Blood River

Langya King's Residence.

A man dressed in a long cyan robe sat in the courtyard, sipping tea. His refined features and the robe pooling around him gave off an air of laziness and ease, making him seem quite unlike the legendary God of War. Yet, when he set down the military report in his hand and raised his sharp brows, the piercing intensity in his eyes was enough to make anyone avert their gaze.

"Is this all?" Xiao Ruofeng asked the soldier who had delivered the report.

The soldier nodded. "This is all."

"That Second Senior Brother of mine talks so much, yet his military reports are so terse..." Xiao Ruofeng shook his head repeatedly. "Even after all these years, he hasn’t changed."

"Because idle chatter is just that—idle. But military reports concern lives. Every word matters, so they must be sparing." A gentle woman's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"Sister Xinyue is here." Xiao Ruofeng smiled as he stood up. The messenger soldier retrieved the report and quickly withdrew. Li Xinyue stepped into the courtyard and looked at Xiao Ruofeng. "You seem to have been living quite leisurely these past few days."

Xiao Ruofeng scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed. "Sister, are you here to reprimand me? My apologies—I let Second Senior Brother lead the troops again. It should have been me."

"I was just teasing. Don’t be nervous." Li Xinyue sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. "I know why you didn’t want to go."

Xiao Ruofeng nodded. "There’s been a lot of court business lately. The Grand Assembly is approaching, and there’s much to be done."

"Trivial matters like the Grand Assembly are hardly worth your concern. You’re just afraid of winning yet another battle." Li Xinyue sighed. "Your military achievements already surpass all but the founding emperor Xiao Yi and Emperor Tianwu Xiao Tianhe in all of history. If you keep winning..."

"Sister Xinyue, let’s stop here." Xiao Ruofeng lightly set his teacup down on the table.

"You always keep these things bottled up inside." Li Xinyue shook her head. "You’re living too burdened. If this continues, you’ll make yourself ill. Why can’t you just speak your mind? Even the throne—you were the one who yielded it to him."

Xiao Ruofeng frowned slightly, as if about to speak, but ultimately held back.

"I know what you want to say. Fine, fine, I won’t bring it up again. I just want to remind you—some words are better spoken than kept inside." Li Xinyue took a sip of tea. "I came to see you about something else."

"What is it? Important enough for you to come personally?" Xiao Ruofeng asked.

"Someone from Dark River has entered Heaven Revelation City," Li Xinyue said gravely.

Xiao Ruofeng nodded. "I know. Second Senior Brother encountered that person before leaving Heaven Revelation. Umbrella Ghost Su Muyu—I’ve heard Junior Brother mention him. He seemed to think quite highly of him."

"Yes. Initially, his presence alone didn’t seem like a major concern. But last night, I encountered another person—Su Zhe of the Su Family, once their strongest warrior. During the Sky Blood River battle, he single-handedly killed ninety-six first-rate experts." The Heart Sword at Li Xinyue’s waist hummed faintly. "He’s a ruthless one.""Dark River?" Xiao Ruofeng rubbed the teacup in his hand. "Wherever they go, they have only one purpose—to kill. I once met that Su Zhe while escorting Marquis Zhenxi to Heavenly Revelation City. Back then, the Xie Family of Dark River accepted a commission to assassinate the Marquis. Later, Su Zhe brought Su Changhe and Su Muyu, directly terminating that mission."

"Rumors say Dark River accepts any assassination contract—even against the emperor," Li Xinyue lowered her voice. "Could they be here to kill you?"

"Me?" The Langya King chuckled and shook his head. "Why me? Am I that detestable?"

"Your existence threatens too many interests. Marquis Zhenxi holds military power, but that's far in the western frontier. You, however, reside in the imperial capital, just like General Ye in the past," Li Xinyue replied.

"Why bring that up again..." The Langya King smiled bitterly.

Inside the inn, Su Zhe lightly tapped the golden rings on his Buddhist staff. "So, are you really going to kill the Langya King?"

"Before the Soul Extraction Hall, I have three principles for contracts I won't accept. The Langya King was never on my list," Su Muyu shook his head slightly. "Moreover, the foremost figure of the Xiao Imperial Family in three generations—do you think he'd be easy to kill?"

"What do you plan to do then?" Su Zhe asked.

"First, pretend to negotiate with the Shadow Sect. Then find a way to crush them in one strike, destroy all records related to Dark River, and let Dark River remain an organization born and raised in the martial world," Su Muyu sighed softly. "I thought the battle in Nine Heavens City would be the end. Who knows if there'll be another obstacle after this?"

"Where there are people, there's the martial world. Where there's the martial world, there's conflict," Su Zhe said in flawless court dialect. "Especially since you have a good brother who thrives on conflict. When is he coming?"

"I've already sent word to him about everything in Heavenly Revelation City," Su Muyu glanced briefly toward the window. "He has other important matters to attend to."

Su Zhe also looked toward the window. "Another guest arrives. Couldn't you have picked a quieter inn?" Su Zhe flicked a golden ring toward the window. The window swung open as a youth not yet of hair-tying age waved his sleeve to catch the ring, but its momentum far exceeded his expectations, shredding his sleeve to pieces. He frowned slightly. "Fifty taels of silver—gone!"

The golden ring lightly tapped the windowsill before rebounding onto Su Zhe's staff. Su Zhe stroked his chin, slightly surprised. "Kid! Not bad skills."

"At such a young age, you can catch Uncle Zhe's golden ring. Who's your master?" Su Muyu studied the youth before him.

"He's my disciple," a white-haired, ghost-masked figure flew in through the window. "Long time no see, Umbrella Ghost!"

Su Muyu froze. "White Tiger Envoy?"

Su Zhe was equally startled. "The White Tiger of the Four Guardians of Heavenly Revelation!"

The Ghost-Masked Man laughed. "Ever since becoming this damned White Tiger Envoy, it feels like people don't even see me as human anymore."

"Meeting two of the Four Guardians in Heavenly Revelation City in less than ten hours," Su Zhe chuckled. "We must be quite honored."Su Muyu also smiled faintly. "I've been here for many days and haven't seen a single one. Uncle Zhe arrives for just one night and meets two. It must be your reputation at work."

"Oh?" Su Zhe raised an eyebrow.

"The Battle of Sky Blood River—fighting ninety-six first-class masters alone, annihilating them all, and saving the Dark River Grand Master from the brink of death. You're quite famous," the youth suddenly said.

"Kid, you know quite a bit. What's your name?" Su Zhe asked.

The youth lowered his head slightly. "My surname is Xiao."