七部小说 · Seven Novels

第 27 章 ——《逐出宗门》

[林夭视角。白莲泽第十日辰时第二刻第二息，距叩门一刻。]

辰时第二刻第二息，他们四人并肩走在外院的青石上。

她走在中间。颜九河走在她右边，贴着她右肩。莫夜行走在她左边。裴慎之落在她右肩后一步。苏听雪落在她左肩后一步。

她没有请其中任何一人陪她走。他们走，是因为车轮从不独行。

东南火炉上的茶釜烧着。这茶釜已烧了九日。在她于辰时二刻把自己右掌与裴慎之榻边右掌之间的距离合拢之后那一息——它沸了——清水县厨房四角皆全时那种澄澈的沸腾。

她没哭。然后——一个见过寒玉峰宗主与二十位长老乘飞剑停在道上百步之高的女儿——她将四样东西藏在自己外袍的接缝里：《寒潭剑诀》第三卷在左腕袖口下，折好的纸鹤压在第三卷下，盛着十四枚度劫丹的漆面玉匣压在纸鹤下，药王谷的银针藏于袖中。她没有说出它们的名字。

她走到山门石阶前。然后——一个七日前巳时二刻为寒玉峰首座弟子开过山门的女儿——她抬起右手按上山门符箓线，将门推开半扇。

寒玉峰首座弟子越过她右肩——一个三日前曾将寒霜平按在那块湿黑玉石上的男人。剑仍在石上。三日之内，无人之手将它拾起。他从剑旁掠过，距剑一剑之宽偏东，在山门石阶上越过那柄剑三步。他转身面向乘着祠堂那柄白骨灰色飞剑、停在道上百步之高的寒玉峰宗主。

他没有吸气。然后——一位十九年来从未在任何宗主气息之间开口的首座——他开口了。

他说：「父亲。」

那个词落在路上。

裴沧没有吸气。然后——一位自儿子四岁那年、母亲在清水县路口被天魔体猎人杀死那个早晨起、便再没听过首座唤一声父亲的宗主——他答了。

他说：「儿子。」

一息。

「父亲。」

「儿子。」

「按任何一位长辈冬晨袖中之寒玉峰心法——我，父亲——有一问。」

「眼下——儿子——不是时候。」

「父亲。」

「儿子。」

「你——父亲——下令将弟子裴衍之死栽赃于南郡林氏之女，事在兔年第三月下弦、巳时二刻、东侧寮房内柴房——那位十四岁时被列入寒玉峰外门弟子名册、标作清水县路口一对散修夫妇所出之废杂灵根女儿。」

一息。

「儿子。」

「父亲。」

「是不是。父亲。你下的令。」

一顿。

道上静住了。寒玉峰二十位长老静住了。白莲泽的山门石阶静住了。厨房四角静住了。东南火炉上的茶釜仍烧着。

裴沧没有吸气。然后——一位早知首座终有一日会问出这个问题的宗主——他答了。

他说：「儿子。」

「父亲。」

「在寒玉峰内院——是，我——儿子——下的令。」

道静着。四角静着。茶釜烧着。

她没哭。然后——一个自九岁那年、在南道第二水驿的车上便将左腕四道伤痕与父亲那枚印鉴一同收藏的女儿——她从左袖接缝里抽出《寒潭剑诀》第三卷。

她把第三卷捧在右掌中。这正是首座十年来每日巳时二刻在寒玉峰内门长凳上放下的那一卷。她举起它。她将它举至自己锁骨之前。她没有垂下脸。

裴慎之没有吸气。然后——一位明知这女儿曾在第三演武场抄录他丢弃的笔记摹写第三卷的首座——他开口了。

他说：「父亲。」

「儿子。」

「《寒潭剑诀》第三卷。」

「在南郡林氏之女外袍的接缝里。」

「是。」

「以她自己的日子、自己的手，于寒玉峰第三演武场巳时二刻、十年如一日。」

「是。」

「你——父亲——知道。」

一息。

「儿子。」

「父亲。」

「你知道这废杂灵根的女儿从首座丢弃的笔记里抄了《寒潭剑诀》。你知道这女儿是天魔一脉的承载者。你没有在任何关口指认她。你等着她父亲钉入自己丹田的镇魂钉裂开。你于兔年第三月下弦将弟子裴衍之死栽赃于她。你下令于兔年七月在寒玉峰祖坛举行清门大典。你下令我将寒霜贯入南郡林氏之女的肩头，把她推下断魂崖。」

