Chapter 70 — Ambush
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 4 of 6
The disciples of Dazhu Peak had always been close, and everyone had always been fond of Zhang Qingyue, this honest youngest junior brother. Now He Dachuan clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand, drew out his treasure meaning to lend his junior brother a hand; but before he could even work his hand seals, the evil aura within him surged back up, his head swam, stars flashed before his eyes, and with a thud he collapsed again.
Zhang Qingyue heard the sound, turned to look in the midst of battle, and was immediately shocked. He cried out in alarm, "Fourth Senior Brother!"
But in that brief moment of distraction, the treasures of the Wild Wolf Daoist and Liu Gao struck at the same time. Zhang Qingyue could not react in time and barely raised the black-iron staff before him; with a great booming "Boom!", the wild dog and Liu Gao were violently shaken, but Zhang Qingyue himself was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.
The Wild Wolf Daoist laughed loudly and rose with Liu Gao into the air; the fang in his hand and Liu Gao's treasure struck down from above, and it looked as though Zhang Qingyue's life would be taken. In the distance, Tian Lingsu, Song Dayi, and the others cried out in dismay, but they could not reach him in time; as they watched Zhang Qingyue about to die there, He Dachuan had already turned his head away, unable to bear the sight.
Suddenly, a blue light flashed through the forest, and a ring of light blue as water rippled suddenly outward, illuminating the place in an instant.
He Dachuan was overjoyed and cried out involuntarily, "Lu—"
Before he could finish, that figure came tearing through the air like an arrow loosed from a bowstring. Lu Xueling came riding her sword, her face cold as frost, but in her bright eyes were reflected the blue radiance of the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Dipper before her, as though giving off a blazing flame that burned without cease.
The wild dog and Liu Gao were greatly shocked: the blue light that had just been far away was upon them in an instant, and by the look of it, it seemed to carry the matchless momentum of splitting heaven and shattering mountains, of no return until death. Comparing the two, their own lives were naturally dearer; almost in unison they recalled their treasures and together moved to block the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Dipper.
"Boom!" Sand flew and stones scattered; the nearby trees in the forest swayed violently, and leaves fell in a flurry. The wild dog and Liu Gao were sent flying backward, landing right behind the old leader.
Amid the leaves swirling through the air, Lu Xueling's figure gradually emerged, standing beside Zhang Qingyue. Her face, perhaps from the violent recoil just now, was especially pale.
Zhang Qingyue looked at her, and saw that in the night her beauty was still stunningly lovely, like a lily blooming proud and alone in the depths of darkness. And within that clear, cool beauty, he faintly glimpsed a trace of tenderness.
"Thank you," Zhang Qingyue said in a low voice, forcing down the feeling that had suddenly leaped in his heart.
Lu Xueling shook her head and said quietly, "Back when I was in danger at the bottom of the Abyss of the Dead, you saved me in just the same way. Why say such things?"
Zhang Qingyue was taken aback, and for a moment did not know what to say; he nodded silently. Lu Xueling gazed at him and suddenly gave a faint smile.
It was a smile amid the falling leaves! Zhang Qingyue saw it, and it was as though in the night, for him alone, the ice and frost had melted away.
Zhang Qingyue suddenly shook his head, not daring to look at Lu Xueling again, and gripping the black-iron staff he charged toward his senior brother, who was fighting the old leader. Lu Xueling stood behind him, watching his back; after a moment's silence she followed, and took on the wild dog and Liu Gao, who were about to come up and block the way.