Chapter 197 — True Anger
劍問蒼天 · Page 1 of 7
Canglan Mountain, Jietian Peak.
In the Jade Balance Hall, the solemn and reverent air of former days seemed to have changed on this day. Hasty footsteps sounded ceaselessly within and without the hall, and hushed whispers, stifled yet tinged with panic, spread through the place like ripples on water. In the distance there even seemed to be the sound of quarreling—something that in the past could never have been imagined to break out openly on Jietian Peak. And now, as they listened, the sounds of the quarrel seemed to be growing louder still, and drawing ever closer to the Jade Balance Hall.
The Jade Balance Hall stood at a great height, towering above a sea of clouds. Even past the Rainbow Bridge, one still had to climb a good while up the stone steps from the edge of the Emerald Pool. But judging by the volume of the noise, the disturbance had likely already passed the halfway point of those steps.
Xiao Yichen, the senior disciple of the Jietian Peak main line, who had come at the news, strode swiftly into the Jade Balance Hall flanked by several junior brothers. For some reason, a trace of weariness showed on his handsome face, and none could say what it was that could so tax and trouble this outstanding young man of the Canglan Sect, so deep in cultivation.
Yet despite the weariness on his face, as Xiao Yichen entered the great hall his expression was still stern, his brows knit, and he said with a touch of anger, "What is going on here? Is there not trouble enough already? Who is so bold as to make such an uproar in this place?"
A few young disciples guarding the hall doors hurried over. Ever since Zhenren Daoyan had fought the Beast Sovereign and gone into seclusion, that one's temper had turned unaccountably strange, and most of the affairs of the Jietian Peak main line, great and small, had fallen to this senior brother of deep repute. In the eyes of the younger disciples, Xiao Yichen was held in no small awe.
But at this moment the clamor was still growing louder, and yet strange looks had come over the faces of most of the young disciples. One of them leaned close to Xiao Yichen and lowered his voice: "Senior Brother Xiao, it is Uncle-Master Su of Dazhu Peak who has come."
Xiao Yichen was taken aback. "Uncle-Master Su Wan?"
The others nodded one after another. Xiao Yichen said in surprise, "What is she doing here? And if she has come, why was no word sent ahead, and why stir up such a clamor?"
Before he could finish, the clamor outside the Jade Balance Hall suddenly rose higher, as though someone had at last lost patience, and from far off came a clear long cry, like the call of a phoenix, rising leisurely.
Xiao Yichen's expression changed. He hurried toward the great doors of the hall, saying, "This is bad—go, quickly—wait, Junior Brother Cao, Junior Brother Xu, go at once to the rear courtyard and ask several of our uncle-masters to come and restrain Uncle-Master Su. We are all of the younger generation and unfit to speak to her. Hurry!"
The two young disciples beside him nodded hastily and turned to run toward the rear hall of the Jade Balance Hall. Xiao Yichen strode toward the entrance. He was just about to reach the doors when that clear cry suddenly turned urgent and sharp. Xiao Yichen's face went a little pale. His form flickered and he drifted toward the doorway, while gathering his breath and calling in a deep voice, "Uncle-Master Su, whatever the matter, we can discuss it—pray do not—"
Before the sentence was finished, cries of "Ai-ya! Ai-yo!" suddenly broke out. Xiao Yichen's form checked, and he pulled himself up short. There at the great doorway of the Jade Balance Hall, against the backdrop of the mild, clear blue sky beyond, more than a dozen figures came tumbling in from outside—thump, thump—not one of them able to keep his feet, each spinning about, until a moment later they all crashed down in a heap upon the floor.
The Jade Balance Hall broke into an uproar.
"Hmph!"