Blood River

"Poisonous Woman, you've been too careless," Dian Ye said gravely.

Luo Yandie's face turned deathly pale, her lips trembling slightly in fear: "General Dian... Brother Dian, the Dark River, they..."

"We have never contacted the Dark River," Dian Ye raised his head. "No one would seek out these nails in the dark while they still have a way out."

Luo Yandie glared at Su Changhe and said bitterly, "You lied to me."

"Flying Tiger General, Dian Ye. It is said your martial prowess is no less than that of Grand General Ye Xiaoying. Under that golden axe of yours, six first-class masters from Nanjue have fallen," Su Changhe ignored her and continued.

"Su Changhe, the Dark River Undertaker. Rumor has it you are now the master of the Dark River," Dian Ye said quietly. "What brings you to Sihuai City?"

Su Changhe shrugged. "I heard that Zhuo Yuean, the young master of Swordless City, issued a Sword Challenge to Unrivaled. It must be a spectacular duel. My brother here also practices the sword, so we came to watch."

"The Head of this generation of Dark River, the master of the Su Family, along with the former Puppet, and the niece of the Wen Family head, traveled thousands of miles to Peerless City just to watch a spectacle," Dian Ye weighed the golden axe in his hand. "That's hard to believe."

"Indeed, it is hard to believe," Su Changhe nodded. "But that's what I said, and here we are. I'm just here for fun."

"I don't know your purpose here. But if you leave now, I will have the city gates opened for you," Dian Ye said softly. "We bear no grudge against the Dark River, and presumably, the Dark River has no reason to make enemies of us."

Su Changhe stroked his mustache, glanced at Bai Hehuai, then at Su Muyu. Admittedly, Dian Ye wasn't wrong—the Dark River only acted for payment. Killing a Flying Tiger General would come at a steep price, and the old Su Changhe would never have picked a fight with Dian Ye without reason. He said quietly, "That is indeed a reasonable offer."

Su Muyu looked at the corpses and blood on the ground and said indifferently, "What about these people?"

"They are but weeds," Dian Ye replied calmly.

"I'll fight you to the death!" Ge Xiu lunged forward, his eyes bloodshot, clearly consumed by rage. Unlike his earlier feigned anger with Lei Bao, this time, Ge Xiu was truly furious. After all, he knew Su Muyu had no reason to oppose a high-ranking general of the court over a few of his disciples.

"Everyone is the same. No one is a weed," Su Muyu said softly.

Dian Ye found it amusing. "A master of the Dark River, saying such things?"

"But these past few days, I am not the master of the Dark River. My surname is Zhuo," Su Muyu drew the Crane Rain Sword. "I am Zhuo Yuean."

"It's you!" Dian Ye's pupils constricted slightly.

"You see, my brother has spoken," Su Changhe spread his hands. "I have no choice. Let's fight then. Though it's a bit unfair—many against few."

Dian Ye swung his axe, took a step back, and laughed. "But I never care about fairness—only victory."

"Oh?" Su Changhe narrowed his eyes.The sound of horse hooves echoed from the entrance, followed by the clanking of armor. Su Changhe listened and counted under his breath: "Sixteen, seventeen, nineteen... twenty-three. The Flying Tiger Twenty-Six Riders! All of them?"

"The Flying Tiger Twenty-Six Riders once faced three thousand light-armored troops from Nanjue and slaughtered them all," Su Zhe remarked, taking a drag from his pipe. "Alongside Ye Xiaoying's Golden Saber Ye Character Battalion, they are known as the two most ferocious battalions in Beili. Have they come to Sihuai City to kill as well?"

"Of the four great cities under heaven—Tianqi, Mu Liang, Snow Moon, and Peerless—aside from Tianqi, the other three, though part of the martial world, influence many affairs in the imperial court. Luo Qingyang, the lord of Mu Liangcheng, is the adoptive father of the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yu. Snow Moon City has deep ties with the Langya King and cannot be swayed by others," Su Muyu said slowly. "The appearance of the Flying Tiger General here suggests he intends to aid your faction in gaining control of Peerless City."

Dian Ye barked, "Enough!"

"Even if you are a general, mobilizing military forces to meddle in martial world conflicts is a capital offense," Su Muyu shook his head. "What difference does it make if I continue? Today, you’ve already decided not to let us leave alive."

"Flying Tiger General Dian Ye, you are the maternal uncle of the Eldest Prince of Beili," Su Changhe added. "This unrest in Peerless City was orchestrated by none other than the Eldest Prince, Xiao Yong!"

Sihuai City.

World Pavilion.

Haoyue Jun stood respectfully beside a man dressed in luxurious robes. Even in the presence of Song Yanhui, the lord of Peerless City, he had never shown such deference.

"Lu Yuzhai refuses to cooperate?" The man sipped his tea leisurely. His movements were deliberate yet natural, exuding an innate grace.

"He said his bottom line is not harming his master," Haoyue Jun replied.

"So, after receiving those two letters, he will inform his master?" the man asked again.

Haoyue Jun nodded. "This subordinate is incompetent—I failed to intercept those letters in time. Given the stakes for Sihuai City, Lu Yuzhai will undoubtedly report this to Song Yanhui."

"Song Yanhui, the One Sword Cuts Water... let his soul be severed on this very road," the man raised his hand lightly.

"As you command." Two shadowy figures darted out from behind him.

Haoyue Jun nervously wiped the sweat from his brow. "Jian Shanyue has already retired. With Song Yanhui dead, who should take over as the new lord of Peerless City...?"

"Naturally, the head of the Martial Hall, Master Jian Wudi," the man set down his teacup.

The stone door behind him slowly opened, revealing an emaciated man. Three short swords hung from his left waist, while an unusually long blade dangled from his right. His pallid face, accentuated by the candlelight, and his bulging eyes gave him a sinister, almost eerie appearance. His voice was hoarse: "I have no interest in the position of city lord."

"Naturally. When the time comes, you need only focus on refining your swordsmanship. The Matchless Sword Box will be delivered to you," the man said solemnly.

"Many thanks, Your Highness." A faint tremor of emotion finally crept into Jian Wudi's tone.

"You are a man obsessed with the sword," the man mused, stroking his teacup. "In this world, those who are obsessed—if they fail to attain enlightenment—are doomed to ruin. But if they do, they soar above the clouds. Your emergence from seclusion now suggests you have gained some insight."

"I seek but one sword," Jian Wudi replied."Fine. I will find that Zhuo Yuean for you," the man said with an arrogant tone. "Let him test your sword and aid you in ascending to the heavens with a single strike!"