Chapter 143 — Reluctance

Yun Yifeng sighed. "You may not know, sirs, but just one month ago, within the ten thousand desolate mountains of the southern border that my valley has guarded for generations, a peerless demon has been reborn."

Zhenren Daoyan was taken aback. "A peerless demon?"

Yun Yifeng nodded. "Indeed—a peerless demon. You are far away in the Central Plains and do not know the particulars, but my Fenxia Valley line has guarded the southern border for generations, and so I know them well. This demon styles himself the 'Beast Sovereign,' an ancient fiend. None know whence he came; all that is known is that in ages past he brought ruin to the world and slaughtered countless living souls..."

Zeng Shuchang, peak master of Fenghui Peak, seated beside Tian Buhui, frowned. "Do you mean to say that with Valley Master Yun's heaven-spanning cultivation, and the full strength of Fenxia Valley besides, this demon cannot be dealt with?"

Yun Yifeng's face darkened. "You mock me, sirs. It is not that my valley fears trouble or dares not shoulder the burden—it is that I know full well this matter is no trifle, and far beyond what Fenxia Valley alone can withstand. That is why I have come so presumptuously, to beg you, Zhenren, for the sake of all living things under heaven, to raise the call and have the whole world strike together—only thus is there hope of victory. Otherwise all is lost, and countless living souls will surely perish."

The Canglan Sect exchanged glances. In truth, it was hard to credit: all had been well, and suddenly Fenxia Valley leaps out to announce a peerless demon, one that requires every cultivator under heaven to unite against it before there is any hope. How was anyone to accept such a thing? But Zhenren Daoyan was, after all, a man who had attained the Way. After a long silence, he said resolutely:

"If matters are indeed as Valley Master Yun says, then this is a calamity such as the world has never seen. We who cultivate the Way, and who have always styled ourselves the righteous path, cannot stand idly by. In that case, the Canglan Sect shall join hands with Fenxia Valley to resist this demon. Afterward I shall send word to Venerable Pucheng of the Brahma Sound Temple, asking him to come to Canglan Mountain to deliberate with us."

Yun Yifeng let out a long breath and clapped his hands. "Excellent, excellent. Only now can I set my heart at ease."

Zhenren Daoyan smiled. "Valley Master Yun jests. By the way, what of this second great matter—what is it? Another calamity, perhaps?"

A gleam flashed in Yun Yifeng's eyes. He gazed deeply at Zhenren Daoyan, then said, "No. This second matter is a joyous one."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhenren Daoyan's mouth.

Yun Yifeng smiled and said, "The second matter for which I have come is to seek, on behalf of my disciple Li Xun, the hand of your sect's Miss Lu Xueling."

At these words, Lu Xueling, standing behind Master Shuijing, trembled; she flung up her head. And among the Canglan Sect it was as though a pot had boiled over—an uproar on the instant, a reaction far more astonished than when they had heard of peerless demons and heaven-sent calamity!

Countless gazes instantly fixed on Lu Xueling's stunned face, then, a moment later, were drawn away once more by Daoist Zhenren Daoyan.

The sect master of the Canglan Sect, Daoist Zhenren Daoyan, pondered for a moment, then spoke out in a clear voice: "I have observed this child Li Xun over the past few days. He is indeed a dragon among men, a prodigy whose future is beyond all reckoning."

Yun Yifeng smiled. "You flatter him, Zhenren. Still, I do in truth intend someday to pass the position of Valley Master to this unworthy disciple. And with a great enemy before us, such a joyful occasion can only show our sincere cooperation and lift the spirits of the heroes of the world. What say you, Zhenren?"

Tian Buhui, seated off to the side, wore a look of open disdain, and nearly let a cold snort escape his lips; fortunately his wife Su Wan, quick of eye and swift of hand, caught hold of him.

Zhenren Daoyan's gaze swept across the Canglan Sect's people, coming at last to rest on Lu Xueling. Her brows were tightly knit, her lips trembling faintly, as though she wished to speak; yet mindful that the occasion was improper, she did not raise her voice after all.

Zhenren Daoyan smiled faintly, turned his head toward Yun Yifeng, and laughed: "Valley Master Yun's goodwill this day is truly beyond my expectations!"

Yun Yifeng cupped his hands and said with a smile: "This humble one and my disciple harbor the most sincere intentions. I hope you will grant us your blessing, Zhenren."

Zhenren Daoyan reached up to stroke his long beard at his breast and said slowly: "Heaven has brought forth demons and monsters, and disaster is close upon us. Only if our two sects stand shoulder to shoulder and join our strength can we save the common people. Moreover, in this marriage the man is talented and the woman fair, and I am well pleased with it myself..."

Another stir ran through the Canglan Sect; none had expected that Zhenren Daoyan would actually approve this marriage.

Then Zhenren Daoyan turned his head and said with a smile to Master Shuijing, seated nearby: "Junior Sister Shuiyue, Xueqi is your disciple, so the decision ought rightly to be yours."

Lu Xueling's face went stark white, plainly shaken to the core by this turn of events. Hearing Zhenren Daoyan's words, she could not help stepping forward and calling out to Master Shuijing:

"Master..."

Master Shuijing slowly raised her eyes, letting her gaze move over Lu Xueling's peerless face, as though she sought to read something within those features. The look in her eyes was complex and hard to fathom. After a long silence, she said slowly: "Qi'er, I too am wholly in favor of this marriage. Young Master Li is a dragon among men, a most fitting match."

A sudden hush fell over the Yuyu Hall. Everyone, Tian Buhui and the rest included, stared at Master Shuijing in disbelief.

Lu Xueling's body swayed abruptly.

And far off, Li Xun's joy was already written plain upon his face.

"Hahahahaha!" Yun Yifeng's laughter shattered the silence. "Excellent, excellent! Since both elders approve this matter, Xun'er, why do you not hurry forward and pay your respects to them both!"

Li Xun rushed forward at once and knelt in salute.

Yun Yifeng laughed: "A tale as fine as this day's will surely be handed down through the ages and celebrated across the world..."

"Hold!"

Suddenly a soft cry rang out cold and clear within the great hall, cutting through the very words of Yun Yifeng—a man hailed as one of the great pillars of the orthodox path under heaven—and silencing him.

Every face in the hall changed color.

Lu Xueling, in white robes like driven snow, her face ashen, one hand clenched tight about the scabbard of the Tianxuan sword, walked slowly forward.

Zhenren Daoyan's expression shifted slightly, and he looked toward Master Shuijing; but she only watched Lu Xueling's figure. Suddenly she sighed softly, closed her eyes, and seemed content to take no further part.

Zhenren Daoyan's face changed once more, and his expression slowly darkened. Rising to his feet, he said: "Xueqi, have you something to say?"

In the Yuyu Hall there was not a sound.

Every gaze was fixed upon that woman in white.

Her garments stirred gently though no wind blew; from afar, even her figure seemed to drift like duckweed, wavering and frail, too slight to withstand any storm.

Yet her lips were pressed so tightly together, and an odd flush of crimson flickered faintly across her pale cheeks; those shoulders, beginning to tremble softly, made her seem for the first time utterly helpless.

Suddenly she whirled about, turning her back on all those gathered in the Yuyu Hall, toward the great and towering gate beyond, toward that boundless blue sky, toward the far distance beyond the sky, toward the unknown places of that distance—