Chapter 145 — Meeting
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 6 of 7
She turned her head slowly as she spoke, but halfway through her words her voice abruptly died. On Lu Xueling's face, usually so cold and composed, appeared an expression of sheer disbelief. The figure of a man stood there in silence, gazing at her.
"Zhang..." Her lips parted slightly, but before the words came out her voice had already sunk low. "...Xiaofan."
Ming Li stood where he was without moving. The moonlight fell upon Lu Xueling's snow-and-ice skin, so translucent it seemed almost flawless, heightening her breathtaking beauty. From where he stood, far off, he felt somehow afraid to draw near.
"Are you... all right?" A thousand words churned in his breast, but in the end only these few came out.
Lu Xueling gazed at this man, this man standing at the border between moonlight and shadow. The expression on his face was so complex, as though something in his heart were tormenting him—and yet that figure was clearly right before her eyes! A figure she had imagined in her dreams more times than she could count!
She lowered her head slightly, as if to speak and yet not speaking. After a long while she said softly, "Since you've come, why don't you come over?"
Ming Li's body trembled. Little Grey, who had been following at his side all this while, had vanished somewhere. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes; for him, it seemed, even these few short steps required a great deal of courage.
Lu Xueling still stood there, silent as before. The mountain wind blew, and her white garments fluttered softly.
He took a step, walking upon the moonlight. Behind him in the distance the bamboo grove rustled; before him the woman quietly raised her head to gaze at him. Ming Li stood before her.
Lu Xueling looked at him. The first trace of agitation and alarm on her face quietly faded, and she said suddenly, "Do you remember what I once told you? The next time we meet, we shall be sworn enemies who cannot both live. You—" She looked at him and spoke slowly. "Why have you still come to see me?"
The corner of Ming Li's mouth twitched, his eyes flickered, and he suddenly shifted his gaze away, no longer meeting Lu Xueling's eyes. Just as her face was gradually growing dim, the man before her slowly turned his head back, as if hesitating, as if struggling, and at last said softly, "You... seem to have grown thinner..."
Lu Xueling's body gave a start, and once more a look of astonishment swept across her face—but what followed close upon it was joy. For the first time in her life, a faint flush rose to the skin of her face, white as frost and snow, like translucent red jade, filled with endless tenderness and lingering shyness.
Even if there is no tomorrow, even if the road ahead is still dark—if there is warmth in the heart, perhaps one need not be afraid...
This beautiful, cold woman suddenly smiled, like the most radiant lily of the deep night, smiling soundlessly in the wind. Her white figure was a dazzling presence in the moonlight. Ming Li held his breath.
Lu Xueling spoke suddenly, word by word: "I am very glad!" Then she kept smiling, her gaze soft as rippling water.
The night deepened, and the moon sank westward.
Standing shoulder to shoulder on the cliff before the Moon-Gazing Terrace, gazing out together at the darkness ahead, they let the mountain wind blow past; their garments fluttered at the same moment, their figures bathed in the clear bright moonlight.
Gentle—that was the feel of the wind upon the face!
In the boundless, dark vault of heaven, a few scattered stars still glimmered quietly.
"The people from Flaming Sunset Valley came to propose marriage to you?"
After a long silence, Lu Xueling said calmly, "Yes. Master and our martial uncle the sect leader both agreed."
Ming Li's voice betrayed no change; he said lightly, "On my way here, I heard those senior sisters of yours talking. They say you refused?"
Lu Xueling smiled. "Yes. I refused."