劍問蒼天 - 第247章 等待 - 翰墨軒

Ming Li sat quietly in the ice-cold stone chamber, his back against the stone platform where Bi Li lay, while the monkey Xiao Hui lay at his legs, its head resting on his thigh, fast asleep.

The stone chamber was utterly silent, so silent that one could almost hear one's own heartbeat. Ming Li's face was blank, but in his eyes an unusual light flickered, and there was a faint suggestion of anxiety. A full day and night had now passed since Mr. Gui first proposed to study and comprehend the astrolabe treasure, yet that black figure had never appeared again. Unease was gradually growing in Ming Li's heart—especially whenever the corner of his eye caught the figure of Bi Li lying on the ice-cold stone platform, that ache in his chest grew all the stronger.

He had even begun to entertain the thought of risking everything for Bi Li's sake.

But it was at this very moment—as though in reward for his day and night without sleep or rest—that the stone door of the ice-cold chamber gave a low rumble and slowly opened. Mr. Gui's black figure appeared in the doorway and walked slowly in.

The rumbling of the door, low and powerful, woke the monkey Xiao Hui from its dreams. The monkey rolled over, clambered up from the ground, and scratched at its head; its three eyes still seemed heavy with sleep, and it took quite a while to come fully to its senses. Then it bared its teeth at Mr. Gui in a fierce grimace before turning and climbing onto Ming Li's shoulder—Ming Li having already risen to his feet. Clearly it was most displeased with Mr. Gui for interrupting its sweet dreams.

Yet though the monkey was displeased, Ming Li plainly showed no such expression; he even secretly let out a faint sigh of relief and smiled a little. Looking at Mr. Gui, he said simply, "How goes it?"

Mr. Gui was naturally not a man who loved to prattle. He answered directly and plainly: "It's done as you said before."

Ming Li nodded. Mr. Gui silently cast a glance around, then suddenly added, "However..."

Ming Li started. "However what?"

Mr. Gui said, "However, I fear we had best change to another place."

Ming Li frowned. "Why is that?"

Mr. Gui said mildly, "This ice-cold stone chamber is, after all, the place where Miss Bi Li rests. That astrolabe treasure has produced strange disturbances the last few times it was activated. If we were to study it here again, would it not be to Miss Bi Li's detriment?"

Ming Li pondered a moment, then slowly nodded. "True. Put that way, we certainly ought to change locations to study it." He glanced at Mr. Gui. "Does the gentleman already know of a suitable place?"

Mr. Gui smiled faintly. "Since this old man made up his mind before coming here, naturally I have thought everything through. Come with me."

With that, he turned and walked out of the ice-cold stone chamber. Ming Li looked back at Bi Li lying on the stone platform and said softly, "Bi Li, rest easy. I will surely find a way to save you."

Bi Li lay there quietly, tranquil, with the faintest trace of a smile about her. Ming Li gazed at her in silence for a long while before at last turning around, drawing a deep breath, and striding out.

The stone door slowly closed behind him. Ming Li looked at that black figure and said, "Please lead the way, sir."

Mr. Gui laughed softly—a low, secretive sound, somewhat eerie. Hearing it, Ming Li could not help but frown. Yet in ordinary times, when he heard Mr. Gui speak, it always seemed to carry this same tone; he only could not say why, but today it sounded especially grating to the ear.