Chapter 212 — Return
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 5 of 6
Behind him stood two figures. One was Yousi, still veiled in black gauze and silent; the other was cloaked wholly in black shadow—none other than Mr. Ghost.
When nearly all the demon cult disciples had entered the cavern, several men quickly ran up and reported to the Hades Lord in low voices. The Hades Lord listened in silence, said nothing, and only gave a slow nod. The demon cult members soon dispersed, and under silent command, the great stone mechanism at the cavern entrance slowly descended, shutting out the light of the world beyond.
In the darkness, the Hades Lord let out a soft breath.
This familiar smell of the cavern.
Deep in the winding passage of the cave, light slowly kindled—demon cult disciples lighting one by one the torches hung above the corridor. In the familiar dim yellow glow, shadows too began to sway.
Behind him, Yousi slowly stepped forward and said softly, "Sect Master, would you go and see Ming Li?"
Something seemed to flicker in the Hades Lord's eyes. "Since my return, I have not yet seen him. Where is he?"
Yousi said in a low voice, "He has been at Bili's side all along."
The Hades Lord, about to stride forward, paused. After a moment he said, "I will go myself. There is no need for you to follow."
Yousi gave assent and watched the Hades Lord walk into the distance until that figure vanished. Then she turned back—and suddenly started, for the mysterious shadow at her side had vanished without her knowing when. Beneath the black veil, Yousi's two slender brows slowly knit, and a complex expression flickered in her eyes.
Outside the ice-cold stone chamber deep within the mountain caverns, all was utterly unlike the bustle beyond. Here there was no clamor, only the same stillness as of old—though in some eyes, what this place held was perhaps, more than anything, loneliness.
The Hades Lord stood a long time before the door of the ice-cold stone chamber. Facing that stone door, for some reason he never reached out to open it. The heavy stone door stretched before him, yet his gaze seemed already to have pierced through this block of stone that looked so indestructible.
Beyond the stone door, in that place of piercing cold, was his daughter still lying in peace?
Could a man as resolute as he also have a moment of weakness, unwilling to face his own daughter?
How long passed, none could say; time slipped quietly by. The Hades Lord stirred, slowly reached out, and worked the mechanism. With a low rumbling, the stone door slowly opened before him.
A gust of cold air rushed at his face from beyond the door, and faint wisps of white vapor drifted through the stone chamber. The Hades Lord stepped inside, and the stone door closed again behind him.
Nothing had changed.
That figure lying in peace—and even the man who, in his memory, had always sat at her side.
Ming Li did not turn to look, not even once. He was still gazing at Bili. And the Hades Lord said nothing either; silently he walked to the other side of the ice-cold stone platform and gazed at his daughter.
Bili still wore that expression of peace touched with a faint, contented smile, lying quietly. Between the hands crossed before her, that wondrous treasure of the demon cult, the Hehuan Bell, rested quietly in her palm.
A pale golden radiance seemed to refract from the body of the Hehuan Bell, casting rays of uneven length. In the silent stone chamber, for some inexplicable reason, there was always a kind of illusion—as though somewhere a clear bell tone echoed low, yet strain the ear as one might, its source could never be found; only that pale glow, ever flickering upon the bell's body, was like gentle eyes watching over the two men in the stone chamber.
"Has she been well, all these days I have been gone?" the Hades Lord said mildly, his gaze fixed upon his daughter from the moment he entered the chamber.