Mu Yumo was startled upon hearing this and immediately thought to leap away, but a slender blade was already pressed against her waist.
"If you move again, I'll have no choice but to kill you," Tang Lingyue said calmly.
Mu Yumo suddenly giggled: "I heard the Black Tortoise Envoy's Fingertip Blade once drew the blood of a prince. Why so hesitant when it comes to killing now?"
"I don’t enjoy killing, even if you are from Dark River," Tang Lingyue replied.
"Oh? I thought it was because you couldn’t bear to strike such a beauty?" Mu Yumo spun around abruptly, locking eyes with Tang Lingyue, and flashed him a bewitching smile.
For a fleeting moment, Tang Lingyue’s focus wavered. The Fingertip Blade twirled once between his fingers, yet he did not strike.
"Fool." Mu Yumo parted her lips slightly and blew a puff of smoke toward Tang Lingyue. He immediately held his breath, pressing two fingers together before his face and muttering an incantation. The smoke gradually dispersed, but in that instant, frost began to cover Tang Lingyue’s body. Dozens of pure white ice spiders landed on his shoulders, legs, and hair.
"I’ve long heard the Mu Family of Dark River excels in Arcane Arts and Strange Techniques. Seeing it today, the rumors hold true." This time, Tang Lingyue dared not act rashly. If those ice spiders exploded like the wolf spiders earlier, he truly wouldn’t be able to evade.
Mu Yumo covered her mouth with a laugh: "At the Jiujiang Pipa Pavilion, Tang Lingyue of Tang Sect became renowned across the land with three hidden weapons. I’ve long admired the Black Tortoise Envoy."
"I shouldn’t have shown mercy earlier. Falling for your Bewitchment Art delayed my Fingertip Blade by a moment." Tang Lingyue frowned.
Mu Yumo was taken aback: "Bewitchment Art? What Bewitchment Art?"
Tang Lingyue snorted coldly: "Since you know I gained fame at Jiujiang Pipa Pavilion with three hidden weapons, do you know what those three weapons were?"
Mu Yumo shrugged: "There are rumors about them in the streets—all three were your own creations. But as for specifics, I’ve never heard."
"No need to hear. You’re about to witness them." Tang Lingyue lightly flicked his sleeve.
"Don’t move recklessly. If you do, my spiders will turn you into an ice statue, and with some wolf spiders added, you’ll be blown to bits!" Mu Yumo threatened.
"Then let’s try." Tang Lingyue suddenly shook his sleeves violently. The feathered wings on his black robe flew outward, scattering the frost and ice spiders away.
Mu Yumo, shocked, retreated several steps in haste, drawing a long sword from her waist. She then whistled sharply, and nearly a thousand spiders emerged from all corners of the courtyard.
"This is the first of those three hidden weapons—Thousand Birds Alarming!" Tang Lingyue swung his hand toward Mu Yumo, and all the feathered wings shot toward her. The howling wind truly resembled the cries of a thousand startled birds.
Mu Yumo swung her sword frantically to block, while the spiders madly lunged at the wings. Explosions rang out one after another, filling the courtyard with bursts of flame. After a long moment, Tang Lingyue’s fluttering feathered robe finally settled. As the smoke gradually cleared, he saw Mu Yumo, leaning heavily on her sword, panting heavily, with several spots of red staining her body. The spiders that had swarmed from all directions now lingered three zhang away from Tang Lingyue, not daring to advance further."What other tricks do you have?" Tang Lingyue picked up a Dragon Whisker Needle, aiming it at Mu Yumo ahead.
"Would you really have the heart to kill me?" Mu Yumo raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
"The same Bewitchment Art won't work on me a second time," Tang Lingyue said solemnly. "Tell me your destination, and I'll spare your life."
Mu Yumo sighed softly, sheathed her sword, and murmured, "If you hadn't come soon, I really would have died."
Tang Lingyue suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He turned immediately, launching the Dragon Whisker Needle without hesitation. No one had ever approached him so silently—not even the city lords of Snow Moon City, the foremost martial city of the current era. That could only mean one thing—
The newcomer swung the object in their hand, flicking away the Dragon Whisker Needle with ease, then darted past Tang Lingyue to stand beside Mu Yumo.
Tang Lingyue flipped his palm, gripping the Fingertip Blade as he crouched slightly, ready for battle. "The leader of Dark River's assassination squad—Puppet."
Su Muyu stood with his back to Tang Lingyue, hand on his umbrella handle, equally prepared to strike.
Mu Yumo looked at Su Muyu, puzzled. "Who knocked off your mask?"
"And who knocked off yours?" Su Muyu countered.
"Of course, it was this scoundrel named Tang Lingyue!" Mu Yumo reminded him of the opponent's identity.
Yet neither took her seemingly teasing but actually warning words to heart. The moment they had brushed past each other, they had already gauged the other's strength and deduced their identity.
"How badly are you hurt?" Su Muyu eyed the bloodstains on Mu Yumo.
"Dying," Mu Yumo said pitifully.
"Thousand Spiders Formation!" Su Muyu suddenly slung the paper umbrella onto his back and leaped forward, arms spread. As if anticipating this, Mu Yumo used her sword to push off the ground and vaulted into Su Muyu's embrace. Holding her, Su Muyu flew toward the courtyard's exit.
Tang Lingyue frowned slightly and flicked his left hand, sending three Bone-Penetrating Nails hurtling toward Su Muyu's back.
Su Muyu tilted his body slightly, using the paper umbrella on his back to block all three nails.
"We'll catch the other two hidden projectiles next time!" Mu Yumo shouted.
Tang Lingyue wanted to give chase, but the spiders that had previously cowered before him now surged forward like mad...
In moments, Su Muyu had carried Mu Yumo half a mile away. He glanced down at her. "Are your injuries serious? It's been a long time since you've been hurt this badly."
"Nothing major. That Tang Lingyue held back—otherwise, I might really be dead. One of the Four Guardians of Heavenly Revelation... truly a martial arts master at the pinnacle," Mu Yumo replied.
Su Muyu nodded. "Lucky it was him. Black Tortoise Envoy Tang Lingyue has always hated killing."
Mu Yumo suddenly laughed. "Nonsense. He held back because he fell for me at first sight."
Su Muyu gave a faint, resigned smile. "You're growing more confident in yourself by the day.""Really, he just said I used Bewitchment Art on him, which made him act late!" Mu Yumo raised an eyebrow. "Brother Yu, do you think I know how to use Bewitchment Art?"
"Most female disciples of the Mu Family excel at Bewitchment Art, but I know you've never learned it," Su Muyu replied.
Mu Yumo licked her lips and murmured, "Lust at first sight, lust at first sight."
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