Tang Lingyue retracted the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles and said solemnly, "It seems the poison of Snow Falling on a Plum Branch hasn't been neutralized. I won't need to lift a finger—you'll be dead soon enough."
The Head smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying.
Su Muyu turned to look at Bai Hehuai, whose face was pale as she let out a soft sigh.
Su Changhe chuckled meaningfully. "I knew tonight would be interesting, but I never imagined it would be this fascinating."
Tang Lingyue took three steps back. "Then I shall take my leave. May you have a smooth journey to the Nether Springs, Head!" With that, he leaped over the courtyard wall and vanished.
The Head turned to face the silent crowd and spoke slowly, "Miracle Healer, Moyu, Chang He, come inside with me." Holding the Sleeping Dragon Sword, he walked steadily into the house. Bai Hehuai quickly followed. "Head, we must immediately regulate your breathing and administer the needles."
The Head shook his head. "No need. I can feel my time has come. Not even the gods can reverse life and death now."
Su Muyu and Su Changhe also entered. Chang He closed the door behind them, while Muyu looked at Bai Hehuai. "Miracle Healer, may I ask what exactly is happening?"
Bai Hehuai swiftly inserted three Silver Needles into the back of the Head's neck. "After being poisoned, the Head suffered several severe injuries. Though I found a treatment, it was too late—I could only barely restore him to normalcy for these past few days. But just now..."
"Don't blame yourself, Miracle Healer. My sins are heavy. Even if I stood before Yama in the underworld, he'd likely deem me beyond redemption," the Head said with a laugh.
"Who in Dark River isn't the same?" Su Changhe remarked slowly, casting a final glance at Su Muyu. "Ah, perhaps Muyu is an exception. After all, these years, he's only killed corrupt officials and evil cult leaders. Judging by his merits in eradicating wickedness, he might be reborn into a good life."
Su Muyu ignored him and instead asked the Head, "Head, what about the current situation—"
The Head shook his head, signaling Muyu to stop. He then turned to Chang He. "You wish to change Dark River?"
A faint smile played on Chang He's lips. "There's much I wish to change. This is only the beginning."
The Head laid the Sleeping Dragon Sword horizontally before him. "I can give this sword to you, though I'd rather it go to Moyu. In my youth, I once shared your ambition. But you don't realize how much harder this task is than you imagine. The foes you must defeat aren't just Su Jinhui or me—they're far more powerful and terrifying."
Chang He's expression shifted slightly. "You mean the Three Officials of the Soul Extraction Hall?"
The Head scoffed. "The Soul Extraction Hall is merely their puppet within Dark River. For centuries, the world has known Dark River as the most fearsome assassin organization. Yet the truth of Dark River remains unknown even to its own assassins."
"Then what is the truth of Dark River?" Chang He pressed.
"How could such a truth be explained in mere words? Those secrets lie hidden in the passage beneath me. After my death, you may investigate them—though it hardly matters. When you truly wield the Sleeping Dragon Sword, they will come for you." The Head placed the sword before them and released his grip. "So, which of you will take hold of this blade?"Bai Hehuai couldn't help but speak up: "Su Muyu, you take it! Don't give it to this bad guy!"
Su Changhe glanced at Su Muyu, then laughed: "In this world, only if you wanted this sword would I yield it to you. Truthfully, I think you're more suited to gain everyone's support than I am. After all, the Twelve Zodiac Shadows would die for you, while even those from The Other Shore might draw swords against me."
Su Muyu remained silent for a long time before finally shaking his head.
"But I also know you won't. You despise Dark River. You loathe killing. Every moment you think of leaving this place, wishing to cut all ties with Dark River forever." Su Changhe shook his head with a smile.
"Do you truly wish to change Dark River?" Su Muyu asked solemnly.
Su Changhe nodded: "I've said it before—there's much I want to change. This is just the beginning."
"Then grasp this sword." Su Muyu closed his eyes. "Become the first Head to succeed from among the Nameless Ones."
"Then, Head, I'll take this sword!" Su Changhe reached out and firmly gripped the hilt of the Sleeping Dragon Sword. The dragon's eyes on the hilt opened at that moment, gleaming with golden light.
"The Sleeping Dragon Sword recognizes you too." The Head waved his hand. "Now go forth and announce this news to everyone."
Su Changhe turned toward the door but paused at the threshold. He tilted his head slightly: "After today, there will be no Umbrella Ghost in Dark River. I'll raze the Soul Extraction Hall—no one will issue orders to hunt you down. You said you liked Qiantang. I've secretly saved up over the years and bought a large estate there. Go to Shouyue Bank in Qiantang City and ask the manager—he'll give you the deed. There's ten thousand taels of silver buried beneath the courtyard. Dig some up if you ever run short. Every autumn when osmanthus fills Qiantang City, I'll come drink with you. Of course, if you'd rather no one—including me—know your whereabouts, you needn't take the estate. Just sell it back to the bank manager for ten thousand taels. But each autumn when the osmanthus blooms, I'd still hope to reunite with you for a day."
"You never belonged here to begin with. Your departure was inevitable. But I crawled out from piles of corpses since childhood—life means nothing to me. Leaving this place, I'd have nowhere else to go."
"But you're actually quite foolish. You dislike killing yet only mastered skills for killing, understanding nothing else. After all these years as a Puppet, you're still penniless. As an ordinary assassin, I embezzled twenty thousand taels in just a few years. Someone like you would surely be swindled in the outside world."
"Many female assassins in Dark River are madly in love with you. People lust after beauty, but you probably wouldn't fancy them. After all, you rejected even Yumo—how that infuriated me, since I liked her so much. But now she's found someone she truly loves. For Dark River's people, finding good partners beyond its bounds is true liberation. This Miracle Healer Bai is quite something—long legs, ample bosom, though not as alluring as Yumo. But that makes her better suited for you."
"Goodbye, Su Muyu."Su Changhe reached out to push the door, but a pale, slender hand opened it before he could. Turning his head, he saw Su Muyu standing calmly beside him. Su Muyu spoke slowly to Su Changhe:
"After we leave, you will succeed as The Head, and I will lead the Su Family."
"I'm not leaving. Together, we will bring about a new Dark River."
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