Chapter 255 — The Source of Calamity
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Shen Mu took a ball of thread from his Taotie Pouch and said with generosity: "What objection could there be? The Great Nurturing Dark Demon Sutra may be studied by anyone in my cult; even to spread it abroad would be no matter."
He pinched the thread's end and gave it a gentle pull; at once countless characters swarmed forth, rolling through the air.
Shen Mu held nothing back, laying the Great Nurturing Dark Demon Sutra bare before the Monk's Heart.
When the Monk's Heart saw the first sentence of the opening of the Great Nurturing Dark Demon Sutra, his expression changed drastically; he felt it clashed with Buddhist principles. Reading on, when he came to the Seven Chapters of Creation, he could not help frowning again and again, and said: "This is truly a demon-cult cultivation method, without a shred of good intent—all of it evil arts that teach men toward wickedness! Cult Hierarch, put it away. This humble monk cannot bear the sight of it!"
Shen Mu was surprised, and put the Great Nurturing Dark Demon Sutra away; it was once more a ball of thread.
Just then, a monk suddenly came hurrying over and whispered something in the Monk's Heart's ear. The Monk's Heart was startled, then without betraying any emotion made his salutation and said: "You three, the hour is late. Please, each of you, return to your meditation chambers and rest."
The blind elder yawned and said: "We are guests; guests follow the host's convenience. Shen-er, Old Huo, let us return to our rooms and rest."
The three descended the tall pagoda, and the blind elder suddenly said: "That monk just now told the Monk's Heart that the Crown Prince of Jingping has arrived, seeking an audience with the Old Tathagata."
Shen Mu's heart gave a slight jolt. The Crown Prince of Jingping?
What was the Crown Prince of Jingping doing running to Great Thunderclap Temple at this hour?
He sought an audience with the Old Tathagata—what scheme did he have?
The blind elder's ears twitched, and he said: "The Monk's Heart had a monk lead the Crown Prince of Jingping to the Great Hero Treasure Hall, while he himself went to the Ten-Thousand-Appearance Pagoda, preparing to inform the Tathagata... He has entered the Ten-Thousand-Appearance Pagoda. What goes on inside, I can neither hear nor see. The Tathagata has come out, and told the monks of the Ten-Thousand-Appearance Pagoda to do all in their power, chanting true words to suppress Fan Xuanshu within the pagoda."
Old Master Huo's expression shifted slightly, and he said hurriedly: "How could those monks' Buddhist dharma possibly suppress Fan Xuanshu? The Tathagata has been careless—the thousand Buddhas in the pagoda are dead; even if the monks use true words to rouse the activity of the Buddha-bodies, they still cannot suppress Fan Xuanshu! Hurry to the Ten-Thousand-Appearance Pagoda, lest Fan Xuanshu escape!"
The three rushed in panic toward the Golden Summit. Shen Mu's steps were considerably slower than theirs. Passing by his own quarters, he saw the Dragon Qilin still sprawled there, snoring soundly, while beside it that white-browed monk was still chanting sutras at the Dragon Qilin.
"Dragon Fatty!"
Shen Mu shouted in alarm. The Dragon Qilin woke at once, and legs flailing, came running this way, leaving that white-browed monk behind. The white-browed monk said angrily: "Beast! Not a shred of wisdom-root!"
Shen Mu vaulted onto the Dragon Qilin's back and said: "Fastest speed, to the Golden Summit!"
The Dragon Qilin said: "Cult Hierarch, you have not come back these several days, and you still have not fed me."
Shen Mu barked: "Get to the Golden Summit as fast as you can, and I will give you two dou!"
The Dragon Qilin's spirits surged, and it charged madly toward the Golden Summit.