Chapter 236: Posting the Heroic Post

A light rain fell unexpectedly, slowly washing the blood from Ghost Dream Cliff down the slope, rousing the dazed disciples of Wulong Mountain from their stupor.

Liu Liu Xiaolou wiped the streams of rain from his face and shouted: "Dai Sanren! Dragon Dai Sanren! Old Hu Du! Huang Huang Xian! Get everyone to help bury Jiang Brother and the others… Bu San, Bu San, help your master! Lingling! What are you staring at? Gather them all up—don't let them get rained on… don't let them get rained on!"

He walked over to the Gu Gu Zhangshan brothers and said: "Senior brothers, bury Uncle Four." Unfortunately, the tenth man Lu Lu Yuanlang killed was Gu Gu Zhangshan's fourth brother—one of the original Seven Friends of Gu Gu Zhangshan, now reduced to only four.

Gu Gu Zhangshan's eldest brother's cheeks trembled, his eyebrows and beard dripping with rain: "Bury… bury where? Oh, beside Elder Two and Elder Three… let them keep each other company… keep each other company…"

So Liu Liu Xiaolou shouted: "Carry them all to Tiankenggu!"

Yun Ao suddenly remembered and looked around: "Where's your brother? The one called Tan Tan Bazhang…"

Liu Liu Xiaolou was immensely relieved: "He and Zuo Zuo Xiaozhu are away on an errand and haven't returned."

Yun Ao also sighed: "Lucky, lucky… By the way, where's Xiao Fang? Where's Xiao Fang?"

Liu Liu Xiaolou had already searched for Fang Buan but hadn't seen him; he guessed Fang Buan's hiding place at Bansongping was too secluded, and since Lu Lu Yuanlang had invaded at night, it was natural he hadn't noticed Fang Buan was still there.

"Xiao Fang should be fine—he's not here."

"Good, good…"

Not only were Tan Tan Bazhang and Zuo Gaofeng away, but Dai Shenggao had taken Huang's brothers and nine others to carry out Wang Laoda's Heroic Order, going far afield on business, staying away longer than usual, and likely hiding in some secluded spot as per custom—thus escaping this disaster.

More than twenty disciples of Wulong Mountain remained on Ghost Dream Cliff, most still dazed, mechanically obeying Liu Liu Xiaolou's orders, carrying and lifting the bodies of Jiang Jiang Feihu, Zhang Zhang Shihua, and others toward Tiankenggu.

Tiankenggu already held the graves of over a dozen Wulong Mountain disciples who died in the Zhuoshui battle—mostly symbolic tombs with stone steles erected for mourning; the ones who led this effort last year were Jiang Jiang Feihu and Zhang Zhang Shihua.

Who could have imagined that a year later, they themselves would be buried here, with steles erected for them?

Liu Liu Xiaolou said nothing, digging the first grave; others followed suit. Yun Ao volunteered: "Huang Huang Xian, let's go cut trees and make coffins."

The rain lasted until dusk, and by day's end, ten new stone steles stood in Tiankenggu.

Liu Liu Xiaolou looked at the twenty-odd people before him; they looked back at him, silent. After a long while, Liu Liu Xiaolou waved his hand: "Go."

Saying this, he turned and walked away.

Only then did he notice that not only Yun Ao followed him, but also Fang Buan—he had no idea when Fang Buan had arrived at Tiankenggu, and he hadn't seen him at all.

Back at Ganzhuling, Liu Liu Xiaolou stood for a long while before the collapsed thatched hut. Fang Buan approached, fists clenched, struggling to speak: "Last night… I was afraid. I didn't dare go to Ghost Dream Cliff…"

Liu Liu Xiaolou smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder: "Not going was right. Why go? To die? Xiao Fang, no need to feel ashamed. Not fearing death doesn't mean throwing your life away pointlessly. I know—if I die, you'll avenge me someday, won't you?"

Fang Buan nodded hard: "I will… I will…"

Liu Liu Xiaolou turned to Yun Ao: "Yun Brother, I'm truly sorry to have dragged you into this. Now that things are settled, hurry home—don't let your wife worry."

