Chapter 209 - Scheming
Southern border, Ten thousands great mountains.
Icy cold Yin wind gradually made one felt the chillness, the overcast dark clouds and the gradually emerging dim dark cave, all made that devil cave looked to be nearer. Lu XueQi and the rest stood several zhangs away from the Subdue Devil Cave, gazed towards the cave direction.
In the distance, a stone statue backfacing them, stood solitary before the cave entrance, other than that, there was no other things.
Li Xun looked at that cave, seemed strangely tense, quietly said, “It is here.”
The Yin wind howled, seemed to suddenly increase in pitch, made one shivered in fright. Lu XueQi, Zeng ShuShu, Li Xun etc were highly skilled, naturally did not fear the Yin energy emanating from this Yin wind, and several FenXiang Valley disciples who came with them, were also personally chosen experts, mostly did not looked uncomfortable.
Zeng ShuShu turned back and said, “The demon energy here is as expected extremely heavy, but we have been watching for a long time, not a single demon beast appear, this is somewhat strange.”
Lu XueQi nodded but her cold clear gaze never changed, indifferently said, “Since we are here, let’s go over, whatever demon or evil, we can deal with it earlier.” After speaking, without waiting for Li Xun and the rest to reply, walked straight over.
Li Xun and Zeng ShuShu looked at each other, Zeng ShuShu made a dry laugh, shrugged his shoulders, followed along. Li Xun looked at that beautiful girl’s figure from the back, sighed, to him, that figure had appeared countless times in his dreams but when he really had a chance to be together, they seemed to be even further apart.
He was silent for a moment, waved his hand, summoned his junior brothers behind and also followed along.
In the distance, near that mysterious stone figure outside the cave, suddenly a black figure flashed into the cave, it was Black Wood.
Almost as if following Black Wood’s figure, a low howl was heard suddenly from deep inside the cave, it was that ferocious spirit Black Tiger’s voice, the illusory mist started to form, the ferocious spirit looked to be appearing soon.
And at this time, Black Wood who was concealing behind his black clothes, suddenly spoke out, “Big brother, don’t come out first, listen to me.”
The ferocious spirit’s voice coldly laughed, but the white mist was still gathering, clearly ignoring Black Wood’s voice, said, “Bastard, you still dare to come back?”
Black Wood standing in the shadow at a corner of the cave, said, “After you materialize, you will alert the people who are coming over, today the number of people coming to Subdue Devil Cave is unceasing, the reason for it, don’t tell me you still don’t know?”
The white mist suddenly stiffened in the air, did not continue to increase but did not look like it was dispersing.
After a moment, Black Tiger’s voice coldly said, “What do you mean?”
Black Wood coldly said, “They are here, obviously is to deal with that person inside the cave, no matter what, isn’t this what you are hoping for? Moreover you have already let some in earlier, now allowing more to go in, why not?”
Outside the cave, footsteps were heard distantly, the group of people were nearing this ancient cave.
White mist suddenly dispersed, the strong Yin wind gusting out from the cave, in an instant disappeared, almost at the same t
ime, Black Wood’s figure also submerged into the darkness.
Lu XueQi, Zeng ShuShu, LiXun and the rest, reached the Subdue Devil Cave.
Zeng ShuShu carefully peered into the cave, frowned, clearly towards this unfathomable and heavy with demon energy place, felt uneasy.
And standing beside him LiXun, similar to him, also frowning but his expression, indistinct surprise and astonishment revealed in his eyes, walked slowly around the cave but nothing happened, there was no other sounds other than the chilling strong wind.
This seemed to make LiXun bewildered, he stared at the cave, was silent, seemed to be contemplating.
Different from the two guys, before this cave, Lu XueQi very quickly focused her attention from the cave quiet darkness to the lonely female statue, she slowly walked to it, watching carefully.
The stone statue after experiencing countless of weather, from top to bottom eroded signs were clearly seen but as if she felt something, Lu XueQi instead clearly saw, the statue expression was still that lifelike, her face was slightly grieved, carrying a trace of sadness, also in her eyes, looked lost, quietly watching this mysterious ancient cave, as if expecting something, but also seemed to be pouring out her heart?
Just that in these ten thousand years, who have heard her heartfelt words?
