The banquet ended late into the night. The three from Dongyang Sect went to the guest quarters to rest. They would remain on Shenwu Mountain, waiting for Su Wuniang’s reply; or rather, for Danxia Sect’s response to the matter at hand.

Qingyu Sect was simply too powerful right now. In all of the Jing-xiang region, they stood alone at the top. True, the combined strength of Dongyang Sect, Zhanglong Sect, and the Li family of Tianmu Mountain meant they had no reason to fear, but avoiding conflict was obviously best. Of the sects surrounding Jing-xiang region, only Danxia Sect, one of the Ten Great Sects in the world, had the prestige and authority to step in as mediator.

After returning with Su Wuniang to the SunRain Hibiscus Garden, Liu Xiaolou asked his wife in particular:

“Wuniang, when you leave for the sect tomorrow, when do you expect to be back?”

Su Wuniang answered calmly, “It could be as little as two or three days, or as long as seven or eight. There’s no telling. Inside a Grotto-Heaven, time flows differently than it does outside. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower. If it slows, I might be gone half a month.”

Liu Xiaolou had heard his teacher say much the same before. A Grotto-Heaven was unlike the outside world, like a bubble floating in the space between heaven and earth. The spiritual energy there was denser than in any blessed land, so rich that spirit stones were nearly useless. But that same richness bent time and space, making them run differently from the outside.

So Liu Xiaolou made his first formal request since marrying into the Su family: “Wuniang, if I may. I’ve been part of the Su household for a month now, but I haven’t yet made my respects before my teacher’s spirit. Since you’ll be gone to the Grotto-Heaven, I’d like to take the chance to return to Wulong Mountain and pay my respects, to bring some comfort to my teacher’s memory.”

Su Wuniang paused for a moment, then said at once, “Of course you may. I…”

By rights, she was Liu Xiaolou’s wife, and should have gone with him to Wulong Mountain to make offerings. But strictly speaking, their marriage wasn’t even a proper case of a husband marrying into his wife’s household. At best, it could be called a “temporary marriage-in” or a “marriage by agreement.” Whether she ought to go or not was truly a question.

So she changed her words: “I have to make a trip to the Grotto-Heaven. When I have the time, I’ll visit your teacher myself. For now, you should go back on your own.”

“I’ll do my best to return within a month,” he said.

Su Wuniang thought for a moment and replied, “It doesn’t matter if it takes longer. Just be sure you’re back before the twentieth of the fifth month. The Danxia Sect will be holding their millennial founding celebration, and every member of the Su family must attend.”

Liu Xiaolou smiled. “For such a grand occasion, of course I’ll be there.”

“Shall I have Susu go with you?” she asked.

“Life on Wulong Mountain is rough. Susu has already looked after me tirelessly for a month. I can’t bear to make her suffer more. Let her take it easy for now; we’ll think about it another time.”

Su Wuniang neither agreed nor disagreed. In truth, she didn’t seem to care about anything concerning Liu Xiaolou at all. “As you wish. Only one thing: when you’re away, don’t bring shame to the Su family’s name.”

The couple had nothing more to say. They parted, Su Wuniang heading upstairs to the front building, Liu Xiaolou returning to Yiling Hall.

Once back, he gave Susu a few brief instructions. She was reluctant to see him go, and on her own offered to accompany Liu Xiaolou to share the hardship.

Of course Liu Xiaolou also wished he could take her along to fulfill their unfinished vow and finally study the Yin-Yang Scripture together. But this trip involved too many secrets he couldn’t share, so there was no way to bring her. With a few gentle words of comfort, he persuaded her to give up the idea.

He truly had no desire to spend any more time around the three from Dongyang Sect, especially Han Wuwang. Just because Han Wuwang hadn’t recognized him yet didn’t mean he never would. Every extra moment on Shenwu Mountain was another risk. He didn’t want to waste even a heartbeat, so he left the mountain under cover of night.

