Chapter 20: Autumn Wind and Autumn Rain

These nine major acupoints of the Hand Jueyin Meridian were clearly much harder to open than the various acupoints on the previous four meridians, and required much more internal energy. Previously, it took one spirit stone to open one acupoint on average for the other meridians. When it came to the Tianchi acupoint of the Hand Jueyin Meridian, it took two to succeed. The Tianquan acupoint he was currently striking felt like it would also take about two spirit stones. As for how many the following seven acupoints—Quchi, Xi Sect, Bai Jian Shi, Neiguan, Daling, Laogong, and Zhongchong—would need, it was still unknown.

The days of cultivation were simple. The entire Gan Zhu Ling seemed to have quieted down. Every day was sitting in meditation, eating, kicking the great white goose, sitting in meditation, eating, kicking the great white goose...

Whenever it was time for cultivation, the great white goose would transform, fulfilling its duties as the housekeeper and servant of the Three Mystical Sect under Liu Xiaolou's threat of fists and kicks. It would catch insects and weed in the courtyard, clean up the vines climbing up the beams and pillars, and sometimes even catch mice. The Three Mystical Sect's meat supply mainly relied on the great white goose's contributions. The fat fish in the Wuchao River were the main item, and others included mountain snakes, pheasants, wild rabbits, and mountain mice in the bamboo forest.

This guy had a large range of activities. Not only did it run around the mountain, but it would occasionally run out of the mountain along the Wuchao River, snatching a few pieces of cured meat from some family, or some shiny things that were quite dazzling, such as a few copper coins, a piece of broken silver, or a gold bean. So, just in terms of Liu Xiaolou's standard of living, if it was just to maintain the daily expenses of the household, it could be said to be completely sufficient.

If he needed money, he could dig into the great white goose's grass nest, and there would always be some small surprises.

The harvest period for the spirit fields on Eyang Mountain was in late autumn. A few days after Liu Xiaolou returned to the mountain, the mountain rain began to fall, as fine as cow hair, and the mountain wind blowing with the rain was much colder than before.

Liu Xiaolou sat in meditation on the terrace under the eaves, occasionally detaching himself from the operation of the technique to listen to the sound of the rain and feel the slight cold, clearing his mind.

When it was time to eat, Liu Xiaolou would pick some bamboo fungus, wild vegetables, and tender bamboo shoots in the forest outside the courtyard, slice a plate of cured meat brought back by the great white goose, or boil a pot of fish soup or roast a wild rabbit or pheasant.

Sometimes, he would also think about the female cultivator who harvested the spirit field on Eyang Mountain. He wondered if she would take what he said at the time seriously? If she really came to find him to do things, that would be great.

In any case, a cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refinement, the Great Perfection, regardless of her vision, background, or the resources she possessed, was something a bottom-level cultivator like him could only look up to. The errands she assigned would be his opportunity. Even if he worked for nothing once, it was acceptable. Once there was a first time, there would be a second time. It was impossible to work for nothing every time, right?

The autumn rain fell for seven or eight days without stopping. The great white goose returned from the foot of the mountain again, buried the harvest of this trip in its nest, and habitually came to the top of the rock crevice at the highest point of Gan Zhu Ling.

It spread its wings and overlooked the entire mountain ridge, satisfied with inspecting its territory, letting the fine rain gather into water droplets on its head and slide down slowly. This unique coolness in Wulong Mountain made it feel extremely comfortable.

Clouds rose from time to time from various parts of the valley, some fast, some slow, permeating among the mountains.

Several times, the great white goose spread its wings, wanting to fly over, fly into the mist, but after tumbling several times, it had to restrain its wild imagination, climb back to the peak in a disheveled manner, and continue to do what it could.

In the misty autumn rain, it suddenly saw someone walking up the mountain slowly, their figure appearing and disappearing in the clouds, so it flapped its wings and jumped onto a small tree nearby, pulling a thin vine hanging between the branches.

"Ding-dong, ding-dong..."

The wind chime hanging on the eaves made a crisp sound, making the mountain ridge even more quiet and secluded.

Liu Xiaolou woke up from his cultivation and listened carefully. His cultivation had reached a higher level, and his hearing was much stronger than half a year ago. After listening for a while, he distinguished the slight sound of footsteps coming from the bamboo forest, so he checked the Illusory Fragrant Tendon on his arm and placed the Three Mystical Sword behind him where he could reach it, took a deep breath, and said loudly: "Which high-minded person is entering my mountain?"

The person who came was dressed in green, but it wasn't the female cultivator he was hoping for, but Dai Sanren.

Liu Xiaolou hurriedly stood up to greet him: "Dai Sanren!"

Dai Sanren pushed open the firewood door and nodded: "Xiaolou, haven't seen you for half a year, your cultivation has made great progress."

Liu Xiaolou was a bit ashamed and bowed: "Thanks to Senior's guidance... Please take a seat to avoid the wind and rain."

After going up to the terrace, looking at the eaves blocking the wind and rain, and looking at the rain scenery in the mountains, Dai Sanren and Liu Xiaolou sat opposite each other and smiled: "The wind and rain on Gan Zhu Ling are excellent. I've feasted my eyes today."

After sitting down, Dai Sanren emitted a heavy water mist, and in the blink of an eye, his clothes and shoes were dry.

This was a skill only possessed by those at the high stage of Qi Refinement, at least after the eighth or ninth level. Liu Xiaolou was very envious, feeling more and more that the road ahead was long and the journey was far.

He went into the room to get tea sets and, with the rain dripping from the eaves, made a fire to cook tea.

"Senior's cultivation is profound and your prestige is well-known. Finding a place with excellent scenery to cultivate is as easy as turning over your hand."

"I have a life of toil and can't be idle. If I have the opportunity to build a foundation, I will enjoy my old age, hehe."

"Teacher once said before he passed away that among his lifelong friends, if anyone could build a foundation, Senior would definitely be the first."

"Haha, then I'll take your teacher's auspicious words."

The water boiled, and he put in a handful of wild tea bought in Wuchao Town. In a moment, the tea leaves opened. Liu Xiaolou raised his cup and invited: "Senior, please."

Sipping the tea, Dai Sanren said: "The matter of the Hero Assembly has almost subsided. The Dongyang Sect has stopped, so you don't need to worry."

This was good news. Liu Xiaolou nodded: "Yes."

Dai Sanren added: "So... there's a matter, you should consider it yourself."

Just as the spirit stones in his hand were about to be used up, and the Tianquan acupoint still hadn't been opened, with a new opportunity, how could Liu Xiaolou not be willing?

"Senior, please speak!"

Dai Sanren said: "Actually, I'm just passing a message to you. I don't know the details."

"Passing a message? Passing whose message?" Liu Xiaolou asked suspiciously.

"Wei Hongqing."

"Ah... Brother Wei? Senior has news of him?"

Dai Sanren explained: "A few days ago, I went to Tianmen Market. Do you know Tianmen Market?"

Liu Xiaolou nodded: "I've heard Teacher mention it. It's the largest market in Xiangxi, even larger than Tanzhou Market, but I haven't had the opportunity to see it yet."

Dai Sanren said: "Tianmen Market is two hundred miles east of Wulong Mountain. It is the largest market not only in Xiangxi but in the entire Jingxiang region. I met Wei Hongqing there. He asked about my itinerary and, knowing I was coming back in these two days, asked me to bring you a message, inviting you to go to Tianmen Market to see him as soon as possible."

Saying this, he took out a page of yellow paper with a sentence written on it: "Important matter to discuss, come quickly upon seeing this letter."

It was indeed Wei Hongqing's handwriting. ===== CHAPTER 21 =====