劍問蒼天 - 第32章 正道 - 翰墨軒

Cang Yan Daoren gave a cold snort and said, "Demon cult villains are hard to fathom in their conduct at the best of times; their motives are inscrutable, and it is no wonder they do strange things."

Tian Buhui said angrily, "Is this not forcing an interpretation, twisting reason to fit your case?"

Cang Yan Daoren said coldly, "I twist reason? May I ask you, Senior Brother Tian, does this blood-forging method belong to any of the righteous path?"

Tian Buhui was at a loss for words, his face flushing red. By now anyone could see that Tian Buhui stood, after all, on his disciple's side. Just at this awkward moment, a cold voice came forth—at a word one knew it was Master Shui Jing of the Xiaozhu Peak:

"May I ask you, Senior Brother Cangsong: you keep saying the blood-forging method is sinister and vicious—pray tell, in what way is it sinister, in what way vicious?"

Cang Yan Daoren opened his mouth to speak, then suddenly choked, and could only say, "Demon cult sorcery—what more is there to say?"

Shui Yue said icily, "By that account, Senior Brother Cangsong knows nothing of the blood-forging method either. Why then do you take it for sinister and vicious, and would put this youth to death?"

Cang Yan Daoren turned his gaze on Master Shui Jing, his eyes bright and his manner intimidating, and said, "Oh? Junior Sister Shuiyue, then what is your meaning?"

Master Shui Jing said mildly, "Senior brothers, in this matter: first, we know little of the blood-forging method. We have heard of it, but mostly by guesswork. If by some chance the so-called blood-forging method did admit of such a coincidence, would we not be killing a good man by mistake? Second, this youth is but sixteen, and his origins are clear and plain. To insist he is of the demon cult—I fear that does not stand to reason."

Cang Yan Daoren narrowed his eyes, yet sharp light leaked from the slits, and he said, "Why is it, Junior Sister Shuiyue, that today you are so unlike yourself, exerting yourself so to exonerate this youth? It is truly puzzling."

A flash of anger crossed Shui Yue's beautiful face, and she said at once, "I am speaking to the matter at hand, and am certainly not like certain people who cannot bear to see talent arise in a fellow branch, who fear for their own position, and so seize on some trifle to hunt a man down to the last—utterly without humanity!"

When it came to a sharp tongue, of the seven present six were men, and not one could match Master Shui Jing. Cang Yan Daoren went white with anger and sprang to his feet.

Dao Yan Zhenren hastily cut in, saying, "Enough, enough—here we are talking, and somehow it has turned into a quarrel again. Sit down, sit down."

Cang Yan Daoren dared not disregard the sect leader's word, and could only sit back down in his seat, seething. Shui Yue, by contrast, looked utterly unruffled, sitting prim and proper in her chair.

Dao Yan Zhenren shook his head, turned to the others, and said, "Everyone, what is your view?"

The other branch masters were silent a while. Zeng Shuchang, master of the Fenghui Peak, spoke first: "Sect Leader, I think Junior Sister Shuiyue's words have reason. This youth's background is clean, and since entering the sect he has never once gone down the mountain. I fear it is simply a stroke of luck that he came by this treasure—and, properly speaking, a blessing for our Qingyun."

Dao Yan Zhenren stroked his beard and nodded slightly, then turned his eyes to Tian Yun Daoren, master of the Luoxia Peak. Tian Yun glanced at Cangsong and said, "In this matter I agree with Senior Brother Cangsong's approach."

Cang Yan Daoren, having gained an ally, nodded toward Tian Yun Daoren.