Yuan Ziqi’s attempt at proposing had failed, but he didn’t feel discouraged. The Zheng family’s young lady might be beautiful, but she wasn’t the only woman worth marrying. In the end, as the eldest legitimate grandson of the Yuan family of Yuanjia Bay, what kind of woman could he not have? His father had even said before he'd left that if this trip didn’t work out, he would propose to Elder Zhao of the Qingyu Sect on his behalf, asking for the elder’s youngest daughter. She might not be as pretty as the Zheng family’s young lady, but her status was even higher, and she was perfectly whole in body.

He glanced at the red gift envelope the Zheng family had sent over. Inside was a single spirit stone, not too much and not too little. He had no plans to open it. This was his first time going out to propose marriage, so he might as well keep it as a memento.

Under the hook-shaped crescent moon, he made his way along the mountain path. A light breeze drifted through the night, carrying the chill of melting snow from the slopes on both sides. The cold made him even more awake. This was his first time leaving the protection of home to travel the martial world on his own. Though he hadn’t gone far, only a hundred li from home, it had its own kind of charm.

Curiously, he looked at the dark mountains around him and let his imagination wander. Were there highwaymen lurking ahead, or perhaps some unexpected encounter that would give him a chance to test his twin blades?

As it turned out, what he hoped for came to pass. There was indeed something unexpected ahead. Two people were fighting in the middle of the road.

Eagerly, Yuan Ziqi hurried over. When he saw who it was, he couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. He recognized both of them from the banquet earlier that evening. They were fellow “young talents,” one being the White-Robed Swordsman of White Cloud Manor, the other the young sect master of the Sanxuan Sect.

But this duel was unlike others. The young sect master of the Sanxuan Sect sat cross-legged on the ground, sweat beading constantly on his forehead, faint wisps of white vapor rising in the cold breeze. The White-Robed Swordsman was floating in midair in a very odd posture, legs clamped tightly together, hips twisting from time to time. His face was flushed crimson, his eyes unfocused, staring blankly at some unknown point ahead.

Once he got a clear look, he couldn’t help but feel a bit more respect for Liu Xiaolou. If he remembered correctly, Liu was only at the third layer of Qi Refinement, three layers lower than the White-Robed Swordsman. Yet he had managed to push the man this far. Even if he couldn’t hold out in the end, this was still a loss that counted as a win. No wonder he could be the head of a sect. You had to respect that.

Putting away his pair of five-colored blades, Yuan Ziqi hurried forward a few steps to intervene. “Gentlemen, what’s going on here? You were getting along just fine earlier. Why start fighting now? For my sake, how about we call it quits? If something’s bothering you, we can talk it out.”

Liu Xiaolou really couldn’t keep it up any longer. His true qi was simply too far below his opponent’s. Seeing someone step in to mediate, he seized the chance and withdrew the Abyssal Blackstone Formation.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and complained, “Brother Yuan, this wasn’t my doing. It’s that fellow surnamed Yun who went too far. He failed in his own proposal, then tried to pin the blame on me.”

Yuan Ziqi turned to the White-Robed Swordsman. “Brother Yun… Brother Yun?”

The White-Robed Swordsman snapped out of his daze like a man waking from a dream. He let out a long breath, but ignored Yuan Ziqi entirely, instead glaring at Liu Xiaolou. “What kind of demonic trick was that? Absolutely shameless!”

Liu Xiaolou curled his lip. “It was just an illusion formation. You think of something, you see it. As for who’s shameless, you know the answer yourself.”

Yuan Ziqi scratched the back of his head. “Uh… what’s that supposed to mean? What’s wrong with an illusion formation?”

The White-Robed Swordsman’s face flushed red. Without wanting to say more, he spat on the ground, turned, and walked off. “I’m ashamed to keep company with the likes of you!”

Once he was gone, Liu Xiaolou explained to Yuan Ziqi how the man had suddenly lashed out at him for no reason, and without a word of warning had drawn his sword to attack. Yuan Ziqi sighed. “Sect Master Liu, don’t take it to heart. I’ve heard a bit about Brother Yun’s situation. His family’s been forcing him to marry a woman he… well, isn’t very fond of. It happens all the time, and it’s led to some quarrels at home. In short, when he left, he promised his family he would, within three months, find a lovely young lady from a family of equal standing. If he failed, he’d have to go back and marry the one they’d chosen.”

