An He Zhuan: Act Fourteen – Chapter 1
The bright moon emerges from clouded cliffs, casting pure light in brilliant streams.
…
White Dew arrives, and the summer breeze turns cool.
The Tang family chose this day for Second Master Tang’s funeral procession for a reason. In his youth, when he first entered the martial world, he created a unique hidden weapon called White Dew. This weapon moved like dewdrops and left traces of frost on wounds after killing. In those days, Second Master Tang was handsome, and this unique weapon earned him quite a reputation in the martial world. Sadly, after so many years of seclusion within the Tang Clan, few in the martial world remembered him now. Only a handful of people and sects came to pay their respects.
Indeed, many who once knew him had grown old and frail.
“Second Master Tang once shared equal fame with Old Master. In my youth, I accompanied them both to the Heroes’ Banquet—they were unmatched in their glory. Yet look at today’s funeral—only sects from the Southwest have come. Do you know why?” Tang Lingzun spoke slowly, standing in the corridor outside the pavilion, watching the mourners below.
Tang Lingluo frowned slightly, pondering. “Because Second Master Tang hasn’t been active in the martial world for years, so relationships naturally faded.”
“Wrong. It’s because he was the Second Master,” Tang Lingzun said gravely, “not the Old Master! If Old Master died, which sect in the entire martial world would dare not come? Yet back then, they were nearly equals. Now the difference is like heaven and earth. This proves that in this world, there is only first place, never second!”
Tang Lingluo nodded. “Controller speaks wisely.”
“Go now, attend to them properly.” Tang Lingzun smiled. “I’ll visit Dengjin Tower first.”
Tang Lingluo spoke seriously, “Controller should be careful. I hear Su Changhe from Dark River is no easy opponent.”
“Hahaha, they say he’s clever and puts profit above all else. I don’t fear such people—I only fear those who try to reason with me,” Tang Lingzun shrugged. “After all, I’m the same kind of person as Su Changhe.” Tang Lingluo leaped down from the building.
At Dengjin Tower.
Su Changhe had already ordered a table full of dishes. Su Muyu sat beside him, expression indifferent: “Ordering so much—will you actually eat it later?”
“This isn’t like last time when Tang Clan’s people ordered first—who’d dare eat food ordered by the Tang Clan?” Su Changhe licked his lips. “What I order myself is different. What’s this, rabbit head, right? Think about it—rabbits are so cute, yet they braised their heads!”
“Can you stop complaining while drooling?” Su Muyu said coldly.
Su Changhe licked his lips again. “Can’t wait anymore!” He reached out with his chopsticks, picked up a rabbit head into his bowl, and began eating with relish while drinking.
“Is it good?” Su Muyu asked coldly.
Su Changhe took another drink. “Delicious, just a bit spicy. You definitely couldn’t handle it.”
Su Muyu glanced at the rabbit head, then at the dishes on the table. “Looking at this whole table of food, which dish could I possibly eat?”
“I was careless. Let’s go eat bean soup and rice instead,” Su Changhe said with a half-smile.
“People in Jin City put chili even on tofu,” Su Muyu said helplessly.
“Hahahahaha!” Su Changhe finished an entire rabbit head and contentedly took a drink.
“How can the guest start eating before the host arrives?” Tang Lingzun walked in smiling, followed by several young Tang Clan disciples.
“It really is you.” Su Changhe smiled, looking at Tang Lingzun—the same young man who had poured wine that day. “You’re the same generation as Tang Lingkui, but look much younger than them.”
“Oh? We’ve met?” Tang Lingzun examined Su Changhe carefully. “Chief?”
“Oh, oh, no, no, we haven’t met. I heard it from Muyu,” Su Changhe patted Su Muyu’s shoulder beside him. “Right?”
Su Muyu nodded slightly to Tang Lingzun.
“Master Su, still as beautiful as ever after these few days,” Tang Lingzun smiled faintly.
Su Changhe bared his teeth. “Controller Tang, are you married?”
“No,” Tang Lingzun’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I understand, I understand,” Su Changhe nodded.
“Understand what?” Tang Lingzun sat down opposite Su Changhe.
“Nothing, nothing,” Su Changhe waved his hand. “Muyu, go check on the dishes.”
“Alright.” Su Muyu nodded and walked out.
Tang Lingzun smiled. “The mighty Dark River Chief, reduced to checking on dishes.”
Su Changhe shrugged. “After all, only a few of us entered Jin City. We came to form an alliance with Jin City, not to fight with Tang Clan, right?”
“Why didn’t Spider Woman come?” Tang Lingzun asked quietly.
“Yu Mo isn’t the Chief. She came for other tasks—we needn’t concern ourselves with her,” Su Changhe replied.
“Other tasks?” Tang Lingzun raised a nearby wine cup.
Su Muyu walked in at this moment, frowning. “The owner says all your dishes have already been served.”
“Oh, oh, right, right,” Su Changhe stroked his goatee. “I forgot.”
Tang Lingzun turned the wine cup in his hand. “Chief really is interested in food.”
“I’m interested in many things, such as,” Su Changhe slammed his wine cup heavily on the table, “where is my family member?!”
Tang Lingzun’s wine cup exploded, spilling its contents. He extended a finger, making the wine swirl around it, then suddenly swept his hand, transforming the wine into a water sword that shot out. Su Changhe tilted his head slightly, avoiding it. The water sword pierced through the wall behind Su Changhe, revealing a white-clad woman standing there with closed eyes.
“Xuewei.” Su Changhe frowned slightly, calling out.
Mu Xuewei showed no reaction.
Su Muyu looked but said nothing.
Tang Lingzun’s eyes narrowed. “Is she the family member you mentioned?”
“I meant an unharmed version of her,” Su Changhe’s hand moved slightly, producing a dagger in his palm.
Tang Lingzun walked slowly to Mu Xuewei’s side, reaching out to caress her cheek. “What does unharmed mean?”
“You’re not afraid of death?” Su Changhe said gravely.
“Dark River’s Poison Flower, deadly to the touch.” Tang Lingzun smiled. “But now the poison flower has withered—she’s just an ordinary woman now. Does such a person still qualify to be the Chief’s family member?”
Su Changhe started. “You removed Xuewei’s poison?”
Tang Lingzun smiled. “So, does this count as unharmed?”