Chapter 119 — The Pursuit

Yun Yifeng laughed softly, then said, "Go. As for matters here, you had best continue to take charge."

Shangguan Lue hesitated, then asked, "And as for Ming Li..."

Yun Yifeng's voice came clear from behind the screen.

"Rather kill the wrong man than let one go!"

A muscle twitched in Shangguan Lue's face. He nodded. "Yes."

With that, he turned and left.

Soon his figure vanished into the hidden passage; moments later came the low sound of the mechanism, clearly as he opened the secret door and went out.

In the silent stone chamber, Yun Yifeng's laughter suddenly rose, tinged with desolation and something like mockery: "You push every notion onto Xun'er, saying it was his conjecture—do you think I don't know? Three hundred years ago you failed in your duty and lost the Xuanhuo Mirror, and three hundred years later, Junior Brother—ah, you still have not grown much!"

"Heh heh, heh heh..."

The bleak, forlorn laughter echoed slowly through the cold stone chamber.

Leaving Tianxiang Lodge, Shangguan Lue walked out through that gate and, for some reason, found himself drawing a breath of relief—he, with his cultivation, could not help it.

He steadied himself, pondered a moment, then walked on. By the winding ways he knew so well, he came at last before a hall of rather imposing appearance, its plaque bearing three characters:

Hall of Mountains and Rivers.

The name, paired with that tall and magnificent hall, did carry a certain flavor of looking down upon the world—who could say whether the founders of Burning Cloud Valley, when they built this hall to receive guests, had in their hearts the thought of one day reigning supreme over all under heaven?

So Shangguan Lue mused as he walked slowly inside.

People were seated within. Apart from the Burning Cloud Valley disciples standing to one side, the guests were chiefly orthodox cultivators who had come to pay their respects, a dozen or so in all, and Li Xun sat among them keeping them company.

In Shangguan Lue's eyes, the most important of them were none other than the two seated at the head.

Lu Xueling.

Facheng.

These two outstanding disciples of the two great renowned sects of the age were here representing the houses behind them, and so, though younger than some of the elders present, they sat in the places of honor.

Facheng still wore his moon-white monk's robe, a kindly smile on his face, conversing with Li Xun and answering with perfect grace. Li Xun, who had known Facheng a good while, seemed glad enough to see him, and their talk was lively—yet amid the laughter and conversation, his gaze kept straying to Lu Xueling, seated beside Facheng.

Shangguan Lue took it all in. When the company saw him enter the hall, they rose one by one. Shangguan Lue returned their greetings with a smile, walked to the seat of honor, and his gaze too could not help but pass over Lu Xueling and Facheng.

The two bowed to him together. Lu Xueling remained silent as ever; Facheng smiled and said, "Many years have passed, yet Uncle-Master Shangguan's health is as sound as ever. Truly rare."

Shangguan Lue shook his head and laughed. "Old, old—good for nothing now." With that he gestured for them all to be seated.

His thoughts turned. In recent years Facheng's fame had stood at high noon within the Brahma Sound Temple and among the orthodox world, and all sides had concluded he was the heir to the temple's abbacy; so his coming in place of Master Pucheng was no surprise.

From Canglan Mountain, however, word had it that the eldest disciple, Xiao Yichen, was the young man Daoist Daoyan valued most. Yet Lu Xueling's star had shone dazzling and fierce these years as well, and with her matchless beauty she was much spoken of among cultivators everywhere.

Shangguan Lue turned these thoughts over, secretly wondering whether the Canglan Sect had some other purpose in sending Lu Xueling—though of course he showed nothing on his face. As always, he smiled at the company and said, "My friends, I am Shangguan Lue. I thank you all for your concern for our humble valley. The volcanic eruption of some days past was indeed a natural change of heaven and earth, and thanks to your good fortune, our valley has suffered no great harm."

Facheng smiled. "Amitabha, that is best of all. Still, I had heard rumors that Elder Yun Yifeng, master of Burning Cloud Valley, had met with some misfortune. My master, Master Pucheng, has long been on good terms with Elder Yun, and so he sent me to inquire on his behalf."

His words gave voice to what most present were thinking. After all, Burning Cloud Valley had been acting strangely, and above all, in so great a crisis, the valley master had never once shown himself—that was strange indeed.

For a time the company chimed in, all eyes turning to Shangguan Lue.

Shangguan Lue smiled. "In truth, I will not deceive you: I have just come from the valley master's dwelling, Tianxiang Lodge."

A chorus of "Ah" and "Oh" rose at once. When the company had quieted a little, Shangguan Lue stood, cupped his hands to them all, and smiled. "Your kind concern I have reported to the valley master one by one, and Master Yun is deeply grateful. It is only that Senior Brother Yun is indeed at a critical stage of his retreat and cannot receive guests; I beg you all to forgive the discourtesy."

With that he smiled and clasped his hands; beside him Li Xun rose as well and saluted with him.

The company exchanged glances. After a moment Facheng stood, smiling, and said, "Since Almsgiver Shangguan puts it so, Elder Yun must surely be well, and we are reassured. We have intruded upon you."

Shangguan Lue and Li Xun said together, "Not at all, not at all."

Facheng glanced at Lu Xueling beside him, and saw that the woman's face was without expression, almost like ice—her complexion, in particular, looked so pale as to be nearly transparent, with a faint air of desolation about it.

Facheng smiled bitterly to himself, knowing Lu Xueling would never speak up of her own accord, and so he must speak for her as well. "If Elder Yun is in good health, then nothing could be better. Also, Brother Li Xun said just now that demonic cultivators seem to have stirred up trouble in the chaos—is there any way we might be of help?"

Shangguan Lue considered a moment, then said, "The demonic cultivators are full of cunning, and love nothing better than to strike a man when he is down; to take advantage of a natural calamity to secretly move against our humble valley is truly hateful. Fortunately our defenses were tight and we drove them from the valley. Still, we cannot let the matter rest—yet we can find no trace of them for the moment. Burning Cloud Valley has sent out many disciples, and to this day, apart from a few small fry, only last night did our nephew-disciple Li Xun and Miss Lu Xueling track down Jin Pingyue of the Enchanting Sect—and unluckily she slipped away again. We do not know now how to pursue the matter."

Facheng frowned, and the others were at a loss for words as well. The Demonic Cult was powerful now, and Jin Pingyue was a woman of notorious ruthlessness; cultivators of lesser attainment might not care to provoke her.

And Burning Cloud Valley, for various reasons, in truth did not wish other factions to interfere.

At that, Shangguan Lue shot a glance at Li Xun. Li Xun understood, stepped forward, and clasped his hands. "I thank you all for your kindness on our behalf. But Burning Cloud Valley will spare no effort, and though it take time, we will get to the bottom of this—so there is no need to trouble you all..."

"Wait!"

Suddenly, a cold voice came from beside him.

All were startled and turned to look—it was Lu Xueling, the frost-cold woman who had been silent all along.

This woman, held so high in the eyes of the world, cold as frost—yet in her once-cold gaze there now faintly stirred a pale, shifting light. Who could say what she was thinking?