Chapter 256

The reputation of True Person Master Jingzhen for kindness was something Liu Liu Xiaolou had heard his teacher, Master Master Sanxuan, mention years ago. Therefore, when he heard back then that Ah Zhen had been taken away by Master Jingzhen to cultivate, he felt both envious and happy for Ah Zhen's good fortune.

Thus, he guessed that Master Jingzhen would very likely let the little thief go after a lecture, so he waited at the foot of Xiushan and, sure enough, waited for this thief.

Following behind this thief for seven or eight miles, when the thief stopped to rest in a grove, Liu Liu Xiaolou quietly approached and saw the thief venting his anger on the surrounding trees and weeds, then fiercely spitting on the ground, cursing, "I've been roaming the pugilistic world for so many years, do I need a woman like you to lecture me on how to be a person? If I had your good life, eating delicacies and drinking fine wine all day, I'd be a good person too..."

Just as he was cursing, he suddenly became highly alert and shouted toward his left, "Who is it?"

Liu Liu Xiaolou walked out slowly, went up to the thief, and stared at him, looking half-smiling.

The thief recognized Liu Liu Xiaolou, who had captured him yesterday, at a glance. Having been knocked unconscious twice by Ah Zhen, he didn't know Liu Liu Xiaolou's name, but since Liu Liu Xiaolou had captured him so easily, his cultivation was definitely something he couldn't catch up to even if he whipped his horse. So, he quickly put on a smiling face, "This expert, I don't know what instructions you have for following me?"

Liu Liu Xiaolou folded his arms and sized him up for a moment, making the thief feel a chill in his heart, before he said leisurely, "True Person Master Jingzhen is kind and compassionate, as everyone in Jingxiang knows. So, there are some things you can say to fool her, and even if she sees through them, it doesn't really matter; she will let you go just the same."

The thief replied with a fawning smile, "What are you saying, sir? How could I hide anything? Hehe..."

Liu Liu Xiaolou continued, "But there is one thing I must make clear to you: I am not as easy to fool as True Person Master Jingzhen. What I want to know, I must know. So I have one question, and you must answer me honestly. If I am not satisfied with your answer, I will lose my temper. Every time I lose my temper, you will lose a finger. Do you hear me clearly?"

The thief's eyes flickered, but his face remained full of smiles, "How would I dare to hide anything from you, sir? If you have any confusion, I will certainly tell you everything I know!"

Liu Liu Xiaolou said, "That's good. By the way, before I ask, there is one more thing I must tell you: I am from Wulong Mountain."

The thief's expression changed drastically.

Liu Liu Xiaolou repeated, "You might have heard of Wulong Mountain in Western Xiang."

Beads of fine sweat immediately seeped out on the thief's forehead.

Liu Liu Xiaolou finally began his questioning, "Listen well, I will only ask once. Starting from the thumb of your left hand, see if you can keep this finger... Why did you steal that Sect Master token from True Person Master Jingzhen? I will count to three. If you haven't answered by then, hehe..."

"I..."

"Three, two, one!"

"Someone offered five spirit stones, and he was the one who told me where the Sect Master token was..."

Seeing Liu Liu Xiaolou frown, the thief immediately added, "It was He Taichang from Miaofeng Mountain! Do you know Miaofeng Mountain, sir? Miaofeng Mountain in the hundred thousand mountains of the southwest. Miaofeng Mountain has become increasingly famous in recent years. If you head southwest, you will know as soon as you ask."

Seeing Liu Liu Xiaolou's brow furrow even tighter, the thief felt a chill rising in his heart and added again, "My lowly name is Feng Bujie, and I am best at the art of empty-handed theft. He Taichang had dealings with me ten years ago and knew of my little skill, so he came specifically to my home... I truly don't know what use this wooden token has, but I was entrusted by others to do their bidding. Please, sir, spare me! By the way, that He Taichang is waiting at my home. If you want to see him, I am willing to lead the way! That fellow has Stage 8 cultivation; although high, he is absolutely no match for you. I can assist from the side to capture him and force him to spill the beans on what the wooden token is for..."

