Chapter 61 — Old Acquaintances
劍問蒼天 · Page 4 of 6
Only, in his heart at this moment, he was still thinking of just now, of that glance Facheng had suddenly cast his way when speaking of Puzhao. So he did not hear what Shitou was muttering beside him, only the last of it: "...I don't see anything so remarkable about him. He even said it wrong."
Zhang Qingyue started and asked: "What did you say?"
Shitou looked left and right, then said in a low voice: "I remember hearing people say before that when a Buddhist cultivator's merit is complete and he dies a good death, it should be called 'parinirvana.' Just now he went and said 'passed away'—it sounds uncomfortable, as if the divine monk Puzhao had... Eh, Brother Zhang, why has your face suddenly turned so ugly?"
Zhang Qingyue's thoughts were in turmoil. He forced a smile and nodded to Shitou, then walked back to where the Canglan Sect was lodged, leaving Shitou standing there, unable to make head or tail of it for a long while.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Qingyue had been on Liubo Mountain for half a month. During this time, the orthodox cultivators and the demonic cult remained locked in confrontation. The two sides often encountered each other by day, and from time to time there were clashes of magic. But what puzzled the orthodox cultivators was that the demonic cult seemed unwilling to fight to the finish; often after several exchanges they would feint and flee.
In the past it had been said that the demonic cult was gathering in this desolate place, and most likely they were plotting some vicious scheme to bring calamity to the world—which was why the orthodox cultivators had come to eradicate the demons. But now, seeing them, it did not seem so.
If they meant to be enemies of the orthodox, they should come out and fight a decisive battle; if they had heard that two figures of the Canglan Sect's leadership had come and feared their own strength insufficient, then they should take the initiative to withdraw.
Yet the demonic cult would neither fight nor withdraw. Liubo Mountain was vast in terrain; in the air one was an obvious target, but to go deep and seek out the demons' lair was truly no easy matter. And so things dragged on, and the days stretched out. The orthodox cultivators speculated one after another: what did these demonic remnants want on this utterly desolate island?
These past days, Zhang Qingyue had also been following his master and senior brothers in searching Liubo Mountain for the demonic cult.
But privately, he had another worry—the fear that if he ran into Bili, what then?
Yet strange to say, though Bili had clearly also come to this island of Liubo Mountain, since that stormy night she had not appeared again. It was the other members of the demonic cult—including the Elder Nian and the Wild Wolf Daoist, whom Zhang Qingyue and Lu Xueqi and the others knew—who appeared with great frequency. From their manner, it seemed they were searching for something.
Daoist Cangyan and Tian Buhui were both cultivators of several hundred years, yet even they found this matter somewhat thorny. One evening, the two of them called together the people of the Fanyin Temple and the Fenxia Valley to confer.
The one representing the Fanyin Temple was, naturally, Facheng; and the one who came from the Fenxia Valley was, unexpectedly, also an acquaintance—Li Xun. Both of them appeared to be outstanding figures of the younger generation, yet before Daoist Cangyan and Tian Buhui their manner was exceedingly respectful.
After the salutations, Daoist Cangyan said mildly: "My two martial nephews, in this expedition of our orthodox sects to eradicate the demons, there is much for which we must rely on you both. I thank you here in advance."
Facheng and Li Xun bowed at the same time and said: "We would not dare. Should there be any need, please, Uncle-Master Cangsong, simply give the order."