The name Wu Zhuzi (Red Crow) sounded like something a rogue cultivator, a cave-dwelling recluse, or a bandit chief would call himself. No one from a respectable, established family would ever use a title like that. But when this man appeared before Liu Xiaolou, he completely overturned that impression: his clothes were refined, his manners impeccable, and at first glance he looked every bit the son of a great house.

Liu Xiaolou had assumed he must have been sent by some idle young master. And he was using a fake name to keep a low profile. Yet when the man finally opened his mouth, he didn’t mention formations at all.

“Now that Master Liu has returned to the mountain, how do you find it?”

The question left Liu Xiaolou baffled. “What do you mean, how do I find it?”

Wu Zhuzi gave a slight smile. “Back on Shenwu Mountain, you held the rank of son-in-law to a great house. You moved freely among great clans, entered the Grotto-Heaven, enjoyed fine clothes, lavish banquets, music and song. Now you’ve returned to this remote wilderness, where no one waits on your daily life and no one heeds your commands. Have you grown used to it yet?”

Liu Xiaolou’s face immediately darkened.

Seeing his reaction, Wu Zhuzi felt greatly reassured, as though a third of his plan had already succeeded. “In fact,” he went on, “Master Liu, you may not yet realize it, but here in Wulong Mountain your name already carries weight beyond measure…”

Liu Xiaolou suddenly cut him off. “Are you suggesting, fellow Daoist, that I should make a grand show of things and start expanding my sect?”

Wuzhuzi froze for a moment. “…Master Liu… what do you think?”

Liu Xiaolou gave a cold laugh. “How many men can you muster to wave banners and shout slogans to bolster the prestige of my Sanxuan Sect?”

Wu Zhuzi was delighted. “That won’t be a problem. I may be unworthy, but I have wide connections. If Master Liu is willing, when it comes to manpower I can…”

Liu Xiaolou cut him off impatiently. “Alright, alright, I get it. To tell you the truth, you’re too late. Before you, others had already come knocking. If I ever do decide to move forward, of course I’ll turn to them first. There’s always such a thing as first come, first served. Don’t you agree?”

Wu Zhuzi grew wary. “May I ask which group it was?”

“That wouldn’t be proper to say,” Liu Xiaolou replied. “Otherwise I’d be breaking the rules. Wouldn’t you agree, fellow Daoist?”

Wu Zhuzi slowly nodded. “I understand…” He rose to his feet. “In that case, I won’t overstay. I only hope that when Master Liu truly makes up his mind, he will weigh matters carefully. As they say, you compare goods from different shops to see who has the real strength. Isn’t that so?”

Liu Xiaolou cupped his hands. “Thank you for your advice. Junior Fang, see our guest out.”

For the past two months, Fang Bu’ai had taken it upon himself to act as a sort of greeter. Whenever visitors came up the mountain, if he didn’t know them personally, he would stop them, report to the sect, then either let them pass or turn them away. He also made a point of escorting guests back down the mountain.

This was the mindset of a rogue cultivator: if he wanted to survive on Liu Xiaolou’s turf, he had to prove his worth. Up to now, Liu Xiaolou had only given him silver twice. Once as a settlement allowance when sending him to live at Half-Pine Plateau, and once as a reward for charging forward against Zhang Shihua. Each time it was ten taels.

The silver was enough for daily life, but it didn’t cover the spirit stones needed for cultivation. As for his cultivation, Liu Xiaolou had no obligation to provide for it. He had to seek his own opportunities, just as Liu Xiaolou himself had gone half a year without cultivating after his master passed away. Everyone understood this.

After Wu Zhuzi descended the mountain, he turned back and asked, “Master Liu said someone urged him to expand his sect and recruit disciples. Which group was it?”

Fang Bu’ai shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Wu Zhuzi pulled out a large gold bead, weighing about a tael, and tried to press it into his hand. “Was it the Zhanglong Sect? Did your master agree?”

Fang Bu’ai stepped back without taking it. “I’ve never earned Master Liu’s favor and haven’t had the fortune to be accepted into the sect. I only take shelter here. As for what you say, I truly don’t know.”

Wu Zhuzi thought for a moment, then added another bead. “Yes or no? Just give me one word.”

Fang Bu’ai’s face changed. He drew his sword. “Are you insulting me? My cultivation may be low, but I won’t stand for humiliation!”

Wu Zhuzi gave a cold snort, flicked his sleeve, and left.

After returning to the mountain, Fang Bu’ai bowed and reported to Liu Xiaolou, “Senior, I’ve seen him off the mountain. From the way he was headed, it looked like Yunu Peak.”

Liu Xiaolou scoffed. "Off to peddle his wares somewhere else, I see."

When Fang Bu’ai was about to leave, Liu Xiaolou stopped him. “Junior Fang, are you free these next few days?”

“If Senior has instructions, please speak,” Fang Bu’ai replied.

