The gates of the White Crane Apothecary slowly opened, and a woman in red emerged. She was tall and elegant, with a beautiful face, though her skin was somewhat pale as if she rarely saw sunlight. A small red mark adorned the center of her forehead, adding a touch of allure to her appearance. As she reached the gateway, her brow furrowed and her eyes widened, revealing a hint of petulance. "Who is it? Knocking so loudly." "Miss, may I ask if the master of the house is at home?" Su Changhe asked with a smile. The woman paused for a moment, and then laughed, "Oh, so you're looking for Old Master Bai. He's out making house calls. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea while you wait?" "That's not necessary, we'll wait here," Xie Changze replied. "Alright, then I'll go out and find Old Master Bai for you." The woman walked out, carrying a medicine chest on her back, as if she had been about to leave anyway. She walked straight past Xie Changze and Xie Jinke. Xie Jinke instinctively reached for his sword, but Xie Changze gently stopped him. Su Changhe glanced at Su Zhe, and with a slight twist of his fingers, the dagger returned to his hand. "We'll be counting on you, then, Miss." Su Zhe grasped the Buddhist staff with his right hand and gave it a slight shake. A golden ring flew out, grazing the woman's cheek before returning to Su Zhe's hand. He glanced at it and saw a…

The light rain brought new flowers, and a thunder startled the insects. …… In Jiangnan in March, the first spring thunder rumbles, and a drizzle follows. The air soon fills with the fragrance of damp earth. This is the perfect time to snuggle up at home, warm a pot of wine, wrap yourself in a quilt, listen to the patter of rain outside, and have a lovely sleep. Of course, it's also the perfect time for an assassin to strike or a grim reaper to collect a soul. A young man in purple boots slowly approached a weathered grey manor. The boots were exquisite, embroidered with a lifelike eight-clawed dragon in gold thread. He seemed to cherish them, carefully avoiding puddles along the way, so despite the constant spring rain, his boots remained clean. He raised his hand and gently knocked on the manor's gate. Knock, knock, knock. The knocking echoed within the manor, but no one answered. "No one's home?" The man in the purple boots turned around, confused. A burly man carrying a large golden-ringed broadsword stood there, looking up at the manor's plaque and muttering to himself, "White Crane Apothecary. Shouldn't have gotten the place wrong." The man in purple boots frowned slightly. "Could we be too late?" "It's not late, not late at all; in fact, you clearly arrived a bit earlier than me." A mocking voice suddenly rang out nearby. The burly man swiftly turned around and drew the large broadsword partway from his back, shouting in a low voice, "Su Changhe!" The newcomer sported…

At winter's end and spring's beginning, all things awaken. Yet, in the northern borderlands, a heavy snow suddenly fell upon Liaoluo City. "White snow dislikes the late coming vernal breeze, in plays the parting flowers flying through the trees." In a grand mansion within Liaoluo City, an elderly man dressed in a cotton robe sat beside the large lake in the courtyard, watching the snow. He extended his right hand, observing the delicate snowflakes drifting through his fingers, and murmured these words softly. "I thought this winter was over." A young voice suddenly sounded from behind him. The old man's expression remained unchanged. He simply picked up the wine jug at his feet, tilted his head back, and took a sip. "Those of us at this age, each year we wait for winter to end quickly. Because every end of winter means we've survived another year, and waking up is a new beginning. But alas, winter has passed, yet another snow has fallen, and you have arrived, the Ghost of the Dark River." The old man turned his head and looked at the uninvited guest. The newcomer was dressed entirely in black, holding an oiled paper umbrella in one hand. His face was covered by a red demon mask, but his voice was calm and cool. "Forgive the intrusion." "Hahahaha. An assassin at the door, holding a deadly weapon, yet still so polite and courteous. How intriguing." The old man scrutinized the umbrella-bearer. "Judging by your attire, you must be the top expert of the Su family's current generation, the…