荒墟牧神 - 第400章 拐帶離去 - 簡牘書房

Yan Jingjing swam over from the side and studied his pupils. She mused, "The Pleiades Star Ring must be only part of this Sacred Pupil's art, not the whole of it, which is why the Sun Radiance Mark cannot be fully shut down..."

Xue Hu'er leaned in on Shen Mu's right, imitating the other girl as she studied his right eye. "Young Master, you have stars in your eyes!"

Shen Mu did not know whether to laugh or cry. "That is the Pleiades Star Ring. Jing'er and I are looking into this matter — do not make trouble. Jing'er, the brand that Ziqing the deity's eyes left in mine should be the mark of her Sacred Pupil. Perhaps I can master her Sacred Pupil from these marks. Her Sacred Pupil was surely the foremost Sacred Pupil of the Kaihuang era. If I could master it, it would be no small matter!"

Yan Jingjing mused, "To master the foremost Sacred Pupil from marks alone is impossible. Though I have learned the Pleiades Star Ring, I cannot use it to deduce the art of the foremost Sacred Pupil. To deduce it is far too difficult..."

"There is one person who can do it!"

Shen Mu's eyes lit up, brimming with confidence. "My family's Blind Grandpa can surely use these marks to reproduce Ziqing the deity's art!"

"Blind Grandpa?"

Yan Jingjing asked curiously, "He cannot see, can he?"

Shen Mu was full of faith in the blind old man. "He is blind, but his eye is excellent. He is the most accomplished in the Sacred Pupil of anyone I have ever met!"

Yan Jingjing grew even more doubtful. "His eyes are blind — how can his eye be excellent?"

"My family's Blind Grandpa has an excellent eye. Silent Craftsman Grandpa speaks little but is fierce and ruthless. Lame Grandpa runs the fastest. One-Armed Grandpa Huo has the best fist techniques. Half-Bodied Grandpa Tu fights the fiercest. Deaf Grandpa, though he cannot hear, is the most understanding of others." Shen Mu laughed. "And the most beautiful Granny Zhu, and the most adorable Alchemist Grandpa, the finest hand in the world at both poisoning and healing. But the most remarkable of all is the village head with neither arms nor legs — his swordsmanship is number one under heaven!"

Yan Jingjing was dazed, then said excitedly, "I want so much to go out and see!"

"When you are well, I will take you out!" Shen Mu said. "The New Year is almost here. This year, I expect I will spend it at Granny's. Will you come along?"

"Yes!"

Yan Jingjing was indescribably excited, then her face fell. She shook her head. "I must stay with the clan. The Xi Boat cannot be left untended — if the demon were to attack..."

Shen Mu laughed. "It is fine. I fished up a new sun, and I killed the Many-Bodied Demon God. There should be no outside enemies invading for some time. After the New Year, I will send you back."

Yan Jingjing was glad at heart, yet also uneasy. "I have never left my clansmen to go out alone..."

"With me here, you can rest easy!"

...

Xue Hu'er could not get a word in, and muttered to herself. After a moment, a woman of the Muri folk came over, set down a stack of clothes, and said with great respect, "Your Highness, the new garments are ready."

Shen Mu stood up, and suddenly felt a chill on his backside. He hurriedly sat back down. "Ling'er, Jing'er, turn around. I need to change."

Yan Jingjing and Xue Hu'er turned around as told. Shen Mu hurriedly climbed out of the pool. Xue Hu'er peeked back, and Yan Jingjing said hastily, "No peeking!"

Xue Hu'er whispered, "I am checking whether the Young Master has grown a tail."

Yan Jingjing asked curiously, "Did you see a tail?"

Xue Hu'er said with some disappointment, "No. His backside is bare."

Shen Mu finished dressing. The garment was sky-blue, with sun-and-moon patterns embroidered along the collar and dragon-and-phoenix patterns along the hem. The cut was most tasteful, at once luxurious and understated, elegant and reserved.

"This outfit is not bad at all."