劍問蒼天 - 第234章 別離 - 翰墨軒

Xiao Wan was startled at first, then overjoyed. With a little cry of "Sister Ping'er!" she ran over. Jin Pingyue, seeing Xiao Wan, was all smiles; taking her hand and studying her closely a few times, she laughed and said, "Dear sister, every time I see you, you have grown a little prettier—truly a new face each day! I wonder how many men you have captivated by now!"

Xiao Wan had not expected such a greeting. Though she well knew this sister of hers was no demure lady of the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, still her cheeks flushed crimson at the words, and she scolded, "Captivated indeed! Goodness, we finally meet for once, and all you do is poke fun at me."

Jin Pingyue's eyes were full of laughter. She reached out and gave Xiao Wan's delicate cheek a little pinch, smiling. "Little thing, even I am nearly bewitched by you—and you still will not confess?"

Xiao Wan's face grew redder still, but her affection for Jin Pingyue was great, and having met so seldom, she could not bear to let go. She held Jin Pingyue's hand and plied her with questions, though now and then she stole a glance toward Ming Li.

Ming Li and Zhou Yixuan had of course seen Jin Pingyue's sudden arrival as well; neither had expected to meet her here at such a time. Given his cultivation, Ming Li had naturally detected her approach earlier than Xiao Wan or the Wild Wolf Daoist—he even knew that she had descended from the direction of He Yin City behind them, and far off toward He Yin City there seemed to be another thread of spiritual energy, though it was too distant for him to make out clearly.

Still, whoever could be traveling with Jin Pingyue would hardly be anyone of the great orthodox sects—so it must be someone of the demonic cult. At that thought, Ming Li gave up any notion of probing further. Jin Pingyue, meanwhile, chatted and laughed with Xiao Wan a while, then took her by the hand and walked with her toward them.

"Young master, I trust you have been well?"

Jin Pingyue's voice seemed to carry a soft, alluring note that made a listener's bones go weak. Xiao Wan, standing beside her, stole a glance up at Ming Li, but saw only that his face was cold and indifferent, as though that seductive voice had no effect on him at all. Somehow, a faint smile crept to the corner of Xiao Wan's lips.

Since Jin Pingyue had come over to greet him of her own accord, Ming Li gave a slight nod. "What a coincidence."

Jin Pingyue smiled faintly. "It has been a long time since we parted in the southern borderlands..." Halfway through she caught sight from the corner of her eye of the three-eyed spirit monkey Xiao Hui, perched on Ming Li's shoulder and pulling faces at her. Back in the southern borderlands she had been made a fool of by this monkey, and her face darkened at once. Xiao Hui, however, seemed not the least bit afraid; the more it watched her expression, the more delighted it grew, baring its teeth and grinning at her in open provocation.

Jin Pingyue's mind wavered, and then she caught herself, cursing inwardly—how could she have so little composure before a monkey? She shot Xiao Hui a venomous glare, then looked away and paid it no more heed, her smile returning as she said to Ming Li, "Speaking of which, young master, that day you abandoned me and vanished without a trace—how heartless of you."

Ming Li said coolly, "If I had not abandoned you, I fear I would never have walked out of those hundred thousand savage mountains myself."

Jin Pingyue gave a little cry of "Ah!" and covered her mouth with her hand, laughing. Clearly she was not in the least bothered by the barb in Ming Li's words. "Young master, you do know how to joke," she said.

Ming Li gazed at her deeply for a moment. "Still, that you were able to come out of the Ancient Cave of Demon Suppression—that was beyond anything I expected," he said.

A flash of keen light passed through Jin Pingyue's eyes. "Oh? Does the young master not wish me to come out?" she said with a smile.