At the very center of the square stood a towering banyan tree, twice as tall as the Thunderstruck Banyans growing above the spirit spring at Danqiu’s foot. Its canopy spread wide like an umbrella covering five mu (0.82 acres). Above that canopy, dark clouds churned and rolled, lightning flashing down again and again, breaking apart into serpentine bolts that slithered across the crown of the tree.
Beneath the canopy sat an enormous bronze cauldron, as tall as three men. In front of it was a meditation mat, the seat of Cai Qiugong, the sect master of Danxia.
To Cai Qiugong’s left stretched a row of mats for the four great elders of the sect, the twelve inner disciples, and the heads of the four great clans, each of whom held guest-elder status within Danxia. As for the inner stewards, outer disciples, outer stewards, the rest of the four families, and smaller vassal clans or sects, they had no seats and could only stand behind.
On the right was another row of mats prepared for honored guests, including delegations from Qingyu Sect, Tianmu Mountain, Zhanglong Sect, and Dongyang Sect of Jing-Xiang, as well as prestigious families and major sects from Jiangnan like the Jinting Sect and the Ouyang family of Yuezhou.
After the time of one incense stick, several hundred people had gathered on Danqiu. The air was lively as acquaintances greeted one another.
This time, those entering Danxia’s Grotto-Heaven were the sect masters, elders, inner disciples, and important inner stewards from each faction. Most of the people Liu Xiaolou had met before were outer disciples and stewards, so he found few familiar faces. Looking across toward the guest seats, he recognized only a handful: Lou Zhenwu, Su Zhenjiu, and Han Wuwang of Dongyang Sect, whom he had seen on their last visit to Shenwu Mountain.
He also noticed a young gentleman from the Ouyang clan of Yuezhou who looked somewhat familiar. After thinking for a moment, he remembered: two autumns ago, after harvesting his spirit rice and taking it to Wuchao Town to sell, this very young master had bought up his entire crop for three spirit stones. Back then, the shopkeeper had said that the Ouyang family was “a house so wealthy it had no limits.” Today proved it true.
Looking over at the Su clan’s side, Su Zhi was already seated. As a guest elder, his seat was placed behind the elders but ahead of the inner disciples. Su Xi and Su Wan were seated among the inner disciples as well, the only two from the Su clan to hold that status. In the past, Second Lady had also been an inner disciple of Danxia, but after marrying into the Ouyang family of Yuezhou, she had left the sect and taken on a new role.
By marriage, the Ouyang and Su families were kin of a sort. That explained why the same arrogant young master who had once bought his spirit rice had come over earlier to pay respects to Su Zhi, bowing in the manner of a junior disciple.
As he watched, Su Xun came quickly to Su Zhi’s seat, whispered a few words in his ear, and Su Zhi rose and left. The two went down from Danqiu together, with Su Xi following close behind.
Liu Xiaolou, still uneasy after the reckless act he had committed last night in order to avenge a grudge, grew tense at the sight. Sensitive to the slightest sign of trouble, he feared this might somehow drag him in. He slipped behind Su Wan’s seat and whispered, “Ninth Lady, what happened?”
Su Wan rose, led him aside to a spot hidden from the crowd, and said helplessly, “It’s those same three sects again: Tiger-Taming Sect, Plum-Breaking Sect, and Moon-Plucking Sect. They never came up, and now they’ve started fighting down below. They never give anyone a moment’s peace. Father and Fifth Sister went down to deal with it. Father warned them over and over not to make a scene, but they wouldn’t listen. Now they’ve embarrassed us all the way here in the sect’s Grotto-Heaven.”
When Liu Xiaolou heard it had nothing to do with him, he let out a breath of relief. Then, curious, he asked, “Those three sects don’t get along? Why not?”
Su Jiuniang said, “Tiger-Taming Sect of Meiling, Plum-Breaking Sect of Moon Mountain, and Moon-Plucking Sect of Tiger Mountain. Think about it.”
Liu Xiaolou thought for a moment, then suddenly realized and couldn’t help but laugh. “Just because of their names?”
“Just for the names. And plenty of people have been hurt over it.”
Since that had nothing to do with him, Liu Xiaolou paid it no mind. Instead he asked about last night. “Did Yin Centipede turn on you?”
