Sword-Washing Manor stood atop Kuo Tai Mountain. The hill was peculiar: though not high, its summit looked as if someone had sliced it clean off with a single stroke of a sword. More precisely, it had no peak at all. Sword-Washing Manor had been built on its flat top.
The two climbed up from the northern foot of Kuo Tai Mountain. The route they chose had neither a mountain trail nor steps, only steep rocks and dense trees, but that posed no obstacle to them. Leaping and vaulting along, they soon reached the summit. Sword-Washing Manor was not nearly as heavily guarded as they had expected. Its surroundings were silent and deserted.
They climbed a large tree and surveyed the courtyards within. The front courtyard was empty too, and only the courtyard on the manor's northwestern side was lit. They slipped quietly into the manor and approached that small courtyard. Before they could conceal themselves, they heard a door open.
Both hurriedly flattened themselves against the top of the courtyard wall.
A middle-aged beggar emerged from the room, followed by a scholar in blue robes who had come to see him off. The scholar was Liang Buzhou, the master of Sword-Washing Manor. "Take care, Elder Xian," Liang Buzhou said.
The middle-aged beggar was Xian Nongjing, one of the Beggar Gang's eight guardian elders.
"Do not forget the matter scheduled for the day after tomorrow," Xian Nongjing said.
Liang Buzhou smiled. "Rest assured, Elder Xian. How could I dare neglect an important matter of the gang? At noon the day after tomorrow, I will arrive punctually at the Stone Pavilion in Happy Woods to meet the gang leader."
Xian Nongjing cupped his fist. "Until we meet again, then!"
Once they had left, Hu Xiaotian whispered to Ji Feihua, "There doesn't seem