Da Huang lay on the ground, eyes half shut, his tail giving an occasional wag. The monkey Xiao Hui was sprawled on his bed, its bright eyes fixed on the haggard-looking Zhang Xiaofan. Zhang Xiaofan glared at it and said irritably, “What are you staring at?”
Naturally, Xiao Hui would not speak human words to Zhang Xiaofan, but it did let out two “zhizhi” cries. Judging from its monkey face, not only was it not worried that its master had been injured, it even seemed rather delighted by his misfortune.
Zhang Xiaofan felt somewhat annoyed and said impatiently, “Go, go, go—get to the side!”
Just then, footsteps sounded. Before the person had entered, Zhang Xiaofan had already heard them and said with a smile, “Sixth Senior Brother, why are you bringing the meal so early today—”
His voice suddenly stopped. Tian Buyi’s short, stout figure slowly ambled in through the doorway. Zhang Xiaofan was startled. During these days, Su Ru had only told him to rest and recuperate in peace; the other senior brothers, including Tian Linger, had only come to see him once. The rest of the time, only Du Bishu had brought him his three meals each day. He had never imagined Tian Buyi would suddenly appear.
He stared blankly from the bed for a moment, then abruptly came to his senses. Hurriedly, he scrambled up, got off the bed, and was about to perform a great bow. Tian Buyi, his mind heavy and his expression shifting between gloom and uncertainty, waved a hand and said, “Enough.”
Zhang Xiaofan acknowledged him, rose, and stood to one side, watching as Tian Buyi walked over and sat by the table. He did not dare even breathe loudly.
Tian Buyi glanced at this disciple. Judging from his reaction just now, no matter how one looked at him, this youngest disciple did not seem like some prodigy with hidden brilliance. On the contrary, he seemed even worse than an ordinary person. And yet…
Tian Buyi shook his head, sighed, and said, “Old Seven, come sit down.”
Zhang Xiaofan was startled again. Tian Buyi had always been stern and unsmiling toward him; now that he was being a little kinder today, Zhang Xiaofan almost could not believe his ears.
Tian Buyi waited for a while, only to see Zhang Xiaofan looking at him in alarm and uncertainty, as though he still had not reacted. Anger stirred in his heart again, and he said with slight irritation, “Do I have to invite you to sit down?”
With that scolding, his imposing manner was fully restored. Zhang Xiaofan immediately found the familiar feeling of his master’s authority and, surprisingly, reacted at once, obediently sitting down.
Seeing his manner, Tian Buyi was instead momentarily stifled. He looked at him a little longer, then gave a wry smile, shook his head, and said, “How is your body?”
Zhang Xiaofan replied respectfully, “Reporting to Master: after returning from Tongtian Peak, thanks to Master and Mistress’s treatment, and the care of all my senior brothers, I am almost fully recovered.”
Tian Buyi looked at him and said indifferently, “The Seven Peaks Martial Tournament has been over for more than a month. It seems you have recovered more or less. I have a few questions to ask you now.”
Zhang Xiaofan’s heart sank. Faintly, he felt that the thing he had always feared had finally come, but with matters before him, he could only say, “Yes. Master, please speak.”
Tian Buyi said slowly, “That black stick of yours—where did it come from?”
Zhang Xiaofan’s heart jumped, and he could not help looking toward Tian Buyi. He saw that Tian Buyi was also staring at him. Though his face still looked calm, his eyes were bright, as if divine light shone within them; without anger, he was imposing.
In that instant, a thousand thoughts turned through Zhang Xiaofan’s mind, and for a time he could not speak. Tian Buyi’s face slowly darkened, his expression becoming extremely unpleasant, and he said again in a deep voice, “Speak!”
Urged on by him, sweat appeared on Zhang Xiaofan’s forehead in moments. Though his experience was not great, the event years ago in the secluded valley—when the Blood-devouring Pearl and that strange black rod had fought fiercely and then unexpectedly fused together—was, after all, far too bizarre. Moreover, it was ominous and dangerous, and possessed the strange ability to devour blood essence. From ordinary conversations with his senior brothers, he already knew that such things would never be tolerated by the righteous path. If Tian Buyi learned the truth, the consequences would likely be even more unimaginable.
Besides this, deep in his heart, there was still another matter that had always been a profound taboo—especially after he learned that Monk Puzhi was one of the Four Great Divine Monks of Tianyin Temple, and then thought of that set of formulas Puzhi had taught him.
In that instant, he had already made up his mind: no matter what, he could not speak of Puzhi. He could not mention even the slightest thing about him.
Tian Buyi stared at him.
Under that pressing gaze, Zhang Xiaofan stood up, then knelt down again.
“Master!”
