Granny Zheng went back to her quarters to rest, leaving Liu Xiaolou standing in the courtyard, completely baffled. It was just a fifty-li journey, and they'd ridden in a carriage the whole way. Barely any effort at all. Wasn’t a small reward enough? Why throw a banquet?

He turned to the steward. “Do you think I could skip the banquet?”

The steward nanny forced a smile. “Granny insisted. Please don’t decline.”

Her face was all soft fat, and just the slight effort of smiling made her cheeks ripple like waves. The sight gave Liu Xiaolou a bit of a fright.

Shaken by the ripple of flesh, Liu Xiaolou lowered his head and agreed. He followed a maid through a moon gate, along two covered walkways, and into a small side courtyard set aside for guests. There were only three rooms. The main one to the north was slightly larger, and the east and west wings were a bit smaller; but not by much. There was no woodshed or kitchen, just a jujube tree planted in the middle. It was clear at a glance that this was a guest courtyard.

The Zheng family’s Red Conch Manor was huge. Courtyards like this were probably everywhere. Seeing no one else around, Liu Xiaolou took the main room in the north.

The maid brought him hot water for washing up and made the bed before quietly taking her leave. Liu Xiaolou tried asking some casual questions about Red Conch Manor, but the maid kept her lips tightly sealed, only smiling politely. When she couldn’t dodge him anymore, she finally replied, “I’m just a lowly servant, young master. I really don’t know anything.”

Dinner that evening was surprisingly refined. One dish in particular, sliced conch, stood out. It left a refreshing tingle on his lips and tongue, and he felt a faint trace of spiritual energy stirring in his belly. It genuinely took him by surprise. By the time he finished the plate, it felt like he’d eaten three full bowls of spirit rice. The spiritual energy from both was nearly the same.

When the maid came in to clear the dishes, she didn’t shy away from explaining that particular dish. She told Liu Xiaolou, “That was White Dew Lucky Conch, a specialty of Red Conch Manor. It grows in Bailu Lake, and it’s not easy to catch. Since you’re an honored guest, we served it especially for you.”

By the time dinner was over, it was already late. Liu Xiaolou wandered around the courtyard, eventually stopping under the jujube tree. Looking up at the bright moon through the patchy branches, he felt the cold wind and the colder moonlight. But inside, he was quietly burning.

After tasting that White Dew Lucky Conch, he had a new sense of just how powerful the Zheng family of Luoshan Mountain really was. Any cultivation clan that produced valuable goods, like Ewe Ram Manor or Jinping Manor, was usually a key supplier to one of the great sects. That meant real standing within the sect, not to mention serious wealth.

Judging by Granny Zheng’s behavior, offering him a room, hosting a banquet, even serving spirit conch, could it be she was planning to recruit him as a retainer? If that were the case, of course he’d say yes without hesitation. There was no need to play coy or humble. The only problem was his cultivation level. It wasn’t quite up to par, and he probably wasn’t qualified for a role like that… but then again, who’s to say for sure? Maybe the Zhengs themselves weren’t all that strong. Didn’t Granny Zheng mention during the trip that none of her sons had turned out to be anything special?

And even if a protector role was out of reach, landing a steward position would still be a win. He’d already done his research on the Zang family over at Ewe Ram Manor, stewards there got paid in spirit rice, enough to trade for six spirit stones a year. Not a fortune, but it was steady income, and more importantly, it didn’t involve risking your life. That was a real career path. Red Conch Manor couldn’t be that much worse, could it?

If this really worked out, it’d be way better than just getting a one-time reward. The only thing that gave him pause was whether the rest of the Zheng family would be as accepting of his background from Wulong Mountain as Granny Zheng had been.

With that thought in mind, Liu Xiaolou couldn’t help but feel a ripple of excitement. Just as he was caught between hope and doubt, the maid appeared again at the moon gate. This time with two young men following behind her.

In the moonlight, he saw that one wore white, elegant and ethereal, as if untouched by the world. The other, dressed in a deep blue robe, was refined and charming, with an easy grace about him. They were both strikingly handsome.

Zheng family disciples? Liu Xiaolou wondered. Did they really come all this way just to thank me?

That’s a bit much, isn’t it?

The maid led them into the courtyard and gave Liu Xiaolou a polite bow. She gave a brief introduction: “Immortal Master Liu, this is the White-Robed Swordsman, and this is the Scholar in Blue. I hope you three Immortals will get to know each other.”

Liu Xiaolou froze for a second. So they’re not Zheng family members? Maybe they’re also hired cultivators?

