劍問蒼天 - 第13章 重逢 - 翰墨軒

Half a month had passed since his return from the secluded valley. Zhang Qingyue had now been at the Canglan Sect for three full years, and with that his days of chopping bamboo were over as well. Only, the marks he submitted just before it ended would have made even him blush.

Because of that inexplicable trip into the valley, Zhang Qingyue had spent the following half month dizzy and light-headed, short of qi and thin of blood, his whole body prone to sudden exhaustion. Privately he guessed that it must have been caused by the massive blood loss he had glimpsed in his dazed state that day. But when he searched his whole body he found not a single wound. Uneasy at heart, yet not daring to ask his master, he simply buried it inside.

He said nothing, but his body answered for him. Before, however poor he was, he could at least fell two big black-jointed bamboos. Now a few strokes left him gasping, cold sweat beading his brow, and half a day's work could not bring down even one. In truth, no wonder: that day in the secluded valley, the Blood-Devouring Pearl had drained nearly half the essence and blood from his body. Had he not always been sturdy, he would long since have been bedridden. Still, for Zhang Qingyue to chop bamboo as he once had was now pure fantasy.

This state persisted until, after half a month, he began to feel somewhat recovered, his spirit and strength a little better. But by then the bamboo-chopping assignment had also ended. On the final day, under the watchful eyes of Senior Brother Song Dayi and the others who had come to inspect, Zhang Qingyue summoned every ounce of strength and finally felled a single black-jointed bamboo before the time ran out.

Song Dayi and the rest exchanged glances, struck dumb. Only Tian Lingsu stepped forward, cheerfully clapped him on the shoulder, and said, "Xiaofan, don't worry. You have one-tenth of my skill—a good tenth, at that. That's already quite good."

Zhang Qingyue could only smile bitterly.

At dinner time, the whole household of Dazhu Peak sat gathered in the dining hall. After Tian Buhui and his wife had taken their seats, Song Dayi first reported on Zhang Qingyue's situation. Tian Buhui gave a cold snort and did not even glance at Zhang Qingyue. It was Su Wan who smiled and said, "Ah, Xiaofan, you have been with us on Dazhu Peak for three years now."

Zhang Qingyue hastened to reply, "Yes, Mistress."

Su Wan sighed softly. "Time flies so fast. Three years gone in a blink." Then she paused, raised her voice, and said to the other six disciples, "Do you all feel the same?"

The disciples of Dazhu Peak all gave a start and sat up straight at once. "Yes!"

Su Wan gave a little huff. "Your junior brother has grown up now, and yet in these three years you have made no progress at all. Are you trying to anger your master and me to death?"

No one dared speak, but every eye turned toward Song Dayi. Pressed by his junior brothers, he steeled himself and said, "Rest assured, Mistress. This time we will surely do you proud!"

The word "unconvinced" was written plainly on Su Wan's face. She was about to speak when Tian Buhui suddenly cut in: "Old Six."

Du Biyan said, "Master, you called for me?"

Tian Buhui said mildly, "These past few days I have seen you in the kitchen when you have free time, dancing about before the pots and pans. What is the meaning of this?"

Du Biyan's face flushed red. His mouth opened and shut, and he stammered, "Master, you—how did you see that?"

Su Wan said with a note of surprise, "Biyan, what is it?"

Du Biyan said, "Your disciple was trying to see whether he could make those things move..."

Everyone was moved at once. The realm of "driving objects" was the fundamental basis of cultivating magic treasures in the Canglan Sect's arts; it could not be imagined without reaching the fourth level of the Jade Clarity Realm in the Grand-Vast Mystic Clarity Way.