Chapter 55 — Dying Together
劍問蒼天 · Page 2 of 6
Every one of them let out a long breath, Li Xun and Yan Fei included. From the look of the two of them, there was a measure of weariness as well—small wonder, for the monster called the "Great Black Leech" (Note 1), which the four of them had only subdued the night before by joining forces, was clearly no easy thing to deal with.
But Zhang Qingyue alone, for some reason, had remained silent all along.
Bili, standing beside him, asked him softly, and Zhang Qingyue only shook his head.
Li Xun glanced their way, then walked over and said to Zhang Qingyue, "So Junior Brother Zhang has escaped a great calamity after all, and come out alive from beneath the Abyss of the Dead. Truly a matter for congratulations."
Zhang Qingyue forced a smile, nodded, and returned the courtesy: "Many thanks, Senior Brother Li."
At this, Yan Fei came over as well. Her manner was far gentler than Li Xun's, and she said with a smile, "Senior Brother Zhang, your blessings run deep. One who survives a great calamity is sure to enjoy good fortune hereafter." Here she suddenly laughed. "Speaking of which, back when we were beneath the Abyss of the Dead, since we could not find you, your fellow disciples were beside themselves with worry—especially that Sixth Senior Sister of yours..."
Zhang Qingyue's heart stirred, and he raised his head to look at Yan Fei. Yet he saw that her face wore a smile that was not quite a smile, and she cast a glance at Li Xun beside her.
Li Xun, feeling Yan Fei's gaze, gave a rare smile, though deep within his eyes a faint light flickered past. He nodded slowly and said, "Indeed. Those fellow disciples of yours were all very worried about you. You had best return soon and set their minds at ease!"
Zhang Qingyue felt a touch of gratitude and bowed slightly. "Many thanks to you both."
Yan Fei smiled and returned the courtesy, but from the corner of her eye she inadvertently caught sight of the green-robed woman standing beside Zhang Qingyue—comely of feature, yet her expression at this moment somewhat dark.
Yan Fei was ever attentive, and at once she took note, unable to keep from studying Bili a little more closely. Then she said to Zhang Qingyue, "Senior Brother Zhang, might I ask who these two are..."
Zhang Qingyue turned and said, "Oh, this one is named Stone, a disciple of the Venerable Mighty Strength of the Vajra Sect, a righteous cultivator school."
Then he said to Stone, "Brother Shi, these two are Senior Brother Li Xun and Senior Sister Yan Fei of the Fenxia Valley sect."
At this, Stone was at once filled with reverence. In the eyes of cultivators the world over, Fenxia Valley was renowned, in no way inferior to the famous Canglan Sect. He made his salute and said, "Greetings to you both."
Li Xun and Yan Fei bowed in return. Yan Fei smiled and said, "Brother Shi's cultivation is very deep indeed!"
Stone flushed, but being a man of blunt and straightforward nature, he could not help letting a trace of pride show on his face. He laughed and said, "You flatter me."
Yan Fei turned with a smile, glanced at Bili, and said to Zhang Qingyue, "And this young lady?"
Zhang Qingyue faltered and said nothing. Bili, standing beside him, slowly let her gaze turn cold.
It was Stone who, seeing them silent, laughed and said, "This is Miss Bili. She is a friend of Brother Zhang, and her cultivation runs very deep."
Li Xun glanced at Bili, but seeing that she had no intention of greeting them, he turned his head away as well. Yan Fei, however, seemed to take considerable interest in Bili, and said with a smile, "Ah! So you are Miss Bili. Might I ask which school you hail from?"
Bili glanced at Zhang Qingyue, but saw that he remained silent, and suddenly gave a cold laugh. "I belong to no school and no sect. I have been alone since birth. Once in a while I lend someone a hand, and still I am held in contempt!"
Zhang Qingyue heard this and frowned. Yan Fei, however, only smiled and looked her over.