Chapter 32 — The Righteous Path
劍問蒼天 · Page 3 of 6
Zhang Qingyue answered in a low voice and stood, but still with his head bowed, standing to one side.
"But even so, that treasure is linked to your blood and vital breath—it is a thing forged in blood—"
Zhang Qingyue said in surprise, "Master, what does 'forged in blood' mean?"
Tian Buhui was taken aback, then said impatiently, "If you don't know, then never mind. Just listen well to what I ask you."
Zhang Qingyue lowered his head at once and said softly, "Yes."
Tian Buhui looked at him and said, "Even if that black staff is a peerless treasure such as appears but once in an age, be that as it may, you must at least have cultivated to the fourth level of the Jade Clarity Realm of the Taiji Profound Clarity Way before you can wield it."
Zhang Qingyue's expression changed.
Tian Buhui said slowly, "That day on Jietian Peak I asked you this, and today I ask you again: who was it that privately transmitted the method to you?"
Zhang Qingyue's body shuddered. He knew that because of this nameless black staff he was already in great trouble; add to that the matter of privately practicing the method, and the punishment awaiting him was beyond imagining.
Yet at this moment it was as though Tian Lingsu's figure drifted before his eyes: the shape of her as a girl leading him up the mountain to cut bamboo, her gentle face beside a lonely lamp on a rainy night, the laughter and scolding and running about on Dazhu Peak in days gone by—even the faint, delicate fragrance of her that lingered in memory was now so vivid.
Drop by drop, it rose in his heart.
He knelt down once more, knocked his head heavily on the ground, and said not another word.
He lay prostrate on the floor without moving. His body, somewhat thin from his recent recovery, held a measure of resolve, yet seemed to bear a measure of desolation too.
Tian Buhui looked at him deeply. After a long while he suddenly let out a long breath and said, "Get up. Come with me to Jietian Peak. As for whether you come back alive, that will depend on your fortune."
Deep in the white clouds, wreathed in immortal air, all was calm and auspicious, just like the fairy realm of people's dreams.
Canglan Mountain, Jietian Peak, the Hall of Jade Balance.
The seven branch masters of the Canglan Sect were all present, their eyes fixed on the youth kneeling below the hall.
Dao Yan Zhenren gazed at Zhang Qingyue kneeling there, and couldn't help but see again in his mind the two children who had been rescued and brought up the mountain five years ago. White clouds and grey dogs—the world turns on—and as if in the blink of an eye they had grown to adulthood.
Deep in his heart he gave a low sigh, withdrew his gaze from Zhang Qingyue, and said to the other masters, "Everyone, regarding what Zhang Qingyue has just said—what do you make of it?"
The assembly fell silent. After a while, Cang Yan Daoren's voice suddenly rang out, declaring flatly, "This boy's words cannot be believed."
Zhang Qingyue, kneeling on the floor, gave a shudder, but did not raise his head.
Dao Yan Zhenren frowned and said, "Why are you so certain, Junior Brother Cangsong?"
Cang Yan Daoren glanced at Zhang Qingyue and said, "The blood-forging method is sinister and vicious. Had some demon cult villain not instructed him, how could he have the knowledge and power to forge such a treasure? Therefore this person must be a demon cult spy, and his life cannot be spared."
Cangsong had long held authority over the Canglan Sect's punishments, wielding great power and standing; his tone was firm and hard. Hearing it, Zhang Qingyue lost all color in his face and could scarcely breathe.
No one else spoke. Then Tian Buhui, his face dark, said slowly, "If he truly were, as you say, so calculating as to infiltrate our Canglan Sect, why would he deliberately use his treasure in front of everyone?"