Wu Chao Town

Liu Xiaolou pushed the bamboo raft into the water, braced a bamboo pole against it, and leaped aboard. The raft spun once in the current before immediately drifting downstream.

After floating less than a dozen zhang, they reached a waterfall over a zhang high. The bamboo raft plunged through the air from above.

Liu Xiaolou tapped off with his toes, his body lifting slightly. Sensing that the raft was about to overturn, he sank his true essence, drove forward with his rear foot, and preserved the raft's momentum. He landed steadily on the water below the falls, twisted his waist to guide it left, and the raft swept around the hidden reef ahead, continuing downstream. The entire sequence flowed in one unbroken breath.

"Ho ho—" Liu Xiaolou was having the time of his life.

The upper reaches of the Wu Chao River were exceedingly dangerous. In the past, Liu Xiaolou had been unable to guide a raft downstream by himself. Now that his cultivation had risen another level, his movement technique, perception, balance, and even his control over the transformation of true essence had all improved by leaps and bounds. Weaving between waterfalls, treacherous rapids, and hidden reefs, he felt indescribably exhilarated!

In less than half an hour, he had descended the mountain and entered the river's lower reaches, where the current grew gentler. Fishing boats and ferries gradually came into view. Lush green rice paddies stretched along the banks, their heavy ears of grain bowed low. In a few more days, they would likely be ready for harvest.

More and more houses appeared along the riverbank, and the pedestrians grew denser. Around a bend in the river stood a bustling little town—Wu Chao Town.

As the raft neared the bank, Liu Xiaolou leaped ashore. The bamboo raft continued drifting downstream; there was no need to care where it went. He could simply lash together another one the next time he came down the mountain.

Wu Chao Town was traversed east to west by a main street, lined with shops, eateries, taverns, and tea stalls. It looked no different from any other village town, but the branching alleys held hidden mysteries. They were not only places where Wulong Mountain rogue cultivators traded, but also drew many Jingxiang Rogue Cultivators who came by reputation.

The materials and goods traded here naturally could not compare to those in the great city of Tanzhou sixty li away, yet this was the place where Wulong Mountain rogue cultivators felt most at ease trading. By rights, Shopkeeper Su of Zhongyi Square had accepted a lavish gift from him but failed to get the job done. Taking valuable goods there would naturally fetch a high price. But the spiritual herb had been seized from Jinping Mountain Villa, and Jinping Mountain Villa, like Zhongyi Square, was an outer-branch affiliate of the Dongyang Sect. Trading at Zhongyi Square would be little different from delivering himself to their door to confess.

Liu Xiaolou had come here many times with his teacher, Mister Sanxuan, and knew Wu Chao Town like the back of his hand. He understood all its rules. At the first alley entrance east along the main street stood two women.

The older one was called Mama Zhang, a madam from the previous generation. It was said that she had once enjoyed dazzling glory, but the years had now ravaged her badly. The younger one, however, possessed considerable charm. Not yet thirty and quite lovely, she was called Sister Qing. She had once been the famed top courtesan within dozens of li around Wu Chao Town. Though she no longer personally received guests, she remained a fairy maiden in the hearts of many Wulong Mountain rogue cultivators.

When outsiders first arrived in Wu Chao Town, ignorant of its ways, they often followed Sister Qing inside. Sister Qing truly was beautiful, worthy of being called Wulong Mountain's single flower, but locals generally chose Mama Zhang.

Mama Zhang might have been old, but the girls under her command were quite good. Their looks overall surpassed those of Sister Qing's sisters. Unless Sister Qing personally took the field, there was little to gain from going there; otherwise, one would likely regret it.

On the path of cultivation, harmonizing yin and yang was also an important avenue. Otherwise, there would be no such thing as dual cultivation. Liu Xiaolou had previously been too young and his cultivation too shallow to speak of any imbalance between yin and yang, so his teacher had not allowed him to practice the Three Xuan Sect's art of harmonizing yin and yang. He had only made him memorize and study it, saying they would discuss actual cultivation only after Liu Xiaolou passed eighteen and advanced another level in cultivation.