一息。

「儿子。」

「父亲。」

「这便是——父亲——答案。」

一顿。

裴沧没有吸气。然后他开口了。

他说：「儿子。」

「父亲。」

「过来。」

「不，父亲。」

「儿子。」

「父亲。」

「自寒玉峰名册上划去首座之名。辰时二刻生效。理由：抗命。我——父亲——逐寒玉峰一脉之子出门。」

「儿子。」

「我——父亲——逐寒潭一脉之子出门。」

「儿子。」

「我——父亲——褫夺其姓氏。」

「儿子。」

「我——父亲——将自留己名。」

一顿。

裴沧没有吸气。然后——一位早知首座终将只保留自己亡妻外袍接缝里所携的那支南郡裴氏之姓的宗主——他答了。

他说：「儿子。」

「父亲。」

「你——儿子——将悔之千年。」

一息。

「父亲。」

「儿子。」

「或许吧。但我——父亲——会悔。这——父亲——已比你这辈子准我做的多。」

一息。

他俯身行礼。他向寒玉峰宗主俯身行礼。礼极干净。他转身。他没有回头看道上的飞剑。他从山门走回去——以四岁那年母亲在清水县路口厨房的台阶上教他的方式。他从石上寒霜旁走过。他没有拾起那柄剑。他走回他原先走过的那条青石小径，停在她右肩后一步处。他立住。他向她的后脑俯身行礼。

林夭没有转脸。然后——一个看着首座逐出寒玉峰一脉、寒潭一脉、寒玉峰姓氏、只留下母亲所携南郡裴姓的女儿——她抬起右手按上山门符箓线。她没有引气。然后她将自己丹田处的南之锚再开一格。

南之锚自她丹田如茶釜般温热地涌出，沿左胯内侧奔向胸骨处的南经脉，再沿手臂内侧奔至左掌。她将左掌按在他婉月外袍接缝处、他左腕内侧——一息之前她眉间银电亦曾在他榻边落于此处。她在给。她未在取。她以一息一格地给。

他丹田处的南之锚——在金丹中期——开了。开得干净。按卷上第七页跋文所记，这是南之锚的第二级关口。她将「南位第二关」归入南之栏。第六笔。司簿划了一道横线。

她没有垂下脸。然后——一个从跋文中读过车心之盏从不独行的女儿——她将脸转向道上百步之高的裴沧。

她说：「裴宗主。」

裴沧没有吸气。然后他答了。

他说：「林夭。」

「裴宗主。」

「以你自己的日子、自己的手、袖中那道仙盟之权，叩门之问——裴宗主——已答。」

「林夭。」

「寒玉峰一脉之首座——裴宗主——只留己名。」

「林夭。」

「南郡林氏之女——裴宗主——只留己名。」

「林夭。」

「白莲泽一脉之少主——裴宗主——只留己名。」

「林夭。」

「南道路口之携釜人——裴宗主——只留己名。」

「林夭。」

「药王谷长老之子——裴宗主——只留己名。」

「林夭。」

「这五个名字——裴宗主——不独行。」

一息。

「林夭。」

「裴宗主。」

「你——裴宗主——不会在辰时第二刻第二息击破白莲泽北面外墙的山门符箓线。」

一息。

「林夭。」

「裴宗主。」

「缘由是——裴宗主——内院东南角火炉上的茶釜在辰时二刻——裴宗主——烧着。」

一息。

他没有听懂。然后——一位化神后期、能读出她丹田处之盏在筑基二层四数、眉间银电在北之结契印、左手食指下半开的红莲在西之结契印、左袖之银绿在东之结契印、丹田处的茶釜暖热在南之结契印第二关的宗主——他懂了。

