Chapter 78: Chapter Seventy-Seven: Hongluo Manor

Liu Xiaolou sat on the cart’s platform, holding the reins of the harness horse, traveling northeast along a road caked with snowmud.

The wheels rolled through the sludge, occasionally making the carriage creak, while his mind raced—should he seize a chance to jump off and flee, or simply drive the old woman to Luoshan?

The old woman sat barely three feet behind him; no matter how he sensed, he detected not a trace of a cultivator’s aura, yet if she were truly an ordinary person, how could she travel alone through the wilderness? Why had she no younger relatives or servants? Why was there no driver guiding the horse?

Even Liu Xiaolou himself could feel it—this wasn’t him driving; it was the horse walking of its own accord. Was this the old woman’s doing, or simply an old horse knowing the way?

If the old woman were a cultivator, what did she mean by having him take her to Luoshan? Was she truly just an ordinary noblewoman, and was he imagining things?

Confusion piled upon confusion, making Liu Xiaolou dare not act rashly. The road was flat and open, neither crossing rivers nor climbing cliffs—he found no opportunity to “act rashly.”

“Young man, how old are you?” the old woman asked from inside the carriage.

“I’m nearly twenty,” Liu Xiaolou replied respectfully.

“Oh, so young, hahaha…” the old woman laughed.

“May I ask your age, Madam?”

“I am ninety-six.”

“You look full of vigor—like you’re not even sixty.”

“Do I? Hahaha, well, my legs still move well. What’s your name, young man? Where are you from?”

Liu Xiaolou paused, deciding to test her: “I’m from Xiangxi, living on Wulong Mountain…” He turned to glance at her expression and added, “My surname is Liu; you may call me Xiaolou.”

The old woman showed no particular reaction to “Wulong Mountain,” still smiling with half-closed eyes: “Good. Xiaolou is a nice name—easy to say.”

Having gleaned no useful reaction to “Wulong Mountain,” Liu Xiaolou pressed on: “It’s freezing cold—why brave the snow to go to Luoshan? Are you visiting family or returning home? Why no attendants with you?”

The old woman answered: “I’m going home. I was with my good granddaughter, but we parted this morning—she threw a tantrum and refused to listen. I didn’t coddle her; let her go!”

Liu Xiaolou asked: “How should I address you, Madam?”

The old woman’s smile was full of warmth: “Call me Aunt Zheng.”

Aunt Zheng? Liu Xiaolou mused as he drove. He’d never heard that name. Since entering cultivation, he’d only associated with fellow cultivators from Wulong Mountain; after his master’s death, he’d slowly ventured beyond the mountains, but never farther than a few hundred li. He remained unfamiliar even with Dongting Lake under Qingyu Sect’s control, let alone Luoshan north of it—no memory of the name.

“Aunt Zheng, traveling alone like this—aren’t you afraid of bandits?”

“Hahaha, I’m just an old woman with nothing to steal—what’s there to fear?”

“Aunt Zheng, your bearing suggests you’re from a wealthy household, a noble soul. You should be more cautious on the road.”

“Ah, I know, Xiaolou. I do judge people—you’re clear-eyed, handsome, very pleasing to look at. That’s why I troubled you. You won’t mind, will you?”

“How could I mind? Hahaha… You flatter me too much—I’m unworthy.”

“Nonsense, you’re worthy! In hundreds of li around, few young men are as striking as you. Today I’m lucky to see one—I can’t help but look a little longer, hahaha…”

“Aunt Zheng, your family must be wealthy—why not hire cultivated immortals as guards?”

“We do have retainers. My children learned a bit of cultivation, but none of them amount to much.”

“No wonder I felt your aura was grand and noble, like a celestial being—you’re from a cultivation family?”

“Cultivation family? I don’t understand cultivation at all. I merely rely on ancestral blessings—eat well, sleep soundly, and my body holds up.”

As they traveled, chatting, Liu Xiaolou finally learned a few details about Aunt Zheng: her family owned vast estates on Luoshan, likely a hermit clan allied with Qingyu Sect, much like the Zhou family on the southern shore of Dongting Lake. Though he couldn’t tell if Aunt Zheng cultivated, her status in the Zheng family must be high. If so, after delivering her to Luoshan, wouldn’t the Zheng family reward him?

Thinking of this, Liu Xiaolou regained his composure. He was out of spirit stones—this was an opportunity. If he could get one or two spirit stones as a reward, that would be perfect. Even if they gave no spirit stones, a few dozen taels of silver would help—enough to buy several jin of spirit rice.

As the cart rolled on, by evening Aunt Zheng lifted the curtain and pointed northeast: “Turn into the mountains here.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Liu Xiaolou spurred the horse with full enthusiasm, turning onto a mountain path that wound through rolling hills, gradually entering a cluster of peaks.

The terrain grew steeper; waterfalls cascaded from streams, and amid dense forests and sheer cliffs, several half-hidden pavilions appeared. Seemingly wild, yet meticulously arranged.

“Aunt Zheng, is this Luoshan?”

“Yes. The third peak to the left is the main summit. The manor lies beneath it. Beyond lies Baolu Lake—its snails give the mountain its name.”

The path was smooth, clearly well-maintained by the Zheng family. Occasionally, woodcutters and hunters passed by, stepping aside to bow respectfully as the cart approached.

The more respectful they were, the more it proved the Zheng family’s strength and Aunt Zheng’s high status—his reward would surely be generous.

Thus, Liu Xiaolou worked even harder. At sharp bends, he tugged the reins to slow the cart. Where rocks had rolled onto the path, he stopped, whipped them clear, then continued. When crossing waterfalls and streams, he dismounted and led the horse to prevent slipping.

Throughout, he subtly revealed cultivation techniques, deliberately reminding Aunt Zheng he was a cultivator—best reward him with cultivation resources.

The effect was clear: Aunt Zheng smiled with half-closed eyes and praised loudly: “Impressive skill! A young man to be feared!”

Finally, they reached the Hongluo Manor at the foot of Luoshan’s main peak. The cart passed through two grand stone archways at the mountain gates and entered the inner courtyard via a side entrance. After handing the carriage to the servants who came to take it, Liu Xiaolou stood respectfully behind Aunt Zheng, waiting for his reward.

Supported by maids rushing to her side, Aunt Zheng did not immediately reward him. Instead, she smiled and said: “Put this young man up for the night. Hold a banquet tomorrow.”

The head housekeeper bowed: “Yes!”