personally kill him?”
Tang Lianyue’s pupils constricted. “Who hired you?”
The Patriarch maintained his cold smile. “Assassins never reveal their clients—it’s our rule. I can only say that Second Master Tang was your strongest supporter within the Tang Clan. When the clan summoned you back to Shu, you refused. Among the elders, only he stood by your side.”
Tang Lianyue sighed softly. “I understand now. But I still must kill you to avenge him.”
The Patriarch raised his hand slightly. “Please, Xuanwu Guardian, come take my life.”
“How interesting,” Su Changhe leaped to Su Muyu’s side, lightly touching her waist. “There are always things you can’t protect. Why not watch the show with me?”
Bai Hehuai snorted coldly. “At least it saves us some effort.”
Su Changhe stroked his mustache, looking at Bai Hehuai. “The Divine Physician seems quite composed throughout. Perhaps you know something I don’t?”
Bai Hehuai smiled. “Indeed, I just poisoned you, didn’t you know?”
Su Changhe clutched his chest with an exaggerated “Oh!” “No wonder, no wonder my heart started beating faster the moment I saw the Divine Physician.”
Bai Hehuai spat in disgust. “You mustached scoundrel, how shameless!”
Su Muyu watched the Patriarch, silently wondering: Patriarch, what are you thinking?
Tang Lianyue casually tossed a stone that burst into flames as it flew toward the Patriarch. The Patriarch raised his Sleeping Dragon Sword, shattering the stone into powder. Sparks scattered around him. “Mere flying fire stones, and you think to kill me?”
Standing still, Tang Lianyue swept out three King of Hell Cards with his left hand and dozens of Dragon Whisker Needles with his right. The Patriarch swiftly dodged the cards and swept away the needles with his sword. “Even Second Master Tang had to use Ten Thousand Flying Flowers against me. You think this will suffice?”
Finally, Tang Lianyue moved, leaping into the air as the Patriarch scattered the needles. “You want to see Ten Thousand Flying Flowers? Then witness them!” His sleeves swept out, releasing a sky full of silver needles.
“Be careful!” Bai Hehuai instinctively moved to retreat.
Su Changhe and Su Muyu remained still. Su Changhe smiled, “Tang Lianyue is amusingly rigid. When he says he’ll only kill the Patriarch, he means exactly that. Don’t worry, we won’t be harmed.”
“Your uncle could turn flowers into weapons, but you still rely on needles. Unable to transform nature’s bounty into hidden weapons, you fall short of him.” The Patriarch’s muscles bulged as his sword qi suddenly became fierce, forming a protective barrier that shattered the needles.
But the needles, slightly thicker than normal, fell precisely where the earlier sparks had scattered.
The ground’s flames suddenly grew brilliant.
In an instant, the entire courtyard blazed like daylight.
Still airborne, Tang Lianyue softly uttered one word: “Bang!”
The ground within three zhang of the Patriarch exploded.
The entire section of the earth erupted.
Dust filled the air, forcing Su Changhe to use his Ghost King Palm to deflect the flying debris. “I underestimated you, Tang Lianyue!”
Su Muyu called out, “These needles contained Thunder Clan explosives!”
“Aren’t the Tang and Thunder Clans traditionally at odds? How did Thunder Clan explosives end up in Tang Clan weapons?” Bai Hehuai asked, puzzled.
“Tianqi’s Chief Guardian is Li Xingyue, whose husband is Thunder Clan’s pride, Lei Mengsha!” Su Muyu replied.
Su Changhe coughed while batting away the dust. “Such heavy smoke means the Patriarch surely survived.”
Tang Lianyue landed. “That was my second hidden weapon, Heaven’s Thunder Injustice. If only there were clouds tonight, the lightning would have surely killed you.”
The Patriarch stood amidst the smoke, his surroundings devastated while he remained unscathed, even his clothes pristine. The sleeping dragon on his sword opened its eyes again as he raised the blade, turning slightly.
Tang Lianyue held an iron box, pointing it at his back.
“Storming Pear Blossom Needles,” the Patriarch said calmly. “Let’s see what’s faster—your needles or my sword.”
Tang Lianyue gripped the box tightly, pondering the same question, until he noticed a tiny, extremely fine wound appearing on the Patriarch’s sword-wielding wrist.
The Heaven’s Thunder Injustice had wounded him after all.
And from the wound flowed white blood.