The Sword Questions the Heavens - Chapter 257 — Summoning - 翰墨軒

Suddenly a howl of despair burst from within Lu Xueling's embrace. Zhang Qingyue shoved her violently away and charged at Xiao Bai like a wounded beast in a frenzy of rage. Yet Xiao Bai, standing there, did not dodge at all; as Ming Li rushed at her roaring, she did not retreat but stepped forward, and dealt him another slap across the face.

"Smack!"

A louder crack than before thundered through the ruins of Liu Miao Village. Zhang Qingyue was struck so hard he went sprawling sideways, a gout of blood bursting from his mouth and staining the front of his robe crimson. A flicker of pain seemed to cross Xiao Bai's face as well, but she gritted her teeth, her expression growing only sterner. A few quick strides carried her to Ming Li, who lay on the ground gasping weakly, and she seized him by the collar and shouted in fury:

"Wake up! Even if you go on like this until you die, Bi Li will never come back to life. Do you think this is how you show the remorse in your heart? Do you think you can torture yourself this way to make yourself feel a little better? Let me tell you—it's no use at all!"

Zhang Qingyue's eyes were squeezed shut, his body shaking violently, his breath ragged and wild, and even his lips seemed to have lost their color.

Crystal tears slid down, silent and unnoticed—but this time they fell from Xiao Bai's eyes. She bit hard on her lip, and two streams of tears ran down her cheeks, flowing without cease, and her voice had already grown thick and choked:

"Do you think Bi Li threw all caution to the winds to save you back then—was it just so she could see you like this, dragging out the rest of your life? Bi Li's death had nothing to do with you. If you go on like this, her spirit will never rest in peace. Do you understand that at all?"

Gripping him, Xiao Bai slowly sank to her knees beside him, and as though summoning the last of her strength, she rasped out, word by word:

"Live on. Live well. That is what Bi Li would have wanted to see!"

With that, as if she could hold back no longer, she sprang to her feet, turned, and strode away from the place. Lu Xueling had stood silently nearby all this while, and as Xiao Bai swept past her, Lu Xueling suddenly said softly, "Thank you!"

Tears still lingered on Xiao Bai's face. She paused, turned to look at Lu Xueling, and there beneath the moonlight the two beautiful women stood, their silhouettes shining in mutual reflection. After a moment they reached out their hands and clasped them lightly together.

Behind the tearstains, a faint smile surfaced on Xiao Bai's face. She nodded to Lu Xueling, said nothing more, and strode away.

After her figure had vanished into the darkness, Lu Xueling walked slowly to Zhang Qingyue's side, crouched down, and gently gathered him into her arms. Trembling, Zhang Qingyue slowly lifted his head and looked at her.

In that instant his eyes seemed to travel back to those years ago—that deep agony and the endless scars within it. Like a child, his lips quivered, and hot tears welled at the corners of his eyes.

"Bi Li... is gone..."

Trembling, he faced Lu Xueling, and at last the tears burst free, as though a wounded child had finally broken down and wept. The grief of decades could be held back no longer. Clutching her shoulders, he pulled her into his embrace and sobbed aloud, choking out the words again and again.

"Bi Li is gone... Bi Li is gone... Bi Li... is gone..."

Lu Xueling had never imagined that this strong man could be so fragile before her, and yet at this moment her heart held far more than tenderness alone. She held him tightly, desperately trying to comfort that weeping soul with every shred of warmth in her body, and behind the scalding tears she whispered without pause—to him, and to herself.

"It will be all right. Everything will be all right..."

That night seemed longer and sadder than any other.