Chapter 320 — A Family Matter
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
" Suddenly from ahead came the sound of divine abilities clashing with primal weapons, fierce and explosive. Shen Mu called the two white bats back and crept forward cautiously. They had not gone far when a battlefield appeared before them: the mighty ones of the True Heaven Palace were besieging the treasure carriage, every one of them wounded.
Seeing them arrive, the divine-ability wielders of the True Heaven Palace abruptly stopped, ceasing their attack, and all turned their heads to look at them, motionless.
"Fellow cultivator. " A youth stepped out from among them and saluted Shen Mu: "A family matter.
" Shen Mu returned the salute. "I am only passing through. " The youth smiled and waved a hand.
"Make way.
Let them pass. " Shen Mu nodded smilingly to either side and went past with the Dragon Qilin and the two bat brothers. Ahead of them the treasure carriage was already broken, its wheels and canopy smashed; of the two plum-blossom deer, one had taken human form and sat slumped beside the wreck, while the other, surely the doe, had reverted to her true shape and lay there covered in wounds.
And the mother and daughter they had been protecting had also come out of the carriage: the young woman was drenched in blood, panting for breath, shielding the child behind her.
"Righteous one. . .
" The man who was the stag suddenly reached out and caught the hem of Shen Mu's robe, raising his head with difficulty, his breath a thread: "Righteous one, I beg you. . .
" Shen Mu lifted his hem, broke free of his hand, and walked on. Passing the doe, he paused slightly: the doe with the little red flower in her hair was already dead, no breath left in her.
Shen Mu drew back his gaze and walked on, when suddenly the woman called "Naikui" seized his hand, looking at him with desperate hope, her voice hoarse: "Take my child away. Only let her live.
. .
" Shen Mu's steps halted.
Behind him the youth of the True Heaven Palace raised his voice: "Fellow cultivator, this is the family affair of my True Heaven Palace!
" Shen Mu broke free of her hand and walked on, nodding smilingly to the divine-ability wielders of the True Heaven Palace on either side, leading the Dragon Qilin and the two white bats across the battlefield.
The Dragon Qilin caught up in a few strides, turned his head to look at Shen Mu's face, and said hesitantly, "Cult Master.
. . " Shen Mu's face was expressionless. "Another's family affair — not mine to meddle in.
. .
" The Dragon Qilin said, "Better not to meddle.
The Patriarch said you were always stirring up trouble; it seems you have truly grown up. " Shen Mu was startled.
"Grown up?
Is this what growing up is? " "To know gain and loss, to choose and let go — that is surely growing up.
Very rational. " The Dragon Qilin said, "Before, you were very irrational, beating this one and that, never fearing to offend anyone; for those few months the Patriarch cleaned up a lot of messes for you. " Shen Mu fell silent.
Behind them came the cries of battle. "This is growing up.
. .
I do not want to grow up like this.
.
.
" Shen Mu gave a sneering laugh and walked on.
From the Taotie pouch small swords flew out one by one, soundless, planting themselves all around; more and more flying swords fell, forming a sword formation.
He walked on, and the eight thousand swords spread forward with him, sword-strides over mountains and rivers — and these swords too planted themselves into the shapes of mountains and rivers. Ding — the last sword-light touched the ground.
Shen Mu halted, pressed down with his hand, and the eight thousand swords sank into the earth as one.
Then he suddenly raised his robe to cover himself, and his figure vanished!
"I will not grow into such an adult! "