After Wei Hongqing left, Zuo Gaofeng looked at Lu Zi'an's corpse in the net bag, then at Tan Bazhang and Liu Xiaolou, as though he wanted to say something.
Tan Bazhang was beating a drum in his heart as well, several times opening his mouth only to stop himself.
Liu Xiaolou knew what they were worried about and said, "Don't worry. Brother Wei will be back soon."
Tan Bazhang muttered, "It wasn't as if Brother Wei had never run off before..."
Zuo Gaofeng hesitated. "This is different from the wedding. This is a major matter. Brother Wei surely... wouldn't."
Liu Xiaolou said, "To Brother Wei, Lu Zi'an's corpse is more important than a Foundation Establishment Pill."
Tan Bazhang shook his head. "Then why didn't he simply leave the Foundation Establishment Pill behind?"
That was difficult to answer, and impossible to explain. The more he said, the more new rifts might arise between them, so Liu Xiaolou simply changed the subject. "Let's bury the Western Mountain Hermit. We were fellow cultivators, after all. It wouldn't be right to leave him exposed in the wilderness."
The three dug a deep pit and buried the Western Mountain Hermit. They made a wooden tablet and planted it at the grave's head, then stood around the crude mound in silence for a long time, not knowing what to say, each lost in his own thoughts.
No one knew how much time had passed before Wei Hongqing finally returned, his face beaming as he loudly announced, "The reward has come through! Fifteen Spirit Stones for each of you three brothers!"
After the Western Mountain Hermit died, Zuo Gaofeng and Tan Bazhang had known the reward would be greater than originally agreed upon. Yet receiving fifteen stones each still exceeded their expectations, and they were overjoyed beyond measure.
Fifteen Spirit Stones—this was wealth Liu Xiaolou had never dared dream of. And now it had truly fallen into his hands?
"Brother Wei, did you give up your own share too?" Liu Xiaolou asked.
Wei Hongqing joked, "No matter. It's only proper that you receive a little more. Consider it my return gift for the wedding presents. Otherwise, you'd all keep dwelling on it until it became a knot in your hearts and hindered your cultivation. Then Wei would be guilty beyond redemption!"
The three burst into laughter. At last, the knot in their hearts was untied.
Wei Hongqing immediately divided the Spirit Stones. Fifteen glittering stones lay piled in Liu Xiaolou's palm, and they felt as heavy as mountains. He carefully tucked them into his robes, then patted his lapel, afraid they might somehow leak out.
With the matter concluded, everyone said their farewells. Zuo Gaofeng was heading to Tianmen Market, while Tan Bazhang was rushing home. After bidding each other goodbye, they set off on their separate paths.
Liu Xiaolou was also preparing to return to the mountain when Wei Hongqing caught hold of him and took out a jade tablet, handing it to him.
"What is this?" Liu Xiaolou rubbed the jade tablet between his fingers but could not make sense of it. He only felt that it differed from ordinary jade ornaments such as jade pendants. It contained dense spiritual power and could be counted as a magical artifact.
Wei Hongqing said, "Didn't they give you that book on formations? So I asked my... hehe, and got a piece of Spirit Jade. It's precisely the material needed to refine an array plate. This Spirit Jade is nothing like the Western Mountain Hermit's heap of messy materials. His illusion array could be fully refined into this single piece of Spirit Jade, and its effects would certainly be far stronger."
Liu Xiaolou gave a bitter smile. "Many thanks, Brother Wei, but I don't understand formations."
Wei Hongqing did not think much of it. "Then learn. Who is born knowing formations? You have a formation book, an array plate, and Spirit Stones now. Refining a set of illusion arrays isn't impossible. And if it truly doesn't work out, sell the formation book and Spirit Jade together. That would still fetch at least five or six Spirit Stones!"
What else could he say? Any words of thanks would have been superfluous.
Liu Xiaolou put away the jade tablet and asked, "Brother Wei, judging by your appearance, your entry into Tianmu Mountain's outer sect is settled?"
Wei Hongqing nodded. "More or less. Once I've established myself, you can come find me at Tianmu Mountain. I'll show you the scenery of Tianmu Mountain's blessed land."
