Blood River

The rain falls softly on the Spring Equinox, as slanting winds guide travelers home along willow-lined shores

...

The rain had stopped.

Su Changhe lit a candle in his room. Tonight was an extraordinary night for Dark River, yet Su Changhe, who now led the Su Family’s operations, remained in this quiet inn. He had drunk a little wine and was slightly tipsy, humming an unknown tune to the sound of the light rain outside the window, feeling quite content. But as the rain gradually faded and finally ceased, everything outside fell into silence, and his drunkenness dissipated.

"How dull," Su Changhe murmured, twirling his wine cup in the candlelight.

With a sudden "snap," the window swung open, and a golden ring flew in. Su Changhe reached out and caught it. Engraved on the ring was a line of tiny characters. He traced them with his fingers and read softly, "Orders from the family head: attack immediately." Su Changhe smiled faintly, then pressed his fingers slightly harder, erasing the words completely. With his left hand, he picked up a dagger and lightly carved two new characters onto the ring: "Unwise."

With a flick of his wrist, he sent the ring flying back out.

"Even someone as composed as the old man can’t stay calm when it comes to the position of family head," Su Changhe mused quietly.

In the neighboring room, Mu Yumo slowly opened her eyes. The flickering candlelight cast a hazy silhouette, and she smiled. "I knew you couldn’t let me go."

"I have no grudge against you. There’s no reason for me to kill you," Tang Lingyue said, sitting on a long bench as he sipped his tea.

"Don’t sit there. Come, sit here," Mu Yumo patted the space beside her.

"..." Tang Lingyue had no reply.

Mu Yumo glanced out the window at the pitch-black night, estimating the time, then smiled coquettishly again. "It’s late. Let’s sleep together."

"..." Tang Lingyue looked at her. She had just woken from severe injuries, her face pale and weary, even the effort of patting the bed seeming to drain her. Yet, as always, she took delight in teasing him. That flirtatious charm, paired with her current frail tone, only made her more alluring. What could he do? Tang Lingyue could only keep drinking his tea.

"Not going to sleep together? You’ll leave once I wake tomorrow, won’t you?" Mu Yumo said with a hint of regret. "Actually, don’t let my words fool you. I just like teasing people—I’ve never slept with a man before. Have you ever slept with a woman?"

"..." Tang Lingyue wanted to say something, perhaps scold her as he had before, but deep down, he felt hypocritical. Because the truth was, he didn’t really want to scold her.

Instead, he... genuinely wanted to sleep beside her.

While Mu Yumo slept, Tang Lingyue had watched her for a long time. In his life, he had encountered many stunning women—whether in the Tang Sect, the martial world, or even Heaven Revelation City, where beauties were as plentiful as clouds. Countless women had wanted to marry him, yet he had always remained alone, to the point where rumors even spread in the Tang Sect that Tang Lingyue preferred men. But the truth was, he simply wasn’t used to staying close to others, regardless of gender. Yet, over the past day, he and Mu Yumo had shared this space alone—one asleep in bed, the other keeping watch by the candlelight. At some point, he had felt an unexpected warmth.

Is this what it feels like to stay by someone’s side?

It didn’t seem so bad.Of course, the main reason was that Mu Yumo was truly quite beautiful.

"I'm tired and don’t feel like talking much. If you want to come sleep, then come on your own. I won’t beg you anymore—as if I’m that into you." Mu Yumo’s tone carried a hint of playful annoyance. "In the past twenty years, it’s always been others chasing after me. When have I ever chased anyone?"

"I... need to step outside for a moment." Tang Lingyue suddenly stood up.

"What’s wrong?" Mu Yumo asked, puzzled.

"Drank too much water." Tang Lingyue pushed the door open and left.

In the pitch-black hallway, a young man with a thin mustache leaned against the railing. Hearing Tang Lingyue exit, he tilted his head slightly and smiled. "Half in the river breeze, half in the clouds?"

"When I saw you earlier today, I thought you looked familiar. So it really was you in disguise." Tang Lingyue frowned slightly. "Why didn’t you show your true face earlier, only to come see me now?"

Su Changhe stroked his mustache. "When I didn’t want to see you, I hid. Now that I do, here I am."

"The person inside is one of your Dark River members. Since you’re here, I’ll hand her over to you. The only one I want dead is The Head. The rest of Dark River has nothing to do with me, and neither do your internal conflicts." Tang Lingyue spoke slowly.

"The person inside is The Head’s bodyguard. And my goal here is to ensure The Head dies. If you hand her over to me, I’ll have to kill her." A cold glint flashed in Su Changhe’s hand as he darted past Tang Lingyue and charged straight into Mu Yumo’s room.

"That fast? Did you just pee right outside the door?" Mu Yumo opened her eyes, only to see a familiar, punchable face. "Chang He?"

Su Changhe raised his dagger and swung it down fiercely. "It’s me!"

"Are you insane?" Mu Yumo exclaimed.

With a sharp clink , a nearly transparent blade intercepted Su Changhe.

"Oh? So you still have some pity for Dark River’s most beautiful woman." Su Changhe withdrew his dagger and took a step back.

Tang Lingyue frowned slightly. "You were testing me on purpose?"

"Whether my Inch Finger Sword is stronger or your Fingertip Blade is deadlier—I really do want to know the answer." Su Changhe chuckled, sheathing his dagger. "But today isn’t the right time. Yumo, have you chosen to side with Su Muyu?"

"I’m not siding with anyone. I’m just lying here sleeping. Don’t disturb me." Mu Yumo’s tone carried a hint of coquettishness.

"In your heart, Su Muyu still matters more. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have kept helping him stall Tang Sect’s most dangerous man." Su Changhe sighed softly.

Su Muyu? Tang Lingyue’s heart stirred slightly.

"Don’t talk nonsense," Mu Yumo laughed. "I’ve been clinging to Young Master Tang because I like him."

"Is that so? A few years ago, you said you wanted to marry Su Muyu. Women really are fickle." Su Changhe walked to the window. "Black Tortoise Envoy, if you truly pity my little sister here, then guard her for a few days. The skies of Nine Heavens City are about to change. I’ll bring you The Head’s skull myself."

"I—" Tang Lingyue wanted to refuse, but Su Changhe gave him no chance. He pushed open the window and leaped down, landing on the empty street below.

The rain had stopped, the wind was cool, and the night was deep and silent.A golden ring fell from the sky, aiming straight for Su Changhe's head. With a casual wave of his hand, Su Changhe sent the golden ring flying back.

"Uncle Zhe, time to work."