Tian Buyi’s brows knitted tightly. He snorted and said coldly, “Speak.”
Zhang Xiaofan lowered his head and slowly said, “That black rod was something I obtained by chance several years ago when I went with Senior Sister to the secluded valley behind the mountain.”
Tian Buyi was slightly startled. Then he remembered that there had indeed been such a matter two years ago. Tian Linger had once lost consciousness without reason in that secluded valley. Su Ru had gone to investigate but found nothing unusual; later, he himself had gone to have a look, and it had indeed been so. This matter had always been a small mystery, but as time passed, he had gradually forgotten it. Now it seemed that most likely it had been because of this black rod.
But for a black rod to render Tian Linger unconscious without anyone activating it—what sort of vicious and baleful object was this? And how could Zhang Xiaofan have obtained and used it? Thinking to this point, the doubts in Tian Buyi’s heart only grew. He said in a deep voice, “How did you obtain it?”
Zhang Xiaofan did not dare raise his head, afraid Tian Buyi would see the expression on his face. He had never been a quick-witted person to begin with; now he was even more anxious beyond measure. In his haste, no matter what, he could not think of any good explanation or excuse.
Seeing him hesitate, Tian Buyi, worldly and experienced as he was, immediately shouted, “Speak!”
Frightened by him, Zhang Xiaofan’s sweat poured down. His heart beat wildly, and he no longer dared conceal everything. At last, he roughly recounted the situation from that day. Yet when the words reached his lips, he still forcibly held back everything concerning the Blood-devouring Pearl. He only said that in the secluded valley that day, he had seen the black rod and, out of curiosity, picked it up. As a result, the black rod had actually drawn out his blood essence, and he felt sick and wanted to vomit. After that, he fainted. Before he lost consciousness, he vaguely saw the black rod absorb his blood essence, merging it into the body of the rod.
After he finished speaking, he did not dare raise his head or look at Tian Buyi again. Tian Buyi, however, frowned and fell into deep thought. Judging by this youngest disciple, he did not seem to be lying. All those various powers of magical treasures were certainly not things he could invent. But such a strange magical treasure—even he was hearing of one for the first time in his life. If there was anything somewhat similar to this black rod, it would probably only be the great evil object of the Demon Sect from a thousand years ago, the “Blood-devouring Pearl.”
But clearly, this black rod was entirely different from that Blood-devouring Pearl.
Tian Buyi stood up and paced back and forth through the room with his hands clasped behind his back. After pondering for a long while, he turned to look at Zhang Xiaofan and said, “Get up first.”
Zhang Xiaofan answered softly and stood up, but he still kept his head lowered, standing to the side.
“But even so, that magical treasure is connected to you by blood and qi. It is a blood-refined object—”
Zhang Xiaofan said in surprise, “Master, what is a blood-refined object?”
Tian Buyi was taken aback for a moment, then said impatiently, “If you don’t know, then forget it. Listen carefully to what I ask you.”
Zhang Xiaofan immediately lowered his head and said softly, “Yes.”
Tian Buyi looked at him and said, “Even if that black rod is a rare and extraordinary treasure, no matter what, you would at least need to have cultivated to the fourth level of the Yuqing realm of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao before you could use it—”
Zhang Xiaofan’s expression changed.
Tian Buyi said slowly, “On Tongtian Peak that day, I asked you this. Today, I will ask you once more: who exactly secretly taught you cultivation formulas?”
Zhang Xiaofan’s body trembled. He knew that because of this nameless black rod, he was already in great trouble. If the matter of privately cultivating formulas were added on top of that, the punishment waiting for him would likely be even more unimaginable.
Only at this moment, Tian Linger’s figure seemed to drift before his eyes: the image of her leading him up the mountain to cut bamboo when they were young; her gentle face beside the lonely lamp on a rainy night; and all those days of laughter, scolding, and running about on Big Bamboo Peak. Even the faint fragrance of her body that floated in his memories was now so clear.
Drop by drop, it rose into his heart.
Once again, he knelt down and kowtowed heavily, but he did not say another word.
He lay prostrate on the ground, motionless. His somewhat thin body, newly recovered from injury, held a trace of stubborn strength, yet it seemed to carry a trace of desolation as well.
Tian Buyi looked deeply at him. After a long while, he suddenly let out a long breath and said, “Get up. Come with me to Tongtian Peak. As for whether you have the life to return, that will depend on your fortune.”
※※※
Deep within the white clouds, immortal qi curled and drifted. Everything was peaceful and serene, just like the immortal realm people dreamed of.
Qingyun Mountain, Tongtian Peak, Yuqing Hall.
The heads of the seven branches of Qingyun Sect were all present, their gazes fixed on the youth kneeling below the hall.
