Su Changhe flipped his palm lightly, sending a dagger flying straight at Tang Lingzun. Tang Lingzun tilted his head to dodge, and the dagger embedded itself next to Mu Xiwei. Su Changhe spoke in a deep voice, “Whatever you’ve done, now that she’s before me, you can’t touch her as you please.”

“Is the Head of Dark River such a sentimental person?” Tang Lingzun laughed. “This doesn’t match my intelligence reports.”

“What do your reports say about me?” Su Changhe asked. “Do they mention my appearance? That I’m handsome with a hint of rakishness, possessing a unique charm?”

“Dark River Head Su Changhe, formerly codenamed Funeral Master, is an extremely cruel and vicious person who acts solely for profit, devoid of human sentiment or principles,” Tang Lingzun replied.

Su Changhe nodded. “That’s quite accurate.”

“Yet now you seem to show both sentiment and principles,” Tang Lingzun said with an ambiguous smile.

“In Dark River, everyone wears a mask. The true heart lies beneath. You may not believe this, but I’m a man who values…” Su Changhe leaped to Mu Xiwei’s side, forcing Tang Lingzun back three steps with a palm strike, “…loyalty and righteousness.”

“Hahaha!” Tang Lingzun laughed heartily. “The Head is an interesting person, but unfortunately…”

“Unfortunately what?” Su Changhe stroked his goatee.

“You’re not as handsome as Master Su,” Tang Lingzun continued.

“You’re toxic,” Su Changhe cursed after a moment of stunned silence.

“Of course I’m toxic. I’m the Inner Chamber Master of the Tang Clan, the most toxic person in the Tang Clan,” Tang Lingzun replied unhurriedly. “Now that the Head has seen your family member, shall we discuss our business?”

“We can talk. Let’s sit down and discuss slowly.” Su Changhe gripped Mu Xiwei’s wrist to check her pulse, then nodded.

“Master Su, you’re unusually quiet today,” Tang Lingzun glanced at Su Muyu, who had been standing aside.

Su Muyu spoke flatly, “With the Head present, there’s no need for me to speak. He talks much, I talk little. It’s always been this way.”

“He’s always been quiet, quite the reserved one,” Su Changhe waved his hand. “Don’t be surprised.”

“Something’s wrong,” Tang Lingzun shook his head.

“What’s wrong?” Su Changhe tucked his hands into his sleeves, appearing relaxed while firmly gripping the dagger hidden within.

“I heard Master Su Muyu and Mu Xiwei were old acquaintances who completed many missions together. The last time Master Su sat here discussing this Poison Flower with us, his expression wasn’t so indifferent. Now the Poison Flower is here, intact and cleansed of all poison, yet your eyes show no reaction.” Tang Lingzun smiled. “You know, I admire Master Su’s face, so I’ve been watching it carefully. The features and expressions are identical to my memory, but something in the eyes isn’t right.”

Su Muyu remained expressionless. “What’s not right?”

“His gaze should be detached like yours, but with a hint of warmth, a touch of gentleness within,” Tang Lingzun gestured lightly. “Though slight, it was visible.”

Su Changhe shrugged. “You seem quite passionate about our Muyu.”

“So, who are you?!” Tang Lingzun’s smile suddenly vanished. “Something felt off after you returned earlier!”

Su Muyu glanced at Su Changhe, then sneered, “In all these years, you’re the first to see through my disguise so quickly.”

“Mere disguise technique!” Tang Lingzun swept his sleeve, sending a Death Notice flying at “Su Muyu,” who stepped back and smiled: “Tang Clan’s hidden weapons are nothing special.” But his smile quickly faded as the human skin mask on his face suddenly tore apart, revealing a somewhat enchanting woman’s face.

“So this is your true face, Mu Yin. Even I am seeing it for the first time,” Su Changhe said calmly.

“Hmph.” Mu Yin waved her hand, covering her face with another male mask. She stepped back, smashed a nearby wine jar, and with a gentle wave, turned the wine into a water column shooting toward Tang Lingzun.

“Interesting,” Tang Lingzun struck out with his palm, but simultaneously, Mu Yin launched three more palm strikes, each carrying extremely fierce Pure Yang true qi, turning the wine into vapor and filling the small room with mist.

“Poison?” Tang Lingzun smiled, taking a deep breath that absorbed all the mist into his body, causing him to swell grotesquely.

“Watch out!” Su Changhe shouted, pulling Mu Yin back quickly.

Tang Lingzun thrust forward with his palm, releasing a jet of black mist toward the pair. Su Changhe countered with his palm strike, meeting the black mist head-on.

“Using poison against me? Even for the Mu family of Dark River, that’s laughable,” Tang Lingzun sneered.

Su Changhe waved his palm gently, and the black mist coiled around his hands before completely dissipating. He raised his head slightly, a black light flashing in his eyes, then smiled faintly. “Not bad.”

Tang Lingzun stepped back. “Is this the legendary Yama Palm?”

Su Changhe nodded. “Tang Master is quite knowledgeable to recognize the Yama Palm.”

“Using my Ten Thousand Poisons Palm to feed your Yama Palm – you’ve calculated well,” Tang Lingzun waved his hand, and all the Tang Clan disciples behind him raised their mechanical crossbows, aiming at the pair. “So, where has Master Su gone?”

Su Changhe turned his head to look. “Perhaps he found the food here not to his taste and went for something lighter. Like a tofu feast?”

Tang Lingzun’s brows furrowed slightly. “He went to the Tang Clan? What for? You came here to negotiate with us, but if you go to the Tang Clan at this moment, there must be a battle between us.”

Su Changhe looked at Mu Yin. “Do we care much about these negotiations?”

Mu Yin smiled. “I don’t think we care very much.”

“Indeed. Xiwei has returned, and the negotiations will end,” Su Changhe spread his hands. “Your intelligence reports mentioned that I’m unprincipled. I’ve never been one to keep my promises.”

“Head of Dark River, what exactly do you want?” Tang Lingzun asked gravely.

“We wanted to leave that dark river, but seeing your current situation, you seem like another dark river,” Su Changhe leaped up.

“Fire!” Tang Lingzun roared, and all the Tang Clan disciples behind him released their crossbow bolts simultaneously.