Su Wan nodded. “If it had been someone else, seeing you and me together might have been enough to make them back down. But not him. He refused to let it go. He went digging, and sure enough, he found out the person with me wasn’t Jingzhao but you. Last night he laid it out plainly: once this affair is settled, he intends to come to the Su family to propose marriage. If I refuse, he’ll cut off our supply of sacred incense.”
“This incense, there’s no substitute for it?” asked Liu Xiaolou. “The Su family has to buy it from Shenwu Mountain?”
Su Wan said, “Of course there are substitutes. But they’re rare and far more expensive. You can manage for a short while, but in the long run, it’s unsustainable.”
“So will it come to war?”
“We can refuse the marriage, and the Yin clan can refuse to sell incense,” she said. “If it comes to war over that, the blame won’t lie with us, and it’ll be hard to win the sect’s backing. What worries the family more is that the Mao and Wang clans will take advantage of the chaos. I told you about that yesterday.”
Liu Xiaolou glanced across at the guest seats. “Ninth Lady, which one is Jingzhao?”
Su Wan’s face darkened. “At a time like this, you’re still making jokes?” She flicked her sleeve and walked away.
Liu Xiaolou was left speechless. Things had already come to this point. If she needed help, she should just ask for it. What was the use of putting on airs? Besides, wasn’t this the perfect chance to get closer to Young Master Jingzhao? Foolish, utterly foolish.
No sooner had Su Wan left than Tigerhead Dragon strolled over. Though the Jiao family of Lion Ridge had good ties with the Su clan, they weren’t vassals of the Sus. They were actually in-laws of the Cai family, and thus counted as part of Cai’s faction.
The burly fellow watched Su Wan return to the inner disciples’ seats after storming off, and said with deep regret, “Why did she go back? She didn’t look happy. Brother, did you upset her? You’d better go apologize!”
Liu Xiaolou rolled his eyes at him. “Brother Tigerhead, it wasn’t me who upset her. It was someone else. Has nothing to do with me, all right?”
Hutou Jiao flared up. “Who made her unhappy? Tell me and I’ll deal with him!”
Liu Xiaolou gave his chest a light punch. “Don’t you know? Two people. One is Jingzhao of Qingyu Sect, the other is that centipede from the Yin clan. I’ll leave them to you. Go on, take care of them!”
Tigerhead let out a sigh. “Jingzhao again. That bastard. One day, when my cultivation’s high enough, I’ll storm Jun Mountain myself! Eh? But you just said Yin Gong too? What did that wretch do to displease her?”
Liu Xiaolou asked, “What, are you planning to storm Yin Manor as well? He may not have reached the Golden Core stage, but he’s still a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Think you can take him?”
Tigerhead Dragon pressed him, “Just tell me how that bastard offended Ninth Lady, and I’ll find a way to deal with him!”
Liu Xiaolou thought it over. The Yin clan would soon be coming to Shenwu Mountain to formally propose marriage anyway. It couldn’t be kept secret for long, and there was no point in hiding it. So he said it plainly: “That wretch has long been lusting after Sa Wan. He plans to seek marriage with the Su family.”
Tigerhead Dragon sneered. “Jingzhao is one thing, but what is Yin Gong compared to him? And yet he dares to dream of such nonsense? Truly reaching beyond his station. Ninth Lady agreeing to him would be the real miracle. Let him keep dreaming!”
Liu Xiaolou lowered his voice. “But he’s holding the sacred incense. Shenwu Mountain depends on it, and that centipede has already said if the Sus refuse, he’ll cut off the supply. Ninth Lady is furious and resentful, but for now there’s no way out…”
Tigerhead Dragon’s face flushed red. “I’ll go find him!”
“Go ahead,” Liu Xiaolou said. “I’ll stay here and cover you, watching for any move.”
Just then, the sound of a great bronze chime rang out. Sect Master Cai Qiugong of Danxia appeared with the elders and of the clans' heads, making his way up the mountain. They took their places before the giant cauldron under the banyan tree, and the entire gathering fell solemnly silent.
Tigerhead Dragon kept his eyes fixed on the crowd behind the Qingyu Sect’s seats, searching for Yin Gong’s figure. He muttered angrily, “Once the ceremony ends, I’ll go find him!”