Chapter 18 — Answering the Summons
劍問蒼天 · Page 6 of 7
The plaza was now bustling beyond measure. The disciples of the Canglan Sect who had come for the Seven Meridian Martial Contest were all, he supposed, gathered here for the time being. Looking into the distance, he saw a sea of heads, no doubt several hundred people. Most of those standing on the plaza wore the robes of the Canglan Sect, some Daoist and some lay, men and women alike, with the younger generation especially numerous; spirited, dashing figures abounded, a sign that in recent years the Canglan Sect had been striving hard to govern and had put great effort into cultivating its young disciples.
Though several hundred people stood on the plaza, it still seemed quite spacious. Song Dayi looked all around, then suddenly heard a clear voice call from afar: "Eldest Senior Brother, we're over here!"
Song Dayi and Zhang Qingyue looked over. It was the Dazhu Peak group, and the one calling was Tian Lingsu, needless to say. They stood beside a huge bronze cauldron in the middle of the plaza, and Tian Lingsu was waving at them.
Song Dayi answered and went over with Zhang Qingyue. Along the way, Zhang Qingyue looked about him. Disciples of the other meridians stood in twos and threes, every one of them seemingly in high spirits, talking of this and that—no doubt all filled with anticipation for the great contest soon to come.
When they reached them, He Dachuan, standing behind Tian Lingsu, spoke first: "Eldest Senior Brother, was the trip smooth?"
Song Dayi smiled. "It's not as if it's my first time here. What trouble could there be?"
Tian Lingsu glanced at Zhang Qingyue and smiled. "Xiaofan, was the scenery along the way nice?"
Zhang Qingyue recalled the magnificent, soul-stirring view high in the blue sky and said from the heart, "It was absolutely beautiful."
Tian Lingsu grinned and patted his shoulder. "Work harder from now on. Once you've refined a treasure and learned to ride the air, you can fly up into the blue sky every day and look your fill."
Zhang Qingyue said nothing, but he smiled and nodded firmly.
Song Dayi looked around and said to He Dachuan, "Fourth Junior Brother, where are Master and Mistress?"
He Dachuan said, "We followed Master and Mistress here, and the senior brother from the chief meridian who received us led them up to the Yuqing Temple, saying the elder council of the seven meridians was to meet and discuss some final details of the great contest. Master told us to wait here."
Song Dayi nodded, then beckoned the junior brothers close. He looked around and lowered his voice. "Why do I see so many unfamiliar senior and junior brothers from the other meridians? You've been here a while—any news?"
He Dachuan shook his head. "I felt the same. It seems the meridians have taken on a good many new disciples these years."
The second brother, Wu Dayi, glanced around. "Plenty of new faces, true. But I'd guess that when the bouts begin tomorrow, it'll mostly be the senior brothers of deep cultivation from before. After all, they still have the edge in experience"
Song Dayi suddenly sighed. "Second Junior Brother, that may not be so. Do you remember that young disciple who came bearing word from the Longfeng Sect two years ago—Lin Jinghong?"
Wu Dayi was taken aback, then fell silent. The others exchanged glances and said nothing, save that a sudden, tangled emotion swept through Zhang Qingyue's heart—something like joy, something like envy, and perhaps a touch of jealousy besides.
"And what does that fellow amount to?" someone said coldly, all at once.
The others started, and saw that it was Tian Lingsu who had spoken. Her pretty face was faintly flushed, her lovely eyes wide, as she said with bitter vehemence, "It would be one thing if he simply didn't come to this contest. But if he dares to show his face, then let him meet me—and then I'll settle the score with him once and for all!"