"Precisely because we know nothing, I worry it may be far more serious than expected."
"Has An Sifeng already requested a Third Step Grandmaster from Heavenly Mountain?"
"...Let's ask Wu Hejian's opinion first."
Wu Dong nodded slowly and smiled faintly. "In that case, there's no hurry-we have a way to deal with the Third Step for now, anyway."
Not long after leaving the Immortal Platform and heading south, An Zang pushed open the courtyard gate of Heavenly Mountain's small residence.
Beneath the clear moon and the trees' shade, Shi Zanxue and Gu Yunfu sat at a table, looking through documents. Vermilion brushes and colored inks stood to one side, while a map of the two circuits of Xilong and Shaolong lay spread across the table amid scattered books.
"Found anything?" An Zang walked in smiling.
"Finding any worthwhile writing in Bowang really is asking too much of Senior Brother and me." Shi Zanxue looked up at her martial uncle. "Has Xilong sent word again? That thing at Hushan Sword Gate-is it definitely...?"
"Most likely." Gateposts, treetops, eaves... Heavenly Mountain's secrecy formation wove mysterious connections among them, then vanished in a flash. An Zang sat down at the table too, smiling. "Who's going to say my fondness for miscellaneous books and unofficial histories is useless now?"
Gu Yunfu laughed. "You're really making conversation out of nothing. Nobody ever said that about you."
Beside him, Shi Zanxue's eyes widened. "How did you trace it back?"
An Zang's smile faded, and his voice grew lower and more solemn. "Do you remember the passage from 'Admonition Against Theft' you memorized as children? 'Upon reaching a mountain of many trees, the king climbed it and returned after a long while. Jade was missing from the royal carriage. Thrice he admonished them, yet none returned it.