劍問蒼天 - 第215章 弒師 - 清風書屋

eft by Patriarch Qingye, every presiding master of the Canglan Sect has known this secret, and all have striven to avoid using the sword. But Uncle-Master Tian Chengzi, pressed by the urgency of the great war, had no choice but to use it to unleash the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation; afterward, though he sealed the sword at once and disciplined his heart in cultivation, he could not escape this calamity. While Uncle-Master Tian Chengzi was still lucid, he secretly told this secret to his two most favored disciples, Senior Brother Daoyan and Senior Brother Wan Jiangu—first because he had always trusted these two above all, and second because, were he to tell only one, and something went wrong, he feared his own cultivation was too high for a single man to restrain him. And in the end, it came to this..." At this, Lu Xueling's heart gave a sudden jolt; she jerked up her head and said urgently: "Master, then now... the present Sect Master Daoyan, has he—has he also..." Master Shui Jing gave a long sigh and nodded silently, and Lu Xueling was struck dumb.

Master Shui Jing was silent a long while, then said faintly: "Within ten years, Senior Brother Daoyan has used the Ancient Sword of Immortal Slaying twice; this time, with the calamity of the beast-demons, he opened every Heavenly Mechanism Lock on the seven peaks of Mount Canglan, driving the power of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation to its utmost. The backlash of the demonic spirit can well be imagined. In truth I had long suspected as much—only that ten years ago, Senior Brother Daoyan had already used the sword once and yet seemed untroubled by the backlash, so I clung to a vain hope, thinking his cultivation deep enough that he might weather this calamity too. Alas, he... fate, fate!" Lu Xueling was silent a moment, then said: "Master, such an immense secret—why tell it to your disciple? Is there some grave matter you would entrust to me?" Master Shui Jing's expression turned grave; looking at Lu Xueling, she said: "Indeed." Lu Xueling bowed her head slightly: "Your kindness is profound; ten thousand deaths could not repay it. Whatever it is, pray command me." Master Shui Jing looked deeply at Lu Xueling: "Originally this secret was known only to the presiding master of the Canglan Sect. But these past days I have watched Xiao Yichen of the chief line closely, and plainly he does not know it. That leaves only a few in this world who do: Tian Buhui has vanished mysteriously along with Senior Brother Daoyan; Junior Sister Su and Tian Buhui have ever been devoted, and by now she is surely beside herself. So whatever must be done, only I can decide." Lu Xueling lifted her head and glanced at Master Shui Jing, hesitated, then said: "Master, you mean...?" Master Shui Jing said: "Though Senior Brother Daoyan and Tian Buhui have vanished, no one knows where they have gone, or whether they have left Mount Canglan. So I must stay on the mountain; should the two of them appear here, I can act as the moment demands. But at the same time, someone must be sent down the mountain to search. Among my disciples, for firmness of heart and cultivation and aptitude, none can compare with you. This burden can only fall to you." Lu Xueling's face grew solemn, and she slowly knelt before Master Shui Jing. Yet being, after all, a person of keen intelligence, how could she fail to see the implications? After a moment she said in a low voice: "Your command, Master—your disciple obeys. Only... only I do not understand: if you would have me go down the mountain to search for the whereabouts of our two elders, a word from you would suffice. Why tell me this secret as well?" By the end, her voice had begun to tremble faintly.