劍問蒼天 - 第200章 黑蝠 - 翰墨軒

Jin Pingyue had been lost in her own thoughts, and this remark caught her so off guard that for a moment she could not react. Her mouth fell open in astonishment, and her mind went blank for an instant. The monkey, by contrast, was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, chittering and capering without end, prancing and waving its limbs on Ming Li's shoulder. A moment later, it seemed to suddenly recollect itself, seized the large wine sack it had carried so long—long since empty and flat—and, without even looking, flung it hard to the ground with a "smack" that sent dust flying high.

Ming Li smiled faintly and walked on, gradually blending into the darkness; yet beneath the blue-green light, his figure stood out so vividly against the dark, and the joyful form of that gray-furred monkey was in such harmony with him—as though the two were one body, inseparable. Jin Pingyue walked slowly forward a few steps, and watching the figures of that man and monkey, she could not help feeling a chill. Yet without her noticing, the light of Ming Li's Soul-Devourer had left the surroundings, and it gradually grew dark. Jin Pingyue came to herself, extended her right hand, and violet light flared up, illuminating the area once more.

She steadied herself and was just about to quicken her pace to catch up with Ming Li when she suddenly saw a dark shape stir in the darkness ahead—and come darting toward her.

Jin Pingyue was startled and hastily gathered herself on guard, but when the figure came near, illuminated by the violet light, it turned out to be the monkey Xiao Hui.

Jin Pingyue frowned, though she breathed a sigh of relief. She only wondered what business this monkey—as strange as its master and just as formidable—could have in suddenly running back.

Xiao Hui bounded a few times to stand before Jin Pingyue, glanced around, and suddenly an angry look came over its face. It began barking and snarling at Jin Pingyue loudly. Jin Pingyue was taken aback, spread her hands, and said in surprise, "What are you doing?"

Xiao Hui glared at Jin Pingyue with all three eyes. Jin Pingyue was a rare beauty, but such beauty clearly had no effect on a monkey. Xiao Hui wore an exasperated expression and pointed indignantly at the ground beneath her feet. Jin Pingyue looked down, gave a cry of "Ah!", and stepped back—she had planted her foot squarely on the big wine sack Xiao Hui had just thrown away.

Xiao Hui, full of indignation, picked up the wine sack again, patted the dust off it with its hand, and actually slung the big sack back over its body. Jin Pingyue felt both annoyed and amused, and scolded, "Hey, you wretched monkey, you threw it away yourself! Why are you being so fierce with me?"

Xiao Hui gave two strange "chitter" cries at Jin Pingyue, bared its teeth in a grimace, then with a "whoosh" darted back the way it had come, vanishing into the darkness ahead in the blink of an eye—clearly off to chase after Ming Li.

Jin Pingyue stood stunned for a moment, then at last shook her head with a wry smile and followed.

Deep within the Ancient Cave of Demon Suppression, the flames in the brazier still burned in solitude. Dust-laden memories seemed to echo softly still in this silent cavern. Neither the Beast Sovereign nor the mysterious woman in the darkness spoke; both were silent, as though still steeped in that unbearable past. Even the Taotie nearby lay upon the ground as if weary, seemingly asleep.

But in the midst of that silence, the Taotie suddenly seemed roused by something. It raised its head abruptly from between its forepaws, fixed its great bronze-bell eyes on the distant exit, and let out a piercing roar tinged with unease.

The Beast Sovereign slowly opened his eyes and frowned slightly, and in the darkness, the woman seemed to give a soft "Hm?"

That faint, distant howl, though it had grown somewhat weak, still came rushing from afar like a wild, untamed beast, recklessly shattering the silence and crashing down upon them.