“There’s a secret passage in the Spider’s Nest that runs very long, all the way to the Three Li Pavilion outside the city. Uncle Zhe, why don’t we split up—you wait at the pavilion while I go to the Spider’s Nest,” Su Changhe suddenly said halfway through their journey.

Su Zhe stopped, planting his Buddhist staff on the ground, his tone carrying some dissatisfaction: “The Su family has so many skilled fighters, why is it always us two running errands?”

“Well, I used to be a Nameless One. When I ask the main family’s brothers for help, they never want to deal with me. Uncle Zhe and I have been through life and death together several times—I trust you,” Su Changhe said with a smile, seemingly joking yet carrying a hint of sincerity.

“Little He, I know you’re plotting something terrible. I won’t manage you, nor will I stop you,” Su Zhe turned around. “I’m just a heartless assassin—I only complete tasks, nothing else!”

“Uncle Zhe, you’re my favorite in the Su family. Keep your strength up, don’t die,” Su Changhe patted Su Zhe’s shoulder.

“A person’s shoulder carries three flames. You can’t pat them carelessly—if you extinguish them, death follows.” Su Zhe knocked away Su Changhe’s hand, picked up his Buddhist staff, and leisurely walked toward the city outskirts.

Su Changhe let out a light breath, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. For a moment there, he had sensed a burst of killing intent from Su Zhe, though it was quickly suppressed. If Su Zhe had truly attacked, Su Changhe wasn’t confident of victory. Once known as the Su family’s greatest warrior, Su Zhe hadn’t used his full strength since his injury, leaving everyone in Dark River uncertain of his remaining power. But rumors said that if Su Zhe was willing to pay a certain price, no one in Dark River could match him. These rumors came from the Mu family physician who treated Su Zhe, though their truth was hard to gauge.

“Truly worthy of being the Su family’s former greatest warrior.” Su Changhe turned toward the Spider’s Nest. After a few steps, he glimpsed two figures moving rapidly across distant rooftops. Su Changhe narrowed his eyes, then leaped upward, a cold glint flashing from his hand, followed by a clear “ding” of clashing weapons.

“Su Changhe.” The newcomer coughed heavily, then swung his black blade and retreated more than ten paces.

“Bing Si Fanhua.” Su Changhe stood still, smiling. “What a narrow road for enemies to meet.”

Xie Fanhua frowned. “Have you come to block my path?”

“Not at all, not at all. I merely wanted to look at the Spider’s Nest—meeting you here is pure coincidence,” Su Changhe raised his eyebrows.

Xie Fanhua’s chest churned with qi and blood, nearly coughing up blood but forcibly swallowing it back. He knew the Mortician’s style—he couldn’t show the slightest weakness. He said gravely, “If that’s so, then step aside.”

“Though I wasn’t specifically looking for you, now that we’ve met, I should make something of it,” Su Changhe twirled his dagger between his fingers. “You’re considered the pride of this generation’s Xie family. Killing you should please the old master somewhat, keep him from bothering me.”

“Then come try,” Xie Fanhua knew further words were useless. His twin black blades flashed as he rushed toward Su Changhe.

Su Changhe remained unhurried, casually throwing his dagger. As they say, an inch shorter means an inch more dangerous—each time he met those twin black blades, he seemed to place himself in extreme danger, yet his expression and movements appeared relaxed and practiced. He laughed loudly: “It seems the Spider’s Nest isn’t so easy to breach. Your blade work seems rather slow.”

Xie Fanhua swung his blades while coughing heavily, but he had no energy to spare for his injuries. Blood sprayed onto his twin black blades; as he swung them, blade energy mixed with blood qi, fierce yet graceful.

“You want speed? Is this fast enough!” Xie Fanhua roared.

Su Changhe’s face still wore a faint smile, though his movements grew sharper. He continued to taunt while smiling: “Faster still, faster!”

“Fine!” Xie Fanhua’s twin black blades suddenly broke through Su Changhe’s dagger defense, striking directly at his chest. Su Changhe tilted his head back, watching his dagger get knocked into the air. He quickly leaned backward to avoid Xie Fanhua’s strike, then flipped forward, landing in front of Xie Fanhua, reaching up to catch the falling dagger, then swinging down!

“Hold!” Xie Fanhua shouted, hastily withdrawing his blades to block, then retreating more than ten steps.

The outcome was decided.

But the Xie family still had one person who hadn’t moved.

Xie Fanhua looked at Xie Qianji, who had stood motionless nearby, and shouted lowly: “Why have you been standing there staring? Join in!”

Xie Qianji nodded: “I’ve been observing the flaws in Su Changhe’s Inch Sword. I’ve gained some insight—please, Brother Fanhua, go first and clear the path for me.”

“Good!” Xie Fanhua leaped into the air, joining his blade handles together to form a double-edged longsword, then dropped down to strike at Su Changhe. This was Xie Fanhua’s strongest killing move, abandoning all defense for pure offense.

Leaving his back completely exposed.

Su Changhe didn’t strike, merely smiled faintly, his smile containing both contempt and pity.

Xie Fanhua suddenly felt a chill in his heart, and then an arrow from behind pierced through his skull. His final strike never had the chance to land.

Xie Qianji lowered his mechanical crossbow and slowly walked forward: “He was one of Xie Ba’s most beloved disciples. Killing him is equivalent to declaring war on the Xie family.”

“Take his corpse with you, save those Xie family fellows from noticing anything strange,” Su Changhe bent down, his dagger swinging to sever Xie Fanhua’s head. “Just say I killed him. What’s there to fear about declaring war? Xie Ba’s target for war isn’t me, nor us—it’s the Su family. Don’t worry about him not declaring war, worry that Xie Ba’s courage is too small!”

Xie Qianji shouldered Xie Fanhua’s corpse: “There’s some truth in that. I’ll go back and report to them first. However, Xie Bu has reportedly left after a great battle with Su Muyu. Without him, many upcoming matters will be troublesome.”

“Loss of a good blade indeed—that’s troublesome.” Su Changhe leaped to Xie Qianji’s side, driving his dagger directly into his shoulder.

Xie Qianji grunted in pain but didn’t retaliate.

Su Changhe withdrew his dagger, smiling: “The show must be complete.”