Chapter 528 — Seeking the Way at Little Jade Capital
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Two days later Ling Yuxiu returned to the capital to await the emperor's arrangements. She kept Shen Mu company as far as the Heavenly Sage Academy, and only then went back to the city.
The court now held many people of the Heavenly Sage Sect — from the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping and the Duke of Wei at the top, down to yamen runners and petty constables in the provinces — so Shen Mu had no need to fight his own battles; others would fight them for him.
When Shen Mu arrived at the Heavenly Sage Academy, classes were in session. Not a soul was to be seen about the grounds; only a shoal of flood dragons disported themselves in the lake. Catching sight of Shen Mu, the dragons gaped a moment, then scrambled up the bank in a great splashing clatter.
Sensing trouble, Shen Mu turned and ran for all he was worth: "These flood dragons — were they not taken to Mount Shenglin by the Holy Maiden Xiang to be raised there? How did they come to the Heavenly Sage Academy?"
"Maha! Maha! Maha!"
The pack of flood dragons rushed in jubilant delight past the Dragon Qilin and Chest. A moment later Shen Mu was captured, his body festooned with dragons, and he came trudging up with a weary gait, a dozen or more of the creatures clinging to him, their heads rubbing against his body, their horns scoring line after line of blood across his neck.
"Maha..." The little flood dragons clung to him, eyes narrowed, looking half asleep.
Shen Mu was soaked through, as though he had been fished out of the water.
The Dragon Qilin let out a long breath. All at once, every dragon on Shen Mu lifted its head and looked at him. The Qilin knew at once that this boded ill, and bolted.
"Maha! Maha! Maha!"
The pack of dragons ran cheerfully past Chest. A moment later Shen Mu and Chest saw the Dragon Qilin crawling along in utter agony, neck and body and limbs swathed in flood dragons.
"Maha." The dragons rubbed against the Qilin, rubbing the fat fellow bloody.
"Maha?" The pack of dragons raised their heads and looked at Chest with curiosity.
Chest stumped along on its legs behind Shen Mu. Now, too, it sensed trouble, and made haste to scurry away.
The dragons slid off the Dragon Qilin and came leaping and bounding at Chest, crying joyfully: "Maha! Maha! Maha!"
The Dragon Qilin heaved a sigh of relief and collapsed limp on the ground. A moment later Chest came clattering back on its legs, and the Dragon Qilin and Shen Mu stared wide-eyed — there was not a single flood dragon on it.
"Maha—" Chest opened, and a dozen-odd dragon heads popped out, crying in unison, delighted.
The sight was rather like a box of narcissus of every color thrusting up their heads.
Chest looked rather pleased with itself as it followed them; it seemed not to feel at all how heavy these dragons were.
"Shen'er has come back?"
The bell for the end of class rang. Granny Zhu came out of one of the great teaching halls, and catching sight of Shen Mu hurried to meet him, laughing: "It has been many a day since I saw you. A fine Grand Libationer you are — a hands-off proprietor! You drop all these scholars here, slip away yourself, and leave us to mind them for you..."
Shen Mu hugged her tightly, tears flowing before he knew it: "Granny!"
Granny Zhu was taken aback, then laughed: "Have you been wronged? What kind of Great Hierarch weeps like a child? You are the Grand Libationer of the Heavenly Sage Academy, no less. Don't cry — it won't do for the scholars to see. Tell Granny all about it; Granny will settle it for you."
Shen Mu felt his heart settle. He released her and shook his head: "What is the meaning of these flood dragons? Were they not sent to Mount Shenglin?"
"Xiang girl did send them to Mount Shenglin at first. Later she took a dislike to them — they eat spirit elixirs every day, and they want the dishes varied, which costs far too much — so she sent them back."