Liu Xiaolou’s divorce letter was passed around again. Dai Wanderer and the Bull-Horse-Deer Brothers kept reading it over and over, not willing to miss a single word. Even Fang Bu'ai ca over, curious, poking his head in as the letter made its way from one person to the next.
When everyone had finished, they all sighed in admiration. The way they looked at Liu Xiaolou had completely changed.
Liu Xiaolou folded the letter, tucked it back into his chest, and smiled. “It’s just a divorce letter. No need to make such a fuss. You all know what kind of man I am. From here on, things should carry on as they always have. Don’t let this make you treat any differently.”
Everyone laughed. Dai Wanderer grabbed Liu Xiaolou by the arm. “Xiaolou, I just heard from Little Tan that you ca back from Flying Tiger Cave. Didn’t go too smoothly, huh?”
Liu Xiaolou sighed. “I’m afraid Senior Jiang may have misunderstood .”
Dai Wanderer shook his head. “Misunderstanding, nothing. His ridians are wrecked, his head’s gone muddled. Instead of resting on that stone bed of his, he’s raving like a madman, pointing fingers, saying no to this, demanding that. Honestly, it’s unbearable!”
“So what did he do to you?” asked Liu Xiaolou.
Dai Wanderer scoffed. “Isn’t it all because of Wuzifeng? The two from the Ma family are dead, and so what? Over the years on Wulong Mountain, how many have died already? When soone passes, those close to them drink a few cups in rembrance, that’s all. But he really wants to set up a monunt in their cave and forbid anyone else from cultivating there? You know I’ve had the three Huang brothers with for a few years now. They’ve been staying at my place, but that’s never been a long-term solution. Now that Wuzifeng is vacant, I told them to move in. The rule has always been simple: whoever claims a place first keeps it. But no, he insists the Huang brothers leave, saying it belonged to the Ma brothers, and even though they’re dead, a monunt has to be put up for them. That’s just crazy.”
Liu Xiaolou nodded in agreent. “That really is against the rules.”
The Bull-Horse-Deer Brothers, who were standing nearby, clasped their hands in salute. “We’re grateful for your support, Master Liu.”
Liu Xiaolou waved them off. “No need for thanks. With Senior Dai backing you, of course I’ll support you too. Brother Tan, you’re with us, aren’t you?”
Tan Bajhang had been locked in a staring contest with Big White, neither willing to look away. Without hesitation he answered, “I support!” Then he turned his head and asked, “Support what, exactly?”
“The matter of the three Huang brothers moving into Wuzifeng,” Liu Xiaolou said.
“If Xiaolou supports it, then I certainly support it,” Tan Bajhang replied. “Chief Zuo, you’re in too, right?”
Zuo Gaofeng stroked his beard and nodded. “Of course. That’s always been the rule.”
Dai Wanderer nodded as well. “Then it’s settled. Wuzifeng will go to the Huang brothers for their cultivation. With Xiaolou and the rest of you in support, if Jiang Feihu dares to keep running his mouth, we won’t pay him the slightest attention.”
Once the matter was decided, Dai Wanderer offered Liu Xiaolou a few words of caution. He reminded him that though the great battle had ended, Wulong Mountain sat right between two rival borders, making it a sensitive place. He told him to stay alert, then took his leave. Dai Wanderer was always moving between the so-called “big figures,” Like the legendary Boss Wang. His movents had always been unpredictable, so Liu Xiaolou didn’t press him to stay.
As soon as he left, the Bull-Horse-Deer Brothers visibly loosened up. Huang Ziniu pulled Liu Xiaolou close. “Master Liu, it’s been four years since we last parted. My brothers and I have thought of you often. To be reunited today... this is truly a joyful occasion.”
At those words from the elder brother, the second, Huang Zima, broke into a strange grin.
That grin sent the hairs on the back of Liu Xiaolou’s neck standing straight up. Once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of a rope, he thought. What’s wrong with these three? Don’t tell they’re cut from the sa cloth as Elder Cai and Tu Er from Danxia Grotto Heaven?
Luckily, the youngest, Huang Zilu, quickly revealed the truth, and Liu Xiaolou’s taut nerves eased.
“Master Liu, that illusion formation you used before, we brothers admired it greatly. For years we’ve been hoping for another chance to enter and cultivate inside it. Would that be possible?”
