Chapter 152 — Unfilial
劍問蒼天 · Page 3 of 6
All the way they rode the clouds, returning from the Peak That Touches Heaven to Xiaozhu Peak. After landing, Master Shuijing's face was cold, and she spoke to no one, walking straight into the halls of Xiaozhu Peak. The others stood respectfully in place, watching her go.
After Master Shuijing's figure had vanished among the buildings, Lu Xueling stood motionless, her gaze lost, as though something had been taken from her—until Wen Pei patted her shoulder, and she started awake.
A hint of worry in her eyes, Wen Pei said softly, "Sister, what's wrong? You look like your soul has wandered off. I called you several times and you didn't answer."
Lu Xueling was taken aback for a moment, then forced a faint smile. "Forgive me, Sister."
Wen Pei shook her head. "What is there to forgive between us? We are sisters; don't be so formal. By the way, I thought Master looked a little off. I'll go in and see how she is. You've had a hard journey—go back and rest first."
Lu Xueling was silent a moment, then said softly, "I'm afraid Master is still angry with me."
Wen Pei looked at this junior sister—the most beautiful and outstanding among them—and suddenly felt that on her pale face, though still as lovely as ever, there was now a greater haggardness than before. Wen Pei sighed inwardly, put an arm around Lu Xueling's shoulder, and said gently, "Silly girl, don't let your thoughts run wild. How Master has always treated you—we all know it, and so do you. It's all right. I'll go and see her now."
Lu Xueling nodded silently. Wen Pei smiled, gave a few instructions to the other junior sisters, and was about to leave when a young girl emerged from the doorway ahead—none other than Xiaoshi, the girl from the day Mingli had secretly stolen onto Xiaozhu Peak. Because she was young and her cultivation insufficient, she had always stayed on Xiaozhu Peak; Master Shuijing, fond of her cleverness and charm, had kept her at her side ever since.
Xiaoshi glanced their way and came quickly toward Wen Pei and Lu Xueling. Wen Pei gave a small "Oh?" and, when Xiaoshi reached them, said, "Xiaoshi, why have you come out? Master has only just returned—shouldn't you be attending her?"
Xiaoshi nodded, glanced at Lu Xueling, and said, "Senior Sister, Sisters—Master says I am to fetch Sister Xueqi to see her at the Quiet Bamboo Pavilion."
Wen Pei was startled and looked back at Lu Xueling. Lu Xueling's lips moved; a complex look flashed through her eyes, and then she said, "Very well, I'll go now." With that she walked straight ahead and soon vanished among the buildings of Xiaozhu Peak.
Watching Lu Xueling go far off, Wen Pei frowned and said to Xiaoshi, "Xiaoshi, did Master say anything else? Why did she call Xueqi to her?"
Xiaoshi shook her head. "No. Master has been silent ever since she returned. After a while she told me to come and fetch Sister Xueqi."
Wen Pei murmured "I see," unable to make sense of it for the moment. She shook her head and said to the other Xiaozhu Peak female disciples, "All right, there seems to be nothing more for now. Go back and rest, all of you."
The young women answered and dispersed. Wen Pei cast one last look in the direction Lu Xueling had gone, her heart heavy, stirred by a tangle of feelings.
The "Quiet Bamboo Pavilion" was a secluded spot among the halls of Xiaozhu Peak, near the rear mountain, surrounded by groves of green "tear bamboo." Mountain breezes passed now and then, stirring the bamboo leaves in a gentle sway that calmed the heart. Master Shuijing had always loved to come here and be alone, and so the other disciples of Xiaozhu Peak knew the place well.