At the end of winter and the beginning of spring, all things gradually awaken, yet the desolate city in the northern border was suddenly blanketed by a heavy snowfall.
"White snow, disliking the tardiness of spring, dons the guise of flying blossoms through the courtyard trees." Inside a grand mansion in the desolate city, an old man clad in cotton robes sat by the edge of a large lake in the courtyard, admiring the snow. He extended his right hand, watching the fine snowflakes drift between his fingers, murmuring softly.
"I thought this winter had already ended," a youthful voice suddenly spoke from behind him.
The old man's expression remained unchanged as he picked up a wine flask by his feet and took a sip. "At our age, what we wait for every year is the swift end of winter. For each winter's passing means we've survived another year—waking to a new beginning. Yet just as winter fades, another snow arrives, and with it, you—a ghost of the Dark River." He turned his head to look at the uninvited guest.
The visitor was dressed in black robes, holding an oil-paper umbrella, his face concealed behind a crimson demon mask. His voice, however, was calm and cool: "My apologies for the intrusion."
"Hahahaha. A killer at my doorstep, wielding a weapon that can take lives, yet still so courteous—how amusing." The old man studied the umbrella-wielding figure. "Judging by your attire, you must be the Su Family's top warrior of this generation—the Umbrella Ghost."
"I'm honored that Second Master Tang has heard of me," the Umbrella Ghost replied indifferently.
"The Dark River—the world's foremost assassin organization. In the courts, they slay royalty; in the wilds, they annihilate martial sects. And you, Umbrella Ghost, despite your youth, have completed one hundred and seven Heaven Rank Missions without a single failure. Years ago, you were even chosen by the Dark River Grand Master to lead his personal assassination unit, succeeding the Puppet." The old man known as Second Master Tang twirled his fingers lightly, and a swirl of snowflakes gathered at his fingertips. "It seems the Dark River holds me in high regard, sending you to kill me. What a pity." With a flick of his hand, the swirl of snow shot toward the Umbrella Ghost.
The Umbrella Ghost tilted his head slightly, and the snow shattered into dust an inch before his face.
"What's the pity?" the Umbrella Ghost asked.
"The pity is that you alone are not enough!" Second Master Tang stood, shedding his cotton robes. "Even if you are the finest assassin the Dark River has to offer."
The Umbrella Ghost took a step back. "Second Master Tang misunderstands. Today, I am merely an observer."
"Oh? Then who is here to kill me—?" Second Master Tang suddenly turned, his sleeve sweeping out as a Vermilion Arrow shot from his cuff toward the rooftop.
"Naturally, it is I." A white-haired elder appeared on the eaves, flicking his sleeve to intercept the Vermilion Arrow before snapping it in two with another motion. The broken pieces fell to the ground.
The snow around the arrow instantly turned blood-red.
"In my youth, I was reckless enough to catch one of your hidden weapons barehanded—nearly died from the poison," the white-haired elder remarked, leisurely taking a puff from his pipe. "Forty years have passed, and I won’t fall for it again."
"You, the Dark River Grand Master, still hold a grudge from forty years ago?" Second Master Tang sneered.
The Head sighed softly. "It's not that I remember your enmity. It's just that, on the verge of retirement, I never expected to receive a mission to kill you."Second Master Tang raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So even the Dark River Grand Master takes assassination contracts personally now. How novel."
"Your Tang Sect has been restless—abandoning the affairs of the jianghu to meddle in Heaven Revelation City's business," said the Head, leaping forward and landing lightly on the snow. "A pity you chose the wrong side."
"Did Heaven Revelation City hire Dark River?" Second Master Tang's pupils constricted slightly. "You dare accept such a contract?"
"As I said, even I cannot refuse this one." The Head tapped his foot and darted forward, flicking his smoking pipe toward Second Master Tang's face.
"Then who hired you?" Second Master Tang deflected the pipe with a single finger, then flicked his right wrist, sending three silver needles shooting toward the Head.
"A proper assassin doesn't reveal his clients." The Head's hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist. With a spin, he dodged the needles. The sword's hilt was carved with an exquisitely lifelike golden dragon—though its eyes were closed, as if in deep slumber.
"If even the Dark River Grand Master can't refuse... could it be His Majesty himself?" Second Master Tang casually snapped off a plum branch from a nearby tree. With a light tap against the trunk, blossoms suddenly swirled from the branches, hurtling toward the Head like a storm.
"An excellent Myriad Trees Flying Blossoms." The Head's sword flashed, weaving a sword net that kept the blossoms at bay.
Nearby, Umbrella Ghost tightened his grip on his umbrella handle, a faint killing intent radiating from him. He had fought Tang Sect members before and witnessed Myriad Trees Flying Blossoms—but ordinary Tang masters merely used hidden weapons to simulate the effect. This Second Master Tang had casually shaken an entire tree's worth of blossoms into a lethal storm. Truly, this was the world's foremost hidden weapon technique. He had been right—if Umbrella Ghost had come alone, he would have stood no chance.
"It's been too long since I've had such an exhilarating fight!" The Head surged forward through the floral onslaught, and the sleeping dragon on his sword hilt suddenly opened its eyes, gleaming with ferocious dominance.
Second Master Tang sighed softly. The plum branch in his hand turned crimson.
Umbrella Ghost stepped forward, gripping his umbrella tightly.
"Moyu, stand back!" the Head barked. Umbrella Ghost halted immediately. The Head and Second Master Tang passed each other mid-air, and when they landed, the Head's sword was no longer in his hand.
It was embedded in Second Master Tang's chest.
"When it comes to killing, no one in this world surpasses you," Second Master Tang said with a bitter smile.
The Head wiped blood from his cheek and glanced at the fallen plum branch on the ground. He, too, smiled faintly. "Snow Falling on a Plum Branch."
"I'll rest awhile on the road to Nether Springs. Don't keep me waiting too long." Second Master Tang closed his eyes and slowly sank into the snow.
Umbrella Ghost stepped forward, pulling the sword from Second Master Tang's chest before returning to the Head's side. In a low voice, he asked, "You could have dodged that. He was Second Master Tang—that plum branch must have been laced with deadly poison."The Head nodded: "But just now was the best opportunity to kill him."
Umbrella Ghost sheathed the sword back into The Head's scabbard: "Let's return to Dark River immediately. We'll have the Mu Family's best physician treat you."
"We can't go back to Dark River." The Head firmly grasped Umbrella Ghost's shoulder. "Go to Qiantang City and find someone named Bai Hehuai."
Umbrella Ghost hesitated for a moment: "Does The Head think that if the other families learn of your injury..."
"They've been waiting for this chance for a long time." The Head lightly tapped his chest a few times before walking forward slowly. "Find Bai Hehuai, then we head north."
"North? To where?" Umbrella Ghost asked.
"Homeland." The Head said solemnly.
"Homeland!" Umbrella Ghost's hand gripping the umbrella trembled violently.
"Yes, Homeland. There, I'll take you to meet the person you most want to see." The Head glanced back.
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