劍問蒼天 - 第149章 劇毒 - 翰墨軒

Pucheng nodded: "Indeed, that is my thought as well. This is, after all, the great calamity of the beast-demons, a scourge upon the world. Whatever has happened in the southwest, we should at least know it in our hearts."

Yun Yifeng said: "If so, then let us send a few disciples of high cultivation to follow quietly and learn what they can."

Daoyan nodded: "Good. So it is decided."

At this Yun Yifeng seemed to recall something, and suddenly said to Daoyan: "By the way, there is one more matter on which I must beg a favor of the Zhenren."

Daoyan started: "Valley Master Yun is too courteous. What matter is it? Speak freely."

Yun Yifeng smiled: "I hear that your sect's disciple of Xiaozhu Peak, Lu Xueling, has lately been punished to meditate in seclusion in the Moon-Gazing Terrace of Xiaozhu Peak. Hearing this, I was truly uneasy, and moreover..." He smiled: "That worthless disciple of mine has come to me every other day these past few days, begging me, saying he would not have Miss Lu punished on account of our request. Besides, with the beast-demons now ravaging the world, this is a time when talent is needed, and Miss Lu is an outstanding disciple of Qingyun. So I ask the Zhenren, for my sake, to grant Miss Lu a temporary remission of her punishment."

Daoyan sighed: "It is all my failure to discipline my sect that has made me a laughingstock before Valley Master Yun."

Yun Yifeng smiled: "What are you saying, Zhenren? It is only my worthless disciple's foolish fancies. And as for the affairs of these young ones, we may as well leave them alone from now on, and spare ourselves the worry." With that he laughed heartily.

Daoyan Zhenren was silent for a moment, then said, "Since Valley Master Yun has pleaded for her in person, I cannot possibly refuse him such a face. Let it be so: I will send Xueqi back this very day, and choose several disciples to accompany her to the southwest on an investigation. That may count as atoning for her crime through service."

A faint smile touched the corner of Yun Yifeng's mouth. "Ah! What a coincidence—I was just about to say that my unworthy disciple Li Xun should also go to the southwest for some tempering!"

Daoyan Zhenren glanced at him and said mildly, "Then let them go together."

Yun Yifeng laughed heartily and cupped his hands. "Then I thank you on my unworthy disciple's behalf."

Daoyan Zhenren withdrew his gaze, picked up the teacup from the table before him, and took a slow sip. Something shifted in his eyes as he said slowly, "The Valley Master is too courteous."

Venomous Snake Valley, in the southwest.

This vast valley was surrounded on all sides by dense, ancient forest. For most of the year, at dawn and dusk, a poisonous mist like miasma rose from the woods—in truth, it was the accumulated venom of the countless poisonous snakes that dwelt in the valley.

No one could say why so many venomous snakes made their home in this valley; their numbers had grown so great that they were everywhere, in the trees and on the ground alike. Only the cluster of buildings belonging to the Ten Thousand Venoms Sect escaped them, for the sect's secret arts kept the venomous creatures from coming near.

And these snakes, filling the hills and fields, had become both the Ten Thousand Venoms Sect's natural barrier and an inexhaustible treasury of poison.

It was now the early morning hour of the day. From the dense forest of Venomous Snake Valley, a faintly colored mist could be seen rising—it looked like the first morning fog, but should the ignorant draw near, within moments the deadly poison would leave them bleeding from every orifice, and at last they would die between the snakes' fangs.