Chapter 20 — Drawing Lots
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 6 of 6
"Oh, I am forty-seven. I wonder who my opponent is. Let me work it out..."
...
Yet after all this chatter, not one of them had announced drawing that precious slip number one.
Daoist Cangyan frowned, coughed twice, and said in a loud, clear voice: "Who drew number one?"
His voice rang out and for the moment overbore every other sound; a hush fell over the hall. After a long while, from the midst of the crowd came a small voice, tinged with surprise and caution, in a tone that seemed not even to believe itself: "Reporting—reporting to Uncle-Master Cangsong, it—it is here with me."
Everyone turned to look, and could not help but stare in astonishment: Zhang Qingyue stood among the crowd, a slip of paper in his hand, rooted to the spot, his eyes darting toward Tian Buhui as he spoke timidly.