Blood River

Mu Yumo sat at the table, staring at the lump of blackened "food" and swallowing hard.

"I heard from Chang He that you've been living a peaceful and interesting life in Nan'an City and no longer wish to return to Dark River," Mu Yumo said helplessly. "Is this what you call peaceful and interesting?"

"Everyone has their own obsessions," Su Changhe sighed. "But our dear Moyu has developed an unusual fixation on cooking. The last time I saw him this diligent was when he was practicing the Eighteen Sword Formation."

Su Muyu nodded. "Yet I mastered the Eighteen Sword Formation, but still managed to burn the eggplant."

"Let's not eat this," Mu Yumo suggested cautiously.

Su Muyu smiled faintly. "No, let's not."

"Actually, I should take a bite since I need to ask you a favor," Mu Yumo said, picking up a piece with her chopsticks and chewing slowly. "Hmm... as expected, it's still rather terrifying."

Su Muyu glanced at Su Changhe. "What favor do you need?"

Su Changhe spoke leisurely. "In Peerless City, we've offended someone important."

"Eldest Prince Xiao Yong?" Su Muyu asked.

"Yes, Eldest Prince Xiao Yong and that Flying Tiger General. They won't let this matter rest, so we need to prepare in advance. Since we're no longer assassins, shouldn't we seek some allies in the martial world?" Su Changhe inquired.

Su Muyu nodded. "But few dare to ally with us. Who do you have in mind?"

"What about the Tang Sect?" Su Changhe proposed.

Mu Yumo looked up at Su Muyu, who pondered for a moment. "That's actually a good choice."

"I don't understand. The former Head killed Second Master Tang," Mu Yumo shook her head.

"Second Master Tang was always an outlier in the Tang Sect. Aside from Tang Lingyue, everyone else was probably pleased by his death. So we're not their enemies," Su Changhe chuckled. "As for why the Tang Sect—they're renowned for their hidden weapons and poison arts, making them another outlier in the martial world. When outliers meet, things always get more interesting."

Mu Yumo raised an eyebrow. "And also because Tang Lingyue is still in the Tang Sect!"

"Exactly. Besides forming an alliance with the Tang Sect, we'll also be going to propose marriage on behalf of our dear Yumo," Su Changhe stroked his small beard.

"Then one meal of eggplant isn't enough," Su Muyu smiled faintly. "For such a grand favor, you'll have to endure three days of this."

Mu Yumo rubbed her forehead. "The world is changing too fast—Su Muyu actually learned how to joke with me."

"Perfect timing. Yumo does need to stay in Nan'an City for a few days. Moyu, take good care of her," Su Changhe grinned.

Su Muyu paused. "Where are you going?"

"A place as dangerous as the Tang Sect requires preparation. Don't forget—Dark River has a treasure vault. I'm going to retrieve some items," Su Changhe turned away. "And I should visit the Underworld Pawnshop too."

Netherworld Messengers lead the way to the Nether Springs.The yellow spring waters surged forward, mingled with sand and mud. Su Changhe stood by the Nether Springs as a thick mist rose, and the waters faintly revealed the silhouette of a small boat. On the boat stood four tall men, each clad in long yellow robes, draped in cloaks, wearing bamboo hats, and holding tattered oil-paper umbrellas. An eerie, chilling aura emanated from their entire beings.

"You always make it so ceremonial every time you come," Su Changhe chuckled.

The boat docked, and the four tall men disembarked, stepping up to Su Changhe. They bowed in unison, lowering their heads to look at him. Su Changhe stroked his small beard: "Trying to intimidate me?"

"Please board the boat, Grand Master," the four spoke without moving their lips, their voices resonating like muffled bells.

"Very well." Su Changhe tapped his foot and swiftly passed by them, stepping onto the boat.

The four remained on the shore, watching him without boarding. The small boat swayed as it drifted toward the opposite bank.

Su Changhe laughed. "Since I took Hong Ying to Dark River, they don’t even have anyone to row the boat for them anymore." The boat soon reached the shore, and Su Changhe, familiar with the way, strode directly to the front of the Underworld Pawnshop. Before he could knock, the wooden door swung open on its own. Inside, the ceaseless clatter of an abacus echoed, as if no matter when one arrived, the shopkeeper was always impatiently tallying accounts.

"Shopkeeper, I'm back," Su Changhe greeted.

"Here to retrieve something?" The short, rotund man in the Coin Garment hopped down from the counter, patting his round belly. "You should have come long ago."

"What do you mean?" Su Changhe was puzzled.

"This is a pawnshop, not a bank. To take anything from here, you must pay the price. I told you before—the lives you’ve taken over the years were the so-called price. Because every order to kill originated from here. But now, the Soul Extraction Hall is destroyed, the Three Officials are dead, and even the Shadow Sect has fallen." The man spread his hands. "So, even I don’t know who the things inside should belong to now."

"The key is with me." Su Changhe touched the Sleeping Dragon Sword in his hand.

"Indeed. The key is in your possession." A voice tinged with amusement spoke up. Su Changhe jerked his head up and only then noticed a scholar in white sitting in the corner.

Despite Su Changhe’s sharp senses, he hadn’t detected the man’s presence until he spoke. Upon closer inspection, the scholar’s face was deathly pale, his eyes sunken with deep dark circles—a visage that could only be described as "deathly."

"Truly the Underworld Pawnshop," Su Changhe murmured.

"This is the master of our Nether Springs," the rotund man said.

The scholar smiled faintly. "The young Dark River Grand Master. I’ve been waiting to meet you for a long time."

Su Changhe walked over and sat down across from him. "I wasn’t particularly looking forward to it, because I know meeting you can’t mean anything good."

"Does Dark River no longer kill?" the scholar asked.

"What martial sect doesn’t kill?" Su Changhe shook his head. "We just don’t want to be someone else’s blade anymore.""We were all once blades in someone else's hand. Now that the Shadow Sect has fallen and the Soul Extraction Hall is destroyed, the strings pulling us have been severed." The scholar grinned, revealing a hint of eeriness. "Shall we join forces?"

"If I refuse, does that mean I can't take those items from the pawnshop?" Su Changhe asked.

The scholar's eyes darted slightly: "No, you can't."

"Threatening me?" Su Changhe tucked his hands into his sleeves, fingers brushing against the hidden dagger.

I should have brought Su Muyu along today.

"However, today you may take some of the things you need for this job." The scholar stood up. "We at the Underworld Pawnshop do things by the rules. How about it?"

"Fine." Su Changhe flicked his sleeve lightly. "Let me go back and discuss this with my good brother."