Chapter 47 — The Scholar

When Zhang Qingyue awoke, the sky had already gone fully dark. He must have slept five or six hours at the least, yet Bili had still not woken. Her hands were clenched tightly in his clothing, and she looked like a frightened, timid child — who would ever guess that she was in truth a person of consequence in the demon cult!

Zhang Qingyue put his hands behind his head and listened to the rustling of the mountain wind through the trees. Suddenly he thought of the bamboo groves on Dazhu Peak of Mount Canglan — did they not make this very same sound?

All this time I have been missing beneath the Wanfu Ancient Cave. Word must have reached Dazhu Peak by now. I wonder if Senior Sister Ling'er was sad to hear it? But if I suddenly appeared before her, she would surely be overjoyed — she would seize my hand, wild with delight, and scold me through her laughter: You little wretch, I knew you would not die so easily!

In the deepening dark of night, a smile rose on his face. Even his eyes were bright in that darkness. Yet he did not see that beside him another pair of bright eyes had, at some unknowable hour, begun to watch him in the gloom.

Day broke again, and birdsong rose among the hills, clear and sweet.

Zhang Qingyue walked to the little stream, cupped his hands, and splashed water on his face; the coolness sank straight to the bottom of his heart. He examined his left hand and unwound the bandage. The broken bone had mended almost completely. Delighted, he took the dark iron staff bound to his hand, thrust it through his belt, and worked his left hand vigorously. Sure enough, there was nothing much wrong with it.

"Is your hand better?" Bili came up behind him, glanced at him, then crouched to wash her face in the stream.

"Yes," Zhang Qingyue said cheerfully. "Nothing much wrong now. It doesn't hurt at all."

Bili wiped the water from her face with her sleeve and said, "Don't go moving it about carelessly. When sinews and bones are hurt, you need a good long rest before they mend."

"I know." Zhang Qingyue answered offhandedly, then looked at Bili. He hesitated a moment before speaking. "Miss Bili, by great fortune we have kept our lives and escaped from the belly of that mountain. You and I might be said — might be said to have become friends. But after all, those on different paths cannot take counsel together. Let us part here today."

Bili stayed crouched by the water and did not rise, but her body seemed to give a little shudder. Zhang Qingyue could not see her face. After a while he heard her say, in a low voice, "Oh. Different paths, is it?"

Zhang Qingyue nodded. "Yes. I am of the orthodox way, and you are of the demon cult. From childhood my masters have taught me that right and evil cannot stand together. If we meet again, I fear we shall be enemies, not friends. You looked after me and saved me in the belly of that mountain, and I am truly grateful. Should fate allow, I will one day repay that kindness."

Bili stared blankly at the dim, blurred figure reflected in the clear water and murmured, "Repay me?"

Zhang Qingyue answered, "Yes. I keep kindness and grievance distinct. Had you not saved me, I could never have lived. If there is ever a place where I can be of service, I will serve." Here he suddenly felt this was not quite proper and hastily added, "But you must not ask me to do anything that betrays my sect or my principles."

Bili suddenly stood and turned around. "I see you have some ability," she said. "Why not come over to our Holy Cult? I will recommend you to my father. He has always loved talent, and he would certainly put you to good use — better than being a nameless cook on Dazhu Peak."

Zhang Qingyue's face darkened at once. "Miss Bili, do not speak so wildly. I am of the orthodox way. I would sooner die than enter the demon path. In my eyes, being a humble cook on Dazhu Peak is far better than summoning wind and rain among your demon cult."

A cold smile touched the corner of Bili's mouth, and her words turned sharp and cold. "Of the orthodox way? The evils committed by you orthodox folk are no fewer than those of us of the demon path. In the great war between right and demon years ago, were your immortal patriarchs any different? They killed whoever they saw — not even the old, the weak, the women, and the children were spared!"

"Nonsense!" Zhang Qingyue flew into a rage. "Those were the fine deeds of your demon cult. Do you think I do not know? In those years you slaughtered until the fields ran with blood and the people were ruined..."

Bili said angrily, "Did you see those things with your own eyes? No — your masters told you. And for the sake of their own face, how could they tell you the truth?"

Zhang Qingyue gave a cold laugh. "Then have you seen them with your own eyes? Here you tell me that the orthodox are in fact evil and the demon cult is in fact good — is that not simply your elders glossing over the deeds of their own forebears!"

Bili was struck dumb and for a moment could find nothing to say. Zhang Qingyue looked at her twice, and then, thinking back on the days they had shared life and death, his heart softened. He lowered his voice and said gently, "Miss Bili, whatever our forebears did, let us not concern ourselves with it. Only, the Canglan Sect has strict rules, and its disciples are forbidden to have dealings with the demon cult. I was raised in Qingyun and dare not break them. Let us part here today. If fate brings us together again, and if you should come to see your errors and turn toward the light, I, Zhang Qingyue, will stake my life and fortune to vouch for you and see you enter the orthodox way..." He was speaking with great earnestness, but as he spoke he trailed off. He saw only that Bili's face was full of mockery, and she would not stop sneering.

"Your precious orthodox way — I wouldn't go if you begged me! And you talk of turning toward the light! Very well. I pointed out a bright road to you and you would not walk it, so go and be an orthodox man. When we meet again, yours will be the first head I take!"

Zhang Qingyue was startled. This woman turned her face faster than a page turns in a book. But he had no heart for argument, and toward Bili he always felt he owed something. He cupped his hands and said, "Take care." Then he turned and walked away without looking back.

Bili watched him go far off, and he did not once turn his head. After his figure vanished into the woods, she suddenly felt hollow inside, as though she had lost something important, and all the spirit drained out of her at once. She sat down slowly. Her gaze drifted, and by chance fell on the pile of ash and cinders where Zhang Qingyue had roasted the rabbit the night before. She sat there dazed, and all unawares tears ran down her face.

She looked at that heap of ash and sat thus, she knew not how long, until she suddenly realized that the clear birdsong in the woods behind her had all at once fallen silent — as though the birds had scented some great evil and dared not make a sound.

Then she saw a dark shadow slowly move out from behind her and close over her.

Though it was day, somehow the sky itself seemed to have turned overcast.

Bili whirled around and stared blankly at the person behind her. After a long moment she suddenly cried out in grief, "Father!..." and threw herself into his arms.

The shadow seemed to start as well, as though he had never expected such a move from Bili. But his joy at seeing his daughter delivered from great peril could not be concealed.

Zhang Qingyue walked a full day in the mountain woods before he left the borders of Mount Kongsang. Had he flown, he could have been out in half a day, but out of caution for his left hand he was willing to walk the longer road. Mount Kongsang had always been thinly peopled, and along the way he did not see a single soul.