Rain Flower Terrace in Jinling, known as Stone Ridge, Agate Ridge, and Treasure Mountain during the Three Kingdoms' Eastern Wu period, got its name during the Southern Dynasties. High Monk Yunguang set up an altar to preach Buddhism there. His sincere devotion and profound understanding of Buddhist principles moved the heavens, causing flowers to fall like rain.
While Rain Flower Stones are also found in Liuhe and Yizheng outside Jinling, those from Rain Flower Terrace are the most renowned.
However, Shi Qingquan didn't live near Rain Flower Terrace, but rather in the remote suburbs near Phoenix Terrace.
Little Marquis and his group reined in their horses in front of Phoenix Terrace. The local constable guiding them stammered, "If not for Captain Ma's guidance, I truly wouldn't have thought Shi Qingquan would hide in Jinling. I assumed that even if he came to Jinling to search for Rain Flower Stones, he'd choose autumn or winter when the water is low and stones are exposed."
Ma Yunlong waved for him to step back.
Phoenix Terrace had long fallen into disrepair. Standing before it, one could see the vast river, expansive sky, steep mountains, and lush forests in the distance. The ruins of the old imperial gardens and palaces were faintly visible.
At the end of the palace grounds, where the trees thinned out and huge rocks jutted out, the mountain became steep. Even in the bright spring sunshine, it exuded a sense of proud and solemn killing intent.
The Jinling constable said that if Shi Qingquan was truly in Jinling, he must be living on that nameless rocky mountain, as everywhere else had been thoroughly searched.
So the Jinling constables and local heroes who had come to assist Little Marquis had completely surrounded this nameless rocky mountain.
Little Marquis turned to look at the young man beside him: "Do you think your master is up there?"
The young man glared at him: "How would I know! Master only said last time that he wanted to see the Rain Flower Stones in spring. He didn't tell me where he'd be staying!"
Little Marquis smiled slightly, reaching behind to his waist and producing a gleaming small knife. He cut the ox tendon ropes binding the young man: "I'm certain your master is up there because many of the stones at the foot of the mountain have been moved to their current positions in the past couple of days. The moss on the bottom of these stones hasn't been dried by the sun yet. I can't tell what formation these stones of various sizes are arranged in, but I know that if someone rashly rushes in, just touching one stone could potentially bury them in a pile of rocks. So it's better to let you go up first to announce our arrival. Also, tell your master not to try to escape. Rights and wrongs need to be clarified face to face, otherwise he'll never find peace in his lifetime."
The young man hesitated, seemingly unable to believe he was being released so easily.
Although Ma Yunlong was reluctant to let go of such a good hostage, he thought that Little Marquis must have his reasons for doing so. He didn't voice any objections but couldn't help asking, "What's your name? You can tell us now, right?"
The young man took back his staff and answered, "Master calls me Stone."
Ma Yunlong's mind exploded with realization, only coming back to his senses after the young man had walked far away.
When Little Marquis had fought with that young man, Ji Yaoguang had said to her sister: Little Marquis would surely be able to shatter that stone to pieces.
Was this a coincidence?
They watched as the young man called "Stone" leapt left and right among the chaotic rocks, sometimes seemingly making unreasonable detours. Ma Yunlong suddenly understood and hurriedly told his men to carefully note every step the young man took.
After nearly an hour, a signal arrow shot down from the mountain. Little Marquis caught it with one hand. The note tied to the arrow only had four characters:
Come if you dare!
The handwriting was unrestrained, forceful enough to penetrate the paper, allowing one to almost see the proud and unruly writer.
Little Marquis smiled, tossing away the arrow and note. He looked towards Woer
