Night Crow raced through the darkness. Though born in Medicine Valley with unremarkable martial arts, he lived up to his name with a particular skill in nighttime escapes. He was confident that the swordsman couldn’t catch him.

What he didn’t know was that this swordsman was the current head of the Su family—the world’s most skilled tracker and killer.

Night Crow sniffed the air and halted, looking up ahead.

On the opposite eaves stood Su Muyu, holding an oil-paper umbrella and looking down at Night Crow with an icy expression, emanating an overwhelming killing intent.

A name suddenly flashed through Night Crow’s mind, though it shouldn’t have been associated with Bai Hehuai. He asked gravely, “Might you be…”

“I am!” Su Muyu leaped down, her oil-paper umbrella blooming like a flower, releasing hidden blades that flew toward Night Crow. He had no chance to dodge, but the blades weren’t meant to kill—they formed a net of swords that forced him against the wall, with just one blade piercing his right shoulder, pinning him in place.

Su Muyu took a deep breath, stepping forward to face Night Crow. “I am Su Muyu of the Dark River Su Clan.”

“The renowned Ghost with Umbrella, how interesting to find you befriending Medicine Valley’s heir,” Night Crow laughed without fear.

“You think I won’t kill you?” Su Muyu said flatly.

“Only I can cure the medicine man’s poison,” Night Crow replied.

“You cherish your life dearly.” Su Muyu waved her hand slightly, sending another blade into Night Crow’s left shoulder. “Only those who value their lives above all else would study such dark arts as the medicine man technique.”

“Dark arts?” Night Crow sneered through the pain. “What do you know?”

“Your life for hers,” Su Muyu said coldly. “You have no other choice.”

“You’ll kill me after I save her?” Night Crow laughed bitterly. “I harbor no delusions of surviving the Dark River’s grasp.”

Su Muyu waved her hand again, placing her final blade against Night Crow’s throat. “I said you have no choice. Her life for your life.”

After a long hesitation, Night Crow pulled out a golden box from his robes. Opening it revealed a motionless black insect that appeared dead. He said gravely, “Grind this poison insect to ash. In two hours, Bai Hehuai will wake.”

Su Muyu took the box, channeling her true qi to instantly crush both insect and box to powder, then scattered it with a wave of her hand.

“Let me go,” Night Crow frowned.

“Two hours,” Su Muyu said quietly.

Night Crow started. “You don’t trust me.”

Su Muyu fell silent, sitting cross-legged before Night Crow and closing her eyes to meditate. Night Crow, pinned to the wall by the blades, could only wait quietly alongside her.

Nan’an City was peaceful at night, with only waves of insect sounds breaking the silence. After a long while, a whistle came from the corner. Su Muyu opened her eyes and waved her right hand, pulling the blades from Night Crow’s body. He fell to the ground with a pained grunt.

Su Muyu looked down at him. “Run for your life. If anything else happens to the Divine Physician, no matter where you flee—even to the imperial palace of Tianqi City—I will find you and kill you!”

“Such big words,” Night Crow sneered.

“I am Su Muyu of the Dark River. Anyone I want dead, dies.” It was rare for her to speak so boldly. “Remember that well.”

“Then farewell forever.” Fear crept into Night Crow’s heart. After applying some wound medicine to his shoulders, he hurriedly fled Su Muyu’s presence.

Su Changhe emerged from the shadows. “Not going to kill him?” he asked softly.

“I feared he might hold back. If the medicine man’s poison isn’t fully cured, we’ll need to find him again,” Su Muyu replied.

Su Changhe nodded. “Makes sense. He likely won’t dare deceive us. At least this method should temporarily free Bai Hehuai. If problems arise immediately, you can pursue him—he’d have nowhere to run.”

“Let’s wait for Medicine King Xin Baicao.” Su Muyu turned, heading back to Heyu Medicine Manor with Su Changhe.

“Your killing intent earlier frightened even me,” Su Changhe said softly.

Su Muyu sighed lightly. “You haven’t seen the full horror of the medicine man technique tonight. What I witnessed in that courtyard… it was truly hell on earth. Thinking of the Divine Physician becoming like that, I couldn’t contain my killing intent.”

“A sight that frightens even you? Now I’m intrigued,” Su Changhe said slowly.

“Changhe, don’t be interested in such things.” Su Muyu looked up at the bright moon. “We want to lead Dark River out of darkness. Some inhuman practices must never be touched.”

“Don’t worry, I was just talking,” Su Changhe nodded.

“How is the Divine Physician now?” Su Muyu asked.

Su Changhe patted Su Muyu’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Just as Night Crow said, she woke after two hours, showing no signs of poisoning—as energetic as if nothing had happened. Hearing you’d gone after Night Crow, she was quite anxious, and insisted on coming to find you. Said Night Crow was full of tricks and you might be disadvantaged. Ridiculous, really—how could the Ghost with Umbrella of Dark River be troubled by a mere physician? I told her to rest easy, that you’d nearly turned Night Crow into a pincushion with your blades.”

“That’s good.” Su Muyu exhaled softly. “Who’d have thought we’d encounter such trouble in Nan’an City, so far from the jianghu.”

Su Changhe stretched. “Indeed. Strife exists everywhere. And now that the medicine man technique has emerged, how many factions will be stirred to action?”

Su Muyu frowned. “We need to move elsewhere. After today’s events, the Governor’s Manor will likely cause trouble.”

Su Changhe snorted. “Move where? I like Nan’an City—I’m staying here. So what if we’ve offended the Governor’s Manor? Are we supposed to fear them?”

Su Muyu looked puzzled. “Why are you so agitated? We won’t stay here long anyway—we’ll return to Dark River.”

Su Changhe started, then laughed. “Ah, I forgot.”