Faced with the warm congratulations of his fellow cultivators, Liu Xiaolou felt deeply ashamed. With humility, he said, “Seniors, fellow cultivators, I’ve done nothing more than a small, insignificant deed, yet you show me such kindness. I truly feel unworthy. Tonight, allow me to host all of you at Qianzhu Ridge for a banquet.”

“We’ll be there, we’ll be there!”

“I’ll head down the mountain right now and buy out every drop of wine in Wuchao Town, hahaha!”

“I’ll go buy spirit rice. A feast like this needs spirit rice to go with the wine!”

“It’s a pity Mama Zhang and Sister Qing moved to Yueyang...”

Amidst the lively clamor, Jiang Feihu shouted, “Everyone, everyone, Xiaolou’s wedding banquet can be discussed later. First, let’s save our fellow Daoist Lingling. What do you say?”

The Seven Heroes of Guzhang Mountain also spoke up: “Today is a day of great joy for Wulong Mountain. It wouldn’t be right to shed blood. That Dong is lucky. Let him go and get off the mountain.”

Right then, someone said, “Yes, yes, Xiaolou, say the word and bring this matter to a close so we can start preparing your wedding feast.”

“That’s right. For today, let’s give the Danxia Sect some face and not make things hard for them.”

More people pressed Liu Xiaolou forward. “Step up and vouch for him, Xiaolou. Don’t refuse. You’re the son-in-law of the Danxia Sect. You have the standing.”

“How glorious this is!”

“Haha! Brother, I’m so happy, it feels as if I were the one marrying into the Su family!”

“That’s right, I feel the same! Let’s drink a great toast!”

“Which young lady of the Su family is he marrying? Xiaolou, tell us!”

“I know! Xiaolou mentioned it yesterday. It’s the fifth daughter of the Su family, a high-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, and the future head of the Su clan twenty years from now!”

“Heaven truly has eyes…”

The crowd pushed Liu Xiaolou forward, and he had no choice but to step up and vouch for them. “I’ll guarantee it. Release our friend Lingling and head down the mountain. We won’t hold today’s matter against you.”

Dragon Mountain Wanderer stroked his beard. “Have them leave behind their silver and spirit stones as a wedding gift for Xiaolou.”

But Dong Wei and his companions had no spirit stones left. All of them had already been lost to Lingling Traveler. They did, however, still carry some silver. After scraping everything together, they came up with a little over two hundred taels, which were promptly confiscated to buy wine and rice in Wuchao Town.

Just before being released, Dong Wei whispered pleadingly, “Fellow Liu, about today’s affair… please don’t spread word of it. If word reaches Qishan, I’ll have no face to live and may as well be dead. I had no choice. My family has nearly driven me to despair…”

Liu Xiaolou sighed. “Brother Dong, how did things come to this? To think you’d resort to cheating at gambling. Today you’re fortunate. My Wulong Mountain brothers have chosen to let it go. Anywhere else, you’d be in for real suffering.”

All the fellow cultivators gathered around, nodding in agreement. One even spoke from experience: “Three years ago I set up a gambling scam too. Got found out, had both legs broken, and nearly lost my life. Did I complain? No. I admitted defeat and took it. Whatever you do, you have to respect the rules. It’s through rules that a man’s character shows. That’s the true way to live in this world.”

Dong Wei and the others no longer had the courage to argue. They could only nod, agree, and flee down the mountain in shame.

That night, a grand banquet was held on Qianzhu Ridge. More than a hundred cultivators from Wulong Mountain came to offer their congratulations, and the wedding gifts filled an entire room. In total, Liu Xiaolou received four spirit stones, nine low-grade magical tools, more than ten kinds of spiritual materials, over seven hundred taels of silver, and dozens of pieces of jade and gemstones.

Never before had Qianzhu Ridge seen such extravagance!

Liu Xiaolou carefully made a list of every person and gift, then tucked it close to his chest. He intended to repay each gift properly in the future. He wasn’t like Wei Hongqing, who shamelessly pocketed gifts and then ran off. Liu Xiaolou still had to make a life here on Wulong Mountain, and when the three-year term ended, he would have to return as promised.

Following custom, Liu Xiaolou set aside two hundred taels of silver to distribute among the villagers at the foot of the mountain, entrusting the task to Dragon Mountain Wanderer, so the whole village could share in the joy of his wedding.