Yun Ao asked: "What are your plans? Liu Xiaolou, you can't stay in Wulong Mountain. Where will you go? If you have nowhere suitable, come to my Bai Yun Shanzhuang—we'll live side by side, drink and discuss the Dao. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Liu Liu Xiaolou thanked him: "Thank you, Yun Brother, but I've been expelled from Sujiasuo. If I go to Bai Yun Shanzhuang, Sujiasuo may take offense. The world is vast—where can't I go? Don't worry, I'll find you eventually and repair your array plates…"

Yun Ao frowned: "Why mention array plates now? Can't we live without them? Didn't we manage fine before?"

Liu Liu Xiaolou nodded: "I spoke foolishly… Then, if I truly have nowhere else to go, I'll come to you, Yun Brother."

Yun Ao said: "It's settled."

After seeing Yun Ao off, Fang Buan asked: "Senior, where are we moving?"

Liu Liu Xiaolou didn't answer immediately. He told Fang Buan to cut a bamboo from the grove, slice it into segments, split each lengthwise, and fashion them into small wooden plaques two inches long and one inch wide.

When the plaques were ready, Liu Liu Xiaolou engraved the words "Heroic Post" onto them using the same method he used for array plates, then dipped a brush in ink to stain the characters.

After engraving, he imprinted a trace of true qi—making forgery nearly impossible.

After carving two, he handed them to Fang Buan: "Xiao Fang, go to Longshan and Nyudong. Deliver these to Dragon Dai Sanren and Huang Ye Huang Xian. If they refuse the post, say nothing. If they accept, tell them to pack and leave the mountain within two days—make a show of it. Aren't there patrols from various sects stationed below? Let them see. Meet at the second mountain pass on the southern side of Mount Mount Wuling's eastern end in six days."

Fang Buan was excited, his lips trembling. Liu Liu Xiaolou warned him: "Xiao Fang, calm down."

Fang Buan nodded, clutching the Heroic Posts tightly as he descended the ridge.

Liu Liu Xiaolou continued engraving Heroic Posts. After an hour, Fang Buan returned to report: "Dragon Senior and Huang Senior both accepted. Dragon Senior wants two… and Huang Senior has been crying."

Liu Liu Xiaolou sighed and nodded, handing him five more Heroic Posts: "Take these to Li Bu San… and these four to Gu Gu Zhangshan's eldest, fifth, sixth, and seventh seniors."

Fang Buan said: "They're all together—one post is enough."

Liu Liu Xiaolou shook his head: "It's the rule. When it's about giving your life, everyone must have their own post!"

Fang Buan returned after delivering them: "The four Gu Gu Zhangshan seniors accepted. When I arrived, they were packing their belongings. Any more?"

Liu Liu Xiaolou handed him more Heroic Posts: "Go to Hulukou, Shudao Ling, Taoli Shan, and Majiao Gu."

At dawn, Fang Buan returned again: "Hu Du Daochang, Cangyun Tian Senior, Brother Long, and Wanliming Senior all accepted. Hu Du Daochang is sharpening his blade…"

Liu Liu Xiaolou paused, then smiled. Cultivators didn't need to sharpen blades—it was just a way to vent anger. He continued handing engraved Heroic Posts to Fang Buan, who ran tirelessly. Liu Liu Xiaolou had arranged deliveries along similar routes to minimize travel, yet Fang Buan was still exhausted.

"Old Lame and Qi Qi Laoqi accepted—they were quick…"

"Hu Captain accepted. Lingling Guest wasn't there—looks like he's already moved…"

"Fan Zheng and Mu Mu Yidao accepted. Li Li Fuchen refused—he's planning to leave the mountain…"

Liu Liu Xiaolou engraved Heroic Posts until afternoon; Fang Buan ran until afternoon, delivering twenty-two in total—twenty accepted, a remarkably high rate.

Of the two who refused, Liu Liu Xiaolou knew their natures well: Lingling Guest was always slippery and truly avoided trouble; Li Li Fuchen simply disliked complications and lacked courage. Their refusal was expected.

Yet nine out of ten accepted—perhaps they all knew what Liu Liu Xiaolou intended to do, and were willing to join.

With the Heroic Posts delivered, Fang Buan sighed: "Too bad Zuo Zuo Xiaozhu and Tan Senior weren't here, and Dai Senior hasn't returned—if they had, we'd have more hands."

Liu Liu Xiaolou smiled: "Enough."