Chapter 29 — The Final Four
劍問蒼天 · Page 5 of 6
Cangyan Daoren nodded, turned to the crowd below, and announced in a clear voice: "Tomorrow's bouts: Qi Hao of the Long Peak against Zeng Shuyan of Fenghui Peak; Lu Xueqi of Xiaozhu Peak against Zhang Qingyue of Dazhu Peak—"
Cangsong was still speaking on, and every eye below was fixed on him. Only now did Zhang Qingyue breathe a sigh of relief; under the countless gazes just now he had nearly been unable to catch his breath.
"Why are you sweating so much?" Suddenly, Zeng Shuyan spoke.
Zhang Qingyue was startled. Ever since his unexpected victory over Pang Chang the day before, Zeng Shuyan had been cold toward him before others; he had not expected him to speak to him of his own accord. Though they had known each other barely three days, Zhang Qingyue already counted him among his good friends.
He stole a glance at Zeng Shuyan, and saw him standing primly at his side, eyes fixed straight ahead, a smile on his face as he looked below, as though he had not spoken at all just now.
"Idiot, don't turn your head." Zeng Shuyan's expression did not change in the slightest; only his lips moved slightly. "Haven't you got me chewed out half to death by my old man enough already?"
Zhang Qingyue felt a pang of guilt and quickly shifted his gaze away, lowering his voice as well: "I'm sorry. At the time—at the time, well—is Senior Brother Pang all right?"
"Senior Brother Pang's wound is grave, but there's no great danger; a few days' rest and he'll be fine. Otherwise would I let you off so easily? Though I never imagined you really did hide your depths."
"That's not it—well, I don't know what came over me then either. Most likely Senior Brother Pang was going easy on me, and I got hot-headed for a moment and—"
"I asked Senior Brother Pang. Though he lost, he had much praise for you, and said he was casting with all his strength at the time and held nothing back. So you needn't dwell on it."
Zhang Qingyue was startled again, then said: "Then that business about your father scolding you—"
"Hmph, it was those fools in Senior Brother Gao's crowd and their big mouths, repeating everything I'd said when I pleaded with Senior Brother Pang on your behalf. Though Senior Brother Pang spoke up for me, I still got an earful from my old man. Otherwise I wouldn't have put on that act toward you in front of everyone."
"Shuyan, I really am sorry."
"A small matter, not worth mentioning. I'm used to his scolding since I was small anyway. But your luck, boy, is truly—still, I'd watch yourself. Next bout against that frost beauty of Xiaozhu Peak, mind you don't get cut down by 'Tianxuan' with a single stroke!"
Zhang Qingyue pulled a woeful face and said in a low voice: "I know. If only I were fighting you—" He broke off halfway, for he and Zeng Shuyan both felt a sudden chill and could not help looking to the side, where Lu Xueqi, standing nearby, had fixed her icy gaze on the two of them at some point.
Zhang Qingyue fell silent at once, and Zeng Shuyan drew a sharp breath as well. Neither dared speak further; both put on the manner of earnest listeners as Cangyan Daoren delivered his address from the platform.
At long last Cangyan Daoren finished, and the crowd dispersed to prepare for tomorrow's contest, which would bring the meet into its final stage. Zhang Qingyue and Zeng Shuyan came down from the platform, still feeling a chill at their backs, and could not help clicking their tongues in awe: this Lu Xueqi, who knew whether she came from the far northern ice plains—one look from her chilled a man to the heart.
He meant to take his leave of Zeng Shuyan, and turned to look at him, only to see Zeng Shuyan suddenly put on a stern face, gazing at him with utter contempt, then give a loud, disdainful "Hmph," tilt his head high, and stalk off proudly. Not far away, surrounded by a cluster of Fenghui Peak disciples, his father stood watching them.