Chapter 140 — Killing Intent

In the Jade Balance Hall, Daoist Daoyan sat in the seat of honor, clad in a dark green Taoist robe, his long beard hanging over his chest. In the seats to either side sat the other peak masters of Qingyun. Ten years had passed since the battle at Canglan Mountain, and of the seven peaks of the Canglan Sect, three had since changed masters. Compared with the days when Zhang Qingyue and Lin Jinghong had first come to Qingyun, the scene had become one of familiar faces all replaced.

Apart from the seat of Cangyan Daoren of Dragon Spine Peak, which had been taken over by Qi Hao, the other two changed peaks were these: the seat of Shang Zhengliang, master of Sunrise Peak, had passed to his disciple Chu Yuhong; and the seat of Tianyun Daoren, master of Sunset Peak, had passed to his junior brother from the same peak, Feiyun Daoren. Among these three peaks, only Feiyun Daoren of Sunset Peak was of the same generation as Daoist Daoyan and the others, and could still put in a word or two here and there; the masters of Dragon Spine Peak and Sunrise Peak, by contrast, were rather awkwardly placed. Qi Hao of Dragon Spine Peak was at least one of the outstanding figures of the younger generation and was fairly familiar with the elders; but Chu Yuhong of Sunrise Peak had sat silently at the very back the whole time and had not spoken a single word from beginning to end.

As for those old-generation masters, Tian Buhui of Great Bamboo Peak, Master Shuijing of Little Bamboo Peak, and Zeng Shuchang of Wind-return Peak had not been seen for a long while either. Most of the masters who had once quarreled with them were gone now, and so the scene in the great hall carried a certain harmony it had not known before.

Behind Master Shuijing stood Lu Xueling and Wen Pei. After all this time apart, Lu Xueling's beauty was as clear and pure as ever, her face faint and revealing neither joy nor anger; yet for some reason she now gave off a faint chill she had never possessed before.

Wen Pei, for her part, stood obediently behind Master Shuijing as well, but her eyes were not nearly so obedient; every so often they would dart sideways, and most likely land on Song Dayi, who stood behind Tian Buhui. At such moments Song Dayi could never quite suppress a smile at the corner of his mouth, which made him look rather honest and simple, and Wen Pei would give him a scolding glance before turning away again.

Beside Tian Buhui, his wife Su Wan had come along as well, and was at that moment summoning Tian Lingsu, who had come with Qi Hao, to her side; mother and daughter spoke in low voices, and after so long apart they seemed to have no end of things to say.

Apart from Tian Lingsu, the one who had come with Qi Hao was his junior brother Lin Jinghong. He now stood at the back together with Zeng Shuyan, son of Zeng Shuchang, master of Wind-return Peak; the two had fought through the battle of the Dead Marsh together and could be counted as having formed a friendship.

This gathering at Qingyun was not a formal occasion, and most of those present were fairly relaxed; even the conversation between Daoist Daoyan and Tian Buhui, Zeng Shuchang, Master Shuijing and the others was quite casual, and apart from the ever-cold Shuiyue, most faces bore smiles.

When Li Xun of the Fenxia Valley walked into the Jade Balance Hall, this was the scene that met his eyes—except that a moment later, his gaze came to rest upon that woman of frost and ice, flickering like a flame.

Xiao Yichen stepped forward and said to Daoist Daoyan, "Master, Senior Brother Li Xun of Fenxia Valley has arrived."

Daoist Daoyan looked over with a smile. Li Xun walked to Xiao Yichen's side and made his obeisance to Daoist Daoyan, saying, "Li Xun, a junior of the Fenxia Valley, pays his respects to Daoist Daoyan."

Daoist Daoyan smiled slightly. "No need for such ceremony. Rise, quickly."

Li Xun rose as bidden, then cupped his hands and saluted those around him. "This junior, Li Xun, greets all the seniors and uncles of Qingyun."

Tian Buhui, Zeng Shuchang and the others nodded in acknowledgment.

Daoist Daoyan said, "I trust your master is well? I have not seen him for many years and wonder how Brother Yun fares. Some time ago I heard that Valley Master Yun had suddenly gone into seclusion, and I was genuinely worried for a while."

Xiao Yichen had by now come to stand beside Daoist Daoyan. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Master, you may not know—I have just heard Senior Brother Li say that Elder Yun has come out of seclusion."

Daoist Daoyan looked faintly surprised, gave an "ah," and said to Li Xun, "Is that so, worthy nephew?"

Li Xun said with great respect, "Indeed it is. My master did indeed come out of seclusion several days ago, and he has specially sent this disciple to pay a call upon Sect Master Daoyan. He also gave me a letter, which he bade me deliver into your presence." With that, he drew from his bosom a sealed envelope and handed it to Daoist Daoyan.

Daoist Daoyan took the letter, pondered a moment, tore open the seal, drew out the thin sheet within, and read it carefully from beginning to end. Everyone's eyes were fixed upon his face, yet his expression remained exactly as it had been, without the slightest change; no one could tell what ripples, if any, stirred in his heart.

After a while, Daoist Daoyan finished the letter, slowly folded the sheet, put it back into the envelope, stroked it between his fingers for a moment, and laid it on the small table beside him. Li Xun watched him warily, yet heard not a word from the man reputed to be the foremost figure of the righteous path in this age, and could not help feeling somewhat uneasy.

Daoist Daoyan pondered for a long while, then let his gaze drift lightly and glanced toward Master Shuijing. Master Shuijing seemed to sense it, and her brows knitted.

Daoist Daoyan withdrew his gaze, coughed once, looked at Li Xun, who still stood below the dais, and once more put on a kindly smile. "Worthy nephew, before you came to our Qingyun, did Valley Master Yun instruct you in anything?"

Li Xun hesitated a moment, then clasped his hands and said, "My honored master instructed me that Daoist Daoyan of the Canglan Sect is the great pillar of the righteous path in this age, and that when this disciple came to Qingyun to pay his respects to you, he was to observe and learn well. Before I return to the Fenxia Valley, I am to follow whatever instructions you give, Master."

Daoist Daoyan was taken aback, then could not help laughing. "Your master—there's a sly one for you, tossing every difficult problem to me." He paused, then nodded. "Very well. Your master says in his letter that within three days at most he too will lead the disciples of the Fenxia Valley into the Central Plains, and will most likely come first to my Canglan Mountain. Until then, you may lodge here at Canglan Mountain for a few days."

Li Xun was delighted and hastened to say, "Yes, this disciple obeys."

Daoist Daoyan nodded slightly, then, as though something had just occurred to him, turned to Lu Xueling, who stood behind Master Shuijing, and said, "Xueqi."

Lu Xueling had not expected Daoist Daoyan to call on her so suddenly and was rather startled. Then she stepped forward and made her obeisance. "Sect Master Uncle, this disciple is here."

Daoist Daoyan smiled slightly. "You and Senior Brother Li Xun of the Fenxia Valley are old acquaintances, are you not? I recall that you have met many times over the years. So then—for these next few days, I will trouble you to show him around Canglan Mountain. We must not neglect the duties of hospitality."

Lu Xueling's brows knitted. She turned to look at her master, Master Shuijing, and saw that Master Shuijing's delicate brows had knitted as well; her gaze went toward Daoist Daoyan, and Daoist Daoyan looked back at her, a question in his eyes.