Chapter 73 — One
劍問蒼天 · Page 2 of 6
And Xiaohui giggled in chatter, its tail swinging this way and that, twining around Zhang Qingyue and refusing to let go.
Wu Dayi, standing some distance off, grumbled a few words and muttered low, "These two beasts—I tended them carefully for months, and they were never this fond of me!"
Soon, under everyone's gaze, Zhang Qingyue rose and walked toward his quarters, Xiaohui seated on his shoulder, Dahuang following along.
It seemed that only at this moment did Zhang Qingyue's figure no longer look quite so lonely.
Far off at the foot of the Canglan Mountains, Bili and the mysterious woman in black, Yousi, stood side by side, gazing at the summit hidden deep in the white clouds.
Bili's face was somewhat pale, her brows knit, and she looked much worn down, her expression a little abstracted. After gazing a long while, she said slowly, "I wonder how he is now?"
The black veil over Yousi's face stirred slightly; she turned to look at the girl beside her, so tormented by love, and said softly, "It's all right, Bili. Don't think too much."
Bili bit her lip and suddenly asked, "Where is my father?"
Yousi said, "The sect master went into He Yin City today to meet that old monster of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, who has just arrived."
Bili started. "What? The 'Poison God' has come too?"
Yousi smiled faintly. "Not only him. From what I hear privately, within the next few days I fear even the masters of the Longevity Hall and the Soul-Bewitching Sect will be arriving."
Bili was all the more startled, and only after a long while said, "How can that be? I know Father has already secretly moved the main fighting strength of the Nether King's sect to the vicinity of the Canglan Mountains. If these three masters come, the experts of their sects will surely follow, and then won't all the strength of our four great... no, of the Holy Church entire, be gathered here?"
Yousi's face was hidden behind her black veil, so her expression could not be read, but her voice alone was still composed and calm as she said evenly, "Quite so."
Bili suddenly lowered her head, and after a long while said slowly, "So then, Father's chief purpose in coming here is not to save Zhang Qingyue."
Yousi said mildly, "Bili, don't think too much. The sect master's word is his bond, and you are his only daughter—he would not deceive you. As for the sects of our Holy Church setting aside old grievances this time, that too was your father's earnest advocacy: to wipe out the century-old humiliation, the four sect masters together, beneath the Ming King, swore a solemn oath to strike Qingyun unprepared and catch them off guard."
Bili was silent a moment, then said, "If this battle succeeds, Father's prestige in the Holy Church will naturally soar; and even if it fails, he will still have the fine name of avenging the humiliation of his forebears. But..." Her voice suddenly rose, her expression seemingly agitated. "But I don't care about any of that, and I don't want to. I only want Zhang Qingyue to be well, not to be..."
"Bili!" Yousi suddenly cried. Bili started, looked at her, and at last said no more, turning her head to gaze at the vast white clouds in the distance, staring herself into a trance.
In a quiet mansion in He Yin City, the Nether King and Qinglong walked slowly in; all along the way attendants bowed respectfully and led them forward, straight toward the inner chambers.
This mansion was, of course, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect's stronghold in He Yin City; and it was on this very day that the sect master of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect—the Poison God, eldest in seniority among the four great sect masters of the demon cult—arrived here.