Blood River

A light rain renews all flowers, as the first thunder heralds the Awakening of Insects.

...

In the Jiangnan region during the third month, spring thunder suddenly rumbled, followed by a gentle rain. The air was soon filled with the fragrance of damp earth. This was the perfect season to stay indoors—warming a pot of wine, wrapping oneself in a quilt, and drifting off to sleep to the sound of the soft rain outside. Of course, it was also an ideal time for assassins to arrive and Netherworld Messengers to guide souls.

A young man in purple boots slowly approached a grayish-white mountain villa. His boots were exquisitely crafted, embroidered with golden thread depicting a lifelike eight-clawed flying dragon. He seemed to cherish them greatly, carefully avoiding puddles along the way, so that despite the continuous spring rain, his purple boots remained spotless. He raised his hand and gently knocked on the villa's gate.

Thud, thud, thud. The knocking echoed inside the villa, but no one answered.

"No one here?" The man in purple boots turned around, puzzled.

A burly man carrying a Golden Ring broadsword stood nearby, glancing up at the plaque above the villa and murmuring, "White Crane Medicine Mansion. We shouldn't have taken a wrong turn."

The purple-booted man frowned slightly. "Could we be too late?"

"Not late at all. In fact, we're earlier than some." A mocking voice suddenly rang out nearby. The burly man whirled around, instantly drawing his Golden Ring broadsword, and growled, "Su Changhe!"

The newcomer sported a pair of finely groomed mustaches and wore an amused smile, idly twirling a dagger in his hand as he approached the burly man. "No need to be so tense, no need at all. Your loud shout might even scare away this gentle spring rain."

The purple-booted man stepped forward, moving beside the burly man. "The most feared assassin of the Su Family, the renowned Undertaker—who could remain calm in your presence?"

Su Changhe waved his hands dismissively. "No need for such formalities. We're all brothers here—no reason to be afraid. Besides, you two are the elite of the Xie Family's younger generation—the Purple-Booted Ghost Xie Changze and the Blade King of Hell Xie Jinke!" Su Changhe stopped ten paces away, flicking his wrist to tuck the dagger back into his sleeve. He raised two fingers and lightly stroked his mustache.

Xie Jinke eyed Su Changhe warily. "Are you here on a mission?"

Instead of answering directly, Su Changhe glanced at the villa's plaque and replied leisurely, "And you? Are you here on a mission too?"

Xie Jinke fell silent, his hand reaching back to grip the hilt of his Golden Ring broadsword. The atmosphere grew tense. Su Changhe continued to smile faintly, though the glint of his dagger peeked out from his sleeve once more.

Ahem. Xie Changze cleared his throat lightly, easing the tension in the air. He chuckled and said, "The rules of Dark River forbid discussing missions before completion—even among fellow clansmen."

"Ah." Su Changhe nodded. "I'm not here on any mission. Just recovering from a minor injury from my last assignment. I heard there's a renowned physician in this White Crane Medicine Mansion, so I came for a visit.""The Mu Family of Dark River's Life and Death Pharmacy houses countless renowned physicians. For such a minor injury, was it necessary to come all this way?" Xie Jinke said solemnly.

"I've conducted funerals for so many, yet I'm someone who fears death greatly. That's why I seek the finest healer in the world. And within this White Crane Medicine Mansion, it's said resides the Medicine King Xin Baicao's junior uncle. With Xin Baicao having vanished for years, wouldn't you say the one living here is the best physician under heaven?" Su Changhe replied with a faint smile, the corners of his eyes slightly raised, his tone laced with provocation.

Xie Jinke finally drew his Golden Ring broadsword, growling low, "Then Brother Su has come at an unfortunate time. Our mission is to kill everyone in this manor."

"I don't believe you," Su Changhe shook his head.

Xie Jinke was taken aback. "You don't believe me?"

"Show me the warrant issued by Soul Extraction Hall, then I'll believe you," Su Changhe said lazily, pursing his lips.

Xie Jinke's mouth twitched slightly. "Are you joking?"

"Unless you show me the warrant, I won't believe you. If I obstruct your mission, you can report my name to Soul Extraction Hall afterward. If they judge me guilty, I'll willingly submit to the Nine Blades and Ten Piercings punishment. How about that?" Su Changhe raised an eyebrow.

