Seeing that Liu Xiaolou hesitated to co closer, Steward Xin spread his hands with a disarming smile. “Brother,” he said, “I an no harm. I just want to understand what’s going on. If you don’t feel comfortable, we can talk from over there. It’s fine.”
Liu Xiaolou thought for a mont. Zhang Daming wouldn’t dare set him up. After all, if he did, Liu could expose how Zhang secretly released a prisoner of war. They’d both go down together. So Liu finally stepped forward and cupped his hands politely. “Greetings, Steward Xin.”
The steward from Gengsang Cave greeted him with warmth. There was none of that arrogance you’d expect from soone of a prestigious sect. He kept a friendly smile, and his tone carried a quiet reassurance.
After listening carefully to Liu Xiaolou’s account, Steward Xin promised on the spot to report to Elder Tu of the sect right away. Gengsang Cave would investigate without delay. And if things checked out, they’d imdiately make their stance clear to Tianmu Mountain: no one from their side was to set foot on the mountain.
Then he spoke firmly and with conviction: “Wulong Mountain marks the boundary. That was an agreent between both sides. And Master Lu of Tianmu Mountain was one of the signatories himself. Since we made that pact, it must be honored. No matter the excuse, no matter the situation, it cannot be broken.
Please tell your comrades in the mountain this: in this matter, Gengsang Cave, the cultivators of Badong, and even the Pingdu Eight Formations Gate... all of us stand with you.”
Liu Xiaolou couldn’t help but feel impressed. He bowed slightly. “Thank you, Steward Xin.”
Steward Xin reached into his robe and pulled out a small pouch, handing it over with a smile. “By the way, this is a token of appreciation from Gengsang Cave. You took a great risk coming down the mountain to deliver this ssage. It’s valuable news, and Elder Tu has ordered a generous reward.”
“Ah…” Liu Xiaolou blinked, instinctively taking the pouch. “This… doesn’t seem right…”
Steward Xin chuckled. “For friends on Wulong Mountain who share Badong’s cause, our sect never hesitates to show gratitude. Please, also tell your fellow cultivators up there, if there’s ever more news, don’t hesitate to pass it along.”
Being suddenly labeled as “loyal to Badong” made Liu Xiaolou uneasy. If only he knew how Wu Zhuzi died… he thought darkly to himself. Oh right, his real na was Wu Hongjin, wasn’t it?
And as if summoned by that very thought, Steward Xin brought him up. “Brother,” he said, voice tinged with sorrow, “I once had a friend nad Wu Zhuzi. He went up Wulong Mountain half a year ago and was tragically killed by people from the Zhanglong Sect. Misunderstood and slain without cause. Because of the boundary pact, I couldn’t go investigate myself. The thought still cuts to the heart. Tell … do you know anything about it?”
Liu Xiaolou hesitated for a mont. “I do know a little about that matter.”
Steward Xin’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh? Please, tell .”
Liu Xiaolou said, “When Wu Zhuzi ca up the mountain, he made quite a stir. He kept urging Old Daoist Hu Du to establish a new sect. Wanted everyone on Wulong Mountain to follow his orders and obey his commands. But, Steward Xin, think about it... what kind of place is Wulong Mountain? The people cultivating there are all free spirits. Who would willingly take orders from soone trying to play leader? Naturally, everyone opposed him.”
Steward Xin nodded thoughtfully. “I see. Sounds like he was a bit reckless…”
Liu Xiaolou went on, “Reckless is putting it mildly. He tried to force everyone to agree. Went so far as to draw his sword and threaten folks. But you know the kind of people we have on Wulong Mountain. Rough types, used to fighting. Who’d back down from that?”
Steward Xin gave a small nod. “Right… so that led to a fight?”
Liu sighed. “Yeah. That’s when he slipped up. Revealed that he was cultivating Poison Path. You probably know this, Steward Xin, but many of the Wulong Mountain folks fought bitter battles at Zhuoshui. Dozens died there, and a lot of them had blood feuds with your side. So when they saw Wu Zhuzi using poison techniques, they imdiately thought he was sent by you. Soone went straight to report it to Zhanglong Mountain, and after that… well, I don’t need to say more, do I?”
Steward Xin tilted his head slightly, lost in thought for a mont. Then he nodded. “Thank you, brother. If you hear anything else in the future, just pass it along to Daming. As long as the news is useful, there’ll always be a reward.”
Liu Xiaolou chuckled. “Then I’ll thank you in advance.”
Steward Xin gave Zhang Daming a small nod, then turned and left.
Once he was gone, Zhang Daming grinned at Liu. “Well, brother, looks like you scored, huh? Just like we talked about yesterday…”
Liu Xiaolou scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. When he opened the pouch, he found five spirit stones and two hundred taels of silver inside. The reward was generous. So generous it made his heart ache.
What really hurt, though, was having to split it with Zhang Daming.
Zhang, clearly already knowing the exact amount, spoke up without hesitation. “I’ll take three spirit stones, you keep two. We split the silver fifty-fifty. Fair enough?”
