劍問蒼天 - 第5章 驚變 - 翰墨軒

The three came down from the Rainbow Bridge, reached the pool's edge, and there saw a broad stone stair running straight up from the waterside to the great gate of the Yuheng Hall. The pool water was jade-green, clear and still as a mirror; the reflections of people and hills showed plain.

They mounted the stone stair and were about to go up toward the great gate when suddenly from deep in the pool came a roar, loud as crashing thunder—it was that very strange sound. Looking out, they saw a great whirlpool suddenly form at the pool's center; a moment later huge waves surged up and an enormous shape leaped forth, sheets of spray striking them full in the face.

The young Daoist, however, seemed to have been on guard: with a sweep of his left hand his body floated into the air, drifting swiftly back more than two zhang to hang suspended in midair. The two children had no way to escape and were instantly drenched like drowned chickens.

Yet the two of them paid no attention whatever to their own state; they only stared blankly at the huge creature that had appeared before them—over five zhang tall, with a dragon's head and a lion's body, covered in scales and armor, huge eyes and a great maw, two sharp fangs gleaming in the sunlight, its visage fierce and fearsome to behold.

The monster shook its body, and with a whoosh another sheet of spray came rushing over them; then, as though it had noticed something, it stretched its great head toward the steps.

Zhang Qingyue and Lin Jinghong saw that the monster's single head was far larger than the two of them put together, and in the sunlight its sharp teeth showed clear; watching it come nearer and nearer, they were truly afraid, and could not help pressing close together, their hearts pounding.

Just then the young Daoist, from where he had drifted back, raised one palm before his chest and said with the utmost respect, "Venerable Spirit, these two have been summoned especially by the masters."

The monster glared at him, snorted with a "chuff," and its great eyes—the eyeballs in them actually rolled—seemed almost to be pondering, like a man deep in thought. Then it paid the three no further mind, waddled off to one side, flopped down on the dry ground by the pool, yawned, lazily lowered its head, and went to sleep in the sun.

The young Daoist signaled the two still-shaken children to walk on, and said, "The Venerable Spirit is an ancient beast of ages past, subdued by our sect's Patriarch Qingye a thousand years ago. Its name is the Water Qilin. In those years, when Patriarch Qingye brought glory to Qingyun and vanquished demons and devils, it lent great strength. Today it is the guardian spirit beast of our Canglan Sect, honored as the 'Venerable Spirit.'"

With that he bowed once more toward the Water Qilin. Zhang Qingyue was gazing at it in fascination when Lin Jinghong tugged at him; catching his look, he too bowed respectfully to the Water Qilin. But the Water Qilin did not turn its head or stir in the least—only snored mightily; it likely saw nothing of it.

Having finished their bows, the three went on. Up the high stone steps, they soon saw a golden plaque bearing the three characters "Yuheng Hall." Reaching the foot of the majestic hall, they saw the doors flung wide, the interior full of light, wherein were enshrined the spirit tablets of the Three Pure Ones—the Celestial Worthy of Original Beginning, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure, and the Celestial Worthy of the Way and Its Virtue—in an air of solemn dignity.

And before the tablets, upon the hall's floor, stood several dozen people, some Daoist and some lay, who appeared to be of the Canglan Sect. Before the gathering were set seven great chairs of sandalwood—three on either side, and one more at the very front center—yet only six of them were occupied; the last chair on the right stood empty, with no one seated.