Everyone thought Liu Xiaolou’s idea wasn’t bad, but just like the eldest of Guzhang Mountain, no one really wanted to deal with the Badong bandits.

More than that, they were scared. The people that Gengsang Cave sent up the mountain had been either driven away or killed one after another. Who would dare risk their neck trying to pass on a message to those killers? One wrong move and you’d lose your head!

Usually, when nobody wants to take on a dangerous job, it ends up with a “whoever suggested it, does it” kind of outcome. And sure enough, the one who had to put the plan into action was Liu Xiaolou himself.

Dragon Mountain Wanderer spoke up with concern: “Xiaolou, there’s no need to go right into the Badong bandits’ den. Just stop them when you see them and tell them what’s going on. This is serious business; I don’t believe they’d dare keep it from their superiors. Tell you what, I’ll go with you. I’ll stay nearby in case you need backup...”

“No need for that,” interrupted Dai Shenggao. “Go twenty li north to Qingjiangkou, there’s a manor there called Long Family Fort. You know the place, Xiaolou?”

Liu Xiaolou nodded. “I know it.”

Dai Shenggao went on, “That place has long been taken over by Gengsang Cave. It’s one of their outposts. Xiaolou, you just need to shoot an arrow from a distance with a short note tied to it. A few words will do. Gengsang Cave will check it out themselves. With all the commotion over at Tianmu Mountain, once they send someone to look, they’ll know what’s going on.”

Liu Xiaolou smiled. “No need to worry about me, seniors. It’s just passing on a message, I know how to handle it.”

Since Dai Shenggao was so well-informed and knew the place was a Gengsang Cave base, things became much simpler. Liu Xiaolou’s original plan had been the same as Dragon Mountain Wanderer’s suggestion, but he decided to follow Dai Shenggao’s idea instead. Just send an arrow.

That night, under the moonlight, Liu Xiaolou went down the mountain and hurried north toward Qingjiangkou. When he arrived, he turned west and soon spotted the brightly lit manor—Long Family Fort.

He circled around the compound once, then decided to shoot the arrow at the front gate. Finding a sturdy branch, he trimmed it roughly into the shape of a short arrow, tied on the note he’d written earlier, and took aim at the plaque above the main gate that read “Long Family Fort.”

The sight of that short arrow sticking out of the plaque would be so obvious. So deliciously bold. Just thinking about the look on the Gengsang Cave men’s faces when they opened the gate in the morning made the corner of Liu Xiaolou’s mouth lift into a grin.

At about thirty zhang away he decided the distance was right. He poured his true qi into the makeshift shaft and flicked it like a dart. The short arrow shot straight for the plaque.

Whoosh!

Halfway there it started to dip; it looked like it wouldn’t pierce the plaque after all and would probably strike the main gate instead. Liu Xiaolou hadn’t practiced that flicking technique much. The shot had a small error, not perfect, and he felt a flash of disappointment.

The arrow reached the gate in the blink of an eye. And the gate suddenly swung open. Someone stepped out, and the arrow struck dead-center in his topknot.

Liu Xiaolou hadn’t expected that at all. His heart lurched. If the man was dead... had he just gone to deliver a message or to make an enemy?

In his quick glance back, Liu Xiaolou saw that the man’s topknot had been shot loose, hair falling over his shoulders, the short arrow still stuck in the tangled strands. It looked dangerous, but the man wasn’t actually hurt.

Thank heavens. Liu Xiaolou let out a breath of relief. Then immediately turned and bolted. Even if no one was injured, shooting an arrow at someone’s head was hardly polite.

The other man reacted fast, charging straight toward the direction the arrow had come from. Liu Xiaolou ran three or four li before realizing the pursuer was gaining ground. Clearly, this Badong bandit’s cultivation was a notch above his own.

After another two li, it was obvious he wouldn’t be able to get away. Steadying his breath, Liu Xiaolou stopped and turned to face his pursuer head-on. Judging from the aura coming off the man, his level wasn’t much higher. Maybe at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement. If it came to a fight, so be it. After so many life-and-death battles, Liu Xiaolou no longer feared opponents just one layer above him.

The Badong bandit rushed up, but seeing Liu Xiaolou standing there ready, he too skidded to a halt. He shook his head to flick away the hair falling into his eyes, then barked out, “Who the hell are you?”

Liu Xiaolou finally got a good look at the Bandong bandit’s face and let out a surprised “Eh?”

Their eyes met. Both of them blinked in disbelief. Liu Xiaolou paused. “Wait… Daming, is that you?”

