Sure Enough, We Were Fated

The moment Liu Xiaolou entered the private room, he froze. Nor was he the only one—the "good friend" inside the room froze as well.

Tan Bazhang had a chicken claw stuffed in his mouth, staring wide-eyed at Liu Xiaolou.

"This is Brother Tan Bazhang of Tan Family Manor. With his Water-Fire Staff and Eight Forms of Spirit Birds, he is quite renowned! Brother Tan, this is Liu Xiaolou, Sect Leader of the Three Xuan Sect, whom I mentioned to you before. At such a young age, he is already the master of a sect. Ha ha!"

Liu Xiaolou gave a dry cough and cupped his hands in greeting. "Brother Tan, truly, fate has brought us together from a thousand miles away."

The half-chewed chicken claw dropped from Tan Bazhang's mouth. He finally came to his senses and returned the salute. "Sure enough, we are fated. Fated indeed."

Wei Hongqing said happily, "So you two know each other. Excellent, excellent—this saves me the trouble of introducing you."

As they spoke, a waiter brought in a pot of Bamboo Leaf Green. Wei Hongqing had several plates of leftover dishes removed and added two fresh ones. He filled Liu Xiaolou's cup, and the three raised their cups and drained them.

Bamboo Leaf Green was a fine spirit wine. Liu Xiaolou had asked about it outside earlier: a pot contained less than half a jin, yet cost twenty taels. But high prices had their reasons. One cup down, and the spiritual power it contained was far richer than the pot of spirit wine he had drunk earlier.

"Brother Wei, have you struck it rich?" Liu Xiaolou asked.

Wei Hongqing waved a hand. "Just a little fortune, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."

Though he said it was not worth mentioning, he still briefly recounted his experiences over the past half year. After leaving Wulong Mountain, he had planned to flee a thousand miles away. Passing through the blessed land of Tianmu Mountain, he stayed for several days to see whether he could obtain some opportunity from the Lu clan, who possessed the Tianmu Mountain blessed land. And sure enough, he really did find an opportunity and made a handsome fortune.

As for what that opportunity was and how great a fortune he had made, Wei Hongqing did not elaborate.

When he went out again to hurry the wine and dishes along, Liu Xiaolou exchanged a look with Tan Bazhang. Breaking the awkward silence, Liu Xiaolou asked, "Brother Tan, what connection does Brother Wei have with the Lu clan?"

Tan Bazhang lowered his voice. "I do not know either. But with that flirtatious nature of his, when has he ever gone out without provoking women? It is probably related to a woman again. Eh? Brother Liu's looks are no worse than Hongqing's. In the future, perhaps... heh heh..."

Liu Xiaolou smoothed his topknot with the edge of his palm and said modestly, "Brother Tan jests."

Tan Bazhang picked up a chicken claw and put it in his mouth, then picked up another and stuffed it into Liu Xiaolou's mouth. "These claws taste good. Delicious. Give them a try, younger brother."

Just then, Wei Hongqing's hearty laughter rang out beyond the curtain. "Ha ha ha ha! Brother Zuo, you have come at just the right time. Let me introduce two good friends to you..."

The door curtain was lifted, and Wei Hongqing dragged someone inside. Who else could it have been but Zuo Gaofeng, from whom they had parted only at noon?

The chicken claws Liu Xiaolou and Tan Bazhang had only taken two bites from dropped to the floor at once.

Zuo Gaofeng blinked, stood stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Truly, fate has brought us together from a thousand miles away! My two brothers, this elder brother has missed you to death, ha ha ha ha!"

"Sure enough, we are fated. Fated indeed!"

"That is right, we are far too fated..."

Wei Hongqing asked, "Eh? You three know each other too?"

Zuo Gaofeng said irritably, "On the day Brother Wei set out to roam the world, we gathered at Ghost Dream Cliff to see Brother Wei off."

Wei Hongqing understood. After he had left, these friends must have gathered together and compared notes. He immediately chuckled. "Then that truly is fate."

Tan Bazhang picked up a chicken claw and stuffed it into Zuo Gaofeng's mouth. "Chieftain Zuo, have a taste."

Seeing all three of them busily gnawing chicken claws, Wei Hongqing picked one up as well. "Are they that tasty?"

The three lowered their heads to chew and answered in unison, "Delicious!"

