Chapter 154 — The Old Abode

A long while later, Ming Li slowly stepped out from behind the pine tree. The familiar mountain wind blew against his face and stirred his hair. He walked to the door, raised his right hand, and laid it upon it.

His movements were very, very slow, as though a weight of a thousand jun pressed upon his hand, and even the expression on his face was that of a man who could scarcely breathe. Yet that strange, indescribable feeling, like an invisible force, at last pushed the door open!

As though he had pushed open a window onto the years gone by, and caught sight of former days.

The familiar bed, the familiar table and chairs, and the horizontal scroll bearing the character for "Dao" hung upon the wall, which after all these years had taken on a faint tinge of yellow; even the kettle and teacups on the table looked exactly as they had in those days!

Who could know how many times this plain, simple room had appeared in his dreams? Even the air here seemed to carry a faint breath of old feeling. He walked slowly into the room, to the bedside, and slowly sat down, gently stroking the edge of the bed and the quilt with his hand; a soft sensation passed through his palm.

Who could see that he had suddenly bitten his lip, so hard, so deep!

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In the Shoujing Hall, Tian Buhui and Xiao Yichen sat down together. Tian Buhui seemed somewhat distracted; facing Xiao Yichen, his eyes were fixed elsewhere, as though he were pondering something. It was not until Xiao Yichen coughed and said, "Martial Uncle Tian," that he was roused.

Only then did Tian Buhui start as if waking, and nodded. "Hm, all right, out with it. What does Senior Brother Dao Yan want that he should send his prized disciple running all this way?"

Xiao Yichen smiled faintly. "You flatter me. It is like this: my honored master has two matters on which he wished me to consult Martial Uncle Tian."

Tian Buhui said, "Oh? Go on."

Xiao Yichen said, "The first is that the number of comrades of the righteous path coming to Canglan Mountain has continued to grow of late. The other branches have all received a good many, and Dazhu Peak has likewise settled more than a hundred comrades in the houses on the mountainside. Even so, there is still not enough room, and so my honored master wished me to beg Martial Uncle—might some more comrades of the righteous path be arranged on Dazhu Peak?"

Tian Buhui's brows went up, and he glanced at Xiao Yichen. Xiao Yichen looked a little embarrassed, but still kept a smiling face as he said, "Martial Uncle, this too is because the great calamity now looms over the world, and it cannot be helped. Moreover, our Canglan Sect has always styled itself the leader of the righteous path—surely we cannot push our comrades out the door?"

Tian Buhui gave a humph. "Don't take me for a fool. Of those so-called comrades of the righteous path, when it comes to actually fighting those beast-demons, not even three in ten will be of any use. More than half of them are here because of Qingyun's name, come to take refuge."

Xiao Yichen gave a bitter laugh. "Martial Uncle Tian, you exaggerate. But even so, we cannot push people out the door, can we? If we truly did, how would the righteous path of the world regard Qingyun? For the sake of the greater situation, I beg Martial Uncle Tian to lend us his help."

Tian Buhui rolled his eyes, and then suddenly seemed to think of something; his eyes lit up, a mocking smile flickered at the corner of his mouth, and he coughed once, putting on a look of stern righteousness. "Since Senior Brother Dao Yan has said as much, it would be hard for me to decline. In any case, it is for the sake of the righteous path and the greater situation—so let it be done this way."

Xiao Yichen was overjoyed and cupped his hands. "Many thanks, Martial Uncle."

Tian Buhui smiled slightly, then suddenly raised his hand. "Wait—I have not finished."

Xiao Yichen was taken aback. "What? Pray speak, Martial Uncle Tian."

Tian Buhui smiled. "Since the calamity is upon us, all things must be considered for the greater situation. I have heard that among the seven branches of Qingyun, there is one—er, the one with rather more female disciples, I believe..."

Xiao Yichen's face had been all smiles, but halfway through he froze, and his smile gradually faded.

Tian Buhui went on smiling to himself. "I recall that branch has a vast stretch of land, and a few days ago I happened to pass that way—there are simply countless empty rooms. How is it that Senior Brother Dao Yan, wise as he is, has not thought of the place?"

Xiao Yichen's face was a study in bitter smiles, and it was some time before he said, "Martial Uncle Tian, this—this..."

Tian Buhui gave a humph, and with his fat face turned up to the sky, said not a word. Seeing him thus, Xiao Yichen shook his head inwardly and had no choice but to say, "Yes. When I return today, I shall of course report to my honored master and ask him to decide."

Tian Buhui said nothing and his expression did not change; he merely nodded, but inwardly he was immensely pleased and chuckled to himself.

Xiao Yichen steadied himself, then said, "Now then, Martial Uncle Tian, as for this second matter, it is more important even than the first. My honored master instructed me again and again to ask you to think it over carefully before answering."

Seeing Xiao Yichen's grave expression, so different from before, Tian Buhui realized this must be no small matter. He could not help but start, then nodded. "Oh? What is so serious? Speak."