Chapter 89 — A Good Man, a Wild Dog
劍問蒼天 · Page 4 of 6
But just then the monster gave another hoarse, furious cry. Within the mist a faint dark-blue glow tinged with blood-red flickered, and the creature immediately flipped and flew back, as though in utter terror of that dark-blue radiance.
Yet as it hung in midair, it suddenly saw that the once-green water plants in the pond below, spreading outward from beneath its feet, had all withered swiftly, turning charred yellow, and even the water's surface was faintly darkening—only in the direction of Jin Pingyue did the weeds remain unchanged.
The monster seemed to give a death-roar, but in the end it dared not fall into the pond. It flew at Jin Pingyue, plainly making a final, desperate lunge.
Xiaowan cried out in alarm, "Sister, look out!"
Jin Pingyue's expression did not change; a cold smile touched her lovely face. As the black monster drew nearer, her bright eyes flashed, her right hand rose, and purple radiance blazed. No one around could make out what magic treasure lay within that dazzling purple glow; they saw only the purple light, like a blade, come down on the monster's head. The creature gave a muffled "hou" and its body was blasted ten zhang into the air, then crashed heavily down, limbs twitching. It did not look like it would live.
All around, the world gradually quieted. In the pond that had been so turbulent, the waves slowly stilled. Every eye turned to the monster on the ground—and then everyone, Jin Pingyue included, was taken aback.
It was indeed a monster—but a monster shaped like a human.
It had, like a person, hands and feet and four limbs, and even wore tight garments on its body, though they were scanty, evidently for ease in the water. On the exposed skin were patches like fish scales.
But the most shocking thing was its head: it was a fish's head—lips, gills, and even eyes like a fish's, without lids.
Now this fish-headed, human-bodied monster lay on the ground, blood flowing steadily from its mouth, its body motionless. It seemed Jin Pingyue's blow had struck it dead.
Xiaowan looked at the monster on the ground and felt a genuine chill. Instinctively she shrank back behind Jin Pingyue, who reached out and patted her shoulder lightly, murmuring comfort.
After a moment, two figures slowly emerged from the mist ahead. Though they came out together, they kept well apart, as though still wary of each other: Ming Li, and Qin Wujiu of the Wan Du Sect.
Ming Li's gaze shifted and rested briefly on Xiaowan's face behind Jin Pingyue, then moved on.
Xiaowan looked at Ming Li, then at Qin Wujiu, and felt an involuntary shudder. These three—the most outstanding young masters of the Demonic Cult—meeting in secret like this; the very thought of the reason was both baffling and thrilling.
Qin Wujiu walked up to the monster and nudged its body with his foot. The creature rolled over and lay still.
Qin Wujiu said mildly, "Dead."
Xiao Hui, who had been hiding nearby, chattered twice and leaped onto Ming Li's shoulder.
Ming Li glanced at the Wild Wolf Daoist, then at Zhou Yixuan and Xiaowan. He seemed to frown, then said slowly, "We've said all that needs saying. Let it be."
With that he turned to go. Qin Wujiu suddenly said, "Brother Ming Li, this monster—neither human nor beast—appearing here so abruptly is highly suspicious. Have you no thoughts on the matter?"
Ming Li halted but did not speak. Jin Pingyue glanced at Qin Wujiu. "What, do you know what this thing is?"
Qin Wujiu paused, then shook his head slightly. Judging by the faces of Jin Pingyue and Ming Li, neither of them knew the origin of this half-human, half-fish monster either. Just then, someone stepped forward from the side and said in a clear voice, "I know where this monster comes from."
Ming Li and the other two were startled and turned to look. It was Zhou Yixuan. Even Xiaowan was surprised. "Grandpa, you know?"