Chapter 139 — A Chance Encounter
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 5 of 5
As they walked, Xiao Yichen said, "Might I ask what important matter brings Brother Li here this time?"
Li Xun smiled. "Nothing of great consequence. Only, my master has a letter he bade me deliver to Daoist Daoyan."
Xiao Yichen started, his expression shifting. "What? Has Elder Yun, your valley master, come out of seclusion? Not long ago I heard from Junior Sister Lu Xueling, just returned from the southern borderlands, that Elder Yun was still in seclusion."
Li Xun smiled faintly. "To be frank with you, Brother Xiao, my master emerged from seclusion only a few days ago. He says that he has not seen his old friends Daoist Daoyan and Monk Pucheng of the Central Plains for many years, thinks of them often, and is much inclined to pay a visit."
Xiao Yichen's face changed slightly, but he broke at once into a great laugh. "Nothing could be better! For Elder Yun to grace us with his presence would be an event such as the orthodox sects of the Central Plains have not seen in a long while."
Li Xun turned to look at him; Xiao Yichen met his gaze. For a long moment they looked at each other, then suddenly both burst out laughing, in the utmost good cheer.
Xiao Yichen caught Li Xun by the hand. "Come, come! My master happens to be at Yuheng Palace today, chatting with my martial uncles. Let me lead the way and present you, Brother Li."
Li Xun smiled. "Then I must trouble you, Brother Xiao." They had gone a few steps when he seemed suddenly to recollect something and said to Xiao Yichen, "By the way, Brother Xiao, there is one thing I must ask you."
Xiao Yichen smiled and said, "Senior Brother Li, speak freely."
Li Xun said, "Some time ago, the Canglan Sect sent our junior sister Lu Xueling to the southern borderlands to visit my master..."
Xiao Yichen's expression shifted slightly, then returned to normal, but Li Xun caught the change. Something stirred in Li Xun's heart, yet he went on speaking: "When we parted that day, I thought I saw Junior Sister Lu bearing a slight wound. She had, after all, come to harm on account of helping my Fenxia Valley, and I have been deeply uneasy about it. I wonder how her health has been of late?"
Xiao Yichen considered for a moment, then said, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Li. Junior Sister Lu is in good health. As it happens, Uncle Master Shuiyue has also come today with two of her disciples, Junior Sisters Wen Pei and Lu Xueling. You will be able to see her shortly."
A flicker of delight could not help but cross Li Xun's face. He nodded and gave a sound of assent.
Xiao Yichen observed his expression and said nothing. The two walked upward, and along the way the conversation drifted to other matters, touching only on things of no consequence. Before long they had climbed the stone steps and arrived before the Yuheng Hall atop Jietian Peak.
A vast and imposing structure rose before Li Xun. He gazed at it for a long while, then sighed and said, "I had thought the Shanhe Hall and the Xuanhuo Altar of Fenxia Valley were the finest in all the world. Only today, seeing this, do I understand that beyond every man there is another, and beyond every heaven another heaven!"
Xiao Yichen laughed heartily. "You are too kind, Senior Brother Li. Come, this way, please!"
Li Xun gave a chuckle and followed Xiao Yichen over. Reaching the front of Yuheng Hall, he drew a deep breath, straightened his garments, and then strode inside.