Chapter 35 — The Ancient Grotto
劍問蒼天 · Page 4 of 6
[Lu Xueqi], being a young woman, found it less convenient; she sought the most distant spot to change and so was the last to emerge. When the others saw her, washed and refreshed, her face glowed, and to her natural clear loveliness was added a touch of delicate charm. Every eye brightened at once — needless to say, the eyes of [Zeng Shuyan] and [Li Xun] went wide, and even the hitherto silent [Yan Fei] of the Fenxia Valley stole several more glances at her.
These eight — the most "outstanding" disciples of the three great orthodox sects of the day — sat in a circle on the ground and talked. From [Facheng] and the others, [Zhang Qingyue] learned that the bats in the Ten Thousand Bats Ancient Grotto on Kongsang Mountain were a strange breed once raised by the demon cult: savage, cruel, and bloodthirsty by nature. They had been the demon cult's accomplices. After the cult's stronghold here was destroyed eight hundred years ago, a few bats survived; over long years they had flourished and multiplied, until they reached their present vast numbers. Whenever they came out to hunt, they left not a living soul within five hundred li around.
These bats, however, seemed to fear sunlight, and so moved only at night; by day they roosted within the Ten Thousand Bats Ancient Grotto. The Canglan party had merely happened upon them last night; had they gone up the mountain by day, all would have been well.
Hearing this, [Zeng Shuyan] said, "Senior Brother [Facheng], if those beasts are all inside the Ten Thousand Bats Ancient Grotto, how are we to get in and investigate?"
[Facheng] hesitated a moment. "From what this humble monk has observed these past days, by daylight those beasts only hang upside down from the roof of the grotto and do not stir. It may be that we can enter, though I cannot say for certain."
[Zeng Shuyan] was left speechless, but [Zhang Qingyue] could not hold back. "Then you mean to say, Senior Brother [Facheng], that even you are not sure — and if those creatures see us enter the cave and come swooping at us, what then?"
[Facheng] turned his gaze on him; something seemed to flicker faintly in his eyes, but his manner remained gentle. "Just so. This humble monk has no certainty of success either, but the sect has given us our orders, and the thing must be done. We can but make the attempt; at worst, we withdraw. Today my junior brother [Fajing] and I, together with these two benefactors from the Fenxia Valley, meant to go in and probe the place — and then we met you all. That is well; with more people there is more to rely on."
"Hmph" — it was [Li Xun] again, giving another cold snort. The four Canglan disciples all turned to look at him at once, and [Li Xun] showed not the slightest fear — only when his eyes met [Lu Xueqi]'s did his expression alter somewhat.
[Qi Hao] paid him no mind and turned to [Facheng]. "There is one other matter on which I would consult Senior Brother [Facheng]."
[Facheng] said, "Pray speak, Senior Brother [Qi]."
[Qi Hao] said, "Three months ago, a disciple of our Canglan Sect's Changmen faction, Senior Brother [Xiao Yichen], came here ahead of us. Do any of you know where he is now?"
[Facheng] shook his head. "We arrived here together with these two from the Fenxia Valley, and we have not seen Senior Brother [Xiao]."
[Qi Hao] frowned and fell silent in thought.
The next day, as the morning sun first rose, [Zhang Qingyue] and the other seven came up onto Kongsang Mountain. The whole mountain was barren, the ground strewn with sand and stone; on so great a mountain one could not hear even the ordinary song of birds. Likely they had long since become tidbits for those savage bats, or had fled the peak altogether.
[Facheng] and the others, having arrived several days earlier, had already found the location of the Ten Thousand Bats Ancient Grotto. The party followed him, cautious every step, and at last came to the mouth of the grotto.