No one could say exactly when it began, but the grudge between the cultivators of western Xiang and those of Badong had been growing deeper and deeper, until it seemed that whenever they met, they were ready to fight. The two great sects that ruled their respective lands were even worse, their enmity beyond any chance of reconciliation.
That was why the war between the Zhanglong Sect and Gengsang Cave was nothing like the three-on-one battle two years earlier. This time, the hatred ran in blood, impossible to wash away. It wasn’t only Zhanglong Sect that couldn’t let go; even the rogue cultivators of western Xiang who had been drafted into the fight were bound by the same unresolvable feud.
No one wanted war, yet once it came, no one was willing to run. Liu Xiaolou was no different. His own teacher, Master Sanxuan, had fought in several campaigns against Gengsang Cave and had been injured more than once.
Still, Liu Xiaolou was realistic. With his cultivation only at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement, if he ever set foot on the front lines, the odds of coming back alive were slim. This was not the time to let emotions rule him.
That night, Dragon Mountain Wanderer, Zuo Gaofeng, and several others also came up to Qianzhu Ridge. They all knew Liu Xiaolou had been spared conscription because of his connection to the Su family, so they came to entrust him with their last wishes.
Dragon Mountain Wanderer entrusted his disciple Li Busan to him. Forcing the boy, who was crying uncontrollably, to kneel on the ground, he made him kowtow three times to Liu Xiaolou and call him “Martial Uncle.” Liu Xiaolou understood the weight of that gesture. By accepting those three kowtows, he was taking on the duty of raising and teaching Li Busan should Dragon Mountain Wanderer fall in battle. The burden behind those bows was heavy.
Zuo Gaofeng, on the other hand, entrusted to Liu Xiaolou the care of a family: Auntie Li from the village outside West Mountain Pass.
“If something happens to me, Xiaolou, please look after her… No, she’s not like the other villagers. I’m asking you to give her special care. If you can do that, this old brother of yours will be forever grateful… She’s expecting.”
“Ah… Brother Zuo, you…”
“Don’t bring it up. It happened two months ago, when I was drunk… She has no man in her family, so…”
“I understand. Nothing will happen to you, Brother Zuo. Everyone’s going to make it through.”
“Anyway, as long as you know about it, that’s enough.”
Gengsang Cave moved quickly. The latest word was that they had gathered several hundred Badong cultivators and were already marching east out of Yu Mountain. Because of this, Zhanglong Sect dared not delay. Early the next morning, they ordered the rogue cultivators of Wulong Mountain to come down and head west to join the sect’s main forces.
By noon, Wulong Mountain was empty and desolate.
Although his leave to visit home had long since come due, Liu Xiaolou was in no rush to return. He spent his days listening for news from the west while checking in on the burdens that had been entrusted to him.
From time to time, he went to Longshan to see Li Busan, offering him a few pointers on the difficulties of cultivation.
Other times, he would head out to Xikou Village to visit Auntie Li and her elderly mother, bringing them rice, meat, and cloth to keep the household supplied.
Sometimes he would go out to Tan Family Village beyond the mountains to check on Old Master Tan and the Tan Bajhang's several brothers. That family had always been a family of rogue cultivators, so there wasn’t much he could really do for them. The old master was still at home, but the Tan Bajhang's brothers had all been drafted and sent to Zhuoshui. With a great war looming, how could they possibly stay out of it?
When he mentioned that he was a friend of Tan Bajhang, the old man immediately blasted him out the door with a flying staff.
In this way, more than ten days slipped by. News from the western front never came, but Wei Hongqing did.
The moment he saw Wei Hongqing, half a month’s worth of unease finally lifted from his chest. With a heavy sigh, he said, “Brother Zuo, Tan Bajhang, and Dragon Mountain Wanderer… they’ve all been conscripted.”
Wei Hongqing nodded. “I know. I heard about it. I bought a batch of spirit wine especially, planning to send it to Zhuoshui to reward our Wulong Mountain brothers. I was passing by, so I came up to see you.”
“You bought it with your own money?”
“Twenty-four jars of Spirit Cellar wine, and eight jars of Bamboo Leaf Green.”
“That must’ve cost a fortune. Brother Wei, let me add this to the pot. Between us, it might be enough to trade for a few more jars of Bamboo Leaf Green. Just my small way of helping.”
