Chapter 152 — Unfilial
劍問蒼天 · Page 2 of 6
His countenance was stern, a keen light flashing in his eyes, commanding awe without anger. Solemnly he said, "Fellow cultivators, the great calamity is upon us now. All living things under heaven are plunged into misery, and the beast demons' strength is truly astonishing. But since we count ourselves among the orthodox path, there is no reason for us to shrink back at the final hour. This is a complex matter; the Venerable Pucheng, Valley Master Yun, and I must deliberate carefully before we decide. For now, please return and rest well. The day of the great battle is likely not far off. When it comes, for the sake of all the people under heaven, we shall look to you all to lend your utmost strength!"
The assembly nodded and assented one after another. A faint smile appeared on Daoyan's face. Pucheng and Yun Yifeng rose as well and walked toward the rear hall. Daoyan was about to follow when he thought of something and said to Xiao Yichen, "Yicai, you come too. Tell us the details of what happened at the time."
Xiao Yichen answered and strode forward, following behind Daoist Zhenren Daoyan into the rear hall.
Once these three revered elders had departed, the great hall at once grew lively. People clustered in groups of three or five, talking animatedly. Apart from Xiao Yichen, who had gone with Daoyan and the others to the rear hall, the other six orthodox disciples who had returned from scouting the southwest were each surrounded by many people, all clamoring to hear of the situation, breaking out now and then into astonishment, shaking of heads, sighs, and every manner of expression and exclamation.
And amid the crowd, Lu Xueling remained silent throughout, her gaze faint and distant, as though she could not see the faces around her at all, but was gazing at some nameless place far away.
A low stir suddenly passed through the crowd, and a path opened. Master Shuijing, head of Xiaozhu Peak of the Canglan Sect, entered, followed by Wen Pei and several other beautiful female disciples of Xiaozhu Peak. Lu Xueling came back to herself and, seeing her master approach with her eyes fixed upon her, moved her lips and called softly, "Master." Then she lowered her head.
Master Shuijing's face was expressionless. "The sect master wishes to discuss this matter with the other elders. There will be nothing else here for the time being. Come back to Xiaozhu Peak with me now."
Lu Xueling nodded and said softly, "Yes."
Master Shuijing paid no heed to the others and walked first toward the exit of the Yuheng Hall, Lu Xueling following. The title of head of the Canglan Sect was no small thing; most of the orthodox cultivators present held her in deep respect and made way for her. Seeing Lu Xueling about to leave the Yuheng Hall with Master Shuijing, Li Xun, standing to one side, betrayed a flicker of anxiety. He stepped forward, about to speak, when a figure suddenly blocked his path. Startled, Li Xun looked closely—it was Wen Pei, senior disciple under Master Shuijing.
Wen Pei smiled faintly at Li Xun. "Brother Li, Sister Xueqi is quite worn out from the journey. Best to let her rest properly. And this expedition has kept us away a long while; my master has much to say to her."
Li Xun studied Wen Pei for a moment, disappointment surfacing on his face, but in the end he drew back the foot he had been about to advance. "Very well. But please, Sister Wen, take good care of—"
Before Li Xun could finish, Wen Pei said with a smile, "Rest assured, Brother Li. Sister Xueqi and I are sisters of the same sect—closer than true sisters. What ought to be done and said, I shall naturally do and say."
Li Xun flushed, nodded, said no more, and withdrew to one side. Wen Pei led the other Xiaozhu Peak female disciples out of the Yuheng Hall, and soon the whole company of Xiaozhu Peak was lost to sight.