…
“Lu junior sister, Lu junior sister!”
Suddenly, a few surprised calls were heard, Lu XueQi got a shock, involuntarily stepped back, came out of her inexplicable trance, looked to the side.
Zeng ShuShu looked bewildered, and concerned, said, “Lu junior sister, I called you a few times, why is it that you seem not to have heard it at all?”
Lu XueQi’s face turned slightly pale, slowly tightened her hands but did not know since when, her palms were actually full of cold sweat. She inhaled deeply, calmed down, indifferently said, “Nothing, did you all discover something?”
Zeng ShuShu shook his head, said, “No, other than the gusts of Yin wind, not even a trace of a demon beast.” Speaking, he turned to LiXun, said, “Li senior brother, what did you discover?”
LiXun was silent for a moment, shook his head too, said, “Nothing, but there is something really strange here…”
Zeng ShuShu asked curiously, “Strange, what strange?”
LiXun was surprised, quickly with a dry laugh, said, “Nothing, I only feel that since this is the demon beast lair, how is it that there is not a single demon beast, and so felt strange.”
Zeng ShuShu laughed, said, “You are right, I am also feeling bewildered! What do you say Lu junior sister?”
Lu XueQi did not answer immediately, a glint flashed past her clear eyes, again glanced at LiXun.
LiXun for some reason, suddenly coughed once, turned and looked at other disciples, said, “The few of you come over, don’t stay too far away.”
Lu XueQi was silent for a moment, turned back again to glance at the statue, said, “Regardless, we are already here, so there wouldn’t be giving up halfway, let’s go in!”
Zeng ShuShu nodded, said, “That’s right.” He turned to LiXun said, “Li senior brother, what do you think?”
LiXun was still frowning, he seemed to be worrying about something but the next moment, he still said, “Lu junior sister is right, we better still go on in!”
Zeng ShuShu turned and said, “Since it is so, let’s go in! But this place is after all unusual, we better be more careful. Why not like this, I will first lead the way, Lu junior sister you will be in the centre, Li senior brother you will take the rear, the other disciples will be in the middle, ok?”
LiXun nodded, was about to reply when Lu XueQi indifferently said, “This is not good, better change!”
Zeng ShuShu and LiXun was surprised, Zeng ShuShu said, “Lu junior sister, what do you mean?”
Lu XueQi said, “I will walk in front, Zeng senior brother will be at the rear, the rest and Li senior brother in the middle! Li senior brother and the rest are all FenXiang Valley disciples, in case something happens, there will be someone who can direct.”
LiXun’s countenance changed, looked like he wanted to speak but Zeng ShuShu already smiled and said, “Ah! You are right too, why didn’t I think of this, Lu junior sister words are logical too, let’s do it then.”
LiXun frowned but eventually kept quiet, did not speak and considered accepting it.
Lu XueQi looked at him, turned and speak to Zeng ShuShu, “Zeng senior brother, you will walk the last, your view is better and can see the whole situation, devise strategy on your own will.”
Zeng ShuShu smiled, at an angle where LiXun and the rest were unable to see, backfacing them, winked at Lu XueQi and then smiled and said, “Lu junior sister don’t worry, with me at the back, don’t have to fear any trouble, ha ha ha…”
Lu XueQi looked deeply at Zeng ShuShu, a faint trace of smile also revealed at the corner of her lips but immediately disappeared. Even though so, this moment of elegance, had already caused some of the FenXiang Valley young disciples who sneaked glances at her frequently, their hearts to be in a turmoil, some even couldn’t help but sighed.
LiXun snorted, his face stern, immediately all of the strange sounds disappeared.
Lu XueQu’s expression again turned cold, glanced around, said, “We are going in.” After speaking, walked in first.
Zeng ShuShu turned and said to LiXun, “Li senior brother, let’s go too!”
LiXun nodded, gestured to the other disciples and followed.
LiXun and the rest followed into the cave, Zeng ShuShu seemed unhurried, gazed for a while at the scenery and seemed to be contemplating something. The next moment, he mysteriously smiled and slowly walked in.
The deep muffled footsteps reverberated in the darkness, the cave again descended into silence. As the footsteps became quieter, and further, finally disappearing, a figure suddenly appeared in the darkness, Black Wood slowly walked out, towards the stone statue, silently watching.