Xie Jinke sneered, lifting his Golden Ring broadsword slightly. "So you're determined to oppose our Xie Family?"

"Knocking before killing? Such ceremony! Do you think you're Su Muyu?" Su Changhe strode forward boldly. "Even lies should have some finesse. Of Dark River's three families, yours has the least brains!"

"What did you say!" Xie Jinke roared, his broadsword already raised as he swung down, sending rainwater splashing everywhere.

"I never repeat myself!" Su Changhe had already flashed before Xie Jinke, evading the mountain-splitting slash. A cold glint appeared in his hand as his dagger lightly grazed Xie Jinke's throat. Xie Jinke hastily dodged sideways, retracting his broadsword, but Su Changhe had merely feinted. His left hand shot out, pressing firmly against Xie Jinke's nape before with a low shout, he slammed Xie Jinke face-first into the ground. Despite Xie Jinke's burly frame, Su Changhe pinned him down effortlessly.

Xie Jinke bellowed in rage, struggling to rise, but Su Changhe had already raised his dagger again...

Dark River had an iron rule: no killing fellow members. Yet everyone in Dark River knew Su Changhe was a madman who disregarded all worldly rules!

"Stop!" Xie Changze drew the soft sword at his waist and rushed to intervene, only to hear a "clang" as a golden ring suddenly appeared, striking his blade and forcing him back three steps. Regaining his footing, he urgently looked toward Xie Jinke. Xie Jinke lay on the ground, drenched in cold sweat but unharmed, while Su Changhe stood there, lightly raising his dagger—an identical golden ring embedded in it. Clearly, this ring had blocked the fatal strike.

Su Changhe lowered his head with a resigned smile. "Uncle Zhe.""This kid, fighting with his own sect, has no regard for rules." A tall, lean man wearing a bamboo hat approached them slowly, speaking in heavily accented Mandarin. In one hand, he held a smoking pipe, while the other gripped a Buddhist staff adorned with golden rings that jingled crisply with each step he took.

"The Soul-Snatching Bell, the Life-Taking Rings—Su Zhe of the Su Family." Xie Changze narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You Xie Family folks don’t follow rules either. I’m decades older than you, yet you don’t even call me ‘Uncle’?" Su Zhe stopped ten paces away, thrusting the Buddhist staff three inches into the ground with a forceful motion. Then, raising his pipe, he took a leisurely puff.

Xie Changze quickly sheathed his soft blade and bowed his head. "Xie Changze of the Xie Family greets Uncle Zhe."

Su Zhe exhaled a slow stream of smoke before pulling out a betel nut from his pocket and popping it into his mouth, chewing unhurriedly. He offered another to Su Changhe. "Wanna try?"

Su Changhe sighed. "Uncle Zhe, your Mandarin is as terrible as ever. I’ll pass, thanks!"

"Shame. A puff of smoke, a bite of betel nut—pure bliss." Su Zhe closed his eyes, seemingly lost in the pleasure of the combination.

After a long pause, Su Zhe spat out the remnants and raised his pipe, speaking lazily. "Was it that old man Xie Ba who sent you here?"

Xie Changze and Xie Jinke exchanged glances but didn’t answer.

"Everyone’s here for that famous doctor, right? The doctor hasn’t even shown up, and you’re already fighting. No rules at all. Wait! Wait till the doctor comes out!" Su Zhe tapped his pipe against the Buddhist staff beside him, making the golden rings jingle once more.

Su Changhe sheathed his dagger and smiled. "Uncle Zhe is right."

Xie Changze said solemnly, "We knocked earlier, but no one answered."

"Then I’ll knock again. You Xie folks don’t knock loud enough!" Su Zhe flicked his pipe, sending one of the golden rings flying toward the iron gate of the White Crane Medicine Manor. It struck with a dull thud before rebounding back.

Xie Changze and Xie Jinke instinctively covered their ears. Anyone with even a hint of martial arts training could feel the sheer force behind that knock—its impact was almost akin to a Buddhist Lion’s Roar. Su Changhe, however, remained unfazed, stroking his mustache with a chuckle. "Uncle Zhe, was that a knock? Looked more like attempted murder to me."

"See? The door’s opening now, ain’t it?" Su Zhe raised an eyebrow.