Chapter 103 — The Fish Monster

At the summit of the giant tree, in the Death Marsh.

Lu Xueling, Fa Cheng, Lin Jinghong and Zeng Shuyan descended slowly onto the ravaged surface of the enormous trunk. Everywhere they looked the wood was split and seared, strewn with countless broken branches, and though much time had passed, the aftermath of the two ancient leviathans' battle still made the heart quail.

Yet at this moment their attention was plainly fixed on the few figures before them.

Fa Cheng frowned slightly and said nothing, turning matters over in his mind. He had seen these men before—at the battle of Liubo Mountain in the Eastern Sea, and again at Canglan Mountain. They were, beyond doubt, the sect master of the Hades King Sect, the Hades King himself, together with his two capable subordinates, Qinglong and Yousi, and Ming Li, who was now far from the man he had once been. Their combined strength was, frankly, far above their own.

A pity that after climbing the tree they had parted ways with Xiao Yichen of the Canglan Sect, Li Xun of the Fenyu Valley, Yan Fei and the others at the fork in the trunk. Otherwise, though they might not have been a match for these four, they would at least have had a fight in them.

So he thought—but from the Hades King Sect's side there seemed no immediate intent to strike.

The Hades King glanced a couple of times at Fa Cheng and his three companions, then asked Ming Li mildly, "Tell me, then—how should we deal with these people?"

Ming Li did not answer at once, but looked at the Hades King. The man's face was genial, his manner seemingly placid, yet a faint keen light flickered in his eyes. After a moment Ming Li said evenly, "Since you have come here in person, Sect Master, all matters must naturally be decided by you."

Qinglong, standing to one side, frowned slightly; the black veil over Yousi's face seemed to stir as well, and she looked toward Ming Li.

The Hades King's expression did not change. A trace of a smile still hung at the corner of his mouth as he said slowly, "When you came to this Death Marsh, I told you that all things here were yours to decide. Qinglong and Yousi and I came only to capture this Yellow Bird. As for these four righteous folk—the decision is still yours. Whatever you wish, that is what shall be."

"Bah!"

Suddenly a cold snort of utter contempt came from the front.

They all looked. It was Lin Jinghong, his face like frost, who said coldly, "Devils and heretics—if you have the guts, come up and settle it to the death. Why lurk there chattering like gossiping women? Ridiculous!"

At these words Qinglong's face darkened at once. The Hades King, however, gazed at Lin Jinghong from afar, and instead of anger, smiled. He turned his head to Ming Li and said, "This must be Lin Jinghong. Your childhood friend?"

Ming Li's heart jolted. To this day Lin Jinghong's name was hardly illustrious—yet the Hades King, for some reason, had recognized him at a glance. Looking at that faint smile, Ming Li suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

The Hades King regarded him and said mildly, "Speak. What is to be done?"

Ming Li met his gaze squarely and said, "Most of the work here is done. These people are hardly figures of consequence—there is no need to trouble ourselves with them. Sect Master, your first order of business is to secure the Yellow Bird."

The Hades King looked at him and said nothing. A hush fell over the scene.

A flicker of worry crossed Qinglong's eyes. Beside him Yousi's face was hidden behind the black veil, so no expression could be read, but she did not appear at ease either. Her gaze passed through the veil, shifting from Ming Li to the Hades King, then glanced into the distance—and suddenly she started. Far off, among the four righteous cultivators, Lu Xueling stood silently at the rear, her face cold, but her eyes fixed from afar upon Ming Li.

Beneath that frosty countenance there seemed to lie a faint, hidden tenderness that no one knew of.

Yousi quietly reached out and nudged Qinglong.

Qinglong, already uneasy, felt the touch and turned to look at her. Her black veil swayed lightly as she motioned toward the Hades King's figure. He and Yousi had both been among the four Holy Envoys of the Hades King Sect—how could he not read her mind? Yet at this moment he could not help but hesitate.

After a moment's thought, Qinglong at last stepped softly to the Hades King's rear and said in a low voice, "Sect Master, there is something in what Ming Li says. The Yellow Bird is subdued for now; let us first see it safely stowed. Otherwise, with the Ten Thousand Poisons and the Hehuan factions both still within the Death Marsh, delay may breed trouble."

The Hades King turned and looked at Qinglong, then nodded slowly. "You speak rightly." A faint gleam came into his eyes as he said to Ming Li, "In that case, I leave this place to you."

Ming Li nodded silently. "Rest easy."

The Hades King looked at him a moment longer, then suddenly smiled and turned to go. Qinglong, behind him, smiled at Ming Li and followed.

Yousi trailed after them. As she passed Ming Li, he looked at her and gave a slight nod.

Her black veil stirred faintly, but she said nothing, and so walked on.

Once the Hades King and his party had vanished from sight, Ming Li turned slowly and looked toward Fa Cheng and the others.

Fa Cheng coughed once, stepped forward, and said, "Junior Brother Zhang..."

Ming Li said coldly, "My name is Ming Li."

Fa Cheng checked himself. Behind him Lin Jinghong's brows knitted, and he said in a low, heavy voice, "Xiaofan, why must you be like this? I know your heart is good at bottom—it was only that villains did you harm, and so you strayed into the demon path..."

Fa Cheng found this grating to hear, but he only smiled a faint, bitter smile and said not a word.

Lin Jinghong went on: "...so long as you are willing to turn back, I believe that with Sect Master Daoyan's breadth of mind and generosity, he would surely take you back into Qingyun."

Ming Li said mildly, "Why should I turn back?"

Lin Jinghong's body gave a shudder. His eyes fixed hard on this former childhood friend, who stood there and said, in a coldness beyond describing, "Heaven and earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs. I have walked this road well enough. I do not need you to save me."

Lu Xueling, standing at the very back, seemed to tremble slightly. Zeng Shuyan stood beside her, took in her expression, and frowned a little, but said nothing.

Lin Jinghong's face showed anger. He stepped forward, about to say more, but Fa Cheng held him back.

Fa Cheng looked at him, shook his head slightly, and said in a low voice, "He has gone deep into the demon path. You must not press him too hard, or you will only drive him the other way."

Lin Jinghong had shown anger at being stopped, but at these words he knew in the end that Fa Cheng was right. He turned and looked at Ming Li again, and his heart softened as he recalled the days when they had been innocent children playing together. At last he gritted his teeth and stepped back.

Fa Cheng pondered a moment, then said to Ming Li, "Benefactor Ming Li, whether you admit it or not, there is a bond between us. Now that the Heaven Emperor's Treasure House is destroyed and there appears to be no peerless treasure within, let us part here."

Ming Li gave a cold hum, glanced at Fa Cheng, then looked toward the others—at Lin Jinghong, at Zeng Shuyan—and at last his gaze came to rest on Lu Xueling's face.

That cold, pure woman stood at the very back, her face like frost, her eyes like deep water whose bottom could not be seen. Who could tell what she was thinking, there in the depths of her heart?

Ming Li withdrew his gaze and said no more, then turned and walked away.