他没有吸气。然后——一位从跋文里早已知晓天魔一脉四象结契机括、并曾为防其成而下令清门大典的宗主——他开口了。

他说：「林夭。」

「裴宗主。」

「四角。」

「在四方位上，裴宗主。」

「四重之锚。」

「按跋文之数，裴宗主。」

一息。

「林夭。」

「裴宗主。」

「你——林夭——不能以四重之锚渡过仙盟之门飞升。」

「按天道雷劫分录的天庭之数，裴宗主，我——林夭——不能。」

「你——林夭——将成为仙盟议会之天敌。」

「按每一种衡量，裴宗主。」

「你——林夭——将被每一宗联盟门派追杀至你余下的未尽之生。」

一息。

「裴宗主。」

「是，林夭。」

「我——裴宗主——认。」

一顿。

他没有吸气。然后——一位从未在自家祖坛听过一位天魔女儿认下这一天敌名号的宗主——他将飞剑又抬起一档。他将剑抬至道上二丈之高。他将寒霜霜——宗主自己的佩剑、二十六年来贴在他袖间的尊者之刃——自外袍右肩接缝处抽出。他没有吸气。然后他以化神后期的寒霜剑气贯入剑身，将剑锋指向山门石阶上的姑娘——一位已决意不让这天魔之女活着离开石阶的宗主。

她没有吸气。然后——一个七日前巳时二刻为首座开过山门的女儿——她从袖中抽出药王谷的银针。她将它握住。她未引气。然后她以左手背将《寒潭剑诀》第三卷自右掌取下，重新搁回左腕袖口下外袍的接缝里。

她以母亲在县衙门口持茶釜的方式握住那枚银针。她没有垂下脸。她抬了起来。

她说，隔着山门百步、迎着寒霜霜指向她眉心的剑锋：「裴宗主。」

「林夭。」

「你——裴宗主——以寒霜霜锋指着一位姑娘的眉心——这位姑娘以她自己的日子、自己的手——已在寒玉峰一脉首座的丹田之盏上、开了她自身车轮的南之锚至第二关。」

一息。

「林夭。」

「裴宗主。」

「你——裴宗主——以寒霜霜锋指着八卦轮中心枢之女的眉心——而那女儿正是你亲子南之锚的中心枢。」

一息。

「裴宗主。」

「按鸡年那卷第八页跋文之数，林夭——是。」

「按跋文之数，你——裴宗主——不能以寒霜霜指我之眉，因按八卦轮之数，任何四重之锚，中心之盏与四角——裴宗主——是同一盏。你——裴宗主——以你自己的日子、自己的手，也将以寒霜霜之锋指向你亲子的眉心。」

一顿。

裴沧没有吸气。然后——一位在《寒潭剑诀》与《寒肺诀》的锋端、在自己袖间寒玉峰徽的阴影下养大唯一在世儿子的宗主——他开口了。

他说：「林夭。」

一息。

「林夭。」

「在辰时第二刻第二息，我——林夭——将寒霜霜垂下。」

「是，裴宗主。」

「我——林夭——不会以寒霜霜锋指亲子之眉。」

「是，裴宗主。」

一息。

「林夭。」

「裴宗主。」

「我——林夭——不会无你而回寒玉峰内院。」

一息。

他没有吸气。然后——一位早知寒玉峰一脉回内院唯一可走之路便是仙盟议会那条路的宗主——他将飞剑抬起。他将寒霜霜收鞘。他向山门俯身行礼。他没有把飞剑放下。

他说：「林夭。」

「裴宗主。」

「这事——林夭——尚未完。仙盟——林夭——将仲裁。」

「是，裴宗主。」

「召文——林夭——将于沧月真人玺印之锋端、抵达白莲泽北面外墙之门。」

「是。」

「你——林夭——将于来年仲夏赴满月岛之仙盟议会。」

「是，裴宗主。」

「你——林夭——将带四人皆至。」

一息。

「是，裴宗主。」

「你——林夭——不得择。」

一顿。

她没有吸气。然后——一个九日前子时三刻在北之角门楣上开了第一盏之女儿——她答了。

她说，朝着山门石阶之寒、隔着百步迎向寒玉峰宗主：「裴宗主。」

「林夭。」

「我——裴宗主——不择。」

一息。

裴沧没有吸气。然后——一位从未在任何仙盟之门听过一位天魔之女说出我不择的宗主——他将飞剑转向。他将剑抬至道上三丈之高。他乘着祠堂那柄白骨灰色飞剑北向而去。二十位寒玉峰长老乘剑北向跟在他身后。他们没有回头。

