Chapter 74

Liu Xiaolou's gaze also turned around the main hall with Hou Sheng's gaze. When he turned to Tan Ba, Hou Sheng paused slightly, then bypassed him. Liu Xiaolou breathed a sigh of relief. Although Hou Sheng had seen Tan Ba once on Ghost Dream Cliff, they had not had much contact, and Tan Ba had disguised his appearance, so he did not recognize him.

After one song was played, another song started. The guests downstairs looked upstairs at first, but then became accustomed to it and returned to their respective discussions. The main hall was noisy.

Hou Sheng finally spoke, his voice controlled very lightly, coming faintly amidst the pipa sound. Liu Xiaolou heard it just right, but it was a bit difficult to hear.

"So, have you thought about it?"

"Thought about it..."

"Tell me."

"Yes... Xingde..."

"Don't mention the name."

"Yes... they didn't hide far, in fact, they are nearby."

"Oh?"

Since the original plan was not feasible, he could only take the backup plan. Liu Xiaolou glanced at the downstairs again and said: "They... perhaps they are on the Miluojiang."

"Perhaps?"

"Hou Zhishi, after parting, I didn't see them, but he said that if there is anything, I can leave a letter at Killing Hukou on the Miluojiang."

Hou Zhishi stared at Liu Xiaolou's eyes for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "He is bold. It turns out he has been hiding near Dongting. Well, this choice is not bad, very smart!"

After pondering for a while, Hou Sheng asked again: "Where are they hiding in Killing Hukou?"

Liu Xiaolou said: "I don't know either. After going there, leave a token at Killing Hukou. When they see it, they will naturally come to meet."

"Are they at Killing Hukou?"

"I don't know about this. I think they shouldn't be, otherwise they wouldn't let me leave a mark."

"What token?"

"Hou Zhishi, my array plate..."

"The person hasn't been caught, what are you thinking about the array plate?"

"Without seeing the array plate, I won't say it."

"Are you bargaining with me?" Hou Sheng's face sank, and he stared at Liu Xiaolou.

Liu Xiaolou felt Hou Sheng's disdain and killing intent, but still insisted: "Hou Zhishi, I refined this array plate with all my heart's blood and spent all my family property. If it weren't for this, I would never come here to see Hou Zhishi. We fellow daoists of Wulong Mountain never abandon friends. I have no choice, forced to do so. If it spreads out, I will be ruined!"

After confronting for a moment, Hou Sheng's face eased, and he said coldly: "You lead the way. After it is done, I will give you a reward of three spirit stones. But remember, don't play tricks, otherwise, I will chop you into pieces and feed the dogs!"

As he spoke, he took out the array plate from his bosom, shook it in front of Liu Xiaolou: "I will give it to you when we arrive at Killing Hukou."

Liu Xiaolou looked reluctantly at Hou Sheng putting the array plate away, and suggested: "Hou Zhishi, how many people are you planning to mobilize this time?"

Hou Sheng said coldly: "Why do you ask this?"

Liu Xiaolou explained: "Xingde Jun's cultivation is similar to yours, and there is Zhou Qi, who is said to have reached the seventh level!"

Hou Sheng smiled: "So what?"

Liu Xiaolou said anxiously: "You won't go alone, will you? My cultivation is too low, not only can I not help, but Hou Zhishi, although your cultivation is exquisite and you are not afraid, but... it is not so easy to take both of them down, right?"

Hou Sheng sneered: "Are you worried about yourself?"

Liu Xiaolou said worriedly: "Can I not worry? What I did... is very hateful. If they see me bringing Hou Zhishi over, the first one they want to kill is me!"

Hou Sheng said lightly: "Put your heart in your stomach, I guarantee you will be fine."

Liu Xiaolou probed a few more times, but never got a definite answer, and he didn't know whether Hou Sheng was going alone or wanted to mobilize manpower from the sect. Forget it, he could only take one step at a time.

