Chapter 1020 — Metamorphosing Into Fish and Dragon, Leaving No Trace

Heavenly Concubine Qiang cast a roving glance at him and said in a soft voice, "Would Your Majesty care to sit a while in your servant's quarters?

" Shen Mu's eyes flickered; he stepped forward, shaking his head. "I am weary, and must return to the Hall of Nourishing Glory to nurse myself properly.

I shall visit my beloved consort another day. " Heavenly Concubine Qiang flew up into the air and alighted in the palm of his hand, tilting her head to gaze at the Heavenly Lord's face, all coquettish grace, and broke into a playful laugh. "Ever since the fall of the Ancient God Heavenly Lord's fleshly body, the rift among us Ten Heavenly Venerables seems to have grown ever wider. It bodes ill indeed if this continues — do you truly believe the words of that whelp, Heavenly Venerable Mu?

" *She takes me for one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables — she has no idea that I am Heavenly Venerable Mu!

* Shen Mu's heart stirred, yet he walked on, saying placidly, "An empty cave draws wind, and never without cause. Heavenly Venerable Mu is but a stripling; I know full well how full of tricks he is, and his words cannot be swallowed whole. Yet he has no reason to deceive us, for Fire Heavenly Venerable and Void Heavenly Venerable are about to return — ask them, and it will be plain whether he lies. " Heavenly Concubine Qiang knit her brows and said in a low voice, "Then whom do you suspect of being the Grand Emperor? " Shen Mu half-smiled.

"Heavenly Venerable Qiang — are you testing me?

" Heavenly Concubine Qiang lay down in his palm upon her side, propping her head upon one arm, the curves of her figure exquisitely graceful, and said softly, "Hearts are uneasy across the Heavenly Alliance; the Ten Heavenly Venerables each suspect the others; the Ancient Gods are not yet pacified, the Grand Emperor stirs further turmoil, and the rebel Shen Ye holds his seat in Carefree Township, secretly swaying the course of events.

This is a moment of life and death for the Heavenly Court — the realm appears as firm as mountains and rivers, yet in truth it is riddled with holes through and through. How can I not be anxious? I wish to find a like-minded friend, and face it all together. " "That friend is not me. " Shen Mu sneered. "Heavenly Venerable Qiang, you have come to the wrong person.

I do not trust you in the least — there is something deeply uncanny about your origins, and I suspect that you are the Grand Emperor yourself!

" Heavenly Concubine Qiang gave a snort of derision and rose to her feet, and an overwhelming pressure instantly forced the Heavenly Lord's fleshly body to a standstill. Shen Mu raised an eyebrow and said, unruffled, "Heavenly Venerable Qiang — have you come looking for a friend, or for an enemy?

Do you truly wish to make me your adversary?

" Heavenly Concubine Qiang laughed, flew up from his palm, and drifted away. "I, too, am a Heavenly Venerable, and no weaker than you.

If you should think of joining hands with me, I shall give you the chance. " Shen Mu let out a breath of relief and continued toward the Hall of Nourishing Glory, thinking to himself, *Damn — there is one thing I have forgotten.

The Ten Heavenly Venerables suspect and doubt one another, yet they also court one another's allegiances. Heavenly Concubine Qiang came seeking me; no doubt the other Venerables will come seeking me too. I have not been unmasked yet, but what is to say I shall not be unmasked later! This fleshly body must be returned as soon as possible! * The Hall of Spreading Fragrance and Zaofu Palace were now out of the question; all he could hope was to return the Heavenly Lord's fleshly body before any other Venerable came seeking him, so as not to betray himself.

After all, he was not one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables. He strode onward, drawing closer and closer to the Hall of Nourishing Glory, when just then he heard a voice laugh, "Where does Your Majesty come from?

" Shen Mu halted, his heart in turmoil, yet he answered without a change of countenance: "Ah, it is my beloved Yan.

I have just come from my beloved Qiang's chambers. " The speaker was none other than Heavenly Concubine Yan — Heavenly Venerable Yan — one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables and a heavenly consort of the inner palace besides.

The woman was poised and elegant, of dignified demeanor, cradling a white cat in her arms, with a dozen or more maidservants in attendance about her. Not a single fleck of alien color marred the white cat's coat; it lay languidly in her embrace, a mass of snowy white, dozing through slitted eyes, and now and then it stretched forth a sharp-clawed paw in a lazy languid stretch, then turned its slitted gaze upon Shen Mu again.

Heavenly Concubine Yan said with a winsome, plaintive air, "Your Majesty goes to lavish affection upon Sister Qiang and yet neglects your servant — sorrow wells up in my heart at once. " Shen Mu's head ached. Heavenly Concubine Yan showed a look of eager expectancy and said sweetly, "Your Majesty, your servant's Palace of Lasting Joy is nearby — would Your Majesty care to sit a while there?

" The white cat in her arms ran out a tiny crimson tongue to lick the fur of its paw, cast a languid sidelong glance at Shen Mu, gave a mew, and nuzzled toward Heavenly Concubine Yan's bosom. Shen Mu hesitated. "I still must return to the Hall of Nourishing Glory to recuperate; I shall not be going to the Palace of Lasting Joy.

" Heavenly Concubine Yan laughed. "Your Majesty — did your servant not only just tend to Your Majesty's recuperation?

" Alarm rang in Shen Mu's heart.

*So it was Heavenly Concubine Yan who summoned me at the Hall of Nourishing Glory! This Venerable came to me before any of the others, asking after the Grand Void and Carefree Township — her sources run swift indeed; news reaches her faster than the other Venerables!

* Heavenly Concubine Yan looked down at his feet, saw them thick with bloodstains, and said with a smile, her lips pressed together, "Your Majesty made one trip to Sister Qiang's quarters and comes back covered in blood — indeed, you need to recuperate. I had not thought Sister Qiang so fierce.

Your servant will not disturb Your Majesty further.

" Shen Mu chuckled.

"Set your mind at ease, my beloved consort; in a few days I shall turn up your tablet again. " With that, he continued on toward the Hall of Nourishing Glory. Heavenly Concubine Yan watched him until he was far off, then abruptly laughed.

"To dare toy with me — you've no small courage. Little Seven, which Venerable was it who lurked within that fleshly body just now? I should dearly love to know what he intended by entering the Heavenly Lord's ancestral land.

" The white cat in her arms sprang down and took a few steps. Cat it was, yet it trod with a dragon's gait and a tiger's stride, its carriage exceptionally vigorous and uncommon.

From the white cat's mouth came a man's voice, deep and full of doubt: "He is none of the Heavenly Venerables. " Heavenly Concubine Yan was stunned and blurted, "Little Seven, do you mean to say that the one within the Heavenly Lord's fleshly body just now was not one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables? " The white cat called Little Seven said, "He is indeed not one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables.

I have never seen him before, nor can I make out who he is — but should I see him again, I will know him. " Heavenly Concubine Yan blinked, baffled.

"Could he be that whelp, Heavenly Venerable Mu?

But he should hardly be able to command the Heavenly Lord's fleshly body. If not Heavenly Venerable Mu, then who?

" The white cat's body gradually swelled, and then abruptly it stood upright on its hind legs, taking the form of a general in silver armor and white robes, with a heroic air that pierced the eye, a bearing beyond the common, and great handsomeness. "I can follow him and find out who he is. " Heavenly Concubine Yan stretched out a hand and laughed.