Su Muyu woke from his dream and smacked his lips.
"Time to eat," the guard said impatiently, rapping on the iron bars.
"Just in time—I'm hungry," Su Muyu replied with a smile. But when he saw the food pushed through the bars—a cornbread bun, a bowl of murky-looking rice porridge, and a plate of pickled vegetables—his smile froze on his face, snapping him fully awake from his dream.
"Hurry up and eat," the guard urged.
Su Muyu shook his head. "Every day it's the same thin porridge and pickles. Can't we have something different?"
"And what would you like to eat?" the guard barked angrily.
"Fried tofu," Su Muyu answered calmly.
The guard blinked in surprise, then widened his eyes as if he'd heard the most ridiculous joke. He burst into loud laughter. "Fried tofu? Do you think you're some honored guest? You're a prisoner! Drink that porridge now, or you won't even get that!"
"Fried tofu—the kind stuffed with meat, perhaps?" A white-haired man appeared silently beside the guard. Startled, the guard turned and immediately bowed. "Water Official, sir."
The Water Official bent down, picked up the cornbread bun from the ground, and tapped it against the guard's helmet with a crisp dong . "This bun is hard as a rock. The Sect Leader wants to negotiate terms, yet this is the food he provides?"
The guard hesitated. "The Sect Leader didn't give any special orders... Prisoners from Shadow Prison have always eaten this..."
"Go. Prepare fried tofu for Young Master Su—the kind with meat filling." The Water Official tossed the bun carelessly into the guard's arms. "What else would Young Master Su like?"
"A bowl of steaming white rice will suffice," Su Muyu replied.
"Make it happen." The Water Official flicked a piece of broken silver at the guard, who caught it and hurried away without another word.
"What brings you here today?" Su Muyu asked once the guard was gone.
"Early this morning, did someone come to see you in Shadow Prison?" the Water Official inquired.
"Yes," Su Muyu nodded.
"Do you know who he is?" The Water Official's pupils narrowed slightly.
"No, but I can guess," Su Muyu answered bluntly.
"Then you must know that, though he appears to have withdrawn from the intrigues of Heaven Revelation City, he remains a figure no one dares provoke—a man even the Langya King regards with constant wariness?" the Water Official murmured.
Su Muyu sighed softly. "What does it matter if I know? Whether I see him or not isn't my decision."
"What did you discuss?" the Water Official pressed.
"He proposed cooperation with Dark River but offered no terms," Su Muyu said, shaking his head. "I didn't agree."
"But you didn't refuse either?" A hint of coldness crept into the Water Official's tone.
"You seem... unusually concerned about this man," Su Muyu observed, sensing something amiss in the Water Official's demeanor today.
The Water Official exhaled slowly, his face shifting back into its usual mocking smile. "It's only because this man is far more terrifying than Yi Bu—ten, a hundred times more so. That's why I lost my composure. I merely wish to remind the Su Family Head: do not make any deals with him.""Yi Bu even decided to mobilize the Dark River to assassinate the Langya King rather than cooperate with this person. The danger involved is something I can naturally sense," Su Muyu nodded. "Rest assured."
"Good. The Head has already carried out an assassination attempt on the Langya King according to his plan. Of course, it failed. The Head pretended to be severely injured and used it as an excuse to request Yi Bu allow all elite Dark River assassins into Heaven Revelation City," the Water Official said.
"The time to draw the sword is near," Su Muyu said solemnly.
"Yes. The time to draw the sword is near," the Water Official sneered.
Facing Dawn Inn.
Su Changhe lay on the bed, wrapped in white bandages, while Mu Qingyang sat beside him, idly tossing Peach Blossom Coins in his hand.
"Has that list been sent to Seventh Uncle?" Su Changhe suddenly asked.
"It’s already been dispatched. Given Seventh Uncle’s speed, those people are probably already on their way," Mu Qingyang replied. "I took a glance at the list. Head, you’re truly ruthless."
"How so?" Su Changhe asked with a smile.
"Setting aside strategy and martial prowess, the sole criterion for your list is..." Mu Qingyang deliberately lowered his voice, "Whoever kills best, comes."
"Isn’t that the essence of the Dark River?" Su Changhe raised an eyebrow. "The only regret is that there should have been a Mu Ci Ling on my list, but I couldn’t find him."
"Mu Ci Ling? The man all three family heads were so terrified of they wanted to nail him into a coffin—you’d dare use him?" Mu Qingyang was shocked.
"They’re too foolish. Mu Ci Ling’s power has indeed reached a fearsome level. But Mu Ci Ling himself has no interest in power or status. He only wants to become a blade. As the head of a ruling family, the thought shouldn’t be to seal away this blade, but to wield it well," Su Changhe replied.
"Oh? That actually makes some sense," a bold voice rang out from outside the room.
"Who’s there?" Mu Qingyang pocketed the Peach Blossom Coins and drew the sword at his waist.
The door was kicked open, revealing a man in red standing outside. He took a step forward to enter but was knocked back—his horizontally slung Horse Chopping Sword was simply too long, barring his way.
He shrugged, sheathed the sword properly, and stepped inside.
"Mu Ci Ling!" Mu Qingyang exclaimed.
"Yes, it’s me. No need to scream like you’ve seen a ghost," Mu Ci Ling grinned. "Or I’ll kill you."
Su Changhe chuckled and motioned for Mu Qingyang to sheathe his sword. "You’ve finally come to me."
A glint of menace flashed in Mu Ci Ling’s eyes. "You knew I’d come?"
"I merely considered it a possibility," Su Changhe glanced at Mu Ci Ling’s Horse Chopping Sword. "Because I suspect the Gu poison in you hasn’t been cured yet."
"That bastard Mu Zi Zhe lied to me!" Mu Ci Ling roared. "Where is that scoundrel? I’ll settle the score with him."
"I suspect he’s also in Heaven Revelation City," Su Changhe sat up on the bed. "Let’s make a deal. I can have Mu Qingyang cure your Gu poison completely right now."
"You can?" Mu Ci Ling glanced at Mu Qingyang.
After exchanging a look with Su Changhe, Mu Qingyang said, "It’s not particularly difficult."
"And I can give you an opportunity to kill Mu Zi Zhe," Su Changhe added."Deal," Mu Ci Ling said directly.
"Aren't you going to ask my terms?" Su Changhe smiled.
"No need. Your terms are nothing more than me helping you kill someone." Mu Ci Ling patted the Horse Chopping Sword at his side. "This trade is fair."
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