Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The nightingales cried out and took wing. In an instant, fallen leaves rustled, leaving only bare branches trembling in their wake.
My heart was just as unsettled. All I could hear was Shanting’s humming sword cry.
I could not understand it, yet I could feel its sorrow.
Beneath the moon, the two men stood locked in a standoff, swords in hand. The man continued, “Nan Wenji, Xiang Suize raised a thing like you? He truly misjudged you.
“Now he has gone alone to Dongze to answer for his crimes, and you, his disciple, still have the leisure to come wandering around my Northern Plains?”
Every word he spoke rang with passion, each one as if honed against the edge of a blade. He seemed furious to the extreme.
And yet those sharp accusations sank like a downpour into a deep pool, vanishing without a sound.
“Bai Yujian, what exactly are you so angry about?”
Only after a long while did Senior Brother finally speak.
His breathing was steady, his tone unhurried.
“If I remember correctly, your father, the Third Elder of Northern Plains, is a stubborn pure-blood loyalist. I’ve killed so many Abandoned Blessings. Shouldn’t you be happy?
“Or is it that after all these years, you still can’t get over the fact that Master gave up on taking you as a disciple? Do you still want to compete with me now and lose a few more times?”
“Nan Wenji!”
Senior Brother really did have a gift for infuriating people.
The man named Bai Yujian was completely enraged. A fierce wind rose as he closed in swiftly.
Just when I thought he was about to fight Senior Brother, I heard his sword turn in midair and slide back into its sheath.
“Forget it. I won’t fight you today. There are so many people who want you dead. I can’t let you die so easily.
“But out of the goodness of my heart, I’ll remind you of one thing. Dongze Sect Leader Fu Zhenqian hates the people of Xiangwu Mountain more than anyone. As the sect master of Xiangwu Mountain, Xiang Suize is an even greater thorn in his side.”
Bai Yujian paused, his tone growing heavier.
“Have you forgotten? Xiang Suize still bears the Zhu Curse.
“If the Four Domains find him guilty, what do you think Fu Zhenqian will do to him?”
Senior Brother gave a derisive laugh, completely unconcerned. “Can my master be dealt with however he wishes?”
“Nan Wenji, your self-righteousness always disgusts me.”
Bai Yujian’s tongue was just as merciless.
He sneered a few times. After stopping for a moment, he left behind one final sentence.
“Don’t think killing those Abandoned Blessings settles the debt. Xiangwu Mountain still owes the Four Domains an explanation.”
Bai Yujian flew off, and I poked my head out from behind Senior Brother.
“Senior Brother?” I looked at him with concern.
Senior Brother patted my head soothingly, his brows and eyes gentler than I had ever seen them.
“It’s all right. He’s never liked me.”
I froze for a moment. I could not sense much truth in Senior Brother’s smile. On the contrary, I felt that he was more dejected and hurt than he had ever been.
I wanted to comfort him, but there were too many things I did not understand. Abandoned Blessings, Xiangwu Mountain, Zhu Curse…
Ah. My head hurt a little.
I scratched at my temple and looked up to see Senior Brother holding Shanting as he searched for the path. Not wanting to disturb him, I walked over to the stream alone, crouched down, found a handy pebble, and began writing in the wet mud.
Then, to my delight, I discovered that I could read and write after all. I even knew many characters.
“Nan Wenji? Nan Wenji?”
I wrote and crossed things out, trying to figure out the correct characters for Senior Brother’s name.
As I was pondering in earnest, a soft laugh interrupted my thoughts.
“Not that character.”
Caught red-handed by Senior Brother, I felt a little embarrassed.
Before I could come up with an excuse, Senior Brother reached from behind me, took my hand, and guided me to write a character.
“It’s this ji,” Senior Brother said. “My master said it’s the ji from ‘to aid the times and practice the Way.'”