On the eighteenth day of the fifth month, at the foot of Shenwu Mountain, the rumble of wooden wheels broke the silence. A big white goose waddled up the mountain path, wings spread just slightly for balance. A rope looped around its neck, pulling a little flat cart behind it. On the cart sat a wooden chest nearly as large as the cart itself, and perched on top of the chest was Liu Xiaolou.

He had also taken down the wind chime from Qianzhu Ridge and tied it to the goose’s chest. As they moved along, the crisp jingle of the chime rang out, clear and cheerful.

Rain had just passed, leaving the mountain shrouded in thick fog. Out of the mist emerged the goose pulling the cart, carrying Liu Xiaolou all the way to the manor gates. The steward on duty could only stare, wide-eyed, at this strange sight of one goose, one cart, and one man. He completely forgot to step forward and offer a greeting, and simply watched Liu Xiaolou roll through the gate and into the SunRain Hibiscus Garden.

“How terribly rude,” Liu Xiaolou muttered to himself. “I may not be anyone important, but I’m still the son-in-law. Not even a word of welcome, not even the simplest courtesy. This Shenwu Manor… really lacking in discipline.”

Susu and Xiaohuan came out to greet him. When they caught sight of the goose and cart, both covered their mouths, half astonished and half amused.

“The young master’s back!”

“Oh my, what an adorable goose! Does it peck at people? May I touch it?”

“Is this the young master’s spirit bird? Our clan is known for raising spirit beasts and birds, but I’ve never seen a spirit goose like this one. It looks exactly like the kind they keep in the kitchen…”

Liu Xiaolou climbed down from the cart and patted the white goose on the head.

“Come now, Big White, don’t fuss. Let Susu and Xiaohuan give you a pet… just a pat on the head won’t hurt you!”

Amid laughter, the two maids stroked the goose all over. Big White endured it without lashing out, only casting pitiful looks at Liu Xiaolou, waiting for him to step in. With a wave of his hand, Liu Xiaolou said, “Take it to the back. Let it stay in the courtyard pond.”

He looked up toward the second floor and cupped his hands in greeting. “Fifth Lady, I’ve returned from my family home. I didn’t miss the time, did I?”

A shadow flitted past a small upstairs window, and a single word drifted down: “Mm.” With that, his leave was officially over. He had been away for three months, using up all his vacation for the year. From now until the second month of the next year, he would have to keep working without a break.

Passing through the front hall into the back courtyard, he saw Big White already drifting in the pond. Its long neck was bent forward as it locked eyes with a silver carp. The goose and the fish stared each other down, four eyes fixed and unblinking.

“What kind of fish is that? I haven’t seen it before,” Liu Xiaolou asked.

Susu was inside, tidying up luggage, while Xiaohuan crouched at the pond’s edge, chin resting on one hand as she watched, completely absorbed.

“That’s a Silver Dragonwhisker Carp,” she answered. “Same breed as the Golden Dragonwhisker Carp, but this one’s more hot-tempered. Madam brought it back from the Grotto-Heaven and said she wanted to try raising it.”

“Maybe move it elsewhere,” said Liu Xiaolou. “Best to take the fish out before it keeps swimming in front of Big White. Big White doesn’t tolerate that sort of thing.”

Xiaohuan laughed. “That’s a Silver Dragonwhisker Carp. They’re formidable. Ordinary shrimp and crabs are nothing more than food for them. Big White won’t find it easy to harm one. I’m more worried about Big White getting bitten. Let’s see which one comes out on top…”

Before she could finish, Big White suddenly struck, stabbing his beak into the water. In an instant, a two-foot-long silver carp was clamped in his bill, thrashing wildly as water splashed everywhere. Big White stretched his neck, gave a few quick gulps, and swallowed the carp whole. He let out a sudden belch, spraying two jets of mist from his nostrils, each faintly glimmering with silver light.

“Ah! He really ate it!” Xiaohuan shrieked, rushing to the pond’s edge to try and catch him.

