Chapter 73 — One

Qingyun again.

By the time Zhang Qingyue set eyes on the Canglan Mountains once more, several months had passed since he had last descended the mountain with Lu Xueqi, Qi Hao, and Zeng Shuyan.

The peaks still rose majestic and sheer into the clouds, still wreathed in drifting immortal mist and solemn sanctity—but Zhang Qingyue's circumstances had changed beyond all recognition.

After Tian Buhui conferred with Daoist Cangyan and Xiao Yichen, it was decided that Zhang Qingyue would for the time being be taken back to Dazhu Peak by Tian Buhui, while Daoist Cangyan and Xiao Yichen returned to report the full details to the sect leader, the Perfected One Daoyan, and await his decision.

And because Zhang Qingyue had lost the Black Iron Staff, he could not fly by air along the way, and so his eldest senior brother, Song Dayi, had carried him the whole way back.

Dazhu Peak soared into the clouds, its four sides sheer cliffs; without the Black Iron Staff, Zhang Qingyue now looked for all the world like a man under house arrest.

Streaks of radiance flashed in succession, and at last the company of Dazhu Peak returned to the peak they had left so long ago.

Zhang Qingyue came down from his senior brother's Ten Tigers Immortal Sword with a blank face and stood silently to one side; Tian Buhui did not even glance at him, his expression foul beyond words, and went straight back to the Hall of Guarded Stillness.

Wu Dayi and the others left behind on Dazhu Peak, who had come out to welcome them, were struck dumb for a moment, and turned bewildered eyes upon Su Wan and Song Dayi.

Su Wan gave a faint sigh and shook her head, with little heart for talk; turning to Song Dayi, she said, "Daren, I leave things here to you."

Song Dayi hurriedly answered.

Su Wan turned to look at Zhang Qingyue standing silent beside them, his face haggard, a full circle thinner after these few days, and something in her heart softened; she took an unconscious step forward, then stopped herself, shook her head with a sigh, and turned away. Tian Lingsu glanced at Zhang Qingyue, then without a word followed her mother.

Song Dayi gave a dry laugh, his expression somewhat odd, and said to Zhang Qingyue, "Little junior brother, now that we're back, go to your room and rest. Only—you'd best not wander about."

Zhang Qingyue raised his head and nodded slowly. "Eldest senior brother, I understand."

With that he walked alone toward the disciples' quarters of Dazhu Peak; he had not gone far when low voices reached him from behind—Wu Dayi and the others, full of questions, were clearly pressing Song Dayi and Du Biyan.

He could not see them, but those invisible gazes behind him seemed to pierce his back like needles.

He had gone only a short way when two joyful barks suddenly rang out on Dazhu Peak; Zhang Qingyue's heart stirred, he looked up, and could not help but freeze. There was the monkey Xiaohui, whom he had not seen in so long, grinning wide as he rode on the back of the great dog Dahuang, both hands clutching Dahuang's glossy coat, while Dahuang, tongue lolling, came charging over barking excitedly all the way.

Zhang Qingyue suddenly felt his eyes grow hot, and even his body trembled slightly.

In a moment Dahuang had run up before Zhang Qingyue; Xiaohui chattered "zhi zhi" without cease and with a "swoosh" darted onto Zhang Qingyue's shoulder, laughing happily, its two paws habitually laid on Zhang Qingyue's head and rummaging everywhere. As for Dahuang, it too was most affectionate toward Zhang Qingyue, its great dog head rubbing ceaselessly against his legs, nuzzling back and forth.

Who knew whether it was pining again for the meat bones Zhang Qingyue used to make?

Zhang Qingyue's heart surged; he crouched down and gently stroked Dahuang's head. Dahuang gave two low whines, its ears meekly flattening, and rubbed against Zhang Qingyue's palm.

And Xiaohui giggled in chatter, its tail swinging this way and that, twining around Zhang Qingyue and refusing to let go.

Wu Dayi, standing some distance off, grumbled a few words and muttered low, "These two beasts—I tended them carefully for months, and they were never this fond of me!"

Soon, under everyone's gaze, Zhang Qingyue rose and walked toward his quarters, Xiaohui seated on his shoulder, Dahuang following along.

It seemed that only at this moment did Zhang Qingyue's figure no longer look quite so lonely.

Far off at the foot of the Canglan Mountains, Bili and the mysterious woman in black, Yousi, stood side by side, gazing at the summit hidden deep in the white clouds.

Bili's face was somewhat pale, her brows knit, and she looked much worn down, her expression a little abstracted. After gazing a long while, she said slowly, "I wonder how he is now?"

The black veil over Yousi's face stirred slightly; she turned to look at the girl beside her, so tormented by love, and said softly, "It's all right, Bili. Don't think too much."

Bili bit her lip and suddenly asked, "Where is my father?"

Yousi said, "The sect master went into He Yin City today to meet that old monster of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, who has just arrived."

Bili started. "What? The 'Poison God' has come too?"

Yousi smiled faintly. "Not only him. From what I hear privately, within the next few days I fear even the masters of the Longevity Hall and the Soul-Bewitching Sect will be arriving."

Bili was all the more startled, and only after a long while said, "How can that be? I know Father has already secretly moved the main fighting strength of the Nether King's sect to the vicinity of the Canglan Mountains. If these three masters come, the experts of their sects will surely follow, and then won't all the strength of our four great... no, of the Holy Church entire, be gathered here?"

Yousi's face was hidden behind her black veil, so her expression could not be read, but her voice alone was still composed and calm as she said evenly, "Quite so."

Bili suddenly lowered her head, and after a long while said slowly, "So then, Father's chief purpose in coming here is not to save Zhang Qingyue."

Yousi said mildly, "Bili, don't think too much. The sect master's word is his bond, and you are his only daughter—he would not deceive you. As for the sects of our Holy Church setting aside old grievances this time, that too was your father's earnest advocacy: to wipe out the century-old humiliation, the four sect masters together, beneath the Ming King, swore a solemn oath to strike Qingyun unprepared and catch them off guard."

Bili was silent a moment, then said, "If this battle succeeds, Father's prestige in the Holy Church will naturally soar; and even if it fails, he will still have the fine name of avenging the humiliation of his forebears. But..." Her voice suddenly rose, her expression seemingly agitated. "But I don't care about any of that, and I don't want to. I only want Zhang Qingyue to be well, not to be..."

"Bili!" Yousi suddenly cried. Bili started, looked at her, and at last said no more, turning her head to gaze at the vast white clouds in the distance, staring herself into a trance.

In a quiet mansion in He Yin City, the Nether King and Qinglong walked slowly in; all along the way attendants bowed respectfully and led them forward, straight toward the inner chambers.

This mansion was, of course, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect's stronghold in He Yin City; and it was on this very day that the sect master of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect—the Poison God, eldest in seniority among the four great sect masters of the demon cult—arrived here.