"Just a chance encounter?" Ge Xiu sized up the Black Hunter. "What's your name?"
Su Muyu smiled faintly. "Indeed, what is your name?"
The Black Hunter lifted his head. "I'm Xu An."
"Xu An—that sounds rather refined," Su Muyu said, waving his hand. "Come with us."
"If this is just a chance meeting, why invite me along?" Xu An frowned.
"Your swordsmanship is ordinary, but you have the potential to become an excellent swordsman. Fighting in life-and-death matches in a place like this tavern is a waste. I can teach you a sword technique," Su Muyu said, looking up. "Go make your mark in the martial world."
Ge Xiu looked startled. "Sir, are you taking him as a disciple...?" He knew Su Muyu's identity, and being taken under such a person's wing was no small matter—it might mean a future of hired killings.
Su Muyu shook his head. "A disciple? That's too formal. I'll be leaving soon. I just feel our meeting here is a stroke of fate."
"Kid," Ge Xiu said quietly, "this is a very important decision."
"Alright!" Xu An nodded, as if making up his mind. "I'll go with you."
"Then let's head to my residence," Ge Xiu said, waving his hand. The swordsmen split into groups—some clearing the way, some guarding, and some bringing up the rear—as they marched out in a grand procession.
Su Muyu observed the spectacle and remarked slowly, "When did you come to Sihuai City?"
"After you spared my life back then, I fled eastward, not daring to stop until I reached Sihuai City. I heard this place is a subsidiary of Peerless City, governed by them but much more independent than other cities, so I stayed. Over the years, I've relied on my old skills to carve out a path, and now I’ve made something of myself." Ge Xiu tried to suppress the pride in his voice.
Su Muyu nodded. "But from the way you carried yourself earlier, it seems your nature hasn’t changed."
Ge Xiu smiled bitterly. "You don’t understand, sir. In Sihuai City, the strong rule. I’ve had my share of hardships getting here."
"Ge Changsheng, the 'Ragged King'—from collecting scraps to becoming one of the Eight Directions Thunderclap in Sihuai City. He’s not lying; many have heard his story." This time, it was Xu An who spoke.
"Oh? Eight Directions Thunderclap?" Su Muyu looked at Ge Xiu.
Ge Xiu lifted his head. "I’m currently ranked seventh. Though I may seem ruthless, Ge Changsheng has one rule: I may be domineering, but I never take lives needlessly. I remember your words from back then, so at most, I’ll beat those who cross me to a pulp..."
As he spoke, someone suddenly rushed over in a panic. "Master Ge! Master Ge!"
Ge Xiu frowned. "What’s all this fuss? What’s got you so scared?"
"The Sword Holders—so many Sword Holders have come!" The man’s voice trembled.
"Sword Holders?" Ge Xiu was startled. "What do they want?"
"They’re looking for Zhuo Yuean!" the man said gravely.
"Zhuo Yuean? What does that have to do with us?" Ge Xiu was puzzled. "Everyone’s looking for this Zhuo Yuean, but who can find him?"
"What are Sword Holders?" Su Muyu asked.Xu An explained on behalf of Ge Xiu: "The Sword Holders are people from Peerless City and hold the highest status in Sihuai City. They wield the power of life and death here. Usually, only a few reside in the city, but when major events occur, they arrive in large numbers."
"Every time a large number of Sword Holders appear," Ge Xiu sighed softly, "it is accompanied by terrible bloodshed."
"Master Ge! Master Ge!" Another man stumbled over, covered in blood. "Murder! Murder! Over a dozen of our brothers stationed on Thirteenth Street have been killed by those Sword Holders!"
"Damn it! If they're looking for Zhuo Yuean, let them search! We haven't seen him!" Ge Xiu stepped forward, roaring in anger. "Why kill our people?"
"These people are definitely not here to find Zhuo Yuean," Su Muyu said slowly. "Since Song Yanhuai, the lord of Peerless City, agreed to a duel with Zhuo Yuean, he wouldn't go back on his word. If he pretended to agree while secretly sending assassins, Peerless City would lose all face in the martial world, regardless of the duel's outcome. These people are making such a spectacle and deliberately causing bloodshed—they must be trying to tarnish Song Yanhuai's reputation."
Ge Xiu suddenly clapped his hands. "I understand! This is a rebellion!"
"Rebellion?" Su Muyu was puzzled.
"Peerless City's factions are complex and intertwined. Our Sihuai City is also divided into multiple factions under its influence. Some forces within the Eight Directions Thunderclap are aligned with Peerless City's Martial Hall, while others support Lord Song Yanhuai. Our Longevity Sect has always belonged to the lord's faction. Now that the old lord has fallen, the Martial Hall is taking advantage of the chaos to seize control of Peerless City!" Ge Xiu quickly pieced it together and slapped a nearby swordsman. "Gather all our brothers! Drop everything and retreat to the Longevity Sect!"
"Too late!" A mocking voice rang out.
Ge Xiu clenched his fists. "Lei Bao!"
Xu An also tensed up. "Lei Bao of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder!"
Su Muyu asked, "Is this man also part of the Eight Directions Thunderclap?"
Xu An nodded. "Ranked fourth in the Eight Directions Thunderclap, with greater fame and influence than the Rag King."
True to his name, Lei Bao wore a leopard-skin coat, with two golden rings on his hands. His towering frame made him a full two heads taller than Ge Xiu. He grinned and said, "Ge Changsheng, hand over Zhuo Yuean!"
Ge Xiu spat in anger. "Bullshit! What Zhuo Yuean? If I had the ability to hide Zhuo Yuean, I'd have wiped out your Leopard Heaven Sect long ago!"
"But the intel I received says you were the one who escorted Zhuo Yuean into the city." Lei Bao rubbed the golden rings on his wrists.
Su Muyu froze, recalling that when he entered the city, he had indeed asked someone for directions to the World Pavilion. That person had the characters "Longevity" embroidered on his sleeves—likely a subordinate of Ge Xiu's Longevity Sect.
"Your mother's lies! Then I heard it was you who raised Zhuo Yuean!" Ge Xiu cursed before suddenly turning his head.
Two white-clad Sword Holders had landed on the rooftops on either side—undoubtedly the ones they had just been discussing.Ge Xiu felt a slight fear in his heart upon seeing this and muttered a low curse under his breath. These Sword Holders were all elite disciples of Peerless City, their strength far surpassing that of ordinary martial artists like them. If the other party truly disregarded morality and insisted on taking their lives...
But no—under normal circumstances, there would certainly be no chance. Yet today, he had someone by his side.
Umbrella Ghost, Su Muyu. Once a Puppet of Dark River.
Hahahaha. Ge Xiu was already laughing triumphantly in his heart.
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