Chapter 299 — Snow-White Flying Bats
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Ling Yuxiu's figure tumbled over and over, then suddenly she pressed her palm to the ground. A terrible dharma-power erupted; the earth boomed and shook; a stone pillar burst from the soil and forced Si Yunxiang to leap into the air. Ling Yuxiu bounded up in a few strides, reached out and seized the Nine Dragons Weapon; at once thunder and fire gathered into the great Nine-Dragon Hammer, and she brought it smashing down!
"I said I would make you stand as the character chu, and I never break my word! " Si Yunxiang giggled.
The Thousand-Silk Sword came slashing in from behind Ling Yuxiu; its silver threads suddenly swelled, thin as gossamer silver serpents, and cut toward Ling Yuxiu's head.
"How does your skill compare with the Buddha's Son's? You would make me stand as the character chu—then I will cut off your head and make you stand as the character tian! " From the Supervisory Workshops many disciples of the Heavenly Works Hall came out and stood looking up. The two girls were fighting viciously in the sky, and suddenly Si Yunxiang was blasted down, startling the Heavenly Works Hall disciples so badly that they did not know whether they ought to help. Then Si Yunxiang's figure vanished, appeared behind Princess Xiu, and beat Ling Yuxiu until she spat blood.
"This. . . we had best pay it no mind.
" One of the Incense Masters said, "With this sort of jealous quarrel, whichever side we help we will have no good account to give before the Hierarch. Let us pretend we saw nothing.
" The others nodded one after another and went their separate ways.
The Dragon Qilin was no slow traveler; by evening it had reached Qingmen Pass. The atmosphere there was oppressive.
Bian Zhenyun, commander-in-chief of the pass, was an old acquaintance of Shen Mu, and hurried out to welcome him.
"What brings the Divine Physician here with time to spare? " "I mean to take the road through Qingmen Pass and make a trip to the Nether Valley. " Shen Mu explained his purpose. "It is nearly dark now, and I cannot enter the Wastes, so I intend to rest one night at Qingmen Pass.
General, how go things at the frontier of late?
" Bian Zhenyun shook his head, his face grave. "The situation is not good. These past months the Mandi Kingdom across the way has been pouring in reinforcements, and there are many masters of the Golden Palace of Loulan among them as well.
I have heard that the Mandi Kingdom's Qiankang Envoy slipped back to the steppe in secret—it seems Mandi means to take advantage of Jingping's weakness and make war on her. Only days ago, gazing across at the barbarians' mighty pass, I saw several men who looked like they came from the Kingdom of Langjuxu. Of late the barbarian scouts ride out often, ranging freely between the two passes, insolent beyond measure. I fear. . . " His face full of worry, he went on, "I have already sent men at the gallop to report to the Emperor. If the barbarians attack, the troops of Qingmen Pass alone cannot hold them. Divine Physician Shen, by rights I should send masters to escort you to the Nether Valley, but I truly cannot spare a single man.
" Shen Mu smiled. "The General must put the greater situation first; there is no need to worry about me. I am only going to the Nether Valley, not to the steppe, and I will not come into conflict with the barbarians. " Night had fallen and the darkness crept in.
Shen Mu gazed into the distance. A hundred li away the enemy camp's radiance shot to the heavens, bright as day, and the troops gathered there were beyond counting. At dawn Shen Mu rose, washed, ate his breakfast, and fed the Dragon Qilin its fill.
Bian Zhenyun escorted him out of the pass. "Divine Physician, I cannot go with you, or the enemy will seize the chance to send out their great army.