Chapter 838 — A Side Branch of the Dao Lineage

Yuchen frowned and was about to speak when suddenly auspicious clouds surged across the sky, and amid the clouds a white dragon flew past, tossing its head and swaying its tail. The cloud head abruptly halted, and from the dragon's back came Dao Master Lin Xuan's voice, startled: "Patriarch Shen, why are you here?"

The cloud vapors drifted down, settled over the city, and scattered to all sides. Dao Master Lin Xuan and Daoist Cha leapt down from the dragon's back. Lin Xuan seized the white dragon by the tail and gave it a shake, and the white dragon became a whisk, which he laid lightly in the crook of his arm.

Daoist Cha looked at the seventy-two cave mountain gods, then at Yuchen, and said quietly, "Fighting again?"

Shen Mu shook his head slightly. "Not fighting—negotiating. This Daoist is one of your Daoist order's Qingyun Sect, and these mountain gods are all caretakers of holdings belonging to your order's Qingyun branch. Dao Master Lin, I think Jingping's taxes to your Daoist order are far too low. A single branch of the Daoist order commands twenty-four divine kingdoms under its banner—how frightening!"

Dao Master Lin Xuan's face turned grave. He said in a low voice, "The reason I came this time is that I heard there was a Qingyun Heaven which is a branch of the Daoist order, and so I wished to go and see it."

Daoist Cha sized Yuchen up, astonished. "Qingyun Heaven really is a branch of the Daoist order?"

Yuchen shook his head. "Qingyun Heaven is a branch of the Daoist order, but not that branch of the Daoist order which is yours. The Daoist order of your Jingping is not the true Daoist order. The true Daoist order is in the Heavenly Court; the Daoist order of Jingping is false."

Dao Master Lin Xuan, eyes on his nose and nose on his heart, said, "True or false, both are the Daoist order. I wonder if I might go to Qingyun Heaven and visit the elders of the Daoist order? I have never yet paid my respects to the Dao Ancestor; I should like to see him."

Yuchen hesitated. "There is no harm in your going, but do not indulge in vain hopes. The Daoist order of your Jingping is not even of the lowest rank; it has neither true transmission nor deep foundation. Moreover, the Dao Ancestor is not in Qingyun Heaven—I have heard he is in the Heavenly Court."

Daoist Cha sneered. "We are not of the lowest rank? Little Daoist, when I was young and cultivating under the old Daoist, you were nowhere to be found! Let me tell you this: our Daoist order flourished greatly in the Kaihuang era!"

Yuchen shook his head. "The Daoist order of the Kaihuang era was false—built by cast-off disciples of the Daoist order. It is not orthodox."

Daoist Cha laughed in fury and was about to speak when Dao Master Lin Xuan shook his head. "There is no need to argue with him over true and false. If the Dao is true, then the Daoist order is not false."

Daoist Cha was taken aback, then praised him: "Dao Master, you are magnanimous. No wonder you are fit to be Dao Master."

Dao Master Lin Xuan took his leave of Shen Mu, who said hastily, "The Dao Ancestor and I are old friends. Wait a moment for me—I will send for my sworn brother, and I will accompany you to Qingyun Heaven. I have wide connections and a great name; with me along, they will not make things hard for you."

Dao Master Lin Xuan groaned inwardly, and Daoist Cha desperately signaled with his eyes for him to make a quick exit.

But after all, Lin Xuan was the Dao Master and thin-skinned, and ordinarily he was on very good terms with Shen Mu, so he was somewhat at a loss.

"The Patriarch of the Heavenly Sage Cult, nicknamed Shen Tear-Down, who tears down whatever place he comes to; also called Shen Calamity, who brings calamity wherever he goes; and called Shen Beat-'Em-Up, who brings shouts and slaughter wherever he arrives..."

Dao Master Lin Xuan pondered bitterly: "How am I to refuse him? The fellow's skin is so thick, I fear I cannot..."

All smiles, Shen Mu sent the god Baixi to the riverside to instruct Lord Huanlong to ferry Yutianzun over from the far bank.

The Honored God Baixi hurried off. Half an hour later, Lord Huanlong carried Yutianzun and the Water Qilin to Lu County. Shen Mu's spirits soared, and he said quietly to Yutianzun, "I am taking you to meet an old acquaintance. That old Daoist profited from you and me in years past, and now it is time to collect some interest..."

Yutianzun was bewildered: "An old acquaintance?"

Shen Mu urged them on: "Dao Master, and Brother Yuchen—let us be off. Hurry to Qingyun Heaven, the sky is about to darken!"

Daoist Yuchen frowned as well: "This Shen the Overlord Body—why is he so familiar with strangers?"

Just as they were about to leave, the Honored God Baixi hastily put on a smile and said, "My lord, then what of the matter of Hundred Years Mountain...?"

Shen Mu thought it over. "Qixia Mountain is the Daoist order's property. Bear your grievance for now and stay here as before. If you get hungry, have Lord Huanlong tide you over. Lord Huanlong has prospered—he is now a Dragon King of the Heavenly River..."

The Honored God Baixi was ready to weep, yet had no tears. He glanced at Lord Huanlong, and saw that Lord Huanlong looked exceedingly pleased with himself.

Shen Mu sat on the back of the Dragon Qilin. Holy fire kindled beneath the Dragon Qilin's feet, and treading on clouds of flame, it caught up with Daoist Yuchen, Dao Master Lin Xuan, and the rest.

Beside them, on the head of the Water Qilin, Yutianzun hesitated again and again, then finally made up his mind and asked, "Brother, does this old acquaintance know my origins? I know I was picked up and found; I just want to know where my true parents are..."