Chapter 59 — Malice
劍問蒼天 · Page 1 of 8
The one facing the Wild Wolf Daoist was a senior monk of the Brahma Sound Temple, a man of profound cultivation. He wielded a golden wooden fish, a treasure that blazed with light; in midair it moved as if alive, harrying the Wild Wolf Daoist without pause. The Daoist was in a pitiful state, and the strange fanged treasure in his hand had gone dull and gray, no longer shining—most likely the monk had broken it.
The wooden fish sounded again and again across the field, the golden fish wagging its head and tail in the air as it chased the Wild Wolf Daoist, who fled gasping and wheezing, a comical sight. The righteous cultivators burst into laughter, and Tian Lingsu, true to her girlish nature, giggled without end. Zhang Qingyue stood beside her and stole a glance at his senior sister. Tian Lingsu's smile was like a flower, two shallow dimples showing on cheeks white as snow—more lovely than words could say. His heart swam with intoxication, and he wished only that this moment might last forever.
Then a whistle rang out across the field, and Zhang Qingyue looked over to see the Elder Nian step out from the crowd and lend a hand. His cultivation far surpassed Wild Dog's, and his Crimson Demon Eye was formidable; the monk of the Brahma Sound Temple wiped the smile from his face and dealt with him warily.
After watching a few moments, Zhang Qingyue suddenly noticed something strange. Among the demon cultists, while the Wild Wolf Daoist was trapped, apart from Elder Nian, Liu Hao, and a few others whose faces had darkened, most of the rest wore expressions of spectators enjoying a show, gloating over the misfortune. Later, when the Wild Wolf Daoist could hold out no longer, still only Elder Nian went to his rescue while the others stood by with folded arms. Zhang Qingyue found it strange, and thought to himself that these demon cultists truly could not be judged by ordinary standards—surely they must have their own factions and rivalries?
In fact, Zhang Qingyue had guessed more or less right. Elder Nian and Wild Dog both belonged to the Blood Refining Hall faction of the demon cult. Eight hundred years ago, under the Black-Hearted Elder, that faction had been glorious beyond measure, its name spread far and wide, but in modern times it had long since declined and was pushed aside by the mainstream factions of the cult. So now, seeing Wild Dog make a fool of himself, the demon cultists—vastly superior in numbers—did not help him; instead they stood to one side, grinning and enjoying the joke.
Elder Nian was, after all, the leader of a faction, and his cultivation was deep. Within a few exchanges he checked the Brahma Sound Temple monk's assault.
The Wild Wolf Daoist, seizing the breathing space, recovered his wind and cursed loudly: "You bald donkey, you nearly did for your Grandpa Dao!" As he cursed, he whirled and lunged back in, joining Elder Nian to attack two against one.
An uproar rose among the righteous cultivators, and many voices cursed: "Demon cultists, shameless to the extreme!"
Amid the outcry, Zhang Qingyue suddenly felt a gust of wind at his side and started in alarm. It was Tian Lingsu, unwilling to sit idle, darting out. Her amber-red silk streamed with rays of light, clustering about her graceful figure as she rose into the air.
"Shameless demon, ganging up on one man—Master Fazhong, I'll help you!" Tian Lingsu cried.
Only then did Zhang Qingyue learn that the monk in the field was named Fazhong. The name suggested he was of the same generation as Facheng and Fajing, though he looked far older than the two of them.
Seeing Tian Lingsu leap out, Fazhong chanted a Buddha's name and said, "Many thanks, benefactress."