Upon hearing the call,Guo Xu Yang,who had already risen from his seat and taken a few steps,stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Palace Master Cang Ye.
Huang Yi Rong,standing beside Guo Xu Yang,seemed lost in thought as she gazed at him upon hearing Cang Ye's voice.
Cang Ye walked up to Guo and Huang and stopped in front of them.Her seemingly casual movement effectively blocked the main path Guo Xu Yang was about to take to leave.
"Palace Master Cang Ye,is there something else?"Guo Xu Yang's tone was somewhat indifferent.
Cang Ye cleared her throat,glanced at the"Longying Sword"wrapped in white cloth on Guo Xu Yang's back,and clasped her fists in a gesture of respect."Young Hero Guo,please do not take it amiss,but I have a question that has been troubling me,and I would like to seek your guidance."
Guo Xu Yang lazily returned the gesture."'Guidance'is too kind a word.Palace Master,please speak your mind."
With a forced smile,Cang Ye said,"Thank you!So,may I ask...is the Longying Sword not actually on your person?"Her words were simple and direct,and as she spoke,she took a step forward,standing closer to Guo Xu Yang.
Guo Xu Yang was inwardly startled but remained composed."Why does Palace Master say that?"He glanced at Huang Yi Rong beside him and saw her lips slightly parted,her face filled with astonishment as she looked at Cang Ye.
Cang Ye continued,"I just listened to Young Hero Guo's account of the events.It is only natural that you would go to rescue Master Xu,given your bond.However,the Seven Kill Sect is an extremely dangerous place,from which many martial arts experts have never returned.Even with your exceptional martial arts skills,the dangers are still immense."She now stared unreservedly at the long object wrapped in white cloth on Guo Xu Yang's back,"You should be aware that if you were captured,the item on your back would also be taken by the Seven Ghosts."
Abbot Ma Su walked over from the main seat,"Palace Master Cang Ye..."He seemed to want to dissuade Cang Ye from pressing Guo Xu Yang,but ultimately swallowed his words.
Cang Ye went on,"Abbot Ma,I know I shouldn't pry into others'private affairs,but this is a matter of great importance to the safety of the world,so..."She fixed her gaze on Guo Xu Yang's eyes and face,carefully observing every minute change in his expression,and said word by word,"I hope Young Hero Guo can provide an answer."
"Is it true that you don't have the Longying Sword on you?"
Guo Xu Yang remained silent.
"What exactly is wrapped in this white cloth?"
Guo Xu Yang still did not respond.Inwardly,he thought,"Why is Palace Master Cang Ye so aggressive?Does Zhuojun Palace also covet the Longying Sword like Yu Jian Manor?And if she is not of the same ilk as Mu Jianzong,then why is she so insistent on getting to the bottom of this?"
"Humph!I heard that your Zhuojun Palace is full of good girls,but it turns out you're no different.You're already the master of a palace,yet you still have designs on that sword.Is this the way of your sect?"Huang Yi Rong's cold words echoed loudly in the spacious reception hall.
Abbot Ma Su felt somewhat embarrassed.With the awkward atmosphere between the two sides,he,as the host,could only sigh and lightly wave his dust whisk,saying,"Young Hero Guo,this is originally your private matter.Whether to speak or not is entirely up to you."
The eyes of Cang Ye,Huang Yi Rong,and Ma Su all rested on Guo Xu Yang.
The reception hall of Quanqing Taoist Temple was not very large.Besides the main seat with a large and square rosewood chair,there were only three sets of tea tables and wooden chairs on either side of the guest seats,and a few potted green plants in the corners.Previously,because the cause of Xu Duan's death was mysterious,the main door of the hall had been closed from the beginning.At this moment,the reception hall was extremely quiet,except for Cang Ye's slightly rapid breathing.
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea,Guo Xu Yang laughed heartily and said,"What difference does it make whether I speak or not?With all of your wisdom,you must have already reached a conclusion in your hearts."
