劍問蒼天 - 第88章 死澤 - 翰墨軒

Zhou Yixuan wore a bitter look, his face dotted with small welts from insect bites. Though not serious, they made him a sorry sight. Now he complained loudly, "What damned place is this, and where do all these cursed mosquitoes come from? One—one day's time, and the old man's had half his blood drained!"

Xiao Wan, walking ahead, turned back with some concern. "Grandfather, are you all right?"

Zhou Yixuan snapped, "Nonsense—do I look all right to you?"

Xiao Wan frowned. "Strange. These mosquitoes really are odd—why do they bite only you? Sister Ping'er and I are fine."

The beauty in the pale yellow dress standing beside Xiao Wan now also halted and looked back. She was leading Xiao Wan and Zhou Yixuan through the swamp; for all Zhou Yixuan's caution, he was constantly mud-footed and water-stained, while she moved like drifting clouds and flowing water, without a speck of filth on her person.

Zhou Yixuan was vexed. Seeing a small tree nearby, he went over and tested the ground, found the soil there fairly firm, and sat down squarely. "I'm tired of walking. We rest a while."

Xiao Wan, a little apologetic, glanced at the beauty in yellow, who was called Sister Ping'er. The woman smiled. "It's no matter. Let us rest a while."

Xiao Wan looked at her gratefully, then gazed about. The wilds stretched vast on every side, and a little farther off the mist was already thickening so that nothing could be seen clearly. Had Sister Ping'er not led the way on this journey, she truly could not have found her way in.

So she could not help saying, "Sister, is it Grandfather and I who are holding you back? If not for us, you could fly through the air—wouldn't that be much faster?"

The woman smiled sweetly. "It's no trouble. I did not come into this Deathmire to hurry along the road."

Xiao Wan was taken aback. "Sister, didn't you come on behalf of your Mighty Soul Sect to seize the treasure in this Deathmire?"

So it was that this striking woman in the pale yellow dress was none other than Jin Pingyue, whose name stood alongside Ming Li and Qin Wujiu. How Xiao Wan and Zhou Yixuan had come to know this famed new-generation master of the demonic cult was anyone's guess.

But Jin Pingyue clearly favored Xiao Wan and doted on her. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "That's right! But so many have come this time. Let us take our time—there's no hurry."

Xiao Wan found it strange, but on reflection supposed it was a secret of the Mighty Soul Sect and not hers to press. So she changed the subject. "Sister, we've been in this Deathmire a whole day now. Along the way you've seemed so familiar with it—can it be that you know the road?"

Jin Pingyue shook her head. "I have never been here before."

Xiao Wan was startled.

Jin Pingyue looked at her, and seeing those bright eyes full of doubt, could not help smiling. "Have you ever heard of an ancient book in fragmentary scrolls that records all manner of strange tales and wondrous beasts..."

Xiao Wan pondered a moment. "You don't mean the *Record of Gods, Demons, and Strange Beings*?"

Jin Pingyue nodded. "The very same. That book was written by a wondrous man of high antiquity. Legend says it held nine chapters, but most are lost. Besides the chapters that survive, 'Beasts and Spirits' and 'Goblins and Phantoms,' there was a fragmentary 'Mountains and Waters' chapter, which I chanced to obtain. At its very end are some records of this Deathmire."

Only then did Xiao Wan understand. But before she could say anything, from Zhou Yixuan's direction came another sharp *smack*, followed by loud cursing—he had no doubt been bitten again by some nameless mosquito and had his blood drained.