Chapter 32 — The Righteous Path

"But even so, that treasure is linked to your blood and vital breath—it is a thing forged in blood—"

Zhang Qingyue said in surprise, "Master, what does 'forged in blood' mean?"

Tian Buhui was taken aback, then said impatiently, "If you don't know, then never mind. Just listen well to what I ask you."

Zhang Qingyue lowered his head at once and said softly, "Yes."

Tian Buhui looked at him and said, "Even if that black staff is a peerless treasure such as appears but once in an age, be that as it may, you must at least have cultivated to the fourth level of the Jade Clarity Realm of the Taiji Profound Clarity Way before you can wield it."

Zhang Qingyue's expression changed.

Tian Buhui said slowly, "That day on Jietian Peak I asked you this, and today I ask you again: who was it that privately transmitted the method to you?"

Zhang Qingyue's body shuddered. He knew that because of this nameless black staff he was already in great trouble; add to that the matter of privately practicing the method, and the punishment awaiting him was beyond imagining.

Yet at this moment it was as though Tian Lingsu's figure drifted before his eyes: the shape of her as a girl leading him up the mountain to cut bamboo, her gentle face beside a lonely lamp on a rainy night, the laughter and scolding and running about on Dazhu Peak in days gone by—even the faint, delicate fragrance of her that lingered in memory was now so vivid.

Drop by drop, it rose in his heart.

He knelt down once more, knocked his head heavily on the ground, and said not another word.

He lay prostrate on the floor without moving. His body, somewhat thin from his recent recovery, held a measure of resolve, yet seemed to bear a measure of desolation too.

Tian Buhui looked at him deeply. After a long while he suddenly let out a long breath and said, "Get up. Come with me to Jietian Peak. As for whether you come back alive, that will depend on your fortune."

Deep in the white clouds, wreathed in immortal air, all was calm and auspicious, just like the fairy realm of people's dreams.

Canglan Mountain, Jietian Peak, the Hall of Jade Balance.

The seven branch masters of the Canglan Sect were all present, their eyes fixed on the youth kneeling below the hall.

Dao Yan Zhenren gazed at Zhang Qingyue kneeling there, and couldn't help but see again in his mind the two children who had been rescued and brought up the mountain five years ago. White clouds and grey dogs—the world turns on—and as if in the blink of an eye they had grown to adulthood.

Deep in his heart he gave a low sigh, withdrew his gaze from Zhang Qingyue, and said to the other masters, "Everyone, regarding what Zhang Qingyue has just said—what do you make of it?"

The assembly fell silent. After a while, Cang Yan Daoren's voice suddenly rang out, declaring flatly, "This boy's words cannot be believed."

Zhang Qingyue, kneeling on the floor, gave a shudder, but did not raise his head.

Dao Yan Zhenren frowned and said, "Why are you so certain, Junior Brother Cangsong?"

Cang Yan Daoren glanced at Zhang Qingyue and said, "The blood-forging method is sinister and vicious. Had some demon cult villain not instructed him, how could he have the knowledge and power to forge such a treasure? Therefore this person must be a demon cult spy, and his life cannot be spared."

Cangsong had long held authority over the Canglan Sect's punishments, wielding great power and standing; his tone was firm and hard. Hearing it, Zhang Qingyue lost all color in his face and could scarcely breathe.

No one else spoke. Then Tian Buhui, his face dark, said slowly, "If he truly were, as you say, so calculating as to infiltrate our Canglan Sect, why would he deliberately use his treasure in front of everyone?"

Cang Yan Daoren gave a cold snort and said, "Demon cult villains are hard to fathom in their conduct at the best of times; their motives are inscrutable, and it is no wonder they do strange things."

Tian Buhui said angrily, "Is this not forcing an interpretation, twisting reason to fit your case?"

Cang Yan Daoren said coldly, "I twist reason? May I ask you, Senior Brother Tian, does this blood-forging method belong to any of the righteous path?"

Tian Buhui was at a loss for words, his face flushing red. By now anyone could see that Tian Buhui stood, after all, on his disciple's side. Just at this awkward moment, a cold voice came forth—at a word one knew it was Master Shui Jing of the Xiaozhu Peak:

"May I ask you, Senior Brother Cangsong: you keep saying the blood-forging method is sinister and vicious—pray tell, in what way is it sinister, in what way vicious?"

Cang Yan Daoren opened his mouth to speak, then suddenly choked, and could only say, "Demon cult sorcery—what more is there to say?"

Shui Yue said icily, "By that account, Senior Brother Cangsong knows nothing of the blood-forging method either. Why then do you take it for sinister and vicious, and would put this youth to death?"

Cang Yan Daoren turned his gaze on Master Shui Jing, his eyes bright and his manner intimidating, and said, "Oh? Junior Sister Shuiyue, then what is your meaning?"

Master Shui Jing said mildly, "Senior brothers, in this matter: first, we know little of the blood-forging method. We have heard of it, but mostly by guesswork. If by some chance the so-called blood-forging method did admit of such a coincidence, would we not be killing a good man by mistake? Second, this youth is but sixteen, and his origins are clear and plain. To insist he is of the demon cult—I fear that does not stand to reason."

Cang Yan Daoren narrowed his eyes, yet sharp light leaked from the slits, and he said, "Why is it, Junior Sister Shuiyue, that today you are so unlike yourself, exerting yourself so to exonerate this youth? It is truly puzzling."

A flash of anger crossed Shui Yue's beautiful face, and she said at once, "I am speaking to the matter at hand, and am certainly not like certain people who cannot bear to see talent arise in a fellow branch, who fear for their own position, and so seize on some trifle to hunt a man down to the last—utterly without humanity!"

When it came to a sharp tongue, of the seven present six were men, and not one could match Master Shui Jing. Cang Yan Daoren went white with anger and sprang to his feet.

Dao Yan Zhenren hastily cut in, saying, "Enough, enough—here we are talking, and somehow it has turned into a quarrel again. Sit down, sit down."

Cang Yan Daoren dared not disregard the sect leader's word, and could only sit back down in his seat, seething. Shui Yue, by contrast, looked utterly unruffled, sitting prim and proper in her chair.

Dao Yan Zhenren shook his head, turned to the others, and said, "Everyone, what is your view?"

The other branch masters were silent a while. Zeng Shuchang, master of the Fenghui Peak, spoke first: "Sect Leader, I think Junior Sister Shuiyue's words have reason. This youth's background is clean, and since entering the sect he has never once gone down the mountain. I fear it is simply a stroke of luck that he came by this treasure—and, properly speaking, a blessing for our Qingyun."

Dao Yan Zhenren stroked his beard and nodded slightly, then turned his eyes to Tian Yun Daoren, master of the Luoxia Peak. Tian Yun glanced at Cangsong and said, "In this matter I agree with Senior Brother Cangsong's approach."

Cang Yan Daoren, having gained an ally, nodded toward Tian Yun Daoren.

In the end only Shang Zhengliang, master of the Chaoyang Peak, remained. He looked at Tian Buhui and the others, then at Cang Yan Daoren and Tian Yun Daoren, and finally stole a careful glance from the corner of his eye at Dao Yan Zhenren. After a brief hesitation he said, "I think Junior Sister Shuiyue's words have reason."