荒墟牧神 - 第470章 真天聖母 - 簡牘書房

The goddess looked much like the one in the mural — the one whose wine Shen Mu had snatched before kicking her flying. She ran to a corner of the wall and slipped behind a folding screen, and from behind that screen stepped a woman of a wholly different appearance.

This woman wore a round, cap-like silver ornament on her head, a short black jacket, a long black skirt, and high-soled black shoes with pointed toes; she was dressed like any ordinary woman of the Western Lands.

"That was close — I nearly got kicked out of my true form by that Forsaken! Still, I gave myself away. Every god and demon in that painting can speak only a word or two at most — 'kill,' 'beast,' things of that sort — and I spoke a whole sentence."

The woman walked swiftly out of the main hall of the Palace of True Heaven. Sunlight fell on a face delicate and fair. Head lowered, she walked on, thinking, "Those two did not think of it before, but a little reflection and they will surely notice something is off. I must leave as quickly as I can — or better, get my hands on the Four Spirit Pearls first..."

Her steps were small and light. Ahead of her were Shen Mu and Imperial Preceptor Jingping. Only then did she slow down, compose her expression, and smile, like some perfectly ordinary young lady-disciple of a Western Lands clan.

"Damn!"

Suddenly Shen Mu's face changed. He struck his palm with his fist and blurted out, "I know where the Old Mother of True Heaven is hiding!"

Imperial Preceptor Jingping was sharp beyond measure; the key came to him at once, and he too blurted, "In that mural with the missing corner! The goddess holding the wine!"

He turned and ran for the main hall, speaking fast: "We killed even the Heavenly Emperor inside that painting, and yet even the Heavenly Emperor never spoke a word. Only that wine-bearing goddess spoke a complete sentence!"

He rushed into the hall, and after a moment came back out, shaking his head. "The wine-bearing goddess is no longer in the painting."

Shen Mu mimicked the goddess's tone: "Where did this little wretch come from? This is wine for the high god — is it yours to touch? For anyone in a painting, that sentence is far too complex. The painter never refined his art to that degree. A goddess who can speak — that is the Old Mother of True Heaven! What a cunning creature, hiding inside a painting. I underestimated her."

The woman came up to the two of them and greeted Shen Mu with a salute. "Cult Master Shen."

Shen Mu's eyes flickered. He smiled. "Why does Sister not greet Imperial Preceptor Jingping as well?"

"Imperial Preceptor Jingping? I have never met him. Is he the mighty one who killed Bagou earlier?"

A flush of excitement came over the woman's face. She hurried to salute the Imperial Preceptor, and gave him a deep, soulful look. Jingping shook his head. "It is not her. Since coming to the Western Lands I have shown myself very rarely; most women here would not know me. It was I who killed the Old Mother of True Heaven's false body, so she would know me."

Shen Mu nodded, then asked the woman, "Did you see anyone come out of that great hall?"

The woman shook her head. "I was with my clan chief, going to seize the Vermilion Bird Pearl. I passed by here, but I saw no one."

Shen Mu pondered, then waved a hand in dismissal. The woman glanced at Imperial Preceptor Jingping once more, then lowered her head and walked past the two of them. Suddenly Shen Mu caught her by the sleeve. The Old Mother of True Heaven's scalp went numb; she could barely keep herself from striking.

Shen Mu smiled. "What is this sister's name? Which clan are you from? Who is your clan chief?"

The Old Mother of True Heaven's expression changed drastically. With a thud she dropped to her knees, trembling, and knocked her head on the ground. "I am a disciple of the Palace of True Heaven! I beg the Cult Master not to kill me! If the other clans recognize me, my life is forfeit! I beg the Cult Master to spare me!"