Chapter 84 — The Journey Afar

As though by common accord they turned their heads toward that beautiful woman. Lu Xueqi stood quietly where she was, as if she had heard nothing at all, or as if she had buried everything deep in her heart; her bright eyes shifted, resting for a moment on Lin Jinghong as though seeking some shadow there—but in the end, they moved away.

Just then, the sound of bells and chimes suddenly rang out above the great hall, and everyone straightened at once. After a moment, Sect Master Daoist Daoyan emerged, accompanied by Xiao Yichen; he glanced at the assembled crowd, greeted them with a smile, and took his seat in the place of honor.

All present saluted together, with Qi Hao standing at the very front. Daoist Daoyan smiled and waved a hand. "Enough, enough. Be seated, all of you."

Yet among the disciples, apart from Qi Hao—whose station was now different—who took a seat below Daoist Daoyan, the rest remained standing.

Daoist Daoyan glanced at Xiao Yichen beside him and said, "Yicai, you tell them."

Xiao Yichen nodded. "Yes, Master."

With that, he stepped forward, swept his gaze over the assembled crowd, and said in a clear voice: "Fellow disciples, I have asked you here today because there is a matter that requires the finest disciples of our Canglan Sect to go and accomplish."

At these words a stir ran through the crowd. Xiao Yichen smiled and went on: "Of late there has been much talk throughout the world—they say that in the great western marshes, a strange light has suddenly shot skyward these past days and has not ceased, and that some world-shaking treasure is likely about to appear. Ordinarily, when Heaven sends down a numinous thing, it belongs to the virtuous; we would take no interest. But once this news spread, we heard that the demon cult's fiends are marching west in great force, intent on laying their hands on it."

"What?"

"Outrageous!" The young disciples of the Canglan Sect were instantly furious, and voices broke out on every side.

When the clamor had somewhat subsided, Xiao Yichen smiled and said: "If this report is false, then no matter. But if there truly is some rare and wondrous treasure, and it falls into the demon cult's hands, would that not be lending claws to the tiger? The Canglan Sect has always been the leader of the righteous path under Heaven; therefore the Sect Master has decided to choose outstanding disciples from among our younger generation and send them together to the western marshes, to uphold the righteousness of the Way and to slay demons and eradicate devils."

Here he paused, then suddenly put on a mysterious air: "Brothers, there is one more weighty matter. I hear that today the Fanyin Temple and the Fenxia Valley have also sent disciples to the western marshes. Since that great battle ten years ago, we all know in our hearts that these two sects keep fair faces toward us while secretly eyeing the seat of leadership of the righteous path—and they have done so for a long while. I hope none of you will lose face for our sect!"

A clamor rose among the crowd, and someone shouted out at once: "Rest easy, Sect Master! We will never disgrace the Canglan Sect!"

"Just so—this time we must show the demon cult, and the men of Fanyin Temple and Fenxia Valley too, just what we are made of!"

Daoist Daoyan smiled and nodded, then rose to his feet and said: "This journey west may hold danger, and the demon cult's people are treacherous and cunning beyond measure; you must be on your guard at all times."

The crowd answered with one voice: "Yes."

Daoist Daoyan turned to Xiao Yichen and said: "Then make the arrangements, and set out early."

With that, his gaze drifted—whether by design or not—to Lin Jinghong, who stood among the crowd; then he turned and walked toward the inner hall. The assembly bowed him farewell, and once his figure had vanished, Xiao Yichen turned back and began dividing up the personnel.

Over to one side, Lin Jinghong said to Qi Hao: "Well, Brother Qi, you're not going this time?"

Qi Hao laughed despite himself. "Brother Lin, I can't get away now."

Lin Jinghong understood, and his face reddened. "Ah—Brother, you are already the head of your branch. I hadn't thought of that."

Qi Hao clapped him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "This is your first time traveling the world; it is a fine opportunity. I am counting on you to display your mighty powers and make a name for yourself in one stroke!"

Lin Jinghong laughed. "Brother, you jest."

Qi Hao smiled, but then his expression darkened somewhat. Seeing no one else nearby, he said to Lin Jinghong in a low voice: "Brother Lin, to be frank with you—ten years ago our master... Daoist Cangyan betrayed Qingyun, and the result is that our Dragon Peak branch has never been able to lift its head. The disciples of Chaoyang Peak and Luoxia Peak in particular look on us as though we were their enemies. This seat of mine is a bitter one to hold, and so I very much hope that on this journey you can win back a measure of pride for Dragon Peak!"

Lin Jinghong was silent. After a moment he gave a slight nod and said quietly: "Brother Qi, I know. Rest assured—I will not disappoint you."

Qi Hao smiled faintly, his face easing a little, and reached out to pat Lin Jinghong on the shoulder.

Just then Song Dayi came over, glanced at the two of them, and said with a laugh: "What's this—is Dragon Peak sending Brother Lin this time?"

Qi Hao smiled. "Just so. And who is going from Dazhu Peak, I wonder?"

Song Dayi chuckled. "At first it was to be me, your unworthy senior brother, but then my master's wife decided I was too dull, so she sent my sixth brother, Du Biyan."

Qi Hao smiled. "Brother Du has always been quick-witted. With him along, our Canglan Sect gains wings to the tiger."

Song Dayi's eloquence was naturally not so smooth and polished as Qi Hao's. After a few more words of light talk he was about to move off, when he suddenly turned back and said to Qi Hao: "By the way, Brother Qi, my master's wife has been missing my junior sister Ling'er lately. When you go back, tell her to return to Dazhu Peak for a few days."

Qi Hao laughed. "Brother Song, you don't know—this very morning, before I left Dragon Peak to come here, Ling'er had already gone back to Dazhu Peak, saying she missed her mother. It seems mother-in-law and daughter are truly of one heart."

Song Dayi was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing, a hearty sound that echoed through the Yuheng Hall.