劍問蒼天 - 第247章 等待 - 清風書屋

The two figures slowly walked deeper into the passage, and the darkness crept up quietly behind them, silently swallowing even the last trace of light.

Who knows how long they walked through the passage, but Ming Li, following behind Mr. Gui, watched the surroundings, and his brow slowly furrowed. At last, when Mr. Gui stopped before the door of a very secluded stone chamber—evidently this was the place he had chosen—Ming Li's brows knitted even more tightly.

"Wait!"

Just as Mr. Gui reached out to push open the stone door, Ming Li suddenly spoke from behind: "Is this not the stone chamber of the Ghost King Sect Master?"

Mr. Gui slowly turned around and said quietly, "Indeed. This is the place."

Ming Li frowned. "You would study the astrolabe here?"

Mr. Gui nodded. "Indeed."

Ming Li gave him a cold glance. "There are thousands of stone chambers in the Ghost King Sect caves. Why did you pick this one alone?"

Mr. Gui glanced at Ming Li, a light flashing through his eyes. "Oh? Do you find something improper about choosing the Ghost King Sect Master's dwelling?"

Ming Li fell silent. If he truly had to say what was wrong with the Ghost King's stone chamber, he could not put it into words—yet in recent days, in order to investigate that mysterious force, he had secretly searched every corner of the Ghost King Sect caves; only the place where the Ghost King lived had he, after all, somewhat scrupled to search thoroughly.

Gazing at that stone door, he was silent for a moment, then said quietly, "I have no objection. But this place, after all, is the Sect Master's dwelling. Would it not be better to report it to him first?"

Mr. Gui laughed softly. "Set your mind at ease. I have already spoken with the Sect Master. Upon learning it was to save Miss Bi Li, the Sect Master naturally agreed at once. As for why I chose this place..." A strange light flashed in his eyes, and he said quietly, "Only because this place is quiet."

Ming Li glanced at Mr. Gui and suddenly gave a cold laugh. "Quiet, is it? Nothing more?"

Mr. Gui, however, seemed wholly unable to hear any other meaning in Ming Li's words. "Nothing more," he said mildly.

Ming Li shut his mouth and said no more. Mr. Gui nodded, reached out and opened the stone door. Amid a low, familiar rumble, the door slid slowly aside, revealing the plainly furnished chamber within.

Ming Li followed Mr. Gui inside and cast a glance around. The paintings hanging on the walls were exactly as he remembered them from his last visit. But then his brow furrowed—he found that even he could not for the life of him recall when he had last come to the Abode of the Underworld King to see him.

The Underworld King was not in the chamber. Mr. Gui turned around and, meeting Ming Li's faintly questioning gaze, said calmly, "The Underworld King gave his instructions beforehand: we are to settle ourselves here and devote our minds to comprehension. He is a busy man, and will not come to disturb us these next few days."

Ming Li nodded silently, then seemed to remember something. "By the way, Bi Li—"

Mr. Gui waved a hand to set his mind at ease. "Rest easy. The sect master has said that during the days we spend in comprehension, he will look after Miss Bi Li himself. If you trust no one else, surely you would not distrust Miss Bi Li's own father?"

Ming Li was silent a moment, then nodded. "Then my mind is at ease. If there is nothing else, sir, shall we begin?"

Mr. Gui fetched two meditation cushions from the side, tossed one to Ming Li, and seated himself on the other. "Very well."

Ming Li sat down on the other cushion and drew from his robe the astrolabe treasure wrapped in black cloth. He undid the cloth, gazed at the astrolabe for a moment, then slowly handed it to Mr. Gui. The monkey Xiao Hui, perched on Ming Li's shoulder, followed the astrolabe with its eyes as it moved, and its expression seemed to have abruptly turned somewhat strange.