Su Changhe flipped his palm lightly, and a dagger flew out, directly aimed at Tang Lingzun. Tang Lingzun tilted his head to dodge, and the dagger embedded itself beside Mu Xuewei. Su Changhe said solemnly, "No matter what you've done, since she's now before me, you can't touch her as you please."
"Is the Dark River Grand Master truly such a sentimental and righteous man?" Tang Lingzun chuckled. "This doesn't align with my intel."
"What does your intel say about me?" Su Changhe asked. "Does it mention my appearance? That I'm handsome with a roguish charm, exuding an extraordinary and unique allure?"
"The Dark River Grand Master, Su Changhe, formerly codenamed the Undertaker, is an extremely vicious and ruthless man. He acts solely for profit, devoid of human sentiment and moral principles," Tang Lingzun replied.
Su Changhe nodded. "That's quite accurate."
"But now, it seems you do value sentiment and uphold righteousness," Tang Lingzun remarked with a faint smile.
"In Dark River, everyone wears a mask. Beneath the mask lies the true self. You might not believe it, but I am a man of deep sentiment and righteousness..." Su Changhe leaped to Mu Xuewei's side and forced Tang Lingzun back three steps with a single palm strike. "A good man, indeed."
"Hahahaha!" Tang Lingzun laughed heartily. "The Grand Master is an amusing man. It's just a pity..."
"A pity for what?" Su Changhe stroked his thin mustache.
"You're not as good-looking as the Su Family Head," Tang Lingzun continued.
"You're poisonous," Su Changhe retorted after a brief pause.
"Of course I am. I am the Tang Clan Inner Chamber Master, the most poisonous person in the Tang Sect," Tang Lingzun replied leisurely, unperturbed. "Now that the Grand Master has reunited with your family, what about our matter?"
"It's negotiable. Let's sit and talk slowly." Su Changhe grasped Mu Xuewei's wrist to check her pulse, then nodded.
"Su Family Head, you've been unusually quiet today," Tang Lingzun glanced at Su Muyu, who had been standing silently to the side.
Su Muyu said indifferently, "With the Grand Master here, there's no need for me to speak. He talks a lot; I talk little. It's always been this way."
"He's always been taciturn and dull. Don't find it strange," Su Changhe waved his hand.
"No," Tang Lingzun shook his head. "That's not it."
"What's not it?" Su Changhe tucked his hands into his sleeves, appearing relaxed but already gripping the hidden dagger tightly.
"I heard that Su Family Head Su Muyu and Mu Xuewei were once old acquaintances. They carried out many missions together. Last time, when the Su Family Head sat here and spoke of this Poison Flower, his expression was far from this indifferent. Now, the Poison Flower is here, unharmed and cleansed of her deadly poison, yet there's no flicker in your eyes." Tang Lingzun smiled. "You see, I greatly admire the Su Family Head's face, so I've always been watching it. His features and demeanor are exactly as I remember, but the feeling in his eyes is off."
Su Muyu remained expressionless. "What's off?"
"His gaze should be as detached as yours, but within that detachment, there should be a trace of warmth, a hint of tenderness." Tang Lingzun gestured lightly with his finger. "Though faint, it's visible."
Su Changhe shrugged. "You truly have deep affection for our Moyu, don't you?""So, who are you?" Tang Lingzun suddenly dropped his smile. "Ever since you left and returned, something about you feels off!"
Su Muyu glanced at Su Changhe before sneering, "Over all these years, you're the first to see through my disguise so quickly."
"Just a mere disguise technique!" Tang Lingzun flicked his sleeve, sending a King of Hell Summons flying toward "Su Muyu." "Su Muyu" took a step back and smirked, "The Tang Sect's hidden weapons are nothing special." But his smile soon froze as the human skin mask on his face abruptly tore apart, revealing the delicate features of a woman.
"So this is your true face, Mu Ying. Even I'm seeing it for the first time," Su Changhe remarked indifferently.
"Hmph." Mu Ying waved her hand, replacing her face with another male mask. She stepped back, shattering a nearby wine jar with her palm, then flicked her wrist, sending a column of wine hurtling toward Tang Lingzun.
"Interesting." Tang Lingzun struck out with a palm, but Mu Ying swiftly followed with three more strikes, each infused with the fierce and unyielding Pure Yang True Energy, instantly vaporizing the wine and filling the small room with mist.
"Poison?" Tang Lingzun chuckled. He took a deep breath, inhaling all the mist into his body, causing his figure to swell grotesquely.
"Careful!" Su Changhe warned sharply, pulling Mu Ying into a swift retreat.
Tang Lingzun thrust his palm forward, unleashing a black fog that surged toward the two. Su Changhe countered with a palm strike of his own, meeting the dark mist head-on.
"Using poison against me? Even for the Mu Family of Dark River, this is laughable," Tang Lingzun scoffed.
Su Changhe waved his hand lightly, allowing the black fog to coil around his palms before dissipating moments later. He tilted his head slightly, a dark glint flashing in his eyes, then smiled faintly. "Not bad."
Tang Lingzun took a step back. "Is this the legendary Yama Palm?"
Su Changhe nodded. "Elder Tang is indeed well-informed to recognize the Yama Palm."
"Using my Myriad Poison Palm to nourish your Yama Palm—quite the clever scheme." Tang Lingzun gestured, and the Tang Sect disciples behind him raised their mechanical crossbows, aiming at the pair. "So, where has the Su Family Head gone?"
Su Changhe glanced aside. "Perhaps he found the dishes here unappetizing and went for something lighter. A Tofu Feast, maybe?"
Tang Lingzun frowned slightly. "He went to the Tang Sect? What for? You came here to negotiate, but if you're heading to the Tang Sect now, then battle between us is inevitable."
Su Changhe looked at Mu Ying. "Do we care much about this negotiation?"
Mu Ying grinned. "Probably not."
"Exactly. Xuewei has returned, and the negotiations are about to conclude." Su Changhe spread his hands. "Your intelligence reports must have mentioned that I have no honor—I’ve never been one to keep promises."
"Dark River Grand Master, what exactly do you want?" Tang Lingzun demanded gravely."We wanted to step out of that shadowy river, but seeing your current state is like facing another Dark River." Su Changhe leaped into the air.
"Fire!" Tang Lingzun roared, and all the Tang Sect disciples behind him simultaneously released their crossbow bolts.
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