Chapter 419 — The Emperor's Seal Appears in the World
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Imperial Preceptor Jingping walked over and entered the estate, looking about him in astonishment. "When the day comes that my work is done and I may withdraw," he said admiringly, "I too shall seek out just such a place, with scenery fit to gladden the eye, and there enjoy the happiness of family with my wife and children. " Shen Mu came forward to greet him and said with a smile, "What brings the Heavenly King here?
" "I have not come as the Heavenly King of the Tiansheng Cult to see the Sect Master," said the Imperial Preceptor gravely, "but as the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping to see the Human Emperor.
I beg the Human Emperor's aid! " Shen Mu's expression turned stern at once.
"Speak, Imperial Preceptor Jingping!
" The Imperial Preceptor glanced around.
"Where is the old Human Emperor?
Might we invite him out to join the discussion as well? " "The Village Head is sunning himself and drinking tea. " The two of them sought out the Village Head, and found the Pharmacist and the Village Head drinking tea, with a crowd of women gathered around them, lifting cups to their lips — they did not even need to raise a hand.
The corner of the Imperial Preceptor's eye twitched: among those women was none other than Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.
He hastily covered his face and pretended he had seen nothing. He and the Empress Dowager had never gotten along; she had thwarted him time and again, and it was on his own instruction that the Little Poison King, Fu Yuanqing, had administered poison to her.
Yet he was, after all, her subject, and to see the Empress Dowager thus waiting upon another man was a thing he must needs turn a blind eye to.
The Empress Dowager saw him and gave a cold laugh, but made no move to look away.
Seeing this, the Pharmacist laughed. "Too much worldly business here.
Let us go elsewhere.
I know a spot with the finest scenery; bring your instruments, and we shall make merry a while.
" The women, delighted, crowded around the Pharmacist and bore him away. Only then did the Imperial Preceptor lower his sleeve, salute the Village Head, and wait for Shen Mu to sit before taking his own seat.
"Strange omens have come thick and fast in Jingping — many treasures have appeared, and a hundred-odd stone statues. Surely that has not escaped the two of you?
And the peril in it I need hardly explain; both Human Emperors must know it well.
" The Imperial Preceptor came straight to the point.
"I have come to ask the Human Emperor to bring out the Human Emperor's Seal, to command all the champions of the world, and to march against Heaven Above — so that the common folk need not be plunged again into fire and water! " The Village Head gave him a startled look. "Has the Imperial Preceptor ever been to Heaven Above? " The Imperial Preceptor shook his head.
"If you had been to Heaven Above, you would not think that way," said the Village Head. "I have been there.
In those years I commanded the champions of the world against Heaven Above, and that is why I have no arms and no legs.
Heaven Above holds not only the Four Lords of Heaven Above, but other false gods besides. I was on the verge of sweeping Heaven Above clean, until I met a true god — a god in truth.
" His old face was covered in wrinkles, deep-lined and furrowed, like an old farmer who had spent his life bent over the yellow earth, the lines in his face the fields he had ploughed deep. "A true god whose every aspect was at the divine realm. " "My sword art was defeated by his sword art," the Village Head said unhurriedly, "and he cut off both my legs and both my arms. 'Human Emperor? Pah!
' That is what he said, and then he threw me out of Heaven Above.
" He glanced at the Imperial Preceptor.
"You would have been newly born then, and would know nothing of it. Of the champions who went with me to Heaven Above, some died, some fled, some scattered. I, the Human Emperor, was utterly defeated — crushed beyond recovery.