Chapter 229 — Despair
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 1 of 6
Canglan Mountain, Xiaozhu Peak.
It was now the third day since Tian Buhui's body had been brought back to Dazhu Peak by Ming Li, yet Su Wan still strangely forbade the disciples of Dazhu Peak from carrying word of the death to their fellow sect members. This not only left Song Dayi and the others bewildered amid their immense grief, but even Ming Li found it rather strange.
Yet no one dared to speak of the matter to Su Wan's face. Facing her husband, whose body lay in state in the Hall of Quiet Cultivation, preserved by immortal treasures, Su Wan's expression of sorrow and anguish was enough to silence them all. And the Dazhu Peak lineage was sparsely populated, having always conducted itself with low profile within the Canglan Sect; unless there was urgent business, no one came to this secluded peak. Thus, even after three days of open mourning in the Hall of Quiet Cultivation, no one in the Canglan Sect had discovered it.
But on this morning, at last, an outsider appeared, quietly alighting upon Dazhu Peak—white-robed as snow, ethereal and unearthly. It was Lu Xueling.
A faint blue radiance flickered, auspicious qi gently swirling, as Tianxuan rested quietly in her fair hand, radiating its light. Lu Xueling silently surveyed her surroundings. The green hills and clear waters were as tranquil as ever, showing no sign of anything unusual—only the two white mourning banners hanging on either side outside the Hall of Quiet Cultivation ahead revealed the sorrow of this place.
She gazed at those white banners for a while before shifting her eyes away and walking toward the Hall of Quiet Cultivation. Before long, Song Dayi and the others, having sensed the disturbance, came out one after another in mourning attire, their faces bearing a trace of surprise and no small measure of embarrassment.
When they saw clearly that the visitor was Lu Xueling, and that she was alone, Song Dayi and the others visibly breathed a sigh of relief. Lu Xueling cupped her hands in salute and said calmly, "Lu Xueling of Xiaozhu Peak pays her respects to Senior Brother Song and all the senior brothers here."
Song Dayi, along with Wu Dayi, He Dachuan, and the others standing behind him, did not dare be remiss, and all returned the salute. Then Song Dayi gave a bitter smile and said, "What brings Junior Sister Lu to our humble peak? This... alas, you must forgive the sorry state of things."
Not a trace of a smile touched Lu Xueling's face; rather, there was a solemn sorrow about her. After a moment of silence, she said, "Xueqi comes with no other purpose than to pay respects to Uncle-Master Tian and to call upon Aunt-Master Su Wan. I beg the senior brothers to announce me; Xueqi would be deeply grateful."
Song Dayi and the others exchanged glances. After a moment's pondering, Song Dayi said, "Junior Sister Lu is too courteous. After all, you are hardly an outsider to us, uh..."
He suddenly paused, and a blush seemed to spread inexplicably across Lu Xueling's face as well. Somewhat embarrassed, Song Dayi laughed it off and continued, "It's like this—our master's wife is not here at present. Early this morning, she went alone to the bamboo grove behind the mountain, and moreover..." He sighed, his face showing grief, and said in a low voice, "Our master's wife, in her overwhelming sorrow over Master's passing, took Master's remains with her, telling us she would bury Master herself, alone."
Lu Xueling frowned, a faint unease passing through her heart. This situation seemed even stranger than she had anticipated before arriving. Not wishing to alarm others—that much she could understand—but how could Su Wan not even inform her own daughter, Tian Lingsu, and instead wish to bury Tian Buhui alone?
The thought turned over in her mind. After a moment's deliberation, she finally asked Song Dayi, "And... what of that person?"