劍問蒼天 - 第190章 異樣 - 清風書屋

As in former days, seen from afar, faint points of incense flame flickered within the dim shrine, giving one a sense of unfathomable depth.

The party soon walked from Yuheng Hall to the rear mountains and came to the three-forked crossroads before the Ancestral Shrine. Suddenly Qi Hao, walking a little behind, gave a cry of "Eh?" in a tone of some surprise, and quickened his steps forward. Following his gaze, the others saw that before the gradually revealed Ancestral Shrine stood a young man, standing quietly and motionless, his eyes fixed on the depths of the shrine, his back to Qi Hao and the rest.

Qi Hao frowned and called out, "Is that Junior Brother Lin?"

The young man's figure trembled, and he turned around. It was Lin Jinghong.

At the sudden sight of Qi Hao, a flash of joy crossed Lin Jinghong's face, but then he saw the many people following behind Qi Hao, among them the heads of every vein of the Canglan Sect, and he was taken aback, astonishment written plainly on his face.

"Senior Brother Qi, how did you come here... and all you uncles and senior brothers, why have you all come to this place?"

Qi Hao approached Lin Jinghong and smiled. "On the way here just now, I was wondering whether I might find you here. It has been many days since we two brothers last met."

Lin Jinghong was clearly delighted to see Qi Hao as well, and said with a bright smile, "Indeed, I have missed you greatly, Senior Brother."

"By the way," he said, glancing at the others, then lowering his voice to ask Qi Hao, "Senior Brother, why have you come here with these uncles and senior brothers, the vein heads?"

Qi Hao glanced toward the Ancestral Shrine behind Lin Jinghong, frowned, and said, "Junior Brother Lin, that... hmm, the Sect Master—is he inside this Ancestral Shrine?" For some reason, when Qi Hao spoke, he did not deliberately lower his voice; rather, he seemed to want those behind him to hear every word.

The smile on Lin Jinghong's face slowly faded as well; clearly he too sensed something amiss. But faced with these uncles and senior brothers of such long-standing prestige, he still answered honestly, "The Sect Master is indeed inside the shrine."

A faint stir ran through the group behind Qi Hao, quickly subsiding. Then Zeng Shuchang's voice, flat and slightly aged, said, "What is Senior Brother the Sect Master doing inside? Is he in seclusion?"

Lin Jinghong seemed startled. "Seclusion? What seclusion?"

Qi Hao's expression changed, and Tian Buhui, his face shifting as well, took a step forward, but Zeng Shuchang at once held him back. Zeng Shuchang gave Tian Buhui a look and shook his head, then glanced at Qi Hao. Qi Hao understood, and frowning, asked Lin Jinghong, "Junior Brother Lin, this—have you been on Jietian Peak all this time of late?"

Lin Jinghong nodded. "That is right."

Qi Hao pondered a moment, as though weighing his words, then said slowly, "While you have been on Jietian Peak, have you seen... well, or heard of anything unusual?"

Lin Jinghong thought it over, his gaze sweeping across the faces of those present, and his eyes gradually brightened, though his expression scarcely changed. He answered honestly as before, "To report to Senior Brother, though I have indeed been on Jietian Peak all this while, in recent days I have been almost entirely within this Ancestral Shrine, keeping vigil and mourning for the departed elders, so I have heard nothing of what goes on outside." He paused, looked at Qi Hao, and said, "Senior Brother, has something happened?"

Qi Hao was at a loss for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "No, nothing has happened. By the way, why are you standing out here in broad daylight? Are you not supposed to be keeping vigil inside the shrine?"

Lin Jinghong glanced toward the dark depths of the Ancestral Shrine and said, "It was the Sect Master who told me to stand here. Every time he comes, he has me stand outside alone, and then he enters the shrine by himself."