劍問蒼天 - 第247章 等待 - 清風書屋

Mr. Gui made a slight gesture to Ming Li, then turned and walked along the passage deep into the mountain's belly. Ming Li followed behind him, while the monkey Xiao Hui perched on Ming Li's shoulder, seemingly having lost all trace of sleepiness now; it looked this way and that from Ming Li's shoulder, and above all it could not stop staring at the cracks on either side of the passage—cracks that grew ever more numerous and ever broader and deeper.

The two walked slowly through the dark passage. There was not a single soul nearby, only the sound of footsteps echoing through the vast, empty space. After walking a while, Ming Li suddenly spoke up from behind: "Did you see these cracks all around us, sir?"

Mr. Gui's black figure seemed to stiffen for an instant, yet he neither halted his steps nor turned to look. He kept walking forward at that same unhurried pace, and said quietly, "These things are so obvious—naturally this old man has seen them. But I wonder why the Vice Sect Master suddenly asks about this?"

Ming Li's stride did not change either; he continued walking slowly forward behind Mr. Gui, only gazing at those cracks in the stone walls around them, an unusual light flickering in his eyes. At last he slowly brought his gaze back to Mr. Gui's back and said mildly, "I have been in the Ghost King Sect for ten years, and never has such a strange thing occurred. You, sir, have been in the Ghost King Sect far longer than I, and your knowledge is vast. Perhaps you could resolve a doubt or two of mine?"

Mr. Gui suddenly stopped. His black figure seemed to freeze in place, and behind him Ming Li stopped almost at the same instant, watching him quietly. The dark passage was utterly empty; it seemed only darkness was silently spreading, slowly gathering around Mr. Gui's black figure. Mr. Gui was silent for a long time before he slowly turned around and looked at Ming Li.

Ming Li stood behind him without the slightest hint of evasion, looking straight into his eyes.

Mr. Gui's face was covered by a black veil, so his expression could not be seen; but his eyes were exceedingly bright, quite out of keeping with the darkness faintly gathering around him. His voice was low, his tone steady and windless, as he said quietly, "May I ask why the Vice Sect Master, with countless people in the Ghost King Sect to ask, chose to ask this old man instead?"

Ming Li stared into his eyes and said mildly, "Naturally because I know that among all in the Ghost King Sect, none surpass you, sir, in knowledge—and so I sincerely seek your instruction."

Mr. Gui was silent for a moment, looking at Ming Li, and saw his face was indifferent, without any expression at all; nothing could be read of what was in his heart. After a good while, he said slowly, "These cracks are from the several earthquakes within a hundred li of Mount Huqi some days ago, which shook the mountain body and split the stone walls."

Ming Li looked deeply at Mr. Gui, a light faintly flowing in his eyes. "So that is the cause, is it?"

Mr. Gui suddenly countered, "And if not, what does the Vice Sect Master think the cause might be?"

Ming Li said nothing. The passage, where the two had been conversing, suddenly fell silent, carrying with it a trace of icy chill. Mr. Gui suddenly had a faint illusion—that around Ming Li, at some unknown time, darkness too had silently gathered, encircling that young man.

After a moment, Ming Li said mildly, "I merely sought instruction in good faith, with no other intent. If you say this is the cause, then of course it is."

Mr. Gui gave Ming Li a deep look, slowly turned around, and continued walking forward, and behind him Ming Li's footsteps resumed once more.

On the stone walls of the passage beside them, those great cracks—crisscrossing, jagged, and grotesque—seemed to leer at the two figures, roaring in silence.