“If you can’t bear to do it, leave it to me,” Su Muyu said to Xie Zanye.
Xie Zanye smiled and shrugged. “I’ve been guarding this tower since I was sixteen. I’ve spent more time here than with my clan. I’ve grown attached to this place—it’s hard to destroy it with my own hands.”
“Understandable.” Su Muyu knocked down the wall torches one by one, then left the top floor with Xie Zanye. But when they reached the floor below, Su Muyu suddenly turned around.
“What is it?” Xie Zanye asked.
“Forgot something. Wait here for me.” Su Muyu headed back to the second floor.
Xie Zanye watched Su Muyu’s retreating figure, caught in an internal struggle. Su Muyu was already severely wounded—Xie Zanye had observed him long enough to know he was running on sheer willpower and could collapse at any moment. His hands trembled as he considered reaching for his bow to shoot Su Muyu in the back, potentially changing tonight’s outcome. This was the Three Elders’ true purpose in having him stay behind.
Their three families had lived in Tianqi City for generations, always relying on the Shadow Sect. How could Su Muyu’s few words change such a relationship? The Three Elders’ earlier concession was merely due to circumstances. If they could turn defeat into victory now…
Xie Zanye’s right hand gripped his bow while his left hesitantly reached for an arrow, the trembling spreading throughout his body. Victory would change everything. Defeat would mean certain death, and Dark River would pursue their three families relentlessly. Such a choice was indeed difficult.
But even as Su Muyu’s figure disappeared through the top floor entrance, Xie Zanye couldn’t bring himself to draw an arrow. He exhaled, his strength suddenly leaving him. Wiping sweat from his brow, he felt a wave of fear, his mind blank. After some time, Su Muyu returned to his side. The top floor was now completely ablaze, the heat of the flames shocking Xie Zanye back to awareness. He asked, “What… what did you go back for?”
“That I can’t tell you,” Su Muyu extended his hand. “Let me borrow your bow.”
Xie Zanye was startled. “What… what are you going to do?”
“Since you’re unwilling to destroy this tower yourself, lend me your bow. It’ll save some time,” Su Muyu replied.
“Oh. Oh.” Though still confused, Xie Zanye handed over both his bow and the quiver at his waist.
Su Muyu took them and, mimicking Xie Zanye’s earlier technique, broke off an arrow’s head, lit it with a nearby torch, and shot it. The arrow created a whirlwind as it passed before Xie Zanye, who finally came to his senses: “You know archery too?”
“I’ve learned it,” Su Muyu said, shooting another arrow and quickly setting the entire floor ablaze. “Is there anything you want to keep?”
“Me?” Xie Zanye asked, puzzled. “What do you mean, Master Su?”
“Perhaps information about your enemies, or details about someone you love. You couldn’t check even a single page due to Shadow Sect rules, but today you can take whatever you want. I won’t interfere.” Su Muyu drew another arrow.
Xie Zanye smiled, scratching his head. “I’ve been guarding this tower since sixteen—what enemies would I have? As for someone I love, they’re nobody important, just…”
“No need to tell me then. That would be your weakness. If we become enemies again, it would be your vulnerability,” Su Muyu interrupted.
Xie Zanye immediately understood and stopped talking. Though his clan had valued him enough to make him chief guardian at sixteen, and despite his martial prowess, he was far behind others in matters of intrigue—especially compared to Su Muyu, once Dark River’s puppet. He even wondered if Su Muyu’s earlier opening had been deliberately shown, testing him.
“Let’s continue,” Su Muyu said, bow in hand, as they descended.
At YanGui Tower.
Xiao Chuhe, who had been drowsy, suddenly widened his eyes. He turned excitedly: “Master, over there—a fire has started!”
“Yes. This fire has finally been lit,” Ji Ruofeng stood up, touching the staff at his waist. “I’ve been waiting for this fire for a long time.”
“That direction is…” Xiao Chuhe pondered, “The Duke’s mansion? Old Seven’s maternal grandfather’s residence? Master, do you have a grudge against that old man?”
“That old man isn’t worthy of having a grudge against me. He merely inherited his ancestors’ glory,” Ji Ruofeng patted Xiao Chuhe’s shoulder. “Come, let’s go down.”
“To see the Duke’s mansion?” Xiao Chuhe asked excitedly.
“Want to watch the commotion?” Ji Ruofeng knocked Xiao Chuhe’s forehead.
“Of course! Someone burning the Duke’s mansion at night—what a spectacle!” Xiao Chuhe replied.
“We can’t watch. Think about it—that’s the Imperial Consort Xuan’s father’s residence. Consider your position—can you appear there tonight?” Ji Ruofeng said helplessly.
“Alright, alright,” Xiao Chuhe scratched his head. “I was just saying.”
Outside the Duke’s mansion.
Bai Hehuai watched the burning tower and sighed: “He did it.”
Mu Yumo smiled: “I told you, Muyu and Changhe have never failed when working together.”
“Someone’s coming,” Bai Hehuai frowned as a carriage slowly stopped outside the Duke’s mansion. A tall man stepped down, wearing purple dragon robes that gave him an air of nobility. His features held a feminine quality mixed with ruthlessness. He turned slightly, and Bai Hehuai, hidden in shadows, felt cold sweat down her back. Though her position should have been invisible, she distinctly felt the man looking at her. But he quickly turned away as a youth in purple clothes jumped down from the carriage and followed him into the mansion.
Bai Hehuai turned to question Mu Yumo but found her face ashen, hands trembling. She quickly grasped Mu Yumo’s ice-cold hands: “What’s wrong?”
Mu Yumo’s lips quivered: “That person just now—he’s terrifying.”
“Did he attack you?” Bai Hehuai asked.
Mu Yumo shook her head: “I tried to send my Soul-Tracking Spiders to investigate him, but…” She waved her long sleeve, revealing dead spiders scattered before them.
“My spiders—they all died in that moment.”