Chapter 53

It was just early spring, and the upper reaches of the Wuchao River had not yet reached the time of abundant water, so Liu Xiaolou didn't tie a bamboo raft to go down the mountain, but honestly walked the mountain road.

After going down Ganzhu Ridge, he didn't go in the direction of the village. Since there were people from the Green Jade Sect appearing in the village, it was no longer suitable to show his face there.

So he turned to the northwest, where there was a small path that few outsiders knew and mountain people were unwilling to reveal. The small path was hidden by the deep stream and traveled under the dense forest. It was an evacuation route for the loose cultivators of Mount Wulong in an emergency.

As soon as he entered this passage, Liu Xiaolou saw seven people carrying shoulder poles and bamboo baskets on their way, but it was the famous Seven Heroes of Mount Guzhang of Mount Wulong.

Liu Xiaolou was not very familiar with them, but he had also followed his teacher to Mount Guzhang to pay respects to the mountain head, so he greeted them from behind: "Seven Seniors!"

The Seven Heroes of Mount Guzhang looked back, nodded to Liu Xiaolou, and continued on their way. The seventh, who was at the very end, was the most enthusiastic and said to Liu Xiaolou: "Xiaolou is also setting off?"

Liu Xiaolou followed quickly and pointed in surprise at a table carried on the seventh's shoulder pole: "Senior, are you even moving the table? What kind of treasure is this?"

The seventh laughed and patted the table: "Good stuff! Made of lightning-struck yellow sandalwood. You can ask a weapon refiner to forge a few flying swords later. This treasure cannot be left to the Qingyu Sect. It would be a loss if they collected it."

The sixth in front looked back and grinned, flicking his fingers on a large porcelain jar tied to his back. The large porcelain jar made a crisp and continuous sound. The sixth enjoyed this crisp sound, raised his neck, and continued on his way in high spirits.

The seventh showed off from the side: "See? This is a good jar, with the effect of gathering spirits. The Zhou family used this large jar to raise spirit fish. We tasted that fish, and it was wonderful! By the way, the incense burner held by the fifth brother in front is used by the Zhou family to worship heaven, and it also has something strange..."

"The Zhou family of Dongting Lake?"

"Isn't it? Otherwise, why would the Qingyu Sect come to the door?"

"Hey, is it really you guys who did it? The Hero Order issued by Wang Laoda?"

"Xiaolou didn't go?... Oh, I didn't see Xiaolou at that time. That's a pity. The Zhou family is not comparable to an ordinary family, with a deep foundation. It is a major branch of the Qingyu Sect, and the garden is full of good things!"

"Why did Wang Laoda attack the Zhou family?"

"The second young master of the Zhou family humiliated Wang Laoda, so our brothers naturally had to come to the door to seek revenge. This time, breaking the Zhou family, it was our brothers from Mount Wulong who went the most, and everyone really made a fortune..."

"The second young master of the Zhou family?"

"Wang Laoda said that he was a greenhorn with low cultivation, oily head and powdered face, a dissolute playboy, relying on his family background to call others, and even slapped Wang Laoda. Can this be tolerated? Hehe, the brothers couldn't tolerate it, which is considered to be venting anger for Wang Laoda. It's just that the kid didn't know where he was hiding, and he wasn't seen after searching the manor..."

Just as they were chatting, several others came down from the hillside and joined the team leaving the mountain.

One of them greeted loudly: "Xiaolou! Xiaolou!"

Liu Xiaolou saw it and greeted with a smile: "Gorge Master Zuo, long time no see!"

Zuo Gaofeng also carried a large bamboo basket, covered with sheepskin that hadn't been dehaired, and didn't know what kind of belongings were inside. He patted Liu Xiaolou and said very regretfully: "After parting last year, I happened to meet Dai Sanren at the foot of the mountain and accepted the Hero Order. He also asked about you... This time everyone earned a lot, and there is no problem with eating and drinking for a year. Where did you go later? Why didn't you return to the mountain? Otherwise, you could have made a fortune!"

