Nine years ago.
The Soul-Summoning Hall.
“I cannot accept this mission.” Su Muyu looked at the red scroll in his hand and placed it back on the ground unchanged, speaking slowly. Before him were three tall chairs where sat the Three Officials of the Soul-Summoning Hall.
The Water Official, seated on the left, spoke with an eerie smile in his voice: “Oh? It’s been many years since anyone dared to directly refuse a mission from the Soul-Summoning Hall.”
The Heaven Official spoke gravely: “State your reason.”
Su Muyu shook his head: “No reason. I simply don’t want to accept it.”
The Earth Official shouted angrily: “That’s not for you to decide!”
The Water Official laughed loudly: “Zhang Taicheng, the Prefecture Lord of Luonan, is reportedly a benevolent official who loves his people like children. During the southern floods, while all other prefectures embezzled disaster relief grain, he alone opened the granaries and even used his savings accumulated over the years. Moreover, he reported to Tianqi, forcing the Tianqi City to send inspectors, which saved countless lives. He’s a good person, that’s why you don’t want to kill him.”
The Earth Official roared: “Insolent! When the Soul-Summoning Hall issues an order, you must kill even if it’s the emperor! Good person or bad person—you’re an assassin, not a sage!”
Su Muyu still shook his head: “I won’t accept it.” After speaking, he turned and walked out of the Soul-Summoning Hall.
Watching him leave without looking back, the Earth Official could no longer contain his anger: “Send word to Su Jinhui, mark him as a traitor and kill him directly!”
The Water Official continued smiling: “This man called Su Muyu is the strongest among this generation of Nameless Ones, no, perhaps the strongest among all generations of Nameless Ones. Because of him, the Grand Elder even changed the rules. Someone who could make the Grand Elder change rules…”
The Heaven Official said gravely: “That doesn’t mean he can make the Soul-Summoning Hall change its rules.”
The Earth Official raged: “Kill him, kill him! If Su Jinhui won’t do it, I’ll do it myself!”
The Water Official waved his hand: “Don’t rush, we have another friend arriving.”
Su Changhe walked slowly into the Soul-Summoning Hall, playing with his dagger—a habit he’d maintained since practicing the Inch-Sword technique. Through habit replacing practice, the dagger had become part of his body. Reaching the Three Officials, Su Changhe put away his dagger, stroked his mustache, and said with a playful smile: “Greetings, Three Officials.”
The Water Official nodded: “Su Changhe, codename Undertaker, the Su Clan’s newest rising star, not inferior to Su Muyu.”
“Not inferior to Su Muyu means still not as good as Su Muyu,” Su Changhe said with a smile.
The Heaven Official spoke gravely: “Why have you come?”
“Su Muyu is my good brother. He wants to give the Soul-Summoning Hall his rules for accepting missions,” Su Changhe said softly.
The wooden chair beneath the Earth Official trembled slightly, and something strange seemed to stir in the dim Soul-Summoning Hall as he stood up: “It seems the Soul-Summoning Hall needs to establish some rules.”
“Don’t rush.” The Water Official held him back. “Let’s hear what rules he proposes.”
Su Changhe crossed his arms, his voice arrogant: “My brother says he has three non-acceptances: He won’t accept missions to slaughter entire families, won’t accept missions without knowing the reason, and won’t accept missions he doesn’t want to accept!”
This time even the Water Official was speechless: “Does Su Muyu truly think the Dark River lacks assassins?”
Su Changhe raised his thumb and pointed at himself: “I, Su Changhe, have come to establish a rule as well.”
The Heaven Official sneered: “You two novices, don’t think that making a name for yourself this past year means the Dark River belongs to you. Even the Grand Elder doesn’t have the authority to make rules with us!”
The Water Official, seemingly the most even-tempered, still hadn’t lost his temper: “I’d like to hear what rule you want to establish.”
Su Changhe announced loudly: “My rule is simple: All missions Su Muyu doesn’t want to accept, I will accept! That’s my rule!”
The Three Officials exchanged glances, and the Soul-Summoning Hall fell silent.
Seeing no response from the Three Officials, Su Changhe raised an eyebrow: “Is it not acceptable?”
The Water Official smiled: “They say you were rescued from the Ghost Wailing Abyss by Su Muyu. Is this your way of repaying him?”
The Earth Official was still furious: “This violates the rules!”
The Heaven Official maintained his silence.
“The Soul-Summoning Hall loses nothing. My martial arts are not inferior to Su Muyu’s. Any mission he can complete, I can complete as well,” Su Changhe narrowed his eyes.
“Very well.” The Heaven Official nodded.
“Are you certain?” The Earth Official turned his head.
The Water Official smiled: “I find it acceptable. Treat them as one person—as long as the missions are completed.”
Su Changhe extended his hand: “Then it’s agreed?”
The Heaven Official fell silent again, then slowly said: “If you fail, you both will face the Dark River’s most severe punishment.”
“No need to listen to them.” The Water Official leaped down from his high chair and clasped Su Changhe’s hand. “I believe in you.”
“Then I thank you.” Su Changhe turned to leave.
The Earth Official still couldn’t contain his anger: “Once rules are broken, there’s no controlling it. That Su Muyu, it’s because the Grand Elder broke rules for him that he thinks we can break rules for him too. If you do this, what happens when everyone comes with their three non-acceptances?”
The Water Official returned to his high chair, patting the Earth Official’s shoulder: “Trust me. In the Dark River, Su Muyu has a special existence. No one else will be like him.”
The Heaven Official said gravely: “I agreed to his request because that person sent me a message, asking me to pay special attention to these two, Su Muyu and Su Changhe.”
The Earth Official started: “They’re just two young men with decent martial arts, worth that person’s attention?”
The Heaven Official’s face turned ashen as he shook his head: “I don’t understand either, but the message said he looks forward to Su Muyu and Su Changhe bringing about a new Dark River.”
The Water Official’s lips curved into an eerie smile: “An era belonging to the Nameless Ones?”
Su Changhe walked out of the Soul-Summoning Hall. Su Muyu stood waiting with his umbrella: “What did you go in there for?”
Su Changhe punched Su Muyu’s arm: “To negotiate for you, of course. You’re too awkward with words. The Soul-Summoning Hall isn’t like the Grand Elder—they only recognize rules, not your sword.”
Su Muyu frowned slightly: “Did they agree?”
Su Changhe stretched lazily: “Naturally. My eloquence has always been excellent.”
Su Muyu pressed: “What conditions did you agree to?”
Su Changhe shrugged, walking forward: “No conditions. I just analyzed the pros and cons with them. The Soul-Summoning Hall can do arithmetic—killing you wouldn’t benefit them.”
“Thank you,” Su Muyu followed after him.