Reverend Daoxuan looked at Zhang Xiaofan kneeling there, and in his mind, the figures of the two children rescued up the mountain five years ago involuntarily appeared again. White clouds changed to gray dogs; the affairs of the world turned and flowed. It seemed that in the blink of an eye, they had already grown up.
Deep in his heart, he sighed softly. His gaze left Zhang Xiaofan, and he said to the other heads, “Everyone, what do you think of what Zhang Xiaofan just said?”
The crowd was silent. After a long while, the voice of Daoist Cangsong suddenly rang out, decisive and firm: “This boy’s words are absolutely not to be trusted.”
Zhang Xiaofan, kneeling on the ground, trembled, but he did not raise his head.
Reverend Daoxuan frowned and said, “Junior Brother Cangsong, why are you so certain?”
Daoist Cangsong glanced at Zhang Xiaofan and said, “The method of blood refinement is sinister and vicious. If no evildoer of the Demon Sect had instructed him, how could he have the knowledge and power to refine such a magical treasure? Therefore, this person must be a spy of the Demon Sect. His life cannot be spared.”
Cangsong had always been in charge of Qingyun Sect’s punishments. His position was high and his authority weighty, and his tone was resolute and hard. Zhang Xiaofan heard it, and the blood drained from his face; he could almost no longer breathe.
No one spoke. Tian Buyi, however, said slowly with a darkened face, “If he truly infiltrated our Qingyun Sect with such deliberate scheming as you say, why would he intentionally display his magical treasure before all eyes?”
Daoist Cangsong snorted and said, “Evildoers of the Demon Sect are already difficult to fathom in their actions, and their intentions are treacherous. It would not be strange for them to do odd things.”
Tian Buyi said angrily, “Isn’t that far-fetched and sophistry?”
Daoist Cangsong said coldly, “I am using sophistry? May I ask Senior Brother Tian: is this method of blood refinement something possessed by those of our righteous path?”
Tian Buyi was rendered speechless, his face flushing red. At this moment, anyone could see that in the end, Tian Buyi still stood on his disciple’s side. Just as the moment turned awkward, an icy voice suddenly sounded. From the first listen, it was clearly Master Shuiyue, the head of Little Bamboo Peak: “May I ask Senior Brother Cangsong: you keep saying that the method of blood refinement is sinister and vicious. Then in what way exactly is it sinister, and in what way exactly is it vicious?”
Daoist Cangsong opened his mouth to speak, then suddenly choked and could only say, “It is a demonic art of the Demon Sect. Need more be said?”
Shuiyue said coldly, “In that case, Senior Brother Cangsong also knows nothing about the method of blood refinement. How, then, can you decide that this method is sinister and vicious, and that this youth should be executed?”
Daoist Cangsong looked toward Master Shuiyue, his eyes bright and his aura pressing. “Oh? Junior Sister Shuiyue, then what do you mean?”
Master Shuiyue said indifferently, “Senior Brothers, regarding this matter: first, we know little of the method of blood refinement. Though we have heard of it, most of what we know is conjecture. If by some chance the so-called method of blood refinement truly can occur by coincidence, would we not be wrongly killing a good person? Second, this youth is only sixteen, and his background and origins are clear and plain. To forcibly claim that he is a member of the Demon Sect would likely not accord with reason.”
Daoist Cangsong narrowed his eyes, but a sharp light seeped through the slits. “Why is Junior Sister Shuiyue acting so contrary to your usual self today, exerting such effort to exonerate this youth? It is truly hard to understand.”
A flash of anger passed over Shuiyue’s beautiful face, and she immediately said, “I am merely discussing the matter as it stands. I am certainly not like some people, who cannot bear to see talent emerge from another branch of the same sect, and fearing a threat to their own position, seize upon some trifling matter to exterminate others without mercy, utterly devoid of humanity!”
If one spoke of a sharp tongue, among the seven seated here, six were men, yet none could compare with Master Shuiyue. Daoist Cangsong was so angry his face turned pale, and he abruptly stood up.
Reverend Daoxuan hurriedly interjected, “Enough, enough. How did you start arguing again while talking? Sit down, sit down.”
Daoist Cangsong did not dare disregard the sect leader’s words, so he could only sit back down resentfully. Looking at Shuiyue, by contrast, she appeared completely unconcerned, sitting upright and proper in her own chair.
Reverend Daoxuan shook his head, turned to the others, and said, “Everyone, what are your views?”
The heads of the other branches were silent for a while. Zeng Shuchang, head of Wind Return Peak, was the first to say, “Sect Leader, I believe Junior Sister Shuiyue’s words are reasonable. This youth’s origins are clean, and after entering the sect, he has never gone down the mountain. I fear it truly was by chance and fortune that he obtained this treasure. Speaking of it, it may instead be a blessing for our Qingyun.”
