Chapter 229

Seeing Liu Xiaolou didn't dare to come over, Steward Xin spread his hands: "Little brother, I have no malice. I'm just here to understand the details. If you really don't feel at ease, just talk over there."

Liu Xiaolou thought for a moment. Zhang Da Ming shouldn't be able to pit him; otherwise, if he shook out the fact that he privately released prisoners of war, he wouldn't have a good end either. So he walked over and cupped his hands: "Met Steward Xin."

This Steward Xin from Gengsang Cave had a very gentle attitude toward Liu Xiaolou, and didn't have the overbearing posture of a major sect. His face always maintained a smile, and his tone carried a bit of encouragement.

After hearing Liu Xiaolou's account, he immediately stated that he would report it to Elder Tu of the sect as soon as possible. Gengsang Cave would investigate this matter as soon as possible, and if there were no accidents, they would immediately make their attitude clear to Mount Tianmu, demanding that they not be allowed up the mountain.

He stated his attitude in a sonorous and powerful tone: "Wulong Mountain is a boundary mountain. This is a matter agreed upon by both sides. Sect Master Lu of Mount Tianmu is also one of the signatories. Since there is an agreement, it must be observed. No matter the situation or reason, it cannot be violated. On this point, I ask the little brother to inform all fellow Daoists on the mountain that on this matter, our Gengsang Cave, our Ba-Dong cultivators, including the Pingdu Eight-Array Sect, are all standing with you!"

Liu Xiaolou couldn't help but be deeply convinced and bowed: "Many thanks, Steward Xin!"

Steward Xin took out a small pouch and handed it over: "By the way, this is Gengsang Cave's reward for the little brother risking danger to go down the mountain to report. This news is very important, so Elder Tu is not stingy with rewards!"

"Ah..." Liu Xiaolou was a bit surprised and subconsciously took it: "This... is not very good..."

Steward Xin laughed: "For fellow Daoists in Wulong Mountain who are inclined toward Ba-Dong like the little brother, our Gengsang Cave has always been generous with rewards. I also ask the little brother to convey to all fellow Daoists on the mountain that in the future, if there is any news, feel free to report it."

Suddenly being labeled as "inclined toward Ba-Dong," Liu Xiaolou felt very uneasy in his heart, secretly thinking that you probably don't know how Wu Zhu Zi died. Oh, right, that fellow's real name was Wu Hongjin, right?

Truly, thinking of something makes it happen. Just as his thoughts turned to Wu Hongjin, Steward Xin inquired: "Little brother, I have a friend named Wu Zhu Zi who went up Wulong Mountain half a year ago, but was misunderstood by the Zhanglong Sect and tragically died. It was truly unclear. Due to the agreement, Xin is not easy to go up the mountain to inquire about the details. Every time I think of it, my heart aches... Does the little brother know about this?"

Liu Xiaolou pondered: "Junior actually knows a thing or two about this."

Steward Xin raised his eyebrows: "Oh? Please tell me."

Liu Xiaolou said: "After this Wu Zhu Zi went up the mountain, he was too ostentatious. He instigated the old Daoist Hu Du to build a sect and establish a faction, saying something about letting fellow Daoists on Wulong Mountain follow orders and prohibitions. But Steward Xin, think about it: what kind of place is Wulong Mountain? What kind of people are the fellow Daoists cultivating on Wulong Mountain? Who wants to find a father to serve on their heads? Everyone opposed it..."

Steward Xin was thoughtful: "So that's how it is. Then he was indeed a bit reckless..."

Liu Xiaolou continued: "This Wu Zhu Zi was quite tough, insisting on forcing everyone to agree, and even went so far as to draw his sword to threaten them. You say, we people on Wulong Mountain are all used to being fierce. Who is afraid of this?"

Steward Xin nodded: "Also... So you fought?"

Liu Xiaolou said: "He exposed himself, exposing that he cultivated poison techniques. Steward Xin probably also knows that fellow Daoists on Wulong Mountain fought very tragically at Zhuoshui, and dozens of fellow Daoists died, mostly with some blood feud with your side. Once they saw he cultivated poison techniques, they all thought he was sent up the mountain by your side, and immediately someone went to report to Zhanglong Mountain. Later... I don't need to say more."

Steward Xin tilted his head, not knowing what he was pondering. After a while, he nodded: "Many thanks, little brother. In the future, if there is any news, you can tell Da Ming. As long as it is useful, there will be rewards."

Liu Xiaolou laughed: "Then many thanks."

Steward Xin nodded to Zhang Da Ming and left immediately. After he left, Zhang Da Ming said to Liu Xiaolou: "Little brother, didn't you earn it? We talked about it yesterday..."

Liu Xiaolou kept saying he was ashamed. Opening the pouch to look, there were actually five spirit stones and two hundred taels of silver inside. Such a heavy reward truly made one's liver ache.

