Chapter 147 — The Alliance
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 5 of 8
A brief silence fell over the great hall. After a while, Yun Yifeng let out a long breath and smiled. "If these monsters were not formidable, how could this be a calamity of the ages? At any rate, matters have come to this; there is no use in overthinking. Better that we discuss properly how to withstand these fiends."
Daoist Master Daoyan nodded. "Well said, Valley Master Yun. Let it be so: I have some poor tea in my quarters that I have kept for many years. Won't you two come to the inner hall and taste it, and we can talk as we drink?"
Venerable Pucheng and Yun Yifeng understood and rose. After a few words to their respective followers, they followed Daoist Master Daoyan into the inner hall. With the departure of the three revered figures, the atmosphere in Yuheng Hall gradually relaxed. Xiao Yichen, Qi Hao, Li Xun, and the Brahma Sound Temple's Facheng and Fajing were old acquaintances, and they soon gathered to talk. Seizing this rare occasion, Xiao Yichen proposed showing Facheng and Fajing the sights of Jietian Peak. Facheng and the others gladly agreed, and Li Xun and the rest, having nothing else to do, came along as well.
The season was already summer, and the climate of the mortal world was growing hot, yet here atop the cloud-piercing Jietian Peak it remained incomparably cool. They came to a railed cliff at the far end of the summit and leaned on the railing to gaze afar. Below stretched a boundless sea of clouds, and above, the blue sky—it could not but inspire in one a desire to leave the world behind.
Facheng exclaimed in admiration, "I long heard that Canglan Mountain is a paradise on earth. I came once ten years ago and it already opened this poor monk's eyes wide. Seeing it again today, it is still so magnificent, so stirring—truly a wondrous sight of the world!"
Xiao Yichen smiled. "Brother Facheng is too kind. If we speak of scenery, are not the 'Wordless Jade Wall' and 'Mount Sumeru Road, Mustard Seed Mountain' of your Brahma Sound Temple on Mount Sumeru even more renowned throughout the world?"
Facheng smiled. "Those are but small scenes. How could they compare with the grandeur of Qingyun?" His gaze shifted, and he suddenly noticed Li Xun and Yan Fei standing behind him. Yan Fei was unremarkable enough, but Li Xun's face seemed to hold some defiance—though after all, these were not the old days, and he had gained some measure of restraint, so he did not show it.
Facheng was meticulous of mind, and his expression did not change. Naturally, he continued, "Still, if we truly speak of such scenery, I would say that in all the world, only the Blazing Fire that Burns the Heavens at Brother Li's Fenxia Valley could compare. Is that not so, Brother Li?"
Li Xun started, then a trace of a smile appeared on his face, though he still demurred. "Brother Facheng flatters me. Fenxia Valley is a small place, remote and out of the way; I would not dare compare it with the sights of the Central Plains."
Xiao Yichen's eyes held deep meaning as he glanced at Facheng, a faint, ambiguous smile at the corner of his mouth. Then he laughed. "Enough, enough. There is no need for us to praise one another endlessly. Every place has its own scenery. The mortal world is so vast—who knows whether in our lifetimes we shall be able to see it all?"
All present were touched by this, and they said in unison, "Indeed." Then they all burst out laughing together.
After they had chatted and laughed a while, Li Xun seemed to think of something. He slowly walked to Xiao Yichen's side and, when no one was paying attention, said quietly, "Brother Xiao, may I ask you something?"
Xiao Yichen started. "Brother Li, speak freely."
Li Xun hesitated a moment, then at last could not hold back. "This... these past days, and especially on such an important day as today, why is it that Sister Lu Xueling of Xiaozhu Peak has not appeared?"