Chapter 73 — One
劍問蒼天 · Page 1 of 6
Qingyun again.
By the time Zhang Qingyue set eyes on the Canglan Mountains once more, several months had passed since he had last descended the mountain with Lu Xueqi, Qi Hao, and Zeng Shuyan.
The peaks still rose majestic and sheer into the clouds, still wreathed in drifting immortal mist and solemn sanctity—but Zhang Qingyue's circumstances had changed beyond all recognition.
After Tian Buhui conferred with Daoist Cangyan and Xiao Yichen, it was decided that Zhang Qingyue would for the time being be taken back to Dazhu Peak by Tian Buhui, while Daoist Cangyan and Xiao Yichen returned to report the full details to the sect leader, the Perfected One Daoyan, and await his decision.
And because Zhang Qingyue had lost the Black Iron Staff, he could not fly by air along the way, and so his eldest senior brother, Song Dayi, had carried him the whole way back.
Dazhu Peak soared into the clouds, its four sides sheer cliffs; without the Black Iron Staff, Zhang Qingyue now looked for all the world like a man under house arrest.
Streaks of radiance flashed in succession, and at last the company of Dazhu Peak returned to the peak they had left so long ago.
Zhang Qingyue came down from his senior brother's Ten Tigers Immortal Sword with a blank face and stood silently to one side; Tian Buhui did not even glance at him, his expression foul beyond words, and went straight back to the Hall of Guarded Stillness.
Wu Dayi and the others left behind on Dazhu Peak, who had come out to welcome them, were struck dumb for a moment, and turned bewildered eyes upon Su Wan and Song Dayi.
Su Wan gave a faint sigh and shook her head, with little heart for talk; turning to Song Dayi, she said, "Daren, I leave things here to you."
Song Dayi hurriedly answered.
Su Wan turned to look at Zhang Qingyue standing silent beside them, his face haggard, a full circle thinner after these few days, and something in her heart softened; she took an unconscious step forward, then stopped herself, shook her head with a sigh, and turned away. Tian Lingsu glanced at Zhang Qingyue, then without a word followed her mother.
Song Dayi gave a dry laugh, his expression somewhat odd, and said to Zhang Qingyue, "Little junior brother, now that we're back, go to your room and rest. Only—you'd best not wander about."
Zhang Qingyue raised his head and nodded slowly. "Eldest senior brother, I understand."
With that he walked alone toward the disciples' quarters of Dazhu Peak; he had not gone far when low voices reached him from behind—Wu Dayi and the others, full of questions, were clearly pressing Song Dayi and Du Biyan.
He could not see them, but those invisible gazes behind him seemed to pierce his back like needles.
He had gone only a short way when two joyful barks suddenly rang out on Dazhu Peak; Zhang Qingyue's heart stirred, he looked up, and could not help but freeze. There was the monkey Xiaohui, whom he had not seen in so long, grinning wide as he rode on the back of the great dog Dahuang, both hands clutching Dahuang's glossy coat, while Dahuang, tongue lolling, came charging over barking excitedly all the way.
Zhang Qingyue suddenly felt his eyes grow hot, and even his body trembled slightly.
In a moment Dahuang had run up before Zhang Qingyue; Xiaohui chattered "zhi zhi" without cease and with a "swoosh" darted onto Zhang Qingyue's shoulder, laughing happily, its two paws habitually laid on Zhang Qingyue's head and rummaging everywhere. As for Dahuang, it too was most affectionate toward Zhang Qingyue, its great dog head rubbing ceaselessly against his legs, nuzzling back and forth.
Who knew whether it was pining again for the meat bones Zhang Qingyue used to make?
Zhang Qingyue's heart surged; he crouched down and gently stroked Dahuang's head. Dahuang gave two low whines, its ears meekly flattening, and rubbed against Zhang Qingyue's palm.