Liu Cheng kept his word. After leaving Stone City that day, he went straight back to the Huan Residence, dutifully eating and sleeping without concerning himself with those matters again. I've frightened everyone I could and contacted everyone I should. Do whatever the hell you like.
Early the next morning, he called on Luo You, who had eaten quite a few ducks over the past several days, saying he would take him to Jingkou for a delicious local specialty that would cut through the grease, too. How could Luo You resist? He immediately changed clothes and came along. Liu Acheng changed as well, though he merely exchanged one brocade robe for another... openly embezzling the Huan Residence's belongings.
The two did not imitate the Jiangdong gentry and ride in an ox cart, much less have Axe-Wielding Slaves clear their path with blades and axes. Their entire party of several dozen rode horses and wore sabers. Liu Cheng himself swept aside the skirts of his brocade robe and showed off the riding skills he had developed.
They left through the North Hedge Gate, took Jingkou Avenue past Jiangcheng, continued a little farther to the Jurong Avenue junction, turned south before Flower Mountain, then passed its southern foothills and turned into the valley on the left.
Liu Acheng knew the latter half of this route all too well.
However, he did not arrive as swiftly as he had imagined. Just past Jiangcheng, he encountered many parties taking advantage of the clear weather to transport supplies. They pointed when they saw him, but were plainly too timid to call out. Liu Cheng responded by greeting anyone he recognized before moving on, prompting many excited replies, after which they turned to say something to their companions.
Once they turned onto Jurong Avenue, this became