“Do you know Mo Mountain? Good. Go there. In the mountain there’s a small valley with a waterfall about three feet high. It isn’t tall but it’s wide, and you’ll know it when you see it. The stream flows into a cold pool below…”

“Senior, do you want the blackstone at the bottom of the pool?” Fang Bu’ai asked.

Liu Xiaolou nodded. “I need one piece, about the size of a fist. And bring back a few drops of the springwater essence as well.”

Fang Bu’ai hesitated. “But that’s Mo Mountain Sect territory…”

Liu Xiaolou only smiled. “It’s fine. When you get there, just report that you’re acting under the name of the Sanxuan Sect.”

He handed Fang Bu’ai two silver ingots. “That’s one hundred taels. Use it to buy from them. After you get the blackstone and the springwater essence, make another trip to Lake Dongting. There are giant toads along the shore. Catch three to five of them in a bamboo basket, and they must be alive.”

Fang Bu’ai nodded. “Understood. I’ll head down the mountain at once.”

With a bamboo hat on his head and his long sword on his back, Fang Bu’ai set out at night, traveling east. Skirting Wuling Mountain, Tianmen Mountain, and the Taoyuan range, he finally arrived at Mo Mountain.

A year earlier, back when he was still in the Pai Sect, he had followed his master here in search of a Mo Mountain blackstone. But by then the newly founded Mo Mountain Sect had already taken control of the mountain, and they insisted on exchanging blackstones only for spirit stones. The three elders of the Mo Mountain Sect styled themselves the “Three Heroes of Heaven, Earth, and Man,” and they were incredibly troublesome to deal with. In the end, even after a prolonged struggle, he and his master failed to obtain the blackstone and had no choice but to return empty-handed.

At the time, his master had said they would rally more brothers from the sect and come again. But once they returned to Zhuoshui, his master was laid to rest forever, and the chance never came.

Now, returning once more, Fang Bu’ai was both fulfilling Senior Liu’s request and carrying his late master’s unfinished wish. Though only at the third layer of Qi Refinement, he was prepared to stake his life if he had to.

Following the same path he had taken with his master the year before, Fang Bu’ai soon reached the cold pool. The waterfall was the same, the thatched hut was the same, the great stone with the words “Mo Mountain Sect” carved on it still stood in the earth, and the Three Heroes of the Mo Mountain Sect sat cross-legged by the pool just as before. The only difference was that his master was gone, and now he faced it all alone.

He turned his wrist slightly, channeling his true qi into his five fingers, ready to fight to the death.

Three pairs of eyes fixed on him, their killing intent spreading. The cold pool seemed to freeze in response.

“You came for blackstones? Do you know the rules of the Mo Mountain Sect? One spirit stone, no bargaining.”

“I don’t have spirit stones.”

“No spirit stones? Then go back to where you came from, and don’t return without them.”

“I want blackstones... and springwater essence.”

“Didn’t you hear me? If you’ve got spirit stones, we’ll hand them over. If not, get lost.”

Fang Bu’ai drew the longsword from his back, its blade flashing dazzlingly under the sun.

The Three Heroes of Mo Mountain each let out a cold laugh as they slowly stood up. “Kid,” Tian Ying said, “where are you from? Never heard of our name? And yet you still dare to draw your sword?”

Suddenly Fang Bu’ai recalled Sect Leader Liu’s instructions before he set out. “I’m from Qianzhu Ridge of Wulong Mountain,” he said. “By Sect Leader Liu’s order, I’ve come for blackstones. Here are fifty taels of silver. If you’ll give me the stones, I bow and apologize. If you refuse, I cannot return alive. My only choice then... is death.”

“Wulong Mountain’s Sect Leader Liu? Which Sect Leader Liu?” Tian Ying suddenly asked. “Do you mean Sect Leader Liu of the Sanxuan Sect?”

Fang Bu’ai froze for a moment. Senior Liu’s name carries that much weight? Even these three from the Mo Mountain Sect know him? He answered aloud, “That’s right.”

The Three Heroes of Mo Mountain suddenly burst into laughter.

“So it was Sect Leader Liu who sent you? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Exactly. The Sanxuan Sect and our Mo Mountain Sect share deep ties. Sect Leader Liu is a close friend of ours, almost an ally. If an ally comes for stones, fifty taels of silver will do.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Besides the Sanxuan Sect, our Mo Mountain Sect is also on good terms with the Purple Pole Sect. They too are allies.”

“Kid, catch. Here’s the blackstone. When you return, give our regards to Sect Leader Liu.”

Almost without thinking, Fang Bu’ai caught the blackstone and tossed over the silver. He felt a little dazed. That’s it? I already have the blackstone?

After a moment’s thought, he added, “And the springwater essence…”

“No problem!” Tian Ying tossed over a small porcelain bottle. “Consider the springwater essence a gift for your Sect Leader Liu. Tell him to come visit us sometime. Since the founding of the Mo Mountain Sect, he still hasn’t paid us a visit!”

Still in a haze, Fang Bu’ai made his way down Mo Mountain. After walking a few miles, it suddenly struck him. He still hadn’t caught the giant toads of Dongting. So he turned back and continued eastward.