Blood River

Summer rains fall eighteen times, with seven or eight downpours a day.

...

"It's raining again, how annoying." Su Changhe brushed the raindrops off his sleeve, grumbling.

Su Muyu held up a paper umbrella and smiled faintly. "Summer rains are perfectly normal. I did advise you to buy an umbrella back in town, but you wouldn't listen."

"This isn't about summer—it's about you. Wherever you appear, rain follows," Su Changhe said helplessly. "How should I put it... hmm... like a haunting shadow!"

Su Muyu shook his head. "Would you like to share my umbrella?"

"No need. The weather's so hot—a little rain will cool me down!" Su Changhe waved his hand dismissively.

"I rather enjoy the scorching summer days," Su Muyu remarked quietly.

Su Changhe paused, then laughed. "Ah, I forgot. You've always loved this torturous season."

"Summer has a flavor unlike the other three seasons. The leisurely mornings woken by birdsong and insects, the fragrance of a watermelon split open in the shade at noon, and the lingering warmth of the earth at dusk paired with the refreshing evening breeze—all of it is unique. Whenever I think of summer, I remember those days." Su Muyu lifted his face, catching the rain in his palm. "As if everything was just beginning, full of endless possibilities."

"You shouldn't be an assassin. You should retire and take the imperial exams," Su Changhe teased, giving a thumbs-up.

"In the Dark River, I've missed many summers," Su Muyu continued walking ahead.

Su Changhe shrugged. "I can't stand this sweltering heat. A few steps and I'm sticky all over—I'd gladly bathe three times a day."

"Aren't you bathing right now?" Su Muyu chuckled.

"What are your plans once we reach Homeland? Will you stay there?" Su Changhe asked.

The two passed through a vegetable field surrounded by high mountains. In the distance, a small village came into view—the Dark River's "Homeland," where Su Changhe had once brought Mu Yumo.

Su Muyu shook his head. "There's still much to resolve in the Dark River. I won't leave you to shoulder it alone. I'll return with you."

"Ah, so Homeland doesn't compare to Qiantang City?" Su Changhe grinned. "Bai Guniang mentioned she's already returned to Qiantang. Wasn't she hinting she's waiting for you?"

"Stop teasing me," Su Muyu sighed. "Qiantang isn't simple either—with the Academy overseeing it, the undercurrents run deep."

"Then go to Nan'an. It's not far from Qiantang, and quite beautiful," Su Changhe suggested.

Su Muyu frowned slightly. "You've been there?"

"Yes. Killed someone there," Su Changhe murmured.

"We're almost there, aren't we?" Su Muyu changed the subject.

"Su Muyu, ever since we returned from Heaven Revelation City, something about you feels... off," Su Changhe said suddenly, his tone turning serious.

"Yes. I've learned some truths," Su Muyu replied calmly, not hiding it.

"But you don't want to tell me?" Su Changhe pressed.

Su Muyu hesitated. "When the time comes, I'll tell you.""The Ten Thousand Scrolls Tower holds records about everything concerning us, but those were ultimately written by you. Anything penned by human hands can be falsified. So I didn’t even glance at that stack of papers you gave me. First, because I don’t care, and second, because I fear it might cloud my judgment." Su Changhe curled his lip. "Some matters, I’ve already made my own conclusions. But I also know you can’t let go of those things."

Su Muyu closed his oil-paper umbrella and looked up at the sky. "The rain has stopped."

"We’ve arrived. This is Homeland." Su Changhe gazed at the utterly ordinary little village before them. "Looks quite plain, doesn’t it?"

"Shouldn’t Homeland be plain by nature?" Su Muyu countered.

"You’ve got an answer for everything." Su Changhe suddenly halted, spotting a woman in plain robes carrying a bamboo basket in the distance. "Hey, what a coincidence. The person you wanted to see."

"Zhaoyan." Su Muyu smiled faintly, his tone softening.

The bamboo basket slipped from the plain-robed woman’s hands and fell to the ground. Overjoyed, she rushed forward and threw her arms around Su Muyu. "Brother Moyu!"

Su Changhe looked puzzled. "Wasn’t she your childhood sweetheart? Why is she calling you ‘Brother Moyu’? Did you go by that name before?"

"After being apart for so long, the name from my childhood fell out of use. When we reunited last time, I asked her to call me by my new name." Su Muyu patted the woman’s back. "Zhaoyan, don’t embarrass us in front of others."

"You said you’d come see me soon. How did ‘soon’ turn into so many years?" The woman released him, her voice full of reproach.

"Yes. Many years have passed." Su Muyu sighed lightly and gestured to Su Changhe. "This is Chang He, the current Head of Dark River. You must have met before."

Su Changhe grinned. "Actually, we met many years ago."

"This is Zhaoyan, Xiao Zhaoyan. We grew up together in Swordless City." Su Muyu patted the woman’s head affectionately. "Consider her my little sister."

Xiao Zhaoyan pouted. "Brother Moyu, why does this feel like you’re matchmaking?"

Su Changhe burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Because I just played matchmaker for him, and now he’s getting back at me."

"Brother, let’s ignore this guy. Come on, let’s go to my place for dinner. I just picked fresh vegetables, and Wang Jie brought over some chicken today. I’ll make you a feast!" Xiao Zhaoyan stuck her tongue out at Su Changhe and tugged at Su Muyu’s sleeve to leave.

Su Changhe sighed in resignation. "Last time we met, you seemed so composed and mature. How did you turn into such a child the moment you saw your brother?"

"None of your business." Xiao Zhaoyan pointed to the neighboring house. "You can eat at Wang Jie’s place."

Su Changhe scratched his head. "And who is Wang Jie?"

"Don’t worry, Wang Jie’s husband passed away years ago. No one will chase you out," Xiao Zhaoyan retorted.

Su Changhe blinked. "Oh, so she’s a widow..."

"Enough joking around." Su Muyu rubbed his temples. "Let’s all eat together."

"Fine, whatever Brother says." Xiao Zhaoyan released his sleeve. "Then follow me." With that, she skipped ahead cheerfully.

"Last time I saw her, she seemed like a proper swordswoman." Su Changhe spread his hands. "How did she turn back into a wild girl?"

"She’s always been a wild girl." Su Muyu chuckled as he followed. "This is Homeland.""How can this be called Homeland?" Su Changhe looked at Su Muyu, who was constantly sighing with emotion, feeling a bit of a headache.

"We're just discussing trivial matters like food and drink, as if these were the entirety of life," Su Muyu paused before continuing, "But perhaps this should indeed be the whole of life."