Nine years ago.
Soul Extraction Hall.
"This mission, I cannot accept it." Su Muyu looked at the red scroll in his hand and placed it back on the ground untouched, speaking slowly. Before him were three high chairs, upon which sat the three officials of the Soul Extraction Hall.
The Water Official on the left spoke, his voice laced with a chilling amusement: "Oh? It's been many years since I last encountered someone who dares to outright refuse a mission assigned by the Soul Extraction Hall."
The Heaven Official said sternly, "State your reason."
Su Muyu shook his head. "No reason. I just don’t want to."
The Earth Official roared in anger, "Since when is it your decision to make?"
The Water Official laughed heartily. "Zhang Taicheng, the governor of Luonan, is rumored to be a benevolent official who loves his people like his own children. During the southern floods, while other prefectures embezzled relief grain, he alone opened the granaries to aid the victims, even spending his own savings. Not only that, he reported to Heaven Revelation City, forcing them to send inspectors, which saved countless lives. He is a good man—that’s why you don’t want to kill him."
The Earth Official bellowed, "Outrageous! Once the Soul Extraction Hall issues an order, even the emperor must die! What does it matter if he’s good or bad? You are an assassin, not a saint!"
Su Muyu still shook his head. "I won’t take it." With that, he turned and walked out of the Soul Extraction Hall.
Watching him leave without so much as a backward glance, the Earth Official could no longer contain his fury. "Send word to Su Jinhui—brand him a traitor and kill him on sight!"
The Water Official continued to smile. "This man is Su Muyu, the strongest among the Nameless Ones of this generation—no, perhaps the strongest in all generations. Because of him, even The Head changed the rules. Someone who can make The Head bend the rules..."
The Heaven Official said gravely, "That doesn’t mean the Soul Extraction Hall should change its rules."
The Earth Official fumed, "Kill him! If Su Jinhui won’t do it, I will!"
The Water Official waved a hand. "No need to rush. Isn’t there another friend who has arrived?"
Su Changhe slowly walked into the Soul Extraction Hall, twirling a dagger in his hand—a habit he had maintained since practicing the Inch Finger Sword, using familiarity as training. Over time, the dagger had become an extension of his body. Standing before the three officials, he sheathed the dagger, stroked his thin mustache, and smiled with a hint of mockery. "Greetings to the three officials."
The Water Official nodded. "Su Changhe, codename Undertaker, the rising star of the Su Family, no less remarkable than Su Muyu."
"No less remarkable than Su Muyu—meaning still not as good as him," Su Changhe said with a laugh.
The Heaven Official asked sternly, "Why have you come?"
"Su Muyu is my sworn brother. He wishes to give the Soul Extraction Hall his own rules for accepting missions," Su Changhe said leisurely.
The wooden chair beneath the Earth Official trembled slightly, and something eerie seemed to stir in the dimly lit hall. He stood up. "It seems the Soul Extraction Hall needs to reassert its rules."
"Patience," the Water Official stopped him with a raised hand. "Let’s hear what these rules are first."
Su Changhe crossed his arms, his tone brazen. "My brother said he has three conditions for refusal. No slaughtering entire families. No missions without clear reasons. And no missions he simply doesn’t want to take."
Even the Water Official was momentarily speechless. "Does Su Muyu truly believe the Dark River lacks assassins without him?"Su Changhe extended a thumb and pointed at himself: "I, Su Changhe, have come here to establish a rule of my own."
The Heaven Official sneered, "You two greenhorns, don’t think that just because you’ve made some noise this past year, the Dark River belongs to you. Even The Head isn’t qualified to set rules with us!"
The Water Official, seemingly the most even-tempered of the three, still hadn’t lost his composure. "I’d like to hear what rule you want to establish."
Su Changhe declared loudly, "My rule is this: anything Su Muyu doesn’t want to take, I’ll take! That’s my rule!"
The three officials exchanged glances, and the Soul Extraction Hall fell silent.
Seeing no response from them, Su Changhe raised an eyebrow. "Not acceptable?"
The Water Official chuckled. "They say Su Muyu dragged you out of the Ghost Cry Abyss single-handedly. Is this your way of repaying him?"
The Earth Official remained furious. "This goes against the rules!"
The Heaven Official stayed silent.
"For the Soul Extraction Hall, there’s no loss. My skills are no worse than Su Muyu’s. Any task he can handle, I can too." Su Changhe narrowed his eyes.
"Fine," the Heaven Official nodded.
"You’re sure?" the Earth Official turned to ask.
The Water Official smiled. "I think it’s acceptable. Treat the two of them as one. As long as the mission is completed."
Su Changhe extended a hand. "So it’s settled?"
The Heaven Official remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "If you fail, the harshest punishment of the Dark River awaits both of you."
"Don’t listen to them." The Water Official leaped down from his high seat and slapped Su Changhe’s hand. "I believe in you."
"Then I thank you." Su Changhe turned to leave.
The Earth Official couldn’t suppress his anger. "Once rules are broken, they spiral out of control. That Su Muyu—because The Head bent the rules for him, he thinks we’ll do the same. If everyone starts making their own exceptions, what then?"
The Water Official returned to his seat and patted the Earth Official’s shoulder. "Trust me. In the Dark River, Su Muyu is unique. No one else is like him."
The Heaven Official spoke gravely. "The reason I agreed is because he sent word, telling me to pay special attention to Su Muyu and Su Changhe."
The Earth Official was stunned. "Just two skilled young men. Why would he care about them?"
The Heaven Official’s face darkened. "I don’t understand either, but the letter said he looks forward to Su Muyu and Su Changhe bringing about a new Dark River."
The Water Official’s lips curled into an eerie smile. "An era belonging to the Nameless Ones?"
Su Changhe walked out of the Soul Extraction Hall, where Su Muyu stood waiting, umbrella on his back. "What were you doing in there?"
Su Changhe punched Su Muyu’s arm lightly. "Negotiating for you, of course. You’re terrible with words. The Soul Extraction Hall isn’t like The Head—they care about rules, not your sword."
Su Muyu frowned slightly. "Did they agree?"
Su Changhe stretched lazily. "Of course. I’ve always been persuasive."
Su Muyu pressed further. "What did you promise them?"Su Changhe shrugged and walked forward. "No conditions. I just analyzed the pros and cons with them. The Soul Extraction Hall knows how to weigh the costs—killing you wouldn't bring them any benefits."
"Thank you," Su Muyu replied, following him.
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