劍問蒼天 - 第35章 古窟 - 翰墨軒

These eight—the most "outstanding" disciples of the three great orthodox sects of the day—sat in a circle on the ground and talked, and from Facheng and the others Zhang Qingyue learned for the first time that the bats in the Ten Thousand Bats Ancient Cave of Kongsang Mountain were a strange breed once reared by the Demonic Sect: savage and cruel, bloodthirsty by nature, they had been the Sect's accomplices. Eight hundred years ago, after the Demonic Sect's stronghold here was destroyed, a few of the bats survived; over the long years they had multiplied vigorously, until they reached their present vast numbers, and whenever they went out to hunt they left not a living soul within five hundred li around.

These bats, however, seemed to fear sunlight, and so moved only at night, roosting in the Ten Thousand Bats Ancient Cave by day. The Canglan party had simply been unlucky enough to meet them the night before; had they climbed the mountain by daylight, they would have come to no harm.

At this Zeng Shuyan said, "Senior Brother Facheng, if those creatures are all inside the Ten Thousand Bats Ancient Cave, how are we to get in and investigate?"

Facheng hesitated a moment. "From what this humble monk has observed these days, by daylight those creatures only hang head-down from the roof of the cave and do not stir. It is possible we might get in."

Zeng Shuyan was left speechless, but Zhang Qingyue could not refrain from saying, "Then you are saying, Senior Brother Facheng, that you are not certain either—and if those things should see us enter and come swooping down on us, what then?"

Facheng looked at him, and something seemed to flicker faintly in his eyes, but his manner remained mild. "Just so. This humble monk has indeed no certainty of it. But our masters have given the order, and it must be done; we can only make the attempt. At worst we retreat again. Today my junior brother Fajing and I, together with these two benefactors of Fenxia Valley, meant to go in and probe a little—and then we met you. That is well: the more people, the better we can look after one another."

"Hmph"—it was Li Xun at the side, snorting coldly again. All four of the Canglan party turned to look at him, and Li Xun showed not the least fear; only when he saw Lu Xueqi's gaze come his way did his expression change somewhat.

Qi Hao paid him no mind, but turned to Facheng. "There is one more matter on which I would ask your advice, Senior Brother Facheng."

Facheng said, "Speak, Senior Brother Qi."

Qi Hao said, "Three months ago, the senior disciple of our Canglan Sect, Senior Brother Xiao Yichen, came here ahead of us. Do any of you know where he is now?"

Facheng shook his head. "We came here together with the two from Fenxia Valley, and we have not seen Senior Brother Xiao."

Qi Hao frowned and sank into brooding silence.

The next day, as the morning sun first rose, Zhang Qingyue and the other seven came up onto Mount Kongsang. The whole mountain lay barren, sand and gravel strewn everywhere; on a mountain so vast, not even the ordinary call of a bird was to be heard. They supposed that the birds had either long since become tidbits for those vicious bats, or had long since deserted this peak.

Facheng and the others had arrived several days before and had already found the Ancient Cave of Ten Thousand Bats. So the whole company followed him, treading with the utmost care, and at last came to the cave's mouth.

It was an enormous half-open cavern, set on the shaded, sunless flank of the mountain and slanting gently downward. Only about the entrance was there any light at all; further in, all was pitch black. Standing five or six zhang short of the opening, they all felt gust after gust of cold air blowing out from within, brushing their faces with a chill that bit into the bone. At the same time a faint rustling drifted out to them, like whispers, like the wailing of ghosts, setting their scalps crawling.