Chapter 152 — Unfilial
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 2 of 6
His expression stern, a keen light flickering in his eyes, imposing without anger, he said solemnly, "Fellow cultivators, the calamity is upon us now. The living things of the world are plunged into misery, and the beast demons' strength is truly astonishing. But we who belong to the righteous path have no cause to shrink back at the last. This matter is complex; the Reverend Pucheng, Master Yun, and I must deliberate carefully before we decide. For now, please return to your quarters and rest well. The day of the great battle is likely not far off, and when it comes, for the sake of all living things under heaven, I trust you will all give your utmost!"
The assembly nodded and assented one after another. A faint smile appeared on Daoyan's face; Pucheng and Yun Yifeng also rose and walked toward the rear hall. Daoyan was about to follow when something else occurred to him, and he said to Xiao Yichen, "Yicai, you come too. Tell us again in detail what you saw."
Xiao Yichen answered and strode up, following behind Daoyan into the rear hall.
No sooner had these three revered seniors left the great hall than it grew lively. People gathered in knots of three or five, talking all at once. Apart from Xiao Yichen, who had gone with Daoyan and the others to the rear hall, the other six righteous-path disciples who had returned from scouting in the southwest were each surrounded by crowds, plying them with questions about what had happened, and every so often someone gasped, shook his head, sighed, or wore some other expression altogether.
And amid the crowd, Lu Xueling remained silent throughout, her gaze faint and distant—yet she seemed not to see the faces before her at all, but to be staring at some nameless place far away.
A low stir passed through the crowd, and a path opened. Master Shuijing, head of Xiaozhu Peak of the Canglan Sect, came through, followed by Wen Pei and several other beautiful female disciples of Xiaozhu Peak. Lu Xueling came back to herself and saw her master approaching, her eyes fixed on her. Her lips moved; she called softly, "Master." Then she lowered her head.
Master Shuijing's face was without expression. "The sect leader wishes to deliberate on this matter with the other seniors, and there will be nothing else here for now. Come back to Xiaozhu Peak with me."
Lu Xueling nodded and said softly, "Yes."
Master Shuijing paid no heed to anyone else and walked first toward the hall's entrance, Lu Xueling following at once. The title of head of the Canglan Sect was no small thing; most of the righteous-path cultivators present held her in deep respect, and they made way for her one after another. Seeing Lu Xueling about to leave the Hall of Jade Balance with Master Shuijing, Li Xun, standing to one side, showed a flicker of anxiety. He stepped forward, about to speak, when suddenly a figure blocked his way. Startled, Li Xun looked closely—it was Wen Pei, senior disciple under Master Shuijing.
Wen Pei smiled slightly at Li Xun. "Brother Li, Sister Xueqi is weary from the journey. Best let her rest properly. And this expedition has lasted a long while; my master has much to say to her as well."
Li Xun looked at Wen Pei a few moments, disappointment surfacing on his face, but in the end he drew back the foot he had been about to advance. "Very well. But please, Sister Wen, take good care of..."
Before Li Xun could finish, Wen Pei was already smiling. "Rest easy, Brother Li. Sister Xueqi and I are sisters of the same sect—closer than real sisters. What ought to be said and done, I will say and do."
Li Xun flushed, nodded, and said no more, stepping aside. Wen Pei led the other Xiaozhu Peak female disciples out of the Hall of Jade Balance, and soon the whole company of Xiaozhu Peak had vanished from sight.