It was easy enough to ask around. Back in the village, just a few questions revealed that she was the only female disciple of the Plum-Breaking Sect on Moon Mountain, the seventh-ranked junior sister. They even learned her given na: Xiaoi.
“Xiaoi, huh… Xiaoi sounds nice. What’s her family na?”
“They say it’s Guan.”
“So her na’s Guan Xiaoi? Good na. Suits her perfectly. Brother, what do we do next?”
“You’ll have to figure that out yourself. I’m afraid I can’t help you with this.”
“Why not? Moon Mountain is a vassal of the Su family, and you’re their son-in-law. You have to help !”
“Well… son-in-law or not… how about this: I’ll go and ask Ninth Lady, see if she’s willing to step in.”
“That’s perfect. Go quickly! Should I co along?”
“Sure.”
The two went together up to Cloud Sea Pavilion. They made it up the mountain and saw the sea of clouds, but Ninth Lady wasn’t there. Even her maid Xiaoqin was gone. The great doors of the pavilion were shut, and no one answered.
“No one? Should we take a look inside?” Before Liu Xiaolou could stop him, Tan Bajhang was already over the wall. He tried to grab him, but missed, and could only watch him go in. A short while later Tan vaulted back out, looking disappointed. “She’s really not here.”
Liu Xiaolou reminded him, “Brother Tan, this is Shenwu Mountain, not Wulong Mountain. If the gates are locked, it ans no one’s ho. There’s no need to be climbing over walls. Don’t act so rashly in the future. Ninth Lady is in Foundation Establishnt, not like us in Qi Refinent.”
Tan Bajhang said, “Isn’t she one of us, though? We’ve been doing things for her, and it’s not like she’s paid us for it. So what if I climb her wall? Where else could she even go?”
Liu Xiaolou pulled out two spirit stones. “Isn’t this paynt? I was going to hand them to you earlier, but then you let your lust get the better of you…”
Tan Bajhang’s face lit up as he took them. “Two whole stones for sothing this small? Ninth Lady is generous indeed.”
“That’s nothing. She originally offered fifty spirit stones for the head of Yin Centipede, but I turned her down.”
Tan Bajhang was imdiately tempted. “Xiaolou, why turn her down? Sure, he’s in Foundation Establishnt, but if we plan carefully and gather ten or so good brothers, it’s not impossible. Look. Zuo Gaofeng, Brother Wei, you, . Then we ask Dragon Mountain Wanderer to co out; he’s tenth layer. Add Senior Feihu and Brother Hua, both at the ninth, Senior Huang of Jade Maiden Cave and Old Hu Du from Gourd Pass, both eighth level, plus the Ma brothers at the seventh. That’s just about enough. Each man could get four or five stones, so they’d all co. And if we still think it’s shaky, we can call on the seven brothers of Guzhang Mountain too. Of course, the shares would be smaller, but if Ninth Lady adds a few more stones, each of us could still take ho three. Three spirit stones isn’t bad at all!”
With the combined strength of eighteen comrades from Wulong Mountain, killing a single Foundation Establishnt cultivator wasn’t impossible. Even if an ambush failed, a head-on assault still carried a fair chance of success. In the past, Liu Xiaolou’s voice carried little weight, and no one would have answered if he sent out a hero’s post. But ever since that grand banquet at Qianzhu Ridge, he had gained just enough reputation and standing that, if he issued another summons, people would actually answer the call.
The trouble was, killing Yin Centipede wasn’t really a solution. It would only worsen the conflict. What the Su family wanted was clear: neither to marry off their daughter, nor to have the Yin clan cut off supplies. Bloodshed couldn’t achieve that.
“All right, enough pointless talk. Looks like Ninth Lady has gone to Yuezhou. Ask around and we’ll know for sure.”
Just as Liu Xiaolou expected, Su Wan had indeed gone with Su Zhi to Yuezhou to negotiate with the Ouyang clan. Madam Su Xi was even more straightforward: after taking the golden-threaded embroidered dudou, she returned directly to Danxia Cave Heaven to enter seclusion. She even brought along Xiaohuan and Susu, explaining it was Su family custom to nurture not only their own children but also the household’s close attendants and personal maids.