What made his liver ache was having to share the meat with Zhang Da Ming.

Zhang Da Ming clearly knew the number and directly asked for it: "I want three spirit stones, you want two, and we split the silver in half. Is that fair?"

Liu Xiaolou smiled bitterly: "It should be."

Zhang Da Ming glanced at him: "Don't feel heartache, as if I took a big advantage. To tell the truth, I am the most fair. It was my proposal to let them, Gengsang Cave, pay the spirit stones; otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten a single one!"

Saying this, Liu Xiaolou felt the knot in his heart lighten a bit.

Regardless, two spirit stones and one hundred taels of silver were an unexpected gain. So Liu Xiaolou thanked Zhang Da Ming again, watched him leave, and returned to Wulong Mountain himself.

There is no need to mention the process. After informing the Long Mountain Hermit and Dai Sanren of the result, the two were very happy and investigated the movements of Mount Tianmu in the east even more frequently.

For the fellow Daoists on Wulong Mountain, this was no longer just a matter of refusing a major sect from searching the mountain. More importantly, this would be the first time the rules were clearly defined: at no time could major sects come up the mountain.

Two days later, Dai Sanren returned from the foot of the mountain and happily gathered everyone to announce that the people from Mount Tianmu had withdrawn. The matter had long since spread, and fellow Daoists on the mountain were very concerned. This time, dozens of people came, all gathering at Dai Sanren's Fengyu Ridge, listening to him recount the details. After listening, everyone was overjoyed.

"All withdrawn?"

"Almost all withdrawn, only a few outer sect stewards were left."

"So they are still watching?"

"That is natural. I have also found out clearly about the person who died. It was a grand-nephew of Sect Master Lu, an inner sect steward named Lu Zhongqiu. So Mount Tianmu will continue to investigate this matter, but they won't come up the mountain."

"Then can the road to the east still be walked? Will it be blocked?"

"It's best to go down the mountain from the west. Of course, if there is an urgent matter, you can still go down the mountain from the east, as long as you can break through. The east is so vast; at most, a few people are guarding the main road. Isn't it fine not to take the main road? Actually, I think it doesn't matter if you are blocked. You are not Wei Hongqing. At most, you will be asked if you have seen Wei Hongqing or something. Those stewards can't go too far, right? Do they really dare to capture one for every Wulong Mountain person they see? They are also afraid that we will completely lean toward Ba-Dong!"

"These words make sense!"

"It's really good that there is no suppression on the mountain. We can cultivate with peace of mind again."

"Yes, it has been a year since a sect came up the mountain to suppress. I almost forgot this is Wulong Mountain, haha!"

The Long Mountain Hermit pressed his hand: "Everyone, we must all remember Xiaolou's favor. It was he who risked his life to go down the mountain to pass the message to Gengsang Cave."

Everyone laughed and thanked Liu Xiaolou. Some said that they would set up a banquet later and invite Liu Xiaolou to attend; some said that when they did business next time, they would definitely send an invitation to Liu Xiaolou and ask him to be sure to grace them with his presence; others said that this favor was remembered, and if there were any difficulties in the future, just let them know, and they would definitely go through fire and water, and so on.

There was no banquet for the time being, and it was unknown when the business would wait. Liu Xiaolou himself had said many times about going through fire and water, so he didn't take it seriously. Amidst the laughter and scolding, they dispersed like birds and beasts.

That night, Liu Xiaolou took advantage of the night to return to the karst cave at the bottom of the pool under Ghost Dream Cliff to inform Wei Hongqing of this matter.

Wei Hongqing pondered for a long time and said: "I have to go!"

Liu Xiaolou wondered: "The great enemy has retreated, and Mount Tianmu will no longer come up the mountain. Brother Wei, just heal your injuries with peace of mind. Why go down the mountain at this time?"

Wei Hongqing said: "I understand her. She is a person who will not stop until she reaches her goal. Mount Tianmu cannot search the mountain on a large scale, perhaps she will come up the mountain herself. She finds the right time, comes up alone, who can know? Even if they know, who can stop her in time? Foundation Establishment Mid-stage, no one on the mountain is her opponent."

Liu Xiaolou said: "But this place is extremely hidden..."

Wei Hongqing shook his head with a bitter smile: "These past few days, I have been desperately trying to recall whether I told her about this secret cave, but I can't remember no matter what. Five years of sleeping in the same bed, I don't know how many words I've said to her. I can't be sure!"

Liu Xiaolou pondered: "There are still many secret caves on the mountain..."

Wei Hongqing shook his head: "Xiaolou, I've been back for half a month. I've thought about it. I can't keep hiding here. I have to go down the mountain sooner or later. Even if I hide this time, as long as I am on the mountain, she can keep watching me, and I can't do anything. My cultivation cannot stop here. I have to fight to break through. The world outside the mountain is my world. I belong outside."