Chapter 23 — The Contest
劍問蒼天 · Page 7 of 8
Below the platform, all was silent. The Chaoyang Peak disciples had fallen quiet, watching the great red sphere tensely. Everyone knew what happened when one of the immortal treasures bore down like this and a man could hold out no longer.
The red silk had now shrunk to six feet across, its radiance flashing, utterly overpowering the gray-brown light, and from time to time a "creak" of pressure came through. By now the crowd could no longer make out Shen Tiandou's figure at all, while Tian Lingsu still hung in midair, her cheeks faintly flushed, the orchid mudras of her hands trembling slightly.
After a short while the amber-red silk pressed inward another foot. The crowd could scarcely breathe for tension—when suddenly, with a strange shriek of "yaa!", Shen Tiandou, fierce as a tiger, burst out through the silk with sword in hand. Only now his face was utterly ashen.
Below the platform the Chaoyang Peak disciples cheered thunderously, but Shang Zhenglan shut his eyes and gave a sigh, while Tian Buhui and his wife, seated on the other side, exchanged a smile.
Sure enough, this was Shen Tiandou's death throes. Tian Lingsu folded in midair and pointed with her right hand; the amber-red silk clung like a burr to the bone, following close and striking at Shen Tiandou's back. He seemed barely able even to turn, stirred once, failed to dodge, and took a light blow from the amber-red silk at his back. At once his whole body flew forward and, with a "thud," he crashed down off the platform.
Below the platform the Chaoyang Peak disciples' cheering stopped halfway, as though choked off, and there was no sound. Shang Zhenglan rose, shook his head, and barked at the disciples beside him: "Well? Go help Senior Brother Shen up!"
The Chaoyang Peak disciples came to their senses and rushed up to raise Shen Tiandou. Tian Lingsu put away her treasure, dropped down from the platform, and said with a bright smile to Shen Tiandou: "Many thanks, Senior Brother Shen, for going easy on me."
Shen Tiandou glanced at her and smiled bitterly: "Junior Sister Tian, your talent is heaven-sent. I admire you, truly." With that he let those beside him help him away.
Shang Zhenglan came over, looked at Tian Lingsu several times, and said to Tian Buhui and his wife as they approached: "Senior Brother Tian, your niece may be young, but such natural gifts in the cultivation of the true way are truly the envy of us all."
Tian Buhui looked pleased, though he said with a laugh: "You flatter me, you flatter me."
Su Wan smiled too: "Senior Brother Shang's school is rich in talent. I'm sure there are still more formidable masters yet to appear."
Shang Zhenglan laughed it off, and Tian Buhui did not press further, turning back. By now Tian Lingsu had returned to where the Dazhu Peak folk stood and was at once surrounded, every disciple beaming, wishing they could drown her in every word of praise they knew. Tian Lingsu was all smiles, and Zhang Qingyue was happier still. Tian Buhui and his wife came back; Tian Lingsu flung herself at Su Wan's side, caught her arm, and laughed: "Well, Mother? I was impressive, wasn't I!"
Su Wan gave her a look, but in the end laughed too: "Impressive, impressive."
Tian Buhui was all smiles as well. After all, his daughter had opened the contest with a win; his face shone, and before his fellow disciples he felt his spirits soar. He reached out and patted his daughter's head in warm commendation. But then he turned to the other disciples: "It's your turn next. With Ling'er setting the example before you, you can see that disciples of the other branches aren't necessarily beyond your reach. When your turn comes, you must strive as well."
Together they answered: "Yes!"