He swiftly unbuckled the long object from his back and placed it on the tea table.Then he slowly,ever so slowly,began to unfold the white cloth wrapping...
He opened it very slowly,as if to freeze time at that moment.He had his reasons.With his peripheral vision,he carefully observed the three people in front of him,trying to fathom their thoughts and feelings.
When his gaze met Huang Yi Rong's pretty face,he saw that she was also biting her red lips and looking at him.She shook her head slightly,not at all concerned with what mysterious and valuable sword Guo Xu Yang was about to reveal to the world.
Guo Xu Yang nodded inwardly and then looked at Ma Su.Ma Su's expression was extremely calm,which did not seem like something that could be feigned.As people in the martial world said,the abbot of Quanqing Taoist Temple regarded fame and fortune as fleeting clouds.It seemed to be true.Just as Ma Su himself said,whether Guo Xu Yang revealed the truth or not,he did not care at all.
However,looking at Palace Master Cang Ye,the more Guo Xu Yang unfolded the white cloth by an inch,the more nervous she became involuntarily.But strangely,her nervous expression did not resemble that of a greedy person about to see a priceless treasure.Instead,it was more like an ordinary person about to see a long-lost lover.She was nervous,yet excited,and full of anticipation!
Guo Xu Yang was puzzled:Who exactly is Palace Master Cang Ye?Could she have some connection with the Longying Sword?
The white cloth was finally fully unfolded,and what was revealed to everyone was a wooden sword!
A simple red wooden sword,hand-carved!
"This is definitely not the Longying Sword!"Palace Master Cang Ye exclaimed with certainty.
"This is indeed not the Longying Sword!"Guo Xu Yang replied even more definitively.
"Why would Young Hero Guo carry this wooden sword on you,causing so much trouble?"Even Abbot Ma Su,who was detached from worldly affairs,could not help but ask out of curiosity and confusion.
But Guo Xu Yang closed his mouth again.
"Tell me!Where is the real Longying Sword?"Cang Ye shouted fiercely.She took two excited steps forward and reached out to grab Guo Xu Yang's arm.But in the end,considering her status as the head of a faction and the propriety between men and women,she pulled her hand back.
Guo Xu Yang remained silent.
"Why are you all pressuring him?"Huang Yi Rong's clear voice echoed in the reception hall,her slightly raised tone revealing some dissatisfaction.
Abbot Ma Su waved his dust whisk,seemingly unintentionally placing it between Cang Ye and Guo Xu Yang,"Young Hero Guo may not know where the real Longying Sword is;or he may know,but I believe he will not reveal its location to anyone.Palace Master,why make things difficult for him?"
He glanced at Guo Xu Yang and continued,"As for why he carries a wooden sword on his back and claims to the world that he has the Longying Sword,I am also puzzled.But in my humble opinion,he must have his reasons.His silence must have its own difficulties."
Abbot Ma Su's words somewhat calmed down Palace Master Cang Ye,whose previous behavior had been somewhat improper.She knew that what Ma Su said made sense:Guo Xu Yang would not reveal the whereabouts of the Longying Sword to anyone!No matter how she questioned him,it would be of no avail.So she sighed heavily,flicked her sleeves,and sat back in her original place.
Guo Xu Yang slowly rolled up the white cloth,wrapped the wooden sword in it again,and put the sword back on his back,tying the end of the cloth firmly in a knot on his chest.
Abbot Ma Su watched his actions and suddenly said,"I have forgotten what just happened."His implied meaning was:he would not disclose to others that Guo Xu Yang was carrying a fake sword.
Palace Master Cang Ye's eyes were lifeless.She slowly picked up the cup of green tea on the tea table,took a light sip,and said indifferently,"Water is colorless and leaves are scentless.I am not someone who likes to meddle in other people's affairs."
Huang Yi Rong's big,watery eyes stared at Guo Xu Yang.She did not speak,but just gave him a disdainful look.
Guo Xu Yang understood her meaning,smiled at her gently,and said,"Thank you all very much!"