Xie Xuan sheathed his sword: "So what's next for us..."
"There won't be any more Sword Questioning battles. Naturally, I'll return to Snow Moon City," Li Hanyi said.
"So certain?" Xie Xuan asked in confusion.
"I sensed the Sword Qi emanating from there earlier—it had already reached its limit. It's impossible to recover in such a short time, so even if there were a battle, it wouldn't be satisfying. Thus, there's no need to wait." Li Hanyi adjusted her bamboo hat. "What a pity."
Xie Xuan laughed. "It's rare for you to leave Snow Moon City. Why not visit other places?"
"You talk too much," Li Hanyi said faintly.
Xie Xuan quickly waved his hands. "You're too fierce. After all, I share equal fame with your senior brother. In terms of seniority, I'm the Eighth Young Master, and he's the Ninth—I'm even slightly older than him... Yet every time you speak to me, it feels like a threat."
"Because you refuse to spar with me," Li Hanyi snorted. "I've always wanted to see the sword of the Confucian Sword Immortal. If you agree to a match, I'll invite you to Snow Moon City to drink the freshly brewed 'Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon' from my senior brother."
"Hahaha." Xie Xuan tapped his foot and leaped away first. "'Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon' is excellent, but fighting you would be far from it."
"Stupid scholar!" Li Hanyi shouted after him.
"Fierce woman," Xie Xuan muttered under his breath only after he was far away.
Li Hanyi sheathed her Iron Horse Ice River Sword and leaped onto the rooftop of the World Pavilion. She glanced distantly in the direction of the Longevity Sect before turning to leave.
Inside the Longevity Sect.
Lu Yuzhai, arriving late, carried the unconscious Jian Wudi on his back, while Song Yanhuai bid farewell to Su Muyu and the others.
"I'm not sure whether to call you Young Master Su or Young Master Zhuo now," Song Yanhui said with a smile.
Su Muyu thought for a moment. "After today, the name Zhuo Yuean will likely disappear from the martial world forever."
Song Yanhui was taken aback. "Won't we reschedule our duel?"
"No need. Today, fighting alongside City Lord Song has already taught me much. Consider the appointment in a few days as Zhuo Yuean breaking his promise," Su Muyu replied.
Song Yanhui sighed softly. "The martial world will probably say I was afraid of this duel and secretly had you erased."
Su Muyu smiled. "Does City Lord Song care about such opinions?"
Song Yanhui shook his head. "Never mind. There's truly no need to care."
"Don't worry," Su Muyu continued. "I believe the Hall of Know-All owes me a favor for today's events. I'll find Ji Ruofeng and have him spread word about Zhuo Yuean—that he suddenly felt the upcoming sword duel no longer held meaning and left on his own. The Hall of Know-All has always been the most reliable source of information in the martial world. Once Ji Ruofeng releases the news, rumors about Peerless City will naturally die down soon."
"You're quite considerate of others?" Su Changhe brushed dust off his sleeves. "Your internal strife in Peerless City has exhausted us in Dark River. We can't let this advantage go unpaid."
"Hmm?" Song Yanhui looked at Su Changhe. Unlike Su Muyu, this man always wore a smile, yet Song Yanhui could sense a faint but unmistakable killing intent from him. Moreover, he had heard plenty about the Undertaker Su Changhe's reputation and methods."Payment is required!" Su Changhe extended two fingers and rubbed them lightly. "Dark River works for money. Surely you've heard of that."
Su Muyu sighed helplessly and rubbed his forehead. "Chang He, can't you—"
"No! Rules are rules!" Su Changhe cut him off, then turned to Bai Hehuai. "Right, Miracle Healer?"
Bai Hehuai nodded repeatedly. "Indeed. This time, I used quite a few rare treasures. Just the Five Venoms alone require precious herbs for nourishment after each use—it’s very costly."
Su Muyu smiled wryly. "How did I end up with friends like you..."
"No worries, no worries." Song Yanhuai glanced at Lu Yuzhai. "I don’t have much money. But you must be quite wealthy, right?"
Lu Yuzhai was taken aback, thinking to himself: What does this have to do with me? But outwardly, he immediately nodded in agreement. "This disciple... this disciple is naturally willing to help."
"Good. This amount." Su Changhe held up three fingers.
Lu Yuzhai hesitated. "Three hundred... three thousand taels?"
"Final offer: thirty thousand taels." Su Changhe raised an eyebrow.
"You might as well rob me!" Lu Yuzhai exclaimed angrily.
"Is thirty thousand taels really that much?" Su Changhe smirked. "How much is a Peerless Token worth? Sell a few more and you’ll make it back."
Lu Yuzhai seethed but dared not speak his mind. He glanced at Song Yanhuai, hoping his master would intervene. Instead, Song Yanhuai simply clasped his hands. "We’ll defer to The Head’s decision."
Lu Yuzhai nearly spat blood but finally gritted his teeth. "Fine. But thirty thousand taels isn’t a small sum. I’ll need a few days to prepare."
"No problem. Though we’ll be leaving soon, the silver can be sent to the Longevity Sect first. They’ll hold it for us temporarily." Su Changhe beamed with satisfaction.
Ge Xiu’s heart leaped with joy. Though it was just "temporarily holding funds," he had effectively gained a powerful backer. From now on, in both Sihuai City and Peerless City, few would dare oppose him openly or covertly. He nodded eagerly. "I’d be honored to serve the two young masters."
Ahem. Bai Hehuai coughed lightly.
"Oh, and this Miracle Healer as well," Ge Xiu quickly amended.
"In that case, we’ll take our leave." Su Changhe glanced at Su Muyu.
Su Muyu looked at Xu An, who had remained silent the whole time. "I promised to teach you a sword technique, but it seems there’s no time now. Still, did you observe the battle earlier clearly?"
Xu An pondered for a moment. "I saw what I could see. What I couldn’t, I’ll strive to see in the future."
Su Muyu nodded approvingly. "Good. You have talent in the Sword Way."
Su Changhe stroked his beard. "Are you taking him as your disciple? Bringing him back?"
Su Muyu shook his head. "Witnessing that battle was more valuable than any technique I could teach you. I said we wouldn’t be master and disciple, so let that battle serve as my gift to you in place of a sword technique."
Without hesitation or resentment, Xu An immediately dropped to one knee and clasped his fists. "Thank you, Young Master!"
"Let’s go." Su Muyu saluted the others with a fist-palm gesture, then turned and left.
Su Changhe, Bai Hehuai, and Su Zhe followed suit. As Su Changhe caught up to Su Muyu, he asked with a smile, "He’s quite talented. A shame not to take him as a disciple."
"If he were Zhuo Yuean, I might have. But I am still Su Muyu," Su Muyu replied.Su Changhe shrugged. "You always overthink things."
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