劍問蒼天 - 第6章 入門 - 翰墨軒

All watched, and knowing Cangsong of old as a fellow of their sect, they knew that for him to smile today was to be glad indeed at heart; they could not help but chafe in secret. But Daoyan had spoken, and Cangsong's Dragon Peak was mighty; they could only swallow their vexation.

Daoyan paused, then said, "And this other one—"

Shang Zhengliang coughed and shut his eyes; Tianyun gazed at the ceiling of the hall as though he had suddenly discovered its patterns to be especially beautiful; Tian Buhui gave a dry little laugh, then felt sleep come over him and was near to nodding off; and Zeng Shuchang, head of the Fenghui Peak branch, who had been cut off before he could get a word in, simply entered meditation, as though he had had no part in the matter from the first.

Only the Perfected One Cangyan, wholly victorious, glanced coldly over the rest—yet his eyes were full of laughter.

The Perfected One Daoyan could not help feeling somewhat awkward, but a man of his stature would never say, "This one's aptitude is poor—do you mean to refuse him?" He merely had a thought, and at once found a scapegoat.

"Junior Brother Tian." The Perfected One Daoyan's smile seemed at this moment so very kindly.

Tian Buhui's heart gave a leap; he sprang up at once and was about to speak, but Daoyan forestalled him: "It was your disciple Song Dayi who first discovered the matter at Liumiao Village. It seems this child has a strong bond with your Dazhu Peak after all. Heh heh. You had best take him in."

Tian Buhui was greatly dismayed. Zhang Qingyue's aptitude was commonplace—plain at a glance—and taking him in would be a mere burden; naturally he was not pleased. He was about to protest, but how would Daoyan grant him the chance to speak? Daoyan pressed on: "Good. This matter is settled for now. You junior brothers must also see to the investigation of this affair. Understood?"

Cangsong and the others rose together and said in unison, "Yes."

The Perfected One Daoyan nodded, coughed a few times, and without looking at Tian Buhui's face hurried into the rear hall. No sooner had his figure vanished from the hall than great peals of laughter burst forth within the Yuheng Hall of the Canglan Sect.

Song Dayi, disciple of Dazhu Peak, had been waiting outside the doors of Yuheng Hall all this while. At long last the masters came out; he went to meet them, and saw his master Tian Buhui carrying Zhang Qingyue in his arms. He was taken aback. "Master, what is it?"

At the sight of him, Tian Buhui's heart surged with anger. "What do you mean, what is it? Are you a fool? Take him, quickly!"

Song Dayi hastened to take the still-sleeping Zhang Qingyue. Tian Buhui, seething, caught sight from the corner of his eye of Shang Zhengliang, Tianyun, and the rest who had come out with him, still stifling their laughter, and grew angrier still. He barked at Song Dayi, "Get moving! What are you standing there gaping for?"

That said, he paid the others no further mind. He traced a line in the air with his right hand; a red light flashed, and a crimson longsword was summoned forth. Without any visible motion on his part he was drifting upon the blade, and shot off through the air with all speed.

Song Dayi was at a loss, but at least he understood that he had gained a junior brother. He looked at Zhang Qingyue in his arms and could not help saying, "Little Junior Brother, I still don't know your name."

But Zhang Qingyue slept on, knowing nothing—all unaware that the course of his fate had, without his knowing it, turned a great corner.