道上空着。山门石阶上寒霜仍平按在石上。四角在距石阶一步处守着。东南火炉上的茶釜烧着。

林夭没哭。然后她将脸转回身后一步处的寒玉峰一脉首座。

她说：「裴慎之。」

「林夭。」

「寒霜。」

「是。」

「在石上。」

「是，林夭。」

「按你自己七日前巳时二刻、以你自己的日子、自己的手——裴慎之——寒霜是——裴慎之——我的。」

「按我自己七日前巳时二刻、以我自己的日子、自己的手——林夭——寒霜是——林夭——你的。」

她俯身。她没有垂下脸。她以父亲六岁那年教她拾起一柄被赠之剑的方式，将寒霜自湿黑玉石上拾起。她以母亲在县衙门口持茶釜的方式将剑握住。

她转身。她没有回头看北向之道。她从山门走回外院、内院，回到东南那座火炉前——那釜已烧了九日、已沸过的茶釜。她将寒霜搁在火炉旁的灶台上。

她没哭。然后她以右手背将釜盖揭起。她没有倾倒。她将釜盖捧至自己锁骨之前。一息。她将盖放回。釜静着。

厨房四角立在四方位上——颜九河在北，莫夜行在西，苏听雪在东，裴慎之在南——皆守着。车心之盏在筑基二层四数上守着。轮子转着。

内院门口那只狐发出司簿一般轻轻的嗯声——那位司簿已在每一方位的栏下记下第七笔：寒玉峰一脉之首座已被逐。茶釜仍在。司簿划了一道横线。

火炉上的茶釜烧着。

Chapter 27 — The Disowning

[Lin Yao POV. Second breath of the second count of the dragon on the tenth day at the 白莲泽, one count after the asking at the gate.]

They walked the slate of the outer courtyard at the second breath of the second count of the dragon, four abreast.

She walked at the center. Yan Jiuhe walked at her right, near her right shoulder. Mo Yexing walked at her left. Pei Shenzhi walked a pace behind her right shoulder. Su Tingxue walked a pace behind her left.

She had not asked any of them to walk with her. They walked because the wheel did not walk alone.

The kettle on the southeast brazier was on. The kettle had been on for nine days. It had, at the breath after she closed the gap between her own right palm and Pei Shenzhi's at his cot at the second watch of the dragon, boiled — the clear boiling of a kettle whose four corners of the 清水县 kitchen had all been on.

She did not weep. Then — a daughter who had seen the Sect Head of寒玉峰 and twenty elders a hundred paces above the road on flying swords — she carried the four objects at the seam of her own outer-robe: the third volume of the Cold Pool Sword Manual below the cuff of her left wrist, the folded crane below the third volume, the lacquered jade box of fourteen 度劫丹 below the crane, the silver 药王谷 needle inside her cuff. She did not name them.

She walked to the gate-step. Then — a daughter who at the second watch of the snake on the seventh day past had opened the gate for the senior brother of the寒玉峰 line — she raised her right hand to the gate-talisman line and opened the gate partway.

The senior brother of the寒玉峰 line stepped past her right shoulder — a man who had laid 寒霜 palm-flat on the black wet jade three days past. The blade was still on the stone. By no man's hand, in three days, had it been lifted. He stepped past it, a sword's-width to its east, and walked three paces past the blade on the gate-step. He turned to face the Sect Head of寒玉峰 a hundred paces above the road on the white-and-bone-grey flying sword of the Hall of the Ancestors.

He did not breathe in. Then — a senior brother who had not, in nineteen years, spoken at the cusp of any Sect Head's breath — he spoke.

He said: "父亲."

The word landed on the road.

Pei Cang did not breathe in. Then — a Sect Head who had not heard the senior brother speak the 父亲 since his son was four, the morning his mother was killed by the 天魔体 hunter at the 清水县 turn — he answered.

He said: "儿子."

A breath.

"父亲."

"儿子."

"By the 寒玉峰 manual at any senior's cuff at any winter morning, I — 父亲 — have a question."

"Now is not — 儿子 — the time."

"父亲."

"儿子."

"You — 父亲 — ordered the framing of the murder of the disciple Pei Yan, at the second watch of the snake on the third moon-quarter of the year of the rabbit, at the inside woodshed of the eastern dormitory, onto the daughter of the south-county Lin — who at fourteen had been named at the 寒玉峰 outer-disciple roster as a trash mixed-root daughter of a 散修 couple at the 清水县 turn."

