劍問蒼天 - 第149章 劇毒 - 翰墨軒

Daoyan nodded: "Indeed. Today the Demonic Sect is split three ways, with the Ten Thousand Venoms Sect, the Ghost King Sect and the Bewitching Sect locked in endless strife. We do not know where their headquarters lie, but from scattered traces it seems all three must be in the southwest, so that region has always been the seat of Demonic Sect power. And now the beast-demons have suddenly turned there in great numbers. For what purpose, I wonder?"

Pucheng frowned: "Could it be that the beast-demons have already clashed with the Demonic Sect and come off the worse, so that a great host is rushing to their aid?"

Daoyan's face was deep and somber: "It is not yet clear. But if so, nothing could be better. Beast-demons and the Demonic Sect are both scourges. If they maul each other, the common people of the world are fortunate indeed."

At this Yun Yifeng suddenly shook his head: "Masters both, I doubt it is so simple."

Daoyan glanced at him: "Oh? Pray enlighten us, Valley Master Yun."

Yun Yifeng said: "You and I both know well that the Demonic Sect has always been selfish to a man. That they would rise up and make enemies of the beast-demons for the sake of the common people—such a thing I consider impossible..."

Seeing Daoyan and Pucheng both give slight nods of agreement, Yun Yifeng smiled faintly and went on: "On the contrary, from what I have long known of the Demonic Sect, seeing the beast-demons so mighty now, far from opposing them, even if the beasts wounded them by accident, I fear they would sooner swallow the insult and withdraw, leaving us of the Orthodox path to take up the hoe against these savage beast-demons."

Daoyan nodded: "Indeed, Valley Master Yun speaks sense. Yet the beast-demons are in truth marching southwest in great numbers. In your esteemed view, why?"

Yun Yifeng was silent a moment, then said gravely: "Judging by how the beast-demons have moved through the Central Plains these past days, they have no fixed target; they slaughter along the way and press ever north. So this sudden great turning must hide something strange. Most likely the beasts near the southwest suffered some grave loss, and that is why the demon they call the Beast Lord has mustered a great host and sent it southwest. But in the southwest there has never been any power of note besides the Demonic Sect, so I suspect something irregular has occurred within the Demonic Sect itself."

Pucheng's white brows knit: "Irregular? What do you mean, Valley Master?"

Yun Yifeng chuckled: "That, now, is beyond my knowing."

Pucheng could not help but smile, shaking her head: "After all that talk, have you not said nothing at all, Benefactor Yun?"

The three laughed together. But a moment later Daoyan said thoughtfully: "In truth, as I see it, Brother Yun's words are not without merit. In any case, with the beast-demons now marching southwest in great numbers, the pressure before us has eased considerably, and at least it buys us some time. The common people of the world look to us with eager hope; we too must make some move for all to see."

Yun Yifeng glanced at Daoyan: "Oh? Does the Zhenren mean for us to go down the mountain and fight a proper battle while the beast-demons' main force is away?"

Daoyan said sternly: "Indeed. For every beast-demon slain, the world's people suffer one part less. Such a duty falls to us of the Orthodox path; we cannot shirk it."

Pucheng chanted a Buddha's name under her breath. A flicker of mockery passed quietly through Yun Yifeng's eyes, but at once he said with gravity: "The Zhenren speaks most truly. Then let all be arranged as you see fit; my Fenxia Valley line will gladly take the vanguard."

Daoyan smiled: "With such spirit from Valley Master Yun, how could the beast-demons fail to be defeated! Yet as for the southwest, I have pondered long and feel there is much mystery in this. We must not rashly interfere, but to pay it no heed at all seems hardly proper either."