Chapter 848 — The Blazing Heavenly Venerable

" Shen Mu said guiltily, "He is very well, living happily — happier than I am. He is with one of my elders, and this elder of mine is the very man who taught and raised me: a man of good character, of high cultivation, who never pockets a coin he finds, a model of the scholar and a pillar of the state in Jingping! " The old underworld courier's expression shifted slightly; he gave a cold snort. "A man who raised you into this — how could he possibly be a good man? You handed the Yu Heavenly Venerable to such a person; I am not at ease!

" Shen Mu said angrily, "What is wrong with me?

I too am a Heavenly Venerable, famed through ancient and modern times; whoever raised me must likewise be a paragon of virtue! " The old underworld courier said mildly, "I will go with you to Jingping and meet this paragon of virtue. " Shen Mu said hastily, "You are all ghostly and eerie — if you ran off to the world of the living, would you not frighten people to death?

Rest assured, I will never treat the Yu Heavenly Venerable shabbily; I am very good to him! Hurry and save my three friends, or they will suffocate. " Ahead, three more paper boats came flying, each with an old underworld courier standing at its prow, and in the boats were Dao Master Lin Xuan and the others. Shen Mu relaxed and laughed. "A sharp tongue over a soft heart — I knew you would rescue them. Just take us to the bank of the Yong River and that will do.

.

.

" The old underworld courier sneered, "You are the only one who thinks I am a good man. Look at those three boats — is there one aboard who does not turn the color of clay at the sight of me? " Shen Mu looked toward the three boats, and indeed saw Lin Xuan, Xiao Chunfeng and Yu Hongxiu pale as death, huddled in the corners of the boats, terrified beyond measure. "What did you go to the Heavenly Court for?

" The old underworld courier slowed his tone. "Is the Heavenly Court a place you can come to?

Had I not sensed that you had opened the Heaven-Bearing Gate again, you would have died here! Reckless beyond measure, willful and unrestrained — I regret entrusting the Yu Heavenly Venerable to you!

" Shen Mu laughed.

"But you came the very first moment and saved me. I know you care about me. " The old underworld courier shook his head.

"I was only afraid you would carry the Yu Heavenly Venerable into the Heavenly Court. Had I known it was only you, I would not have come.

" Shen Mu's face darkened; he sneered, "Then take the Yu Heavenly Venerable back. I would like to see how you manage to teach him well.

" The old underworld courier's face darkened too; after a moment he mumbled, "I know no one else. Better that you teach him.

If you teach him yourself — I am not at ease with the people who raised you. .

.

The Fire Heavenly Venerable is very dangerous. Do not go near him. " Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he said, "When the Yu Heavenly Venerable died, the ones who grieved most were you and the Fire Heavenly Venerable.

I could see it: he, like you, revered the Yu Heavenly Venerable from the bottom of his heart. Perhaps the Fire Heavenly Venerable was deceived by others as well; perhaps he could be drawn into our camp.

. .

" The old underworld courier cut him off, saying decisively, "People change! " Shen Mu was startled for a moment, then said, "Why would the Fire Heavenly Venerable change?

What has he been through all these years? In those days I exposed the murderers of the Yu Heavenly Venerable as the Hao Heavenly Venerable and Yin Tianzi, and behind them the black hand of the Heavenly Emperor. Even if his head is not clever, he can see that much!

Why does he still remain in the Heavenly Court? " "People change. " The old underworld courier repeated it, then suddenly said, "The world of the living is here. You should get off the boat.

Do not go to the Heavenly Court again, and do not trust the Fire Heavenly Venerable.

You will die. " Shen Mu pressed down the doubt in his heart and jumped off the boat of his own accord, while Dao Master Lin Xuan and the others were seized by the underworld couriers and flung off the boats. Below the boats was darkness, yet the next moment there was great light; the four of them stood on solid ground and looked around, and saw not far off a surging river and towering mountains — their recent experience like a dream. Shen Mu turned to look; the old underworld courier had long since vanished.

"Fire Heavenly Venerable, have you really changed?

" Shen Mu stood dazed. "Sect Master Shen, Sect Master Shen!

" Dao Master Lin Xuan roused him. "We should return to Qingyun Heaven and deal with the aftermath.

" Shen Mu came to his senses and nodded. He looked at Xiao Chunfeng and Yu Hongxiu and said, "So, after all this, what do the two of you plan to do? " Xiao Chunfeng hesitated, then said, "I came from the Daoist school of the Heavenly Court and share the same lineage as Dao Master Lin.

So I plan to go first to the Daoist school in Jingping, and then bide my time and build something for the future.

" Yu Hongxiu thought for a moment and said, "I will go to the Daoist school too — but I will not become a Daoist nun.

" Shen Mu's eyes lit up.

"Sister Hongxiu, have you heard of the Heavenly Sacred Sect?

Our Heavenly Sacred Sect is a righteous and renowned sect. .

. "