Chapter 812 — The Ancestor of Ten Thousand Methods

The Woodcutter Sage came striding over, travel-worn and dusty, his face wreathed in smiles, a wood-chopping axe slung across his back, while behind him followed the long-eared Black Tiger God, ears swiveling this way and that; at the sudden sight of Niu Sanduo, his ears pricked forward of their own accord. The next moment he had transformed into a little black tiger and scampered over, brimming with affection, crying, "Third Brother! Long time no see! " Though the old farmer's relations with the woodcutter were utterly dreadful, the Black Tiger God and Old Ox were the best of friends; he wound himself around Old Ox, calling him Third Brother all the while.

The old farmer shot a glance at the Woodcutter Sage and said flatly, "I don't know the capital. You do.

Pick a gutter, and I'll drop you in. " The Woodcutter Sage laughed loudly but dared not approach.

"Don't be like that. We've had a friendship of tens of thousands of years—you can't dump me in a gutter to lie there every time we meet!

This time my youngest disciple rushed to summon me back, saying my second disciple had received an Earth Mother's Blessing—a most peculiar thing—and asked me to come take a look. Have you seen him? " The old farmer's expression eased a trace. "I have. The Earth Mother's Blessing certainly is peculiar.

I hit it a few times and didn't shatter it. " "Even you can't destroy the Earth Mother's Blessing?

" The Woodcutter Sage's face turned somewhat grave.

"It really does look troublesome.

" Just then, another voice came from nowhere: "Both senior brothers have arrived already? " The two turned toward the voice and saw the fisherman, a creel on his back, a fishing rod in hand, just as travel-worn and dusty.

The woodcutter said, "Fourth, you've come at the right moment. Third here just told me to pick a gutter and he'd send me off to lie in it.

" The fisherman said gingerly, "If Third Brother wants First Brother to go lie in a gutter, then First Brother should simply go lie in a gutter. I'm no match for him anyway; telling me is useless.

" Two little red fish poked their heads out of his creel, caught sight of Old Ox and the little black tiger, and flew out in a flurry, wagging heads and tails as they crossed over and flopped down on the ground, bouncing and leaping about. The Black Tiger God perked up at the sight of fish, and his claws shot forward, pinning the two little red fish.

"Hooked! " The two little red fish rejoiced. The male fish gave his head a shake, and it swelled to towering enormity; with a single crunch he swallowed the Black Tiger God whole, leaving only a black tail sticking out and wagging left and right.

Old Ox said in a slow, unhurried drawl, "All right, all right, you two lovebirds. Stop your nonsense and spit out the little black cat.

" The male fish was none too willing, but he spat the Black Tiger God out all the same.

The Black Tiger God gave a huff and, from who knows where, produced a transparent glass fishbowl; the two little red fish's eyes lit up, and in they hopped at once. The Black Tiger God stared at the fish in the bowl, drooling, but he dared not provoke them. These two little red fish were no ordinary creatures: they were two Red Kun, two demigods, cultivating under the Fisherman Heavenly Master, their cultivation astonishing to heaven and earth, their magical power beyond the ordinary.

In raw combat power, one against one they were no match for Old Ox, but when husband and wife fought together, they could trade blows with Niu Sanduo. "The four of us haven't gathered in ages.

Too bad that donkey isn't here," said the female fish, poking her head out of the fishbowl. Niu Sanduo answered with some displeasure, "He's followed the scholar to Wuyou Village, living it up. That donkey has an odd temper and a tongue that wins no friends.

Best he dies in Wuyou Village and never comes out again!

" The Black Tiger God reluctantly tore his gaze away. "That stubborn donkey—says ugly things, and lashes out with his hooves every which way. .

. " Just as he was speaking, hee-haw, hee-haw—the braying of a donkey came drifting over.

The woodcutter and the others were overjoyed, while Niu Sanduo, the Black Tiger God, and the two little Red Kun all pulled long faces on the instant. The male fish fumed, "Damned woman!

That's what comes of running your mouth! " "I'm late! " A scholar rode in on a donkey, sitting sideways as the beast swayed into Shen Mu's residence; the scholar sprang down from the donkey's back and came over flourishing a feather fan, saying with a smile, "First Brother!

And my two worthy younger brothers! " "When did Second Brother leave Wuyou Village?

" The old farmer assumed a solemn air and asked seriously, "How fares Kaihuang? Why has he not come out? " "Fine. " The scholar kept his smile and saluted the company, but did not answer.

Everyone hurried to return the salute.

The donkey switched its tail and ambled toward Niu Sanduo and the Black Tiger God. Niu Sanduo's body tensed; the Black Tiger God quietly retreated a few paces; the two little Red Kun in the fishbowl forgot to swim. The donkey reached the fishbowl, plunged its head in without warning, and gulped and gulped until in a trice the bowl was drained dry.

Only then did it pull its head out—with two little fish stuck in its nostrils, tails going slap-slap.

"Where did these little fish come from?

" The donkey blew out a breath, blasting the two little Red Kun flying, and broke into hee-haw laughter.

"Well, if it isn't the worthy couple!

I nearly ate you there. What were you two hiding in the water for? I eat vegetarian—eating you would break my precepts, wouldn't it?

Hee-haw-hee-haw. . .

Brother Ox?

Brother Ox! " The donkey bumped Niu Sanduo with its shoulder, laughing, "Brother Ox, what fine muscle! Bumping you has made my shoulder ache—solid through and through! By the way, I know a fellow who braises oxhide. You should go have him work you over; he'd have you gleaming like polished leather.

He sells beef and beef tendons too, and mighty fine they taste. The sight of that beef always makes me think of you, hee-haw. . . Why aren't you laughing? Too serious by half, you are; there's no talking to you. Little Blacky!

" The donkey reared upright, set its forehooves on the little black tiger's head, and roared with mirth.

The Black Tiger God hung his head, staring at the ground, then silently reached behind his back and drew two axes. His body trembled, but he dared not strike.

"Little Blacky, do you remember how we first met? You tried to eat me, and one flick of my hoof knocked you flat. You lay there for months.

I was beside myself with joy. .

.

" Old Ox's eyes shifted. He cut in, "Lu Zheng, enough. Let me introduce two good friends to you.

Long Pi, A Shui, come here! " The Dragon Qilin and the Water Qilin came scurrying over, took one look at the donkey, and shuddered in unison.

The donkey swept into their midst like a whirlwind, stretched out its hooves left and right to clamp them tight between, its shoulders all knotted muscle, laughing, "Worthy younger brothers, long time no see! " Long Pi and A Shui's faces turned ashen. After a moment, the Dragon Qilin quavered, "Brother Lu, would you care for a spirit pill? " Beneath the Yuanmu Tree, the woodcutter, the scholar, the old farmer, and the fisherman surrounded Shen Mu, pacing round and round him.

Before long the old farmer stepped aside, the fisherman halted, and the scholar tapped his forehead with his feather fan—all of them sunk deep in deliberation. The woodcutter examined the halo behind Shen Mu's head at length, then said, "The Earth Mother's Blessing is somewhat difficult, but this Earth Origin Dao Fruit can still be plucked off. " The scholar urged, "How?