The news Yun Ao brought back left Liu Xiaolou stunned. He ran after him, wanting to get the whole story, but Yun Ao was in a hurry to return home and disappeared too quickly for him to catch up.

Before long, though, Liu Xiaolou managed to confirm the news from another source. Xiong Xi of Huagou had followed Yun Ao up the mountain as well. After completing his task, he didn’t immediately rush home; instead, he stayed for a while and shared with Liu Xiaolou what he had learned.

Thirteenth Young Master had indeed gone to Zhuoshui. When exactly had he left, nobody knew. According to what Xiong Xi had heard, after arriving he joined the western Xian faction as a rogue cultivator. He was soon thrown onto the battlefield, taking part in a mid-scale skirmish. Not long after, he and several other rogue cultivators were ambushed by Badong cultivators and taken captive.

When the Zhanglong Sect reviewed their losses afterward, some of the surviving rogue cultivators mentioned his name as Su Jing. That rang a bell. Someone recalled that the Su family of Shenwu Mountain had a younger disciple by that name. So the sect deliberately sent people to deliver the message and confirm it. One of them was now on Shenwu Mountain.

The messenger from Zhanglong reported that Su Jing had fought bravely and made real contributions, even killing a Badong bandit with his own hands. But when the ambush came, their side was outnumbered. He was overwhelmed and captured.

Xiong Xi, who hadn’t entered a formation in a long time, was growing more excited and impatient. Once he hurried off, Su Wan whom Liu Xiaolou hadn’t seen in ages, pushed the door open. She found him sitting there in the corridor, staring blankly. “What are you spacing out for?” she asked. “Did you hear about Thirteenth?”

Liu Xiaolou nodded and let out a sigh.

She said, “One day last month he suddenly came to Yunhai Pavilion and asked me if there was some kind of magical pill for a husband and wife who couldn’t consummate their marriage. I asked why he was asking about that, and after a bit of hemming and hawing he said it was for you…”

Liu Xiaolou was speechless. He buried his face in both hands. “I’ve already said that’s nothing but gossip! Rumors! Couldn’t you at least explain that to him?”

Su Wan snorted. “And how do I know whether it’s a rumor or not?”

Liu Xiaolou flared up. “Wasn’t what happened last time proof enough? What else do you expect me to do? How exactly am I supposed to prove it. Do you really want me to...”

Su Wan’s eyes widened. “Don’t you dare!”

There was no way he could fight her, and he didn’t have the nerve to “prove” anything either. In the end he just slumped down in defeat. “Ninth Lady, you really… So then what? Did you tell him where to find this so-called pill?”

Her face darkened as well. She pressed down her anger. “How would an unmarried girl like me know where to find something like that? All I told him was, if he really wanted to get you a pill, he could try Qingyu Sect. They’re skilled at alchemy.”

“Then how did he end up in Zhuoshui?”

“He… also asked me whether unorthodox methods might offer a way, and he wanted to know where to find more of those unorthodox cultivators. I just answered offhand…”

“What did you say?”

“I told him your Wulong Mountain was on the left (unorthodox) path, and that Gengsang Cave was too. They spend all day messing with snakes and insects…”

Liu Xiaolou nodded helplessly. After a long silence he asked, “So what’s the family planning to do?”

“With Father away, Second Uncle has the final say. He placed great hopes on Thirteenth, but now his life or death is uncertain. The whole household is in chaos.”

“Chaotic or not,” Liu Xiaolou said, “there has to be some kind of plan, doesn’t there?”

“Second Uncle thought about approaching Gengsang Cave to demand his release, but he’s afraid that once they know, they’ll be even less willing to let him go. They might use it to hold our Su family hostage, drag us into trouble, or even kill him outright and claim they knew nothing. You know how it is; those at Gengsang Cave are already blood-crazed. So right now we’re caught between two bad choices, with no idea what to do.”

“And my father-in-law?”

Su Wan said, “A few days ago Father came back from the grotto-heaven, but he quickly left again for Weiyu Mountain, together with Thirteenth’s master. I don’t know what they went to do. Neither of them is on the mountain now, and it’s too late to go after them.”

“What about Fifth Sister? Is she still in the grotto-heaven?”

“Second Uncle won’t allow anyone to go to her.”

“This isn’t about saving face. Thirteenth is closest to Fifth Sister!”

“Thirteenth is Second Uncle’s son! And besides, even if we told Fifth Sister, what could she do?”

After a long silence, Su Wan went on. “The envoys from the Zhanglong Sect suggested that our Su family send people with them to Zhuoshui, to see if there’s some way to rescue him quietly. But it’s clear they just want to use this to pull our family into it. Second Uncle is worried that if we send anyone, they might stir up a big commotion, make it known all over, and that would only alert Gengsang Cave.”

