Jia Sheng Disappointed Everyone

Before Liu Sixteen left Luopo Mountain for the battlefield at Old Dragon City, the Sturdy Man who called himself "Jun Qian" did more than offer incense at the Jise Peak Patriarch Hall. He also visited the first floor of Luopo Mountain's Bamboo Building. Apart from a wooden bed in the corner, it looked more like a study.

Nuan Shu, the little housekeeper, unlocked the door. Zhou Mili stood guard like a Guardian God, clutching her Green Bamboo Staff and Golden Flat Shoulder Pole, chest puffed out and back straight.

Liu Sixteen leafed through several books neatly arranged on the table. Most pages were crowded with marginal notes written in Small Regular Script. If a person's handwriting truly reflected his character, his junior brother must be an earnest scholar who liked to argue a point. Their eldest senior brother Cui Chan's treasured books had been much the same. Whenever Zuo found an opinion in one he disagreed with, he would have Little Qi write down his response. A single book might contain dozens of arguments in its margins.

Liu Sixteen put the books back and looked up at a couplet hanging on the wall, its gold characters set against a blue ground patterned with cloud-bats. According to Little Millet, his junior brother had picked it up in Northern Juluzhou.

Beyond the mountain, wind and rain, a Three-foot Sword; when trouble came, he took up his sword and descended the mountain.

Among the clouds, flowers and birds, a roomful of books; free from worry, he turned the pages and sages came.

Liu Sixteen looked rough, but he was observant. Almost at a glance, he spotted the seal in the corner of the couplet: "Chen Shiyi."

Accomplished in letters and arms, cultivating strength and heart alike.

Before returning to the mountain, Liu Sixteen