Chapter 64 — Hidden Worries

Bili hesitated, then said softly: "I—I am a little worried. If it comes to this, I fear Xiaofan will suffer again."

The Underworld King gave a cold snort and said: "Without tempering, how can one know if a blade is sharp? If he cannot endure even this much hardship, then far from entrusting you to him with peace of mind, I would not think much of him even if he came to join my sect."

Bili nodded slowly, but for some reason she still felt uneasy. She could not help looking east, and saw only the vast forest sea beneath the vault of heaven, cutting off her sight as though a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers lay between.

Xiao Yichen's sudden appearance caused quite a stir in Canglan Sect; both Daoist Cangyan and Tian Buhui were astonished and delighted. Moreover, from Xiao Yichen's mouth they learned that the demonic sect seemed to be searching for the strange beast that had appeared on Liubo Mountain, the "Kui Ox," and they learned by chance that even the Underworld King, one of the four great leaders of the demonic sect, had come to this place.

At that moment, Xiao Yichen, being injured, was lying on a makeshift stone bed, his back against the rock wall. Only Daoist Cangyan and Tian Buhui were with him; the other disciples had been temporarily sent away.

Daoist Cangyan nodded slowly, his expression grave, and said: "So that man is the new Underworld King of the Underworld King lineage of the demonic sect. His cultivation is indeed profound."

Tian Buhui frowned and said: "Yichen, how did you manage to infiltrate the demonic sect?"

Xiao Yichen smiled and said: "That day I received my master's orders to go in secret to Kongsang Mountain and investigate the demonic sect's movements. I did indeed find remnants of the Blood Refining Hall faction operating there. But after much covert observation, I judged that these remnants were no great threat and not worth worrying about. Only, I heard them speak many times of the Holy Sect and this and that, as though some secret great undertaking were afoot within the demonic sect. To get to the bottom of it, I took the name Xiao Zhou. It happened that they were in need of men just then, and seeing that I had some small skill, I was actually admitted into the demonic sect quite smoothly."

Here he turned to Tian Buhui with a touch of apology and said: "But Martial Uncle Tian, that day when Junior Brother Zhang and Junior Sister Lu Xueqi of Small Bamboo Peak fell into the Dead Spirit Abyss, I happened to be assigned to another route, dealing with Senior Brother Facheng of the Sanskrit Temple and his group. I could not go to their rescue, and I have felt rather sorry about it. Fortunately, Junior Brother Zhang was blessed with great fortune and came through unharmed, which set my mind at ease."

Tian Buhui smiled slightly and said: "No matter. That was not your fault; do not trouble yourself over it."

Daoist Cangyan, hearing this from the side, suddenly gave a cold snort.

Tian Buhui heard it, but paid him no mind.

Cangyan Daoren turned to Xiao Yichen and said, "But come to think of it, Nephew Yicai, this business of yours was far too risky. You must know that the fiendish scoundrels of the Demonic Sect are every one of them treacherous and cunning. If something had gone wrong and you had come to harm, I would have had no way to answer to our Senior Brother Sect Master."

Tian Buhui nodded as well and said, "Just so. Before we came down the mountain this time, our Senior Brother Sect Master had heard nothing from you for months and was greatly worried. He made a point of privately instructing us to keep an eye out for your whereabouts."

Xiao Yichen's expression dimmed, and he shook his head. "Alas, it is all my fault for making my honored master worry."

Cangyan Daoren smiled slightly and said, "You need not dwell on it so. You have won great merit this time. Once we have wiped out the last remnants of the Demonic Sect here and returned to the mountain, our Senior Brother Sect Master will certainly not blame you; I daresay he may even reward you handsomely."

Xiao Yichen flushed and said, "Uncle Cangsong jests."

Tian Buhui said mildly, "This is no jest. Your merit this time is indeed considerable. But Yicai, you must not do such dangerous things again. Our Senior Brother Sect Master values you highly. When the old man at last ascends to immortality, the seat of sect master will most likely pass to you. When that day comes you will bear a heavy charge, so you must not go on acting willfully."

Xiao Yichen said gravely, "Yes. I thank Uncle Cangsong and Uncle Tian for their instruction."

Cangyan Daoren nodded and said, "Very well then. I see you are tired, so rest early. Thank goodness your wound this time did not damage the roots of your meridians, or it would have been a nasty business."

Xiao Yichen watched Cangyan Daoren and Tian Buhui both rise to their feet and would have risen as well to see them out. Tian Buhui pressed him back down and shook his head. "You are wounded, so just rest well. As for these formal courtesies, we are not in the Canglan Mountains, so let us dispense with them where we can."

Xiao Yichen was loath to go against him, and his body was indeed weary, so he leaned back once more against the stone wall and said, "I thank you both, Uncle Masters. Then forgive me for not seeing you out."

Cangyan Daoren waved a hand and walked out with Tian Buhui. They were just about to reach the mouth of the cave when they suddenly heard Xiao Yichen call from behind them, "Uncle Tian."

Tian Buhui paused a moment, turned around, and said, "What is it?"

Xiao Yichen sat leaning against the stone wall and smiled. "See how poor my memory is, I nearly forgot. Last year when I visited you at Dazhu Peak, Uncle Su Wan mentioned that she wished for a 'Great Bay Pearl' of the sort found only along the southeastern coast. It happened that I came to the East Sea this time, so I found one. Would you like to see it now, Uncle?"

Tian Buhui was silent a moment, then looked at Xiao Yichen again and broke into a laugh. "Ha, if you had not spoken of it, I would have forgotten it myself. It is well you had the thought, otherwise once I returned to Dazhu Peak I would likely have been pestered to death by your Uncle Su."

So saying, he walked back with a smile. Cangyan Daoren paused briefly where he stood, and being a man who would not pry into this business of pearls, he went on out.

In the cave, only Tian Buhui and Xiao Yichen remained.

Tian Buhui came over with a smile, but by the time he had seated himself before Xiao Yichen, the smile on his face was gone. He glanced slightly backward and said mildly, "Your Uncle Su has always had a temper that is yielding on the surface and impatient beneath. A hundred years ago she went to the shores of the East Sea and found that Great Bay Pearl herself. There is no one here now, so if there is anything, speak freely."

Xiao Yichen nodded, looked at Tian Buhui, and said, "Uncle's eyes are keen indeed. I asked you to stay because I wished in truth to speak with you about a matter concerning your disciple, Junior Brother Zhang Qingyue."

Tian Buhui frowned, somewhat startled at heart, and said, "What of him?"

Xiao Yichen coughed once and deliberately lowered his voice. Tian Buhui understood at once, leaned slightly forward, and listened closely.

Within the mountain cave all was quiet; now only a faint murmuring of voices drifted gently back and forth.