Chapter 23: As Fate Would Have It

As soon as Liu Xiaolou stepped into the private room, he froze. And it wasn’t just him; the "good friend" inside froze too. Tan Bajhang had a chicken foot halfway in his mouth, staring wide-eyed at Liu Xiaolou. “This here is Brother Tan Bajhang from Tanjia Village. He’s famous for his Fire-Water Staff and the Spirit Bird Eight Forms technique technique! Brother Tan, this is Liu Xiaolou, the young sect master of the Sanxuan Sect I told you about earlier. Already leading a whole sect at his age! Haha!” Liu Xiaolou cleared his throat and gave a polite cupped-fist salute. “Brother Tan, fate really does work in mysterious ways for us to meet like this, even from a thousand li apart.” The half-eaten chicken foot fell out of Tan Bajhang’s mouth as he finally snapped out of it. He returned the salute. “It’s true. Fate, indeed.” Wei Hongqing laughed. “So you two already know each other? That saves me the trouble of introductions.” As they spoke, a waiter brought in a pot of Bamboo Leaf Green. Wei Hongqing had a few leftover dishes cleared and ordered two new ones. He filled Liu Xiaolou’s cup, and the three of them raised their glasses and drank. Bamboo Leaf Green was one of the finer spiritual wines. Liu Xiaolou had asked about it earlier; just half a jin cost twenty taels. Pricey, but for good reason. One sip, and the spiritual energy it carried was far richer than the wine he’d had before. “Looks like you’ve hit it big, Brother Wei,” Liu Xiaolou remarked. Wei Hongqing waved it off. “Just a little windfall. Nothing worth mentioning.” Of course, saying it wasn’t worth mentioning didn’t stop him from giving a quick rundown of the last six months. After leaving Wulong Mountain, he’d planned to lay low far away. He ended up staying a few days near the blessed grounds of Mount Tianmu, hoping to score some opportunity from the powerful Lu clan who ruled the area. And what do you know\.... he actually lucked into something big and made a fortune. As for what kind of opportunity it was or how much money he made, Wei Hongqing didn’t go into detail. While he stepped out again to rush the kitchen for more food and drink, Liu Xiaolou and Tan Bajhang exchanged a glance. Liu Xiaolou broke the awkward silence. “Brother Tan, what’s Wei’s connection with the Lu clan?” he asked. Tan Bajhang lowered his voice. “No idea. But with how flirtatious he is, when has he not gotten tangled up with a woman every time he travels? I’d bet anything it has something to do with a woman. Hey, but you know, Brother Liu, you're not exactly lacking in looks compared to Wei. Maybe someday you’ll end up in a similar... situation, haha.” Liu Xiaolou smoothed his topknot with the edge of his palm and replied modestly, “You’re just joking, Brother Tan.” Tan Bajhang bit into another chicken foot, then picked one up and shoved it into Liu Xiaolou’s mouth. “These are actually pretty good. Here, give it a try.” Just then, Wei Hongqing’s cheerful laugh rang out from behind the curtain. “Hahaha! Brother Zuo, perfect timing! Let me introduce you to two good friends of mine...” He pulled someone into the room. And who else could it be but Zuo Gaofeng, the very same person they’d just parted ways with at noon? The chicken feet that Liu Xiaolou and Tan Bajhang had barely started chewing dropped from their mouths. Zuo Gaofeng blinked in surprise, froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. “Fate really knows how to play tricks! You two.... I’ve missed you like crazy, hahaha!” “Definitely fate! No doubt about it!” “Yeah, this is just too much!” Wei Hongqing looked around, confused. “Huh? You three know each other too?” Back when you were heading off to wander the world," Zuo Gaofeng replied with annoyance, "the rest of us gathered at Ghost Dream Cliff to see you off.” Wei Hongqing chuckled in realization. Of course, after he’d left, these old friends must’ve crossed paths and kept in touch. “Well,” he said with a grin, “I guess fate really is at work here.” Tan Bajhang picked up a chicken foot and stuffed it into Zuo Gaofeng’s mouth. “Here, Zuo Gaofeng, try this.” Seeing the three of them all busy gnawing on chicken feet, Wei Hongqing grabbed one for himself. “Is it really that good?” All three, heads down and mouths full, replied in unison, “Delicious!” With the food breaking