Entering the Mountains Together

Liu Xiaolou suddenly realized that he hadn't been able to find the Second Young Master Lu, but the man had actually been looking for him. He had followed him all the way to Taoyuan without him noticing. It seemed his cultivation was still too shallow and urgently needed improvement.

Second Young Master Lu's cultivation was only at the Qi Refining third layer. He figured the person capable of tracking him must be the steward beside him, and that the steward's cultivation should not be low.

Liu Xiaolou pondered for a moment, then quietly retreated. He emerged from his hiding spot from another direction, found a tree, and dug a hole to bury his spirit stones, formation disks, formation books, Sect Master token, and other important items. Then, he circled around and returned to the mountain path, muttering to himself, "Guarded so tightly, how can I get in? How can I get rich?"

As he was muttering, two people suddenly darted out in front of him, flanking him on either side.

Liu Xiaolou was greatly alarmed and opened his mouth to call for help, but a long sword was pressed against his chest. He dared not shout again and looked closely. The one holding the sword was the steward from Hongji Restaurant who had been gathering information, and beside him, with his arms crossed and a cold sneer, was Second Young Master Lu.

The steward searched him, handed the Three Xuan Sword and dozens of taels of silver to Second Young Master Lu, and indicated that Liu Xiaolou had nothing else on him. Second Young Master Lu then chuckled, "Liu Xiaolou, visiting relatives has brought you all the way here?"

Liu Xiaolou said fearfully, "What does Second Young Master mean by this? I am a friend of Brother Wei. We are all on the same side, on the same side."

Second Young Master Lu tilted his head and observed Liu Xiaolou for a moment, asking, "Are you really one of us?"

Liu Xiaolou nodded like a pecking chicken, "Absolutely one of us!"

Second Young Master Lu chuckled, pushed the steward's long sword away, and patted Liu Xiaolou on the shoulder, "Since we're on the same side, it's easier to talk."

Liu Xiaolou looked at the steward as he sheathed his long sword with lingering fear and said with a smile, "What a coincidence, meeting Second Young Master here. A pleasure, a pleasure... Oh, and this Brother here, I've seen him many times at the restaurant before, hehe..."

Second Young Master Lu grabbed Liu Xiaolou by the collar and pulled him behind a nearby tree. "Let's talk over here... Younger Brother Liu, after you arrived at Hongji Restaurant today, you kept begging Wei Hongqing to help you inquire about the Zhou family's affairs. What is the reason for this? You are a relative of the Zhou clan, so this is truly strange."

Liu Xiaolou hesitated, "Second Young Master is joking. It wasn't me asking, it was Brother Wei who heard this news and wanted to understand the truth, so he arranged for people to inquire. I just happened to be there..."

Second Young Master Lu frowned, "It seems you're not one of us."

The steward turned his hand, and the long sword immediately appeared at Liu Xiaolou's neck. His hand speed was as fast as lightning; Liu Xiaolou hadn't seen how he drew the sword at all. The tip of the sword pulsed with a sword aura like mercury. His cultivation was at least at Qi Refining Level 5 or above.

Liu Xiaolou hurriedly pleaded, "Don't! Brother, let's talk this through properly."

Second Young Master Lu said, "It's you who isn't talking properly, so don't blame Steward Zhang for being angry. Steward Zhang has profound cultivation, and I can't stop him. I'll count to three. After three, you'll lose an ear. Three..."

Liu Xiaolou quickly said, "I'll talk! Lord Xingde on Xingde Mountain eloped with my maternal aunt, and the Zhou family is capturing them."

Second Young Master Lu and Steward Zhang exchanged a glance and murmured, "It really was an elopement?" Then he asked, "Since you know this, why were you still inquiring? What's the trick?"

Liu Xiaolou gritted his teeth and suddenly lowered his voice, "I wonder if Second Young Master and Steward Zhang dare to make a fortune together?"

Second Young Master Lu's eyes flickered, "You tell me."

Liu Xiaolou said, "The Taoyuan Mountain Range is now heavily monitored by the Zhou family. The Great Dao cannot enter the mountains, and going through the small paths, I don't know what the hell is going on. I always feel like I'm being watched..."

Second Young Master Lu sneered, "Qingyu Sect's Form Snatching Art. You are from the Zhou family, don't you know about it?"

Liu Xiaolou suddenly realized, "So it's called Form Snatching Art. It's truly evil..."

