Chapter 59 — Malice
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 5 of 8
In that instant everyone present was struck dumb, the harmony of the scene frozen solid in the blink of an eye. Then they saw the junior brother who had always been so mild and gentle suddenly radiate a killing aura and murderous fury such as even the demon cultists moments before had not possessed. Those around him could not help but step back, watching this man who had in an instant turned into a fiend, and as he took one step, reeking of slaughter, toward Qi Hao—and toward Tian Lingsu.
The blue sky above Liubo Mountain seemed to darken.
Song Dayi was the first to step forward, planting himself in front of Zhang Qingyue—and at once he felt that on this junior brother he had watched grow up since childhood, there was not a single familiar trace left.
Sensing someone blocking his way, Zhang Qingyue slowly raised his head and glared at Song Dayi. Looking into those eyes, suddenly shot through with blood, Song Dayi felt a chill at heart. He forced a smile. "Xiaofan, what's the matter with you?"
Zhang Qingyue did not answer, only said in a low, slightly hoarse voice, "Get out of the way."
His tone was drawn out and very low, as though it had taken great effort just to speak the words—yet hearing it, everyone felt a thrill of dread.
Tian Buhui's face darkened at once, and the whole crowd was struck dumb with astonishment.
What followed, under the gaze of all present, was this: Zhang Qingyue, seeing Song Dayi still standing in his path, tightened his right hand around the black-iron staff, and at once a cold, pale azure light spilled from the shaft, carrying a killing intent such as it had never shown before.
This time Song Dayi was truly frightened—not by the sheer intensity of that killing intent, nor by the fact that after a month down the mountain Zhang Qingyue's cultivation seemed to have advanced by leaps and bounds, but by the realization that this junior brother who had revered and loved him since childhood now truly meant to kill him.
He saw it, and Tian Buhui saw it too. His face grim, Tian Buhui took a step forward. He still did not think Zhang Qingyue a match for Song Dayi, but this young disciple's magic treasure was a strange thing indeed—it had made a spectacular showing at the Seven Branches Martial Assembly that day—and he feared Song Dayi might not find him easy to handle.
Just then Tian Lingsu came running out, her face full of astonishment, and planted herself between Zhang Qingyue and Song Dayi. To this junior brother she had doted on since childhood she said, bewildered, "Xiaofan, what on earth is the matter with you?"
That face engraved upon the depths of his heart, those bright eyes—this woman who haunted his dreams—stood right there before him, asking him with such concern, such tenderness...
Zhang Qingyue suddenly froze, froze completely, as though startled awake from a dream. The murderous aura within him ebbed away like the tide. But—but—he felt a pain as though he were being torn apart, and staring blankly at his senior sister before him, he had a desperate urge to burst into tears.
Do you know that at the threshold of life and death, the one your heart yearns for most is you?
Do you know that when I dream of Qingyun, all the countless tangled longings are for you alone?
Do you know...
*Pa*—a sharp, heavy crack. Zhang Qingyue's face was struck by a slap from Tian Buhui, who had suddenly appeared at his side, and his whole body was sent flying against his will, tracing an arc through the air before landing far off to the side.
The crowd stirred in alarm.
Zhang Qingyue lay on the ground, stars bursting before his eyes, but as his senses returned he felt above all an overwhelming shame. To think he had wanted to raise a hand against the senior brother who had looked after him since childhood, to think he had harbored murderous thoughts—it was utterly unforgivable, a crime of the deepest dye!