Liu Xiaolou said longingly, "A blessed land... I've never seen one. I wonder what it looks like."
Wei Hongqing smiled. "It's just like that. It is merely nourished by Spirit Springs and suitable for cultivation."
Liu Xiaolou said enviously, "Brother Wei has cultivated for many years and has finally entered a Renowned Great Sect. From now on, you need no longer be burdened by Wulong Mountain's reputation. Congratulations, Brother Wei."
Wei Hongqing sighed with feeling. "Since leaving the mountain, I've been tossed about by wind and rain, turning from one place to another. If not for a fortunate coincidence, how could I have today's good fortune? To speak honestly, though Wulong Mountain's reputation is poor, it is still the home of you and me. Back then, driven by helpless necessity, I fled home without thinking things through. Only after wandering the world did I learn that for a cultivator without a home, even days quiet enough to cultivate are a luxury. With roots in Wulong Mountain, at least one can sleep soundly. The storms outside are truly perilous..."
Liu Xiaolou had heard his teacher speak of the hardships and suffering of cultivation for cultivators without a home, but he had never felt it as deeply as Wei Hongqing did.
Seeing that one of his sworn brothers had found a good home, Liu Xiaolou was truly happy for him. Yet beneath that happiness lay a faint sense of loss—only half a year ago, he himself had wanted to enter Xiangnan's great Dongyang Sect but failed. How could he not feel disappointed?
Wei Hongqing added, "I'm going to the Lu Clan of Tianmu Mountain's ancestral hall to undergo the rite of entry. I cannot linger long..."
Liu Xiaolou teased, "Go on, then. Your sister-in-law is still waiting for you, isn't she? It's just a pity I have no chance to pay respects to my sister-in-law."
Wei Hongqing hesitated. "She... doesn't like meeting outsiders..."
Of course Liu Xiaolou understood Wei Hongqing's difficulty. That unseen sister-in-law was a disciple of a Renowned Great Sect. Her willingness to accept Wei Hongqing was already an exceptional concession. Why would she want to acknowledge him as her husband's younger brother? This was more than simply lowering her status. If it were him, he would not want it either.
"Then I'll pay my respects another time, when there is an opportunity."
Wei Hongqing nodded and said, "Then this elder brother will be going..."
Liu Xiaolou watched him leave. After he had not gone far, Wei Hongqing seemed to remember something and turned back to remind him, "Xiaolou, this place is Peach Blossom Spring. Twenty li northeast of here is a mountain called Xingde Mountain. There is a lofty recluse in the mountain, known as Lord Xingde. If you wish to refine an array plate, you may make a trip to Xingde Mountain."
Liu Xiaolou nodded and waved at him, watching his figure disappear beyond a distant Mountain Hollow.
Only Liu Xiaolou remained in the forest, along with two graves, one deep and one shallow. After hesitating in place for a moment, he decided to visit Xingde Mountain first and see whether he might find an opportunity to refine an array plate.
He had once been trapped within the illusion array, and its power had left him deeply moved. His cultivation was weak, and his strength in magical combat was sorely lacking. If he could carry an illusion array with him, it might save his life at a critical moment.
He headed northeast and soon entered a wilderness of tangled mountains. Though it was said to be only twenty li away, he did not arrive until dusk, thanks only to encountering a woodcutter who helped him find the right peak.
As he climbed, strange rocks and ancient pines filled the way, the scenery splendid beyond measure. He reached the summit beneath the lingering glow of the setting sun and saw a stone temple named Xingde Temple.
Xingde Temple was not large, a small temple of three halls covering roughly half a mu and occupying most of the mountaintop.
The temple had a gate but no courtyard wall surrounding it. The main hall, east side hall, and west wing stood in a triangular arrangement, enclosing an open court about three fen of land in size. Two bronze censers shaped like cranes stood on either side of the court, wisps of incense rising from them and carrying a faintly intoxicating scent.
Having just gone through a battle in the wilderness, Liu Xiaolou suddenly found himself in this tranquil little temple. He felt as if his entire soul had been washed clean.
Liu Xiaolou stood solemnly below the steps and bowed toward the main hall. "Is Lord Xingde here? This junior, Liu Xiaolou, has come specifically to pay his respects!"
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