Chapter 74 — Two
劍問蒼天 · Page 3 of 6
How long he stood lost in thought, he did not know, until a voice came from behind him: "Sixth Senior Brother."
Du Biyan started and turned, and could not help but stare: Zhang Qingyue had come out of the room at some point and was standing behind him. The monkey Little Grey clung to his shoulder, grinning and looking at him cheerfully; Big Yellow, however, had not followed, and was most likely still asleep.
"Ah—little junior brother!" Du Biyan said. "Is something the matter?"
Zhang Qingyue glanced at him and said slowly, "Sixth Senior Brother, I would like to walk in the back hills."
Du Biyan was taken aback, and inwardly rather troubled. Since their return to the mountain, Tian Buhui had not directly ordered anyone to watch Zhang Qingyue, but their master's wife, Su Wan, had quietly instructed them all.
Yet looking at his junior brother's haggard face—normally so honest and unassuming—Du Biyan truly could not bear it; still, he dared not defy the will of the sect in any way, and after a long pause he stammered, "Little junior brother, you—you know how things are now... I, I..."
Zhang Qingyue lowered his head silently and said softly, "Tomorrow the sect leader, Uncle-Master Daoyan, will have me brought to Jietian Peak. I wanted to see the old places once more."
Du Biyan's body gave a start; his mouth fell slightly open, and suddenly, for no reason he could name, his eyes grew hot. The youth standing before him seemed to have become again the ordinary child who had first come up the mountain years ago, when at the dinner table he had bet with him over which of the master's family would be first into the kitchen...
But the command of the sect was not something he dared defy. Just as he stood there in his dilemma, he heard footsteps, and the two of them turned to see Tian Lingsu approaching, a complicated expression on her face.
It was the first time in three days that Zhang Qingyue had seen Tian Lingsu. Her face was rather pale, as though she too were somewhat worn, no doubt uneasy these past days; yet in that sunlight she was still as beautiful as ever.
Zhang Qingyue lowered his head.
Tian Lingsu walked up to the two of them and addressed Du Biyan, though the corner of her eye kept straying to Zhang Qingyue. "Sixth Senior Brother, my father says Xiaofan won't do anything foolish. Let him go."
Du Biyan was startled, and Zhang Qingyue's body seemed to tremble as well; he turned slowly to look toward the Hall of Guarded Stillness, but saw only the deep recesses of the hall—nowhere the figure of Tian Buhui.
Zhang Qingyue slowly bowed toward the Hall of Guarded Stillness, and in a low voice that seemed to carry a catch in it, said, "Thank you, Master."
Tian Lingsu stood to one side, as though she too wished to say something, but in the end said nothing; she pressed her lips together and turned back.
Watching her walk away, Du Biyan said, "No wonder junior sister had such a row with Senior Brother Qi Hao of Long Peak this morning."
Zhang Qingyue was startled. "What?"
Du Biyan said, "Senior Brother Qi Hao came by this morning. After he finished speaking with Master and Mistress, junior sister pulled him aside; before long, it seemed she had said something that put Senior Brother Qi Hao in a very difficult position, and junior sister lost her temper." He paused, glanced at Zhang Qingyue, and went on, "I expect she was asking Senior Brother Qi Hao to plead your case with Uncle-Master Cangsong—that's why they quarreled so."
Zhang Qingyue gave a low, bitter laugh, not knowing what to say; he shook his head and walked off toward the back hills.
Du Biyan watched his back from behind; the monkey Little Grey clung to his shoulder, reaching up now and then to grab at his head in play, a rather comical sight. But at the thought of the fate awaiting Zhang Qingyue come tomorrow, he could not help but knit his brows in worry and heave a heavy sigh.