Mu Yumo sat at the table, staring at the blackened mass of “food” and swallowed hard.
“I heard from Changhe that you’re living a peaceful and interesting life in Nan’an City, and don’t want to return to Dark River anymore,” Mu Yumo said helplessly. “Is this what you call peaceful and interesting?”
“Everyone has their obsessions,” Su Changhe said resignedly. “And our Brother Muyu has developed an unusual obsession with cooking. The last time I saw him this diligent—was when he was practicing the Eighteen Sword Formation.”
Su Muyu nodded. “Yet I managed to recreate the Eighteen Sword Formation but still burned the eggplants.”
“Shall we not eat it?” Mu Yumo asked cautiously.
Su Muyu smiled faintly. “Let’s not.”
“We should at least take a bite, since we have a favor to ask of you.” Mu Yumo picked up a piece with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly. “Mm, indeed it’s still… somewhat terrifying.”
Su Muyu glanced at Su Changhe. “What favor do you need?”
Su Changhe spoke leisurely: “In Wushuang City, we offended someone important.”
“Crown Prince Xiao Yong?” Su Muyu asked.
“Yes, Crown Prince Xiao Yong and that Flying Tiger General. They won’t let the matter rest, so we need to prepare in advance. Since we’re no longer assassins, shouldn’t we seek some allies in the jianghu?” Su Changhe asked.
Su Muyu nodded. “But few would dare ally with us. Who did you have in mind?”
“What do you think about Tang Clan?” Su Changhe said.
Mu Yumo gently raised her head to look at Su Muyu. After a moment’s contemplation, Su Muyu replied, “Indeed, it’s not a bad choice.”
“I don’t understand. The former family head killed Tang Second Master,” Mu Yumo shook her head.
“Tang Second Master was already an outlier in Tang Clan. Except for Tang Lianyue, everyone else in Tang Clan was probably happy about his death. So, we’re not enemies,” Su Changhe smiled. “As for why chose Tang Clan, they’re known throughout the world for their hidden weapons and poison art and are also outsiders in the jianghu. When outsiders meet, it’s always more interesting.”
Mu Yumo raised an eyebrow. “Also because Tang Lianyue is there!”
“Yes. Besides allying with the Tang Clan, we’ll also propose marriage for our Sister Yumo,” Su Changhe stroked his mustache.
“Well, one meal of eggplant won’t be enough then,” Su Muyu smiled faintly. “For such a great favor, we’ll need to eat for three days.”
Mu Yumo touched her forehead. “The world is changing too fast—Su Muyu has learned to joke with me.”
“Perfect, since Yumo indeed needs to stay in Nan’an City for a few days. Muyu, please take good care of her,” Su Changhe smiled.
Su Muyu was startled. “Where are you going?”
“Going to a dangerous place like Tang Clan requires some preparation. Don’t forget, we have a treasury at Dark River. I’m going to retrieve some items,” Su Changhe turned around. “It’s time to visit the Yellow Springs Pawnshop.”
Ghost guides clear the path, meeting at Yellow Springs.
The yellow spring water rushed down mixed with silt. Su Changhe stood by the Yellow Springs as a thick fog rose. Through the mist, a small boat gradually appeared on the spring water. Four tall men stood on the boat, each wearing long yellow robes and cloaks, bamboo hats, and holding weathered oil-paper umbrellas. A chilling, ghostly aura emanated from them.
“Making such a ceremony of it every time I come,” Su Changhe smiled.
The boat docked, and the four tall men disembarked, walking to Su Changhe’s side. They all bowed, looking down at him. Su Changhe stroked his mustache. “Trying to scare me?”
“Please board the boat, Family Head,” the four-spoke without moving their lips, their voices like muffled bells.
“Very well.” Su Changhe leaped past the four men onto the boat.
The four remained on shore watching him, not boarding the boat, which swayed as it headed toward the opposite bank.
Su Changhe smiled. “Since I took Hong Ying to Dark River, they don’t even have someone to ferry the boat.” The boat soon reached shore. Already familiar with the place, Su Changhe walked directly to the Yellow Springs Pawnshop. Before he could knock, the wooden door opened by itself. Inside, the constant clicking of an abacus could be heard—it seemed no matter when one came, the shopkeeper was always impatiently calculating accounts.
“Shopkeeper, I’m back,” Su Changhe greeted.
“Here to retrieve items?” A short, fat man wearing money-patterned robes jumped down from behind the counter, patting his round belly. “You should have come earlier.”
“What do you mean?” Su Changhe asked, puzzled.
“This is a pawnshop, not a bank. To take things from here, you must pay your price. As I said before, the people you’ve killed over the years were the so-called price, because all the kill orders came from here. But now the Soul-Summoning Palace is destroyed, the Three Officials are dead, and even the Shadow Sect has fallen.” The short fat man spread his hands. “So even I don’t know who should own the things inside.”
“The key is with me.” Su Changhe touched the Sleeping Dragon Sword at his side.
“Indeed. The key is in your hands.” A voice with a hint of amusement sounded. Su Changhe suddenly looked up and noticed a white-robed scholar sitting in the corner.
Despite Su Changhe’s keen senses, he hadn’t noticed the man’s presence until he spoke. Looking closer, he saw the scholar’s face was pale, with sunken eye sockets and deep dark circles—in four words, he had the face of death.
“Truly worthy of the name Yellow Springs Pawnshop,” Su Changhe said quietly.
“This is our master of Yellow Springs,” the short fat man said.
The scholar smiled slightly. “Young family head of Dark River, I have been looking forward to meeting you for a long time.”
Su Changhe walked over and sat down before him. “I’m not particularly looking forward to it, because I know meeting you can’t mean anything good.”
“So Dark River no longer kills?” the scholar asked.
“Which jianghu sect can avoid killing?” Su Changhe shook his head. “We just don’t want to be someone else’s blade anymore.”
“We were all once blades in others’ hands. Now that the Shadow Sect has fallen and the Soul-Summoning Palace is destroyed, the strings that bound us are cut.” The scholar grinned, revealing something sinister. “Perhaps we could join forces?”
“If I refuse, does that mean I can’t take the items from the pawnshop?” Su Changhe asked.
The scholar’s eyes rolled. “You cannot.”
“Threatening me?” Su Changhe tucked his hands into his sleeves, touching the dagger hidden inside.
I should have brought Su Muyu along after all.
“However, today you may take some items you need for this time.” The scholar stood up. “We at Yellow Springs Pawnshop do follow rules. How about it?”
“Fine.” Su Changhe gently waved his sleeve. “Let me go back and discuss this with my good brother.”