Chapter 232 — Killing Intent

The sudden, bizarre earthquake from not long ago had left its damage upon the Nether King Sect still visible everywhere—chiefly in the many cracks, large and small, that marred the rock walls. And in these well-ventilated corridors that branched in all directions, a faint smell of blood still lingered, impossible to dispel.

Jin Pingyue sensed that faint bloody scent as well. Though puzzled, she did not let it show. Her position in the Nether King Sect now was not what it had been in the Enchantment Sect of old, and naturally she would not meddle. Yet inwardly she was secretly startled; with her experience and insight, she could sense that there was something very strange about this bloody aura.

As these thoughts passed, she had followed the corridor to the chamber where the Nether King resided. She stopped and was about to call for someone to announce her, when the stone door before her rumbled open and the Nether King's laughter came from within: "Is that Ping'er? Come in quickly."

Jin Pingyue was secretly startled, but she smoothed a smile onto her face and said with a smile, "Yes." With that, she walked in.

The stone chamber was spacious and bright. Though the furnishings were not lavish, they were dignified and grand. The Nether King sat behind a desk, a large sheet of white paper spread before him, the four treasures of the scholar's study set to one side—he appeared to be practicing calligraphy.

Jin Pingyue glanced at the Nether King and said with a charming smile, "What fine mood our sect master is in today—whatever made you think of writing?"

The Nether King looked up at Jin Pingyue and smiled faintly. Suddenly Jin Pingyue's smile froze—she felt the Nether King's gaze stabbing at her like two sharp blades, and meeting his eyes, her own seemed to ache faintly.

Fortunately, the Nether King quickly withdrew his gaze, still looking at the white paper beneath his hand, and beckoned, "Come take a look—how is this character I've written?"

Jin Pingyue was secretly alarmed. In all her past dealings with the Nether King, she had never felt anything like this. How was it that in so short a time, the Nether King's cultivation and power seemed to have advanced by leaps and bounds?

But she was not, after all, a shallow person. Pondering inwardly, she nonetheless put on a smile and walked over, trailing a waft of fragrance, and said with a laugh, "I'm a vulgar sort who knows nothing about calligraphy. Asking me to look, sect master, is truly making things hard for me."

The Nether King chuckled but did not answer. He shifted aside, and Jin Pingyue, standing by the desk, looked at the white paper—and what met her eyes was a single large character on that vast sheet: Kill!

Every stroke of that character was like iron wire and silver hooks, pressed down with such force it seemed about to burst through the paper. Fierce intent stood plain—nothing of the upright dignity of regular script, nor the effortless freedom of cursive. It was all a killing intent, rolling forth in waves.

Jin Pingyue's heart jolted. Then, for some reason, she felt a cold gaze upon her, yet the Nether King's kindly laughter reached her ears: "Ping'er, how do you find this character?"

Jin Pingyue's face was wreathed in smiles, like a spring breeze sweeping through and filling the room with spring, and she said with a smile, "Sect master, this character is truly beautifully written. Even if I practiced for ten years, I could never write anything like it."

The Nether King regarded Jin Pingyue blandly. Beneath his gaze, a faint chill seemed to seep from her heart, yet her smile did not diminish—until even she felt the muscles of her face growing sore from holding it. Then the Nether King suddenly shifted his gaze away.

Only then did Jin Pingyue secretly breathe a sigh of relief, even as she was inwardly aghast. This time, upon her return, the Nether King's bearing was utterly different from before. His whole air of killing intent pressed upon her like a mighty tide, surging over her—and from the look of him, he seemed to make no effort to conceal it at all.

This was vastly different from his usual manner. Could something have happened in these past days?

As Jin Pingyue was inwardly pondering, the Nether King spoke: "Daoist priest, why not take a look as well—how is this character I've written?"

Jin Pingyue's heart jolted again. She turned in astonishment—there in the corner of the stone chamber stood another person, robed in Daoist attire, expression solemn. Jin Pingyue's thoughts raced, and she felt a measure of alarm and doubt: after she had entered this stone chamber, though she had been momentarily shaken by the Nether King's strange killing aura, this person had stood to one side with all his breath suppressed and escaped her notice entirely. He was clearly not to be underestimated.

The Daoist stepped forward slowly at the summons and looked at the character on the white paper for a while. After a long moment, he said, "A fine character!"

The chill remained in the Nether King's eyes, but he smiled and said, "How so?"

The Daoist said, "This character is fine in that the flow of its strokes answers to its meaning. The character holds killing intent, and the intent pierces through the paper—rare indeed, rare indeed!"

The Nether King stared at the Daoist, whose expression did not change. He slowly stepped back and came to stand three feet from Jin Pingyue's side. Then the Nether King's expression broke into loud laughter, and he said, "Well said, well said—the Daoist priest's words strike to my heart."

The Daoist bowed his head slightly, as if in thanks.

Jin Pingyue could not help glancing at the Daoist once more. Then she heard the Nether King say, "Ping'er, let me introduce you. This is a devoted patron and powerful ally of our sect—Daoist Cangsong."

Jin Pingyue arched her brows, a flash of sharpness passing through her eyes, then she looked at Cangsong with a smile and said, "I have heard much of you, much indeed..."

Daoist Cangyan nodded to Jin Pingyue. Then the Nether King spoke again, "Pinger, I have called you back this time because our Holy Cult is about to undertake a matter rarely seen in a thousand years, and we need you to lend a hand."

Jin Pingyue smiled and said, "Whatever the Cult Master commands, Pinger will do her utmost."

The Nether King said with a smile, "As for the particulars, I have already explained them in general to Daoist Cangsong. Ask him presently and you will know. Though this matter does not demand haste at this moment, it must still be pressed forward. Go down first, the two of you, and discuss it thoroughly."

Jin Pingyue nodded, and she and Daoist Cangyan bowed to the Nether King at the same time, then withdrew.

The stone door slowly closed. The two walked side by side through the passage, neither speaking for a time. Only when they passed the three-way junction did Jin Pingyue involuntarily glance once more toward the road on the left.

It was at that very moment that Daoist Cangyan's voice suddenly reached her ear: "Vice Cult Master Ming Li has been gone from Mount Huqi for many days now and has still not returned."

Jin Pingyue frowned, her gaze turning cold as well, and she turned to look at Daoist Cangyan, but he acted as though he had not noticed, and having said only this, went on walking forward by himself.

After a moment, a trace of mysterious amusement slowly surfaced once more on Jin Pingyue's face. She gave a cold laugh and followed after him.