With Liu Xiaolou’s guidance, Tu Er was greatly encouraged and asked in detail: “So which kind is he?”
Liu Xiaolou was puzzled. “What do you mean, which kind?”
Tu’er explained, “From the way you asked, it’s clear you’re not in the circle. The one on top is called the great joy, the one receiving is the small joy. Then there’s another type, called forest people. They can go either way, be whatever they want to be. Which one is Dong Wei?”
Liu Xiaolou cupped his hands politely. “I’ve learned something new… but I don’t know, Brother Tu Er, which kind are you and Elder Cai?”
“Elder Cai and I are both small joys,” Tu Er answered. “That’s why he didn’t push you just now. Forcing it wouldn’t work anyway.”
Liu Xiaolou thought for a moment, then smiled. “So when Elder Cai said ‘a twisted melon isn’t sweet,’ he really meant it. I thought he was just giving himself an excuse. I see now. As for Dong, I’d say he’s probably a forest type. Make him whatever you want, he’ll go along with it.”
Tu Er frowned. “Elder Cai and I both despise people like that. No principles, no bottom line. They can change sides just to compete for favor. Of course, there are some who actually like the forest type…”
Liu Xiaolou hadn’t expected there to be a whole hierarchy of contempt here, so he tried to smooth things over. “Maybe I misunderstood. Maybe he’s actually a great joy?”
Tu Er shook his head, giving a cold laugh. “Doesn’t matter whether he’s great joy or forest. As long as he’s not small joy, that’s enough. We’ll just use him as a raft to get through tonight. Otherwise there’s no way to answer to Elder Cai.”
Liu Xiaolou agreed wholeheartedly. “Let’s just get it done first...”
He then suggested that Tu Er go and bring Dong Wei over to Linhu Courtyard. Any empty hut would do, and in the meantime he himself would find a way to test which kind Dong Wei really was.
Tu Er looked uncertain. “You’re sure you can tell the difference?”
“Didn’t you already explain it in detail, Brother Tu Er? What’s left to be unclear about? My thinking is, if I take the lead, we can avoid any awkwardness. And if I make a mistake, I can cut it off right away without dragging Elder Cai or you into it.”
Tu Er instantly praised him, “Good brother, you really thought this through!”
They divided the work on the spot. Tu Er would head for the Mao family encampment, while Liu Xiaolou returned to Linhu Courtyard to wait in one of the designated huts.
But Liu Xiaolou was still a little spooked. He had a natural fear of Linhu Courtyard, and didn’t dare enter the house. Instead, he found a hidden spot to crouch and watch from a distance. That way, if Tu Er tried any tricks, he would see.
As for Tu Er, he traveled three li northeast of Danqiu, to the place where the Mao family cultivators were camped. The Mao clan had many vassal families and minor sects attached to them, so the area was quite lively. The Mao family themselves filled all the huts, while their vassals were scattered around; some in tents, some with nothing at all, just leaning against rocks or trees.
Tu Er had been here once before, so it didn’t take him long to find the Qishan Dong clan’s group. There were six of them altogether, camped in a small hollow. Dong Wei was there too, sitting off at the edge of the hollow.
When he saw Tu Er approach, Dong Wei hurriedly bowed. “Steward Tu, you’ve come.”
Tu Er grinned and gave Dong Wei’s waist a pat. When he saw there was no reaction, he couldn’t help wondering to himself: Was Liu’s talk really true or not? Is this guy one of us?
“Just came by to see you, haha.”
“Ah… what do you mean by that, Steward Tu…”
“Call me Second Brother.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Second Brother, if you need something, you could’ve just sent someone with a message. Why trouble yourself to come in person? I… really don’t understand…”
“Just passing by, that’s all. Where are your elders?”
“They’re inside. Just head in and you’ll see them. Do you want me to invite my elder out to meet you?”
“No need. I don’t want to see them. Just wanted to ask around a bit. Seeing you is enough. Oh, by the way, someone wants to meet you. They’re at the Linhu Courtyard.”
“Who does Second Brother mean?”
“You’ll know when you get there.”
“Alright then… should I at least go report this to my elder first?”
“No need. Just come with me. You’ll be back in no time.”
“This…”
“Well? Coming or not?”
“Alright, I’m coming, I’m coming…”
“Talk as we walk. It’s the middle of the night. Where were you headed just now?”
“Nowhere. My elder told me to keep watch.”
“That’s strange. We’re all inside my Danxia Grotto-Heaven. What’s there to guard?”
“To be honest, Second Brother, I’m slow-witted and not well-liked by my elder. This was just punishment for me.”
“What did you do?”
“It’s a long story… before this, I…”
“Oh, right. That Liu Xiaolou you mentioned, does he truly have a fondness for men?”
“Of course he does! Back when we were at Shenwu Mountain, he kept pestering me nonstop. Later, when I was surrounded by those bandits from Wulong Mountain, he actually stepped in and helped me out. Why would he bother pulling me out of trouble, if not because he was still scheming after me?”
“Then why would he go and take part in the Su family’s son-in-law selection?”
“That… maybe just to keep up appearances. Or maybe… he’s simply too poor to put food on the table. You know as well as I do; the Su family, for him, is like a ladder straight into the clouds.”
“You’re just assuming things! If he were really into men, how could he stomach marrying into another family? That would be worse than death, spending a lifetime depressed and miserable. Do you really think he'd lower himself and bend his principles just for a full stomach? Where's his self-respect? If it were you, would you do that?"
“This… Second Brother is right. I certainly wouldn’t.”
“Exactly. So then… hey, why did you go to the Su family’s son-in-law gathering?”
“I…”
“You didn’t really bend the knee, did you?”
“I… I…”
“You went chasing after Liu Xiaolou, didn’t you?”
“Ah... yes, yes, that’s it! I only went because of him. I couldn’t stand his smug face, so I wanted to stop him!”
“Haha, I see, I see.”
Dong Wei let out a breath and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. This test had not been easy to pass.
Before long they arrived at Linhu Courtyard, stopping before a hut in the corner. Tu Er gave Dong Wei a solid slap on the butt, found it pleasantly firm, and his heart wavered. Smiling, he said, “Go on in. Someone’s waiting for you.”
Dong Wei, full of doubts yet tinged with excitement, stepped into the hut to wait. This was the private retreat of Elder Cai, one of the four great elders of the Danxia Sect. Who could it be that wanted to see him here? Could it even be Elder Cai himself?
If so, then he would truly be soaring to glory. When he returned to Qishan, how would his biased uncle look at him then? Wouldn’t the man regret all those years of harsh treatment? And how should he act to vent the resentment he’d been holding in his heart?
As he sat there, restless with anxious thoughts and burning with anticipation, an inexplicable irritation welled up inside him. His mind began to drift, wandering further and further until it seemed to float beyond the sky itself.
All at once, he saw a veiled woman approach with graceful steps, her eyes brimming with tenderness. She sank gently into his arms. His heart pounded wildly, his mouth went dry, and without thinking his arms closed around her. His body tilted with hers, and they fell together.
The Bewildering Fragrance was nothing short of overpowering. Back when Liu Xiaolou was only at the third layer of Qi Refinement, he could already disturb the heartstrings of tenth-layer Qi Refinement cultivators. How could Dong Wei, who was only at the sixth layer, possibly resist?
In an instant, he was overwhelmed, completely flustered and acting all kinds of foolish.