Behind Black Wood, the illusory white mist slowly drifted, gathered, Black Tiger’s huge figure appeared.
Black Tiger did not immediately speak to Black Wood, watched the darkness in the cave for a long time, suddenly coldly laughed, said, “These Central Plains men, incessantly jockeying for power, even when they are here, they are still contending.”
Black Wood turned over and indifferently said, “Human hearts have always been like this, not to say them, even you and I, even the Lady at that time, aren’t we all too?”
“What?” Black Tiger huge body suddenly turned around, due to the speed, a muffled sound was similar to a wild beast roar was heard, when his face was seen again, he was full of fury, extremely savage, he was heard bellowing, “What did you say, you dare to despise Lady, and just right in front of her?”
Before the terrible spirit, Black Wood looked especially small but for some reason, though his face was obscure, but from his calm voice, he did not seem to fear the slightest, there was more instead which sounded like deep tiredness.
“Big brother, if Lady did not scheme at that time, for so many years, what do you think could cause an eternal demon to be sealed up in this ancient cave?”
The spirit Black Tiger looked nonplussed but obviously he did not wish to acknowledge this point, hollered, “What nonsense are you talking about, that was because at that time Lady…”
“Enough!” Suddenly, Black Wood acting out of character, actually shouted out, broke Black Tiger’s words, “Don’t keep saying Lady, Lady, the amount of respect for Lady, mine will not lose out to you.”
Black Tiger’s huge body froze, a stunned look revealed on his face, after a long time, he did not get angry, he instead looked to have calmed down, appraised this former kin from top to bottom.
He suddenly laughed, then faintly said, “What happened to you, in the past you would never talk to me like that?”
Black Wood seemed to make a mocking laugh at himself, slowly looked at that lady statue, said, “Yes! I will never speak like that in the past, but why is it that I am like this now? I too do not know, and who can tell me?”
Black Tiger coldly said, “That is your own affair, I am not interested and do not wish to know, you only need to tell me something.”
Black Wood stared blankly at LingLong stone statue, asked, “What is it?”
Black Tiger said, “Initially it was you who betrayed the instructions left behind by Lady, committing treason, secretly assisted that evildoer to retrieve southern border five tribes five sacred weapons, resurrected him. But today why do ask me to allow humans into the cave, with intention to do him harm?”
Black Wood’s gaze never left LingLong’s statue, after a long time, his deep voice with anguish, said, “When Lady sealed up the Beast Deity, she was wrong; We followed Lady, sought that immortality spell and so created this kind of monster, we were also wrong; I thought the Beast Deity didn’t deserve the blame, but I never expected that he vented his anger on the common people, and to the extent of creating this catastrophe calamity, I am also wrong.”
He laughed miserably, suddenly turned, opened his arms, his voice desolate, hollered to the sky.
“Wrong!...Wrong!...Wrong!...So we are all wrong…”
That shout reverberated far, the mountains resonated, just that the Heaven and Earth were cold and detached, as if nothing had ever changed, coldly watching this mortal world.
Black Tiger’s huge body stood aside, watching Black Wood’s sudden agonized figure, also became quiet, did not speak, only quietly stood beside him, in his eyes, the complicated gaze glimmered faintly, just that, there was not a trace of tears.
Whether it was him or Black Wood, in this desolate world, for ten thousands of years, had already lost the right to cry!
Lu XueQi walking within the cave, suddenly seemed to sense something, stopped, turned and glance, but there was only darkness behind, other than silent, there was no other sound.
Just that that sudden palpitation, surged and tossed in her heart, for a long time it never calmed.
LiXun who was not far behind, said, “Lu junior sister, what is it, did you discover something?”
Lu XueQu in the darkness, slowly turned, looked ahead, over there, was another stretch of darkness.
She was silent for a moment in the darkness, then quietly said, “Nothing, let’s continue!”
She breathed deeply, bestirred herself, held her head high and walked, the darkness in front of her quietly scattered, because from her hand, TianYa Celestial Sword slowly lit up, warm faint blue light softly enveloped her, looking like an illusion.
Behind her, not knowing how many held their breaths in that moment.
