Chapter 8 — The Beginning
劍問蒼天 · Page 3 of 5
Du Biyan said, "Of course she does. The mistress is only human. But when master says the mistress has gone to visit her family, he doesn't mean her real family—he means she's gone back to our own sect, to Xiaozhu Peak, to see our martial uncle Shuiyue."
Zhang Qingyue said in surprise, "What?"
Du Biyan said, "When the mistress was young, she came from the Xiaozhu Peak lineage. She and the master of Xiaozhu Peak, Master Shuijing, were fellow disciples, and they were extremely close. Later, no one knows quite how it happened, but the mistress—a beauty like a flower—actually married our master. I hear that back then, many of the Canglan Sect's male martial uncles took it hard..."
"Thwack." A chopstick struck Du Biyan—not hard, but it left a red mark. The two of them jumped in fright and saw Tian Buhui glaring furiously, one chopstick missing from his hand. Du Biyan turned and stuck out his tongue at Zhang Qingyue, and neither dared speak another word; they lowered their heads and ate desperately.
At this point, Song Dayi said to Tian Buhui, "Master, the sect leader summoned the seven branches to gather this time—why is it that only Martial Uncle Shuiyue didn't come?"
Tian Buhui snorted, picked up another pair of chopsticks, and said, "Isn't it just that old Taoist nun feigning illness, sending word to our sect leader brother that she has a headache and fever and can't come. And our sect leader brother—really—actually believed her. Hmph, if she had come today, even if I couldn't grab the best, I wouldn't necessarily be stuck with..."
The fourth disciple, He Dachuan, gave a dry cough and said quietly, "Master, Martial Uncle Shuiyue's branch never accepts male disciples."
Tian Buhui choked, then shook his head and said, "And your mistress—the moment she heard Shuiyue had some ailment, she immediately took Ling'er over to see her, as if the sky had fallen. Honestly."
The disciples exchanged glances, all looking pleased. Song Dayi hesitated a moment before venturing, "Master, then how long do you suppose the mistress will stay at Martial Uncle Shuiyue's?"
Tian Buhui glared at him and said sourly, "What do you mean, how long? She goes today, she's back tonight."
"Aah!" Sighs rose from all the disciples, every face falling in disappointment. Tian Buhui looked them over, snorted, and said to Song Dayi, "Did your mistress guide your cultivation again today?"
Before Song Dayi could speak, the second disciple, Wu Dayi, cut in, "Master, don't ask him. Our eldest senior brother fled the field today—how shameless."
Song Dayi said angrily, "Nonsense! I was following Master's orders to help our little junior brother..."
"Boo..." Shouts of derision rose on all sides.
The meal took half an hour. After everyone left, Zhang Qingyue meant to stay and help, but Du Biyan said, "Little junior brother, thank you, but I can handle things here. You won the bet against me—don't worry, I'll chop bamboo for you tomorrow."
Zhang Qingyue felt rather embarrassed and was about to say something when he heard Song Dayi's voice: "Old Six, don't help him." The words had barely fallen when Song Dayi came in through the door and said to Zhang Qingyue, "Little junior brother, come, I'll take you to your room."
Zhang Qingyue nodded, and Du Biyan said, "Eldest senior brother, what do you mean?"
Song Dayi said, "Our little junior brother has just joined the sect and needs to build a solid foundation. It's not yet time for slacking."
Du Biyan said, "Fair enough. How about this, little junior brother—consider it a favor I owe you. In the future, if there's anything you need done, just say the word and I'll do it. All right?"
Zhang Qingyue said, "Sixth senior brother, why don't we just forget it? After all..."