"The Shadow Sect, as the shadow of Heaven Revelation City, is known to exist, yet little is understood about them." Su Muyu pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. "What I do know is that their strongest fighter in this generation is Luo Qingyang, who once served as a guard beside Taiandi. He was granted a city for saving the emperor's life multiple times."
"Mu Liangcheng, the Lone Sword Immortal Luo Qingyang." Su Zhe set down his smoking pipe. "If he were to take action, things could get troublesome."
"Luo Qingyang has already severed ties with the Shadow Sect. I heard about this from Li Hanyi, though I don’t know the details. I know someone who should have some understanding of the Shadow Sect. Uncle Zhe, I’ll have to trouble you to make a trip." Su Muyu said.
Su Zhe was taken aback. "Who do I know?"
"Sikong Changfeng, the Third City Lord of Snow Moon City." Su Muyu replied solemnly.
Su Zhe blinked. "That guy who once shattered the Solitary Void Formation with a single spear."
"He was the Vermilion Guardian of Heaven Revelation City back then and had many dealings with the Shadow Sect. My relationship with him isn’t particularly deep, but it should be enough for him to share some information about the Shadow Sect." Su Muyu nodded slightly. "I’ll trouble you, Uncle Zhe."
"Just arrived in Heaven Revelation City, and now I have to leave again." Su Zhe sighed softly.
"Uncle Zhe, you can rest for the night—there’s no need to rush." Su Muyu’s tone carried a hint of apology. "You’re no longer part of Dark River. I could send word for Chang He to go instead, though... he might get kicked out."
"Never mind, never mind. It’s too quiet here. I’ll spend the night at the pleasure quarters." Su Zhe chuckled, picking up his Buddhist staff and walking to the window. "Now that you know the truth about Dark River, what are your plans moving forward?"
Without hesitation, Su Muyu replied, "Dark River will no longer be anyone’s shadow."
"Good." Su Zhe flipped out through the window.
At the residence of the Imperial Father-in-Law.
Yi Bu sat in the main hall, engaged in a game of chess with another man.
The Crow and his men arrived at this moment. Yi Bu raised his head slightly, frowning. "Where is Su Muyu?"
The Crow clutched his injured right hand, his voice filled with resentment. "He told us to return tomorrow."
"Tomorrow." Yi Bu picked up a chess piece. "Return?"
"I’ve said it before—the Dark River of today is not the Dark River of the past. They didn’t come to surrender; they came to conquer." The man across the chessboard laughed, his voice laced with a chilling edge.
Yi Bu stood up, crushing the chess piece in his hand into powder. "A bunch of youngsters think they have the leverage to negotiate with me?"
"Yi Bu, you must admit they do have sufficient leverage. If this were the Shadow Sect of a hundred years ago, Dark River would naturally have no choice but to bow. But now, Dark River’s strength surpasses even the Shadow Sect." The chess player rose to his feet. "All you can do is ally with them. Lower your pride, Imperial Father-in-Law."
Yi Bu wanted to lash out, but in the end, he sighed deeply and sat back down on the long chair.
"Perhaps you could seek out that prized disciple of yours and see if he’s willing to help you." The chess player turned away. "As for my conditions, you can think them over."
"No need." Yi Bu snorted coldly.
"You’ve let a pack of wolves into Heaven Revelation City. You may soon regret this decision." The chess player walked out the door, clad in a black robe, his face hidden beneath a lowered hood.Crow couldn't help but turn to look at him.
The man noticed and glanced back at Crow, whose entire body instantly felt as if pierced by needles.
"Someone like this still wants to oppose the Langya King?" The man chuckled before turning away without another look.
Yi Bu sat on a long bench, staring at the chessboard before him. After a long silence, he sighed softly, "There's no need to seek him out tomorrow."
"No need?" Crow was taken aback.
"Have the Three Officials returned?" Yi Bu asked.
Crow shook his head, "After leaving the Underworld Pawnshop, they went somewhere."
"Where?" Yi Bu pressed.
"Rumor has it the previous Head secretly built a... Homeland," Crow said gravely.
Southern Border of Beili.
Outside a nameless mountain village.
Dawn was just breaking.
Su Changhe lay sprawled in a field, a blade of grass between his teeth, watching the curling smoke rise from the village chimneys. He grinned, "That smells delicious."
Mu Yumo played with a butterfly nearby, shaking her head lightly, "You should have gone to Heaven Revelation City and let Su Muyu come here instead."
Su Changhe shrugged, "He said he was afraid of disappointment, so he sent me to scout first. I think he's afraid if he came, he wouldn't be able to leave."
"Do you think the woman Su Muyu likes lives here?" Mu Yumo asked.
"Perhaps. He only mentioned an old acquaintance—the Head arranged for her to stay in the Homeland. This place shelters the most cherished people Dark River members have left in the mortal world. The Head built this village to protect them. Do you have anyone you treasure who's still in this world but not in Dark River?" Su Changhe inquired.
Mu Yumo nodded, "Yes, in the Tang Sect."
"What a friend-abandoning, love-chasing fellow. I don't have anyone like that. If someone suddenly told me my long-lost relatives lived in this village, I'd probably grab a sword and slaughter them all," Su Changhe smirked, then stood up. Before him stood a plainly dressed woman carrying a basket of wild vegetables. Though dressed as a village woman, her stunning beauty was undeniable—and even more incongruous was the long sword hanging at her waist.
The woman eyed Su Changhe warily, "Who are you?"
Su Changhe smiled, "I'm Su Changhe. I've seen you before."
The woman shook her head, "But I've never seen you. Someone as distinctive as you—if I'd met you, I wouldn't have forgotten."
"When Su Muyu left Dark River to save you, I secretly followed him. Later, when he fell off a cliff trying to rescue you, I saved him and brought him back to Dark River. As for you, you were probably brought here by the Head," Su Changhe said calmly.
"I see. My name is Xiao Chaoyan," the woman's expression softened. "Is he... alright?"
"Moyu and Zhaoyan—quite a matching pair of names," Su Changhe glanced at Mu Yumo. "Seems many women in Dark River will be heartbroken."
"He's like an elder brother to me," the woman gently shook her head. "Your sudden arrival—has something happened?"
"Not exactly. Your dear Moyu is doing just fine," Su Changhe stretched lazily. "Yumo, protect them. I'll be right back."
Mu Yumo laughed, "For a Head, you certainly handle everything personally.""Yes. Even as The Head, I still have to personally handle such fights!" Su Changhe sighed deeply. "It's really beneath my status."
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