劍問蒼天 - 第146章 毒計 - 翰墨軒

Mingwang laughed—a laugh quite loud and clear, echoing out across the wild plain. After a moment he reined in his smile and said gravely, "Rest assured, Daoist. Qin Wujiu is a mere whelp who cannot recognize the Daoist's great talents. I ask the Daoist to come to my Mingwang Sect and condescend to take the seat of a presiding elder, to act as your heart directs, free of any care for the future."

Cangyan Daoren's face showed delight; he nodded and said, "Then I thank the Sect Master."

Mingwang nodded with a smile, a flicker passing through his eyes, and said, "Since the Daoist and I are now one family, I shall take the liberty of asking: among the Poison God's disciples, who has the best hope of inheriting the sect master's seat?"

Cang Song pondered for a long while. "Though the sect's great experts each stand in opposition, in my view it is still Qin Wujiu who in the end has the greatest chance. Young as he is, his mind runs deep, and he has received the Poison God's true transmission—he is not to be underestimated. Only, several months ago in the Dead Marsh to the west he was wounded by Mingli. They say the blood-devouring bead's demonic power is strange and matchless, seeping deep into the bone and marrow, and he has not yet recovered. That is why his several senior brothers were able to rise to the occasion; otherwise, with his ability, those good-for-nothing seniors would be far from his match."

Mingwang was startled. Though Mingli's ambush of Qin Wujiu had also taken place in the Dead Marsh, Mingli had disclosed nothing of it abroad, and he himself had known nothing; now, hearing Cangyan Daoren suddenly speak of it, he could not keep Mingli's figure from flitting across his mind, and the light in his eyes deepened.

So fierce was his gaze that even Cangyan Daoren was startled, saying in astonishment, "Sect Master, what is it?"

Mingwang came to himself, let out a breath, and smiled. "Nothing—only that I did not expect this Mingli whom I cultivated has now truly grown into a great instrument. It gladdens my heart."

Cangyan Daoren glanced at him, his expression unchanged, and said nothing more; but in his own heart there rose at once the image of Zhang Qingyue upon that peak of Canglan ten years ago, and thinking of Mingwang's expression just now, he could not help sneering inwardly.

Fox Qi Mountain, the main hall of the Mingwang Sect.

Descending from the sky, that demonic staff glimmering with green light flew silently back into the sleeve; Mingli's figure once again appeared before the entrance of the Mingwang Sect's main hall.

The few Mingwang Sect disciples guarding the gate started in fright, then hurriedly stepped aside, calling out one after another, "Vice Sect Master."

Mingli said nothing; his face expressionless, he walked straight in. Little Gray perched on his shoulder, looking this way and that as was its wont—though after a moment it drew its gaze back, for this place, too, was far too familiar to it.

Mingli walked slowly back to his own room and pushed open the stone door. Everything in the room was exactly as it had been before he left; it seemed no one had touched a thing. He stood in the room a long while, as though thinking of something, and in his face there appeared a rare trace of hesitation and fear. Little Gray leaped down from his shoulder, bounded twice or thrice onto the bed, and went off to amuse itself.

Mingli pressed his lips tightly together, then suddenly sighed, as though he had come to some resolve; turning, he went out and made his way toward the icy stone chamber deep within the mountain's belly.