Chapter 192 — Hidden Wounds

By this time, Zeng Shuyan and the other two seemed to have finished their discussion and walked back. Zeng Shuyan approached with a smile and said, "Brother Li, the three of us have agreed—this time we shall—eh, where is Uncle-Master Yun?"

Li Xun said apologetically, "My master had a sudden matter to attend to, and seeing that the three of you were in discussion, he instructed me not to disturb you and went on ahead. I beg your pardon for any discourtesy."

Zeng Shuyan said hastily, "Not at all, not at all—it is we who have been discourteous. If we have given any offense just now, Brother Li, you must be sure to tell Uncle-Master Yun that we are but juniors, ignorant of proper manners and of the heights of heaven and depths of earth. We pray his venerable self will not take it to heart."

Hearing Zeng Shuyan's words pour forth from his mouth in a ceaseless stream, both Lu Xueling and Wen Pei looked somewhat embarrassed, yet Zeng Shuyan remained perfectly at ease, showing not the least trace of shame. Li Xun likewise smiled and nodded, saying no more, only: "And what is the result of your discussion?"

Zeng Shuyan cupped his hands. "We must trouble Brother Li after all."

A flicker of delight crossed Li Xun's face. He returned the salute and said, "Not at all, not at all. We are all of the righteous path, one family; it is only proper." As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward Lu Xueling once more, then withdrew. He coughed and said, "But the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains are, after all, a dangerous place. The three of you would do well to make preparations early. Come, let me first tell you a few matters that require attention."

Zeng Shuyan smiled. "Then we are in your debt, Brother Li." Turning, he beckoned. "Senior Sisters, come quickly and listen as well."

Lu Xueling frowned, seeming somewhat unwilling, but Wen Pei gave her a tug, and she came over after all.

Low voices echoed through the Shanhe Hall.

Deep within the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains, past the last shred of darkness and beyond the last crooked old tree, Ming Li and Jin Pingyue finally emerged from that black forest. Beyond the forest, this day brought a rare and gentle sunlight, uncommon in the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains; it spilled down warm and mellow, brushing over their bodies and falling upon the twisted trees—yet still it could not penetrate that mysterious, austere forest.

Jin Pingyue spread her arms wide. Though she had come this way once before, stepping out of that forest still brought her a sense of release. Indeed, after days spent walking through a forest rank with poisonous insects and sodden with endless drizzle, no one could be in good spirits.

Standing outside the forest, even the air drawn into the lungs seemed warmer and more comfortable. After a deep, contented breath, Jin Pingyue turned to look at Ming Li. On his face, still wearing its usual mask of indifference, she could plainly see relief as well.

After a brief pause to rest, he raised his head and gazed into the distance. Under this rare fine weather the view was broad; far off there still seemed an endless expanse of mountains, ridges rolling one after another, peak upon peak, until at the very limit of sight there was still no end.

Ming Li's expression shifted slightly. Jin Pingyue came to his side, glanced at him, and smiled. "What, did you not expect the Southern Borderlands' wretched wilds to be so vast? When I first came here, I was startled too."

Ming Li's gaze lingered on the distant mountains. He said mildly, "That ancient cave of demon suppression you spoke of—how much farther is it?"

Jin Pingyue smiled with coy charm, stepped forward twice, and stood before Ming Li, gazing out at the endless mountains a while. Then she raised a hand and pointed to one peak whose slopes below the summit were all a strange, scorched black. "See that black mountain? Once we cross that ridge, at its foot lies the Ancient Cave of Demon Suppression."

Ming Li looked where she pointed and indeed saw that most peculiar peak. Far off as it was, there seemed to be no sunlight upon it at all; on the contrary, it was forever shrouded in a faint black mist, betraying a certain mystery.

Ming Li nodded. "Then let us go."

With that he strode forward—but Jin Pingyue did not move, still standing where she was. Ming Li walked a few steps, sensed that she had not followed, and turned back in some surprise. "What is it?"

Jin Pingyue shot him a look. Yet even that reproachful expression, in the warm, gentle sunlight, held a certain allure. "You are of course a formidable person. It is only a pity that what stands before you is a frail woman—and one who can no longer walk."

Ming Li said mildly, "Search all the women in the world, and you would still not be the one to play the frail maiden."

Jin Pingyue smiled sweetly, not in the least offended, and went to find a dry stone nearby to sit on. Though Ming Li did not take her words seriously, on reflection he realized that in these past days within that strange black forest, neither of them had truly rested. He did not insist on pressing on, and sat down not far from her.

The monkey Xiaohui, which had been lying on his shoulder all along, gave two squeaks of "zhi zhi," as though suddenly roused from lethargy. In a flash it was full of energy; it sprang from Ming Li's shoulder to the ground, looked all about with its three eyes blinking, then cocked its tail and, with a whoosh, darted into the grass nearby, vanishing in an instant.

Jin Pingyue glanced in the direction it had gone. "This place is dangerous at every turn. Your monkey running about everywhere—are you not afraid something will happen to it?"

Ming Li shook his head. "No matter. Even if the two of us came to harm, that fellow would do just fine on his own."

Jin Pingyue burst into a giggle, covering her mouth. "What do you mean, 'on his own'? It is a monkey, plainly."

Ming Li glanced at Jin Pingyue's face, smooth and radiant as jade, and the faintest trace of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Then his eyes turned toward the direction Xiaohui had vanished, and he said slowly, "In my heart, it is worth far more than countless people in this world."

Jin Pingyue looked at his somewhat pale face, and the smile on her own slowly faded. She gazed at Ming Li thoughtfully—but Ming Li seemed to frown, his expression darkening all at once.

Perhaps he had suddenly realized what he had said before another.

Jin Pingyue had always been a woman of the keenest intelligence, and by no means one of those quiet, demure ladies of the world. She watched Ming Li's face in silence, her gaze soft and brimming like water—yet under that gaze his expression only grew uglier and uglier. Just as the awkwardness thickened and Ming Li's brow knitted ever tighter, Jin Pingyue suddenly spoke:

"What is the matter with you?"

Ming Li started. "What?"

Jin Pingyue looked at him, her face caught between a smile and something else, a deeper meaning in her eyes, and said softly, "You seem a little ill at ease?"

Ming Li coughed. "No."

As though she had not heard his answer, Jin Pingyue went on of her own accord: "Is it that before a woman like me, you suddenly spoke some words from your heart—and now you feel a little awkward?"

Ming Li's face turned cold in an instant, but before he could speak, Jin Pingyue pressed on: "In these ten years, and especially since Bili's misfortune, you have never stayed so long alone with a woman. Is it that, without meaning to, over these days together, the hostility between us has faded—and you said something unguarded, and now feel you have wronged her?"

Ming Li stared at Jin Pingyue, his gaze gone icy. He said coldly, "What do you mean by this? And why do you speak of Bili?"