Chapter 262 — The Madman and the Sovereign
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
"Still, even if he is saved, he will be nothing but a cripple. " Shen Mu's heart ached with pity. Emperor Yanfeng was in the prime of life, his body sound, and could have lived two or three hundred years; but after this ordeal he would be no different from an ordinary man, with only a few decades of life left to him.
A generation's great sovereign, turned into a common mortal -- Emperor Yanfeng himself surely could not accept it.
Shen Mu wondered what desolation he would feel when he woke.
"The second method is perhaps the best -- seal the energy in his spirit treasury within his body; who knows, he might even repair his spirit treasury. . .
" Shen Mu shook his head. The odds were very slim.
The dragon-qilin returned to the courtyard in the mountain forest where Granny Zhu lived. Shen Mu's primal vitality surged forth, and he bore Emperor Yanfeng up in that vitality, smooth and steady, without a single jolt. Granny Zhu came out at the sound and said in astonishment, "Shen'er, what are you up to now.
.
.
the emperor? Do you mean to flay the emperor and make yourself emperor? You little wretch, you grow more and more capable!
" Granny Zhu was delighted, then said with worry, "But the emperor's three thousand beauties in the rear palace are all little fox-spirits; be careful they don't bewitch you to death. " Shen Mu said helplessly, "I am not going to flay him and make myself emperor.
Granny, help me seal the energy in the emperor's spirit treasury -- don't let him explode. I am going to fetch some medicinal ingredients -- don't you go and cook the emperor up!
" Granny Zhu's face showed worry: "You must be back before dark, or that little wretch Fan Xuanshu will be only too happy to put on the emperor's skin and run off to be emperor!
" Emperor Yanfeng woke, heard their talk, and thought, "Who is this granny of the Court Counselor's? What a vicious, savage sort.
And Fan Xuanshu -- was he not dead? Why is he here too. .
. ?
" His wounds were too grave; he sank once more into deep sleep. Shen Mu hurried out the door, got his bearings, and ran toward the nearest city. The nearest city was Yan City, a small place; because of the disaster, the apothecaries there had many gaps in their stocks, and Shen Mu had to go round several shops before he had gathered enough ingredients to replenish vital essence and blood; then he raced back.
When he reached the courtyard it was not yet dark, and Shen Mu breathed a sigh of relief. He examined the emperor and saw that Granny Zhu had already sealed the energy in his spirit treasury within his body, hidden away inside his flesh.
Emperor Yanfeng was still alive; only his bodily functions had begun to break down, while his soul was none the worse. "Once you undo the Heaven-Demon Art of Creation, his flesh will no longer hold his soul, and he will surely die! " said Granny Zhu.
"He won't die!
" Shen Mu said in a low voice.
"I can keep his soul in the mortal world; so long as there is a breath left in his body, I can bring him back! " Granny Zhu shook her head. "I will go and cook first.
After supper you must be on your guard -- the old demon will be coming out. " Shen Mu's heart went cold. Then he gave Emperor Yanfeng some Blood-Glory Pills and Spirit Buddha Pills, used his primal vitality to help the emperor dissolve the medicine's power, and covered the emperor's whole body with silver needles to guide the potency; then he refined a few more spirit pills. Granny Zhu finished supper and called Shen Mu to eat.
The two finished their meal; Granny Zhu turned and went into her room; Shen Mu went on tending Emperor Yanfeng. After a while a rustling sound came from outside, and Granny Zhu laughed coquettishly: "Shen'er, how is His Majesty?
" The voice left Shen Mu's soul unsettled and his wits astray, but he showed nothing of it: "Sect Master Li, you too are a sect master of our Holy Sect -- why behave like this?