Congratulatory Gifts

The stove outside was stuffed with firewood, burning with a blazing flame, and the large iron pot on the stove was boiling.

The Big White Goose lay under the stove, its feet tied, struggling and honking.

Liu Xiaolou held the Big White Goose's neck with his left hand and a cleaver in his right, muttering, "Big White, you can't blame this Daoist this time. If there's a next life, come back to my house, and I'll raise you."

This beast stole the spirit stone I worked so hard to get! The master is furious, and blood will flow three feet!

Just as the cleaver was about to strike, tears fell from the Big White Goose's eyes, and it gazed affectionately at Liu Xiaolou.

With that look, the resolve Liu Xiaolou had just built up melted away. He waved the cleaver around the goose's neck for a long time but couldn't bring himself to strike.

The Big White Goose's tears continued to roll, and Liu Xiaolou finally slumped down in defeat. The cleaver, gleaming coldly in his palm, clattered to the ground.

"Big White, do you know how much trouble this Daoist went through for this spirit stone..."

"This Daoist hasn't gained any spiritual energy for three months, and the Dongyang Sect won't take me in..."

"Spirit stones, you've eaten them before, haven't you? What's the use of eating them? Useless..."

"Besides, this isn't for me to use, it's a congratulatory gift for Brother Wei! A gift, you understand? I can barely bear to part with it myself..."

"The old man hatched you from who knows where. You can't do anything, and you can't cultivate into a spirit beast. After all these years, you're still like a fat pig..."

"Only good at stealing..."

After a long rant, he finally untied the ropes binding the Big White Goose and let it flap its wings and escape.

"Go on, don't come back! Seeing you makes me angry!" Liu Xiaolou yelled at the beast.

The Big White Goose glanced back, then fled even farther, disappearing into the bamboo forest in the blink of an eye.

The sun was high in the sky, and Liu Xiaolou was sweating profusely. The cicadas in the bamboo forest chirped incessantly, making him drowsy. He calmed himself, forced himself to cheer up, and went into the forest to cut a bamboo shoot. He peeled off the outer layers and threw it directly into the boiling iron pot on the stove.

The spirit stone was already eaten, and there was no use dwelling on it. Life had to go on. His current cultivation was low, only at the Qi Refining second layer. He didn't dare to dream of advanced techniques like Bigu; he just wanted to fill his stomach first.

As the tender bamboo shoots were boiling in the pot, the Big White Goose darted back from the forest, carrying a fat fish about a foot long. It flapped its wings and leaped onto the stove, tossing the fish into the boiling water. The fish churned in the pot for a few waves before resignedly ceasing its struggles. The Big White Goose leaped down from the stove with satisfaction and honked twice at Liu Xiaolou, seeking praise.

Liu Xiaolou kicked it away impatiently, "A single fish is supposed to make up for my spirit stone? Why don't you just die?"

The Big White Goose flapped its wings and jumped away, then disappeared back into the bamboo forest.

Raising this beast had its benefits; it often brought home fish, shrimp, rabbits, and mice from the mountains, saving him the trouble of hunting and ensuring he wouldn't go hungry.

A pot of bamboo shoot and fish soup filled Liu Xiaolou's stomach. He went inside, moved the bed board, brushed off the dirt, revealing a wooden box buried underneath.

He opened the box, revealing an old ginseng root. This was no ordinary wild ginseng; it was a spirit ginseng passed down from his late old man. It was three hundred years old. Even if it wasn't used for alchemy, eating it raw could greatly increase true essence, making it worth at least three spirit stones!

Today was the dual cultivation ceremony for his sworn brother, Wei Hongqing. The congratulatory gift originally planned was a spirit stone. However, Shopkeeper Su suddenly visited, and in his carelessness, he didn't keep an eye on it, and the Big White Goose swallowed it. Who could he complain to? The Three Xuan Sect left by his old man was as clean as could be. If he wanted to give a gift, the only thing left was this spirit ginseng.

After all, he was a sworn brother who had looked out for him in many ways. How could he show up empty-handed on his wedding day?

Liu Xiaolou was very reluctant, holding the spirit ginseng and sighing. He felt that even holding it for another moment would be good. As dusk approached, it was time for the agreed-upon wedding banquet. He couldn't bear it any longer. Finally, he tied a red ribbon around the spirit ginseng, adding a touch of festivity, and took it down the mountain.