At some point, Fifth Lady had appeared behind Liu Xiaolou. She spoke calmly. “Let him eat.”

Liu Xiaolou turned. After three months apart, Fifth Lady seemed even more beautiful than before. He asked, “Fifth Lady, you’ve returned from the Grotto-Heaven, did the talks go well? When I went back to Wulong Mountain this time, I didn’t hear anything about a great battle between the Qingyu Sect and the Dongyang Sect.”

She turned away without answering directly. “It has nothing to do with you,” she said lightly, and walked off.

Left helpless, Liu Xiaolou turned instead to Susu for answers.

Though Fifth Lady was unwilling to speak of it, Susu was easier to ask. She explained that the Danxia Sect had already stepped in to mediate. In the end, it was agreed that during the upcoming sect gathering two days from now, a contest would be held on the arena stage. The Qingyu Sect and three other sects would each choose a young disciple to compete. The winner would earn the right to take part in Danxia Sect’s once-every-three-years Grotto-Heaven Trial.

“What exactly is the Grotto-Heaven Trial?” Liu Xiaolou asked. It was the first time he had ever heard the term.

Su su explained, “Our sect resides within the Danxia Grotto-Heaven. A Grotto-Heaven is a small world, quite different from the outside. But it isn’t stable. Every three to five years, rifts open up in the void. Inside those rifts appear wondrous, otherworldly landscapes, and those who venture in often return with great gains. Of course, this is only what I’ve heard. We maids have no right to take part in such trials.”

“I see,” Liu Xiaolou said. “So in the end, it was our Danxia Sect offering benefits to calm the conflict?”

Susu thought for a moment, then nodded. “It does seem that way.”

“And what did the Dongyang Sect give to our Shenwu Manor in return?” Liu Xiaolou asked.

“That I don’t know,” Susu replied. “But the Dongyang sect master and our master share a deep connection. Helping them once is only natural… Young master, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you? I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare something.”

Liu Xiaolou opened the chest, took out a pouch of broken silver, pieces of three taels, five taels, some one or two, and handed it to Susu. 

“Here’s a hundred taels. Keep it for now. I brought back a brother from Wulong Mountain, and for the time being he’s staying in the Taoist shrine at the mountain pass. See if you can arrange for him to stay here in the manor. If that’s not possible, then use the money to hire people to repair that shrine. It’s in such ruin, it’s not fit for long-term living.”

Susu quickly replied, “He can certainly stay in the guest courtyard for a few days, but not for long. Young master, do you mean the General’s Shrine? The location is excellent and it’s close to the manor. It used to belong to one of the old retainers, but after he passed away, no one has looked after it. I’ll find people to repair it.”

“Once the food is ready, send it straight to the shrine,” Liu Xiaolou instructed her. “And if there’s any osmanthus wine, make sure to bring a jug. Let me know when it’s done. I’ll head over later to drink with him.”

Delighted, Susu hurried off. Liu Xiaolou lingered by the courtyard pond with Xiaohuan, watching Big White. The goose seemed to have overstuffed itself on that Silver Dragonwhisker Carp; its neck was still bent, leaning against the pond’s edge as it panted for breath. The few remaining carps had fled to the far corner of the pool, too frightened to move.

Xiaohuan kept staring fixedly into the water. She hadn’t gotten a good look at Big White’s strike earlier and wanted to see it happen again. Just then, a house servant came rushing in to report,

“Xiaohuan, Xiaohuan! Susu is in the kitchen crying her eyes out, you’d better come quickly… Ah, the young master is here too…”

Startled, Xiaohuan jumped to her feet and ran upstairs.

“Madam! Madam!” Then she came running back down.

“Madam’s gone to the back mountain again. Young master, I’ll go check on Susu… Wait for me!”

But Liu Xiaolou had already gone out the door, asking the servant as he walked, “Why is she crying?”

The servant answered, “Chef Wang said Susu’s always trying to take advantage of the public resources. They argued a few words, then Chef Wang started cursing her. You know the chief’s temper, it blows up fast…”