Chapter 260 — The Old Ox and the Broken Cart
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 5
A long-eared monk's expression shifted slightly, and he said in a low voice: "The Imperial Preceptor of Jingping's reforms have bred these heretical demons who reverence neither ghosts nor gods! They reverence not even gods and Buddhas, but bow down to all this muck and rubbish!
" Grand General of Agile Cavalry Quan Dingwu pointed at the long-eared monk and sneered: "Learn in order to apply it; knowledge and action as one. Long-Eared Monk, your cultivation is a little shallow — you will not escape the doom of death. " "What is a lifetime of bitter cultivation beside true insight into gods and Buddhas?
" Emperor Yanfeng said unhurriedly: "It is all a man's own ability; to lean on gods and Buddhas is the outer path. Let them do their own duties well, and raise those duties to the realm of gods and Buddhas — then they are gods and Buddhas themselves! " One after another the old Daoist priests lowered their brows, and the old Dao Sovereign shook his head: "Raise their duties to the realm of gods?
Once they become gods that way, will they not still be laboring for mortals? This is the doctrine of the Youmo Cult again!
It comes down to nothing but daily use for the common folk. Emperor, you have been too deeply influenced by the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping, too deeply influenced by the Youmo Cult.
" Emperor Yanfeng smiled: "If I went over to the Youmo Cult, I might well talk my way into a cult leader's seat. " "Since it is the demonic path, there is no more to be said.
" One by one the old Daoist priests adjusted the precious swords behind them, and someone — no one knew who — cried softly: "Kill.
" At those words killing intent filled the heavens, and the shivering cold wind turned piercing to the bone. Just then an old man came trundling up, hauling an ox cart.
The killing intent of the crowd subsided; each stood quietly, eyes on nose, nose on heart, saying nothing. The old man, seeing the sky full of gods and Buddhas, could not help but tremble with fright, and the ox too shivered, its four legs shaking, unable to draw the cart. In a rage the old man summoned his courage and whipped the ox again and again; only then did it put forth its strength and slowly drag the cart out of that place of trouble.
When the old man and his ox cart had gone far, battle was on the verge of breaking out.
These powerhouses of the Divine Bridge realm were just about to strike when suddenly the rumble of wheels came again — another ox cart drove up, an old man leading the ox and pulling the cart.
Seeing the crowd, the old man's legs shook under him and he stammered and trembled, and only with great difficulty got the cart away.
The crowd breathed a sigh of relief, and were about to strike when again came the rumble of wheels. One of the old Daoist priests could not help but say angrily: "In this freezing cold, with heaven-sent calamities and man-made disasters, where are all these ox carts coming from?
" The hearts of the crowd tightened; it was true.
Famine was everywhere now, and the cattle and livestock had all been eaten — how had three ox carts come along in such a short while, and every one of them passing by this spot? In this cart sat an old couple: a white-haired old woman and a half-aged old man. The crowd waited quietly for the cart to pass.
But the cart stopped.
The ox showed no fear whatever before the dreadful spectacle. The old man and the old woman jumped down from the cart, and as if by conjuring unfolded the cloth on the cart, gave it a light shake, then tore the cloth away — and at once a dozen or more strangely shaped figures appeared on the cart, packing the small cart so full they were nearly squeezed off it. "The Left and Right Protector Envoys of the Youmo Cult, the twelve Protector Elders, and two Heavenly Kings.