More importantly, Dongyang Sect held clues to the case of Hou Sheng. He had to find those clues before they could reconcile with Qingyu Sect. The lead was the female entertainer Su Zhenjiu had mentioned. If Liu Xiaolou guessed right, that woman was very likely Yong’e.

Qingyu Sect had recently rebuilt the marketplace at Yueyang, expanding it on a grand scale. They brought in a flood of outer disciples and merchants, and even opened two pleasure houses, one called Red Jade and the other Green Serenity. Green Serenity was run by Sister Qing, and it was there a new courtesan had been recruited. Her looks were plain enough, but she played the pipa with uncommon skill. The key was that when Liu Xiaolou had last seen Hou Sheng, Hou Sheng had specifically arranged for Yong’e to perform that night.

Yong’e was just an ordinary woman with no cultivation whatsoever. That day, when Hou Sheng had her play, he kept her at a distance so the music would mask their already quiet conversation. Because of that, Liu Xiaolou had never paid her any attention. Who would have thought that the very lead Dongyang Sect spoke of would turn out to be Yong’e of the Green Serenity Courtyard?

With stars still scattered across the sky, Liu Xiaolou set out at once for Yueyang Market.

From Shenwu Mountain to Yueyang Market was more than three hundred li. Liu Xiaolou pushed himself to the limit, racing without pause, and reached the town by noon the next day. Along the way he had stopped to rest only twice, and by the time he arrived it felt as if his very life had nearly run out of him. Only the great progress he’d made in cultivation had made it possible at all, otherwise there was no way he could have made it in time.

At midday, the Green Serenity Courtyard was quiet, almost deserted. Peering through the half-open gate, he saw only stillness and emptiness inside.

After hesitating a moment, he decided to circle to the back and climb the wall. No matter the time or place, he could never afford carelessness. Going over the wall was always safer.

He knew this place well. He’d even stayed here for several days last year. Everything was familiar. Before long, he had made his way to the courtyard where Sister Qing lived.

The side room was locked tight. That had been his own lodging before. From the main room came the faint, steady sound of breathing. Liu Xiaolou pushed the door open and, sure enough, found Sister Qing asleep on the bed.

Her robe had slipped slightly, revealing the gentle rise of her chest. Her collarbones shifted lightly with each breath. With all her makeup washed away, the heavy glamour was gone, leaving instead a fresh, natural beauty.

She looked almost like the girl next door.

Liu Xiaolou sat down at the bedside, gazing at her in silence. For a moment his thoughts drifted far away. Was it because he was married now? Why did Sister Qing, lying there before him, suddenly seem so alluring?

Back then he hadn’t known how good Sister Qing was. Now that he was married, she seemed like a treasure.

But Sister Qing was, after all, a trained martial artist. She had opened the Foot Lesser Yin meridian  and half of the Foot Greater Yang meridian. With Liu Xiaolou sitting right beside her, there was no way she wouldn’t sense it. Her eyelids twitched for a moment, then she snapped awake. With a flick of her wrist she pulled a short blade from under the pillow and drove it straight for his belly.

Two fingers caught the tip before it could land, holding it fast. No matter how she pushed, the blade wouldn’t move an inch farther.

Sister Qing blinked, released the weapon, then sprang up and threw her arms around him. “You wretch, you finally came back to see me!”

Liu Xiaolou chuckled and patted her back. “And here I am, aren’t I?”

Suddenly she seemed to remember something. She darted back under the covers, curled up, and cried, “Get out, quick, get out!”

Liu Xiaolou stared in confusion. “What’s this about?”

From beneath the brocade quilt her muffled voice came: “I’ve got no makeup on, I haven’t even washed up. I look awful, I smell awful. No one’s supposed to see me like this. Just go!”

“Shh,” Liu Xiaolou hushed her. “Keep it down. Don’t let anyone know I’m here.”

Only then did Sister Qing peek out with one eye. “What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time? Are you hiding out here again? Don’t worry, you’ll be safe as long as you stay with me.”

“I just want to ask you something,” Liu Xiaolou said. “That Yong’e, the one who plays the pipa. She still here?”

“She left the house last month,” answered Sister Qing.