At winter’s end, as spring approached and all things began to stir from slumber, an unexpected snowfall descended upon Liaoluo City in the northern territories.
“White snow scorns spring’s late arrival, willfully piercing courtyard trees to dance as flying blossoms.” In a grand mansion within Liaoluo City, an elderly man wearing cotton robes sat beside a large lake in the courtyard, observing the snow. He extended his right hand, watching the fine snowflakes pass through his fingers as he murmured these words.
“I thought this winter had already ended,” a young voice suddenly sounded behind him.
The elderly man’s expression remained unchanged as he picked up the wine flask by his feet and took a sip. “At our age, we spend each year waiting for winter to end quickly. Every winter’s end represents another year we’ve endured, and upon waking, we face a new beginning. Yet peculiarly, just as winter departed, snow falls again, and you arrive—the Ghost of Dark River.”
The elder turned his head to look at the uninvited guest.
The newcomer wore black attire and held an oil-paper umbrella, his face concealed behind a red demon mask. His voice was calm and cool as he said, “Pardon the intrusion.”
“Hahaha! An assassin at my door, holding a weapon that can take lives, yet maintaining such courtesy—how interesting.” The elder examined the umbrella-bearer. “By your attire, you must be the Umbrella Ghost, the foremost expert of this generation’s Su family.”
“I’m honored that Second Master Tang knows of my name,” the umbrella-bearer replied softly.
“Dark River—the world’s premier assassination organization, capable of killing royal relatives in the court and destroying major martial arts sects in the wilderness. And you, Umbrella Ghost, have completed one hundred and seven Celestial-rank missions at such a young age, never once failing. A few years ago, you were chosen by Dark River’s Patriarch to lead his direct assassination team, succeeding the position of Puppet.” Second Master Tang twirled his finger gently, causing a cluster of snowflakes to hover at his fingertip. “It seems Dark River truly respects me, sending you to kill me. However, it’s a pity…” He waved his hand lightly, sending the snowflakes flying toward the Umbrella Ghost.
The Umbrella Ghost lifted his head slightly, and the snowflakes burst into powder an inch from his face.
“What’s the pity?” the Umbrella Ghost inquired.
“The pity is that you alone are not enough!” Second Master Tang stood up, removing his cotton robe. “Even if you are Dark River’s finest assassin.”
The Umbrella Ghost stepped back. “Second Master Tang misunderstands. Today, I am merely an observer.”
“Oh? Then who will kill me…” Second Master Tang suddenly turned his head, his long sleeve sweeping out as a vermillion arrow shot from within, targeting the roof eaves.
“Naturally, it would be me.” A white-haired elder appeared on the eaves, his sleeve sweeping to intercept the small arrow. With another wave, the arrow split in two and fell to the ground.
The snow around the arrow suddenly turned crimson.
“In my youth, I was arrogant and caught one of your projectiles bare-handed, nearly dying from the poison,” the white-haired elder said, taking out a pipe and leisurely taking a puff. “Forty years have passed, and I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Even as Dark River’s Patriarch, you still harbor a grudge from forty years ago,” Second Master Tang sneered.
The Patriarch sighed softly. “It’s not that I choose to remember our grudge. I simply didn’t expect that just before my retirement, I would receive a mission to kill you.”
Second Master Tang raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So even Dark River’s Patriarch must accept assassination missions personally—how novel.”
“Your Tang Clan has grown restless, abandoning jianghu affairs to meddle in Tianqi City’s matters,” the Patriarch leaped down to the snowy ground. “Unfortunately, you chose the wrong side.”
“So Tianqi City’s people hired Dark River?” Second Master Tang’s pupils contracted slightly. “You dare accept such a contract?”
“As I said, even I had no choice but to accept.” The Patriarch bounded forward, his pipe sweeping toward Second Master Tang’s face.
“So who hired you?” Second Master Tang deflected the pipe with one finger, then flicked his right hand, sending three silver needles toward the Patriarch.
“Revealing a client’s identity is not what a proper assassin does.” The Patriarch placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, spinning to dodge the needles. The sword hilt bore an intricately carved golden dragon, though its eyes were closed as if in deep slumber.
“Could it be that even Dark River’s Patriarch cannot refuse His Majesty?” Second Master Tang casually broke off a plum branch nearby. He tapped it against the plum tree, causing countless blossoms to spiral down toward the Patriarch.
“An excellent technique—Ten Thousand Flying Flowers.” The Patriarch’s sword danced, forming a net that kept the blossoms at bay three feet away.
The Umbrella Ghost slowly tightened his grip on his umbrella handle, killing intent gradually emanating from him. He had fought Tang Clan members before and had seen Ten Thousand Flying Flowers, but ordinary Tang Clan experts used sequences of hidden weapons to create it. This Second Master Tang could make a whole tree’s worth of plum blossoms fall at will, achieving the world’s finest hidden weapon technique! It seemed the Patriarch was right—alone, he would never have been able to kill this man.
“It’s been long since I’ve had such an engaging battle!” The Patriarch swept his sword through the flower rain. Suddenly, the sleeping dragon on the hilt opened its eyes, revealing a fierce and dominating gaze!
Second Master Tang sighed softly, and the plum branch in his hand turned blood-red.
The Umbrella Ghost gripped his handle tightly and stepped forward.
“Muyu, stay back!” the Patriarch shouted. The Umbrella Ghost immediately halted, not making another move. The Patriarch and Second Master Tang passed each other in flight. When they landed, the Patriarch’s sword was gone.
It was embedded in Second Master Tang’s chest.
“In the art of killing, none in the world can compare to you,” Second Master Tang said with a bitter smile.
The Patriarch looked at the plum branch lying in the snow and wiped the blood from his cheek, giving a bitter smile of his own. “Snow falls on a plum branch,” he said softly.
“I’ll rest a while on the path to the Yellow Springs—don’t keep me waiting too long.” Second Master Tang closed his eyes and slowly sat down in the snow.
The Umbrella Ghost approached, pulled the sword from Second Master Tang’s chest, and returned to the Patriarch’s side. “You could have avoided that earlier,” he said quietly. “He was Second Master Tang—his plum branch surely carried deadly poison.”
The Patriarch nodded. “But that was the best chance to kill him.”
The Umbrella Ghost sheathed the sword in the Patriarch’s scabbard. “Let’s return to Dark River and have the Mu family’s best physician treat you.”
“We can’t return to Dark River,” the Patriarch gripped the Umbrella Ghost’s shoulder. “Go to Qiantang City and find a person named Bai Hehuai.”
The Umbrella Ghost hesitated. “Patriarch, do you think if the various families learn of your injury…”
“They’ve waited a long time for this.” The Patriarch pressed his chest lightly several times, then slowly walked forward. “Find Bai Hehuai, then we head north.”
“North? Where to?” the Umbrella Ghost asked.
“Home,” the Patriarch said gravely.
“Home!” The Umbrella Ghost’s hand holding the umbrella trembled violently.
“Yes, home. There, I’ll introduce you to the person you most want to meet,” the Patriarch said, looking back.