Chapter 87 — Physiognomy

Xiaowan spat at him and turned her head, only to see that Zhang Qingyue had long since disappeared from sight. She turned back and said, "Then what was that about danger and hardship on his road? What was that?"

The old man gave a sly laugh. "Naturally I made it up. But you saw his color and his prospects—is there truly disaster in them?"

Xiaowan shook her head. "I only read as far as the Phase of the Past. Of the Phase of Things to Come I have only touched the surface. I cannot say for certain."

The old man nodded. "True enough. The Phase of the Past is all fixed numbers, unalterable, so it is easy to read. The Phase of Things to Come concerns what is yet unknown and undetermined—the highest realm of our art. How could it be so easy?"

Xiaowan shrugged her shoulders and walked on with her grandfather. "But from what I could see of that man, his color and his lines of fate seemed very strange—the sort the books record as the hardest of all destinies to calculate, the Chaotic Demon Fate. That is rarely seen."

"Never mind him. The silver is in hand, and that is what counts. Come, Grandfather will take you to a good meal..."

"Tch... Oh, Grandfather, you were speaking of our founder Canglanzi just now. You always say that we and the Canglan Sect are of the same root but a different branch. Why not go and claim kinship? With the Canglan Sect's standing today, and with your seniority, would we not have rich fare and fine wine at our pick?"

"Shh..." The old man started in fright, looked around, and only relaxed when he saw no one was paying attention. Then he said in a low voice, "What does a little girl know? The Canglan Sect today is a great sect of cultivators famed throughout the world, while all we know is a bit of the physiognomy our founder Canglanzi left behind. Claim kinship rashly, and I fear they would take us for swindlers and lock us up on Canglan Mountain for a hundred or two hundred years. And besides—"

He smiled faintly, and once more there appeared in his manner that air of a crane-boned immortal, the same he had worn when speaking with Zhang Qingyue. "Am I, Zhou Yixuan, the sort to cling to the powerful?"

Xiaowan was taken aback, then delighted. "Grandfather, I never thought you had such backbone. That is truly rare—"

"Ah!"

Before she could finish, Zhou Yixuan's eyes suddenly lit up. He strode forward and planted himself in front of a plump, prosperous-looking matron draped in gold and silver who was coming down the street, and said with a solemn face, "Madam, I see black clouds over your crown, darkness between your brows, and the breath of death on your face—grave matters indeed! Let me read your fortune, if you please?"

Xiaowan was speechless. But her grandfather kept shooting her looks, so she followed and, putting on a cute and innocent manner, studied the face of the wealthy matron.

Zhang Qingyue walked down the street and before he knew it had left the little town behind. He had tarried there a while, and his own thoughts had occupied him; only now did he notice that the sky was already turning to dusk.

The setting sun slanted low, painting the clouds at the horizon like fire and stretching his shadow long behind him. It was suppertime now, and every household was heading home. Beyond the town there was not a soul to be seen but him, alone and very lonely.

He looked at his own shadow, and another wave of bewilderment washed over him.

Ever since he had heard Wan Rengui say that the orthodox cultivation sects would go to Liubo Mountain in the Eastern Sea, he had guessed that his master, Tian Buhui, would likely go as well. He had meant to follow and join them, but today he had met an "old immortal" who warned him not to go. Yet could he return to Canglan Mountain? If he got there and none of the sect were present, what then?

Since escaping from the abyss of the dead beneath Kongsang Mountain, he had wanted only to see his master and mistress soon and let them know he was safe. But these past days his head had been full of worries, and so he had been slow. Now that he was suddenly to turn back, he could not make up his mind.

As he stood there undecided, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw the giant Shi Tou striding alone out of the town.

The man came closer, stopped, glanced at Zhang Qingyue without much interest, then looked at the setting sun in the west and muttered to himself, "The sun is there, so that is west. Hmm, the town head said the Black Stone Cave is ten li north of town—so that way." Having fixed his direction, he looked ready to set off.

At these words Zhang Qingyue's heart stirred. He raised his voice and said, "Shi Tou... warrior, are you going to the Black Stone Cave?"

Shi Tou paused, stopped, and turned to look at Zhang Qingyue. "That I am. Who are you?"

Zhang Qingyue's thoughts turned quickly. Since he could not go east, why not go with this man to rid the place of its demon? Then when his master asked later, he could say he had done a deed of merit, and have something to show for himself before his master.

His mind made up, he smiled and said, "I too am a cultivator. I saw everything today in Xiaochi Town. I had meant to rid the townsfolk of this scourge as you did, but was delayed by other business. Luckily there is still time. Would you be willing to go with me, brother?"

Shi Tou looked him up and down with his big eyes and said in a rumbling voice, "It is no place for play. There is considerable risk in it. You look young—whose sect are you under on the cultivation path?"

Zhang Qingyue was taken aback. This Shi Tou was himself not old, and had the look of a simple, honest, straightforward fellow; that he should speak such words was unexpected. He smiled and said, "I am a disciple of Tian Buhui of Dazhu Peak in the Canglan Sect. My cultivation is shallow, and I must ask Brother Shi to look after me."

Shi Tou started, his eyes going wide. "What, you are of the Canglan Sect?"

Zhang Qingyue nodded. "That I am."

Great envy showed in Shi Tou's eyes. "Ah, forgive my disrespect. The Canglan Sect is the foremost orthodox cultivation sect in the world today. I have long heard that the Qingyun arts are profound and wondrous, and held in reverence by all. For my earlier offense, I beg your pardon."

Zhang Qingyue was briefly stunned, then could not help feeling glad. He had not expected his sect's name to carry such weight abroad. He smiled and said, "Brother Shi flatters me. Then let us go together, the better to have someone to watch my back while we rid the people of this scourge."

Shi Tou chuckled. "Good."

The Black Stone Cave lay in a stretch of woods ten li north of Xiaochi Town. Along the way Zhang Qingyue and Shi Tou exchanged names and fell into talk. Zhang Qingyue was of plain, honest temper, and Shi Tou, for all his giant frame, was not overbearing—his manner matched his face, and he too was of the simple, honest sort. The two took to each other at once and soon were calling each other by name.

By now the sky was gradually darkening, and the last glow of the sun fell faintly over the land.

Zhang Qingyue saw the trees ahead growing thicker and guessed that the woods were near. He called out, "Brother Shi."

Shi Tou answered beside him. "What is it?"

Zhang Qingyue said, "That golden wolf-tooth club treasure you brought out today—its bearing was solemn, and the incantation seemed to belong to the Buddhist tradition. I have heard that Buddhism has no such instrument as a wolf-tooth club, yet I always felt it looked like a Buddhist treasure. Am I right?"

A look of admiration flashed in Shi Tou's eyes. "Xiaofan, you are worthy of the Canglan Sect. A disciple of a great sect indeed—broad of experience and keen of eye."

Zhang Qingyue flushed.