劍問蒼天 - 第55章 共死 - 翰墨軒

At this, Li Xun cleared his throat up ahead and said to Zhang Qingyue, "Junior Brother Zhang, there is one thing I would like to ask you."

Zhang Qingyue did not dare be remiss. "Pray speak, Senior Brother Li."

Li Xun looked at him and said slowly, "Junior Brother Zhang, you were the first to enter the Fire Dragon Cave. May I ask—in that cave, or upon that white fox, did you happen to see a jade ring, bearing a flame totem at its center and red silk tassels at either end?"

Zhang Qingyue's heart gave a leap, and beside him Stone had already cried out loudly, "Yes! Yes! Last night, when we fought the three-tailed demon fox, we saw her use that artifact!"

Li Xun and Yan Fei both showed joy at once, but Yan Fei was the more meticulous of mind. On second thought she said to Li Xun, "Then why, when we went down last night, did the three-tailed demon fox not summon the Mystic Fire Mirror?"

Li Xun said lightly, "She used the Mystic Fire Mirror to summon the fire dragon to contend with us. The Mystic Fire Mirror must have been on her person."

Yan Fei pondered and nodded. Li Xun turned to Zhang Qingyue and said, "Junior Brother Zhang, that Mystic Fire Mirror is a treasured heirloom of our school, and of great consequence. I wonder whether you have seen it?"

All eyes turned at once to Zhang Qingyue. He drew a deep breath, was silent for a moment, then said lightly, "No."

Li Xun started, and frowned.

Yan Fei's gaze traveled over Zhang Qingyue, and she said thoughtfully, "How is that? When you fought the three-tailed demon fox and the six-tailed spirit fox, did they truly never use the Mystic Fire Mirror?"

Zhang Qingyue was silent another moment, then said, "Last night, after I stumbled by chance into that Fire Dragon Cave, I found that the white fox—the six-tailed spirit fox you speak of—was already gravely ill and at the point of death. Later, when the three-tailed demon fox came in, she had likely been fighting the four of you outside and was likewise greatly drained. It took little effort on my part to strike them down and send them below."

Disappointment showed at once on the faces of Yan Fei and Li Xun. Yan Fei turned her head and looked at Li Xun, and Li Xun said lightly, "Before we left the Fire Dragon Cave, I searched that area carefully. There was no trace of the Mystic Fire Mirror. I fear it fell with them into the lava, to be buried with them."

Yan Fei sighed, then said, "Never mind, Senior Brother Li. However it may be, we have destroyed the remnants of the demon foxes, and that is an accounting to our school."

Li Xun nodded, then turned and cupped his hands to Zhang Qingyue and the other two. "That being so, my junior sister and I must return to Fenxia Valley to report to our school. We shall take our leave first."

Zhang Qingyue and Stone made haste to say, "Pray go as you please."

Only Bili remained dark of face, standing to one side without stirring.

Li Xun nodded and said to Yan Fei, "Junior Sister, let us go."

Yan Fei smiled and nodded, but then, as though suddenly recalling something, she turned back to Zhang Qingyue and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, the demon cult has been stirring again of late. The Canglan Sect, joined by other righteous cultivators, will gather at Liubo Mountain in the Eastern Sea. I hear that your master's lineage will all be going. Why not go and meet them?"

Zhang Qingyue was startled, then joy showed on his face. "Truly? They have all gone to Liubo Mountain! Then I shall set out at once."

Yan Fei smiled and nodded. "That is well, then. After Senior Brother Li and I have made a trip back to our school, perhaps we too shall go. If fate allows, we shall meet again there!"

With that she turned and walked a few steps with Li Xun, then Yan Fei suddenly looked back again—this time smiling at Bili: "Miss Bili, that golden bell at your waist is truly lovely."