Chapter 65 — The Past

Su Wan burst out laughing and shook her head: "You! The older you get, the thicker your skin grows—there is really no dealing with you." She paused, then went on: "But speaking of Xiaofan, I do not believe you have not noticed. By his performance these past year or two, even if he cannot match the clever endowments of Lin Jinghong or Lu Xueling, he is hardly a fool—I would put him at least above average. It is only that in earlier years, being slighted by you, he grew somewhat self-doubting, and so he seems timid and rather wooden."

At this point Su Wan seemed to think of something else. She was silent a while before saying: "But what I have never understood is this: how could the very first and most rudimentary level of the Taiji Xuanqing Daoist method have taken him a full three times longer than an ordinary person to master?"

Tian Buhui shook his head, exhaled the stifled breath from his chest, and said mildly: "There is no need to think so much about it now. When Old Seven comes in a little while, I will naturally question him properly—what has he been up to all these days? And what else has he done that we do not know about?"

Su Wan glanced at him and said: "Then do not be all thunder and fury with him later. Before he has even spoken, you will have frightened the words out of him."

Tian Buhui snorted and said: "I do not know why, but sometimes when I look at him like that, a surge of anger rises in me."

Su Wan smiled: "In truth, is it not that you want this disciple of yours—your most promising at present—to do even better? Not only to advance further in cultivation, but in how he deals with people day to day, you want him to be like Qi Hao or Xiao Yichen, smooth and well-connected on every side, so that in the future..." Here Su Wan gave a faint sigh and stopped speaking.

Tian Buhui was silent a moment, then said: "What is it?"

Su Wan looked at him, seemed to hesitate, and then said: "Buyi, with your temper, after all these years I have not seen you change to be like Senior Brother Wan was back then, so..."

Tian Buhui was silent a while, then slowly nodded: "I know what you mean. Say no more."

Su Wan looked at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "If Xiaofan knew that this master of his, who has always looked down on him, actually places the greatest hopes in him, I wonder how happy he would be?"

Tian Buhui snorted, his face full of disdain. He turned his head away and said: "That blockhead? And I am supposed to place the greatest hopes in him? Dream on!"

Behind him, Su Wan watched him with a smile, feeling the palm of the hand that still held hers—warm and broad, as though these three hundred years had changed nothing at all.

Quietly, she too tightened her grip on his hand.

Zhang Qingyue and Song Dayi left the place where Shitou and his master, the Venerable Strongman, lived and started back, Shitou's booming laughter still seeming to echo in their ears. Along the way, the night deepened, and apart from a few disciples on night watch, everyone was slowly making their way back to their quarters.

As they neared the cave where the Dazhu Peak party lodged, Song Dayi felt uneasy. He turned his head and said to Zhang Qingyue: "Xiaofan, did you remember everything I told you just now?"

Zhang Qingyue said: "Yes, Senior Brother."

Song Dayi nodded and said: "I do not know why Master wants to see you either, but I noticed that ever since he came back from Brother Xiao Yichen's, his brows have been knitted—I fear something unpleasant has happened."

Zhang Qingyue said nothing, his heart all the more uneasy. He did not know whether Xiao Yichen had told their master about that day with the Nether King and Bili. If so, when Master questioned him later, he truly would not know how to explain.

Seeing Zhang Qingyue silent, Song Dayi thought he was afraid. He put on a smile, reached out and patted his shoulder: "Xiaofan, you need not worry too much. Master is stern in daily life, but in his heart he cares deeply for us disciples." Here he paused, lowered his voice, and said: "But you must not suddenly lose your temper again. If you happen to talk back to Master, there will be no way for us to plead on your behalf!"

Warmth rose in Zhang Qingyue's heart. He gritted his teeth, looked at Song Dayi, and said in a low voice: "Senior Brother, I—I treated you badly some days ago. I am truly sorry. You—please do not hold it against me!"

Song Dayi chuckled, reached out and rubbed his head, and said with a smile: "What is there to say such things for? Hurry along, do not keep Master waiting too long. Though this weather is really something—just now the bright moon was hanging high, and in this short while dark clouds have drifted over. The East Sea is different from our Central Plains after all."

Zhang Qingyue looked up at the sky. Sure enough, the heavens seemed to have darkened all at once. The moon that had been so brilliant a moment ago now threaded its way through the gradually piling dark clouds, its light much diminished, and the sight made one's heart feel stifled.

As they talked, the two of them had come back. Song Dayi and Zhang Qingyue halted, and from within the cave came the clear, ringing laughter of Tian Lingsu teasing Du Biyan.

Zhang Qingyue was silent a moment, then said to Song Dayi: "Senior Brother, I will not go in, then. I will go straight to the woods to find Master."

Song Dayi glanced at him and nodded: "Very well, go quickly! But it is rather dark now—mind your step as you walk through the woods, understand?"

Zhang Qingyue smiled, nodded, and walked toward the forest ahead.

Song Dayi watched his back and suddenly felt that this junior brother of his cut rather a lonely figure. He sighed, shook his head, and turned back into the cave.

The moment he stepped into the forest, the darkness seemed to rush out from its depths with a whistle, surging over him and swallowing his figure.

Zhang Qingyue paused, his heart stirring, but after a moment his eyes gradually adjusted to the forest. The remnant moonlight above still spilled down through the dense branches and leaves, falling on empty places in faint, indistinct light.

Everything in the forest was silent—no birdsong as by day, no breathing of beasts; even the low chirping of insects, usually heard everywhere, seemed this night to be gone. Everywhere stood giant trees, tall and towering, rearing up in the darkness like silent warriors!

Only the wind!

The sea wind, blowing in from the depths of the distant ocean, swept over the top of the forest, stirred the treetops, and rustled.

In the dark, deep forest, the youth walked on alone.

Zhang Qingyue's thoughts suddenly drifted far away. In this deep forest, in the silent night, he suddenly recalled events from very, very long ago: beneath a dim yellow lamp, he as a small child, nestled in his mother's arms, staring wide-eyed at the night outside, feeling a faint terror...

So it was—without his noticing, that stretch of bygone years had already grown so distant.

He closed his eyes, drew a deep breath, then shook his head, quickened his pace, and walked on.

Only, he did not notice that on the path he had come by, deep in the darkness, two red lights had suddenly kindled without a sound—like flames burning with hatred.

Like a person's furious eyes!

Tian Buhui frowned, growing impatient, and said: "What is going on? So long, and still not here?"

Su Wan glanced at him and said: "How could it be so quick? Daren had to run and find him, and then he has to come back from the Venerable Strongman's—even at a run, it would take some time. Surely you would not have him ride the clouds and mist over here for such a trifle?"

Tian Buhui snorted, looked up at the sky, and gave a start: "Strange—how does the sky over the East Sea change so fast?"