Chapter 1036 — The Closer to Home, the More Timid the Heart

"I may think that a little whelp like you being this eager certainly has no good in mind, but I also think your words make a good deal of sense. " Shen Mu imparted to the two old men the divine-sense cultivation methods he had learned and comprehended, rubbing his hands together in excitement, and thought to himself: I've secured two Emperor Throne arts again! Once Grandpa Blind and Grandpa Mute Artisan have walked out their own paths and created arts at the Emperor Throne level, I can learn them and perfect the Forged Heavenly Palace and the Formation Heavenly Palace! Now all that's left is Grandpa Lame's Stolen Heavenly Palace and Master Huo's Buddhist Heavenly Palace.

"Why are Grandpa Lame and Master Huo nowhere to be seen? " Shen Mu asked. The Blind Elder said, "Lame Elder has been running all over the place with Lan Yutian, robbing tombs in the ruins of the Origin Realm every day and wandering through the many heavens. Master Huo is no longer the Tathagata now, and worrying about their safety, he follows them around, so that Lame Elder won't be careless and leave any loose ends. Master Huo used to be a divine constable and caught Lame Elder several times.

With him at Lame Elder's side, Lame Elder won't have any problems. The Shadow Thief and the Divine Constable working together are invincible under Heaven; even if they stole the Heavenly Emperor's treasury, the Heavenly Emperor would never be able to trace it back to them. " Shen Mu was dumbfounded and could not speak. So the constable had actually gone into league with the thief?

The Blind Elder and the Mute Artisan shooed him away, saying, "Emperor Yanxiu sent someone looking for you long ago, telling you to return to the Jingping Imperial Tutor's residence. Go now—don't keep us from opening an era!

Come back in a few years, and by then we will surely have perfected our own heavenly palaces! " Shen Mu had no choice but to take his leave and walk toward his own side courtyard, thinking to himself: I really should go and see Yuxiu. I once promised her I would return after a year to report that I was safe, and later I asked the Jingping Imperial Tutor and Emperor Yanfeng to tell her I had gone to the Heavenly Court. As the Jingping Imperial Tutor myself, I have indeed been far too irresponsible. He returned to the Jingping Imperial Tutor's residence.

Before he had even entered, he saw a white cat crouching at the street corner.

Shen Mu stopped and gave the white cat a few extra looks. The white cat had not a single strand of other color; it licked its paw lazily, cast him two glances, and then walked slowly into the shadows. Shen Mu frowned slightly and entered the Jingping Imperial Tutor's residence.

Long Qilin hurried up to greet him, looking utterly drained in heart and strength, and said tearfully, "Cult Leader, you're finally back! " Shen Mu laughed. "Long Pang, hasn't Sister Yan'er been feeding you spirit pills?

" Long Qilin shook his head and said quietly, "I've been eating quite well these past few days.

Cult Leader, Yun Chuxiu and Lian Huahun came.

They have sworn siblinghood with the Emperor, the Divine King, and Gongsun Yan—not to be born in the same year, month, and day, but to die in the same year, month, and day. " Shen Mu was astonished. "Yun Chuxiu came running over here again?

And brought Lian Huahun along with her? " He could not help feeling his head ache. He stopped, and asked, "Those two little vixens haven't caused any trouble these past days, have they? " "They haven't—they've only been scheming against each other.

" Long Qilin said, "Yun Jianli came once, but when he saw the scene, he was so frightened that he didn't dare stay and left directly.

" "Yun Jianli has no sense of loyalty! He could at least have dragged his own sister away!

" Shen Mu calculated, "Lian Huahun is the Empress, Yun Chuxiu is Madam Yuanmu.

For those two little sluts to come here—we'll have to find a way to kill them. Yuxiu, the Divine King, and Yan'er cannot die; those two sisters must die on the same day!

Last time I could borrow Mother Earth's hand.

Whose hand can I borrow this time? A pity Luo Wushuang isn't here. And that white cat—it rather resembles the cat called Little Seven held in Consort Yan's arms.

.

. " As he was thinking, Emperor Yanxiu's voice came over, laughing: "The Jingping Imperial Tutor has come back!

" Shen Mu stepped forward and bowed.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty. " Emperor Yanxiu hurriedly took hold of both his hands and laughed.

"The Jingping Imperial Tutor has worked hard outside the court.

It has been nearly a month since you returned to the capital, yet you have had no time to come home. This is my fault, keeping the Jingping Imperial Tutor from rest. " Her words carried a note of reproach toward Shen Mu, saying that he had been back this long but still had not come to see her. Taking his hand, she led him toward the courtyard, laughing, "Your Majesty, I had only just found a foothold in the Heavenly Court. The hardships along the way are beyond description.

This time, returning home, the closer I came, the more timid my heart—the closer I drew to those I care about, the more fearful I became.

That is why I came late.

" Emperor Yanxiu looked at him, the rims of her eyes reddening. "I know all of it. " Inside the Jingping Imperial Tutor's residence, Gongsun Yan came toward them carrying a watering pitcher.

Emperor Yanxiu hurriedly released his hand.

Gongsun Yan very seriously poured a little water over Shen Mu's head, then observed his head with great solemnity. Seeing that Shen Mu still had not sprouted, she could not help sighing. Shen Mu had long been accustomed to her behavior, and laughed, "Yan'er, this trip did bring you something nice, called Primordial Chaos Liquid.

In a little while I'll water you too.

" Gongsun Yan was delighted. Emperor Yanxiu cast her gaze over, laughing, "Has the Jingping Imperial Tutor brought me any treasures as well? " "The great cosmos, the vast rivers and mountains—these are what I have brought for Your Majesty. "