劍問蒼天 - 第208章 恐怖 - 翰墨軒

Since walking over, Lu Xueling had not looked at Ming Li again. After a long while, in the silence that had grown faintly strange, she was heard to say, low and calm—yet within that calm there seemed a feeling beyond words—"So… it really is you…"

Ming Li did not speak. He gazed at the gentle, beautiful, exquisite face of the woman before him, and after a long time, there was only one thing he did.

Slowly, he smiled at her.

Then he stood at her side, shoulder to shoulder, and drew a deep breath. That flame surging up from the depths of his chest seemed to warm his whole heart.

Lu Xueling seemed to sense something. Gradually, a faint red crept into her somewhat pale face—yet she made no attempt to hide it. Upon her frost-like features, she merely smiled faintly, toward what lay ahead, toward that blazing flame reflected in her eyes.

Such a warm smile!

The two figures stood side by side, looking at the Beast Venerable, facing this peerless demon lord of the present age.

Yet a look as of pain swept across the Beast Venerable's eyes, and he slowly lowered his head.

The flame burned quietly, and the scene in the stone chamber seemed to grow hazy in the firelight. The three figures stood there for a long while.

Until at last the Beast Venerable raised his head again. After his gaze rested a moment on Lu Xueling, it fell upon Ming Li, and he said suddenly, "Will you promise me one thing?"

Ming Li was taken aback. He had not expected such words, and for a moment did not know how to answer. He could only say, "What is it?"

Deep, deep weariness lay upon the Beast Venerable's face. He said mildly, "Whatever your purpose, the two of you will fight me in the end. If you die by my hand, then there is nothing more to be said. If I am defeated, I will not blame you—I only ask that after you leave this ancient cave, you do one thing for me."

Ming Li said, "Speak."

The Beast Venerable was silent a moment. "You remember there is a stone statue at the cave mouth."

A strange expression flickered across Ming Li's face, and he nodded slowly. "Yes."

The Beast Venerable's voice grew low and mournful. "If you have the chance to leave, then gather a bouquet of the lilies she loved most in those days, and lay them before her."

"Lilies… I understand." Ming Li nodded slowly, but there seemed something unusual in his tone. Lu Xueling sensed it, but said nothing, only glancing at him in silence.

The Beast Venerable shook his head and gave what seemed a self-mocking smile. Then, looking at Ming Li, he smiled and said, "But what of you two? If you remain here and never have the chance to leave again, what wish would you have?" His gaze drifted slowly from Ming Li to Lu Xueling's face. Smiling faintly, a strange light seeming still to flicker in his eyes, he said, "And you? Do you have a wish to speak of as well?"

Ming Li was silent, and Lu Xueling did not speak either. After a moment, she stole a glance at Ming Li and saw upon his face a veiled, complex expression tinged with pain.

She drew a deep breath and said suddenly, "I have no greater wish!"

Though her tone was plain, the words were uttered with absolute finality, leaving herself not the slightest room to turn back.

Perhaps she truly did not want—did not want at all—to leave herself any room anymore.

Ming Li's body shuddered.

Then he looked at the woman beside him.

A long, deep gaze.

Without a word.

The Beast Venerable looked at Lu Xueling, and the strange light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter. Suddenly he clapped his hands together, and though his body still swayed somewhat, he rose to his feet nonetheless. His brilliant silken robes swept around him, and the Taotie, that vicious beast, stood up as well, growling low at its master's side.

"Good, good, well said!"

The Beast Venerable fixed his gaze on Lu Xueling, and what slowly radiated from his eyes was an inexplicable fervor. "Just so, just so—there truly are women in this world like her still."