Liu Xiaolou nodded. “He’s not wrong about that. Who did Zhanglong Sect send? Are they still here on the mountain?”

“An inner disciple named Zang Qianli. He’s still waiting for our family’s answer.”

Liu Xiaolou frowned. “I know this man… They shouldn’t have confirmed anything about Thirteenth to him. No matter what, we can’t let him return right now. The moment he goes back to Zhuoshui, the Zhanglong Sect will spread the news everywhere, no matter what the Su family does.”

Su Wan said, “That’s exactly what Steward Song thinks too. Since Wulong Mountain is under the Zhanglong Sect’s territory, how well do you know Zang Qianli? Do you have any ideas on how we could keep him here a few more days?”

“Didn’t you once work for a while on Ewe Ram Mountain?”

Su Wan shot him a glare. “That was just me passing by and getting curious enough to try harvesting spirit rice. I never had dealings with the Zang family!”

Liu Xiaolou thought it over. “In a war this big, the Zang family is bound to be stationed in Zhuoshui according to the rules, so there’s not much of an opening there… Ah, but he does have a concubine, surname Xia, given name Ling’er. He’s very fond of her. That might be the angle. Her family lives in Wuchao Town… A small household, and rather greedy for money.”

“Wuchao Town…” Su Wan murmured, “that’s a thousand li round trip…”

“Whoever can run the fastest should go,” Liu Xiaolou said. “If Second Master goes himself, he can make the round trip in just three days.”

Su Wan nodded. “I understand.” Then she reminded him, “Don’t mention that Thirteenth Young Brother asked for a pill on your behalf. Your second uncle is furious right now. He might take it out on you…”

Liu Xiaolou shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

After Su Wan left, Liu Xiaolou packed his things, patted Big White floating in the pond, and glanced up at Little Black crouching on the eaves. “Stay put. Don’t wander off,” he said.

With that, he left SunRain Hibiscus Garden and headed straight down the mountain.

At the mountain pass, he spotted the General’s Temple in the distance. He stopped, hesitated for a moment, but in the end didn’t go over. Even if he did, he wouldn’t know what to say. So he kept on walking, his pace gradually quickening.

As he was fixing his direction and hurrying along, someone suddenly shouted from behind: “Xiaolou! Brother!”

He turned and saw Tigerhead Dragon rushing after him. When he caught up, he asked breathlessly, “Brother, you’re in such a hurry. What’s going on?”

“I’m planning to return to western Xian for a while.”

“Is this about Thirteenth Young Master?”

Liu Xiaolou nodded. “And what brings you to Shenwu Mountain, brother?”

Tigerhead Dragon sighed. “It’s for Thirteenth Young Master too. I was just about to head into the mountain when I saw you… To think he was doing so well, and now this… anyone who hears it can’t help but weep.”

Liu Xiaolou urged him, “Brother Tigerhead, what’s this all about? Spit it out already!”

Tigerhead Dragon grew excited. “Judging from what you just said, you’re heading to Zhuoshui to rescue him, aren’t you? Does this mean the Su family is preparing to join the battle at Zhuoshui?”

“If the Su family were joining the fight,” Liu Xiaolou said helplessly, “would they really send me alone?”

Tigerhead Dragon asked again, “Then what does the Su family intend? Just stand by and watch? Or are they really going to let you go all by yourself?”

Liu Xiaolou didn’t want to argue. He turned and started walking. “I don’t know what the Su family intends. All I know is I have to go take a look.”

Tigerhead Dragon caught up and walked shoulder to shoulder with Liu Xiaolou. “I’m going with you.”

Liu Xiaolou glanced at him. “It’s dangerous over there. Why would you come?”

Tigerhead Dragon immediately flared up. “What kind of talk is that? You and I are sworn brothers. You think I’d just stand by and watch you walk to your death? My cultivation’s higher than yours!”

“You’re really going?”

“Of course. What else?”

“Will your family allow it?”

“My family can’t control me. Worst case, they’ll lock me up for half a year when I get back. Who cares?”

Liu Xiaolou did need help, so he said no more. He thumped Tigerhead Dragon on the chest. “That’s a real man!”

Tigerhead Dragon chuckled, then looked around. “Once we bring him back, Brother, you’d better sing my praises in front of Ninth Lady.”

“I’ll treat you all to a meal,” Liu Xiaolou said.

Tigerhead Dragon grinned. “You still haven’t made good on the last one you promised.”

“Two meals then,” Liu Xiaolou said.