Chapter 7 — Taking a Master
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 4 of 5
Song Dayi ran faster and faster, striding like a meteor. Once out of the hall he headed straight for the rear mountain. Zhang Qingyue clung to his shoulder as trees whistled past on either side, retreating at tremendous speed. Behind them, Tian Lingsu had at some point summoned a crimson jade silk—translucent, faintly amber in hue, scattering rays of red light—clearly an immortal's treasure. She stood upon it at her ease, made a casual hand sign, and the crimson silk bore her up into the air, following close behind Song Dayi.
Zhang Qingyue had never in his life seen such wonders. Beyond his amazement, he saw Tian Lingsu riding the wind, incomparably graceful, and his eyes at once shone with boundless envy.
Tian Lingsu saw his expression and was immensely proud. She urged the silk forward to draw alongside him and said, "Well? I'm pretty impressive, aren't I?"
Zhang Qingyue nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, yes, yes—Senior Sister, you're amazing! You can actually stand on a red cloth strip and run that fast!"
Tian Lingsu was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant by "red cloth strip." She spat out a "Pah!" in annoyance, yet could not help laughing. "You idiot!"
Zhang Qingyue was baffled, until Song Dayi's laugh came from ahead. "Little junior brother, what nonsense are you talking? That is the Amber Crimson Silk—the famous treasure Mistress cultivated in her youth. Its uses are endless and its power immense. Even within our Canglan Sect it is a renowned immortal's treasure. How is it some 'red cloth strip'?" And he roared with laughter.
Zhang Qingyue's face went crimson. He stole a glance at Tian Lingsu and saw her watching him with a grin, two little dimples showing at the corners of her cheeks.
They went on a while longer until the three of them came to a small hillside behind the mountain, where Song Dayi stopped and set Zhang Qingyue down. Tian Lingsu alighted too and withdrew her hand sign; the Amber Crimson Silk, as though alive, coiled itself up and wound about her waist, looking like a pretty red sash.
The hillside was covered with bamboo, thick and thin, growing in dense groves, very lush. But on closer look, the bamboo here was unlike the ordinary kind—every joint was black.
Pointing at the grove, Song Dayi said to Zhang Qingyue, "Little junior brother, by the rule of our Dazhu Peak line, new disciples must come here every day to cut bamboo. You're still young, so for the first three months, cut just one stalk a day. As for how thick, suit yourself."
When Zhang Qingyue first heard of the entry lessons, and that Su Wan had asked Song Dayi to look after him, he had imagined some terrible task. To his surprise it was ordinary woodcutting. He had been born in Liumiao Village to a farming family, had gone up the mountain with the grown-ups a few times and cut firewood before, and at once his heart eased and he broke into a smile. "Eldest Senior Brother, I've cut firewood before—no need to worry."
Song Dayi looked at him, seemed about to say something, then checked himself and smiled. "That's good, then. We'll walk back slowly. I'll point out the path so you can come by yourself later, and I'll tell you the sect rules along the way."
Tian Lingsu laughed from the side. "Eldest Senior Brother, why did you run all the way out here just to say a few idle words, and now you want to walk back slowly—are you afraid my mother will hit you?"
Song Dayi's face reddened. He ignored her and said only to Zhang Qingyue, "Little junior brother, remember this well: the first rule of our sect is to honor the master…"