Upon hearing Lord Xingde's request, Liu Xiaolou knew his injuries should no longer be serious. His care over these past days had not been wasted, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Unable to resist, he jabbed at him, "Senior, you're not driving me away anymore?"
Lord Xingde thought for a moment, then repeated, "Fresh meat. Not roasted. Stewed soup."
Liu Xiaolou shook his head. "Quite a lot of demands. Get some rest."
Xingde Mountain lay amid the Taoyuan Mountain Range, where beasts and birds were plentiful. Before Liu Xiaolou had even descended into the valley, he had already returned laden with game: two wild rabbits and a pheasant.
Returning to Xingde Temple, he went straight to the kitchen and called loudly toward the eastern side hall, "Senior, I also found some Cornus officinalis, wild ginger, cinnamon bark, and Sichuan pepper. There are plenty of wild goods in these mountains, but I didn't see any garlic shoots... Does Xingde Mountain have garlic? Forget it, I'll look for some myself later..."
As Lord Xingde had requested, the pheasant was stewed into soup. Unfortunately, Liu Xiaolou had not found a Bamboo Forest; otherwise, adding some bamboo shoots would have made it even fresher. As for the two wild rabbits, after skinning them, he stir-fried them spicy with a large iron wok, using the fat from cured pork. The fragrance was truly overwhelming, wafting through every corner of the temple.
Lord Xingde's appetite had long been stirred. He waited eagerly at the door of the eastern side hall's room, having even set the table, just waiting for Liu Xiaolou to serve the dishes.
A pot of pheasant soup, a bowl of spicy rabbit meat, a bowl of steamed cured pork, and two bowls of rice were laid out. The two sat facing each other and ate.
Lord Xingde began by drinking a bowl of chicken soup. Smacking his lips, he suddenly remembered. "Quick, get the wine! It's buried beneath the altar in the main hall. Pull the candlestick outward, and that's it."
Liu Xiaolou rose and went to the main hall. Sure enough, he found the mechanism beneath the altar, with a wine jar sealed in clay buried below.
Well now, so there was hidden intrigue here too. He had not noticed it before.
When he knocked away the clay seal, a delicate fragrance carrying spiritual energy drifted out. Liu Xiaolou said delightedly, "Isn't this Bamboo Leaf Green from Hongji Restaurant? Senior actually hid such fine wine away. Today, we must drink to our hearts' content!"
Lord Xingde had barely eaten properly for over half a month. Today, he ate so eagerly that he could scarcely free his mouth, only responding with muffled "Mm-hmms."
After the meal, they had drunk less than half the jar of Spirit Wine. Lord Xingde's injuries had not yet fully recovered, while Liu Xiaolou's cultivation could not withstand more, so they sealed up the rest to drink with their next meal.
Neither had time for much conversation. They each returned to their rooms to circulate their cultivation. Liu Xiaolou regulated his breathing in the artifact-refining room for an entire night, fully converting the spiritual energy from the Spirit Wine. He reckoned it was no worse than cultivating with spirit stones.
When he opened his eyes, Lord Xingde was no longer in the side room. He had already gone to the cliff behind the main hall, standing there and gazing into the distance against the wind.
Liu Xiaolou came to his side and looked out over the surrounding mountains. "It's going to snow again."
Dark clouds hung heavily over the mountain peaks. The north wind howled, yet there was no chill; it was precisely the sign that snow was about to fall.
Lord Xingde looked up at the clouds. After a moment of absent-minded silence, he suddenly asked, "You bought two Heart Nurturing Pills?"
Liu Xiaolou replied, "Yes. Senior's injuries were too severe. This junior feared one pill would not be enough, so I bought two, spending six spirit stones. These two spiritual pills came from the Miaofeng Pill Sect. Have you heard of it, Senior?"
Lord Xingde frowned, pondering before shaking his head. "Never heard of it."
Liu Xiaolou said, "Never mind that. In any case, these Heart Nurturing Pills are quite effective."
Lord Xingde said, "They truly are. They seem to surpass even the spiritual pills refined by the great sects... This time, you spent quite a bit."
Liu Xiaolou waved his hand. "Saving a life comes first. Spirit stones are merely things outside the body. So long as Senior could be saved, it would not matter even if this junior spent every spirit stone on him. Senior need not take it to heart."
