Chapter 108: Returning to Tianmen Market

Resigning from the academy meant Yong E was done with it.

“Where did she go? Transferred to Hongyu? Or left Yueyang for another marketplace?”

“Definitely not Hongyu—Zhang Ma and I keep in constant contact; if she’d gone there, I’d know right away. She left Yueyang. What? Is Xiao Lou missing her? Her looks are among the worst in Lüyi Courtyard. Are you starting to fancy music and poetry? That’s not our Wulong Mountain style.”

“Don’t joke, Qing Jie—I need to find her for information. Think hard—before she left, did she mention any place?”

“Why would you need to find her?” Qing Jie frowned, then strained to recall. “She asked me about some mountain just before leaving. I told her I’d never heard of it, and she dropped it.”

“What mountain? Think!”

“Feng Mountain? Heifeng Mountain? No. Huangfeng Mountain? No either.”

“How many characters?”

“One character short—what was it again? Oh, I’m getting old, memory’s gone.”

“Why did she ask about that mountain?”

“She didn’t say.”

“Qing Jie, when one of your girls resigns, don’t you even ask why?”

“Of course I know. She came to Lüyi Courtyard hoping to find a way into cultivation—maybe meet a noble scion, or even a devoted hermit who could help her enter the path. She was just too eager. After only half a year, she couldn’t sit still. Entering cultivation isn’t that easy. I’ve wasted over a decade myself and still have no path. It all comes down to innate talent…”

“So she left Lüyi Courtyard because she saw no hope staying?”

“Probably.”

“Then her asking about that Feng Mountain means she thought there was hope there?”

“Hard to say. Maybe she was visiting a friend? Or heard there’s a better brothel there?”

“Alright, alright, I get it. Thanks, Qing Jie.”

“Not just Qing Jie—I’m your mother-in-law!”

“You’re joking, right? Play all you want, but don’t actually get yourself tangled up.”

“You little brat—who’s getting tangled, you or me? Do you even know? Want me to give you some pointers?”

You never win an argument with someone like Qing Jie—just keeping your armor on is a victory, since she’ll go for the real thing. So Liu Xiao Lou could only retreat in defeat. He had no heart for cultivation—he had to find Yong E’s whereabouts fast.

Rushing from Yueyang Market to Tianmen Mountain Market, he waited all day at Hongji Restaurant until he finally spotted Wei Hongqing.

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Wei Hongqing looked exhausted. “Lately, the sect’s assigned us a mountain of tasks—I’ve been swamped. Sorry to keep you waiting. The atmosphere’s tense now. Qingyu Sect is stirring up trouble again, planning to use Dongyang Sect as a scapegoat. Changlong Sect and our Tianmu Mountain can’t stand idly by while Dongyang gets bullied—we’re preparing to negotiate seriously with Qingyu Sect. A storm’s coming. Be careful, little brother. Don’t let Changlong Sect recruit you again.”

Liu Xiao Lou asked: “Wei Brother, why are these big sects stirring up trouble again?”

Wei Hongqing replied: “I haven’t found out yet. Only that it’s tied to Dongyang Sect.”

Liu Xiao Lou said: “I know about this. Qingyu Sect discovered Hou Sheng is missing and suspects Dongyang Sect is behind it.” He then recounted everything he’d heard.

Wei Hongqing’s face turned grave. “You must find Yong E. She knows you met Hou Sheng.”

Liu Xiao Lou said: “That’s why I came to see you, Brother Wei. Your network’s wide—do you know of any place named something-Feng Mountain that helps people enter cultivation?”

Wei Hongqing thought long, then said: “Only through spirit pills—but those who need pills to break through even one level have no real cultivation future. Major sects won’t go through the trouble of making such useless pills. It’s different from Foundation Establishment pills—adding one Foundation Establishment cultivator benefits the sect visibly. But adding another Qi Refining Level One? Pointless. I’ve never heard of any sect making such pills.”

Hearing this, Liu Xiao Lou slapped his forehead. “I remember now—there is one heretic sect: Miaofeng Dan Sect. I heard it’s based on Miaofeng Mountain. Brother Wei, have you heard of it? In Tianmen Mountain Market, no shop—just a man named Yan Sanfei selling on the streets.”

Wei Hongqing had never heard of it. “Heretic sects are everywhere in Tianmen Mountain Market—mostly scams.”

Liu Xiao Lou said: “But their Yangxin Pills really work!”

So Wei Hongqing summoned an outer-disciple steward to investigate Yan Sanfei.

The steward actually knew Yan Sanfei—but held deep disdain for such people and never dealt with them. After half an hour, he returned: “Master, we couldn’t find Yan. Everyone says he hasn’t shown up in a while. As for Miaofeng Mountain, one of the men once heard of it, but doesn’t know where it is. Definitely not in Jingxiang. Should we send more people to look?”

Wei Hongqing waved his hand. “No need. If you find it, tell me. If not, don’t bother.”

If he stirred up too much attention, the inner sect of Tianmu Mountain might take notice—and that would backfire.

The two leaned close, brainstormed some more, but found no solution. They could only quietly search for Yong E’s whereabouts while reestablishing their alliance: if Dongyang Sect really found Yong E, and if she really confessed about Liu Xiao Lou meeting Hou Sheng, then Liu Xiao Lou would admit it—what harm could come from meeting? He’d already come to Tianmu Mountain Market, stayed over half a month at Wei Hongqing’s place, eating and drinking well—Wei Hongqing could testify for him then.

Setting that aside for now, Wei Hongqing asked: “How did you learn this information?”

Liu Xiao Lou replied humbly: “I’m ashamed to admit it—I carelessly wandered into Shenwu Mountain’s Su Family Village and happened to catch them recruiting a son-in-law. For some reason, they took a liking to me and made me their son-in-law. I’ve been married for a month now. Two days ago, Dongyang Sect’s Lou Zhenwu, Su Zhenjiu, and Han Wuwang came to pay respects at Su’s home. I was at the banquet and heard this story there.”

Wei Hongqing’s mouth dropped open. “Shenwu Mountain’s Su Clan? The Su Clan of Danxia Sect?”

Liu Xiao Lou sighed. “I wouldn’t want any other Su family—I’m a son-in-law, after all.”

Wei Hongqing immediately grew solemn with respect, ordered wine brought, and drank merrily with Liu Xiao Lou.

Drunk at the feast, Wei Hongqing wept: “Little brother, you’ve made it! Someone from Wulong Mountain has finally risen—wedded into the Su family’s wealth! This is a blessing for our entire mountain! If Master Sanxuan could see this, he’d rest easy.”

Liu Xiao Lou’s eyes grew wet from his tears. “I won’t forget the kindness of my mountain brothers, nor my Master’s teachings. When I return to the mountain, I plan to visit my Master’s grave and tell him.”

Wei Hongqing wiped his tears. “Of course you should! Tomorrow I’ll go with you back to the mountain—we’ll return to your in-laws’ home together!”

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