Chapter 146 — A Vicious Scheme
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 7 of 9
His voice gradually lowered, and the carefully laid scheme was revealed to the assembly bit by bit. Time slipped quietly away amid their deliberations.
When the secret meeting ended, none could say how long it had lasted. The Ghost King and Mr. Ghost departed first; Yousi glanced at Mingli and then quietly left as well. Soon only Mingli and Daoist Cangyan remained in the room, and neither showed any inclination to rise and go at once.
He drew his gaze back from elsewhere; it wandered slowly through the now silent stone chamber and at last fell upon the face of the man before him—only to find that he, too, was looking at him.
In the stone chamber all was still. Of a sudden, it seemed one could hear the sound of breathing and of heartbeats.
Mingli suddenly said, "Do you have something to say to me?"
Daoist Cangyan gazed at him, and after a long while said slowly, "Yes—but now I do not know what to say."
Mingli fell silent. After a moment he said mildly, "In these ten years, have you ever gone to Qingyun?"
Daoist Cangyan's face was indifferent, but his eyes suddenly grew complicated. He sighed and said, "I have. But only to gaze at it from afar, a few glances at most. And you?"
Mingli rose slowly to his feet; the corner of his mouth twitched, and he said, "I have too. The mountains and waters there have not changed from ten years ago. Only the people have changed."
Daoist Cangyan gave a faint smile, though within it was unspeakable bitterness, and said in a low voice, "Yes! Only people change..."
Mingli turned and walked out. Just as he passed through the door, he heard behind him Daoist Cangyan, still seated in his place, softly and faintly murmuring: "Qingyun... Qingyun... heh, Qingyun..."
The next moment he left that stone chamber and did not look back again.
On the bridge above the blood pool, amid the thick stench of blood, the Ghost King and Mr. Ghost, having walked back here, looked side by side into the bloody water. The Yellow Bird and the Kui Ox still lay there in the blood, listless as before, while overhead the Coiling Dragon Cauldron turned slowly, from time to time casting forth red radiance.
The Ghost King said mildly, "These two spirit beasts are about done, are they not?"
Mr. Ghost nodded beside him and said, "Yes. The essence and spiritual power of both the Yellow Bird and the Kui Ox have been suppressed by the Coiling Dragon Cauldron; they are fully subdued now. It seems the inscription on the cauldron concerning the 'Four Spirits Blood Array' is indeed genuine."
The Ghost King nodded and said, "The Coiling Dragon Cauldron is an ancient relic of uncommon spiritual power. Even two such spirit creatures as these have been subdued by it. Once we subdue the other two spirit beasts, the great work can be accomplished."
Mr. Ghost hesitated a moment, then said, "Sect Master, regarding that stratagem of Daoist Cangyan's—do you think the man can be trusted?"
A strange light flashed in the Ghost King's eyes. He smiled slightly and said, "Cangsong is long since no longer the Cangsong of ten years ago. Though the world is vast, today only our Holy Cult can shelter him. And as for his stratagem, it amounts to no more than the deaths of a few more ordinary disciples—nothing of consequence."
Mr. Ghost's black veil stirred lightly. He suddenly said, "In that case, I have another thought—one that might let you, Sect Master, deal with the Enchanting Soul Sect as well while you are about the Ten Thousand Poison Sect."
The Ghost King was startled, delight on his face, and said, "What? Such a thing is possible? Pray instruct me, sir."