“Poison Mistress, you were too careless,” Dian Ye said gravely.
Luo Yandie’s face turned ashen, her lips trembling slightly. “General Dian… Brother Dian, Dark River, they…”
“We’ve never had contact with Dark River,” Dian Ye raised his head. “No one seeks out these nails in the darkness when they still have other options.”
Luo Yandie glared at Su Changhe hatefully. “You deceived me.”
“Flying Tiger General, Dian Ye. They say your martial arts are no less formidable than Grand General Ye Xiaoying’s, and that golden axe of yours has slain six first-rank masters from South Jue.” Su Changhe ignored her words.
“Dark River’s Undertaker Su Changhe, I hear you’re now Dark River’s master,” Dian Ye said softly. “What brings you to Si Huai City?”
Su Changhe shrugged. “I heard that Wujian City’s young master Zhuo Yue’an is challenging Wushuang in swordsmanship. It should be a spectacular duel, and since my brother here also practices swordsmanship, we came to watch.”
“Dark River’s current patriarch and the Su family head, along with the previous puppet master, bringing the Wen family head’s niece, traveling thousands of miles to Wushuang City just to watch a show.” Dian Ye hefted his golden axe. “That’s hard to believe.”
“Indeed, it is hard to believe,” Su Changhe nodded. “But that’s my story, and here we are. I’m just here for entertainment.”
“I don’t know your true purpose here. But if you leave now, I’m willing to have my men open the city gates for you,” Dian Ye said quietly. “We do not quarrel with Dark River, and surely Dark River has no reason to be our enemy.”
Su Changhe stroked his small beard, glancing at Bai Huhuai, then at Su Muyu. Undeniably, Dian Ye had a point. Dark River had always been mercenaries—killing a Flying Tiger General would command a hefty price. With Su Changhe’s previous temperament, he wouldn’t have antagonized Dian Ye without cause. He spoke slowly: “Indeed, a reasonable proposition.”
Su Muyu looked at the corpses and blood on the ground, speaking coolly: “And what about these people?”
“Mere weeds,” Dian Ye replied calmly.
“I’ll fight you to the death!” Ge Xiu made to charge forward, his eyes bloodshot. Unlike his earlier rage against Lei Bao, which held some pretense, this time Ge Xiu’s fury was genuine. He knew well that Su Muyu had no obligation to oppose a court general for the sake of a few sect members.
“No one is mere weeds,” Su Muyu said softly.
Dian Ye found it amusing. “Such words from Dark River’s patriarch?”
“But these past few days, I’m not Dark River’s patriarch. My surname is Zhuo,” Su Muyu drew the Crane Rain Sword. “Zhuo Yue’an.”
“It’s you!” Dian Ye’s pupils contracted.
“Well, since my brother has spoken,” Su Changhe spread his hands. “I have no choice. Let’s fight then. Though it seems unfair, many against few, not very honorable.”
Dian Ye waved his axe, stepping back before smiling. “But I’ve never cared for honor, only victory.”
“Oh?” Su Changhe narrowed his eyes.
The sound of hoofbeats came from the entrance, followed by the clinking of armor. Su Changhe counted the sounds: “Sixteen, seventeen, nineteen… twenty-three. The Flying Tiger Twenty-six Riders! All of them?”
“The Flying Tiger Twenty-six Riders once faced three thousand light cavalry from South Jue and left none alive,” Su Zhe took a puff from his pipe. “They’re renowned alongside Ye Xiaoying’s Golden Blade Ye Regiment as Northern Li’s two most fearsome units. Have they come to Si Huai City to kill?”
“Of the world’s four cities—Tianqi, Muliang, Xueyue, and Wushuang—all but Tianqi influence court politics despite being in the jianghu. Muliang City’s Lord Luo Qingyang is Seventh Prince Xiao Yu’s adoptive father, and Xueyue City has deep ties with the Lang Ya Prince that others can’t match,” Su Muyu said slowly. “Flying Tiger General’s presence here likely means he’s helping his faction gain control of Wushuang City.”
“Enough!” Dian Ye barked.
“Even as a general, mobilizing military forces to interfere in jianghu affairs is a capital offense,” Su Muyu shook his head. “What difference does it make if I continue? You won’t let us leave here alive today.”
“Flying Tiger General Dian Ye, you’re Northern Li’s Crown Prince’s maternal uncle,” Su Changhe continued. “This internal strife in Wushuang City was orchestrated by Crown Prince Xiao Yong!”
Si Huai City.
Tianxia Lodge.
Lord Haoyue stood respectfully beside a richly dressed man, showing more deference than he’d ever shown even to Wushuang City’s Lord Song Yanhui.
“Lu Yudai refuses to cooperate?” The man sipped his tea unhurriedly. His movements were slow, not deliberately so, but with an innate grace.
“He said his bottom line was not harming his master,” Lord Haoyue replied.
“So after receiving those two letters, he’ll tell his master?” the man asked.
Lord Haoyue nodded. “It was my failure not to intercept those letters in time. With Si Huai City’s fate at stake, Lu Yudai will surely tell Song Yanhui.”
“One Sword Breaks Water Song Yanhui—let his soul break on this journey.” The man raised his hand slightly.
“Your command.” Two dark shadows flitted out from behind the man.
Lord Haoyue nervously wiped the sweat from his brow. “With Sword Mountain Valley in seclusion and Song Yanhui dead, who should be Wushuang City’s new lord…”
“Naturally, it should be the Martial Hall’s master, Sir Sword Unrivaled,” the man set down his teacup.
The stone door behind him slowly opened, and an emaciated man emerged. Three short swords hung at his left waist, while an unusually long sword hung at his right. His complexion appeared especially pale in the candlelight, his eyes protruding, giving him a somewhat ghastly appearance. His voice was hoarse: “I have no interest in the position of City Lord.”
“Of course. When the time comes, sir need only focus on sword cultivation. I will have the Wushuang Sword Case delivered to you,” the man said deeply.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Finally, a ripple of emotion showed in Sword Unrivaled’s voice.
“Sir is one obsessed with the sword,” the man caressed his teacup. “In this world, those who are obsessed, if they don’t achieve enlightenment, their lives are ruined. But if they do achieve enlightenment, they soar to the heavens. Sir emerging from seclusion now must mean you’ve gained some insight.”
“I seek but one sword,” Sword Unrivaled replied.
“Good. I shall find that Zhuo Yue’an for you,” the man’s tone grew proud. “Let him test your sword, and help sir’s sword ascend to heaven with a single stroke!”