Chapter 95 — Night Talk
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 4 of 6
The three wore uneasy, doubtful expressions. Lin Jinghong frowned. "More poisonous insects?"
Zeng Shuyan forced a laugh. "I fear a good many of them."
The three exchanged glances and saw worry in one another's eyes. In this Dead Marsh, riddled with venomous insects and unforeseeable dangers, a single day had already taught them some wariness of its vicious things—and there were simply too many strange creatures here; who knew what might come forth next?
Just as the three were straining their guard, from the distant forest ahead there suddenly rose a great clamor. Moments later an angry shout came amid a chorus of insect cries. Lin Jinghong and the others were all startled, and Zeng Shuyan was first to cry out: "It is Senior Brother Li Xun of the Burning Cloud Valley!"
Lin Jinghong's expression jolted. "Senior Brother Li may be in danger. I will go out to meet him..."
He was about to move when a hand reached over from beside him and pulled him back—it was Facheng. "I will go," he said quickly. "This place is exceedingly perilous. You two must stay within the Prajna Heart Circle and not stir."
Without waiting for Lin Jinghong or Zeng Shuyan to object, he floated up, his moon-white monk's robes bearing him into the air, and in moments his figure melted into the darkness ahead.
Lin Jinghong and Zeng Shuyan were both taken aback; but only moments later, the noise ahead rose again—angry shouts, insect cries filling the sky, threaded with a few startled exclamations. Plainly Facheng had reached Li Xun's side and crossed blades with the unknown creatures.
The night was deep, and the cold night wind in the forest suddenly seemed to grow stronger, its wailing shrill. The clamor ahead grew louder and louder, but the darkness stood like an insurmountable wall before Zeng Shuyan and Lin Jinghong.
Like ghosts weeping, like wolves howling!
Just as Lin Jinghong and Zeng Shuyan were losing their patience and preparing to charge out, a sharp whistle cut through the air ahead; in an instant the insect cries fell silent, shadows stirred in the depths of the dark, and two figures floated back at once—Facheng and Li Xun of the Burning Cloud Valley. Both had torn clothing, and Li Xun's was faintly stained with blood.
They moved with great speed, and within moments floated back into the golden circle. Lin Jinghong and Zeng Shuyan hurried forward to receive them, and saw that both wore expressions of some fatigue.
Before Lin Jinghong and the others could ask, Li Xun's sword-like brows shifted and he suddenly shouted, "Careful!"
The others were startled again. Then from the dark forest all around, the insect cries suddenly swelled, closing in from every direction, dense beyond counting, encircling them—and who could say how many strange, horrific eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, peering at them!
"What is it?" Zeng Shuyan's eyes went wide as he looked around, even as he questioned Facheng and Li Xun.
Li Xun's face was cold. "Many giant ants. Everyone be careful!"
Lin Jinghong and Zeng Shuyan both started. Zeng Shuyan asked wonderingly, "What?"
Just then Facheng said softly, "Careful—they are here!"
The others tensed and stood on guard. By the firelight and the Reincarnation Pearl's golden radiance they saw the rustling swell in the deep darkness of the surrounding forest, and gradually dark shapes began to stir and gather, closing in from every direction.
When the dark shapes drew near, Lin Jinghong and the others saw them clearly and all gasped. The monsters crawling ceaselessly out of the darkness were ant-like creatures, every one the size of a grown man's calf—and their numbers seemed endless. In an instant that chilling rustle filled the forest clearing.