Chapter 1693 — The Bedridden Man in the Countryside

The outside world is even more chaotic than before—killing and fighting every day, rivers of blood. It's much better here—peaceful and quiet, life abundant, carefree. Elder, your family should stay here and not go out.

" The old woman smiled: "After staying here so long, it does get rather dull. We'd still like to go out and about. " Shen Mu smiled and shook his head: "Better not to go out. It's too chaotic outside. I worry about the health of you two elders.

If something were to go wrong and you died out there, it wouldn't be worth it. " The old woman's and old man's expressions shifted slightly.

The old woman raised her hand to pull the hairpin from her head. The old man raised his hand to stop her and silently shook his head. The old woman lowered her hand.

Shen Mu acted as if he had seen nothing and said: "Eight trees—two more than needed. Might I ask, Elder, where the other two people have gone?

" The old man sighed: "It seems we truly cannot hide anything from the young gentleman. The other one is a paralytic.

Bedridden for nearly ten years now. " Shen Mu was moved and sighed: "To be honest, I have studied medicine and am quite well-versed in the healing arts. I have always had a compassionate heart for saving the dying and healing the wounded.

Might I ask where this paralytic is? Allow me to examine and treat him—perhaps he can be cured. " The old man rose trembling to his feet. The woman came out from the room, arranging the table and chairs to set the dishes, and seeing them rise, could not help but snap: "The meal is about to be served—where are you going now?

" "The young gentleman knows medicine. He's going to see the paralytic. " The old man seemed afraid of her and hastily offered a placating smile: "The paralytic has been lying there for so long, and you've always had to care for him.

Perhaps the young gentleman can cure him.

" The woman said suspiciously: "That paralytic can't even shit or piss without me looking after him—and he can be cured? You think this young gentleman is some kind of miracle worker?

" "Treat a dead horse as if it were alive. " Shen Mu followed the two elders into the room and saw a young man lying spread-eagle on a sickbed, completely without breath—already a dead man.

Shen Mu looked at this young man for a long while, then slowly said: "Lord of the Heavenly Capital, I have finally met you, sir.

" The old man's and old woman's expressions changed drastically. They could barely restrain themselves from rising up to kill!

The old woman forced a smile: "Does the young gentleman perhaps recognize this paralytic? " "Few are qualified to die at the hands of the Master of the Miluo Palace.

The Lord of the Heavenly Capital is one of them.

" Shen Mu carefully examined the wounds on the paralytic's body.

They were wounds caused by a Primal Chaos divine ability—a Primal Chaos divine ability even more complex and profound than the red rope knot he had seen in the Abyss of Return! Only one being possessed such power: the Master of the Miluo Palace!

Though the eldest young master had fully inherited the Master of the Miluo Palace's teachings, Shen Mu had seen the eldest young master's seal. Although exquisite, it had not exceeded the limits of Shen Mu's own perception and knowledge. But the wounds on this young man's body had indeed exceeded Shen Mu's perception and knowledge.

Only the Master of the Miluo Palace could have left such wounds.

Shen Mu had once seen, from the perspective of the Lord of the Heavenly Capital, the accomplished Daoists of the Heavenly Capital join forces to open the heavens and divide the earth. He had also seen, from that same perspective, the Master of the Miluo Palace kill the Lord of the Heavenly Capital. That was how he could make such a judgment.

And the reactions of the old man and old woman confirmed his conjecture! "The Lord of the Heavenly Capital who opened the Seventh Epoch of the universe—I never imagined his mortal body would be suppressed here after death. " Shen Mu straightened up and shook his head: "His wounds—I cannot heal them.

But there is one person who can. The purpose of my journey is to find this person. His name is Tai Yi.

Do any of you know him?

" The old woman and old man exchanged a glance and each shook their heads. Just then, the woman's voice rang out: "The food's ready!

You two old codgers, hurry up and invite the young gentleman to eat! " At the dining table, Shen Mu took his seat. The old man and old woman sat with him.

The pig-slaughtering youth sat across from him.

The woman continued cooking, while the girl with the horn braids hunkered down under the tree with a bowl, slurping noisily, not at the table. "A mountain village has no fine wine to offer a young gentleman from the city.

Please forgive us. " The old woman was most attentive: "Young gentleman, eat up! " Shen Mu did not pick up his chopsticks. He looked around and said: "Eight trees, but only seven have arrived.

Where is the remaining one? " The old man feigned deafness.

The woman came over carrying a basin of pig-slaughter stew, set it down, wiped her hands on her apron, and smiled with rustic simplicity: "What remaining one?

And there are only six people here, counting the paralytic. With the young gentleman, that makes seven, doesn't it?

A young gentleman from the city must be poor at arithmetic! " Shen Mu smiled: "How can I raise my chopsticks when the guests are not all present? " The old man opened his mouth to speak, when suddenly the pig-slaughtering youth across from Shen Mu flew into a rage. He drew his cleaver and with a thunk drove it into the center of the dining table, killing intent filling the heavens, and bellowed: "Why waste words on all this nonsense? I can't hold back any longer!

Let's just take up our blades and kill this bastard!

" The dishes on the plates flew up with a clatter. Slices of pork and pig offal from the stew rose into the air and reassembled into half a pig, its eyes wide and round. The other half pig hanging at the village entrance sprouted two legs and came running at full speed. The two halves merged together and cried: "Well said! When have we ever been afraid?

Who cares about some Seventh Young Master of the Miluo Palace—just chop him down! "