Chapter 75 — The Third Chapter

Bamboo shadows swayed and scattered sunlight fell in flecks upon the open ground within the grove.

Zhang Qingyue gazed at the distant bamboo and said softly, "Actually, sometimes I think myself a fool too. I know full well that she likes Senior Brother Qi Hao, and yet I... but in that moment, when I saw her standing before the Kui Ox, I don't know what came over me—I just charged in."

Bi Li leaned close beside him and suddenly asked, "If I were the one in danger, would you rush in to save me like that?"

Zhang Qingyue gave an awkward laugh and scratched his head. After a long pause he said, "I—I don't know either." But then he paused and thought it over carefully, and said, "I suppose I would!"

Bi Li smiled and shot him a reproachful glance, then withdrew her gaze and looked into the distance, saying quietly, "If it were you in danger, I'd trade my own life for yours gladly, without a second thought!"

Zhang Qingyue started and turned to look at her. Bi Li's expression was calm, and she did not seem to be joking. He stammered, "What did you say?"

Bi Li smiled. Suddenly, as if something had occurred to her, she said to Zhang Qingyue, "Xiao Fan, come away with me!"

Zhang Qingyue frowned. "Where to?"

Bi Li said, "Anywhere. The world is vast—we can go wherever we like. You don't want to join our Holy Cult and make enemies of your sect, so we won't join. We'll roam to the ends of the earth together. Otherwise, if you stay in the Canglan Sect, with those old relics and their tempers, I fear you won't come to a good end."

Zhang Qingyue fell silent. Bi Li watched him anxiously, waiting.

At last Zhang Qingyue looked up at her. Bi Li was about to speak, but saw him slowly shake his head.

"No. I won't leave Qingyun, Bi Li."

Bi Li's face darkened at once. "Do you mean to stay here and wait for death?"

Zhang Qingyue was silent for a moment, then said, "Bi Li, you don't understand. Qingyun is my home. My master and mistress raised me. I cannot forsake them."

Bi Li said angrily, "That master of yours punishes and scolds you all day long, and you still call them good?"

Zhang Qingyue rose to his feet and smiled faintly. "Bi Li, perhaps I seem a little slow in others' eyes, but these things I can still see clearly enough. My master has always been stern, but he has truly been good to me—I know it. He treats me with genuine heart." He lowered his voice. "As for what has happened now, it is all my own fault. I deceived him, so whatever punishment I receive is only my due. But I can never betray my sect."

Bi Li was stunned for a long moment, then suddenly sighed. "How could you ever be slow? You're sharp as can be! No wonder my father always tells me that you seem dull on the surface, but are full of fine qualities within!"

Zhang Qingyue stared, then flushed red. "He—your father said that about me?"

Bi Li smiled and gave no answer, stepping closer to him. "I know your nature, and I can't force you to leave. But right now you carry one of our Holy Cult's rare treasures, and you're entangled with the Brahma Sound Monastery. You're in real danger. Have you thought about what you'll do?"

Zhang Qingyue smiled bitterly. "I'll leave it to fate."

Bi Li gazed at him and said softly, "Don't let anything happen to you!"

Zhang Qingyue smiled and glanced up at the sky. "You've been here a long while. You'd better head back soon, before something goes wrong. We—if fate allows us to meet again... farewell!"

Bi Li's body trembled slightly, and Zhang Qingyue could not help but feel a pang of bitterness himself. Tomorrow's journey to Jietian Peak—what the outcome would be, he truly had no confidence at all.

He turned and slowly walked toward the edge of the bamboo grove.

He had gone only a few yards when he suddenly heard Bi Li's voice behind him: "Xiao Fan, let me ask you something."

Zhang Qingyue turned back, surprised. "What is it?"

Bi Li seemed to hesitate, but at last she said, "Back then, in that forest outside Xiaochi Town, on the night of the full moon, you once looked into an old well. I want to know—what did you see in that well?"

Zhang Qingyue was taken aback. "Why do you want to know that too?"

Bi Li felt inexplicably nervous and said crossly, "Just tell me!"

Zhang Qingyue frowned. "What is so strange about that old well that everyone is so interested in it?"

Bi Li smiled and said nothing.

Zhang Qingyue opened his mouth to speak, but something seemed to come to mind, and his face reddened again. He actually could not bring himself to say it, and after a long pause managed only, "I—the next time we meet, I'll tell you for certain."

Bi Li was startled for a moment, then smiled. After all, from what Zhang Qingyue had said, he had no intention of letting his sect order him about, so she smiled and said, "Good! You must remember!"

Zhang Qingyue chuckled. This encounter and talk with Bi Li had lifted his spirits considerably, and he felt much lighter. He raised a hand and waved to Bi Li, then turned and walked out of the bamboo grove.

He had not gone far when the monkey Xiao Hui dropped down from the top of some great bamboo and landed on Zhang Qingyue's shoulder, then turned its head to look back at Bi Li.

Deep in the bamboo grove, Bi Li stood gazing at that receding figure, motionless.

The next day, early morning.

While the damp mountain air still drifted over Dazhu Peak, everyone on the peak was already up.

Tian Buhui, fully attired, walked slowly with Su Wan to the open ground before the Hall of Guarded Stillness, where all the others were already waiting. Zhang Qingyue stood at the very back.

Tian Buhui said flatly, "Daren, you take the seventh. The rest of you need not go."

Song Dayi nodded and answered. Disappointment showed on every face—except that Tian Lingsu stepped forward and said to Tian Buhui, "Father, I want to go too."

Tian Buhui frowned. "What would you go for? Only to make trouble!"

Tian Lingsu bit her lip tightly and cast a pleading look at Su Wan. "Mother," she called.

Su Wan sighed and said to Tian Buhui, "Never mind. Let her go."

Tian Buhui frowned, but at last nodded reluctantly. Then, without another glance at her, he looked toward Zhang Qingyue in the distance and said, "Let's go!"

With that he flicked his sleeve, summoned his immortal sword, and flew off first. Su Wan followed at once.

On the ground, the disciples gathered around. He Dachuan cleared his throat and said to Zhang Qingyue, "Well, little junior brother, you—you take care of yourself."

For the first time in days, Zhang Qingyue saw concern on all his senior brothers' faces, and his heart was moved. He said softly, "Yes."

Song Dayi sighed. "Little junior brother, let's go."

Zhang Qingyue answered and stepped to Song Dayi's side. He could not help glancing at Tian Lingsu standing nearby, and found she was looking at him too, her eyes full of concern—but in the end she said nothing.

With two sharp whistles, Zhang Qingyue once again stood behind Song Dayi and rose into the air, straight up into the blue sky.

Watching the sky grow ever bluer, it seemed like the beginning of the Seven Branches Martial Gathering all over again—except that the excitement of that time was gone.

Jietian Peak, towering into the clouds, stood majestic and firm, still wrapped in ethereal immortal mist, still untouched by any trace of worldly dust, as if opening its arms in welcome.

Song Dayi, carrying Zhang Qingyue, landed with Tian Lingsu upon the sea of clouds. From the distant summit, the Yuheng Hall still sent forth the distant echo of bells.

Tian Buhui and Su Wan were by now nowhere to be seen, most likely having gone on ahead to Yuheng Hall. But upon the sea of clouds a great many disciples of the eldest branch and the other branches had gathered, and at the sight of Song Dayi and the others arriving, a stir ran through them at once, and many eyes turned toward Zhang Qingyue standing at the rear.