Chapter 59 — Malice
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 8 of 8
Disciples of the other branches of the Canglan Sect, and many from Fanyin Temple and Fenxia Valley, came out to look. They tended to gather in clusters, pointing and gesturing from afar, and faint snatches of mocking laughter could be heard.
Zhang Qingyue was ashamed at heart, but in the end did not dare rise. Yet having knelt so long, his knees were aching unbearably.
Suddenly a commotion came from the neighboring cave—the one where the Long Peak disciples lodged. Zhang Qingyue did not raise his head, but he vaguely heard Lin Jinghong shouting angrily there, as though he could endure it no longer and was about to come charging over, only to be held back with all their might by Qi Hao and the other disciples.
Just as the clamor was at its height, a voice of heavy authority suddenly rang out from the cave next door: "Jingyu, come in. I have something to say to you."
Zhang Qingyue knew this to be the voice of Uncle Cangsong, the master of Long Peak. The Long Peak disciples fell silent at once, a testament to Daoist Cangyan's usual authority. After a moment, Lin Jinghong, not daring to defy his master's command, went inside—and did not come out again.
In the dark night calm returned, and the onlookers gradually dispersed, leaving only Zhang Qingyue still kneeling, bowed low at the mouth of the cave.
Just then voices came again from within the Dazhu Peak cave—Song Dayi, He Dachuan, Du Biyan and the others pleading with Tian Buhui—but Tian Buhui rebuked them angrily a few times, and they did not dare speak further.
Yet before a moment of silence had passed, Tian Lingsu's agitated voice rang out: "Father, what are you doing? Xiaofan has been kneeling outside for almost five hours. What exactly has he done wrong? Did he injure eldest senior brother, or kill him? He has already admitted his fault, and still you will not let him come in..."
With a great "boom," stones flew in all directions. It seemed Tian Buhui's anger was hard to quell, and he had struck a hard rock with his palm, smashing the stone to pieces. Tian Lingsu seemed about to say more, but was heard to be spoken to in a low voice by her master's wife, Su Wan, who drew her aside—and then there was no sound at all.