Reverend Daoxuan stroked his beard and nodded slightly. He then turned his gaze to Daoist Tianyun, head of Sunset Peak. Tianyun looked at Cangsong and said, “Regarding this matter, I agree with Senior Brother Cangsong’s approach.”
Having gained an ally, Daoist Cangsong nodded toward Daoist Tianyun.
At last, only Shang Zhengliang, head of Morning Sun Peak, remained. He looked at Tian Buyi and the others, then at Daoist Cangsong and Daoist Tianyun. Finally, with the corner of his eye, he carefully glanced at Reverend Daoxuan. After a slight pause in thought, he said, “I believe Junior Sister Shuiyue’s words are reasonable.”
Tian Buyi’s expression relaxed, while Daoist Cangsong snorted. Reverend Daoxuan then nodded and said, “Since everyone has spoken, then I shall not stand on ceremony.” At this point, he first said to Zhang Xiaofan, who was still kneeling on the ground, “Xiaofan, stand up first.”
Zhang Xiaofan’s body trembled. He raised his head and looked at the senior teachers, then slowly stood.
Reverend Daoxuan looked at him a few more times, as if wanting to see him clearly. Then he said to the other heads, “Everyone, in truth, I also believe Zhang Xiaofan does not seem like a member of the Demon Sect. Though this black rod has a baleful aura, that aura is contained within it. It is unlike the vicious Demon Sect objects we have seen in the past, which overflow with killing intent and reveal their savage aspect completely.”
Daoist Cangsong sensed something was wrong and could not help crying out, “Senior Brother Sect Leader, the evildoers of the Demon Sect are dangerous and vicious. Better to kill wrongly than let one slip through!”
Reverend Daoxuan’s expression changed. He looked at him and shouted, “Junior Brother Cangsong, do you know what you are saying?”
Cangsong knew he had misspoken and lowered his head without a word.
Reverend Daoxuan’s expression was solemn, but his tone turned low as he slowly said, “Junior Brother Cangsong, you have overseen the punishments of our sect for more than two hundred years, fair and strict. As your senior brother, I greatly admire you. But over these past ten-some years, I have seen the hostility within you gradually deepen, your murderous nature grow ever stronger. I have been deeply worried in my heart. Do you know that?”
Daoist Cangsong said softly, “Yes, Senior Brother.”
Reverend Daoxuan said sternly, “Better to kill wrongly than let one slip through—that is the conduct of those in the demonic path. Our Qingyun Sect claims to belong to the righteous path and has always acted openly and honorably. When we encounter matters, we should rather let someone go than kill wrongly. Otherwise, how are we different from those of the demonic path? Junior Brother Cangsong, though your cultivation is profound, you still need to cultivate righteousness in seclusion and comprehend the Daoist law.”
Daoist Cangsong raised one palm upright and said, “Many thanks for Senior Brother’s guidance. Cangsong has been taught.”
Reverend Daoxuan’s expression eased. “It is good that you know.” As he spoke, he turned and glanced at everyone. They all said, “Senior Brother Sect Leader may decide.”
Reverend Daoxuan nodded, then said to Zhang Xiaofan, “You heard all that?”
Zhang Xiaofan was moved and hurriedly said, “Yes. Many thanks, many thanks to all Martial Uncles.” As he spoke, he turned toward Tian Buyi, his voice carrying a trace of choking emotion. “Many thanks, Master.”
Tian Buyi waved his hand but said nothing.
Reverend Daoxuan picked up the short black rod placed on the tea table beside him and tossed it to Zhang Xiaofan, smiling as he said, “No one but you can use this thing. Take it back.”
Zhang Xiaofan reached out and caught it. As soon as it was in his hand, he immediately felt that familiar, icy aura surge up all at once and travel through his whole body, as if possessing spirit, filled with an indescribable joy. He bowed deeply to Reverend Daoxuan and said, “Many thanks, Martial Uncle Sect Leader.”
Reverend Daoxuan smiled slightly and clapped three times. At once, a Daoist boy came out from behind the hall. Reverend Daoxuan gave a few instructions, and the Daoist boy nodded in acknowledgment, then went out. Before long, he led three people inside. Zhang Xiaofan looked over and saw that they were all people he knew: Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu walked at the front, and while his father Zeng Shuchang was not paying attention, Zeng Shushu even secretly made a face at Zhang Xiaofan. As for the one walking at the very back, she was a cold and beautiful woman—it was none other than Lu Xueqi of Little Bamboo Peak.
These three, together with Zhang Xiaofan, were precisely the top four disciples of this Qingyun Sect Seven Peaks Martial Tournament.