Chapter 32: Chapter Thirty-One: Dividing the Stone

After Wei Hongqing left, Zuo Gaofeng stared at Lu Zian’s corpse in the net bag, then looked at Tan Ba and Liu Xiaolou, as if wanting to say something.

Tan Ba also felt uneasy inside, several times opening his mouth but holding back.

Liu Xiaolou knew what they were worried about, and said: “Don’t worry, Brother Wei will return soon.”

Tan Ba muttered: “Brother Wei has run off before...”

Zuo Gaofeng hesitated: “This isn’t like the wedding—it’s a major matter. Brother Wei shouldn’t... not likely.”

Liu Xiaolou said: “To Brother Wei, Lu Zian’s corpse matters more than the Foundation Establishment Pill.”

Tan Ba shook his head: “Then why not just leave the Foundation Establishment Pill behind?”

This was hard to answer, impossible to answer—say too much, and new rifts would form between them. Liu Xiaolou simply changed the subject: “Let’s bury the Western Mountain Recluse. After all, we were fellow cultivators; we can’t leave him exposed on the wilds.”

The three dug a deep pit, buried the Western Mountain Recluse, erected a wooden tablet on the grave, and stood in silence for a long while around the humble mound, not knowing what to say, each lost in their own thoughts.

After some time, Wei Hongqing finally returned, face beaming, and announced loudly: “The reward has come—fifteen spirit stones for each of you three brothers!”

After the Western Mountain Recluse’s death, Zuo Gaofeng and Tan Ba had expected the reward to exceed the original agreement, but fifteen spirit stones still surpassed their expectations—they were overjoyed.

Fifteen spirit stones—this was a fortune Liu Xiaolou had never dared to dream of, and now it was truly in his hands?

“Brother Wei, did you give up your share too?” Liu Xiaolou asked.

Wei Hongqing joked: “No problem. You three deserve more—it’s just a return gift for your wedding presents. Otherwise, if you keep brooding over it, it’ll become a mental block and harm your cultivation. That would be my grave fault!”

All three burst into laughter; the emotional knot was finally untied.

Wei Hongqing immediately distributed the spirit stones. Liu Xiaolou held fifteen glittering spirit stones in his palm, feeling as if he cradled a mountain’s weight, carefully tucked them into his robe, then patted his clothes, afraid they might slip out.

With matters settled, the group bid farewell. Zuo Gaofeng was headed to the Tianmen Mountain marketplace; Tan Ba needed to rush home. After exchanging farewells, each set off on their own path.

Liu Xiaolou was preparing to return to the mountain when Wei Hongqing stopped him and handed him a jade tablet.

“What’s this?” Liu Xiaolou rubbed the jade tablet, unable to understand it, but sensing it differed from ordinary jade pendants—it brimmed with potent spiritual energy, qualifying as a magic treasure.

Wei Hongqing said: “Didn’t they give you that array book? So I asked my contact—hehe—for a piece of spirit jade, the very material used to forge array discs. This spirit jade is nothing like the haphazard junk the Western Mountain Recluse used; his entire illusion array could be fully forged into just this single piece of spirit jade, and its effectiveness would be far superior.”

Liu Xiaolou smiled bitterly: “Thank you, Brother Wei, but I don’t understand arrays.”

Wei Hongqing dismissed it: “Learn it. Who’s born knowing arrays? You’ve got the book, the disc, and spirit stones—you can forge an illusion array. If all else fails, sell the book and spirit jade together—you’ll still get five or six spirit stones!”

What more could he say? Any thanks would be superfluous!

Liu Xiaolou tucked the jade tablet away and asked: “Brother Wei, judging by your look, your entry into the Tianmu Mountain Outer Sect is settled?”

Wei Hongqing nodded: “Nearly. Once I’m settled, come find me at Tianmu Mountain—I’ll show you the blessings of its sacred land.”

Liu Xiaolou sighed longingly: “A sacred land—I’ve never seen one. I can’t even imagine what it’s like.”

Wei Hongqing smiled: “It’s just that—spirit springs nourish the land, suitable for cultivation.”

Liu Xiaolou enviously said: “Brother Wei, after years of cultivation, you’ve finally entered a great sect. Now you won’t be burdened by Wulong Mountain’s reputation anymore. Congratulations.”

Wei Hongqing sighed: “Since leaving Lishan, I’ve wandered, suffered, endured countless hardships. Without a stroke of fortune, where would I be today? To be honest, though Wulong Mountain has a bad name, it’s still our home. I left out of desperation, without deep thought—only after roaming the world did I realize: a cultivator without a home can’t even dream of quiet, peaceful cultivation. With Wulong Mountain as your root, you can at least sleep soundly. The outside world is truly perilous...”

Liu Xiaolou had heard his master speak of the hardships faced by cultivators without a home, but he hadn’t felt it as deeply as Wei Hongqing.

Seeing his sworn brother find a good future, Liu Xiaolou was genuinely happy for him—even if that happiness carried a faint pang of loss. Hadn’t he himself been rejected half a year ago by the great southern sect, Dongyang Sect? How could he not feel it?

Wei Hongqing added: “I’m going to the Lu Clan Hall of Tianmu Mountain for the initiation rite—I can’t linger...”

Liu Xiaolou teased: “Go ahead—your wife’s waiting, right? Too bad I won’t get to meet her.”

Wei Hongqing hesitated: “She... doesn’t like meeting outsiders...”

Liu Xiaolou understood Wei Hongqing’s dilemma. That unseen sister-in-law was from a prestigious sect; her accepting Wei Hongqing was already a breach of protocol—how could she possibly want to meet and acknowledge him? This wasn’t just about lowering status—if he were in her place, he wouldn’t want it either.

“Then we’ll meet another time.”

Wei Hongqing nodded and said: “Then, brother is off...”

Liu Xiaolou watched him leave. Not far down the path, Wei Hongqing suddenly remembered something and turned back to warn: “Xiaolou, this place is a peach-blossom haven. Twenty li northeast lies Xingde Mountain. There dwells a noble hermit known as the Xingde Lord. If you wish to forge an array disc, go to Xingde Mountain.”

Liu Xiaolou nodded and waved to him, watching his figure vanish into the distant valley.

The forest was left with only Liu Xiaolou alone, and two graves—one deep, one shallow. He lingered a moment, then decided to head to Xingde Mountain first, to see if he might find an opportunity to forge an array disc.

Having once been trapped in the illusion array, he still craved its power. His cultivation was low, his combat ability severely lacking—if he could possess an illusion array, it might save his life at a critical moment.

He headed northeast. Soon he entered the tangled mountains. Though said to be twenty li, he didn’t arrive until dusk—only thanks to a woodcutter did he finally locate the mountain.

Climbing upward, he saw strange rocks and twisted pines, the scenery strikingly beautiful. As dusk lingered, he reached the summit and found a stone pavilion named “Xingde Pavilion.”

Xingde Pavilion was small, a three-hall structure covering about half an acre, occupying most of the mountain’s peak.

The pavilion had a gate but no courtyard walls. The main hall, east annex, and west wing formed a “pin” shape around a central courtyard of three-tenths of an acre. On either side of the courtyard stood two bronze cranes, incense smoldering gently within, emitting a faint, soothing fragrance.

Having just survived a wild battle, stepping into this quiet pavilion felt like a cleansing of his soul—his spirit grew clean and light.

Liu Xiaolou stood solemnly at the steps and bowed toward the main hall: “Is the Xingde Lord present? Disciple Liu Xiaolou has come to pay respects!”