“A chance encounter?” Ge Xiu sized up the Black Hunter. “What’s your name?”

Su Muyu smiled faintly: “Yes, what is your name?”

The Black Hunter lifted his head: “I’m called Xu An.”

“Xu An – quite a refined name,” Su Muyu waved his hand. “Let’s go together.”

“If we’re just chance acquaintances, why invite me along?” Xu An frowned.

“Your swordsmanship is ordinary, but you have the potential to become an excellent swordsman. It would be a waste to spend your life-fighting life-or-death matches in wine houses like this. I can teach you a sword technique,” Su Muyu said, looking up. “Go experience the martial world.”

Ge Xiu’s expression changed: “Sir, are you taking him as your disciple—” He knew Su Muyu’s identity; being taken as a disciple by someone like him wasn’t necessarily a good thing. It might mean entering the profession of killing for money.

Su Muyu shook his head: “Disciple? Too strong a word. I’ll be leaving soon. I just feel our meeting here was fated.”

“Kid,” Ge Xiu said quietly, “this is an important decision.”

“Good!” Xu An nodded firmly, seeming to have made up his mind. “I’ll go with you.”

“Then let’s head to my residence.” Ge Xiu waved his hand, and his blade-wielders organized themselves – some clearing the path ahead, others providing protection, and the rest bringing up the rear – as they departed in an impressive procession.

Su Muyu observed this display and asked slowly: “When did you come to Four Rivers City?”

“After you spared my life that year, sir, I fled east without daring to stop until I reached Four Rivers City. I heard it was a subsidiary city under Wushuang City’s jurisdiction, more independent than other cities, so I stayed. Over the years, I’ve made a name for myself using my old skills.” Ge Xiu tried to suppress the pride in his voice.

Su Muyu nodded: “But from your earlier behavior, it seems your nature hasn’t changed.”

Ge Xiu smiled bitterly: “Sir, you don’t understand. Four Rivers City is a place where the strong rule. I’ve suffered plenty while establishing myself here.”

“Junk King Ge Changsheng, from collecting scraps to becoming one of the Eight Thunders of Four Rivers City – he’s not lying. Many have heard his story,” Xu An spoke up.

“Oh? The Eight Thunders?” Su Muyu looked at Ge Xiu.

Ge Xiu lifted his head: “I rank seventh now. Though I appeared fierce earlier, I, Ge Changsheng, have one principle: I may be domineering, but I never take lives needlessly. I remember what you told me back then, sir. Those who offend me only get a beating at worst…”

As he spoke, someone came running in panic: “Master Ge, Master Ge!”

Ge Xiu frowned deeply: “Why such panic? What trivial matter has frightened you so?”

“The Sword Bearers! Many Sword Bearers have arrived!” The man’s voice trembled.

“Sword Bearers?” Ge Xiu started. “What do they want?”

“They’re looking for Zhuo Yue’an!” the man said gravely.

“Zhuo Yue’an? What’s that got to do with us?” Ge Xiu asked, puzzled. “Everyone wants to find this Zhuo Yue’an, but who can find him?”

“What are Sword Bearers?” Su Muyu asked.

Xu An explained to Ge Xiu: “The Sword Bearers are Wushuang City’s people, the highest-ranking individuals in Four Rivers City. They hold power over life and death here. Usually, only a few reside in the city. Large numbers only arrive when major events occur.”

“Each time many Sword Bearers appear,” Ge Xiu sighed softly, “it heralds terrible bloodshed.”

“Master Ge! Master Ge!” Another person staggered over, covered in blood. “They’re killing people! The brothers stationed on Thirteenth Street – the Sword Bearers have killed more than a dozen!”

“Damn it! If they’re looking for Zhuo Yue’an, let them look! We’ve never even seen him!” Ge Xiu stepped forward, shouting angrily. “Why kill our people?”

“These people aren’t here to find Zhuo Yue’an,” Su Muyu said slowly. “Since Wushuang City’s Lord Song Yanhui agreed to duel Zhuo Yue’an, he wouldn’t go back on his word. If he pretended to agree while secretly sending people to take Zhuo Yue’an’s life, Wushuang City would lose face in the martial world regardless of the duel’s outcome. These people’s obvious arrival and deliberate bloodshed must be meant to discredit Song Yanhui.”

Ge Xiu clapped his hands suddenly: “I understand – this is rebellion!”

“Rebellion?” Su Muyu asked, puzzled.

“Wushuang City’s forces are complex, and their influence has divided our Four Rivers City into factions. Among the Eight Thunders, some forces are allied with Wushuang City’s Lecture Hall, while others support Lord Song Yanhui. Our Longsheng Gate has always belonged to the Lord’s faction. Now that the old city lord has fallen, the Lecture Hall is trying to take control of Wushuang City in the chaos!” Ge Xiu quickly realized, slapping one of his blade-wielders. “Gather all brothers, drop everything, retreat to Longsheng Gate!”

“Too late!” a mocking voice rang out.

Ge Xiu clenched his fists: “Lei Bao!”

Xu An tensed up: “Thunder Leo Lei Bao!”

Su Muyu asked: “Is he also one of the Eight Thunders?”

Xu An nodded: “Ranked fourth among the Eight Thunders, his reputation and power exceed the Junk King’s.”

Lei Bao lived up to his name, wearing a leopard skin coat with golden iron rings on both hands. He towered over Ge Xiu by two heads. He grinned: “Ge Changsheng, hand over Zhuo Yue’an!”

Ge Xiu spat angrily: “Bah! What is Zhuo Yue’an? If I could hide Zhuo Yue’an, I’d have destroyed your Leopard Heaven Gate long ago!”

“But I heard that you guided Zhuo Yue’an into the city,” Lei Bao fingered the golden rings on his wrists.

Su Muyu started, remembering that when he entered the city, someone had indeed guided him to the Tianxia Quarter. That person’s sleeve had borne the character “Long Sheng” – surely belonging to Ge Xiu’s Longsheng Gate.

“Bullshit! I heard you raised Zhuo Yue’an yourself!” Ge Xiu cursed, then suddenly turned his head.

Two white-robed Sword Bearers had landed on the eaves on either side – presumably the ones they’d been discussing.

Seeing them, Ge Xiu felt a twinge of fear and cursed under his breath. These Sword Bearers were core disciples of Wushuang City, far stronger than ordinary martial artists like themselves. If they disregarded honor and demanded their lives…

No, wait. Usually, they’d have no chance, but today they had someone else with them.

The Umbrella Ghost, Su Muyu. Once the puppet of Dark River.

Hahaha. Ge Xiu was already laughing triumphantly in his heart.