Chapter 16 — Secret Transmission
劍問蒼天 · Page 2 of 4
Zhang Qingyue cocked his ear and listened. Sure enough, from outside the house came the faint patter of rain. Tian Lingsu walked to the window and pushed it open, and at once a cool, crisp mountain wind blew in, carrying fine icy droplets that brushed across her cheek, chilling it pleasantly.
Zhang Qingyue went over and stood beside her, looking out.
In the still, dark night, rain was falling. The whole world lay sunk in blackness, and as far as the eye could see there was only the blurred shadow of the pines and tall bamboo in the little courtyard beyond the house. Threads of rain drifted down from the night sky, and in the darkness, in the eyes of young Zhang Qingyue, they seemed to hold a certain tenderness—so much so that he suddenly felt this night was beautiful, this rain was lingering and soft, and even the crisp tapping of the drops on the bamboo leaves was sweet to hear, echoing deep in his soul.
Only because beside him stood such a beautiful young woman, her head lifted, watching in a trance with a beauty that was seven parts youth, two parts joy, and even one part desolation:
This fall of rain!
Behind them, Dahuang and Xiaohui had fallen quiet at some point. Dahuang lay lazily sprawled on the bed, its doggy eyes half open and half shut, and Xiaohui, too, had grown uncommonly calm, sitting beside Dahuang and rummaging its hands through the dog's thick, soft fur.
The candle flame wavered, flaring and dimming in the mountain wind, now and then giving a soft crackle.
"It's raining," Tian Lingsu said suddenly, softly, mournfully.
Zhang Qingyue answered, "Yes."
Tian Lingsu gazed at the night a while longer, then slowly turned and went back to the table. "Xiaofan, close the window," she said in a low voice. "It's getting cold."
Zhang Qingyue nodded, closed the window, and turned back to see Tian Lingsu sitting at the table as if somewhat distracted. She took a small box from her bosom, opened it in the lamplight, and examined it closely.
The candle flame was mirrored in her charming, bright eyes, like two gentle yet blazing fires.
"Tell me, is this Qingliang Pearl pretty?" Tian Lingsu's gaze lingered on the little pearl that gave off so soft a luster; even her voice seemed to drift and float, like Zhang Qingyue's heart—hollow and empty, slowly sinking.
He walked over, summoned every ounce of courage, spent all the strength in his body merely to make himself appear so composed. Tian Lingsu looked up at him, and suddenly felt that this ordinary junior brother's eyes were, in this moment, so very bright, carrying even a trace of feverishness and pain.
Click—she softly shut the little box and asked gently, "Xiaofan, what's the matter?"
Zhang Qingyue lowered his head, was silent a moment, and said in a low voice, "I'm all right, Senior Sister."
Tian Lingsu found it strange, but did not think much of it. She stood up and said, "Well, it's late. I should be going back."
Zhang Qingyue rose woodenly. Tian Lingsu took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned, and smiled—and in that instant her beauty struck him full in the face, landing upon Zhang Qingyue's heart. "Look at my memory—I even forgot what I came here for tonight." With that, she drew a thin sheet of paper from her bosom, densely covered in small characters, and handed it to Zhang Qingyue.
Zhang Qingyue took it and read a few lines, and his expression changed at once. "The Taiji Profound Pure Dao Method!" he blurted. "Senior Sister, this is—"
Tian Lingsu shot him a look. "Why are you shouting so loud?"
Zhang Qingyue hastily lowered his voice. "Senior Sister, this is the method for the third level! You—"
"I?" Tian Lingsu gave a huff. "Naturally I mean to give it to you."
Zhang Qingyue was greatly startled. "What?"