546 The Howling Lunar Hound (2/2)
Yan Wuwo produced a black bag and lent it to Qu Jiuniang for her to bring the items back to the Azure Heaven.
Her gentle eyes gleamed with a tender craving as she admired the items as she stowed each of them in the bag.
”I trust in your character, Jiuniang,” Meng Qi added.
Qu Jiuniang clenched her teeth in annoyance as she nodded heavily towards Meng Qi.
”I would hardly fear that she would make away with the items, not when her soul lamp is in the keeping of Yan Wuwo.” sniggered Meng Qi.
…...
Meng Qi resumed his disguise as Shen Bao, the Cultivator Grand Sun. The night was late as he flew back to Lake Bosten. Countless stars twinkled towards him as he flew through the peaceful night skies.
As he flew, his senses tingled, signaling to him that something was wrong. A dread that there were dangers, unknown and unseen, that lurked in the darkness and desolation of the desert night. He could sense that the ill will was not trained on him, yet nothing about his surroundings seemed to bode well for him.
It was still the wee hours of the morning when he had finally stepped back into the city of Lake Bosten. Xue Lengzhao was patrolling about in the dark alleys of the deserted streets. Amidst the darkness, Meng Qi could make out the outlines of sentinels watching the city, warriors of the Exteriors from the Snow Mountain Sect, the Ashura Temple, and the Jin Gang Temple. They guarded the city with spontaneity as if it was a sacred duty.
A sudden thought came to Meng Qi and he turned back to his own appearance while stowing away his sword, the Flowing Fire. Holding the Heaven Inflicted Pain, he flew towards Xue Lengzhao as emerald sparks danced along his blade.
”Ah... Young... Young Master Su.” stammered Xue Lengzhao with embarrassment. Her cheeks burned red at his sight, remembering that he had once held the Reddish-white Buddhist Pearl.
The Pearl held in it the Yin and Yang energies of the Amorous Monk and the many women he had defiled during their ordeal. The energies would be used by him for his training. Yet, the pearl reeked of the energies that seeped out of it, its lustful nature embarrassing and shameful.
Xue Lengzhao woke from her painful recollections, reminding herself that Su Meng was before her. Su Meng, the Killing Blade. The most remarkable of warriors from the recent crop of fresh saplings eager to make their mark in the Jianghu!
Meng Qi clasped his hands in respect as he bowed his head, ”Lady Xue, I have a question I would like to ask.”
”Please ask, Master Su. I shall endeavor to help as best as I can, as long as your errand intrudes not on the secrets of my order.” replied Xue Lengzhao cooly. She breathed deeply, remembering the ”kindness” he had formerly shown her.
”Lady Xue,” Meng Qi asked solemnly, ”You had once counseled us to leave this place as soon as possible. You even hinted of impending upheavals and chaos. Still, I have not seen even the slightest notion of your message. What is going to happen here?”
The question was direct and forthcoming. Meng Qi was confident that he could read something from Xue Lengzhao's reaction, in regards to if she would give a truthful answer.
Xue Lengzhao pursed her lips as she hesitated. ”I know not of it myself,” she admitted. ”It was a warning by the elders of my order. I am to return to our sanctuary in the snow mountains three days from now. There will be no more need to patrol by Lake Bosten. From their demeanor, I can only surmise trouble and havoc await.”
Only the elders and seniors would know further... Is this related to the Exterior warrior who was mysteriously murdered and dismembered? Meng Qi wondered. He thanked Xue Lengzhao for her accounts on the matter. He pressed on with further questions about the Merriment Temple. The Snow Mountain Sect had extensive experiences of operating in the regions of the West, having ample understanding on the Merriment Temple. Their information would benefit him greatly in his pursuit.
Meng Qi took his leave from Xue Lengzhao and left. He resumed his disguise as Shen Bao and slipped carefully to the lodgings of the members of the Sword Washing Pavillion. He would speak to Jiang Zhiwei if she was alone, otherwise, he would need to leave a mark if there were other elders of the Exterior present. The mark would signal to Jiang Zhiwei for a meet at the courtyard at Guangling Street.
Meng Qi could feel the presence of the Reinvigorating Tree and Jiang Zhiwei as he crept closer to the courtyard where the members of the Sword Washing Pavillion lodged at. He turned to the corner where they had agreed upon and left his mark. He flew away going a distance and sought an empty house where he could rest and meditate, training his powers on the Abyss Stone.
The night grew older as the dawn loomed near. The obsidian-colored stone in Meng Qi hands felt heavier in his hands while he meditated. Dark fumes rose from the rock as if it was burning, the fumes slowly floated and funneled into the aperture in his palms.
Suddenly, from deep within himself, Meng Qi's senses warned him of an impending danger! Cautiously, he drew and held the Flowing Fire in his hand.
He was fully prepared to unleash all of his powers and skills. The Flowing Fire burned brightly in his hands as if it were the great sun itself!
Clank!
A large saber, with purple sparkles of electricity crackling along its blade, appeared and hacked at Meng Qi. He parried the blow with his sword. His hand was throbbing with a stabbing pain at the force of the heavy blow, leaving him momentarily dazed.
Tongues of flames burst forth in retaliation from the Flowing Fire whilst bolts of electricity crackled in anger from the large saber. Just then, everything plunged into a sudden darkness around him as if a great sheet had blanketed them both into a vast gloom. It was separating the surrounding areas from the outside world. Instantly, his consciousness of the areas farther away was severed.
”The severance of realms!”
”The large saber, the vaguely familiar strokes of the blade, the aura that I have sensed before...” The identity of his assailant dawned upon him.
”The Thunder God from the Ninth Heaven!”
High up in mid-air stood the masked figure of the Thunder God from the Ninth Heaven. His cold eyes stared at Meng Qi with contempt and malice.
”It really is you!”
”Su Meng, the Killing Blade!”
”I have been hunting for you ever since the Mystic Fairy had made your presence known in Immensity Sea!”
”I have known that you possess great mastery in disguise and concealing your traces! I have hidden and watched Jiang Zhiwei while I examined each and every unknown the Exterior warrior that has come close to her!”
”Many have scoffed at the crudeness of my design, yet this is all I could muster!”
”I have been fortunate that my comrade, the Howling Lunar Hound is here to assist me, securing the success of my plans! Without his acute sense of smell, I could never have trailed so many people at once!”
Meng Qi quickly retreated a distance away. He drew his trusty blade, the Heaven Inflicted Pain, wielding the saber in his left hand and the Flowing Fire in his right!
By the side of the Thunder God from the Ninth Heaven, a dark figure emerged from the shadows. It had the head of a dog and the body of a man and wore black armour while wielding a long staff in his hand. He floated imperiously in the air, his aura emanated a frightening supremacy!
From the edges of his mask, the Thunder God's lips began to curl with a ravenous malice and glee.
”Two months ago, I crossed the bounds of the First Celestial Ladder! With the assistance of Comrade Howling Lunar Hound who is an Exterior of the Fifth-fold Heavens and with this artifact which severs dimension and space, it shall be your end, Su Meng!”
”The legacy of the true Thunder God and the Overlord shall be mine and mine alone!”