劍問蒼天 - 第68章 青龍 - 翰墨軒

The Nether King gave Baiduzi a deep look, a sharp light flickering in his eyes, then suddenly smiled and said: "What you say is true, Brother—we shall all meet again in days to come. You should know that three hundred years ago, beneath the previous Nether King, our Nether King Sect had Four Great Holy Envoys?"

Baiduzi's expression changed, and Duanmu Laozu had already cried out: "What, those four—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—they are actually still alive?"

The pale-faced scholar and the Nether King exchanged a smiling glance, and then he said with a smile to the crowd: "Greetings to you all. I am the Azure Dragon."

On the righteous side the reaction was not yet so violent, but Baiduzi and the other demon-cult people were visibly shaken. Three hundred years ago, when the Nether King Sect had just risen, apart from the previous Nether King, these so-called Four Great Holy Envoys were the sect's foundation and strength; from them its power had grown day by day. Through many slaughters and secret struggles in the demon cult, through countless storms of blood and wind, it had finally reached its present state. The strength of these four could well be imagined.

Then the Azure Dragon suddenly sighed, turned to the Nether King and said: "We are old after all. Look at those young righteous cultivators across the way—every one of them wears a look of doubt. Most likely they have never heard my name."

The Nether King said with a smile: "Why trouble yourself, Brother Long? The younger generation, having seen little, are easily amazed; given time, Brother Long's name will surely overawe the world once more."

The Azure Dragon laughed heartily, and in his laughter looked down at his own right hand, as if there were something faintly desolate in it still.

"Bang!" A loud crash made everyone jump, and they looked toward the sound: it was Shitou's demon-quelling staff, which had shot up into the sky earlier and only now come falling down.

For a time the field fell quiet. On the righteous side, most wore frowns, concentrating and keeping guard. This demon-cult revival—its strength had already exceeded all expectation, and from the look of things there were still more and deeper forces hidden and not yet come forth.

And on the demon cult side, each likewise harbored his own designs. Duanmu Laozu was the better off: he belonged to no sect, and was merely on good terms with the Old Vampire, and so stood on his side. But Baiduzi and the Old Vampire were both important figures of the Myriad Poison Sect, and now, looking at each other in silence, they had already grown deeply wary of the Nether King Sect.

Only the Nether King and the Azure Dragon stood there, composed and at ease. The Azure Dragon seemed to say something in a low voice; the Nether King smiled and shook his head, yet as if by chance cast a glance toward where Zhang Qingyue stood.

The night deepened, the sea wind howled, and far out over the vast ocean, that strange long keening of the deep night seemed to draw ever nearer, growing slowly clearer.

Tian Buhui and Daoist Cangyan exchanged a glance, each seeing in the other's eyes the intent to withdraw. Beside them Su Wan coughed once and said softly to Daoist Cangyan: "Brother Cangsong, the demons are strong now. Why not withdraw for the time being, return to the mountain and take counsel with our senior brother the sect leader, and then decide what to do?"

Cangsong pondered a long while, then nodded decisively: "What you say is right, Junior Sister." He glanced at Tian Buhui, and Tian Buhui slowly nodded.

Daoist Cangyan was just about to speak when something else occurred to him; he looked about him, frowned, and said in a low voice: "Where is Xiao Yichen? Why have I not seen him all night?"

Qi Hao, standing beside him, stepped forward at these words and said: "Master, when we came out earlier, Senior Brother Xiao said he was not feeling well and did not come along."