He cupped his hands in greeting, but the two men only gave a dismissive snort and walked right past him, looking over the three rooms in the courtyard.

The maid spoke gently, reminding them, “Immortal Master Liu arrived first and is already staying in the main room. You two may take the east and west wings. It’s getting late. I hope you all have a good rest. I’ll take my leave now.”

With that, she slipped out of the courtyard.

The two men glanced at Liu Xiaolou in unison. He still had his hands raised in a cupped salute, mid-gesture. Seeing their attitude, he slowly lowered his arms. His sleeve slipped slightly, revealing a jade pendant, which he quietly held in his palm.

He had no idea how strong these two were, or whether his illusion formation could hold them if needed. But this wasn’t the time or place for a life-or-death fight. His Groundbinding Spirit-Scattering Cord couldn’t be exposed here, and his stock of Bewildering Fragrance Tendon had been used up during the ambush on Hou Sheng. That left only the Three-Mystery Sword. If it came down to a two-on-one… the odds weren’t looking good.

His eyes narrowed slightly. He fixed his gaze on their shoulders and wrists, ready at any moment to activate the Abyssal Blackstone Formation.

Suddenly, the Scholar in Blue spoke. “Immortal Master Liu? May I ask where you’re from? Which sect do you belong to?”

Liu Xiaolou had never been ashamed of his background. He answered calmly, “I’m from Wulong Mountain, in western Xian. A disciple of the Sanxuan Sect.”

The White-Robed Swordsman immediately frowned. “Red Conch Manor is recruiting wild cultivators from Wulong Mountain now?”

The Scholar in Blue flicked his sleeve in annoyance. “Truly disgraceful. I refuse to share quarters with the likes of him. Let’s settle this. Between the east and west wings, whoever has the higher cultivation chooses first.”

The White-Robed Swordsman nodded. “Exactly as it should be.”

They both turned away from Liu Xiaolou and ignored him completely, now staring each other down.

Liu Xiaolou was speechless for a moment. But after more than ten years of cultivation, he’d been looked down on more times than he could count. He was long used to it. It didn’t even make him angry anymore. If Wulong Mountain cultivators got upset over every insult, they’d have all died of rage by now.

If anything, he was actually looking forward to the duel that was about to unfold. He was curious to see what the cultivators of eastern Xian were capable of. So he stepped to the side, ready to observe.

The White-Robed Swordsman slowly drew his long sword and flicked it with a finger, sending out a sword-light like a blazing arc across the air. He turned to the scholar. “This is the White Cloud Sword. Its blade can extend up to three feet. I’ve reached the sixth layer of Qi Refinement. May I ask what layer you’re at? Care for a spar?”

The Scholar in Blue flipped his wrist, revealing a large iron fan in his hand. It opened and closed with a loud snap-snap, faint flashes of lightning flickering between the fan’s ribs.

This, too, was a kind of “sword-light.”

“This is the Storm-and-Thunder Folding Fan. It holds eight lightning bolts within. I’m also at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement.”

Liu Xiaolou, watching from the side, perked up with excitement. The magical tools in their hands were clearly no ordinary items. Most likely the weapons of well-born cultivators. And both of them were three layers higher than he was. This duel might really be worth watching.

He held his breath and focused. But even after all that buildup, the two just kept staring each other down, neither making a move. Their eyes locked, crackling with invisible sparks.

Liu Xiaolou could tell they were both gathering momentum. And the more they built up,, the more intense the fight would be. And that only made him more eager to watch.

Suddenly, the White-Robed Swordsman spoke. “Brother, which meridian are you currently working on?”

“The Pericardium Meridian,” replied the Scholar in Blue, “I’ve just broken through Jianshi acupoint and am pushing toward Neiguan.”

At those words, the swordsman’s face fell. With a heavy sigh, he sheathed the White Cloud Sword and gave a deep bow. “I’ve only just cleared Ximen. Compared to you, I’m a step behind. I concede.”

The Scholar in Blue chuckled, folding his fan with a snap. “You’re gracious and open-hearted. I truly admire that. In that case, I’ll humbly accept the better room.”

With that, he strolled straight into the eastern room.

The swordsman stood there, visibly disappointed. Then he turned toward the western room. As he closed the door behind him, he let out a soft sigh: “There’s always a taller mountain out there. I’ve still got a long way to go.”

The courtyard fell quiet again.

Liu Xiaolou stood there, utterly confused, glancing from side to side, his thoughts spinning in circles.

What the hell was it?