Chapter 234 — Parting
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 6 of 6
Jin Pingyue naturally noticed the change in Xiao Wan's face, but took it only for a young girl's sentiment. "Well, that is roughly how it is," she said gently. "Little sister, take an elder sister's word and do not let these things weigh on your heart. You have a long road ahead of you yet."
Xiao Wan seemed somewhat distracted; her face was grim as she nodded at Jin Pingyue and said, "I understand." With that she hurried off back the way they had come. Jin Pingyue was rather surprised, and before long a sound of quarreling drifted from the distance—it seemed Xiao Wan had started arguing with Zhou Yixuan again.
Jin Pingyue could not help laughing. If she had the spirit to quarrel, the little girl must be feeling somewhat better—youth, after all. She shook her head slightly, as if feeling herself a little old; but very quickly that plainly damnable notion was kicked out of her head.
Transforming into a purple halo of light, she leapt up and rode the wind. Less than half an hour later she had alighted atop the silent city wall of He Yin, save that a man already stood there—tall and broad, hands clasped behind his back, dressed in Daoist robes. It was none other than the Cang Yan Daoist.
Jin Pingyue smiled at him with all her charm. "Daoist priest, I have kept you waiting so long. I am truly sorry."
Cangyan Daoren slowly turned around and said blandly, "You have been delayed a long while."
Jin Pingyue's expression did not change. She smiled and said, "The sect master did tell us to proceed with caution, after all, and not to rush for results—did he not?" Her smile was seductive, and within it lurked an indistinct, unnameable depth of meaning. Softly she laughed and said, "Or is it, Daoren, that toward Canglan Mountain, so close before your eyes, you feel a kind of eagerness to return to your old haunts?"
Cangyan Daoren gave a cold snort and said nothing, only turning to gaze into the distance. Jin Pingyue smiled faintly, walked to his side, and followed his gaze in the same direction.
Far away, the towering, majestic Canglan Mountain loomed in and out of view amid wreaths of cloud and mist.