劍問蒼天 - 第64章 隱憂 - 清風書屋

Cangyan Daoren smiled slightly and said, "You need not dwell on it so. You have won great merit this time. Once we have wiped out the last remnants of the Demonic Sect here and returned to the mountain, our Senior Brother Sect Master will certainly not blame you; I daresay he may even reward you handsomely."

Xiao Yichen flushed and said, "Uncle Cangsong jests."

Tian Buhui said mildly, "This is no jest. Your merit this time is indeed considerable. But Yicai, you must not do such dangerous things again. Our Senior Brother Sect Master values you highly. When the old man at last ascends to immortality, the seat of sect master will most likely pass to you. When that day comes you will bear a heavy charge, so you must not go on acting willfully."

Xiao Yichen said gravely, "Yes. I thank Uncle Cangsong and Uncle Tian for their instruction."

Cangyan Daoren nodded and said, "Very well then. I see you are tired, so rest early. Thank goodness your wound this time did not damage the roots of your meridians, or it would have been a nasty business."

Xiao Yichen watched Cangyan Daoren and Tian Buhui both rise to their feet and would have risen as well to see them out. Tian Buhui pressed him back down and shook his head. "You are wounded, so just rest well. As for these formal courtesies, we are not in the Canglan Mountains, so let us dispense with them where we can."

Xiao Yichen was loath to go against him, and his body was indeed weary, so he leaned back once more against the stone wall and said, "I thank you both, Uncle Masters. Then forgive me for not seeing you out."

Cangyan Daoren waved a hand and walked out with Tian Buhui. They were just about to reach the mouth of the cave when they suddenly heard Xiao Yichen call from behind them, "Uncle Tian."

Tian Buhui paused a moment, turned around, and said, "What is it?"

Xiao Yichen sat leaning against the stone wall and smiled. "See how poor my memory is, I nearly forgot. Last year when I visited you at Dazhu Peak, Uncle Su Wan mentioned that she wished for a 'Great Bay Pearl' of the sort found only along the southeastern coast. It happened that I came to the East Sea this time, so I found one. Would you like to see it now, Uncle?"

Tian Buhui was silent a moment, then looked at Xiao Yichen again and broke into a laugh. "Ha, if you had not spoken of it, I would have forgotten it myself. It is well you had the thought, otherwise once I returned to Dazhu Peak I would likely have been pestered to death by your Uncle Su."

So saying, he walked back with a smile. Cangyan Daoren paused briefly where he stood, and being a man who would not pry into this business of pearls, he went on out.

In the cave, only Tian Buhui and Xiao Yichen remained.

Tian Buhui came over with a smile, but by the time he had seated himself before Xiao Yichen, the smile on his face was gone. He glanced slightly backward and said mildly, "Your Uncle Su has always had a temper that is yielding on the surface and impatient beneath. A hundred years ago she went to the shores of the East Sea and found that Great Bay Pearl herself. There is no one here now, so if there is anything, speak freely."

Xiao Yichen nodded, looked at Tian Buhui, and said, "Uncle's eyes are keen indeed. I asked you to stay because I wished in truth to speak with you about a matter concerning your disciple, Junior Brother Zhang Qingyue."

Tian Buhui frowned, somewhat startled at heart, and said, "What of him?"

Xiao Yichen coughed once and deliberately lowered his voice. Tian Buhui understood at once, leaned slightly forward, and listened closely.

Within the mountain cave all was quiet; now only a faint murmuring of voices drifted gently back and forth.