A breath.

"儿子."

"父亲."

"Did you. Father. Order it."

A pause.

The road held. The twenty 寒玉峰 elders held. The 白莲泽 gate-step held. The four corners of the kitchen held. The kettle on the southeast brazier held on.

Pei Cang did not breathe in. Then — a Sect Head who had known the senior brother would, eventually, ask the question — he answered.

He said: "儿子."

"父亲."

"At the 寒玉峰 inner court, yes, I — 儿子 — ordered it."

The road held. The four corners held. The kettle held on.

She did not weep. Then — a daughter who had kept the four scars at her own left wrist beside her father's seal since the year she was nine on the wagon at the second water-house of the 南道 — she drew the third volume of the Cold Pool Sword Manual out of the seam of her left sleeve.

She held the third volume in her right palm. It was the volume the senior brother had set down on the bench at the second watch every day for ten years at the 寒玉峰 inner line. She raised it. She held it at her own collarbone. She did not drop her face.

Pei Shenzhi did not breathe in. Then — a senior brother who had known the daughter at the third practice court copied the third volume off his discarded notes — he spoke.

He said: "父亲."

"儿子."

"The third volume of the Cold Pool Sword Manual."

"At the seam of the daughter of the south-county Lin's outer-robe."

"Yes."

"By her own day on her own hand at the 寒玉峰 third practice court at the second watch for ten years."

"Yes."

"You — 父亲 — knew."

A breath.

"儿子."

"父亲."

"You knew the trash mixed-root daughter had copied the Cold Pool Sword Manual off the senior brother's discarded notes. You knew the daughter was the bearer of the天魔 line. You did not name her at any cusp. You waited for the soul-nail her father had driven through his own dantian to crack. You framed the disciple Pei Yan's murder onto her at the third moon-quarter of the year of the rabbit. You ordered the 清门大典 at the 寒玉峰 ancestral altar in the seventh month of the year of the rabbit. You ordered me to drive 寒霜 through the shoulder of the daughter of the south-county Lin and cast her down the cliff at 断魂崖."

A breath.

"儿子."

"父亲."

"That is — 父亲 — the answer."

A pause.

Pei Cang did not breathe in. Then he spoke.

He said: "儿子."

"父亲."

"Come."

"No, 父亲."

"儿子."

"父亲."

"Strike the first disciple from the 寒玉峰 roll. Effective the second watch of the dragon. Reason: insubordination. I — 父亲 — disown the寒玉峰 line."

"儿子."

"I — 父亲 — disown the Cold Pool lineage."

"儿子."

"I — 父亲 — disown the name."

"儿子."

"I — 父亲 — will retain my own name."

A pause.

Pei Cang did not breathe in. Then — a Sect Head who had known the senior brother would, eventually, retain only the Pei name of the south-county fork that his own dead wife had carried at the seam of her own outer-robe — he answered.

He said: "儿子."

"父亲."

"You will, 儿子, regret this for a thousand years."

A breath.

"父亲."

"儿子."

"Perhaps. But I will, 父亲, regret it. Which is — 父亲 — more than you have ever permitted me."

A breath.

He bowed. He bowed to the Sect Head of寒玉峰. The bow was clean. He turned. He did not look back at the flying sword above the road. He walked back through the gate the way his mother had taught him at four on the kitchen step at the 清水县 turn. He walked past 寒霜 on the stone. He did not lift the blade. He walked to where he had walked the slate path, a pace behind her right shoulder. He stood. He bowed to the back of her head.

Lin Yao did not turn her face. Then — a daughter who had seen the senior brother disown the 寒玉峰 line and the Cold Pool lineage and the 寒玉峰 name and retain only the south-county Pei name his mother had carried — she raised her right hand to the gate-talisman line. She did not channel. Then she opened the South anchor at her own dantian one further count.

The South anchor ran kettle-warm from her dantian along the inside of her left hip to the South meridian channel at her sternum, along the inside of her arm to her left palm. She laid her left palm at the seam of his Wanyue outer-robe at the inside of his own left wrist, where the silver-lightning of her brow had given a breath ago at his cot. She gave. She did not take. She gave at one count per breath.

The South anchor at his dantian — at Jindan middle stage — opened. The opening was clean. It was the second cusp of the South anchor by the colophon on the seventh page of the scroll. She filed second cusp at South under the South column. The sixth entry. The clerk underlined it.

