Su Changhe stepped slowly up the creaking wooden stairs to the second floor. The largest room on the second floor had its door open, but it was pitch dark inside, making it impossible to see the scene within.
"Always making things so eerie," Su Changhe shrugged. He walked into the room, and in an instant, two swords were pressed against his neck.
"Su Changhe," a voice sneered.
"Hey, hey, hey! We're all family here. Isn't this a bit much for a reunion after so long?" Su Changhe called out.
"Bring him in," a voice with a hint of authority sounded from the inner chamber.
Thus, the two swords escorted Su Changhe by the neck through a folding screen into the inner chamber. At this moment, two oil lamps were finally lit inside. A middle-aged man dressed in black with a stern expression sat on a long chair, trimming his nails with a small dagger. Behind him stood over a dozen burly men, each with a sword at their waist, looking fierce and menacing.
"Old Master," Su Changhe addressed the man trimming his nails, who appeared to be just over forty, as "Old Master." Within Dark River, the only one worthy of such a title from Su Changhe was the head of the Dark River Su Family, Su Jinhui.
Su Jinhui set down the dagger and looked at the immobilized Su Changhe before him, smiling. "You still remember this old master of yours?"
Su Changhe smiled with utmost sincerity. "Even if I were burned to ashes, I'd still remember you, Old Master."
"Let him go. He's the best sword our Su Family has right now. If you keep holding him at sword point like this, I fear the dagger in his hand will soon slit your throats," Su Jinhui waved his hand.
"As the Family Head commands." The two swords finally moved away from Su Changhe's neck. Seizing the moment, he stretched lazily, his bones cracking audibly.
"Sit beside me," Su Jinhui patted the spot next to him, then pulled out a smoking pipe from his robe and lit the tobacco using the oil lamp.
Su Changhe casually picked up a fruit from the table and sat unceremoniously beside Su Jinhui. "Old Master, why have you come personally? Is it really alright for you to be in Nine Heavens City?"
"I came here because of you. The Head should not enter Nine Heavens City, and even if he does, he should not go to that place. Once the spider returns to its nest, it becomes nearly impossible to find him again," Su Jinhui took a drag from his pipe, his tone laced with reproach.
"It is Changhe's incompetence," Su Changhe shook his head. "I thought I could stop Spider Shadow, but there was a slight miscalculation."
"Before you left, I gave you my orders, granting you the authority to mobilize all of the Su Family's elite assassins. Yet it seems you did not value this power. Even Su Zhe was sent out on my orders," Su Jinhui said quietly.
"I did not wish for the Su Family to clash directly with Spider Shadow, tarnishing your reputation, Old Master. Nor did I want to recklessly sacrifice our elite forces. Please believe me—within ten days, I will retrieve the Sleeping Dragon Sword for you!" Su Changhe declared solemnly.
"Bastard!" Su Changhe slammed his pipe heavily onto the table.
With a sharp "shing," one of the assassins behind Su Jinhui drew his sword.
"Old Master, let's talk this out calmly..." Su Changhe took a bite of the fruit, still wearing his usual carefree grin.“Why draw your sword? Did I say anything about killing?” Su Jinhui bellowed angrily.
“You might not believe this, Family Head, but the sword unsheathed itself,” Su Changhe turned around and waved his hand, sending the other man’s blade back into its scabbard.
“You!” Su Jinhui glanced at Su Changhe and shook his head repeatedly. “You’ve never disappointed me before. I hope this time, you won’t let me down either!”
“How could I ever disappoint you, Old Master?” Su Changhe chuckled.
“Where did you go tonight? I asked Su Zhe, but he said he was asleep and knew nothing,” Su Jinhui pressed.
“I went to scout the path to Spider Nest,” Su Changhe replied.
“Alone? The Su Family has so many people stationed in Nine Heavens City—why didn’t you use them? Don’t you trust them?” Su Jinhui took another slow drag from his pipe before continuing, “Or are you afraid they’ll see through you?”
“Old Master, what kind of talk is that?” Su Changhe smiled. “It was just reconnaissance. No killing was needed—it’s not yet time.”
Su Jinhui fell silent, leisurely puffing on his pipe. Su Changhe also said nothing more, finishing one fruit before picking up another. After what felt like an eternity, Su Jinhui finally finished smoking, tapped out the ashes, and tucked the pipe into his robe. He spoke gravely, “I know what you’re thinking.”
“Please enlighten me, Old Master!” Su Changhe raised an eyebrow.
Su Jinhui stared into Su Changhe’s eyes. “You want to save Su Muyu’s life.”
Su Changhe’s lips twitched slightly before he laughed. “Of course.”
“I gave you my word—if you retrieve the Sleeping Dragon Sword, Su Muyu doesn’t have to die. I’ll even allow him to leave Dark River.” Su Jinhui stood up. “But I’ve known from the start that Su Muyu would never agree to your terms. I know exactly what kind of man he is, but I believe you understand him even better than I do.”
Su Changhe gave a bitter smile. “Then why did you still assign this task to me?”
“Because, though you’re a bastard, you’re the only one in the entire Su Family capable of pulling this off. I’ll give you a little more time—get it done, and do it cleanly. Don’t fail my expectations.” Su Jinhui turned and walked toward the door, the burly men immediately following him.
“Farewell, Old Master.” Su Changhe bowed respectfully.
As the group exited the inn, a Su Family disciple stepped forward and whispered, “Old Master, should such a task really be entrusted to Su Changhe? He was born a Nameless One—not a true member of the Su Family.”
Su Jinhui sneered. “I chose him for two reasons. First, he is indeed the strongest swordsman among this generation of Su disciples. Second, he doesn’t want Su Muyu to die. The Head has been struck by Snow Falling on a Plum Branch—delaying won’t change the outcome. Only if our Su Family wins will Su Muyu’s life have a chance to be spared in the end.”
“But if he really succeeds…” the man hesitated.
“I know what you’re worried about. You fear the position of Family Head might one day fall to a Nameless One.” Su Jinhui stopped and fixed his gaze on him.
The man lowered his head, cold sweat trickling down his back.
“On the day of the Surname Conferral Ceremony, the Nameless Ones became part of our family. But tell me—has there ever truly been a ‘family’ in Dark River?” Su Jinhui said meaningfully.
Back in the inn, Su Changhe shook out his thoroughly drenched clothes and smiled wryly. “Sat for fifteen minutes, took a bath.”Su Zhe lay nearby, yawning. "Can't even get a moment's peace at this late hour."
"Uncle Zhe, after all these years in the family, I've never quite figured out where you stand," Su Changhe suddenly said.
Su Zhe sneezed. "When you're just collecting money and handling affairs, what kind of stance do you need?"
OpenNovel