Liu Xiaolou nodded. “That explains it.”

“As far as I know, this is already the second household he’s visited to propose. It hasn’t been easy for him…”

“Even so,” Liu Xiaolou replied, “that has nothing to do with me. Wait...second? There’s a third one too?”

“The Li family of Great Wood Mountain is also looking for a son-in-law. Their daughter has quite a reputation. Hopefully Brother Yun will succeed there.”

Liu Xiaolou looked thoughtful. “The Li family of Great Wood Mountain? Are they well known? A good match for White Cloud Manor?”

Yuan Ziqi nodded. “They’re actually the main branch of the Xunyang Sect. Haven’t you heard of them, Sect Master Liu? More than a match, in fact. If Brother Yun manages to marry her, it would be marrying up.”

The Xunyang Sect was one of the great sects of the world. Liu Xiaolou had certainly heard of it. Its fame was only slightly below that of the Qingyu Sect, and it was in no way inferior to the Zhanglong or Dongyang Sects. The Li family of Great Wood Mountain was one of the main branches of Xunyang, which meant they had long held positions as elders or even sect master within the sect. It was the kind of family background that was far beyond Liu Xiaolou’s reach. While White Cloud Manor was considered a prestigious house among the great families, compared to the Li clan it would indeed be marrying up.

“Brother Yuan, you’re not going?” asked Liu Xiaolou.

“Great Wood Mountain isn’t the kind of place just anyone can visit. My family didn’t receive an invitation, so I can’t just show up,” Yuan Ziqi replied frankly.

Liu Xiaolou had a good impression of him, so he decided to continue traveling with him through the night. He hoped to form a good connection; even if Yuan couldn’t help him in the future, being acquainted with a legitimate heir of a great family was still something that looked good when mentioned.

Yuan Ziqi was an honest man and new to the martial world. His experience was limited, and he didn’t have deep-rooted prejudices about sect or status. Liu Xiaolou spoke freely with him about the dangers of the jianghu, warning him on how to stay alert and protect himself. Every now and then, he would make a deliberate show of respect. Yuan Ziqi was moved by the kindness, and by the time they left Luoshan, they were nearly like old friends, with Yuan Ziqi now calling him “Brother Liu.”

At a fork in the road at the foot of the mountain, Yuan Ziqi extended a sincere invitation, asking Liu Xiaolou to visit Yuanjia Bay so they could stay up talking into the night. Liu Xiaolou politely declined.

“Brother Yuan, you’re a good man. You don’t look down on me because of my humble origins, and I’ll remember that in my heart. But your family is of noble standing. If I were to visit, I might cause some people displeasure and bring you unnecessary trouble. Better to let it go. In the future, if you have the time, please be sure to come to Wulong Mountain as my guest. I will certainly clear a place for you and welcome you with all due respect.”

Yuan Ziqi tried a few more times to persuade him, but Liu Xiaolou wouldn’t budge. At last Yuan Ziqi sighed. “Brother, you’re truly considerate, always thinking of me. In that case, I’ll be the one to visit Wulong Mountain.”

Liu Xiaolou froze for a moment, thinking, How can you be so straightforward? Then he said, “How about this. Just now you mentioned you’ll have to return home to marry. Once you’re married, we can sit down and meet properly. Wouldn’t that be even better?”

Yuan Ziqi nodded. “It’s a deal!”

And so, the two parted with tears in their eyes.

After putting some distance between them, Liu Xiaolou took a long detour, heading due east. Following the route he had pieced together from his earlier probing, he pushed ahead at full speed. By noon the next day, he finally spotted the figure he had been chasing for half a day.

It was the White-Robed Swordsman.

Only then did Liu Xiaolou slow his pace, keeping a careful distance as he trailed behind. For three more days he followed him, until they came to a range of rolling mountains.

Great Wood Mountain was before them.