Chapter 405 — A Visitor from Afar
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
"Xing An?"
Shen Mu looked blank. He thought it over carefully, then asked Ling Yuxiu and the others in a low voice, "Have you ever heard the name Xing An?"
The girls all shook their heads in a fluster. "Never heard of him. Xing is a rare surname, at that."
Si Yunxiang said, "Cowherd, ask him which Divine Doctor Shen he is looking for. Maybe we know the man."
Shen Mu agreed, and said to Xing An, "My junior sister asks me to ask you which Divine Doctor Shen you seek."
Xing An laughed. "This man is of great renown, the most famous young divine doctor in the capital. His surname is Shen, his given name Mu. He was once the leader of a demon cult, but he also bears the name of divine doctor. My own medical skill is not poor, but since this is a fatal affliction, after all these years of treatment something has always been off; the more I treat, the more wrong it goes. The bodies reject one another and cannot coexist. Not long ago I happened to meet the Great Venerable of the Golden Palace of Loulan, an old friend of mine. He recommended a man to me, and spoke of this Divine Doctor Shen, whose medical art reaches the gods. So I have come looking for him."
Shen Mu was furious within. "Ban Gongcuo again, that bastard! He is forever making trouble for me! Imperial Preceptor Jingping razed the Golden Palace of Loulan; why did he not have him slaughtered? Instead the wretch slipped away before the deed was done."
"So it is the Cult Master of the Nether Demon Cult."
Shen Mu made a show of sudden understanding. "I have heard his name. He is quite extraordinary."
Xing An gave him a smiling glance. "I have heard that the Nether Demon Cult Master has many tricks to his name. He helped Imperial Preceptor Jingping rebuild the great tower-ships, and in one stroke annihilated the grasslands, subdued the Khan, and leveled the Golden Palace. He also helped Emperor Yanfeng forge a divine cannon, and with a single shot killed one of the gods above. Truly a remarkable man. A figure that dangerous, and yet I have no choice but to come seeking him, because the Jade-Faced Poison King is even more dangerous than he."
He smiled. "The Nether Demon Cult Master's cultivation, after all, stands only at the Six Harmonies realm, so he is easy to control. The Jade-Faced Poison King, though, is ruthless and vicious, and thus far harder to deal with. By the way, they called you Cowherd. Is your surname Niu?"
Shen Mu hastily laughed. "No. I used to herd cattle, so my senior and junior sisters tease me by calling me Cowherd."
"I see."
Xing An looked around him and said, "There was once a battle here in which a god was slain. I heard the Nether Demon Cult Master appeared here as well, so I came here to seek him. I have eaten your fruit, and I cannot fail to give you something in return. Rise!"
He pointed a finger, and the fruit pits he had just buried in the soil took root and sprouted at once, growing at furious speed, and in a moment had grown into a great tree that blossomed and bore fruit, its branches heavy with them.
"The Art of Creation!" Si Yunxiang breathed.
Xing An glanced at her, waved his hand, and fruit after fruit fell to the ground, rolling everywhere. Those fruits took root where they landed, sprouted and put forth branches, and after a while the whole hillside was covered in fruit trees, blossoms blooming in profusion; then the blossoms fell, the green fruit swelled at speed, and soon the trees were laden with fruit again.
"Taste them. Is the flavor the same?" Xing An laughed.
Yan Jingjing was about to pick one and taste it when Shen Mu shook his head. "Little Sister Jing, do not pick it. That fruit is not good to eat."
Yan Jingjing set the fruit down and blinked, studying it closely. It was bright red, identical to the fruit they had picked, with nothing at all strange about it.
"Cowherd is remarkable. You saw through it."