劍問蒼天 - 第192章 暗傷 - 清風書屋

Yun Yifeng nodded. "Look after them. I will go on ahead." With that, without so much as a word of farewell to the three from the Canglan Sect, he departed of his own accord. Li Xun watched Yun Yifeng's figure vanish through the doorway at the rear of the Hall of Mountains and Rivers, his heart a tangle of feelings, his face shifting between light and shade.

By then Zeng Shuyan and the others seemed to have finished their discussion and came walking back. Zeng Shuyan approached with a smile and said, "Brother Li, the three of us have agreed—this time we will—eh? Where is Uncle-Master Yun?"

Li Xun said apologetically, "My master had a sudden matter to attend to, and seeing the three of you in conference, he instructed me not to disturb you and went on ahead. I beg your pardon for any discourtesy."

Zeng Shuyan hastened to say, "Not at all, not at all—it is we who have been discourteous. If there was anything amiss just now, Brother Li, you must convey to Uncle-Master Yun that we are juniors who know nothing of proper manners or the measure of things. He must not take it to heart."

Hearing Zeng Shuyan's words pour from his mouth in an unbroken stream, both Lu Xueling and Wen Pei looked a little embarrassed; but Zeng Shuyan remained perfectly at ease, not the least bit abashed. Li Xun, too, smiled and nodded, saying no more than, "And what have you several decided?"

Zeng Shuyan cupped his hands. "This time we must trouble Brother Li after all."

A flicker of delight crossed Li Xun's face. He returned the salute. "Not at all, not at all. We are of one righteous path; it is only proper." As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward Lu Xueling once more and then withdrew. He coughed once and said, "But the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains are a perilous place after all. You several would do well to make your preparations early. Come, let me first tell you a few things you should watch for."

Zeng Shuyan smiled. "Then we are in your debt, Brother Li." He turned and beckoned. "Martial sisters, come over quickly and listen."

Lu Xueling frowned, seeming none too willing, but Wen Pei tugged at her, and she came over nonetheless.

Low voices echoed through the Hall of Mountains and Rivers.

Deep in the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains, past the last trace of darkness, past the last crooked old tree, Ming Li and Jin Pingyue finally emerged from that black forest. Beyond the forest, this day brought a rare spell of mild, gentle sunlight for the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains; it poured down warm and soft, brushing over their bodies and falling upon the twisted trees—only it could not reach into that mysterious, austere forest.

Jin Pingyue spread her arms wide. Though she had come this way once before, stepping out of the forest still gave her a sense of relief. Indeed, if one spent several days walking through a forest swarming with venomous insects under ceaseless drizzle, no one could be in good spirits.

Standing outside the forest, even the air one drew in seemed warmer and more comfortable. After a deep, contented breath, Jin Pingyue turned to look at Ming Li, and saw that on his face, still as blank and indifferent as ever, there was plainly a look of relief as well.

After a brief pause to rest, he raised his head and gazed into the distance. Under the rare fine weather, the view opened wide; far off there still seemed to be endless mountains, ridges rising and falling in succession, one after another, until at the very limit of sight there was still no end.

Ming Li's expression shifted slightly. Jin Pingyue came to his side, glanced at him, and smiled. "What, did you not expect the southern borderlands to be so vast? When I first came here, I was startled too."

Ming Li gazed into the distance, his eyes lingering upon the ranks of mountains, and said mildly, "That ancient cave of demon-sealing you spoke of—how much farther is it?"