Chapter 160 — The Recluse
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 8 of 9
Mr. Ghost glanced at Ming Li. "Ordinarily it would be impossibly difficult for one of our demon cult to enter the Illusory Moon Grotto-Heaven—but you are the exception. In all the world, apart from the sect master and elders of the Canglan Sect, only you can get in."
Ming Li was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "What do you mean by that?"
Master Ghost said, "This formation can only be opened with the Shangqing realm of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao, passed down through the generations of the Canglan Sect, as its key. Only one who commands the formation's workings may enter. And once inside, illusions rain down thick as droplets—whether you can hold your resolve steady will be up to you alone."
Ming Li stared deeply at the man's black silhouette and was silent a long while. Then he said, "Why tell me so much?"
Master Ghost smiled faintly. His black figure seemed to drift rootless in the thin mist, almost like a specter. He said mildly, "That needn't concern you. I have said all I mean to say. Believe it or not, as you please."
********
On the front slope of Jietian Peak of Canglan Mountain, a Qingyun lad sweeping the ground pushed a pile of fallen leaves to one side and was just thinking of resting when he saw a figure come slowly up the stone steps from below, dressed in the robes of Qingyun. There were many disciples under the Canglan Sect, but this man had trodden this path countless times over the past ten years, and they had long since grown familiar with him.
"Senior Brother Lin." The boy's voice still carried a boyish lilt as he smiled at Lin Jinghong coming up the steps. "You've come early again. Off to the Ancestral Master's Hall on the back mountain, are you?"
Lin Jinghong smiled and nodded. "That's right. I didn't sleep well all night—kept feeling restless, as though something were weighing on me. So I came up early."
The other boys sweeping nearby drifted over and gathered around. One of them asked, "Senior Brother Lin, I hear the beast demons have already reached He Yin City at the foot of the mountain. Will they come up and attack?"
The other boys at once began chattering all at once. They were young, after all, and did not brood over things the way those of established name did; they were worried about the beast demons, true, but far more optimistic. Caught up in their mood, Lin Jinghong felt his own spirits lift. He smiled and said:
"Hmm. The beast demons are vicious. I imagine they will attack Qingyun."
"What?" The words set the pot boiling over; the boys broke into a clamor.
Smiling, Lin Jinghong soothed them and gestured for quiet. Then he said, "But aren't the senior masters here on Canglan Mountain now? Their powers are formidable and their cultivation profound—they will certainly not fear the beast demons. Besides," a hint of mystery crossed Lin Jinghong's face, "we still have the invincible Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, don't we? Have you forgotten?"
The boys grew excited, laughing aloud. "Yes, yes! We have the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation—we're sure to win!"
"That's right! Let the beast demons come up—we'll wipe them all out beneath the Ancestral Master's sword formation and avenge the common people of the realm!"
Listening to their eager voices, Lin Jinghong wore a smile and nodded again and again. At last he gave the boys a few parting words and continued on toward the back mountain. Once away from those carefree youths, the expression on his face turned grave at once. He walked on in silence; after a long while he suddenly sighed, shook his head, and murmured low to himself, "Best hurry to the back mountain and consult the senior masters."
With that he quickened his pace, heading toward the Ancestral Master's Hall on the back mountain of Jietian Peak. And as he walked with his head bowed, the hazy mist on the back mountain drifted in layer upon layer, softly swirling, like a dream from last night that had never woken.
********