Yangliu Bay

They said they would deliberate at length, but this group was bold enough to swallow the heavens. They had no fear at all of a Qi Refining tenth-layer cultivator. Among those present were one at the eighth layer, one at the seventh, two at the fifth, and one at the third. They had experience ambushing a tenth-layer cultivator; the odds were good. Though the risk was equally high, which of the Wulong Mountain fellow cultivators did not dance on the edge of a blade every day?

The group immediately rubbed their hands together and urged him repeatedly. "Hurry, hurry, hurry! Brother Wei, tell us whatever leads you have. Before word of Tianmu Mountain's bounty spreads, it would be best if we brothers got moving even an hour earlier!"

Wei Hongqing said, "It truly is quite a coincidence. I happen to know this Lu Zi'an; we crossed paths several times years ago. The reason I came to Tianmu Mountain was originally because I heard he had been doing rather well here these past years, so I came specifically to find him and see whether I could gain some opportunity. But after arriving, I never saw him. Later, I learned that he had been assigned to guard the pill room and had entered seclusion with several elder masters of Pill Refining. I do not know where Lu Zi'an is, but I do know of one of his hiding places. I have been watching it these past few days, and I reckon he is very likely there. It was only because I was alone and outmatched that I did not dare make a move, which was why I invited you brothers here to discuss this great plan."

As he spoke, Wei Hongqing smiled. "These past few days, I have been on tenterhooks, afraid the lead would run away. Fortunately, you have all arrived. When the night turns black and the wind howls, our time for wealth and glory will come."

Tianmen Mountain was cloudy tonight, and gust after gust of north wind brought a biting chill. It truly was a night black with wind and moonless sky.

After leaving the market, they headed southeast. Half an hour later, having crossed several low hills, they saw a small river below. The river flowed northward, made a great bend beneath the mountains, then turned east.

Wei Hongqing said, "This is Yangliu Bay. Lu Zi'an has a lover who lives across from the river bend." He pointed toward a small hill on the opposite bank. "Look, everyone, it is behind that hill. The woods atop the hill are rather dense and hard to make out. Remember the direction; just head for where the fir trees are thickest."

There was no moonlight, and nothing could be seen clearly. Only the faint outline of the hill was visible. Even the small river beneath it could only barely be identified by the babbling sound of its waters.

Wei Hongqing assigned their positions. "Layman, go up the hill and keep watch from above. Brother Zuo, approach from the north side of the hill. Brother Tan, cover the east. Xiaolou and I will sneak in from the south. We will surround that courtyard together. Do not rashly attack. Lu Zi'an is already at the Qi Refining tenth layer, and his lover is above Qi Refining Level 5 as well. If we alert them, catching them will become difficult. When you hear my partridge call, charge inside!"

Everyone nodded, then split up here and silently encircled the far side of the river bend.

Liu Xiaolou followed behind Wei Hongqing down the small hill and found a shallow spot to swim across. It was already nearly early winter, and the river water was icy to the bone. It was nothing to Liu Xiaolou, who had cultivated for many years, but it cooled the eager excitement surging through him.

After crossing the river, they took a wide detour around the hill and moved carefully through the dense forest. Before long, a light suddenly appeared ahead. They saw an exquisite residence with red walls and white tiles, several tiers of upturned eaves within, looking remarkably lively beneath the lamplight.

This small courtyard was hidden within the dense woods behind the hill. It truly was difficult to find.

Wei Hongqing lightly leaped onto the treetop beside him and watched the courtyard for a while. He then silently descended, pulled Liu Xiaolou back, and retreated beneath a large locust tree farther away. They leaped side by side to its crown. From here, the courtyard was almost impossible to see; only a few lingering points of light showed that there was a household over there.

"Let us hold our patience and wait slowly," Wei Hongqing whispered. "Once the people inside have rested, just knock them out with the mist. Do not concern yourself with anything else."

Liu Xiaolou nodded. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Brother Wei, is that woman you know in the Lu Clan of Tianmu Mountain reliable?"

Wei Hongqing smiled and nodded. "More or less..." He stared at those few dim lamps for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What are you worried about?"

Liu Xiaolou said, "I... have a feeling of unease."

Wei Hongqing pondered this. "Unease? What is there to be uneasy about?"

Liu Xiaolou said, "If that woman is unreliable, then how can the information Brother Wei obtained be considered reliable? If that woman is reliable..."

