Heavenly Revelation City.
Morning.
Su Muyu pushed open the window, and a slightly warm breeze brushed against his face—a prelude to the scorching summer days ahead. He took a deep breath, savoring the scent of the city at this moment.
It was the unmistakable feeling of being truly alive.
Below the window stood a woman holding a sword.
She wore plain robes, with a long sword hanging at her waist, her brows exuding an air of heroic vigor.
This was none other than the renowned "Sword Heart with Moon," famous throughout both the martial world and the imperial city.
Su Muyu lowered his head slightly and smiled faintly.
The woman turned and began walking forward. Moments later, Su Muyu was walking beside her.
"Han Yi mentioned you in her letter, saying your swordsmanship is exceptional. She rarely praises anyone's swordsmanship, so I thought—if you weren’t from Dark River, perhaps you could have been a good match for her," Li Xinyue said coolly.
Su Muyu chuckled. "You flatter me, Senior."
"You are handsome and seem steady in temperament—it would have been fitting. But alas, you hail from Dark River, so it can only remain a jest." Li Xinyue flicked her hand lightly at her waist.
Su Muyu stiffened and immediately stepped back.
The sword at Li Xinyue’s waist hummed but remained sheathed. Instead of drawing it, she merely pointed a finger at Su Muyu.
A surge of Frosty Sword Qi shot toward his brow.
Su Muyu tilted his head back slightly, a layer of frost forming on his eyebrows. He retreated another step, his back pressing against a stone wall.
Li Xinyue rested her hand on the hilt again. "I don’t like people from Dark River. What is your purpose in Heavenly Revelation City?"
"Does being from Dark River mean I have no right to walk freely in the daylight?" Su Muyu countered.
"Hmph. These past few days, you’ve wandered the city—visited the West Market, frequented teahouses, listened to guqin music, climbed the Sparrow Tower. It does seem as though you’re here for leisure," Li Xinyue sneered. "But tell me—do you truly enjoy such things?"
Su Muyu nodded. "I do."
"Lies!" Li Xinyue drew her sword in one swift motion, a gust of sword wind lifting her hair. "An assassin from Dark River—would you truly take pleasure in the mundane joys of ordinary people?"
"Do you believe, Senior, that assassins from Dark River enjoy killing?" Su Muyu shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I am the leader of the Four Guardians of Heavenly Revelation City," Li Xinyue said solemnly.
"I know. But even the leader of the Four Guardians cannot deny a man the freedom to walk beneath the sun in Heavenly Revelation City," Su Muyu replied.
"Han Yi said you were a man of few words. It seems she was mistaken," Li Xinyue sheathed her sword.
"The Heart Sword, ranked third among sword manuals. It is an honor to witness it today," Su Muyu said, bowing his head.
"But I have no desire to see your Eighteen Sword Formation. Some swords are weapons, while others are mere tools of slaughter. I don’t believe you came to Heavenly Revelation City just for sightseeing, but since you’ve done nothing out of line, I cannot simply drive you away." Li Xinyue sighed softly. "However, the moment you step out of bounds, I will not hesitate to act."
"Senior. There is someone I wish to ask you about," Su Muyu suddenly said.
Li Xinyue paused. "Ask me? You’ve got some nerve, kid."
"The Black Tortoise Envoy, Tang Lingyue. I have matters to discuss with him," Su Muyu replied."You're looking for Tang Lingyue?" Li Xinyue slightly furrowed her brows. "What for?"
"A marriage proposal," Su Muyu replied calmly.
"Marriage?" Li Xinyue was taken aback, but her expression quickly returned to normal. "Tang Lingyue mentioned he had some business to attend to and hasn't returned yet."
"Hasn't returned..." Su Muyu frowned slightly, a vague suspicion forming in his mind.
"Hey, that kid... which family's daughter has he gotten involved with outside?" Li Xinyue couldn't suppress her curiosity and asked in a low voice.
"Dark River, the Mu Family," Su Muyu answered.
Li Xinyue drew a sharp breath and shook her head as she walked away. "They say the women of Dark River's Mu Family... are not to be trifled with."
Su Muyu smiled helplessly. In the martial world, rumors about the women of the Mu Family were indeed unfavorable—it was said they were all masters of the Bewitchment Art, reincarnated fox spirits, and countless heroes had met their end on their beds. But Mu Yumo... she was actually a rather silly girl... He turned and walked back to his room in the inn.
Inside the room, Crow, his hands wrapped in bandages, sat there, staring coldly at Su Muyu.
"You said you'd come the next day. I've been waiting for you for days," Su Muyu said slowly.
"That was the next day according to your reckoning. We come whenever we please. Three days from now, the Sect Leader invites you to a banquet." Crow placed a golden invitation on the table. "Come quietly. Don't let anyone notice."
Underworld Pawnshop.
Mu Qingyang, the current head of the Mu Family, toyed with a Peach Blossom Coin in his hand as he stood by the Nether Springs with Su Changhe. "What brings the Grand Master here with me? Are we retrieving something from the Underworld Pawnshop this time?"
"To introduce you to someone," Su Changhe replied.
"Who?" Mu Qingyang asked.
"The ferryman," Su Changhe said softly, lowering his gaze to the red-clad woman standing on the wooden boat by the shore, who looked up with a radiant smile.
"You've come again, young master," the woman said with a charming smile.
"Hong Ying, how much silver does the Underworld Pawnshop pay you to ferry people here every day?" Su Changhe asked.
The woman lowered her head in a bashful manner. "I didn't expect you to remember my name, young master. I ferry people here not for silver, but to wait for a destined one."
"Can the man beside me be your destined one?" Su Changhe pointed at Mu Qingyang next to him.
Mu Qingyang caught the copper coin mid-air, glanced at Hong Ying, then at Su Changhe. "Is the Grand Master selling me out?"
"Do you know what I mean by 'destined,' young master?" Hong Ying asked with a smile.
"Your name is Hong Ying. The surname Hong is rare in this world—is it yours?" Su Changhe inquired.
Hong Ying froze, then shook her head. "I have no surname."
"From today onward, you do. Your surname is Mu." Su Changhe turned away. "He is the head of the Mu Family—the destined one I spoke of."
"Dark River Grand Master, are you trying to steal someone from my Underworld Pawnshop?" A booming voice came from the opposite shore of the Nether Springs.
"Take whatever you deem sufficient from that house as collateral. This person, I'm taking with me," Su Changhe said without looking back.
Mu Qingyang smiled faintly. "From today onward, you are part of the Mu Family, miss."
"Not a miss," Hong Ying said as she stepped off the boat. By the time she passed Mu Qingyang, she had transformed into an extraordinarily handsome man.
A face Mu Qingyang knew well.
Su Muyu.Mu Qingyang shivered and muttered under his breath, "This is really spooky."
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