"Run?" The mustached man standing on the eaves curled his lips slightly, then leaped down with a light step, landing before Su Muyu, twirling a dagger in his hand.
"Chang He, no need for violence," Su Muyu said softly.
"Well, well." The newcomer was none other than Su Changhe, The Head of Dark River. He shrugged, turning to slip the dagger back into his sleeve. "How dull."
"You're Zhuo Yuean!" Xu An exclaimed in surprise from behind.
Ge Xiu, lying on the ground, looked equally bewildered. "Sir, isn't your surname Su?"
"No time to explain to them," Su Changhe shook his head. "I thought I was just here to watch the show, but I didn't expect such a grand spectacle. I didn't bring anyone with me—it's just the two of us this time."
"Are the enemies that formidable?" Su Muyu asked.
"On my way here, I was ambushed at least three times. Each attacker was no weaker than a Dark River Heavenly-rank Assassin. Though those two Sword Holders from Peerless City up there were pushovers," Su Changhe said darkly. "You should have fought Song Yanhuai that day."
"That day, I had already defeated Jian Shanyue and Liu Yunqi, my Sword Intent at its peak. He bore the honor of an entire city in our duel—he would have surely lost. I didn't want to take advantage of his disadvantage," Su Muyu replied.
"But someone wanted to use your duel to stir trouble. Now, this city is crawling with experts, all claiming to be from Peerless City—impossible to tell who's genuine. It seems someone wants to use this chaos to purge Peerless City," Su Changhe murmured.
"Let's find shelter first," Su Muyu said, lowering his head. "Ge Xiu, can you walk? If so, lead us back to your Longevity Sect."
Ge Xiu was torn between laughter and tears. At first, he thought Lei Bao had framed him, but now he was truly lumped together with Zhuo Yuean. He hurriedly patted his legs. "I can't move a muscle!"
Su Changhe smirked coldly, stepping forward and looking down at him. "Get up, or I'll kill you."
Ge Xiu stared at the man before him, recalling Su Muyu calling him "Chang He." A name suddenly flashed through his mind, startling him so much he scrambled to his feet. He nodded repeatedly. "To guide you, sir, even if my legs were broken, I'd crawl there."
Su Changhe glanced at Su Muyu. "Haven't seen you in days, and you're already keeping such company?"
"You didn't see how bravely he fought earlier," Su Muyu replied.
"Lead the way," Su Changhe said mercilessly, kicking Ge Xiu.
"Hmph!" The Longevity Sect members glared at Su Changhe with fury.
Ge Xiu quickly stopped them. "Don't blame him, don't blame him." Since becoming the Eight Directions Thunderclap, he had never been humiliated like this in public. But knowing who these men were—especially the one who had just arrived—he understood his life could be taken without a second thought. Besides, having started from nothing, humiliation meant little to him.
Su Muyu patted Xu An's shoulder. "Earlier, you asked if I was Zhuo Yuean? I can answer now—yes. I am Zhuo Yuean, the one who issued the Sword Challenge to Unrivaled that day."
Xu An's expression grew increasingly excited, his hands trembling slightly. "Earlier... you wanted to take me as your disciple!""You black brat, how pragmatic! When the gentleman offered to teach you earlier, you couldn't be bothered. Now that you know he's someone mightier than the lord of Peerless City, you suddenly remember? Pah, you're not worthy!" Ge Xiu grumbled on the side.
"I already said I'm not taking you as a disciple," Su Muyu continued walking with Ge Xiu's group before raising his head. "I just wanted to pass you a sword technique."
"What sword technique?" Xu An asked excitedly.
"Kid, where did you crawl out from?" Su Changhe shot him a cold glance.
"I'm not from Sicheng City. I came because I admired the legendary duel with Wushuang," Xu An replied. "I traveled over five hundred miles from Mocheng—couldn't afford a horse or an oil-painted carriage. When crossing mountains, I ate wild fruits; when passing through cities, I fought in arenas. I endured all this just to witness that battle today. Never imagined the one who issued the Sword Challenge to Unrivaled would be right before me!"
"Hahahaha!" Su Changhe laughed heartily, his mirth unmistakable. "Never thought the day would come when you'd appear in such a radiant tale, becoming the faith people chase after."
"That's a pity. Had you seen my sword that day, it would've been more perfect," Su Muyu halted his steps. "Tonight, what you'll witness is my sword—"
"Only the killing kind," Su Changhe shrugged.
Three black-clad figures materialized silently before them, ghostlike in their sudden appearance.
"The Three Ghosts of Hexi," Su Changhe said slowly. "Monsters from the Killer Ranking—what brings you to Peerless City? Could it be you, too, admire the audacity of his Sword Challenge to Unrivaled and came to watch?"
"Who are you, to see through our identities?" came a voice neither distinctly male nor female.
"The Killer Ranking isn't issued by the Hall of Know-All—just some wild list from the jianghu. Back then, Ji Ruofeng did want to create a proper Killer Ranking, but there was one place he never visited. He had no idea how many masters lurked there or how high their realms reached. Had they been included, even the Supreme Ranking would need rearranging," Su Changhe remarked leisurely.
"You speak of Dark River," the voice replied.
"I am Dark River," Su Changhe leaped forward, dagger flashing effortlessly toward the Three Ghosts' throats—only to slice through empty air as their forms flickered and vanished.
Ge Xiu cried urgently, "Don't be so hasty! They might not be enemies."
"A reasonable point," the androgynous voice echoed above them.
Su Changhe tilted his head slightly. "Ghost Shadow Skill. Third-rate tricks."
"But now they are enemies," three shadows coalesced behind Ge Xiu. "Eight Directions Thunderclap—Ge Xiu the Rag King. Die."
With a metallic shing, Su Muyu drew a bystander's sword. A flick of his wrist, a flash of Sword Light, and the shadows dispersed once more.
"Ge Xiu the Rag King, you actually hired help in advance. Underestimated you," the voice sneered. "But Dark River's men are beyond your means to summon. Bluffing will get you killed!"
"Before teaching you swordplay, let me teach you one thing first," Su Muyu suddenly said to Xu An.Xu An was stunned. "What?"
"In a real duel, there are no boundaries. The only way to win is to completely defeat your opponent." Su Muyu leaped up with a light step.
Su Changhe stroked his small beard. "You're talking more than usual."
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