Just as he was speaking with spittle flying, white foam actually began to seep from the corners of Feng Bujie's mouth, though he himself was unaware of it, "That heaven-killing He Taichang, actually I have long... long... seen him... not..."

The next word, however, could not be spoken no matter what.

Liu Liu Xiaolou realized it instantly. He first leaped back more than two zhang, and after discovering there was no danger around, he quickly returned to Feng Bujie's side, grabbed his wrist, and channeled true qi to detoxify him.

Unfortunately, it was already too late. Within this extremely short time, Feng Bujie had died from the poison!

Who had administered the poison?

Liu Liu Xiaolou felt a chill down his spine for a moment. After hesitating for a short while, he quickly left the place, walking away without looking back. He walked faster and faster, took a wide detour, and returned to the nameless mountain peak in the dead of night. He watched the path he had come from on the cliffside and waited for a full two hours. Only after confirming that no one had followed him did he return to the cave.

The breathing and panting sounds of Tan Ba and Fang Bu'ai were still steady; everything here was as usual, with no changes.

For several consecutive days, Liu Liu Xiaolou pondered this matter, but he knew too little information to find any useful leads. He had the heart to return to the grove to check the scene of Feng Bujie's death by poison, but he could not muster the courage.

Since he lacked the courage to go back and find out, he forced himself to stop thinking about it and immersed his mind back into cultivation.

Another two months passed, and he had successfully opened the four acupoints of Lin Qian Gu, Hou Xi, Wan Gu, and Yang Gu, steadily advancing his cultivation progress.

On this day, while he was in the middle of breaking through the Yang Lao acupoint, he heard continuous sounds in the inner cave chamber, like a mouse gnawing. He quickly got up to check, only to find that Tan Ba was at a critical moment in his breakthrough, his molars constantly chewing and grinding, his face drenched in sweat.

Two months ago, Liu Liu Xiaolou had just gone through this stage and knew the dangers within. Not daring to delay, he extended a finger and pressed it on the center of Tan Ba's brow, which was exactly the position of the "Heavenly Court."

A stream of true qi was sent into it, flowing up and down along the meridians, stabilizing Tan Ba's spiritual platform.

At a certain moment, one day later, the aura in the cave suddenly changed, carrying a sense of indescribable loftiness amidst the solemnity, making one's heart surge.

Tan Ba opened his eyes, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and then laughed out loud, only to have his mouth covered by Liu Liu Xiaolou and be dragged outside the cave.

"If you want to laugh, laugh outside. Don't disturb Little Fang."

"Hahahaha... Forget it, it's too boring. After being blocked by you like this, all the laughter is gone!"

"Congratulations to Brother Tan Tan Bazhang for breaking through to the late stage!"

"Easy, easy. Many thanks to Liu Xiaolou for guarding the dharma! Liu Xiaolou, you must also work hard and strive to catch up with my pace soon. When you break through, I will guard the dharma for you!"

"That won't be necessary. Left Valley Master has already guarded the dharma for me, just two months ago."

"Ah, Liu Xiaolou, you... are actually at Stage 8 as well..."

Just as they were speaking, someone suddenly came up the mountain and said from far away, "Also at Stage 8? Tan Tan Bazhang has broken through? Joyous and congratulatory!"

Liu Liu Xiaolou responded, "Left Valley Master is back? How was the trip to Chicheng Mountain?"

Tan Ba was stunned, "Left Valley Master went to Chicheng Mountain? When did that happen?"

Zuo Gaofeng shook his head, "It's a long story... There were no Foundation Establishment Pills at the Chicheng Mountain hidden market, but there was news. Liu Xiaolou, let's go back."

Liu Liu Xiaolou asked, "Has the Tianmu Mountain side relaxed again?"

Zuo Gaofeng said, "I heard news that Tianmu Mountain has refined another Foundation Establishment Pill. Originally, they intended to add a disciple to the inner sect, but I heard this Foundation Establishment Pill has been stolen again!"

Liu Liu Xiaolou quickly asked, "Is the news certain?"

Zuo Gaofeng said, "Certain, it is news sent by Dai Shenggao!"