Liu Xiaolou gave a helpless smile. “Fair enough.”
Zhang Daming shot him a look and said, “Don’t go feeling all sorry, like I just made off with so huge profit. To tell you the truth, I’m a fair man. It was my idea to make the Gengsang Cave folks pay in spirit stones. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gotten a single one!”
Hearing that, Liu Xiaolou felt the knot in his chest loosen a bit.
Anyway, two spirit stones and a hundred taels of silver... that was quite an unexpected windfall. He thanked Zhang Daming again, watched him leave, and then headed back to Wulong Mountain.
There’s no need to go over the details; he simply told Dragon Mountain Wanderer and Dai Shenggao the results. Both were delighted and started keeping an even closer watch on what was happening over at Tianmu Mountain in the east.
For the people of Wulong Mountain, this was no longer just about turning away so prestigious sect searching the mountain. More importantly, it marked the first ti they’d set a clear rule. From now on, no matter who they were, no sect would ever be allowed to set foot on the mountain.
Two days later, Dai Shenggao ca back from the foot of the mountain, grinning from ear to ear. He called everyone together to announce the news. The Tianmu Mountain people had pulled out.
Word had already spread, and everyone on the mountain was curious about what had happened. This ti, dozens of them ca rushing over, crowding around Dai Shenggao’s place at Fengyu Ridge to hear the full story. When he was done, excitent rippled through the crowd.
“They all pulled out?” soone asked.
“Pretty much,” Dai Shenggao said. “Only a few outer-disciples’ stewards stayed behind.”
“So they’re still keeping an eye on things?”
“Of course,” he said. “I also found out who the one that died was the sect master Lu’s grandnephew, a guy nad Lu Zhongqiu, an inner-sect steward. So yeah, Tianmu Mountain’s still investigating, but they won’t be coming up here again.”
“Can we still take the road east? Or will they stop us?”
“Best to go down the western path,” Dai advised. “But if you’ve got sothing urgent, you can still head east. Just push through. The eastern side’s huge. At most, they’ll guard a few key spots. Just avoid the main routes, simple as that. Honestly, even if they do stop you, it’s not a big deal. You’re not Wei Hongqing. The worst they’ll do is ask if you’ve seen him. Those stewards wouldn’t dare go too far. What, they’re gonna arrest everyone from Wulong Mountain they et? No way. They’re scared we’ll throw in completely with Badong!”
“True enough!” soone said.
“Feels great not having a sect storming up the mountain. We can finally cultivate in peace again.”
“Yeah, it’s been a whole year without anyone invading the place. I almost forgot this is Wulong Mountain, haha!”
Dragon Mountain Wanderer raised his hand to quiet everyone. “My friends, let’s not forget to thank Xiaolou. He risked his life going down the mountain to deliver the ssage to Gengsang Cave.”
Everyone burst out laughing and started calling out their thanks to Liu Xiaolou. So said they’d throw a banquet to celebrate and invite him as the guest of honor. Others promised that next ti they did business, they’d send him an invitation and insist he co. A few swore that they’d rember this favor; if he ever ran into trouble, all he had to do was say the word, and they’d rush to help, no matter what it cost.
Of course, there was no banquet yet, and who knew when any business would co up. As for those grand promises about “risking life and limb,” Liu Xiaolou had made enough of those himself to know better than to take them seriously. Amid laughter and chatter, the crowd eventually drifted away.
That night, under the cover of darkness, Liu Xiaolou made his way back to the cave beneath the pool at Guing Cliff and told Wei Hongqing what had happened.
Wei Hongqing was silent for a long ti. “I have to go,” he finally siad.
Liu Xiaolou looked at him in surprise. “Go? they already withdrawn, and Tianmu Mountain won’t be coming up here again. You should be resting and healing, not heading down now.”
Wei Hongqing shook his head. “You don’t understand her. She’s the kind of person who never lets go once she’s set her mind on sothing. Even if Tianmu Mountain can’t send a full search party, she might co up alone. She’ll wait for the right mont, slip in by herself. And who would even know? Even if soone did, who could stop her? She’s at mid-Foundation Establishnt stage; there’s no one on this mountain who can match her.”
“But this place is hidden,” said Liu Xiaolou.
Wei Hongqing gave a weary smile and shook his head again. “I’ve been racking my brain these past few days, trying to rember whether I ever told her about this cave. But after five years of sharing the sa bed, who knows how many things I said to her? I just can’t be sure.”
Liu Xiaolou thought for a mont. “There are plenty of hidden caves in these mountains…”
“Xiaolou, I’ve been back for half a month now, and I’ve thought it through. I can’t keep hiding here forever. Sooner or later, I have to go down the mountain. Even if I dodge her this ti, as long as I stay up here, she’ll keep watching . I won’t be able to do anything. My cultivation can’t stop here. I have to push forward, take risks, and face the world out there. That’s where I truly belong.”
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