劍問蒼天 - 第9章 傳藝 - 翰墨軒

Zhang Qingyue nodded hastily and dropped where he stood, gulping for air. The big yellow dog had vanished again, off who knew where.

He panted for a good while before his breath gradually steadied. Sitting on the mountain path, he looked down and saw Dazhu Peak standing tall and upright, the surrounding mountains all a head shorter, as if in proud disdain.

"Senior sister, there's something I'd like to ask you, if I may..."

Hearing the timidity in his voice, Tian Lingsu turned her eyes on him. A little flush of satisfaction rose in her; she unconsciously smoothed her hair, put on a solemn face, and said gravely, "Go ahead."

"Why is cutting bamboo our chore? I thought chores would be cultivation of the Dao and its arts."

Tian Lingsu curled her lip. "What do you know? For those who cultivate the truth, the body is the most important thing of all. My mother says that if the body is weak, then even with supreme wondrous methods, one cannot practice them. Our Canglan Sect springs from Daoism and places great weight on nurturing life and strengthening the body. The deeper one goes in cultivating the Dao, the more important the body becomes. Take one of the highest and strangest arts in our Canglan Sect, the 'Divine Sword that Commands Thunder'..."

Zhang Qingyue shuddered, his face changing color.

Tian Lingsu looked at him strangely. "What's wrong with you?"

Zhang Qingyue came back to himself, his expression shifting. He stammered, "N-nothing. It's just—the name sounds so long and so formidable."

Tian Lingsu glared at him. "Of course it's formidable. It's one of the arts that anchors our Canglan Sect, and precious few can master it. My father says that to work this true incantation, you must use your own body as the lure, aided by a divine weapon's blade, to draw down the thunder of the nine heavens. That majestic, heaven-sent power—before it, all who stand in its way are swept aside. Its might is peerless."

Zhang Qingyue sighed. "I see."

Tian Lingsu went on: "So think about it. Even with the true incantation shielding you, the power of heavenly thunder is no small thing. An ordinary person, once touched by it, is instantly reduced to ash. The caster may have cultivated deeply, but if his body is weak, he'll likely be struck dead by the divine thunder before he can do a thing—so much for sweeping all before him." She glanced at Zhang Qingyue. "That's why my father assigned you this chore—all for your own good. And there you are, looking like you can't stand it."

Zhang Qingyue jumped up in alarm. "That's not so! I would never, never dare show the slightest disrespect to Master, and I'm not unwilling at all. Ah—I've rested enough now. I'll go, I'll go right now!"

He snatched up the billhook and went pounding up the slope at a good clip. Tian Lingsu watched his receding back, smiled faintly, and followed.

At long last he scrambled up to the little slope, utterly out of breath. There, before the bamboo grove, the big yellow dog had somehow already lain down; seeing the two of them arrive, it barked "woof woof" a couple of times, without bothering to rise, then turned its head away again.

Zhang Qingyue stared. "So fast!"

"You mean Dahuang?" Tian Lingsu came up behind him, not a trace of flush on her face nor shortness in her breath.

Zhang Qingyue pointed at the big dog. "His name is Dahuang?"

Tian Lingsu said, "Yes. And don't underestimate him—he's formidable."

Zhang Qingyue murmured, "I'd say so. With a build like that, he must have been raised at least twenty years."

Tian Lingsu scoffed. "Hardly!"

Zhang Qingyue said in surprise, "Not even twenty years? Dahuang certainly grows big."

At that, Dahuang barked fiercely at Zhang Qingyue from up ahead.