Chapter 221 — Rescue
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 5 of 6
It was not Lu Xueling, but a mysterious figure all in black, face covered as well, features indiscernible. Zhou Yixuan and the other two did not recognize him; but Xiaobai gave a cold snort, and without any visible movement, her body suddenly appeared in front of the witch demon just as he was about to move, blocking his way.
The witch demon glanced at Xiaobai, gave a bitter laugh, and halted his steps.
After another moment, footsteps sounded within the room. This time, two people appeared at the doorway—Lu Xueling, supporting a haggard-faced fat man, slowly walking out.
Xiaowan and the others saw it clearly: this fat man was indeed the one who had saved their lives at the hands of that demon. Only, seen thus in haste, after being confined in the coffin for so many days, the fat man's figure somehow seemed to have grown a good deal rounder still.
Lu Xueling helped the fat man sit down on the stone steps before the room, and said in a low voice, "Uncle-Master Tian, are you all right?"
Everyone present was slightly taken aback at this address. They all knew well what Lu Xueling's station was; and to hear her call this fat man thus—could it be that he too was of the Canglan Sect, and by the look of it, an elder of no low seniority?
This fat man was, of course, Tian Buhui, head of Dazhu Peak, who had mysteriously vanished some time ago together with Daoist Daoyan, the sect master of Canglan.
Tian Buhui glanced at Lu Xueling and nodded, but said little. Lu Xueling was clever enough to understand at once, and she too said no more—only, for some reason, her heart was pounding wildly, and that former sense of tension was now growing ever stronger.
If Tian Buhui was here, then where was that more important person now?
Could it be the demon that Xiaowan and the others had spoken of?
The thought flashed swiftly through Lu Xueling's mind, and for some reason she felt a faint prickling on her back, as though needles pressed against it.
The witch demon stood to one side, his gaze falling upon Tian Buhui, studying the fat man deeply. This was the first time he had seen Tian Buhui's face clearly, yet as he looked, a strange light flickered in his eyes. But he had no more leisure to observe others; a moment later, Xiaobai's voice was already echoing at his ear: "Where is the thing I want?"
The witch demon's heart skipped a beat. He gave another bitter laugh and turned to Xiaobai, who stood before him, saying with a rueful smile, "I've already told you."
Xiaobai spat. "The southern border is a thousand li away—do you think I'd run all that way on the strength of one sentence of yours that no one can verify? I'll give you a word of advice: hand over what I want, honestly."
The witch demon was silent for a moment. His face was masked, so others could not read his expression, but it was plain he was pondering something. Xiaobai grew impatient. "You know well enough what I am—I'm not like that old devil of the Fenxia Valley. When your master was alive, he promised me that thing too, did he not?"
The witch demon nodded silently, as though her words had moved him. He walked slowly to Xiaobai's side, lowered his voice, and said a few words.
Xiaobai suddenly frowned. "Truly?"
The witch demon said flatly, "This is not your first brush with witch arts. You know well enough that the ancient witch clans of the southern border have their taboos and prohibitions."
Xiaobai mused for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. I'll trust you this once. But if you dare deceive me, sooner or later I'll find you, and you'll rue it."
The witch demon gave a bitter laugh and shook his head.
Xiaobai turned and looked over the others, her gaze finally settling on Lu Xueling—who happened to be looking at her as well. Xiaobai suddenly smiled faintly, and about her brows and the corners of her lips there came an indescribable allure, yet with no trace of lewdness; rather it only enhanced her beauty. "Miss Lu," she said with a smile, "it's been a long time."