Having reached this point, Liu Xiaolou did not know how to continue.

Wei Hongqing took over. "If she is reliable, why did I need to summon you all from Wulong Mountain? Is that what you mean?"

Liu Xiaolou sighed. "I was only thinking that it would be more convenient if Brother Wei worked with her."

Wei Hongqing shook his head. "I do not know whether she is reliable or not. I was born on Wulong Mountain and raised at Ghost Dream Cliff. You few are the only ones I can trust."

"Then why did you deceive everyone?"

"It was just a joke. Who among you actually cared? If you truly cared, you would not have come."

"That is true."

After a while, Wei Hongqing suddenly said, "Xiaolou, you must be careful on Wulong Mountain."

Liu Xiaolou froze. "Brother Wei means after this job..."

Wei Hongqing shook his head. "I mean what happened in the third month. The Dongyang Sect may have found some traces of me, which is why I left the mountain to hide. But rest assured, Xiaolou. Even if they trace it to me, I will never expose you. I was careless back then and casually gave them the surname Wei, unlike you, who were so cautious. Now that I think of it, Wei and Wei are homophones. The Dongyang Sect may very well connect it..."

Liu Xiaolou reassured him, "It is only a surname. Even if they suspect it is Wei, they have no other evidence."

Wei Hongqing said, "When these sects act, so-called testimony and physical evidence are standards they reserve for their own people. When have they ever cared about such things with Rogue Cultivators like us? When the time comes, they will seize someone first and use every method at once. Whether you confess or not, they will make it you! That is why I must find every possible way to join Tianmu Mountain. Once I become one of Tianmu Mountain's people, even if the Dongyang Sect suspects me, they cannot act as they please. They can only investigate properly, and there is no way they can uncover this matter... I am merely reminding you."

Liu Xiaolou said, "So Brother Wei really got together with someone from the Lu Clan? I heard Eight Palms say earlier that that woman is a widow, and already over thirty, a full ten years older than Brother Wei..."

Wei Hongqing was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Forget ten years older—even if she were twenty years older than me, I would be willing! Those of us who came out of Wulong Mountain, the rogue cultivators, rat-like scum, and petty sneaks in other people's mouths—heh heh, if we do not gamble everything on one throw, where will we find a chance to rise? Those famous sects and great clans can curse this old woman, and all we can do is endure it. They can kick us, and we still have to smile along. They can go back on promises whenever they please. Tell me, how are we supposed to live such a life? Can we even live through it?"

Liu Xiaolou immediately fell silent. He turned his head away and merely stared blankly at the faintly shining lights in the distant residence.

He wanted to enter a famous orthodox sect too.

Just then, the lights suddenly went out.

Liu Xiaolou took a black cloth from his robes and covered his face. He slid down from the tree and, without looking back, slipped toward the residence. Wei Hongqing likewise covered his face with black cloth and followed closely behind.

As they silently approached the courtyard wall, Wei Hongqing gave a light leap, grabbed the top of the wall with one hand, and slowly raised his eyes inch by inch. Shortly afterward, he flipped over it with the swiftness of a civet cat.

Liu Xiaolou leaped up after him, grabbed Wei Hongqing's arm with one hand, and swung himself down into the courtyard.

Wei Hongqing caught Liu Xiaolou and gave him a gentle upward lift, dissolving the sound of his landing and ensuring that not even a trace of noise was made.

When Wei Hongqing dropped down, Liu Xiaolou likewise supported his arm, and he landed without a sound.

There were only five rooms in the residence. The main room that had been lit earlier was easy to identify, and the two reached it in a few steps. Wei Hongqing climbed onto the roof beam and hung upside down, eight iron darts pinched between his fingers, ready to strike. If anyone in the room opened the door and came out, they would immediately suffer an attack from overhead, impossible to guard against.

Liu Xiaolou crouched low, concealing himself beside the door as he focused on listening to the sounds inside.

A rhythmic sound of breathing came from within. It was the sound of someone asleep.

There was only one voice.

Liu Xiaolou looked up at Wei Hongqing on the beam. Wei Hongqing was clearly somewhat hesitant as well, but in the end he nodded, signaling Liu Xiaolou to act.

Liu Xiaolou lightly turned his wrist. The Misty Incense Tendon extended slightly from his sleeve, forming a faint, invisible stream of smoke under the urging of his true essence, and slipped in through the gap beneath the door.