But as a teacher, Mister Sanxuan himself had no such restrictions. He was a frequent visitor to this alley. When he came, he would usually buy Liu Xiaolou a pear and have him squat by the outer wall at the alley corner, while he himself strolled inside at leisure. After enjoying himself, he would come back out. Mama Zhang and Sister Qing's ways were also lessons drawn from experience that his teacher had drilled into Liu Xiaolou over the past two years. Alas, Liu Xiaolou had turned eighteen, but his teacher had already ridden a crane into immortality.

As he passed the alley entrance now, he still remembered his teacher's teachings, and could not help pausing.

The moment he stopped, Sister Qing wound herself around him. "Oh my, isn't this Young Immortal Master Xiaolou? What's this? Young Immortal Master Xiaolou has turned eighteen?"

Liu Xiaolou froze. He had not expected her to know him so thoroughly; his teacher must have told her before his death. He cleared his throat. "Ahem... yes..."

Sister Qing immediately brightened. "That's wonderful! Run into trouble cultivating? Come down the mountain on your master's orders? Come, come to big sister's room. Big sister will take your pulse..."

As she spoke, she reached out to tug him along.

Sister Qing had been a Martial Master in her youth and had some real skill, or she could never have kept her sisters in line. But before Liu Xiaolou, it was not worth mentioning. With a light twist, he shook her arm free.

But she had long coveted this handsome Young Immortal Master of the Three Xuan Sect. How could she let Liu Xiaolou escape now? She simply wrapped her whole body around him, pressed herself against him, and giggled. "First time, isn't it? Don't worry. No consultation fee. Big sister will personally take your pulse."

Liu Xiaolou was at a loss when Mama Zhang, who had been leaning sideways against the wall, suddenly asked, "Where is your teacher?"

Liu Xiaolou answered, "My teacher passed away half a year ago."

At once, the atmosphere turned cold. Not only did Mama Zhang stare blankly, Sister Qing also looked at Liu Xiaolou in a daze. She reached up and stroked his head, then let out a soft sigh.

Liu Xiaolou nodded to them, freed himself from Sister Qing's embrace, and headed for the next alley entrance.

This alley was lined with open wooden sheds. Dozens of cultivators sat separately within them, each pair facing the other from several zhang apart, cross-legged as they conversed in low voices.

Wealth should not be displayed. Any truly precious treasure would certainly not be laid out openly for sale; one had to go up and inquire one by one. Liu Xiaolou could also join their ranks by finding a spot and sitting down. Someone would naturally come over to strike up a conversation. Buying and selling were mutual affairs. He could also say he had come to buy spirit stones, though the only thing he could offer was that spiritual herb.

Liu Xiaolou walked slowly along the wooden sheds, looking at them one by one. He recognized no one, so he found an empty spot, sat cross-legged, and quietly observed.

Not long after he sat down, someone came over. "Little brother, got something to sell?"

It was Liu Xiaolou's first time coming alone, and his mind was filled with his teacher's warning: "When you come by yourself, you must be cautious and careful. Watch more and speak less in all things, lest someone sweet-talk you into being cheated."

The words still rang in his ears, so he dared not say much. "Just looking. We'll see."

The man smiled. "There's nothing wrong with being cautious, but goods must still be brought into the light. If you don't like my offer, then don't sell. Could I possibly snatch it from you by force? Everyone understands Wu Chao Town's rules."

Robbery was forbidden in Wu Chao Town's market; otherwise, anyone who saw it could rise up and attack together. That was indeed the rule. After thinking it over, Liu Xiaolou took out the spiritual herb. "Found it by chance outside the mountains. Have a look."

The man examined it for a moment and asked, "What kind of grass is this?"

Apparently, he did not know quality goods. Liu Xiaolou put it away. "Goods are sold to those with affinity. If you do not recognize it, then we have no affinity."

The man nodded and wandered off elsewhere.

Liu Xiaolou breathed a sigh of relief and continued waiting. Before long, two more people came to ask. Neither recognized the herb. One shook his head and left; the other named a price—one hundred taels of patterned silver or fifty sheng of spirit rice. Naturally, Liu Xiaolou refused.