Chapter 183 — Hard to Cross

Little Gray swallowed the fruit in its mouth, then picked up a mountain fruit from beside it, bit off half in one go, and ate with every appearance of delight. Here in the Shou Jing Hall of Great Zhu Peak, the floor was now strewn everywhere with the fruit pits Little Gray had gnawed, scattered all about; compared with its former solemn dignity, the place looked rather comical.

Yet at this moment everyone on Great Zhu Peak had gathered here, and even the ever-short-tempered Tian Buhui, seeing the scene, merely knit his brows and did not fly into a rage, only his face dark and gloomy, no telling what he was thinking.

For ten years everyone had known that Little Gray was always with that man, never apart; but now Little Gray was here—and where was that man?

That day before the Phantom Moon Grotto-Heaven on the Jie Tian Peak of Mount Canglan, Song Dayi and the others had seen Ming Li with their own eyes, and with their own eyes had seen that former junior brother gravely wounded by the Immortal-Slaying Ancient Sword; afterward many had hunted him down, and though there had been no word of him since, there were faint rumors that he had been rescued by his confederates.

But why had Little Gray appeared here?

Little Gray had appeared—so where was that man?

The same question wound through everyone's heart, weighing it down. And in the Shou Jing Hall only Little Gray ate its fruit with utter unconcern; besides it, there was one other who was overjoyed, utterly unlike the people around him!

Da Huang.

This great dog was at this moment beside itself with excitement, utterly ignoring its master's gloomy face, barking "Wang wang wang!" without cease, circling the table where Little Gray lay without stop, a bright big yellow tail wagging to and fro in sheer delight. Now and then it reared up on its forelegs, resting them on the table edge, its dog nose sniffing all over Little Gray, and occasionally it stretched out its tongue and licked Little Gray a few times.

Little Gray grinned, scratched its head, casually picked up an apple from beside it, waved it before Da Huang's face, then flung it out through the Shou Jing Hall. Da Huang gave a great "Wang!" and at once leaped up, four legs flying, and rushed out of the Shou Jing Hall; the crowd, startled, all looked outside, and saw that Da Huang had actually overtaken the apple before it struck the ground, caught it in midair, and at once come running back, likewise sprawling onto the table, where it let the apple drop from its teeth and roll a few times.

All were struck dumb, and Tian Buhui gave a heavy snort.

Only Little Gray laughed on and on, "Zhi zhi zhi zhi," plainly overjoyed at meeting its old dog friend; it curled its monkey tail, jumped down from the table, and landed on Da Huang's broad back, reaching out to embrace Da Huang's body.

Da Huang ran out yapping "woof, woof, woof" without pause, head held high and chest thrust forward, and who knew where that monkey and dog were off to raise mischief and play now. Song Dayi glanced at Tian Buhui and Su Wan, then rose to his feet. He had just meant to go chase the two beasts back when he heard Tian Buhui say coldly, "Let them go. That monkey has lived on this mountain for years; now that it's come, it won't leave."

Song Dayi gave a sound of assent and slowly sat back down.

Tian Buhui was silent a moment, then said, "Apart from that monkey, did neither you nor Old Six catch sight of any other figure?"

Song Dayi and Du Biyan shook their heads at once. "No," they said.

Tian Buhui's face was grim. Suddenly he waved a hand. "Enough. Out with you."

Song Dayi and the others exchanged glances, but a master's command was like a mountain, and in the end none dared defy it. They could only withdraw slowly. As they went, He Dachuan, being the careful sort, asked Su Wan, "Mistress, this floor full of fruit pits—shall your disciples sweep it up?"

Before Su Wan could answer, Tian Buhui had already said with a touch of anger, "Tomorrow. I told you to get out—did you hear me?"

He Dachuan fell silent as a cicada in winter, and with a whoosh he retreated, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Su Wan shot Tian Buhui a look. "What are you taking it out on them for? There's no call for it."

Tian Buhui's face was heavy with thought. He paced back and forth, then suddenly raised his head and said to Su Wan, "Tell me—Old Seven... do you think that man might be nearby as well?"

Su Wan pondered a moment, then said mildly, "That man has always set the greatest store by old affections. If he had a mind to see you once, that would be only natural. But given his station, he most likely cannot show himself."

Tian Buhui's expression changed, and on his plump face fair and foul weather alternated in a way that defied description. Su Wan glanced at him and sighed. "I know what's worrying you. That day outside the Illusory Moon Grotto-Heaven, though he was wounded by the Ancient Sword of Immortal Slaying, he did not die after all—and wasn't it said that accomplices carried him off? When Daren and the others reported back to us afterward, they all said the grey monkey was not at his side. The way I see it, perhaps he knew the danger then and deliberately kept the monkey from him. And after he fled, gravely wounded, the monkey was left wandering the wilds of Mount Canglan; unable to find its master, it is no wonder it came running to us."

Tian Buhui's brows knitted tight, and suddenly he mumbled something under his breath, as though cursing. Su Wan had not caught it clearly and pressed him. "What did you say?"

Tian Buhui did not answer. He gave a snort, his brows relaxed, and with his hands clasped behind his back he walked toward the rear hall. Su Wan watched his back, shrugged her shoulders in some helplessness. Just as she was turning her head away, a low cry suddenly came from Tian Buhui behind her. Su Wan started in spite of herself and turned quickly to look—and could not help but smile.

Tian Buhui, it seemed, had his mind on other things and was not watching the ground as he walked; he had chanced to step on a fruit pit and slipped. But Tian Buhui was no ordinary man after all—with his cultivation, he steadied himself in an instant. Even so, Su Wan had already laughed aloud.

Having made a small fool of himself before his wife, Tian Buhui felt thoroughly ashamed, and his face darkened several shades. He cursed bitterly, "Damned monkey—one day I'll flay you alive and see whether you eat then!"

With that he entered the rear hall without a backward glance, leaving Su Wan standing with a smile in the Hall of Guarding Stillness, its floor strewn everywhere with fruit pits.