“This kid—changes his name, wears a mask, and suddenly his entire way of doing things is different? Challenging Wushuang would be one thing, but to cripple their Former City Lord?” Su Changhe lay sunbathing in the courtyard, squinting his eyes after hearing Su Changfeng’s report. His tone showed little surprise.
Su Changfeng nodded: “Indeed. The Clan Head usually avoids the spotlight, but this time, the whole world is talking about this Young Master Zhuo Yue’an of Wujian City. However…”
“However what?” Su Changhe asked.
Su Changfeng hesitated before continuing: “However when the Clan Head used the Eighteen Sword Formation in the final moment—he had previously used it before everyone while helping the major sects resist the Demon Sect’s eastern campaign. So some people are whispering that Wujian City’s Young Master Zhuo Yue’an must be Anhe’s operative. But the speculation seems so absurd that many refuse to believe it.”
“An assassin who takes lives silently in the darkness suddenly walking openly under the sun, challenging the once most glorious sect in the martial world—it does sound like a fantasy tale.” Su Changhe yawned. “Now that the task is done, he should return… No, he probably headed straight to Nan’an instead.”
Su Changfeng shook his head: “No. The Clan Head arranged another duel with Wushuang City’s Lord Song Yanhui, at Wushuang City’s rear mountain.”
“What?” Su Changhe opened his eyes. “Has Su Muyu lost his mind?”
“Wushuang City’s Lord must be formidable. The Clan Head seems to have truly developed a competitive spirit this time,” Su Changfeng replied.
“That’s not what I mean. What’s Song Yanhui worth waiting for? We saw his skills during the fight against the Demon Sect. Instead of arranging to fight him, why not go to Snow Moon City and teach that troublesome girl a lesson?” Su Changhe said disdainfully.
“Uh…” Su Changfeng was momentarily lost for words.
“When is the duel with Song Yanhui?” Su Changhe suddenly asked.
Su Changfeng calculated: “Should be in four days.”
“I see.” Su Changhe waved his hand. “You may go. If anyone seeks me these days, say I’m in closed cultivation.”
“Understood.” Su Changfeng withdrew.
Su Changhe gently turned the dagger in his hand, speaking softly: “Perhaps you should just remain a swordsman in the martial world, no need to return.”
“Rather than challenging Wushuang, why not challenge Snow Moon?” In Snow Moon City’s Dongui Tavern, a man with loose hair drank a cup of wine and laughed. “Didn’t that girl Hanyi complain about not getting to fight him? She was quite unhappy about that.”
“You just love stirring up trouble. If they fight and damage Snow Moon City’s flowers and plants, won’t it all come out of my account?” Sikong Changfeng grabbed the wine jug from the table. “Why did you suddenly come back?”
“After wandering outside for so long, one must come home to look around. You’ve managed Snow Moon City well. Who would have thought a lifelong wanderer like you could run things so orderly?” The man was Baili Dongjun, the legendary Great City Lord of Snow Moon City. Though he held the title, he rarely stayed in Snow Moon City. His occasional visits were filled with such teasing remarks that made Sikong Changfeng grind his teeth in frustration.
“Get out, get out!” Sikong Changfeng said impatiently. “No, wait—brew thirty jars of wine first, then get out!”
“Hahaha, want to go to Wushuang City?” Baili Dongjun suddenly asked. “Watch a good show?”
Sikong Changfeng paused, then shook his head: “I’m no sword immortal. What’s interesting about watching other swordsmen fight? Though Su Muyu’s sudden challenge to Wushuang reminds me of something.”
“Oh? What’s that?” Baili Dongjun asked.
“Su Muyu had Su Zhe from the Su Clan ask me about the Shadow Sect in Tianqi City. Sometime later, the Shadow Sect was destroyed in a great fire. Now Su Muyu appears at Wushuang City—could he be planning to destroy Wushuang City after eliminating the Shadow Sect?” Sikong Changfeng said slowly.
Baili Dongjun shook his head: “You don’t know—Anhe has changed hands.”
“I don’t know. I knew this news even before the Spider Web’s scouts.” Sikong Changfeng replied. “Su Zhe told me himself.”
“Well, I thought I was first this time. I was in Jiuxiao City enjoying their aged Spring Wind wine when Anhe’s people were fighting furiously in the city. In the end, Su Changhe became the Patriarch, and Su Muyu became the Su Clan’s head.” Baili Dongjun took a drink and raised his eyebrows at Sikong Changfeng.
Sikong Changfeng started: “Yes, that worst villain became Anhe’s leader. Dongjun, this isn’t good. We should find a chance to eliminate Anhe—after all, they once tried to kill us both.”
Baili Dongjun scratched his head: “So this is how you’ve managed Snow Moon City so well—by being direct and simple?”
“That’s right!” Sikong Changfeng took it as praise. “If they don’t submit, beat them down! Kill the crisis in its cradle!”
“I’m willing to trust Su Muyu,” Baili Dongjun smiled. “I’ve met him many times, and he nearly killed me several times. But he’s different. I wonder, if Wujian City hadn’t been destroyed back then, might he have entered the academy and even become our senior brother?”
“Many things have no ‘if.’ The result is he joined Anhe and became the Umbrella Ghost,” Sikong Changfeng reminded him.
Baili Dongjun waved his hand: “Yet he still fought alongside us, still stands with his sword before Wushuang City, proving his sword dao for his father. He is a swordsman, perhaps even a hero. I admire him and would like to share a drink with him.”
Sikong Changfeng sighed: “I was just talking… I don’t even know where Anhe is…”
“Hahaha, right—where’s Hanyi? Senior Brother’s here, and she doesn’t come to greet me? Call her to drink with us,” Baili Dongjun said.
Sikong Changfeng shrugged: “She’s already gone.”
“Gone? Where would she go, willing to leave Cang Mountain?” Baili Dongjun asked, puzzled.
“I said before, I’m not a swordsman… but Hanyi is.” Sikong Changfeng spread his hands helplessly. “She went to Wushuang City.”
Baili Dongjun lightly slapped the table: “That troublemaker went to watch the excitement herself!”
“Didn’t you want to go too?” Sikong Changfeng mocked.
“Fine, fine, I won’t go.” Baili Dongjun yawned. “Wouldn’t you and I fighting here be more interesting than their duel?”
“Get out, get out, get out!” Sikong Changfeng kicked him over.