Blood River

A long and dark dream.

There was no light in the dream, no people, only sounds.

Sounds of desperate screams, low sobs, eerie and terrifying laughter... All kinds of noises converged together, making one feel as if they were in hell.

"Evil heretics!" the dreamer roared angrily.

"If we are evil heretics, then is your Dark River some righteous sect?" A voice that simultaneously resembled a man, woman, child, and elder echoed from all directions.

Just some demonic illusions—slash them apart with a blade, just like all those times before!

The dreamer lowered his head slightly, reaching for the longsword at his waist, then froze.

The sword was broken, leaving only the hilt.

Those sounds slowly transformed into skeletons, lunging toward him...

"Ah!" The old man, drenched in sweat, gasped as he woke from the dream. He sat up abruptly, his hand gripping the Sleeping Dragon Sword beside him.

Outside the room, Bai Hehuai and the others heard the startled cry and rushed inside. They saw The Head sitting on the bed, his upper body bare, muscles taut, an aura of killing intent radiating from him. When he raised his head to look at them, his eyes burned like fire.

Mu Yumo quickly scanned the room but found no signs of a struggle. The ceiling also appeared intact. Puzzled, she asked, "What happened?"

"Out!" The Head growled.

Bai Hehuai patted Mu Yumo's shoulder. "Sister Yumo, you go out first. It must be an issue with the dosage of medicine I used. I'll examine The Head."

Mu Yumo glanced at The Head, nodded, and immediately retreated.

Bai Hehuai flicked her wrist, and three Silver Needles leaped into the air. With a tap of her finger, the needles embedded themselves into The Head's chest. He exhaled deeply, the tension in his body finally dissipating. His long blade clattered to the ground as he leaned against the wall, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Bai Hehuai approached him with a smile. "So, The Head had a nightmare?"

The Head's expression gradually softened. "Hehuai, how many people have you saved in your life?"

Bai Hehuai frowned slightly. "How could I possibly remember that?"

"I have killed eight hundred and thirty-two people in my life. For each one, I made a mental note. They often appear in my dreams," The Head said slowly. "Many of them, I don’t even remember who they were. But a voice in my heart tells me—these are the people I’ve killed."

Bai Hehuai thought for a moment. "Do these dreams become more frequent over time?"

The Head's face darkened slightly. "Are you saying I’m getting old?"

Bai Hehuai waved her hand with a laugh. "The Head is overthinking it. For us physicians, this is just a normal change."

The Head picked up a tobacco pipe from the bedside and lit it. "Truthfully, I’m not afraid of such dreams. Every time before, I’ve taken the blade at my side and cut the dream to shreds. If I could kill them once, then naturally, I can kill them again! Whether in reality or in dreams, it makes no difference!"At this moment, the sudden surge of killing intent emanating from The Head made Bai Hehuai feel as if she was seeing the god of slaughter from his past. But soon, The Head took a drag from his pipe, and the murderous aura dissipated once more. He murmured pensively, "But this time, by the time I drew my sword, it had already broken."

After a long silence, The Head finally whispered, "We need Moyu to return quickly."

Bai Hehuai caught on: "The sword in The Head's hand... refers to Lord Puppet?"

Coming back to himself, The Head realized he had just revealed too much. He took another puff and said, "Moyu is indeed the finest blade I've wielded in all these years. With him by my side, I would feel more at ease."

"He does seem like someone reliable to depend on." Bai Hehuai nodded. "By the way, I've always wanted to ask—what is The Head's surname?"

The Head narrowed his eyes slightly. "Do you know that asking this question in Dark River is taboo?"

"Why?" Bai Hehuai pressed.

"The Head oversees the three families and must remain absolutely impartial. But before becoming The Head, one must inevitably belong to one of the three families, making bias unavoidable. So when each successive Head inherits the Sleeping Dragon Sword, their name is forcibly erased. From then on, they are no longer of any family—only The Head." Slowly exhaling smoke, The Head let the room gradually fill with haze. "But I can tell you my surname."

"My surname is Mu. Before becoming The Head, I was Mu Mingce."

"Mu Mingce..." Bai Hehuai repeated softly.

"It's been a long time since I last spoke that name." The Head chuckled. "So long it feels like a past life."

"So it's Mu. I thought The Head might be surnamed Su." Bai Hehuai smiled.

The Head raised an eyebrow. "Because I trust Moyu so much?"

"That was part of it. But today, Sister Yumo mentioned that Lord Puppet is one of the Nameless Ones?" Bai Hehuai took out an incense stick from her medicine box, lit it, and placed it in the burner.

The Head's pupils constricted slightly. "Oh? Hehuai, you know about the Nameless Ones? Did your master tell you? That's one of Dark River's most closely guarded secrets."

"Only in passing. If The Head would rather not discuss this, we can drop it." Bai Hehuai said lightly.

"Tell me, what exactly did your master say?" The Head asked."My master said that your Dark River is divided into three families—Mu, Xie, and Su. These three clans have been passed down for centuries, forming the world's top assassin organization, Dark River. Over these hundred years, the three families have continued their lineage, but not every descendant possesses the talent to become an assassin. Moreover, in perilous assassination missions, members are constantly lost. Gradually, the succession within the three families could no longer sustain Dark River's growth. Thus, Dark River initiated the 'Nameless Ones' project. You dispatched experts from each family to scour the world for orphans with exceptional potential. These orphans were brought back to Dark River's headquarters and placed in an academy called The Crucible, where they learned the art of killing. Every six years, a test was conducted. A group of twenty would be sent into the Ghost Cry Abyss, forced to fight to the death. The last one standing would undergo the 'Surname Conferral Ceremony,' receiving a name and surname bestowed by one of the three families—Su, Xie, or Mu." After finishing, Bai Hehuai turned to face The Head.

The Head looked back at her, his gaze utterly calm, yet his words were chilling: "Do you know that just this speech alone is enough for Dark River to hunt you to the ends of the earth?"