劍問蒼天 - 第150章 瘋狂 - 翰墨軒

Mount Huqi, the seat of the Nether King Sect's main hall.

"Chee-chee, chee-chee!" Little Grey's familiar cry rang out in the deep, dark passage, and out of the shadows came the figure of Mingli. On his shoulder, Little Grey took a few swigs from the large wine sack, then cleverly tied its mouth shut and let it hang down. The sack had a long, thin cord on it, fastened around the monkey like a harness, so there was no fear of it falling.

Mingli walked forward without expression, heading in the direction of the ice-cold stone chamber where Bili lay. Little Grey seemed a little sleepy, lying on his shoulder and yawning. The wilds of Mount Huqi were barren, with few wild fruits to be had; since returning here, Little Grey had spent most of his time sneaking into the Nether King Sect's cellars for a bit of wine, and after several days without seeing him, he seemed to have grown a little fatter.

Mingli walked slowly, and along the way he rarely encountered ordinary disciples of the Nether King Sect. He frowned slightly. In recent days many disciples had been assembled, and several days ago the Nether King himself had led them out of the mountain. As for where they had gone, he did not know; and strangely, though this seemed a matter of great importance, he, the vice sect master, had not been told, while Yousi and Mr. Gui, who had followed the Nether King for many years, along with Daoist Cangyan, who had only just joined the sect, and many other capable figures of the Nether King Sect whom he knew, had all remained at Mount Huqi.

Where exactly was the Nether King leading this host—numerous in number, yet less than half the sect's true strength—so mysteriously? Mingli was somewhat puzzled. But Mr. Gui, Yousi, and the others had kept silent, and naturally Mingli would not ask too many questions. Moreover, what concerned him most was not where the Nether King was going or how grave the matter was; in his eyes, Bili had always come first.

And now he had soon arrived before the ice-cold stone chamber.

There was no one at the door, nor was Yousi here. The place where this mysterious woman was most often seen was the ice-cold stone chamber, but lately the atmosphere within the Nether King Sect had seemed somewhat amiss, and her visits here had grown fewer.

Mingli stood at the door a while, steadied himself, then pushed the door open and went in. The moment he entered, he saw a slender figure in white standing beside Bili. Mingli started; at first he thought it was Yousi, but then he realized that Yousi always wore black, and this was not her. Sure enough, when the woman ahead heard the stone door and turned to look, her face was not veiled in black gauze.

It was Xiaobai.

Mingli was somewhat surprised. Ever since the Great Wizard's "Soul-Summoning Invocation" had failed, he had left Mount Huqi in his grief, and since returning he had not seen Xiaobai again. Though from the glimpses of the Nether King meeting with Xiaobai in those days he had gathered that the two were old acquaintances, he had no intention of inquiring into the matter.

Now, seeing Mingli, Xiaobai's face likewise showed a flicker of surprise, and then she revealed a faint smile. "So it's you," she said.

After all, Mingli had once had some acquaintance with Xiaobai, and she had given him guidance in the matter of saving Bili, so he still felt a measure of gratitude. He nodded and said, "Hello." At this, the monkey Little Grey on his shoulder also chirped cheerfully at Xiaobai twice.

Xiaobai smiled at Little Grey, then looked at Mingli. "You've come to see Bili?" she asked.

Mingli walked slowly forward. Bili's beautiful, serene face appeared before him once more, and his voice gradually sank low. "Yes," he said.

Xiaobai watched quietly as the man sat down beside Bili, then gazed at the body lying on the ice-cold stone platform without moving. She gave a soft sigh, shook her head, and slipped noiselessly out, leaving Mingli alone in the stone chamber with Bili.