Chapter 229 — Despair
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 2 of 6
Song Dayi was taken aback at first, but after glancing at Lu Xueling's expression—and with the ever-clever He Dachuan pulling at his sleeve from behind and shooting him a look—he understood at once. He hesitated, then said, "Our youngest junior brother went as well, to the back mountain."
Lu Xueling was slightly surprised and raised her eyes to Song Dayi. He gave a bitter smile and said, "Master's wife forbade us to follow. She would only take our youngest junior brother with her."
Lu Xueling fell silent. After a moment, she bowed to Song Dayi and the others and said, "Thank you, senior brothers. Since that is the case, I shall not delay you further. I shall come again another day to pay respects to Uncle-Master Tian."
Song Dayi and the others returned the salute. Song Dayi hesitated, then said, "Junior Sister Lu, there are many complications in this matter. I hope you will..."
Before Song Dayi could finish, Lu Xueling had already said, "I understand, Senior Brother Song, rest assured. Xueqi will not breathe a single word of this to outsiders."
Song Dayi nodded and said no more. Lu Xueling likewise offered no further words, turned, and departed. Watching that white figure leave, Wu Dayi stepped forward and said, "Eldest Senior Brother, I fear she is more than likely headed for the back mountain. Will that be all right?"
Beside him, He Dachuan said calmly, "More than likely? This Junior Sister Lu is clearly determined to go and see the back mountain. Her visit to Dazhu Peak today must surely be at the behest of Uncle-Master Shuiyue of Xiaozhu Peak. If she doesn't ascertain Master's wife's situation, she will have a hard time answering to Uncle-Master Shuiyue when she returns."
Song Dayi was silent for a moment, then said, "It's just as well she goes. I've felt these past days that Master's wife grieves to excess, and I've been worried something might happen. But Master's wife forbade us to follow, and we cannot go against her wishes. Though Old Seven went along, we know well that if Master's wife truly ordered Old Seven to leave, given his temperament and his deep respect for her, he would likely not dare disobey. Having this Miss Lu of Xiaozhu Peak go and take a look can do no harm."
Hearing this, most of them nodded in agreement, then fell silent. Song Dayi sighed and turned back into the Hall of Quiet Cultivation.
In the bamboo grove behind Dazhu Peak, as far as the eye could see, the scenery bore some resemblance to that of Xiaozhu Peak. Everywhere the gaze fell were lush, verdant bamboo forests swaying in the wind, wave upon wave of bamboo rustling. Morning light fell from the sky, casting dappled traces through the gaps in the grove onto the ground below.
On the fine bamboo leaves still clung countless crystalline dewdrops, smooth and round as the most precious pearls.
Ming Li stood amid it all, and for a moment felt somewhat lost. How many years ago had it been when he began his life here on Dazhu Peak? Countless dawns and dusks, countless days and nights, he had swung his woodcutter's blade, shed his sweat, silently felling bamboo in this secluded grove. Those years that had once felt so tedious now seemed in memory like a dream—only the tranquility he had once possessed could never be recovered.
Wave upon wave of bamboo rustled, the mountain wind blew gently, brushing past his ears.
He sighed deep in his heart, cast aside this faint, pointless sentimentality, and turned to look at Su Wan.
Tian Buhui's body lay on the ground not far away, with Da Huang still lying beside it. Ever since Tian Buhui's remains had returned to the mountain, this dog seemed to have stayed by Tian Buhui's side without ever leaving. Beneath Tian Buhui's body there was not the slightest bedding—which seemed somewhat disrespectful to the deceased—yet from Ming Li to Song Dayi and even Du Biyan, not one dared to question Su Wan's conduct in the slightest.