Liu Xiaolou hesitated for a mont. “Brothers, are you sure there’s nothing wrong with your health?”
The three Huang brothers all shook their heads and said they were fine. That was enough for Liu Xiaolou to understand. Back when they first ran into each other on Wuling Mountain, the brothers had ambushed him and clearly enjoyed their ti in the formation a little too much. Since then, they'd been carrying around so inappropriate thoughts. Their motive for entering the formation clearly wasn’t pure. Completely unlike those young nobles from the Impotents’ Circle. It was downright indecent.
But whether they were decent or not really wasn’t his concern. As Green Bamboo once said, “You’re a rogue cultivator from Wulong Mountain. However bad your reputation, how much worse can it get?”
Still, after thinking it over, he decided not to open that door. Every circle has its pecking order. Even within the formation, most of those so-called impotent young masters had more respectable reasons for going in. The saying goes, “A peaceful family brings prosperity.” They entered the formation to cure their ailnts. Even Daoist Leiming, with his lofty ambitions for dual cultivation, had a more serious purpose. The Huang brothers, though, only wanted to sneak a look. It wasn’t even comparable.
If word ever got out that the people entering Liu Xiaolou’s great formation were just there to look, the impotent young masters might start to reconsider their association with him, for fear of damaging their own reputations.
So he declined tactfully. “I’ve rerefined and improved the formation. It’s nothing like it used to be. Its main purpose now is to heal. If the three of you aren’t sick, going in would likely do you more harm than good.”
The brothers froze, taken aback. “What exactly do you an by ‘more harm than good,’ Master Liu?” Huang Ziniu asked.
Liu Xiaolou smiled and gave a brief explanation. “Things always swing the other way when they go too far. If you look too much, trouble might follow.”
The three brothers shivered with fright and didn’t dare say another word.
With the mood gone, their interest faded too, and they took their leave from the mountain.
Tan Bajhang had been facing off with Big White for quite a while. At last, the mont to settle things had co. He pulled a spirit stone from his robe with one hand, slowly luring the goose forward, while the other hand shaped into a claw, ready to grab it.
Drawn to the spirit stone, the goose stretched its neck long. Just as it was about to step into Tan Bajhang’s reach, a dark shadow darted in from the side, snatched the spirit stone out of his hand, and vanished into the bamboo grove.
At the sa ti, Big White flapped its wings, honking loudly as it bolted into the grove and disappeared into the depths of the bamboo.
Tan Bajhang stomped his foot in anger. “Damn beast!” He turned to Liu Xiaolou to complain. “Xiaolou, what kind of goose-cat have you raised here? What the hell is that?”
Liu Xiaolou just laughed. “Why get worked up over them?”
“I’m talking about my spirit stone!” Tan Bajhang said anxiously.
Liu Xiaolou had already turned and was leading Zuo Gaofeng away. “Brother Zuo, how’s the child? Co on, I’ve been up the mountain for days. Since I finally have so free ti today, let’s go visit Auntie Li and the little one.”
Zuo Gaofeng stroked his beard. “Then let’s go together. I’ve been staying at Xikou these past few days.”
“Have the houses been fixed up? With a new baby in the family, it’d be best to add a couple more rooms.”
“I’ve already found so workers. They’ll start construction in a few days.”
“Then I’ll have to prepare a small gift, of course. Ha ha!”
“That’s very kind of you.”
Behind them ca a desperate call. “Xiaolou, Xiaolou, my spirit stone!”
Later, after a hearty al and plenty of wine in Xikou Village, Liu Xiaolou walked back up the mountain under the spring moonlight. While still on the mountain path, Big White suddenly swooped down from a tree and landed beside him, honking twice at his feet. At once, Liu Xiaolou grew alert.
He carefully took a different path around and, when he reached his own courtyard, he saw a figure sitting cross-legged at the gate. Two short bronze hamrs rested at his sides. It was none other than Long Er, the man he had t earlier that day.
After quietly sensing the area for a while and finding nothing unusual, Liu Xiaolou stepped out with the formation plate in hand.
When Long Er saw him, he slowly rose to his feet and clasped his fists. “Master Liu, forgive for the sudden visit at night. I hope you won’t take offense.”
"What brings you here, friend Long?" asked Liu Xiaolou.
Long Er glanced around. "Might we speak inside?"
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