After eating the chicken claws, the awkwardness gradually faded, and the atmosphere livened up. When they asked why Wei Hongqing had summoned them, Wei Hongqing said, "One more friend has yet to arrive. Once he comes, I will tell you all together."

"Did Brother Wei invite the Western Mountain Hermit?"

"Or the Lingling Guest?"

"It should not be the Lingling Guest."

Wei Hongqing said in surprise, "How did you brothers guess? It is indeed the Hermit."

Then he said disdainfully, "We are undertaking something great this time. Petty penny-pinching people like the Lingling Guest cannot be entrusted with a shared plan."

Tan Bazhang laughed. "We rogue cultivators—what great matters can we speak of? Being able to feed our families is enough to thank Heaven and Earth for."

Zuo Gaofeng said, "Why belittle ourselves? Can we Wulong Mountain cultivators not accomplish great things?"

Thus, they began discussing recent curiosities from the Cultivation World. Wei Hongqing said, "Speaking of great matters, there really is one. Have you all heard? It seems the Heavenly Tome has appeared in the world again."

Everyone had heard of the Heavenly Tome, Liu Xiaolou included.

Before his teacher passed away, he had mentioned it to him. It was said that the Heavenly Tome was the greatest secret of the Cultivation World. Some said it recorded cultivation methods for ascending to immortality and attaining the Dao; some said it was a map marking the ruins of ancient immortal gods; others said it was the formula for an immortal pill, and that refining pills from it would allow one to ascend in broad daylight; still others claimed that the Heavenly Tome itself was an immortal artifact—obtain it, and one could roam the universe unhindered, invincible beneath Heaven.

Zuo Gaofeng frowned. "This so-called Heavenly Tome is rumored to be profoundly mysterious. In Zuo's view, it is merely hearsay piled upon hearsay, not worth believing."

Tan Bazhang disagreed. Shaking his head, he said, "If it is merely hearsay, then how did True Lord Tong of the Weiyu Xianghe Sect attain immortality and the Dao three hundred years ago? What about Pei Qingling of Xixuan Longtu Pavilion two hundred years ago? Or Tang Lan of the Emei Sect one hundred years ago?"

Zuo Gaofeng said, "That is precisely where the hearsay lies. In my view, whether True Lord Tong, Pei Qingling, or Tang Lan, they all shed their mortal forms. What attainment of immortality and the Dao was there? If they truly attained immortality and the Dao, why did they leave behind no immortal traces?"

Tan Bazhang said, "Once they attained immortality and the Dao, why would they remain in the mortal world? What do you say, Brother Liu?"

Liu Xiaolou gave a bitter smile. "How would I know? They are all just rumors, and no one has seen them. They all say these mighty figures obtained the Heavenly Tome, after which their path of cultivation raced ahead like a single rider kicking up dust. But who knows whether it is true or false?"

"It is true!"

"It is false!"

"How could it be false?"

"Have you seen it? They are only rumors!"

"Then how else could their cultivation have been so high? Talent? This younger brother believes his own talent is no worse than anyone else's! Or does Brother Zuo think his own aptitude is dull and clumsy?"

"Those are two different matters..."

Amid their argument, the Western Mountain Hermit arrived. The moment he entered, he stroked his beard and smiled. "I made a calculation with my fingers and knew all of you would surely be here. Are you brothers discussing the Heavenly Tome? I have heard some rumors myself. They say the Emei Sect recently refined a God Transformation Pill, following the pill formula recorded in the Heavenly Tome..."

This time, even Liu Xiaolou could not stand it. Together with Zuo Gaofeng and Tan Bazhang, he made two dismissive sounds. "That is stretching things too far. It cannot serve as proof."

Once everyone had arrived, Wei Hongqing tightly shut the room's door. Looking exceedingly pleased with himself, he said, "What Heavenly Tome, what God Transformation Pill—none of that concerns us brothers. Let us discuss proper business. This brother of yours is not one to forget his roots. Although I left Wulong Mountain, all I ever think of are you brothers. Now that I have found a way, naturally I must make a fortune together with you."

Seeing everyone hold their breath and stare at him, Wei Hongqing lowered his voice. "Do you brothers know that Tianmu Mountain has just lost a Foundation Establishment Pill? It was stolen."