Chapter 78

Liu Liu Xiaolou sat on the carriage board, holding the reins of the horses, and traveled toward the northeast along a road full of snowy mud.

The carriage wheels rumbled forward in the mud, causing the carriage body to creak and groan from time to time. He was also quickly weighing in his heart whether to find a suitable opportunity to jump off the carriage and escape, or to just drive the carriage and deliver the old woman to Luo Mountain.

The old woman was sitting less than three feet behind him. No matter how he sensed it, he could not detect the slightest aura of a cultivator. But if she were truly an ordinary person who knew nothing, how would she dare to travel alone in the wilderness? Why would there be no juniors or servants serving her by her side? Why would the carriage not have a driver?

Liu Liu Xiaolou could even feel that rather than him driving the carriage, it was more like the horse pulling the carriage was walking on its own. Was this the old woman's method, or was it the old horse knowing the way?

If the old woman was a cultivator, what did she mean by having him take her to Luo Mountain? Could it be that she was truly just an ordinary noblewoman, and everything was just him overthinking it?

All kinds of doubts came one after another, making Liu Liu Xiaolou afraid to act rashly. This road was flat and open, passing neither rivers nor cliffs, and he truly did not find an opportunity to "act rashly."

"Young man, how old are you this year?" the old woman asked from inside the carriage.

"This junior is almost twenty." Liu Liu Xiaolou answered respectfully.

"Oh, how young, hehe..." the old woman laughed.

"May I ask your age, elder?"

"This old woman is ninety-six."

"You look very energetic, as if you haven't even reached sixty."

"Is that so? Hehe, it's alright; my legs and feet are still nimble enough. What is your name, young man? Where are you from?"

Liu Liu Xiaolou thought for a moment and decided to probe: "This junior is from Western Xiang, living in Wulong Mountain..." As he spoke, he looked back at the old woman's eyes and said, "This junior's surname is Liu; you can just call me Liu Xiaolou."

The old woman seemed to have no particular thoughts about "Wulong Mountain," and she still smiled with her eyes narrowed: "Good, the name Liu Xiaolou is good; it's easy to say."

Failing to probe any useful feedback after she heard "Wulong Mountain," Liu Liu Xiaolou continued to ask: "It's freezing cold; are you visiting relatives or going home by braving the snow to Luo Mountain? Why is there not even a person to serve you by your side?"

The old woman replied: "Going home. I was originally with my dear grandchild, but we separated this morning. She was being temperamental and stubborn with me. I'm not going to indulge her; let her be!"

Liu Liu Xiaolou asked: "How should I address you, elder?"

The old woman's smile was full of kindness: "You can just call me Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng."

Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng? Liu Liu Xiaolou pondered while driving the carriage; he should have never heard of this title. Ever since he entered cultivation, he had only associated with fellow Daoists from Wulong Mountain. After his master passed away, he began to gradually step outside the mountains, but the scope of his dealings did not exceed a few hundred miles. Up to now, he was still very unfamiliar with Dongtinghu, which was controlled by the Azure Jade Sect, let alone Luo Mountain north of Dongting; he had absolutely no impression of it.

"Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng, traveling alone on this journey, aren't you afraid of being robbed by bad people?"

"Hehe, I'm just an old woman with nothing of value; what is there to be afraid of?"

"Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng, your bearing must be that of a wealthy family; you are precious. It would be better to be careful and cautious when traveling in the future."

"Hey, I know, Liu Xiaolou. Actually, I also judge people; you are a young man with clear eyebrows and bright eyes, and a handsome appearance. You are very good-looking, which is why I am bothering you. You won't mind, will you?"

"How could I mind? Hehe... You are too flattering; I don't deserve it."

"Hey, this is not flattery; you deserve it! There aren't many young men as handsome as you within a few hundred miles. I'm lucky today to see one; how can I not take a few more looks? Hehe..."

"Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng, your family must be a wealthy one, right? Why not hire a few immortal masters who practice cultivation to serve as guards?"

"There are retainers at home, and a few of my children have also learned a little magic, but they are not very successful."

"No wonder when I first saw you, I felt your bearing was magnificent and graceful, like a person of the immortal class. So you come from a cultivation family?"

"How can it be called a cultivation family? I don't understand cultivation very well; it's nothing more than relying on the shade of my ancestors, eating well, sleeping soundly, and having a decent constitution."

Moving forward and chatting along the way, Liu Liu Xiaolou finally found out some details about this Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng. Their Zheng family had a very large family business in Luo Mountain, and he guessed they were a loose cultivation family attached to the Azure Jade Sect, just like the Zhou family on the south bank of Dongtinghu. Although he couldn't tell whether this Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng understood cultivation, her status in the Zheng family should not be low. Since that was the case, after sending her back to Luo Mountain, would the Zheng family take out something to thank him?

Thinking of this, Liu Liu Xiaolou recovered his composure from the initial hesitation and anxiety. His family happened to be out of spirit stones, and this was more or less an opportunity. If he could get a reward of one or two spirit stones, that would be the best. If the Zheng family didn't give spirit stones, rewarding him with ten or twenty taels of silver would also be a small help, at least enough to exchange for a few pounds of spirit rice to fill his stomach.

The carriage sped along, and by evening, Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng lifted the sedan curtain and pointed to the northeast: "Enter the mountain from here."

"Alright!" Liu Liu Xiaolou took out his full enthusiasm, whipped the horse, and turned into a mountain road. The mountain road rose and fell among the hills, gradually entering a range of mountains.

The mountain terrain gradually became dangerous. From time to time, one could see streams and waterfalls, and in the dense trees and under the steep cliffs, one could see several half-hidden pavilions. It looked wild, but it was actually exquisite.

"Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng, is this Luo Mountain?"

"Yes, the third mountain peak on the left is the main peak, and the manor is right below it. Crossing over it is White Dew Lake. That lake produces snails, so it's called Luo Mountain."

The mountain road was very smooth, which showed that the Zheng family's maintenance was really attentive. Occasionally, woodcutters and hunters could be seen passing by on the mountain road. After seeing the carriage, they stood by the side of the road and bowed in salute.

The more this was the case, the more it showed that the Zheng family's strength was strong and Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng's status was high, and the more promising his reward would be.

Therefore, Liu Liu Xiaolou served even more diligently. When passing sharp turns, he exerted force to pull the reins tight to slow down the carriage. When encountering places where mountain rocks rolled down, he stopped, raised his whip to clear the rocks blocking the road before setting off again. When passing waterfalls and streams, he simply dismounted and led the horse to prevent the carriage from slipping.

In this process, he showed his cultivation methods vaguely, intentionally or unintentionally reminding Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng that he was a cultivator, and it would be best to reward him with cultivation resources.

The effect was obvious. Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng narrowed her eyes and praised loudly: "Good skills, good methods! The younger generation is to be feared!"

Finally, they arrived at the Red Snail Manor under the main peak of Luo Mountain. The carriage passed through the tall stone archway in front of the two mountain gates and entered the back house directly from the side door. After handing the carriage to the manor servants who came to take over, Liu Liu Xiaolou stood respectfully behind Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng, waiting quietly for the reward.

Supported by the maids who crowded up, Zheng Zheng Laolao Zheng did not reward Liu Liu Xiaolou immediately, but said with a smile: "Arrange for this young man to rest for one night, and hold a banquet tomorrow."

The managing nanny bowed and accepted the order: "Yes!"