As Mu Qingyang ran along the path, he pulled a yellow talisman from his clothes. Holding it between two fingers, he flung it forcefully, causing it to burst into flames as it flew skyward.
Su Muyu, standing atop the web-like formation, looked up at the flame in the sky. His expression changed before he placed two fingers to his lips and released a sharp whistle.
“Don’t let them connect! Stop that Mu clan member!” Tang Lingkui shouted harshly.
Several black shadows quickly leaped up, but simultaneously, Su Muyu jumped as well. His sword struck down, forcing all who tried to break through back to the ground. His left hand swept out, commanding the flying swords to rise and spread into a net, blocking everyone in place.
At that moment, all the Tang clan members shared the same thoughts.
It wasn’t them forming a formation to trap Su Muyu.
They were the prey, and Su Muyu was the true formation master of this mountain.
“Though I’m reluctant to admit it, it’s the truth,” Tang Lingkui sighed softly. “We simply cannot stop the Su family head from doing as he pleases before us.”
Meanwhile, Mu Qingyang had stumbled nearby. Upon seeing Su Muyu, he called out loudly: “Family Head Su! Family Head Su!”
If Mu Zizhe could see this scene, he would surely cough blood in anger. Back when Mu Zizhe was the Mu family head and Su Jinhui led the Su family, they would clash head-on whenever they met, neither giving an inch. How different from Mu Qingyang, who upon seeing Su Muyu, acted like he’d found a lifeline, practically ready to rush over and cling to the other’s leg. Mu Qingyang had thoroughly discarded the Mu family’s centuries of dignity.
“Family Head Mu!” Su Muyu cast out a puppet string. Mu Qingyang caught it, and with a strong pull, flew directly to Su Muyu’s side. Panting heavily, he said: “Thank you for the rescue, Family Head Su. Without you, the Mu family would likely need a new leader.”
“We can’t relax yet,” Su Muyu said gravely. “We still need to escape from here.”
“With Family Head Su here, what in the world could trap us?” Mu Qingyang smiled.
“Ah.” Su Muyu sighed softly. “Someone like Mu Zizhe had his merits.”
“Huh?” Mu Qingyang was startled.
Su Muyu cast out a puppet string, binding both his and Mu Qingyang’s waists: “Hold tight, Family Head Mu!”
Mu Qingyang nodded: “Alright!”
Su Muyu’s left hand swept out forcefully, sending flying blades shooting forward to embed in the tree trunks ahead. He stepped across the blades as he moved forward, and after covering several hundred feet, he swept his palm again, sending seventeen blades flying toward trees further ahead. The Tang clan disciples could only watch as Su Muyu brazenly escaped with Mu Qingyang. Though some tried to intercept, they were all knocked down by Su Muyu’s Fine Rain sword.
“Follow them,” Tang Lingkui said solemnly. “He’s heading back to Jin City. Track them and find their base there.”
“Yes,” Tang Lingro leaped up.
Su Muyu quickly led Mu Qingyang out of the forest, heading toward Jin City. The Tang clan disciples followed closely behind, neither intercepting nor retreating.
“They want to follow us. Since they can’t stop us now, they’d rather find Dark River’s base in Jin City and gather forces to capture us all at once?” Mu Qingyang said gravely.
Su Muyu raised his hand, launching a sleeve arrow into the sky where it burst, sending a red flash across the horizon.
In the courtyard of the Tranquil Thoughts Teahouse.
Su Changhe, who had been leisurely drinking tea in the courtyard, looked up at the red flash and said softly: “Go.”
“As you command,” a coquettish voice sounded from behind Su Changhe.
Su Changhe smiled and took another sip of tea.
On the crowded streets of Jin City, Su Muyu continued running with Mu Qingyang. A flower seller failed to dodge in time and collided with them. Su Muyu quickly reached out to steady her, and she grabbed his hand, giving him a slight smile. Su Muyu froze as the woman twirled, transforming to look exactly like Su Muyu. “He” dropped the flowers and strolled casually ahead while Su Muyu led Mu Qingyang down a side street.
The Tang clan disciples, following close behind, suddenly noticed Mu Qingyang had vanished, leaving only Su Muyu. But this Su Muyu seemed like a different person, no longer fleeing but instead browsing the streets, watching street performances one moment and buying osmanthus cake the next, eating while walking.
“Chief, what should we do?” a Tang clan disciple whispered.
Tang Lingro frowned: “Watch a bit longer.”
That “Su Muyu” suddenly leaped before the Tang clan disciples, smiling gracefully: “What are you watching for?”
Tang Lingro started—this Su Muyu’s manner and tone were completely different from before. He shouted angrily: “You’re not Su Muyu!”
“Hahaha!” “Su Muyu” swept out a hand, striking toward Tang Lingro.
In the Tranquil Thoughts Teahouse, Su Muyu landed with Mu Qingyang. Finally, in a safe place, the tension drained from Mu Qingyang’s body, and his legs gave out, causing him to collapse.
“What happened!” Mu Yumo rushed out to support Mu Qingyang.
“It’s nothing, just exhaustion,” Mu Qingyang waved his hand. “I am a family head after all, how could I be taken down so easily?”
“Where’s Xuewei? Why isn’t Xuewei with you?” Mu Yumo asked.
“Xuewei, she was captured!” Mu Qingyang looked at Su Muyu. “The one who took her was that medicine maker you mentioned before, Family Head Su!”
“Ghost Doctor Yeya?” Su Muyu was shocked. “He’s in Jin City too!”
“How interesting indeed,” Su Changhe rolled his teacup in his hands. “Even Ghost Doctor Yeya has come to Jin City. What are those Tang clan people thinking?”
Su Muyu lowered his head in thought: “Ghost Doctor Yeya, the secluded Tang Lianyue, the injured Old Master Tang, and the out-of-contact Tang Linghuang…”
Mu Yumo frowned: “Whatever the case, we must first find a way to rescue Xuewei.”
“Yeya captured Xuewei certainly because of the deadly poison in her body. With his methods, Xuewei will surely suffer terribly…” Su Muyu mused. “Where would Yeya hide her after capturing her? The safest place in Jin City—could he be right inside the Tang clan compound!”
Su Changhe smiled: “It seems our marriage proposal must be put on hold, as we have a funeral to attend first!”