劍問蒼天 - 第135章 異術 - 翰墨軒

He glanced at Lu Xueling. "Only by then he was likely spent, an arrow at the end of its flight, and so could not strike again to harm Xueqi—otherwise, with the Divine Sword of Thunder Summoning broken, she would have been wholly without power to resist, in deadly peril. Xueqi, this man seems to have fused the three schools of Buddha, Dao, and demon into one body; his cultivation is strange and hard to fathom. If you meet him again, take the greatest care."

Lu Xueling's lips moved. Her fingers, gripping the Divine Sword Tianxuan, quietly tightened and then loosened again. "Yes," she said softly.

Master Shui Jing watched her, sighed inwardly, and said suddenly, "Qi'er, you have had a hard journey. Go back and rest first. I have matters to discuss with your Sect Master Uncle; I will return shortly myself."

Lu Xueling assented and looked toward Dao Yan Zhenren. He shook his head with a laugh. "See what a memory I have—old and muddled indeed. Xueqi, there is nothing more here. Go back to Xiaozhu Peak and rest well."

Only then did Lu Xueling withdraw. She bowed first to Dao Yan Zhenren, then said to Master Shui Jing, "Master, then I will go back first."

Master Shui Jing nodded. "Go on."

Lu Xueling bowed her head in assent and slowly withdrew; a moment later she vanished from the sight of Dao Yan Zhenren and Master Shui Jing.

Dao Yan Zhenren pondered a while, then sighed. "What a one, this Zhang Qingyue… alas, what a waste."

Master Shui Jing said mildly, "For that child to have turned out this way—we cannot escape some share of the blame."

Dao Yan Zhenren's brows knit, and his face darkened at once. "Junior Sister Shuiyue, what do you mean by that?"

Master Shui Jing's face was cold, but her tone did not change in the least. "Nothing. Zhang Qingyue abandoned the light and went over to the dark; we too were in some part at fault."

Dao Yan Zhenren said in a low voice, "Does Junior Sister Shuiyue mean that what I did in those years was wrong?"

Shuiyue glanced at Dao Yan Zhenren and saw his face uncommonly stern. She sighed and said slowly, "Senior Brother, do not think too much on it. Were it I, I would have done just the same as you. I said it before: Zhang Qingyue's course was the working of fate—so willed by heaven!"

Dao Yan Zhenren was silent a while, and his expression gradually eased; yet within the great hall the air seemed to grow somewhat awkward. After a moment he said slowly, "You heard just now—on this journey Xueqi still did not see Valley Master Yun Yifeng. What do you make of it?"

Master Shui Jing gave a humph. "That old fellow Yun Yifeng has always been secretive, forever stirring up mysteries. Who knows what he is about this time. But his cultivation is not to be made light of, and in the southern frontier I doubt there was anyone who could do him harm. So we need not worry overmuch. Still—"

Dao Yan Zhenren was startled. "What?"

Master Shui Jing looked at Dao Yan Zhenren. "This time you sent no other disciple, only Qi'er, alone to the Burning Cloud Valley in the southern frontier—and beforehand you did not even consult me!" With that her face turned cold, and she gave two cold laughs.

Dao Yan Zhenren frowned. "Junior Sister, I explained the reasons to you afterward, did I not? And you did not object."

Master Shui Jing rose to her feet and said mildly, "I did not object, but you know this disciple of mine has ever been fierce and stubborn. In all things it is better to leave a little room."

With that, without waiting for Dao Yan Zhenren to reply, she walked out of the hall on her own.

Dao Yan gazed after her back, then suddenly shook his head and gave a long sigh.

Mount Huqi.

The Cold Ice Stone Chamber.

Of the Nether King Sect, all stood within the stone chamber—from the Nether King himself down to Qinglong, Yousi, and the rest—with Ming Li and Xiaobai beside them, and in the most remote corner, Mr. Ghost in his black robes stood alone.