Wei Hongqing cultivated on Ghost Dream Cliff, which was only about half an hour's walk from Qianzhu Ridge. When Liu Xiaolou arrived, the sun was setting in the west, so he quickened his pace up the cliff. He felt quite guilty for being late to his good brother's dual cultivation ceremony.

There was a stone cave on the cliff, which was Wei Hongqing's residence. The cultivation residences of rogue cultivators on Wulong Mountain were always simple, either thatched huts or stone caves. The caves only had rudimentary furnishings and no valuable items. This was because it made it easier to escape when the righteous sects came to clear them out.

Of course, today was special. Wei Hongqing's Ghost Dream Cliff had been decorated. Red silk ribbons and lanterns hung all over the mountain wall in front of the cave. Three tables were set outside, laden with food and wine. Wei Hongqing didn't have many close rogue cultivator friends; it was said he had only invited six people. Including a few elders and friends from his dual cultivation partner's side, there were only twelve seats.

He was the first one to arrive.

Wei Hongqing was sipping wine at the main table.

Liu Xiaolou walked over with a smile and sat beside him. Wei Hongqing casually poured him a cup. Liu Xiaolou raised his cup and drank, then took out the spirit ginseng and placed it on the table, pushing it over with a pained expression.

"My teacher collected this spirit ginseng from Shouyang Mountain. It's three hundred years old. For your dual cultivation today, please accept this small token of my affection. Don't refuse."

Wei Hongqing didn't refuse. He took it and examined it for a moment before taking a bite.

"No..." Liu Xiaolou was caught off guard and tried to stop him, but then realized he had already given the spirit ginseng as a gift. He could only suppress his heartache and say, "This isn't how you eat it... Wouldn't it be better to soak it in wine? You're wasting it... Besides, my sister-in-law hasn't arrived yet. What do you mean by eating it? Sister-in-law hasn't even seen this ginseng! Hey, stop eating it..."

After only a few bites, Wei Hongqing's face turned red. With his Qi Refining Level 5 cultivation, even though his tolerance for spiritual energy was several times stronger than Liu Xiaolou's, eating almost half a spirit ginseng at once made him feel choked by the abundant true essence contained within.

After he recovered slightly, Liu Xiaolou looked at the remaining half of the spirit ginseng with heartache and said, "Don't eat any more. Save it for sister-in-law as proof, otherwise, she'll think your brother came to freeload..." He looked at the empty cave and the deserted dining table, then asked, "When will the wedding procession arrive? What about Chieftain Zuo and the others? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

He saw that Wei Hongqing's eyes were red, and he stared blankly at Liu Xiaolou.

"What's wrong, Brother Wei? This is... Speak... Speak!"

"Ling'er is not getting married..."

"What?"

"Your brother has been jilted by the Xia Family..."

Liu Xiaolou was stunned and immediately exploded, "Why? I'll go talk to them!"

Wei Hongqing said sadly, "She's marrying into the Zhanglong Sect, becoming a concubine to Zang Qianli, an inner disciple of the Zhanglong Sect..."

The enraged Liu Xiaolou immediately fell silent.

What happened to the promised love?

The Zhanglong Sect was a famous major sect in Xiangxi, occupying the blessed land of Zhanglong Mountain. Since Zang Qianli was an inner disciple of the Zhanglong Sect, his future was bound to be limitless. Even as a concubine, Ling'er would be much better off than following Wei Hongqing, a rogue cultivator on Wulong Mountain. It was no wonder the Xia Family had changed the marriage.

Liu Xiaolou could only comfort him, "Brother Wei, if you suffer such humiliation, we brothers will stand together. This year, your brother will make an agreement with the fellow cultivators in the mountains, and we will no longer help them with their work during the autumn harvest."

Wei Hongqing patted his hand to show his gratitude.

Liu Xiaolou asked again, "What about Chieftain Zuo and the others? Aren't they coming to the... banquet?"

Wei Hongqing gave a bitter smile, "Without a wedding ceremony, how can there be a wedding banquet? Without a wedding banquet, why would they come?"

Not knowing how to comfort him, Liu Xiaolou could only accompany Wei Hongqing in drinking.

As the saying goes, one doesn't get drunk from wine, but from oneself. After drinking for a long time, Liu Xiaolou was fine, but Wei Hongqing was already drunk. Before passing out, he finally cried, "Xiaolou, go back. Don't worry about your brother. Just let your brother be alone for a while..."