Su Muyu poured himself a drink while looking at the person before him. Suddenly, a familiar feeling washed over him. Not long ago, he too had worn a demon mask, concealing his emotions behind it. Su Muyu smiled, “Hall Master Ji still speaks in such profound riddles.”
“Profound riddles?” Ji Ruofeng said distantly. “I thought I was being quite clear.”
Su Muyu’s fingers tapped lightly on the table. “Was it that archer child from the Xie family who told you?”
Ji Ruofeng shook his head. “I have my ways of judgment.”
“Has Hall Master Ji been to that Wanjuan Tower?” Su Muyu asked gravely.
Ji Ruofeng remained noncommittal. “I know a thing or two.”
“The top floor of Wanjuan Tower is called the Land of No Wrong. It holds secret information about the most mysterious sects in the martial world, including Anhe, the Carefree Wind-Riding Sect, and…” Su Muyu raised his eyebrows slightly.
“And the Baixiao Hall,” Ji Ruofeng smiled. “My Baixiao Hall claims to know all under heaven, and normally wouldn’t care about some Wanjuan Tower. Yet ironically, the tower contains information about us. It would be better if that material were burned, but if it must remain, it cannot fall into others’ hands.”
Su Muyu pondered for a moment, then took out a book from his robes and placed it on the table. “The Baixiao Hall’s shelf had the fewest scrolls, with only this book. I retrieved it from Wanjuan Tower but haven’t read it.”
Ji Ruofeng’s hand rested lightly on the book, showing great interest. “Master Su is a clever person. Fortunately, we’re not enemies yet. If one day the Baixiao Hall and Anhe become adversaries, Master Su would be the first person I must kill.”
“I didn’t produce this book to curry favor with Hall Master Ji,” Su Muyu also placed a finger on the book. “After all, I could have let it burn in that great fire. I brought this book to discuss terms with Hall Master Ji.”
“Who was the killer who destroyed Wujian City?” Ji Ruofeng asked softly.
Su Muyu frowned slightly. “It seems Hall Master Ji already knows my identity.”
“I’ve heard about that battle outside Wanjuan Tower. I haven’t seen Wujian City’s Tidal Sword in many years,” Ji Ruofeng smiled. “Who would have thought that Anhe’s Su family head was the heir of Wujian City? If this got out, many in the martial world wouldn’t believe it.”
“Changhe and I were both born as Nameless Ones, not originally of Anhe’s three families,” Su Muyu said gravely.
“Nameless Ones… Master Su, don’t reveal such information so easily before the Baixiao Hall, especially its Hall Master.” Ji Ruofeng withdrew his hand, taking out a brush and notebook from his robes. He wrote a few lines and continued, “Anhe once had a Nameless Ones project, finding talented children outside the three families to nurture, eventually adopting them under different family names.”
Su Muyu frowned. “But I only said three words.”
“Being the Baixiao Hall means extracting thirty words, three hundred words, three thousand words of information from just three words,” Ji Ruofeng put away his notebook. “This page is worth a hundred silver taels, and the page recording that Master Su is Wujian City’s young master is worth a thousand. As for this book in your hand…”
“I guess ten thousand taels,” Su Muyu smiled.
“Not enough.” Ji Ruofeng picked up a chopstick, tapped Su Muyu’s palm, and swiftly took the book. “It’s worth more than the answer you seek. So I’ll make this trade with you. You must have found the answer about who destroyed Wujian City in the Wanjuan Tower, but you’re not certain, so you’re here to confirm it with me.”
“Yes,” Su Muyu didn’t deny it.
“When Wujian City emerged, there weren’t any Five Sword Immortals, and the Northern Departure sword energy wasn’t as strong as it is now. Your father was called the Sword God, claiming that when his sword appeared, there were no other swords under heaven. His Autumn Water Sword dominated the martial world, unmatched. But that eastern city claimed to be Peerless Under Heaven. What does Peerless mean? The first master of Wudong City said: peerless in swordplay, peerless in blade techniques, peerless in internal energy. How could it be easy for your father’s Wujian City to take away one character from above their head?”
Ji Ruofeng paused before continuing, “So your father and Liu Yunqi, the then-master of Wudong City, had a sword duel. No one in the martial world knows the outcome, but soon after, Wujian City suddenly vanished from the martial world.”
“In that battle, Father won,” Su Muyu said gravely. “He returned very happy, telling me that winning wasn’t what made him happiest, but rather finding someone who could walk alongside him on the path of the sword.”
“Your father considered Liu Yunqi a kindred spirit, but Liu Yunqi had already laid a deadly trap for him,” Ji Ruofeng replied.
“I understand now,” Su Muyu nodded.
“Wudong City has been declining over the years, not unrelated to the character of its masters. If several generations are such petty people, the word ‘Peerless’ need not be taken—it will be lost on its own. For instance, Xueyue is now the premier city in the martial world,” Ji Ruofeng stood up. “The current master Song Yanhui has good character, but is too constrained, forever one step away from becoming a Sword Immortal. If you seek revenge against Wudong City, he will be your greatest opponent.”
Su Muyu lowered his head, seemingly in thought.
“That incident was carried out by Liu Yunqi and a group of his confidants alone, without informing Wudong City’s elders. Song Yanhui knows nothing about it. If you seek revenge, they might be quite confused. However, Liu Yunqi isn’t dead—he’s been in seclusion at Wudong City’s Sword Chamber for many years,” Ji Ruofeng continued.
“What does Hall Master Ji think?” Su Muyu asked.
Ji Ruofeng was startled, then smiled. “Though Master Su was raised in Anhe, I sense the air of a swordsman about you. I think there’s a better way than killing for revenge.”
“Oh? Please elaborate,” Su Muyu replied.
“How about this arrangement: The Anhe Master challenges Wudong City to a sword duel?” Ji Ruofeng announced. “If such a spectacle were to occur, I would certainly come to watch. Farewell, Master Su.”
“Respectfully seeing off Hall Master Ji,” Su Muyu bowed.
After walking a few steps, Ji Ruofeng turned back: “Master Su, I’d like to give you some advice. Leave Anhe. I know what you’re trying to do, but Anhe has been in the business of killing for hundreds of years. It’s too difficult for a few people to change that.”
Su Muyu picked up the wine pot from the table and, with rare abandon, drained it in one go. “No need for Hall Master Ji to worry about that.”
“Consider it me speaking out of turn.” Ji Ruofeng waved his hand and departed.