That night Qianzhu Ridge was alive with celebration, and Liu Xiaolou once again drank himself into a heavy stupor. We’ll leave him there for the moment. The next day, at noon, a messenger arrived from far-off Tianmu Mountain, carrying a letter from Wei Hongqing.

The letter informed Liu Xiaolou that news had been found about Miao Feng Mountain. The mountain lay deep within the remote ranges of the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains to the southwest. No one knew who had built it, but rumor said a group of alchemists had gathered there. They called themselves the Miao Feng Alchemy Sect, and many of the spirit pills that had appeared in recent years were said to have come from them.

The letter also said someone had confirmed sighting a man named Yan Sanfei. He had left the Tianmu Mountain marketplace a little over a month ago, accompanied by several unfamiliar women. Whether one of them was Yong’e, however, remained uncertain.

As soon as Liu Xiaolou saw the location, 'deep within the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains,' he felt relieved. That place was far too remote. Even the mighty Qingcheng Sect of the southwest could not reach it, let alone the Dongyang Sect and Qingyu Sect thousands of li away in Jing-Xiang. They could search themselves to death and still never find it.

With that, Liu Xiaolou settled down to cultivate in earnest on Qianzhu Ridge. He carried ten spirit stones, all from his marriage into the Su family. Even if the Su clan one day handed him a divorce letter and cast him out, he would still come out far ahead.

Calming his mind, Liu Xiaolou devoted himself to cultivation. In three months he opened the acupoints of Guanchong, Yimen, Zhongzhu, and Yangchi. By the fifth month his cultivation had advanced greatly. Each acupoint he unlocked was not only a gradual accumulation of true qi but also a transformation of his body.

Guanchong, Yimen, and Zhongzhu sharpened thought and clarity, cooled the spirit, strengthened the eyes, and cleared the throat. Yangchi, however, was of far greater importance. It was a great reservoir of true qi along the Hand Lesser Yang Meridian and a key to regulating yin and yang. It was on this single acupoint alone that Liu Xiaolou expended three whole spirit stones.

In his spare time from cultivation, Liu Xiaolou also re-refined the pine resin essence into Bewildering Fragrance Tendon. With his cultivation now a layer higher, the fragrance’s potency had grown as well. With that in hand, he could finally sleep soundly at night.

By then, he had only three spirit stones left. They would have been enough to open two more acupoints, but the date Fifth Lady had set was drawing near. He had to hurry back to Shenwu Mountain to accompany her in attending the Danxia Sect’s grand millennial founding ceremony.

This was not only his duty but also his hope. For a lowly itinerant cultivator from Wulong Mountain to be able to step into the mysterious Grotto-Heaven World and witness such a ceremony. What greater fortune could there be?

On the fifteenth day of the fifth month, Liu Xiaolou packed the wedding gifts into a chest, slung it across a carrying pole, and led his Big White down to the banks of the Wuchao River. He lashed together a bamboo raft and was about to push it into the water when hurried footsteps sounded behind him. It was Tan Bajhang, carrying a bundle on his back and gripping an iron staff in his hand, chasing after him.

“Xiaolou, I heard you’re heading back to Shenwu Mountain,” Tan said. “I’ve thought it over again and again, and I just can’t put my mind at ease. The Su family is a giant, and you’re going in as a son-in-law. If they bully you, you won’t have anyone to stand by your side. The only thing I can do is go with you.”

Liu Xiaolou couldn’t help but smile bitterly. “Brother Tan, I appreciate your kindness. But my position is already awkward. As a son-in-law, how could I possibly bring someone else into Shenwu Mountain? The Su family would never allow it.”

Tan Bajhang replied, “I’ve thought of that too. I won’t enter the manor. I’ll find a farmhouse in the mountain to stay in and pay them silver every month. You don’t need to worry about me. Just know that when the critical moment comes, I’ll be there to help you. This was also the idea of Senior Mountain Wanderer and Brother Zuo. They told me if anything happens, I should send word, and the Wulong Mountain brothers will surely back you up.”

This deeply moved Liu Xiaolou. He no longer refused. Instead, he widened the raft with another layer of bamboo. Then, together with Tan Bajhang, Big White, and the chest of gifts, he floated downstream with the current.