劍問蒼天 - 第75章 第三章 - 清風書屋

Bi Li seemed to hesitate, but at last she said, "Back then, in that forest outside Xiaochi Town, on the night of the full moon, you once looked into an old well. I want to know—what did you see in that well?"

Zhang Qingyue was taken aback. "Why do you want to know that too?"

Bi Li felt inexplicably nervous and said crossly, "Just tell me!"

Zhang Qingyue frowned. "What is so strange about that old well that everyone is so interested in it?"

Bi Li smiled and said nothing.

Zhang Qingyue opened his mouth to speak, but something seemed to come to mind, and his face reddened again. He actually could not bring himself to say it, and after a long pause managed only, "I—the next time we meet, I'll tell you for certain."

Bi Li was startled for a moment, then smiled. After all, from what Zhang Qingyue had said, he had no intention of letting his sect order him about, so she smiled and said, "Good! You must remember!"

Zhang Qingyue chuckled. This encounter and talk with Bi Li had lifted his spirits considerably, and he felt much lighter. He raised a hand and waved to Bi Li, then turned and walked out of the bamboo grove.

He had not gone far when the monkey Xiao Hui dropped down from the top of some great bamboo and landed on Zhang Qingyue's shoulder, then turned its head to look back at Bi Li.

Deep in the bamboo grove, Bi Li stood gazing at that receding figure, motionless.

The next day, early morning.

While the damp mountain air still drifted over Dazhu Peak, everyone on the peak was already up.

Tian Buhui, fully attired, walked slowly with Su Wan to the open ground before the Hall of Guarded Stillness, where all the others were already waiting. Zhang Qingyue stood at the very back.

Tian Buhui said flatly, "Daren, you take the seventh. The rest of you need not go."

Song Dayi nodded and answered. Disappointment showed on every face—except that Tian Lingsu stepped forward and said to Tian Buhui, "Father, I want to go too."

Tian Buhui frowned. "What would you go for? Only to make trouble!"

Tian Lingsu bit her lip tightly and cast a pleading look at Su Wan. "Mother," she called.

Su Wan sighed and said to Tian Buhui, "Never mind. Let her go."

Tian Buhui frowned, but at last nodded reluctantly. Then, without another glance at her, he looked toward Zhang Qingyue in the distance and said, "Let's go!"

With that he flicked his sleeve, summoned his immortal sword, and flew off first. Su Wan followed at once.

On the ground, the disciples gathered around. He Dachuan cleared his throat and said to Zhang Qingyue, "Well, little junior brother, you—you take care of yourself."

For the first time in days, Zhang Qingyue saw concern on all his senior brothers' faces, and his heart was moved. He said softly, "Yes."

Song Dayi sighed. "Little junior brother, let's go."

Zhang Qingyue answered and stepped to Song Dayi's side. He could not help glancing at Tian Lingsu standing nearby, and found she was looking at him too, her eyes full of concern—but in the end she said nothing.

With two sharp whistles, Zhang Qingyue once again stood behind Song Dayi and rose into the air, straight up into the blue sky.

Watching the sky grow ever bluer, it seemed like the beginning of the Seven Branches Martial Gathering all over again—except that the excitement of that time was gone.

Jietian Peak, towering into the clouds, stood majestic and firm, still wrapped in ethereal immortal mist, still untouched by any trace of worldly dust, as if opening its arms in welcome.

Song Dayi, carrying Zhang Qingyue, landed with Tian Lingsu upon the sea of clouds. From the distant summit, the Yuheng Hall still sent forth the distant echo of bells.