Chapter 78 — Six
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 5 of 8
Amid the chaos, while the Canglan Sect's elders and masters held off the furious assault of the Demonic Sect's experts, Shuiyue led the young disciples in supporting the gravely wounded masters of the Fanyin Temple into the rear hall. Daoist Daoyan too walked rearward, though his steps were faintly unsteady.
Tian Buhui caught sight of this in the midst of battle and felt a surge of anxiety. Casting a glance around, he drove back the Demonic Sect men before him with the Crimson Flame Immortal Sword and slipped over to the side of Qi Hao and Lin Jinghong, who were fighting alongside the other elders with ashen faces, and said urgently, "We have no need of you here—go at once and escort the Sect Master!"
Qi Hao and Lin Jinghong started. But seeing Tian Buhui's stern face, they dared not disobey; and besides, the sudden treachery of Daoist Cangyan of Dragon Peak had struck these Dragon Peak disciples like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, and their minds were already in disorder. They answered hastily and went after Daoist Daoyan.
Watching their figures go, Su Wan, fighting nearby, knitted her brows tightly. After a moment she found a chance to break free and slipped over to Song Dayi and Tian Lingsu, saying in a low voice, "Your senior uncle Cangsong has turned traitor without warning, and there is no telling whether his disciples can be trusted. Follow them and keep watch over the Sect Master!"
Song Dayi and Tian Lingsu were startled, then understood, and at once followed. Su Wan was about to turn back when from the corner of her eye she saw that beyond this heaven-shaking battle, Zhang Qingyue—the young disciple who had been the focus of all eyes but a moment ago—now stood there as though no one minded him, staring motionless into the distance toward the front of the Demonic Sect.
Her brows drew together. In her heart, in truth, she was of one mind with Tian Buhui: she did not believe for a moment that this young disciple could be a traitor planted by the Demonic Sect. Thinking now of Zhang Qingyue's shallow cultivation, she slipped to his side and patted him lightly on the shoulder.
Zhang Qingyue started and turned to look. Su Wan was suddenly alarmed: his eyes were shot through with blood vessels, and though his senses seemed still clear enough, there was somehow an uncanny air of murderous menace about him.
But matters were urgent now, and how could Su Wan spare it further thought? She said hurriedly, "Xiaofan, it is too dangerous here. Go with your senior brother and sister Ling'er."
Zhang Qingyue was taken aback, but under the gaze of this master's wife who had cherished him since childhood, he nodded at last and ran toward the rear hall.
Su Wan was reassured, and threw herself back into the ever more savage battle.
Amid the rumbling crashes and the violent clashing of countless artifacts, Zhang Qingyue ran into the rear hall, caught up with Song Dayi and Tian Lingsu, then overtook Qi Hao and Lin Jinghong. The few of them gathered around Daoist Daoyan. Daoyan glanced at them and nodded slightly, but when his gaze fell upon Zhang Qingyue it could not help but linger a moment before moving away.
Zhang Qingyue hardly knew what he felt, but the black iron staff in his hand now seemed faintly to ripple with blue light, and waves of dizziness came over him again and again. He felt as though streams of malevolent energy, like ferocious spirits, were charging straight into his mind, and he could not help but picture the reek of blood.
Yet everyone's heart was heavy now, and no one noticed anything amiss with Zhang Qingyue. A moment later, Lu Xueqi and Wen Pei of the Small Bamboo Peak appeared before them as well.
Lu Xueqi glanced at Zhang Qingyue and said to Daoist Daoyan, "Master sent me and senior sister Wen Pei to come!"
Daoist Daoyan sighed and shook his head slightly, but said nothing, and walked on.