Chapter 277 — Killing Intent Arose Suddenly
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Last night's affair was only this: my retainer saw you kill too many disciples of the Golden Palace and was filled with resentment, and so entered your dream and killed you by sorcery.
" Hearing him raise the matter, Shen Mu could not help but be surprised; he had thought Ban Gongcuo would avoid it, and never expected that the first thing Ban Gongcuo did upon taking his seat was to speak it plainly. "So that is how it was. " Shen Mu smiled.
"Fortunately I am unharmed, and the man is dead besides. I believe the young prince had no part in the matter.
" Ban Gongcuo shook his head.
"There is still something you do not know. I knew he meant to kill you, and I did not stop him.
Does Sect Master Shen wish to know why? " Shen Mu was surprised again, and said modestly, "The young prince is full of surprises.
I would be glad to hear it in full.
" Ban Gongcuo poured wine for him. "The reason I did not stop him is that I knew you would surely keep Libationer Bashan in your chamber to guard against my working sorcery on you at midnight. He could not kill you, but he could delay you.
" Shen Mu raised his brows, lifted his cup, and the two toasted in courtesy and drank it off.
Ban Gongcuo went on: "You and I broke through the wall at the same time and entered the Six Harmonies realm. At that time I did not accept your challenge because I had seen that your strength in battle was truly no small thing, and I was not wholly sure of beating you. But after a single day, it is different. One day.
Only one day. " A faint smile appeared on his face. "When masters contend, a single day is enough to settle victory and defeat. You spent the afternoon meeting the Crown Prince, with no leisure to consolidate the Six Harmonies realm or discover its mysteries; at night you had to guard against my retainer's sorcerous attack, and again had no leisure to study the realm of the Six Harmonies. I, however, had that day to consolidate the Six Harmonies and raise my cultivation. A paltry day was enough to leave you without a single chance of victory.
" Astonished once more, Shen Mu studied his face. It still bore something of a boy's softness, yet his gaze was deep, with a gravity no youth possessed. He said in admiration, "The young prince of the grasslands is truly extraordinary. No wonder even Heaven's Blade is so wary of you.
You are only fourteen this year? " Ban Gongcuo poured wine for him again. "Thirteen. We grassland folk are weathered by wind and sun, our bodies coarser, and we look older.
Thirteen is my age in this life; if the Sect Master asks the lifespan of my soul, then it is already eleven thousand years. " Shen Mu laughed aloud.
"The young prince astonishes me more and more.
I did not expect him to speak even of this so lightly. " "There is no need for me to hide it from you. " Ban Gongcuo said, "Sect Master Shen is likewise most admirable.
You are a disciple of Heaven's Blade, are you not?