Following the Grand Elder’s carriage, Su Changhe and Su Zhe’s carriage also entered Jiuxiao City.
“So this is Jiuxiao City. Once a renowned martial arts city, now just an ordinary place living off centuries-old legends. Su Muyu used to mention it often,” Su Changhe said slowly, lifting the carriage curtain to view the scenery outside. “They’ll stop here temporarily, waiting to meet with Su Muyu.”
“There’s a Spider Nest here?” Su Zhe asked, startled.
“Yes. No one would expect Spider Shadow to build a nest this far north in Jiuxiao City. Perhaps it was Su Muyu’s obsession with swordplay,” Su Changhe said thoughtfully.
“Your spy isn’t in the Xie Family,” Su Zhe smiled.
“Correct. My spy is within Spider Shadow itself,” Su Changhe admitted frankly. “The Grand Elder’s movements this entire journey have been under my control.”
“You managed to infiltrate Spider Shadow? Those people were personally selected by Su Muyu and tested by the Grand Elder,” Su Zhe tapped his pipe. “Even the Clan Leader couldn’t penetrate Spider Shadow with his forces.”
“I understand Su Muyu very well,” Su Changhe stretched lazily. “Let’s find a place to rest, Uncle Zhe. We’ve been traveling for so long, we should take a proper break.”
Su Zhe put away his pipe: “Rest? If the Grand Elder enters the Spider Nest, that easily defended position will make our task much harder.”
“We needn’t act ourselves. The Xie Family will clear the path for us. That sickly ghost Xie Fanhua still has some use,” Su Changhe smiled.
“You truly are quite wicked,” Su Zhe said with a laugh.
“Hyah!” On the main road, Su Muyu cracked his whip hard, trying to reach Jiuxiao City as quickly as possible.
Mu Yumo sat in the carriage, watching Su Muyu’s back, and sighed softly: “Brother Yu, you haven’t rested at all. Why not slow down a bit?”
Su Muyu didn’t look back: “Can’t rest. Even with a Spider Nest there, Jiuxiao City isn’t safe. There’s a traitor in Spider Shadow.”
Mu Yumo suddenly placed her hand gently on Su Muyu’s back: “Brother Yu, have you never considered that I might be that traitor?”
Su Muyu’s brow furrowed slightly as he grabbed the paper umbrella beside him, spinning around to strike at Mu Yumo.
Mu Yumo smiled without dodging, letting the umbrella pass by her to collide with a golden flying wheel. As the wheel was knocked away, Mu Yumo stepped to Su Muyu’s side, laughing: “The Tang Clan is truly wealthy, carrying so much scrap metal. Wonder if they’ll recover it after it’s knocked away.”
Su Muyu held the umbrella in his right hand while gently pulling the reins with his left, bringing the carriage to a stop.
Tang Lianyue, wearing black feathered robes, alighted on a nearby large tree, looking down at them.
“You caught up quite quickly. Even with us traveling day and night without rest, you still managed to catch us,” Mu Yumo covered her smile. “So eager to see me?”
“You should have abandoned her. She’s injured—you couldn’t travel quickly with a carriage. Of course, I caught up,” Tang Lianyue said to Su Muyu.
Su Muyu let out a light sigh, bowing slightly.
“Umbrella Ghost Su Muyu, I saw your sword during the battle against the Demon Sect. Killing you won’t be easy,” Tang Lianyue’s hands flashed with cold light as he gripped his finger blades. “Your swordsmanship rivals Li Hanyi’s, but your killing technique surpasses hers.”
“I’ll hold him off. You run to Jiuxiao City and inform the Grand Elder about the spy,” Su Muyu said quietly.
Mu Yumo shook her head: “No, I’ll hold him off. You go to Jiuxiao City.”
“He’s Tang Lianyue. You’ve already lost to him once,” Su Muyu reminded her. “He held back last time, but may not this time.”
“Brother Yu, I just suggested I might be the traitor,” Mu Yumo smiled.
Su Muyu’s pupils contracted slightly: “I took it as a joke.”
“Until today, I haven’t done anything to violate our original oath, but I have hesitated and questioned our purpose. These days, I’ve wondered whether to take that step…” Mu Yumo looked at Su Muyu, sighing softly. “I don’t want to choose between you and Changhe. So, Brother Yu, go and resolve everything. I leave the choice to you!”
“Is it Changhe who…” Su Muyu frowned.
“No more excuses. You’re both staying!” Tang Lianyue flicked his fingers, sending two King of Hell cards flying at them.
“Go! Trust me, he won’t dare kill me!” Mu Yumo pushed Su Muyu away forcefully, then turned, sweeping her sleeves to send two purple ribbons flying out to entangle the cards, pulling them down to shatter the carriage below.
Su Muyu gripped his paper umbrella reluctantly and said deeply: “If you can’t hold him off, flee.”
“Don’t worry, Brother Yu. I told you, he won’t kill me,” Mu Yumo raised an eyebrow at Tang Lianyue in the tree. “Isn’t that right?”
Tang Lianyue watched Su Muyu’s departing figure, then looked down at Mu Yumo: “You think I won’t kill you?”
Mu Yumo shrugged: “The jianghu doesn’t lack for romantic men, but today’s passion becomes tomorrow’s indifference. Though you lost your composure at the sight of me days ago, perhaps you’ve forgotten by now, or perhaps revenge weighs heavier in your heart than romance.”
“Who lost their composure looking at you?” Tang Lianyue said angrily.
“Ah, they say I, Mu Yumo, was born with divine beauty, Dark River’s finest. But we’ve only just met, and love at first sight is merely physical attraction. Your feelings for me can’t be that deep…” Mu Yumo lowered her head, her tone somewhat melancholic.
“Physical attraction?” Tang Lianyue’s face twitched slightly. “I have some dragon whisker needles—would you like to see them?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Mu Yumo spread her arms, face slightly flushed. “For a man to refer to himself as a needle… you’re making this maiden blush.”
“How can a woman speak such vulgar words!” Tang Lianyue was stunned for a moment before reacting, his face reddening as he struggled with whether to throw or keep the dragon whisker needles in his left hand, ultimately putting them away.
“Forget dragon whisker needles, use a big iron hammer!” Mu Yumo called out loudly.
“Silence!” Tang Lianyue gripped his finger blades and prepared to charge, but as he tried to move, he found his feet entangled in white spider silk. Two dark green spiders had blended perfectly with the tree bark, and combined with Mu Yumo’s verbal distraction, he hadn’t noticed them at all.
“No matter how strong your martial arts, you’re still just an immature boy,” Mu Yumo raised her eyebrows triumphantly.