She did not drop her face. Then — a daughter who had read in the colophon that the cup at the center of the wheel does not walk alone — she turned her face toward Pei Cang a hundred paces above the road.

She said: "裴宗主."

Pei Cang did not breathe in. Then he answered.

He said: "林夭."

"裴宗主."

"The asking at the gate, by your own day on your own hand at the 仙盟 authority at your cuff, is — 裴宗主 — answered."

"林夭."

"The senior brother of the寒玉峰 line — 裴宗主 — retains only his own name."

"林夭."

"The daughter of the south-county Lin — 裴宗主 — retains only her own name."

"林夭."

"The 少主 of the 白莲泽 line — 裴宗主 — retains only his own name."

"林夭."

"The kettle-carrier of the 南道 turn — 裴宗主 — retains only his own name."

"林夭."

"The 药王谷 senior's son — 裴宗主 — retains only his own name."

"林夭."

"The five names — 裴宗主 — do not walk alone."

A breath.

"林夭."

"裴宗主."

"You will, 裴宗主, not break the gate-talisman line of the 白莲泽 north outer wall at the second breath of the second count of the dragon."

A breath.

"林夭."

"裴宗主."

"The reason is — 裴宗主 — the kettle on the brazier at the southeast corner of the inner courtyard at the second watch of the dragon is — 裴宗主 — on."

A breath.

He did not understand. Then — a Sect Head at late stage Huashen who could read the cup at her dantian at Foundation 2nd at four counts, the silver-lightning at her brow at bond mark of North, the half-bloomed red lotus below her left index at bond mark of West, the silver-green at her left cuff at bond mark of East, the kettle-warmth at her dantian at bond mark of South at the second cusp — he understood.

He did not breathe in. Then — a Sect Head who had known the four-cardinal bond mechanic of the 天魔 line by the colophon, and had ordered the 清门大典 to prevent it — he spoke.

He said: "林夭."

"裴宗主."

"The four corners."

"At the four cardinal points, 裴宗主."

"The fourfold anchor."

"By the count of the colophon, 裴宗主."

A breath.

"林夭."

"裴宗主."

"You — 林夭 — cannot ascend through the 仙盟 gate on the fourfold anchor."

"By the count of the heavenly tribunal at the 天道 lightning-share register, 裴宗主, I — 林夭 — cannot."

"You — 林夭 — will be the Heaven's-Enemy of the仙盟 council."

"By every measure, 裴宗主."

"You — 林夭 — will be hunted by every aligned sect for the rest of your unfinished life."

A breath.

"裴宗主."

"Yes, 林夭."

"I — 裴宗主 — accept."

A pause.

He did not breathe in. Then — a Sect Head who had not heard a 天魔 daughter at his own ancestral altar accept the Heaven's-Enemy designation — he raised his flying sword one further turn. He raised it two zhàng above the road. He drew Frost-Rime — the Sect Head's own, the senior blade at his cuff for twenty-six years — off the seam of his outer-robe at the right shoulder. He did not breathe in. Then he channeled the cold 寒霜 qi at his late-stage Huashen and aimed the blade at the Lady on the gate-step — a Sect Head who had decided that the 天魔 daughter would not leave the gate-step alive.

She did not breathe in. Then — a daughter who at the second watch of the snake on the seventh day past had opened the gate for the senior brother — she drew the silver 药王谷 needle out of her cuff. She held it. She did not channel. Then, with the back of her left hand, she took the third volume of the Cold Pool Sword Manual off her own right palm and laid it back at the seam of her outer-robe below the cuff of her left wrist.

She held the needle the way her mother had held the kettle at the magistrate's gate. She did not drop her face. She raised it.

She said, a hundred paces from the gate, at the cusp of Frost-Rime aimed at her own brow: "裴宗主."

"林夭."

"You — 裴宗主 — aim Frost-Rime at the brow of a daughter who has — by her own day on her own hand — opened the South anchor of her own wheel at the second cusp on the cup of the senior brother of the寒玉峰 line's dantian."

A breath.

"林夭."

"裴宗主."

"You — 裴宗主 — aim Frost-Rime at the brow of the daughter who is the Bagua-loop center of your own son's South anchor."

A breath.

