Li Xinyue let out a cold snort: “Even your presence won’t make a difference.”

Su Zhe tilted his head slightly, looking at the unconscious Mu Qingyang and the heavily wounded Su Changhe, scratching his head helplessly: “This is troublesome.”

“It’s been a long time, Master Su Zhe,” Xiao Ruofeng said calmly.

Su Zhe smiled slightly: “Your Highness has a good memory, still remembering me.”

“The Death Bell, the Life-Taking Ring—how could I forget?” Xiao Ruofeng smiled back.

“I’m no longer with Dark River.” Su Zhe lifted his Buddhist staff, hooking up Mu Qingyang’s body before grabbing Su Changhe’s collar. “How about letting us leave alive?”

“Back then, Master Su Zhe also spared our lives when you had the upper hand.” Xiao Ruofeng waved his hand, gesturing for Li Xinyue to step aside. “Sister Xinyue, let Master Su Zhe leave.”

Li Xinyue remained standing with her sword, her sword energy still potent: “Letting a tiger return to the mountain will bring endless trouble.”

“Must we fight?” Su Zhe asked in a deep voice.

“Sister Xinyue, let Master Su Zhe leave.” Xiao Ruofeng repeated, this time with more emphasis.

Li Xinyue sighed softly, withdrawing her sword energy and silently stepping aside.

“Thank you.” Su Zhe leaped away with the two men.

Li Xinyue walked to Xiao Ruofeng’s side, her tone carrying a hint of reproach: “Why let them go? I’ve already sent word for White Tiger to come—they wouldn’t have had any chance.”

“Since he had no intention to kill me, why should I kill them?” Xiao Ruofeng replied.

“No intention to kill you?” Li Xinyue looked around at the devastated carved pavilion. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Though he appeared to use full force, the Dark River Patriarch’s true power shouldn’t be merely this.” Xiao Ruofeng picked up a broken bowl from the ground. “Interesting.”

“So you’re saying they carefully crafted an assassination attempt against you, but their ultimate goal wasn’t to kill you but to put themselves in mortal danger? That’s absurd.” Li Xinyue shook her head.

“Sometimes, the ways of the world are just this absurd.” Xiao Ruofeng smiled.

At the Morning Visitor Inn.

Su Zhe threw both Su Changhe and Mu Qingyang into the room. Bai Hehuai, who had been leisurely eating Shuxin Shop’s candied pastries while lounging in a chair, jumped up in surprise: “How did it end up like this?”

“Saving lives comes first, we’ll talk about the rest later.” Su Zhe wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Bai Hehuai looked at Su Changhe, then at Mu Qingyang: “They both look near death—who should we save first?”

“Save the boss first, save the boss!” Mu Qingyang suddenly opened his eyes and crawled up from the ground. “I’m awake. No, I can hold on!”

Su Zhe frowned: “You were playing dead?”

“No, no, that sword strike did knock me out.” Mu Qingyang hurriedly waved his hands. “But that strike only attacked the spirit, not the body, so my external injuries aren’t severe, unlike the boss… the boss has been pierced by ten thousand swords.”

“You… shut up.” Su Changhe barely managed to curse through his lips.

“What kind of person did you encounter, with such terrifying sword techniques?” Bai Hehuai pulled out a white cloth from her waist covered in silver needles. With a wave of her hand, the needles landed on Su Changhe’s body. “Let’s stop the bleeding first.”

“Tianqi’s Azure Dragon Envoy, heir to the Heart Sword.” Su Zhe pulled out his pipe. “Damn, that sword energy was so strong it even scared me.”

Bai Hehuai checked Su Changhe’s pulse, frowning slightly before giving him a helpless look: “You are a scoundrel…”

Su Changhe smiled, his previous appearance of agony instantly vanishing. He said, “Divine Physician, I’m in such a miserable state, yet you still scold me?”

Bai Hehuai dug out a medicine bottle from her box and tossed it to Mu Qingyang: “Apply this all over Su Changhe’s body, three times a day. Come back to me when you finish the bottle.”

“This medicine alone will do?” Mu Qingyang asked skeptically.

“Using this medicine on him is already a waste.” Bai Hehuai rolled her eyes at Mu Qingyang before turning to Su Changhe. “Speak up. What evil scheme are you plotting now? Making yourself look so pitiful—it looks frightening, but you don’t have any internal injuries at all. Are you performing some trick to gain sympathy?”

“Shh.” Su Changhe made a silencing gesture, and everyone immediately fell quiet.

At this moment, Shadow Sect’s Crow pushed open the door. Seeing Su Changhe lying on the ground covered in blood, he paused: “I heard you failed to assassinate the Prince of Langya?”

“We almost succeeded, but Azure Dragon Envoy Li Xinyue suddenly arrived. Why didn’t you stop her?” Mu Qingyang immediately countered.

Crow had wanted to mock and blame them, but this question stopped him short. He frowned: “I didn’t know you were making your move at the carved pavilion today.”

“Nonsense, the opportunity came in an instant—how could we have time to inform you beforehand? Your Shadow Sect has eyes throughout the city, we sent out signals, yet you knew nothing and arrived even slower than Li Xinyue. If the Patriarch dies, I will lead Dark River’s people in a fight to the death with you!” Every word from Mu Qingyang struck home, spoken with conviction.

Crow sighed: “With the Patriarch so severely wounded, will there be another chance?”

“Crow.” Su Changhe struggled to stand up. “Having missed this opportunity, Langya Prince will surely increase his guards. Killing him will become much more difficult.”

Crow nodded: “Indeed. Sometimes, there’s only one chance.”

“No. There are still opportunities, but they will require a great price.” Su Changhe narrowed his eyes, revealing a hint of ruthlessness. “This time, I will ensure the Langya Prince dies without a burial place.”

“What does the Patriarch propose?” Crow asked.

“I will summon all elite forces from Dark River’s three families into Tianqi,” Su Changhe said gravely. “All to kill this one man.”

“All of Dark River’s elite forces entering the imperial city.” Crow was startled.

“Trust me, no one will notice until they’re already dead.” Su Changhe patted Crow’s shoulder with his blood-stained hand. “I’ve shown my sincerity today, and I hope Master Yi will show his.”

Crow pondered for a long while before turning away: “Very well.”

Bai Hehuai and Su Zhe exchanged glances, understanding Su Changhe’s game plan. One Su Changhe, one Su Muyu, no matter how strong they were, entering the vast Tianqi City would be like throwing a single pebble into a pond. But when all those blade-wielding demons entered Tianqi, it would be like countless stones thrown into the pond.

It would inevitably raise tremendous waves.

Su Changhe smiled slightly, knowing Yi Bu wouldn’t refuse. Because he had no reason to refuse.