Chapter 85 — Old Grounds
劍問蒼天 · Page 5 of 6
She cast one last look at the man and went out, carefully closing the stone door behind her—then started slightly: Qing Long, all in white, stood nearby.
"What is it?" You Si was silent a moment, then said flatly.
Qing Long glanced at the stone door. "He's back?"
You Si's veil stirred, as though she gave a slight nod. "Yes. Inside, talking with Bi Li."
Qing Long frowned and sighed softly. In truth they both knew that the so-called talking was no more than Ming Li murmuring to himself; whether Bi Li could hear was another matter entirely. But the thing was too painful, and none of them wished to speak of it.
You Si stood in silence a while, then suddenly said, "Every time Zhang Qingyue returns, the first thing he does is come here..."
Qinglong's expression shifted slightly. He cut in, "Third Sister, he has now been granted a name by the Sect Master of the Underworld King Sect—Mingli. I have told you many times not to call him by that name anymore."
Behind the black veil of Yousi, it was impossible to tell what expression she wore, but her tone did not change in the slightest as she continued, "...But the Sect Master has not come here for a very long time."
Qinglong looked at her, and at last heaved a long sigh. "Over these ten years, how many more white hairs have appeared at the Sect Master's temples? You must have seen it, surely. It is not that he does not miss his only daughter—he simply hides his pain in his heart."
Yousi fell silent again. Then, as if remembering something, she raised her head and said, "How goes the search for the Black Sorcerer Clan?"
Qinglong shook his head. "The Black Sorcerer Clan appeared only briefly a thousand years ago, like a fleeting bloom. Where are we to find them now? We have not the slightest clue."
Yousi slowly turned and walked outward.
This stone chamber, where Bili lay in slumber, was naturally in a most secluded corner of the Underworld King Sect, seldom visited on ordinary days. At this moment, in the corridor outside the stone chamber, there were only the two of them.
Qinglong watched Yousi's retreating figure, then suddenly spoke: "You had best keep your distance from Mingli."
Yousi's body gave a sudden start, and she halted at once, her whole frame seeming to go taut—but then she slowly relaxed, turned around, and stared at Qinglong through the black gauze. Word by word, she said, "What do you mean by that?"
Qinglong did not look at her again. His gaze turned to the stone door of the chamber, and he said mildly, "I know you feel guilty toward Bili, that you believe you failed to protect her. But your private concern for that man has gone somewhat too far."
Yousi said nothing, but the corridor suddenly grew colder than the stone chamber had been moments before. An invisible killing intent seemed to pour endlessly from the woman in black.
"Are you saying that I have actually come to harbor feelings for this youth?" She spat the words out one by one.
Qinglong seemed not to feel the killing intent before him at all; his expression did not change. He only said slowly, "Third Sister, I did not say that. I only wished to remind you that, because of Bili, the relationship between the Sect Master and this man has always been a delicate one. I have followed the Sect Master for many years, and I know that though he treats Mingli as his own flesh and blood, sometimes, grieving over Bili as he does, I fear there is also a measure of hatred in him."
At these words he turned back, looked deeply at Yousi, and said softly, "Third Sister, take good care of yourself."
From afar, Yousi gave a cold snort and said icily, "Nonsense!" With that, she turned and walked away.
Qinglong gave a bitter laugh, shook his head, and sighed faintly.
Inside the stone chamber.
Mingli sat beside Bili, gazing at that beautiful face tinged with a trace of pallor, and said softly, "I have returned, Bili."
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