Chapter 402 — Spirited Away
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 3
Shen Mu closed his eyes. After a moment, Xue Hu'er's and Yan Jingjing's vision gradually returned.
"Inside the Xi Spring, I saw Ziqing's Sacred Pupil."
Shen Mu did not dare open his eyes. "And then many things appeared in my eyes, as though her eyes had branded something onto them."
Yan Jingjing asked in a panic, "Can you see now?"
"Yes."
Yan Jingjing's eyes, tended by Shen Mu, had recovered almost fully; she could see, though her body was still somewhat thin and frail. She at once swam to his side, pressed both hands on his shoulders, and said softly, "Our Muri clan also has an eye-cultivation art, called the Pleiades Star Ring. Wait until I activate the Pleiades Star Ring, then open your eyes, and I will take a look for you."
Shen Mu waited a moment, and Yan Jingjing said, "Ready."
Shen Mu opened his eyes, and the divine radiance burst forth once more, flooding the surroundings in blinding white. He saw the frail girl leaning in close before him, earnestly studying his pupils; her own eyes seemed veiled by ring upon ring of stars, the star rings rotating ceaselessly, resisting the might of his Sacred Pupil. Yan Jingjing examined him most carefully, leaning in until she was almost touching him, distinguishing one vein of pattern after another.
Shen Mu did not dare breathe, for fear his breath would brush her face.
"It is a rune mark, woven into a formation."
Yan Jingjing's breath was sweet as orchids. As she examined him, she mused, "The outer patterns resemble our Muri clan's Pleiades Star Ring, but there are more patterns within. Two layers, three layers, four layers..."
She peered deep into Shen Mu's pupils and saw layer upon layer of space within. These rune marks formed a strange formation, like tier upon tier of solar rings stretching endlessly backward. How many layers there were, she could not tell.
"Within your pupils, at the very center of the layered Pleiades Star Rings, there seems to be a sun — though it may also be formed of star rings..."
When her examination was done, she said, "I will teach you the Pleiades Star Ring, this pupil-art divine power. Try and see whether you can control the mark in your eyes."
Shen Mu nodded with difficulty.
Only then did Yan Jingjing notice how close her face was to his, nearly pressed against it. Shen Mu had not dared nod for fear of touching her. Their gazes met, the star rings in each of their eyes shimmering with light.
Just then, Xue Hu'er's voice came: "Young Master, are you two done examining? Why has it gone quiet?"
Shen Mu said hastily, "Not yet!"
Yan Jingjing burst into a giggle, her breath brushing his face.
Hearing this, Xue Hu'er grew suspicious. She at once swam over with hands and feet, splashing noisily, her tails raised above the water. Shen Mu's gaze was too bright; she could not see where the two of them were, but she still followed the sound and swam between them, half her body rising above the water. She shook her several tails, splashing water onto the faces of the boy and girl beside her.
Shen Mu and Yan Jingjing hurriedly drew apart, suppressing the strange feelings in their hearts, and Shen Mu closed his eyes. Xue Hu'er sat between them, keeping them separated.
Yan Jingjing said quickly, "I will transmit the Pleiades Star Ring to you. Listen carefully." With that, she taught the Pleiades Star Ring to Shen Mu.
Shen Mu asked whenever he did not understand, and soon mastered the Pleiades Star Ring. He tried to activate it; layer after layer of star rings in his pupils winked out, though a few marks still surfaced in his eyes. Shen Mu opened his eyes: the terrifying radiance no longer shot forth, though from time to time a flash of light still gleamed from the deepest recesses of his pupils. The Pleiades Star Ring had not shut down the sun mark at the very core of his eyes.