As they spoke, fluttering snowflakes indeed began to fall. The surrounding mountains immediately vanished into a vast expanse of white.
Liu Xiaolou wanted to help Lord Xingde back inside, but Lord Xingde still wished to look awhile longer. "My injuries have already recovered thirty percent. A little mountain wind and flying snow are no concern."
So Liu Xiaolou accompanied Lord Xingde as he slowly moved along, taking a leisurely stroll by the cliffside.
Lord Xingde asked, "Whose disciple are you?"
Liu Xiaolou replied, "This junior is Liu Xiaolou of the Three Xuan Sect. Have you heard of the Three Xuan Sect, Senior?"
Lord Xingde considered for a moment, then murmured, "It sounds somewhat familiar... Upon which immortal mountain is your honored sect established?"
Liu Xiaolou smiled. "Then Senior can truly be called learned and widely informed. My family's Three Xuan Sect is on Wulong Mountain."
Lord Xingde froze, unsure for a moment what to say. After a while, he finally said thoughtfully, "Wulong Mountain is not entirely filled with bandits either. So long as one strives diligently in cultivation, mm... one can still ascend the great path of cultivation..."
Having been looked down upon more than once or twice, Liu Xiaolou did not mind. He followed the snake up the pole. "Thank you for your instruction, Senior. This junior will certainly cultivate diligently, sincerely set foot on the path, and never commit evil deeds! I came this time precisely for the path of formations. I traveled five hundred li without hesitation to seek your guidance, Senior, and ask you to refine a formation plate."
Lord Xingde nodded and asked again, "Who told you that my Xingde Temple excels at refining formation plates?"
Liu Xiaolou said, "Senior's great name..."
Lord Xingde promptly stopped his flattery, lest they both become embarrassed. "I understand artifact refinement, and am especially skilled in formation plates. Few people know this, which is why I needed to ask you clearly."
Liu Xiaolou could only answer truthfully, "A disciple of Tianmu Mountain told this junior."
Lord Xingde was somewhat curious. "A member of the Lu Clan of Tianmu Mountain? They have always kept themselves clean and never associated with... Ahem... Besides, they do not know much about my affairs."
Liu Xiaolou said, "My friend is surnamed Wei. He only recently entered Tianmu Mountain's outer sect."
Fortunately, Lord Xingde did not continue probing, or Liu Xiaolou truly would not have known how to answer. Could he really confess about the sweetheart Wei Hongqing had only recently come to know?
"What formation do you wish to refine?"
After bustling about for more than half a month, Liu Xiaolou had been waiting for precisely those words. He hurriedly took the formation manual from his robes. "Please have a look, Senior. This junior wishes to refine the formation plate for this formation."
"The Lin Yuan Xuan Shi Formation?"
Lord Xingde flipped through the formation manual, scanning it rapidly.
The manual was not thick, less than twenty pages in all. The first half mainly covered the materials, structure, methods, and such for refining the formation plate, most of it diagrams. Only the final three pages described the formation's effects and how to use it.
Lord Xingde stopped upon reaching the section on the formation's effects and did not continue reading. Closing the manual, he said to Liu Xiaolou, "A small illusion formation. The formation plate is not difficult to refine, though it takes a little time, and some materials must be prepared."
Liu Xiaolou hurriedly said, "Yes, please give your instructions, and I will go purchase them."
Lord Xingde said, "No rush. We can refine it after my injuries have recovered. Leave the formation manual with me first. I'll study it and consider it over the next few days."
Liu Xiaolou nodded. "That is only proper. Senior should look it over carefully. It would be fine even if you copied a version."
Lord Xingde laughed. "There is no need for that. There is no reason to seize another's secret art."
Liu Xiaolou sought to please him. "What fine dishes would Senior like to eat? This junior will make them at once."
Lord Xingde nodded. "Then I'll trouble you..." After thinking for a moment, he said, "In a few days, I want to go down the mountain and gather the materials for refining the formation plate."
Liu Xiaolou was greatly delighted. "Many thanks, Senior, but with Senior's current condition..."
Lord Xingde said, "Will you accompany me then?"
Liu Xiaolou immediately stated his position. "Ah, that won't be a problem. Looking after Senior is only proper!"
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