Chapter 86 — King's Village
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 3 of 7
Ming Li was silent for a long while, then said coldly, "I have been in the sect ten years. Here it is day after day of campaigns and bloodshed, of deception and scheming, of mutual intrigue without end. How does it deserve the word 'holy'?"
The Ghost King laughed heartily, then said, "Oh! Then what of the righteous path you came from—how is it there?"
Ming Li's body seemed to tremble slightly. After a moment, he said, "The wicked deeds done by those of the righteous path are no less than those of the Demonic Sect!"
The Ghost King regarded him with interest. "Then this is not right, and that is not right either. In your heart, what do you consider 'righteous'?"
Ming Li did not answer. He was silent for a long while, then lifted his head and looked at the sky.
Blue sky, white clouds.
"I do not know!" he said, very low, as though speaking to himself.
After that figure, which from behind looked somewhat lonely and desolate, had gradually receded into the distance, the smile on the Ghost King's face slowly faded as well. In his deep eyes there seemed to flicker a mysterious light, shining without cease—no one could tell what he was thinking.
Just then a voice came from the other side, saying, "Sect Master, I—"
The Hell King cut him off. "Qinglong, come up."
"Yes." Qinglong walked over the wooden bridge, followed the Hell King's gaze toward the distance for a moment, and said, "Was the Vice Sect Master here just now as well?"
The Hell King nodded. "What is it?"
Qinglong said, "That old monster from the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect has sent someone secretly again, asking when the Sect Master will dispatch men into the Death Swamp so that we may all join together for the great undertaking."
The Hell King gave a cold laugh. "Tell them this: three days from now, the Hell King Sect will enter the swamp together with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and the Soul-Lure Sect."
Qinglong nodded. "Good."
The Hell King was silent a moment, then suddenly seemed to think of something and turned to Qinglong. "Qinglong, what is your opinion of Mingli?"
Qinglong started, then raised his eyes to the Hell King. The Hell King's brow was calm and placid, yet his gaze was deep beyond fathoming; for no reason at all a chill passed through Qinglong's heart, and for a moment he quite forgot to answer.
The Hell King smiled. "What is it?"
Qinglong came to himself, then fell into thought, though a certain hesitation showed in his face. The Hell King saw it and said mildly, "Qinglong, you and I have known each other for many years. Speak freely."
Qinglong shook his head with a bitter smile, then said, "Let me put it this way. When I was his age, my cultivation was not his equal, nor was my cunning as deep—"
There he suddenly stopped. The Hell King frowned. "What is it? There is more. Say it."
Qinglong hesitated a moment, then looked at the Hell King and said, "And my methods were not as ruthless as his."
The Hell King glanced at him but said nothing, and slowly turned away, gazing out over the lake, whose green waters were smooth as a mirror. Behind him Qinglong went on slowly, "Over these years, and especially in the last two, Mingli's methods have grown ever more violent and savage. He kills at the slightest provocation, and in the struggles for power he is utterly merciless. And among the younger generation of our Hell King Sect, the more outstanding talents, such as Monk Shasheng and Yan Hui, are all gathered under his banner."
The Hell King said flatly, "You think this is a bad thing?"
Qinglong shook his head slowly. "Not that exactly. It is only that back then he was... how has he come to be like this now?"
The Hell King was silent a while, then said suddenly, "In truth, I misjudged him in the beginning as well."
Qinglong was startled. "Sect Master, what do you mean?"