After the third song was played, Hou Sheng nodded slightly to Yong E. Yong E stood up, bowed, held the pipa, and went down.

"Let's go." Hou Sheng got up and went downstairs.

Liu Xiaolou was stunned: "Go now?"

Hou Sheng asked back: "What time do you think it should be?"

Liu Xiaolou said: "No, my meaning is, will it be a bit hasty? Hou Zhishi, don't you make some preparations..."

Hou Sheng reached out and grabbed Liu Xiaolou's arm, buckled Liu Xiaolou's meridians tightly, pressing him so uncomfortably that he couldn't even speak.

Just like this, the two walked out of Green Joy Courtyard like old friends for many years.

Cui Jie chased after him and said: "Hou Zhishi, leaving now?"

As soon as the words fell, Hou Sheng threw out a silver ingot. Cui Jie hurriedly grabbed it and smiled: "Hou Zhishi, come again next time..."

Taking this opportunity, Liu Xiaolou glanced at Tan Ba and finally saw Tan Ba's welcoming gaze. Tan Ba nodded slightly, then left the table and went to the backyard, which was to inform Wei Hongqing and Zuo Gaofeng.

After leaving Yueyang Market, Hou Sheng let go of Liu Xiaolou's arm: "Lead the way."

Liu Xiaolou smiled bitterly: "Sorry, Hou Zhishi, I have never been to the Miluojiang, and I don't know where Killing Hukou is, so I really don't know the way."

Hou Sheng frowned, shook his head, and walked ahead. Before long, they arrived at a river, which was the Miluojiang. The Miluojiang was not wide, but the water was very rapid. They went upstream along the bank to the west for two hours, and then turned into a branch river beside it.

The stream wound around in the mountain ridge, the terrain gradually rose, and a section of the river surface suddenly shrank. The bank was also extremely steep, with steep cliffs on both sides.

At this moment, Hou Sheng and Liu Xiaolou were standing on a steep cliff, overlooking the rapid river water.

Hou Sheng said: "This is Killing Hukou. Where is the place to leave a letter?"

Liu Xiaolou said: "Please return the array plate to me, Hou Zhishi."

Hou Sheng said coldly: "I will give it to you when I find the place. Don't play tricks, otherwise, I will even dig up your teacher's grave!"

Liu Xiaolou hesitated for a moment and said: "I can find it. Hou Zhishi, you can't break your promise again."

So Liu Xiaolou was in front, Hou Sheng was behind, walking along the river bank. In fact, he had already seen the three conspicuous willow trees ahead from afar, but he still walked very slowly, occasionally going to a high place to look at the terrain of Killing Hukou, or running around to look for something. The purpose was to buy more time for Wei Hongqing and the others to make perfect preparations.

At the same time, he really didn't find that Hou Sheng had left a letter to summon manpower along the way. It seemed that Wei Hongqing's understanding of him was quite accurate; this fellow was a lone traveler.

Finally arriving at the three willow trees, Liu Xiaolou approached the river bank and looked at the steep cliff five or six zhang high in the river below. He vaguely saw a cave entrance, only a few feet above the water. Although he couldn't see it clearly from top to bottom, he felt it was indeed a good place for an ambush.

"How is it? Found it?" Hou Sheng urged.

"Hou Zhishi, do you really don't need to summon helpers? Xingde Jun is an expert who is about to be full, and there is Zhou Qi..." Liu Xiaolou made his last effort to probe.

Hou Sheng looked at him: "What do you want to ask?"

"Hou Zhishi, I don't want to ask anything, I just want to know if I need to leave now!" Liu Xiaolou was a bit exasperated.

Hou Sheng stared at Liu Xiaolou for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "In that case, is it here?" He looked around, nodded and said: "These three willow trees... are indeed conspicuous..." He walked to the cliff and looked down at the river water, saying: "There is a cave below?"

Liu Xiaolou sighed and nodded.