However, that beautiful figure, walked decidedly towards the darkness, looked somehow lonely but without any trace of hesitation.
This stretch of path, this kind of life, how should it be passed?
She did not turn around.
Deep within the cave.
The fire quietly burned within the ancient brazier, if looked carefully, one would discovered the firelight under the brazier, there was no firewood or oil-like flammable things, this unceasing fire, was actually a fire with no source.
The fire flickered in the air, its tongue licking, illuminating the Beast Deity’s face, also reflecting out that gradually approaching man’s figure.
Ghost Li walked to the other side of the firelight, his face in the light, slowly emerged, at the same time he saw that familiar face in front.
Beast Deity who was still sitting on that small stone platform smiled, assessed Ghost Li, said, “I know sooner or later someone will come but didn’t expect that you’ll the first, “He paused for a moment, smiled and said, “Looking at your expression when you see me, you don’t seemed to be surprised, is it that when we met previously, you already knew my identity?”
Ghost Li slowly shook his head, facing this man who looked young and gentle, it was really hard to link him to that demon beast which brought the calamity to the world, just that, it was instead the truth.
“I guessed it after that.” He indifferently replied.
Beast Deity looked at him, gently said, “Oh, I am instead very intrigue, how did you guess it, from the rumours my appearance, or my clothes, or from my actions you guessed my identity?”
“All are wrong.” Ghost Li said.
Beast Deity seemed piqued, said, “Oh, then what is it?”
Ghost Li glanced beside him, said, “It’s that.”
Beast Deity slowly nodded, said, “That is right, this is instead the best way, definitely will not go wrong.”
Beside him, the ferocious beast TaoTie growled.
Beast Deity stretched out his hand, from far, Ghost Li could even see that that hand was strangely fair, almost not a human hand, that hand was so withered that it seemed like the Great Shaman’s hand whom he saw in the Seven Miles Cave.
Just that, the hand which seemed feeble, after gently patted a few times, TaoTie seemed to be reassured, quietened down, slowly lay on the ground. And at the same time, Xiao Hui which had been staying at Ghost Li’s shoulder slowly slipped down, scratched its head, looked at Ghost Li and the Beast Deity, seemed like it could sense that there wasn’t the expected animosity between the two people.
It thought for a while, then slowly, slowly inched towards TaoTie. TaoTie clearly also noticed this, turned its head around, watched that grey three-eyed monkey approaching. Soon, Xiao Hui came near the TaoTie, grinned and spread out its hands, its tail behind also swayed, following which, it slowly stretched out its hand, reaching towards TaoTie’s head.
Ghost Li and the Beast Deity, both for the moment watching Xiao Hui, but both of them did not speak, only quietly watched.
Watching Xiao Hui, Ghost Li’s heart suddenly moved, many years ago, when he was still that ordinary Zhang Xiao Fan, at Big Bamboo Valley, Xiao Hui also approached Big Huang who was reared by Tian BuYi.
TaoTie slowly stretched its body but did not stand up, to it, it seemed to be somehow perplexed. It turned to look at its master, the Beast Deity seemed absent-minded, couldn’t tell if he had any unpleased expression and so it turned back, Xiao Hui’s hand seemed to be reaching its head.
From TaoTie’s nose, it suddenly blew out snort, as if a warning. Xiao Hui jumped, took back its hands but then realized TaoTie did not show signs of attacking, only watching it warily.
Xiao Hui [he he] laughed, jumped up and down a few times on the ground, suddenly leapt forward, jumped to where TaoTie was. TaoTie was shocked, shrank back but Xiao Hui had already slowly patted its head. To Xiao Hui, TaoTie that savage ferocious beast’s head seemed to be an intimate place.
TaoTie’s bloody mouth made a low groan, seemed to be grumbling but the next moment, it slowly again lazily lay on the ground, using its arm to support its head, looked sleepy. And Xiao Hui also lay on its body, at times making [zhi zhi zhi zhi] light laughter, slowly patting TaoTie’s head.
Between the two spiritual beasts, there seemed to be no more misunderstandings.
Ghost Li and the Beast Deity’s gazes, slowly looked away, for a moment silent.
For unknown length of time, Beast Deity suddenly smiled and said, “Actually, they are instead happier than us, isn’t it?”
Ghost Li did not speak.