That left Shenwu Mountain in the hands of Second Uncle Su Xun and Eldest Son Su Long; both of whom were at odds with Liu Xiaolou. He imdiately felt the pressure, thinking to himself, Looks like I’d better keep my head down for the next few days.
He explained things to Tan Bajhang, urging him to stay calm and wait until Ninth Lady returned. As for himself, he figured going to Plum Mountain to plead their case would do little good, so better not to go at all.
Tan Bajhang could only scratch his head and force himself to endure, while Liu Xiaolou tried to console him. “Lie low for a month. Use those two spirit stones; each one can help you open another acupoint. Over ti… well, Brother Tan, your cultivation is already higher than mine. I don’t need to say more.”
With that they parted ways, and Liu Xiaolou returned alone to Yiling Hall. The place was empty and desolate, front and back, with only himself there. Spotting Big White paddling lazily in the pond, he still felt a twinge of unease. In his bedroom he carefully searched around the bed and behind it, only relaxing once he confird nothing unusual had appeared.
When he turned around, the white goose had sohow left the pond and was standing just outside the threshold, craning its neck to peer at him. Liu Xiaolou waved it off, telling it to get lost. With a loud honking, the goose flapped back into the pond.
Clutching five spirit stones, Liu Xiaolou had long wanted to charge through to his sixth acupoint. Delays had kept him back, but now at last he could settle his mind.
Ti passed quickly. A month and a half later, after spending three spirit stones, he broke through the sixth acupoint, Zhigou. And then the seventh, Huizong. Feeling greatly invigorated, he ended his seclusion for the ti being.
Leaving the Hibiscus Garden, He strolled over to the General’s Temple, but didn’t find Tan Bajhang. So he headed back up the mountain. These days, without Susu waiting on him, everything tasted so bland it was like chewing on air. He figured he’d drop by the main kitchen to see if he could get so good food and wine.
Chef Wang had been frightened enough by him before. He wondered if anyone else would be foolish enough to step up and try their luck.
He hadn’t yet reached the main kitchen when he ran into Steward Su, who had been overseeing the repairs at the General’s Temple. When he saw Liu Xiaolou, he gave a little signal with his eyes. Liu Xiaolou followed him to a quiet spot.
In a low voice, Steward Su asked, “Has the young master-in-law been in seclusion cultivation these days?”
Liu Xiaolou nodded. “Yes, and I’ve made so good progress.”
“Then congratulations,” said Steward Su. “But what about your close friend Tan? What does the young master-in-law plan to do about him?”
“What do you an, what plan? What’s happened to him?”
“So the young master-in-law still doesn’t know. Daoist Tan was detained by Moon Mountain. It happened seven days ago. I heard that at the ti, Moon Mountain sent people up to ask how he should be dealt with. They t with my brother-in-law, though I don’t know what they discussed. In any case, the General’s Temple remains empty, and Tan hasn’t co back. If you have the ti…”
Liu Xiaolou grew anxious at once. “Why was he detained?”
“The word is he misbehaved in so way while on Moon Mountain.”
Liu Xiaolou pressed him. “If this happened seven days ago, why didn’t you report it to sooner?”
Steward Su sighed. “Uncle Xun told us not to go to the Hibiscus Garden. He said you were not to be disturbed.”
Liu Xiaolou clasped his fists. “Thank you, Old Su.” With that, he hurried off toward Su Xun’s quarters.
Su Xun lived where the front and back mountains t. His residence was expansive, befitting a Golden Core cultivator of his standing. As the head of an important branch of the Su family, whenever Su Zhi was away, matters on Shenwu Mountain usually fell to him.
When Liu Xiaolou arrived at the gate and asked to see him, he was told Su Xun was cultivating in the back mountain and could not be disturbed. Instead, he was received by Su Xun’s son, Su Fan.
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