Chapter 19 — Reunion
劍問蒼天 · Page 3 of 7
Qi Hao shook his head repeatedly and said modestly, "Not at all, not at all. Senior Brother Song flatters me too much."
While the two exchanged pleasantries, Zhang Qingyue was scanning the crowd behind Qi Hao with wide eyes. Sure enough, within moments he saw Lin Jinghong, standing behind Qi Hao, also sweeping his gaze this way and that, clearly searching for something too. Their eyes met, and overjoyed, they stepped forward at the same time, seized each other's hands, and seemed to have a thousand words to say, yet for a moment none could speak.
After a long while Lin Jinghong said, "Xiaofan, are you entering this gathering?"
Zhang Qingyue nodded and smiled. "Yes. My master is very good to me and graciously allowed me to join. And you?"
Lin Jinghong said, "I am entering too. Hmph, what is so good about that dwarf of a master of yours? Two years ago when I went to see you, the way he treated you—"
Zhang Qingyue said quickly, "No, he is not usually like that. He was simply angry that day."
Lin Jinghong, having finally been reunited with his childhood friend, did not want such tiresome talk to spoil their mood. He changed the subject with a smile. "You little wretch—two years without seeing you, and you have grown so tall?"
Zhang Qingyue punched him in the arm and cursed with a laugh, "What, only you are allowed to grow up and I am not allowed to get taller?"
Lin Jinghong laughed heartily. The two chatted on their own at the side; this time no elders stood nearby, and they spoke freely of whatever came to mind, and no one paid them any attention. Yet in the midst of their talk, Zhang Qingyue happened to look back and saw that Qi Hao had at some point noticed Tian Lingsu and Wenpei standing with their group of women and was walking over to greet them. For no reason at all a pain stabbed through his heart, and even his face changed.
Lin Jinghong saw it and said in surprise, "What is it, Xiaofan?"
Zhang Qingyue shook his head and forced a smile. "Nothing." But for all his words, his eyes remained fixed on where Qi Hao stood.
Qi Hao had by now reached Tian Lingsu and Wenpei. He greeted Tian Lingsu first with a smile. "Junior Sister Tian, do you remember me?"
Tian Lingsu had been chatting happily with Wenpei and the other Xiaozhu Peak women. Now, with Qi Hao suddenly appearing, she blushed for some reason and her voice dropped low. "Yes. Greetings, Senior Brother Qi."
Seen from afar, Tian Lingsu's delicate face was gently flushed, and at first glance her limpid eyes seemed dreamlike and illusory. Yet that beautiful face, reflected in Zhang Qingyue's eyes far off, cut into him like a blade, causing pain deep in his heart.
"Xiaofan, what is wrong with you? Why has your face suddenly gone so pale?" Lin Jinghong, at a loss, said with concern, "Are you ill?"
"N-nothing, I am fine," Zhang Qingyue said quietly.
In the distance, Wenpei was sharp enough of mind; one look at Tian Lingsu's expression and she had a fair idea of what was going on. She turned to Qi Hao and said, "Senior Brother Qi, how is it that you know only Junior Sister Tian, and have no eyes for the rest of us sisters of Xiaozhu Peak?"
At her words the women behind her all clamored, and Qi Hao said hurriedly, "What sort of talk is that, Senior Sister Wen? How would I dare slight any of the senior sisters of Xiaozhu Peak?"
Wenpei gave a light laugh. "Senior Brother Qi, entering the Seven-Branch Martial Gathering once more—surely you are determined to take it this time?"
A flash of keen light crossed Qi Hao's eyes. "At the last gathering, Senior Sister Wen passed three rounds in succession, only to lose narrowly to Senior Brother Xiao Yichen of the head branch—a great pity. I imagine that after sixty years of intensive cultivation, and with the careful nurturing of Master Shuijing, you now enter as Xiaozhu Peak's foremost expert, and must also be aiming for the champion's crown."