Wei Hongqing didn’t hesitate and took it from him. Glancing inside, he saw it was mostly loose gold, silver, and jade. Probably Liu Xiaolou’s entire savings. He couldn’t help but ask with some surprise, “You’ve been married into the Su family for quite a while. How come you’re still so short on funds?”
Liu Xiaolou gave a wry smile. “With my status, no one in the Su family respects me. My monthly allowance is only ten taels.”
Wei Hongqing raised his eyebrows. “They didn’t assign you any duties?”
Shaking his head, Liu Xiaolou replied, “The Su family keeps me around as a spare. Unlike you, Brother Wei, who can run your own affairs. Of course, there are some benefits. Since I carry the Su family’s name, they didn’t draft me this time. I suppose I narrowly avoided a disaster.”
Wei Hongqing didn’t quite know how to respond. He took a jar of Bamboo Leaf Green from his robes and sat down opposite Liu Xiaolou to drink.
“Brother Wei, you actually have a storage magical item now?”
“How could I? This thing is precious. I borrowed it.”
“Even being able to borrow a storage tool is impressive. And your complexion looks different… Have you advanced another layer in cultivation?”
“I spent the first half of the year training in the blessed land on Tianmu Mountain. It helped a lot. I’m now at the seventh layer.”
“So soon? Brother Wei, it’s only been a year since you broke through to the sixth level, hasn’t it? I truly envy you.”
“Haha, just a little over a year. Xiaolou, it looks like your cultivation has advanced as well. Have you reached the fifth level? Did you go into Danxia Grotto-Heaven with the Su family to cultivate?”
“The fifth layer, yes. But it had nothing to do with Danxia Grotto-Heaven. During their millennial celebration, they let me eat a dish of Zuo meat. That was all.”
“What a pity. This time cultivating in the blessed land, I came to understand something. Among the great sect disciples, of course there are prodigies, but most of them, are they really stronger than us? Breaking through a layer every half year or every year, and why? It’s nothing more than superior techniques, spirit springs, spirit pills, and of course the guidance of renowned masters. If our heroes of Wulong Mountain had such opportunities, who among us would be any worse?”
“Brother Wei, maybe that’s simply our fate.”
“And what about you, Xiaolou? Do you accept that fate?”
That question left Liu Xiaolou speechless. Even after draining a whole pot of Bamboo Leaf Green, he still had no answer.
When Wei Hongqing departed, Liu Xiaolou wanted to go with him to Zhuoshui, but Wei stopped him. His reasoning was the same as before: Xiaolou’s cultivation was too low, and if trouble broke out on the road, it would be hard to look after him.
A few days later, when a heavy rain swept over Wulong Mountain, another familiar face arrived. This time, Tigerhead Dragon.
“So this is where Xiaolou grew up?” Tigerhead didn’t bother avoiding the rain. He walked around Qianzhu Ridge, marveling, “Truly a beautiful place. No wonder someone as handsome as Xiaolou could come from here.”
Liu Xiaolou called from the terrace under the eaves, “Come up here and get out of the rain.”
But Tigerhead wasn’t satisfied. He climbed all the way to the mountaintop, braving the downpour. Spotting a white goose resting in the rain, he shouted, “Long time no see, Big White! Make way!” He nudged the goose aside, spread his arms, and gazed over the rain-soaked mountains, exclaiming, “How beautiful—”
Boom! Thunder rolled across the sky as if striking straight down. Tigerhead Dragon shivered, then laughed heartily, but he didn’t dare linger any longer and returned to the courtyard.
“I remember the last time I came, exploring the mountains with you and Tan Bajhang. Unfortunately, the Qingyu Sect discovered us. Outnumbered, we were captured and never got to enjoy the scenery of Qianzhu Ridge. This time was worth it. No wonder you don’t want to go back, haha.”
“It’s not just that… mainly… the Badong cultivators have provoked western Xiang, and my mind is preoccupied with the coming war, so…”
“Xiaolou, that’s exactly why I’m here. Your family-in-law, the Su family, sent me to fetch you. They’re worried you might act rashly in the battle against Gengsang Cave.”
“They’re afraid I’ll drag the Su family into it? Impossible. I’m just a lowly son-in-law…”
“They’re just worried Gengsang Cave won’t see it that way.”