Chapter 578 — Meeting an Old Acquaintance in a Faraway Place
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
In that tiny dragon village, after seeing Shen Mu off and wrapping the true dragon's lair in vital essence to send it a thousand li away to Shen Mu's side, Qingya said to Old Man Qinghuang, "Patriarch, why send Brother Shen away so soon? Is he not a descendant of Kaihuang? " The other villagers were curious as well and crowded around, asking, "We heard the patriarch say that you and Kaihuang were friends in life and death. Driving Brother Shen off like this seems a bit heartless. " Old Man Qinghuang glared at them.
"We aren't even human. What 'heart' is there to speak of? Besides, I was indeed sworn to Kaihuang in life and death, but I always got the worse end of it and rarely came out ahead! That bastard Kaihuang took his wife, children, and elders off to some Carefree Land to live it up, dumped his mess behind him, and never gave it another thought.
And I'm supposed to wipe his ass for him? In his dreams! " Qingya and the others exchanged glances. The more Old Man Qinghuang spoke, the angrier he became, and he sneered, "Never seen me curse before? Back in the day I was the most famous foul-mouthed expert in Kaihuang's heavenly court — I cursed a ox god to death! Kaihuang left behind a heap of mess, and how many fellow cultivators were waiting for him to rise again, waiting for him to make his comeback — and what happened? " He shouldered his fishing net and walked out of the village, his voice thick with wrath.
"He hasn't shown his face to this day.
How many old brothers' hearts has that chilled? This Shen Mu is his one hundred and seventh generation descendant. A plucked phoenix is worse than a crested fire pheasant; the title of one hundred and seventh generation descendant is good for nothing but talk. What emperor's one hundred and seventh generation descendant is still a prince? A true dragon's one hundred and seventh generation descendant isn't even as good as a little snake! If he wants me to come out of retirement, he can come out of the Carefree Land and ask me himself.
Otherwise, even if the crown prince came, I wouldn't give him the time of day! " The crowd followed him to a cold pool. Old Man Qinghuang cast his net from the bank but did not pull it in for a long while. After a moment, he said thoughtfully, "This Shen Mu actually has some ability, but it's not enough — far from enough. . . His purpose in coming was to retrieve the military tally and learn the Ancestral Dragon's Grand Mystery Art. I gave him both. Our Azure Dragon lineage owes him nothing, owes the Shen family nothing. .
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" Qingya and the others said nothing. A middle-aged man coughed and said, "Patriarch, if you don't pull in the net soon, the fish will all get away. " Old Man Qinghuang muttered to himself, "This Shen Mu is a little fellow who's used to stirring up trouble. I'm a good judge of character — I'm never wrong. His temperament is somewhat like Kaihuang's back then. Neither of them can sit still; both love to tinker and meddle. What worries me is that if you follow him, your lives may be put at risk.
We've lived in this village for twenty thousand years. It's been plain, but we've been happy together.
. . " "Patriarch, the fish really are getting away! " Qingya said anxiously. Old Man Qinghuang said, "That bastard Kaihuang is detestable, and being with him always had my heart in my throat, never knowing when I might drop dead. But for some reason I always miss those days. Whenever I think back on them, I feel a warmth in my chest, and my eyes grow hot. .
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" Qingya plunged into the cold pool with a splash and after a moment came up holding a big red fish. Old Man Qinghuang murmured, "Why do I miss those days? Am I getting old. . . No, I can't let you leave the village.
This Shen Mu has shifty eyes and rat-like brows — one look and you can tell he's full of wicked schemes! " The dragon village villagers were already breathing fire to roast the fish, having left Old Man Qinghuang by the pool.