The Black Hunter watched as the Golden Saber strode toward him in a rage and hastily picked up another piece of scrap metal from the ground, gripping it tightly in his hand.
“He’s just a child!” someone in the crowd finally spoke up, unable to stand by any longer.
But the Golden Saber had already lost all reason to anger. He raised his golden saber and swung it down with a fierce slash.
This time, however, his blade was effortlessly blocked by a single finger.
The Golden Saber was stunned and roared, “Who dares?!”
“He’s just a child. There’s no need for such lethal force.” Su Muyu sighed softly.
“None of your damn business!” The Golden Saber lashed out with a kick toward Su Muyu.
“Tsk.” Su Muyu shook his head, then extended two fingers, gripping the blade between them. With a slight twist, he snapped the Saber Hilt clean off. Dodging the kick, he sidestepped to the Golden Saber’s side and lifted his right foot, driving it straight into the man’s knee. The Golden Saber howled in pain and collapsed to the ground. Su Muyu stepped forward and planted the broken Saber Hilt right beside the man’s head.
“N-no way! That’s the most expensive blade in my shop. How could he snap it with just two fingers?” The shopkeeper below the stage trembled as he spoke.
“Damn you!” The Golden Saber, recovering from the shock, grabbed the hilt and tried to stand.
“The basest courage comes from rage.” The crowd saw only a flash of silver light before the long saber in the Golden Saber’s hand shattered into fragments, scattering across the ground.
A flicker of astonishment crossed the Black Hunter’s face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He took a wary step back.
“Did he draw his sword?”
“No, it’s still sheathed, isn’t it?”
“Then why did the saber break?”
“I saw it—just a glimmer of Sword Light.”
Amid the clamor of the crowd, the Golden Saber took a long moment to regain his senses. Struggling to his feet, he fled in panic. Su Muyu turned to the boy and smiled. “Well fought.”
“With a better sword, I could’ve done even better.” Though dressed in tattered clothes, the boy’s gaze carried a hint of arrogance.
“The sword in your hand doesn’t matter. You feigned weakness to lull him into carelessness, then seized the moment to strike decisively. A fine hunter—fitting for your name.” Su Muyu praised. “Your swordsmanship isn’t bad either. Not overly refined, but no wasted movements.”
But the Black Hunter seemed uninterested in further conversation. He strode up to Su Muyu and held out his right hand. “Money.”
“Money?” Su Muyu blinked.
“The winner takes thirty percent of the opponent’s winnings.” The Black Hunter’s tone was icy.
“Ah, I see. Here, you’ve earned it.” Su Muyu stepped down from the stage, picked up the plate from the table, poured the coins into a cloth bag, and handed it to the Black Hunter.
“Unnecessary. I take only what’s mine.” The Black Hunter coldly pulled out a handful of coins from his pocket and handed half to the shopkeeper. “And I’m not a child.”
“What an unpleasant child,” Su Muyu muttered, scratching his head helplessly. “Reminds me a bit of that guy when he was young…”"I told you I'm not a kid," the Black Hunter snapped, glaring at Su Muyu over his shoulder.
The innkeeper took a slow drag from his pipe and said gloomily, "I’d advise you both to leave quickly."
"Leave quickly?" Su Muyu’s pupils narrowed slightly.
"That Golden Saber cost them a fortune, and you just snapped it in half. They won’t let this go easily." The innkeeper tilted his head slightly. "They’re already here—too fast. You won’t make it out now."
"Damn it." The Black Hunter pocketed his coins, leaving three on the counter in front of the innkeeper. "Give me another sword."
"Won’t even spend a little more?" the innkeeper sighed.
"No need!" the Black Hunter growled. "Hurry!"
The innkeeper shrugged and pulled out a rusted iron sword from under the table, placing it down. "Take it."
The Black Hunter grabbed the sword, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. "You helped me once, so I’ll help you. Let’s fight our way out together!"
"Oh?" Su Muyu arched an eyebrow.
"What’s going on here? What’s going on!" A group of men suddenly burst into the tavern, shoving aside the onlookers as they stormed forward. The leader was a heavyset man draped in an expensive tiger-fur coat, a silver axe hanging at his waist. His tone was arrogant. "Who the hell broke my saber?"
"Me," Su Muyu replied coolly.
The fat man squinted at Su Muyu. "Who are you? Where’d you come from?"
"Ge Xiu?" Su Muyu suddenly called out.
"The hell? Who gave you the right to call me by my name?" the man roared, then froze. "Wait—how do you know my real name?"
"That’s Ge Changsheng, the local tyrant of Sihuai City," the Black Hunter muttered under his breath.
Su Muyu paused. "Bold of you to share a name with the former number one in the world. It seems you’ve grown some backbone over the years."
"You… you’re…" Ge Xiu’s legs suddenly began trembling uncontrollably.
"Go on. Say my name," Su Muyu tilted his chin up slightly. "If you think it’s worth the price."
Ge Xiu swallowed the name before it could leave his lips, forcing a laugh. "A misunderstanding! Just a misunderstanding!"
"If it’s a misunderstanding, why are your men still holding their blades?" Su Muyu asked.
"Insolence!" Ge Xiu bellowed.
"Insolence!" his men echoed angrily.
"Put your damn weapons away now!" Ge Xiu’s voice cracked with desperation.
"Oh, right, right!" The men hastily sheathed their weapons.
"So you’re someone important. No wonder—with skills like that, you couldn’t be ordinary." The innkeeper’s back was drenched in cold sweat as he desperately tried to recall if he’d said anything offensive earlier.
"You’ve been in Sihuai City for years," Su Muyu stepped forward.
Ge Xiu hurriedly replied, "Four or five years now. Ever since… that incident, I’ve been making a living here. It’s crowded and noisy—why not come to my humble residence for a proper talk?"
"Fine." Su Muyu nodded, then turned. "What about you, young Black Hunter? Care to join us?""Me?" Black Hunter was startled. He had thought such important figures meeting would no longer notice his presence, never expecting an invitation to join before departure. Hesitation gripped him—years of vigilance urged refusal, yet somehow he found himself nodding. "Alright."
"Is this gentleman your friend?" Ge Xiu inquired.
Su Muyu paused briefly. "A passing acquaintance."
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