He then said with a wry smile, "As a distant relative, I'm not even remotely connected, how would I know about these things? Does this mean there are really experts from Qingyu Sect stationed in the mountains?"

Second Young Master Lu said, "Of course. Otherwise, how could a mere Zhou family have the ability to blockade the mountains?"

Liu Xiaolou shook his head, "It seems I can't get in. However, I heard that the Taoyuan Mountain Range is not solely the territory of Qingyu Sect. It is also governed by Tianmu Mountain. If people from Tianmu Mountain want to enter, the Zhou family probably won't dare to stop them. The reason I went to find Brother Wei was to ask him to take me into the mountains, but he refused, saying he was afraid of causing a dispute between the two major sects. I wonder if Second Young Master and Steward Zhang can take me into the mountains?"

Second Young Master Lu said, "First tell me, what are you going into the mountains for?"

Liu Xiaolou said, "To be honest, a few days ago, my maternal aunt summoned me to the Zhou Manor. She gave me a box and asked me to take it into the Taoyuan mountains and bury it in a hidden place. I obeyed and did as I was told. I originally planned to report the location after burying it and consider my task done. Who knew... I was delayed for two days due to some matters, and when I wanted to go back, I couldn't."

Second Young Master Lu asked, "She, a distant relative who mistook you, could trust you?"

Liu Xiaolou said, "She wants to escape from the Zhou family! Who else in the entire Zhou family can she trust?"

Second Young Master Lu was silent for a moment and asked, "What's in that box?"

Liu Xiaolou spread his hands, "I don't know what it is. The box is locked with a big lock, but I've been thinking about it all day. Since my maternal aunt was preparing to elope, the box must contain her personal belongings. She is a direct daughter of the Zhou family, so she wouldn't be short of good things, would she?"

Steward Zhang said from the side, "No wonder they fled here, they want to retrieve treasure?"

Liu Xiaolou said, "It must be! Perhaps my maternal aunt was still thinking of waiting for me to inform them of the box's location after I entered the mountains, but how could I get in?"

Steward Zhang shook his head, "So you intend to pocket this fortune? What a good nephew!"

Liu Xiaolou sighed, "Taoyuan is surrounded so tightly, how difficult is it for my maternal aunt to escape? She can't even get out. What's the use of them taking the item? It's better to leave it for me, her nephew. At least I can light some incense and burn some paper for them in the future... The hiding place isn't very secret. With them searching the mountains like this, I'm worried it will be discovered by the Qingyu Sect people, wouldn't that be a waste?"

Second Young Master Lu greatly agreed, "Not only that, but if your maternal aunt is found by the Zhou family and she reveals you, it won't be easy to retrieve the goods then."

Liu Xiaolou said, "Second Young Master is right. That's exactly why I'm anxious. At that time, I will be the one the Zhou family is looking for. Second Young Master, can you take me into the mountains? If this matter can be accomplished, we can split it fifty-fifty... No, I'll only take thirty percent!"

Second Young Master Lu smiled, "Follow me, we'll enter the mountains!"

Second Young Master Lu led the way, with Steward Zhang behind, sandwiching Liu Xiaolou in the middle. They left the small path and entered the mountains openly along the main road. When they reached the checkpoint set up by the Zhou family, Second Young Master Lu frowned and shouted loudly, "Who are you people? How dare you set up a checkpoint here and block the mountain road?"

The person blocking them said, "The Dongting Lake Zhou clan is apprehending a family traitor. Unrelated personnel are not allowed to enter!"

One of them recognized Second Young Master Lu and quickly said, "Second Young Master, our Zhou family is handling official business. Please bear with us."

Second Young Master Lu sneered, "When did Taoyuan become the Zhou family's territory? We from Tianmu Mountain have never heard of it!"

He revealed a token from his waist. The token emitted a faint silver light in the darkness.

Steward Zhang drank from the side, "The Lu family of Tianmu Mountain is entering the mountain on official business. Unrelated personnel, make way! This is the younger brother of our Tianmu Mountain Inner Sect Third Senior Brother Lu Yuanlang, Second Young Master Lu. Open your dog eyes and look properly!"

The Zhou family members recognized the token and hesitated greatly. They watched as Second Young Master Lu, Steward Zhang, and Liu Xiaolou strode inside and entered Taoyuan.