劍問蒼天 - 第196章 功德 - 清風書屋

Ming Li, however, seemed to feel nothing at all. He merely looked at the vast shadow and said, "Most people in this world cannot remember things from so long ago. But in the end there are still legends, passed down bit by bit." He gazed at the vengeful spirit and said, word by word, "In the southern borderlands of today, among the descendants of the sorcerer tribe, there are still those who remember you!"

The vengeful spirit closed his eyes and did not open them for a long time.

Jin Pingyue stood behind, her brows knitting slightly. She looked at the spirit, then at Ming Li beside her. Of these so-called legends—the ancient sorcerer tribe, the sacred image of Linglong—she knew nothing at all, but from the spirit's reaction it was clear that what Ming Li said was indeed the truth. All along she had believed that no one in the demon cult knew more than she did of the strange matters of the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains, yet it seemed this Ming Li still harbored secrets unknown to others.

She gazed at the man's silhouette, a faint chill rising in her heart, and her eyes seemed to grow colder still.

For a long time the cold wind kept blowing. Above their heads black clouds churned in silence; the bleak wind moaned, and all was a scene of desolation.

In that silence, the vengeful spirit Black Tiger suddenly raised his head and howled at the sky, a mournful cry, as though countless vicissitudes of years were poured into that single howl. While the cry still echoed faintly among the distant mountains, he turned back, and his rumbling voice seemed to surge with emotion, though in the end he pressed it down.

"My thanks!"

The vengeful spirit gazed at Ming Li for a long while, then suddenly bowed his head slightly and spoke thus.

Ming Li's face was without expression. He slowly drew back half a step, closed his eyes, and inclined his body slightly—a return of courtesy.

The spirit nodded, his tone gradually calming, and said, "I never thought there would still be someone in this world who remembered the Goddess and us. Heh—but when we followed the Sorceress deep into these Ten Thousand Wild Mountains, what thought did we ever give to leaving a name for the ages?"

His gaze slowly shifted to the mouth of the Ancient Cave of Demon Suppression, to the sacred image of the Sorceress Linglong standing there, and in an instant his eyes grew gentle, and even his voice seemed much softer: "But you have come here, and surely it was not for the sole purpose of speaking a few words to a thing like me, who is neither man nor ghost?"

Ming Li was silent a moment, then said, "No. Before I came, I had heard legends of the Sorceress Linglong and the seven of you, but I did not know your present circumstances, nor that you would be here." He raised his head, looked at the spirit, and said slowly, "I have come for the Beast Sovereign within this cave."

The gigantic shadow shuddered—even this vengeful spirit seemed to feel dread at that name.

Yet the spirit's gaze did not turn toward them; it remained upon the sacred image. "What do you want with him?"

Ming Li said flatly, "We mean to find him, and then kill him."

The vengeful spirit abruptly turned his head and stared at Ming Li. "The two of you alone?"

Ming Li nodded slowly. "Yes."

The white ghostly aura around the spirit seemed suddenly to swirl faster, and his form blurred. After a long moment he said coldly, "You are right. The Beast Sovereign is indeed within this Ancient Cave of Demon Suppression."

Jin Pingyue's body trembled, and a flicker of delight passed unbidden across her face. Ming Li showed little joy; he was still watching the vengeful spirit.

The spirit was watching him too, and suddenly said, "From your dress and bearing, you are no native of the southern borderlands. You come from the Central Plains, do you not?"

Ming Li nodded. "I do."