The man in front of him was none other than Zhang Daming, the cultivator from Bandong who’d helped rescue Thirteen. Liu Xiaolou remembered Liu Daoran once explaining that he's not actually from Gengsang Cave, but from South Aunt Mountain, forced into service by them. He hadn’t expected they’d cross paths again like this..

Zhang Daming looked just as shocked. “You were the one who shot me?”

Liu Xiaolou hurriedly cupped his hands in apology. “Total misunderstanding, Brother Daming. I was just delivering a message by arrow. I meant to shoot it at the door... how could I know you’d open it right then? Talk about bad timing! Look, the letter’s still tied to the arrow if you don’t believe me.”

Zhang Daming frowned. “Tied to what arrow?”

Liu Xiaolou pointed. “The one stuck in your hair.”

Zhang Daming quickly reached up, felt the shaft, pulled it out. And sure enough, there was a note tied neatly to it.

After reading the note, Zhang Daming finally understood the situation. He couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “Unbelievable.”

Liu Xiaolou chuckled too. “Right? You couldn’t script a coincidence like this! Still, it must mean you and I are fated to meet. Destiny brings people together even from a thousand li away! By the way, how’s Brother Daoran these days? Haven’t seen him in ages.”

Zhang Daming glanced around cautiously, then motioned. “Not a good place to talk. Come over there.”

They moved to a hollow between two hills. Zhang Daming lowered his voice. “I haven’t seen Daoran in a long while either. No idea how he’s doing… but seriously, I never expected you’d be from Wulong Mountain.”

Liu Xiaolou laughed. “I’m embarrassed to say.”

Zhang Daming grinned. “Last year’s battle, Gengsang Cave won and pushed the front line all the way to your Wulong Mountain. With the territory expanded, they suddenly found themselves short on manpower. Unlike the Zhanglong Sect nearby, they had to stretch their forces thin, so they came recruiting us old hands again. The pay wasn’t bad, so I signed on. Anyway, the big war’s cooled down. Not nearly as dangerous as before. Figured I’d earn a couple years’ worth of spirit stones while it’s quiet. And that’s how I ended up stationed here at Long Family Fort, hah!”

After a few more pleasantries, Zhang Daming asked, “Brother Liu, this information you’re bringing... are you sure it’s solid?”

Liu Xiaolou let out a long sigh. “You know how it is for us folks up on Wulong Mountain; caught in the middle, it’s been rough. Not long ago, your people came up the mountain, then the Zhanglong Sect sent their own group too. Back and forth, mess after mess, until no one knew who was in charge anymore. Eventually, both sides agreed to stop sending anyone up, so we thought we could finally breathe a little. But who could’ve guessed. Now Tianmu Mountain’s people show up, claiming they’re chasing a fugitive and need to search the mountain.”

He paused, then lowered his voice. “Brother Daming, maybe you don’t know, but truth is, most of us Wulong cultivators have… let’s say, a few stains on our records. If Tianmu’s people get away with this once, they can come whenever they like. Just point at someone, say he’s a criminal, and that’ll be enough. You see what that means? We’d never have a peaceful day again.”

Zhang Daming gave a crooked smile. “So you figured you’d tell us, let Gengsang Cave step in?”

Liu Xiaolou sighed again. “Honestly, we Wulong folks have bad blood with Gengsang Cave. Deep bad blood. But this idea wasn’t out of choice; we’re desperate. Everyone’s agreed: if Gengsang Cave can’t stop Tianmu Mountain from pushing in, then we’ll have no choice but to throw in with Tianmu. This is our last shot.”

“I’m not actually one of Gengsang Cave’s people,” Zhang Daming said, “just doing some work for them, earning a few spirit stones. You…”

Liu Xiaolou waited, hoping he’d go on, but when he didn’t. And that half-smile lingered on his face. Liu Xiaolou forced a grim expression. “Brother Daming, you can imagine how tough it’s been for us, stuck between both sides like this. It’s really…”

Zhang Daming didn’t press him. He just shrugged. “Tell you what. My fee, you can owe it for now. Pay me later, once things work out.”

Liu Xiaolou nodded. “No problem. Once this matter’s settled, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

They agreed to meet again the next afternoon, same place, when Zhang Daming would have a definite answer for him.

So the next day, right on time, Liu Xiaolou returned. But this time, there was someone else standing beside Zhang Daming.

Liu Xiaolou’s guard instantly went up. He stopped at a distance. “Brother Daming,” he called out, “who’s that with you?”

“Come on over, it’s nothing,” Zhang Daming said. “It’s just Steward Xin from Gengsang Cave. He came specifically to see you.”