the ice, the awkwardness began to fade, and the mood lightened. When they asked why Wei Hongqing had gathered them here, he said, “We’re still waiting on one more friend. I’ll explain everything once they arrive.” “Is it Xishan Hermit?” “Or Lingling Traveler?” “Can’t be Lingling Traveler; doesn’t seem like him.” Wei Hongqing looked surprised. “How’d you guess? Yeah, it’s the Hermit.” Then he added with a scoff, “We’re planning something big this time. Folks like Lingling Traveler, too fussy, too self-serving. Not the kind you want to work with.” Tan Bajhang chuckled. “Big plans? We’re just rogue cultivators. If we can put food on the table, we’re already doing great.” “Why sell ourselves short?" Zuo Gaofeng said. "Just because we’re from Wulong Mountain doesn’t mean we can’t do great things.” That got everyone talking again, trading the latest gossip and news from the cultivation world. At one point, Wei Hongqing said, “Speaking of big things, have you all heard? Word is, the Heavenly Tome has appeared again.” Everyone had heard of the Heavenly Tome, even Liu Xiaolou. His teacher had once mentioned it before passing; that the Heavenly Tome was said to be the greatest secret in the cultivation world. Some claimed it contained the methods for achieving immortality. Others said it was a map that marked the locations of ancient ruins left behind by immortal gods. Still others believed it held the recipe for a celestial elixir—one that could let someone ascend in broad daylight. And some even insisted that the tome itself was an immortal artifact, and whoever possessed it would be invincible, unmatched under the heavens. Zuo Gaofeng frowned. “This so-called Heavenly Tome… the rumors are always vague and mysterious. If you ask me, it’s nothing more than wild gossip; there’s no real truth to it.” Tan Bajhang clearly disagreed, shaking his head. “If it’s all nonsense, then how do you explain how Lord Tong Zhenjun  of the Weiyu Soaring Crane Sect ascended three hundred years ago? Or Pei Qingling of Western Mysterious Dragon Pavilion, two hundred years ago? Or Tang Lan from Emei Sect, a hundred years back?” “That’s exactly the kind of thing I mean," Zuo Gaofeng replied. "Lord Tong Zhenjun, Pei Qingling, Tang Lan; sure, they all ‘ascended,’ but did anyone actually see them become immortals? They just disappeared. If they really achieved immortality, then why didn’t they leave behind any signs? No immortal marks, no proof.” “But if someone did become immortal," Tan Bajhang countered, "why would they stay in the mortal world? Isn’t that the whole point? What do you think, Brother Liu?” Liu Xiaolou gave a wry smile. “How would I know? It’s all rumors, no one’s ever actually seen it happen. They say those great cultivators got their hands on the Heavenly Tome and shot ahead on the path to enlightenment... but who really knows if it’s true?” “It’s real!” “It’s nonsense!” “Come on, how’s it nonsense?” “Have you ever seen it? It’s all hearsay!” “Then how do you explain their insane cultivation levels? Just natural talent? I don’t think I’m any less talented than them! Or are you saying you were born mediocre, Brother Zuo?” “Two totally different things…” While the argument was still going, Xishan Hermit  arrived. As he walked in, he stroked his beard with a smile. “I did a quick calculation and knew I’d find you all here. Talking about the Heavenly Tome, are we? I’ve heard some rumors myself; word is, the Emei Sect recently refined a Transformation Spirit Pill using a recipe straight from the Tome…” That was too much. Even Liu Xiaolou couldn’t let it slide. He joined Zuo Gaofeng and Tan Bajhang in booing him: “Now that’s just nonsense. No way to believe that.” With everyone finally present, Wei Hongqing shut the door behind them and, looking quite pleased with himself, said, “All this talk of the Heavenly Tome and Ascension Pills has nothing to do with us. Let’s get to the real matter. I’m not someone who forgets his roots. Even after leaving Wulong Mountain, I’ve never stopped thinking about you all. Now that an opportunity’s come up, of course I want to share it with my brothers.” Seeing that everyone was now paying close attention, Wei Hongqing leaned in and lowered his voice. “You all heard? Just recently, someone stole a Foundation Establishment  Pill from Mount Tianmu.”