Chapter 197 — True Anger
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 6 of 7
The white-bearded Elder Fan rolled his eyes at the disciple, gave a "hmph," blew at the beard below his mouth, and said, "How long have you lot been in the Canglan Sect? What would you know? When that woman was in her shrewish days, there was nothing she would not do!"
Young disciples slowly gathered around, each listening attentively. Someone said softly, "Ah, one would never have guessed. Uncle-Master Su is so fair—she must have been a beauty of the first order in her day?"
Elder Fan chuckled, and stole a glance toward Su Wan and Elder Yang. Seeing that they were in conversation and plainly paying no attention to the young disciples, he grew bold. "As it happens, in her time she had the greatest name of any of the women disciples of our Canglan Sect of that generation. She was like—well," he nodded, and a mysterious smile suddenly came over his face; he lowered his voice. "—like that Lu Xueling on Xiaozhu Peak nowadays."
A chorus of "Oh!" went up from the assembled disciples. Every face lit with sudden understanding, and they nodded one after another to show that they had grasped Elder Fan's meaning.
Elder Fan, with all agreeing so readily, could not help feeling somewhat pleased with himself. "In truth, when you come down to it, though her cultivation was good, there were those stronger than she—Senior Brother Daoyan and Senior Brother Wan, for instance, were rare talents of a thousand years. Naturally they were stronger than she. But people saw that she was young and beautiful, and that she had a master, the Venerable Zhenyu, to back her—no one dared provoke her, and so she dared stir up trouble wherever she went. I still remember, in those days she turned the whole Canglan Sect upside down all by herself—and then there was that tigress Shui Yue, just as fierce as she—er, you brat, why did you hit me? Behave yourself, I have not finished talking."
Elder Fan, in high spirits, went on: "Back then, that Shui Yue—hm, what is with those looks on your faces? Oh, I see, you do not know whom I mean? Heh heh, it is none other than the present Master Shui Jing of Xiaozhu Peak. She was Su Wan's senior sister, and her fierce temper in those days was every bit the match of Su Wan's—famous throughout our Canglan Sect. Hey, you brat, why do you keep tugging at me? I tell you, however you look at it, I am your master—do not be so ill-mannered—eh, where was I?"
"Hm, now I remember. I was speaking of Shui Yue. That Su Wan, fierce as she was back then and ready for anything, seemed to become another person after she married Tian Buhui of Dazhu Peak—just the way you have always known her to be. We old fellows found it strange indeed, but on the whole it was a good thing. But as for that Shui Yue, she has not changed a bit. Fierce as she was then, fierce she is now—even the disciple she trained, take that favorite of yours, Lu Xueling—she is almost the very image of her in those days—good heavens!"
Elder Fan whipped around and said angrily, "You brat, why do you keep tugging at me? Has it been so long since you were thrashed that your hide itches—"
His voice broke off abruptly. His mouth fell slightly open. A ring of young disciples had lowered their heads and stood to one side, silent and motionless. Beyond the great doors of the Jade Balance Hall stood Master Shui Jing, her face blank and cold, watching Elder Fan. Beside her, Wen Pei too was gazing at Elder Fan, her face full of anger.
In an instant Elder Fan's forehead was drenched in sweat; his old face flushed crimson. He stepped back a few paces, desperately embarrassed, smiling bitterly again and again. Master Shui Jing walked slowly in, and did not glance at Elder Fan again; Wen Pei, however, was plainly unwilling to let it go, and shot him several fierce glares.