Liu Xiaolou asked: "Is there as much as the fortune we made with Brother Wei?"

Zuo Gaofeng laughed: "That's definitely not. Such an opportunity is hard to come by in ten years. Xiaolou, you won't have raised your appetite, will you? This won't work, you have to know how to be content... Ha, your big white goose hasn't been killed yet?"

Liu Xiaolou patted the big white goose following at his feet: "I have feelings for it, I won't eat it, let it be a companion, and I'm ready to provide for its old age."

Afterwards, many people joined one after another. Liu Xiaolou was familiar with Lingling Ke, Longshan Sanren, etc. Lingling Ke missed the Hero Order again and couldn't participate in the Hero Assembly, but had to leave his hometown and sigh all the way; Longshan Sanren went to the Zhou family that day, seeing that he was in a very happy mood, thinking that he had gained a lot.

What surprised Liu Xiaolou the most was that he actually saw Tan Bazhang. This guy also carried several large and small packages, talking and laughing down the mountain. Although the Tan family was also a lineage of Mount Wulong, they had always lived outside the mountain. Why did they have to flee?

"Brother Tan is..."

"Haha, Brother Liu, I couldn't stand the rules at home, so I moved into Mount Wulong in the first lunar month this year and settled down by the side of Longma Waterfall. When I come back, Brother must come to Longma Waterfall for a drink, and Gorge Master Zuo, Brother Lingling, come together!"

"Just arrived, and tired Brother Tan to leave the mountain and live separately, ashamed, ashamed."

"Xiaolou, what are you ashamed of? Breaking the Zhou family, Bazhang didn't take less!"

"Hahahaha, not that much, Gorge Master Zuo exaggerated..."

When walking out of Mount Wulong, there were more than a hundred fellow Daoists, everyone said goodbye to each other, wished each other well, and dispersed.

Snakes have snake paths, mice have mouse nests, and everyone has a place to hide from the wind, so naturally they won't gather in one place conspicuously.

Liu Xiaolou detoured from the north and returned to Wuchao Town in the lower reaches of the Wuchao River, came to a quiet and dilapidated small courtyard in the south of the town, felt around the corner of the wall for a while, found a rusty key, and opened the door lock.

In the sound of "creaking" pushing the door, the small courtyard appeared in front of him: except for the porch facing west, there were three rooms in the east, south, and north, and in the middle was a dripping ceiling the size of one-tenth of an acre, and a musty smell rushed to his face.

It had been more than two years since he came here. When he came last time, he was still by his teacher's side. He remembered his teacher saying that it cost fifty taels of silver to buy this place, and he had only lived there three times. Today is the fourth time.

The big white goose was active and took on the job of clearing spider webs and pulling weeds. Liu Xiaolou picked up the broom that was also full of dust and roughly cleaned the three rooms, which was considered settled.

The Qingyu Sect's large-scale suppression of Mount Wulong, I don't know how long it will take. According to the practice of other sects, it will take half a month at the shortest and a month at the longest. If they can't catch anyone, they will naturally leave. During this period of time, he will be a good citizen of Wuchao Town, living steadily and practicing steadily.

Liu Xiaolou went to the street, bought daily necessities, carried back two loads of firewood, cleaned the water tank and filled it, lit a fire and cooked a meal to fill his stomach, and then devoted himself to cultivation again.

The spring rain fell again, dripping from the eaves on all sides, like a bead curtain falling into the ceiling, and then flowing into the central rain pool. The big white goose floated in the rain pool, lazily tucking its head and neck under its wings.

Accompanied by the sound of rain, Liu Xiaolou held the spirit stone in his hand and began to impact the fifth acupoint of the Hand Jueyin Meridian—Bai Jian Shi.

Now there are seven spirit stones left in his hand. If there is no disturbance, he can practice for about three and a half months, but he doesn't know which acupoint he can open.

The sixth? Or the seventh?