劍問蒼天 - 第212章 迴歸 - 清風書屋

Wen Pei took in every trace of Lu Xueling's strange expression, and sighed inwardly, though her voice remained calm as she said, "There have been rumors without end of late. Those demon cult wretches who were routed at the hands of the Beast Sovereign during the great calamity of the beast demons—it seems there are still remnants left, and they appear bent on returning. And our Canglan Sect is now beset by troubles within and without; even our master seems weighed down with worry. You know she has always thought most highly of you, and it is very likely for this very matter that she has summoned you."

Lu Xueling was silent for a long while, then nodded and said, "Yes. Then I shall go pay my respects to our master first thing tomorrow morning."

Wen Pei nodded and said, "Then you should rest early as well. I'll be going."

Lu Xueling did not press her to stay. She saw her to the door, and there Wen Pei suddenly halted, turned, and looked at Lu Xueling. "Little sister, in the days to come, if ever something troubles you, you must not keep it bottled up inside. If you trust me as your elder sister, then tell me of it—that is surely better than letting it fester in silence."

Lu Xueling nodded slowly and said in a low voice, "Yes, elder sister. I understand."

Wen Pei studied her expression and knew that though she had agreed, given Lu Xueling's temperament, she would most likely say nothing even if some bitter hardship had befallen her. There was nothing for it but to give a rueful laugh, turn, and go.

Leaning against the door, Lu Xueling watched Wen Pei walk away into the distance.

Slowly she drew her gaze back. The night was black as ink, the wind and rain moaned softly, and this heaven and earth stood hushed, as though a chill of desolation breathed through it all.

For a time she simply gazed, lost to herself, and only after a long, long while did she seem to wake from a dream. Silently she turned and softly closed the door.

The wind and rain of heaven and earth were shut outside with it.

Just as the Canglan Sect had secretly learned, far away beyond a thousand li, on Mount Huqi, the once-desolate mountain had suddenly come to life. Great throngs of demon cult disciples returned to the stronghold of the Hades Sect; the mechanisms long sealed away were opened one by one, and the abandoned watch posts, under orderly command, were restored one after another.

On a clear day, the last of the demon cult's factions—and the strongest at present—the Hades Sect, under the leadership of the Hades Lord, returned once more to the Central Plains.

Bundles great and small, a long procession stretching beyond sight, like a colony of ants returning from afar to their nest. And within that procession, what drew the eye most was that every few dozen zhang, a hundred or more demon cult disciples would escort some colossal object, all of it draped in heavy grey cloth, presenting a vast square shape. Beneath the cloth came, from time to time, low and startling roars, roars brimming with savage fury—yet somehow they sounded lacking in vigor, as though they came from some monstrous beast utterly exhausted.

These vast and mysterious things were swiftly borne by these demon cult disciples, who seemed long accustomed to the work, into the great caverns of the Hades Sect on Mount Huqi, worked by generations of the sect. In the air, nothing remained but the fading, faintly echoing mournful howls and roars of unknown monsters; and at the same time, in the wind, some strange and singular stench of blood gradually rose and drifted about.

The Hades Lord stood with hands clasped behind him at one side of the cavern, watching the last of the mysterious colossal objects borne deep into the cave. His face was expressionless, and at a glance he seemed utterly unchanged—save that at his temples and among his hair, the white strands that had once come for his daughter's sake had grown a few more.