Chapter 6 — Entering the Gate

The rest looked on. They had been of one sect with Cangsong long enough to know that he seldom smiled; that faint smile today meant he was pleased to the depths of his heart, and they could not help their silent chagrin. But Daoyan had spoken, and Cangsong's Long Peak line was strong; they could only swallow their anger.

Daoyan paused, then said, "And the other one—"

Shang Zhengliang coughed and shut his eyes; Tianyun stared at the ceiling of the great hall, as though the patterns there had suddenly become wonderfully beautiful; Tian Buhui gave a dry little laugh and felt sleep coming on him, ready to sink into it; while Zeng Shuchang, Peak Master of the Fenghui Peak line, who had been elbowed aside before he could even speak, simply entered his meditation trance, as though he had never had anything to do with the matter from the first.

Only Daoist Cangyan, wholly victorious, swept a cold glance over them all — though his eyes were full of laughter.

Daoyan could not help feeling a little awkward, but a man of his stature would never say, "This one's quality is poor, so I suppose none of you will have him." A thought stirred in him, and at once he found a scapegoat.

"Junior Brother Tian." Daoyan's smile at that moment looked so very kindly.

Tian Buhui's heart skipped; he sprang up and was about to speak, but Daoyan got in first: "It was your disciple Song Dayi who first discovered the business at Liumiao Village. It seems this child has a goodly share of fate with your Dazhu Peak line. Heh heh. You had best take him in after all."

Tian Buhui was in great alarm. Zhang Qingyue's quality was ordinary — plain at a glance — and taking him in would be only a burden; naturally he did not want it. He was about to protest, but how could Daoyan allow him the chance to speak? He cut in: "Well then, the matter rests here for now. You junior brothers must also see to the investigation of this affair. Understood?"

Cangsong and the others rose together and said as one, "Yes."

Daoist Daoyan nodded, coughed a few times, avoided looking at Tian Buhui, and went briskly into the rear hall. After his figure had vanished from the great hall, laughter suddenly came ringing out through the Yuheng Hall of the Canglan Sect.

Song Dayi, a disciple of the Dazhu Peak line, had been waiting outside the doors of Yuheng Hall all this while. At long last the masters came out, and he went to meet them — and saw his own master, Tian Buhui, with Zhang Qingyue in his arms. He started. "Master, what is it?"

At the sight of him, anger surged in Tian Buhui's heart. "What do you mean, what is it? Have you lost your wits? Take him, quickly!"

Song Dayi hastily took Zhang Qingyue, still deep in sleep. Tian Buhui was fuming, and it happened that the corner of his eye caught Shang Zhengliang and Tianyun and the others coming out at the same time, still smothering their laughter; his fury rose higher, and he barked at Song Dayi, "Get moving! What are you standing there gawping at?"

That said, he paid the others no more heed. His right hand traced a figure in the air; a red light flashed, and a crimson longsword rose before him at his summons. Without any visible movement on his part he was drifting atop the blade, hurtling off through the sky.

Song Dayi was quite at a loss, but at least he understood that he had gained a junior brother. He looked at Zhang Qingyue in his arms and could not help saying, "Little junior brother, I still don't even know your name."

But Zhang Qingyue slept on, knowing nothing — all unaware that the course of his fate had already swung through a great turning.