"裴宗主."

"By the count, 林夭, of the colophon on the eighth page of the scroll at the year of the cock, yes."

"By the count of the colophon, you — 裴宗主 — cannot aim Frost-Rime at my brow, because by the count of the Bagua-loop of any fourfold anchor, the cup at the center and the four corners are — 裴宗主 — one cup. You will, 裴宗主, by your own day on your own hand, also aim Frost-Rime at the brow of your own son."

A pause.

Pei Cang did not breathe in. Then — a Sect Head who had raised his only living son at the cusp of the Cold Pool Sword Manual and the Frost Lung Method and the 寒玉峰 crest at his cuff — he spoke.

He said: "林夭."

A breath.

"林夭."

"At the second breath of the second count of the dragon, I — 林夭 — will lower Frost-Rime."

"Yes, 裴宗主."

"I — 林夭 — will not aim Frost-Rime at the brow of my own son."

"Yes, 裴宗主."

A breath.

"林夭."

"裴宗主."

"I — 林夭 — will not return to the寒玉峰 inner court without you."

A breath.

He did not breathe in. Then — a Sect Head who had known the only path the 寒玉峰 line could return to the inner court was the path of the 仙盟 council — he raised his flying sword. He sheathed Frost-Rime. He bowed to the gate. He did not lower his flying sword.

He said: "林夭."

"裴宗主."

"This is — 林夭 — not over. The 仙盟 will — 林夭 — adjudicate."

"Yes, 裴宗主."

"The summons — 林夭 — will arrive at the gate of the白莲泽 north outer wall at the cusp of the沧月真人's seal."

"Yes."

"You — 林夭 — will come to the仙盟 council at满月岛 at the midsummer next."

"Yes, 裴宗主."

"You — 林夭 — will bring all four."

A breath.

"Yes, 裴宗主."

"You — 林夭 — will not choose."

A pause.

She did not breathe in. Then — a daughter who at the third watch of the rat on the ninth day past had opened the first cup at the lintel of the North corner — she answered.

She said, into the cold of the gate-step, a hundred paces from the Sect Head of寒玉峰: "裴宗主."

"林夭."

"I — 裴宗主 — will not choose."

A breath.

Pei Cang did not breathe in. Then — a Sect Head who had not heard a 天魔 daughter say I will not choose at any 仙盟 gate — he turned his flying sword. He raised it three zhàng above the road. He flew north on the white-and-bone-grey flying sword of the Hall of the Ancestors. The twenty 寒玉峰 elders flew north behind him. They did not look back.

The road held empty. The gate-step held 寒霜 palm-flat on the stone. The four corners held a pace from the gate-step. The kettle on the southeast brazier was on.

Lin Yao did not weep. Then she turned her face back to the senior brother of the寒玉峰 line a pace behind her right shoulder.

She said: "Pei Shenzhi."

"Lin Yao."

"寒霜."

"Yes."

"On the stone."

"Yes, Lin Yao."

"By your own day on your own hand at the second watch of the snake on the seventh day past, Pei Shenzhi, 寒霜 is — Pei Shenzhi — mine."

"By my own day on my own hand at the second watch of the snake on the seventh day past, Lin Yao, 寒霜 is — Lin Yao — yours."

She bent. She did not drop her face. She lifted 寒霜 off the black wet jade the way her father had taught her at six a daughter lifted a blade she had been given. She held the blade the way her mother had held the kettle at the magistrate's gate.

She turned. She did not look back at the road north. She walked back through the gate, the outer courtyard, the inner courtyard, to the southeast brazier where the kettle had been on for nine days and had boiled. She set 寒霜 on the kitchen step beside the brazier.

She did not weep. Then, with the back of her right hand, she took the lid off the kettle. She did not pour. She held the lid at her own collarbone. For one breath. She set the lid back. The kettle held.

The four corners of the kitchen at the four cardinal points — Yan Jiuhe at the North, Mo Yexing at the West, Su Tingxue at the East, Pei Shenzhi at the South — held. The cup at the center of the wheel held at Foundation 2nd at four counts. The wheel turned.

The fox at the door of the inner courtyard made the soft hh of a clerk who had registered the seventh entry under every cardinal column at the senior brother of the寒玉峰 line disowned. The kettle held. The clerk underlined it.

The kettle on the brazier was on.