Chapter 690 — The Primal Origin of Darkness
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Shen Mu gave him half a dou of spirit elixirs, heaped until they filled a washbasin, and said to Yan Jingjing, "He's a coward, but the moment food is mentioned, he fears neither heaven nor earth. " Yan Jingjing understood at once, and laughed.
"Dragon Fatty is stronger than he looks—just now I put all my strength into it and still couldn't drag him out of the ground. What were you reading earlier? It gave me quite a scare!
" Shen Mu handed her the Book of Life and Death. "It is a Youdu divine art the Lord left me.
I was absorbed in it. " Yan Jingjing sat down and studied the runes on the book in fine detail, only to find them far too intricate—she could make neither head nor tail of them.
Shen Mu sat beside her and pointed them out one by one. "These are the writings of Youdu. The script of Youdu is not the same as that of the world of the living; to the people of the living world, the script of Youdu is what is commonly called ghost scribbles. Yet the script of Youdu is exceedingly ancient, and hidden within those characters are unfathomable divine arts and dharma—it is the vessel of the Great Way of Youdu. " Yan Jingjing listened in a fog, but since he was sitting at her side she was perfectly happy, and as for what the writing on the book actually said, her mind had long since wandered.
Shen Mu went on. "Writing is information; it carries the dharma.
Once you understand the script of a civilization, its dharma is not difficult to grasp. The Lord did not wish to teach me this divine art, afraid I would spread it far and wide. But if he thought that would keep it from me, he underestimated me by far too much. " Yan Jingjing laid the Book of Life and Death on her lap and smoothed the stray hairs at her temples with both hands.
Puzzled, she asked, "This divine art is so complex—how is one to learn its principles from it? " Shen Mu laughed. "I understand the Youdu tongue; the mysteries of these runes are no obstacle to me.
What is hard is the shifting of their patterns, their layering, their transformation and reconstruction—the things bound up in that, I do not understand. My study of Youdu divine arts is not deep, but fortunately I know a great many people of outstanding talent, and I can invite them to study it with me. Together we will surely unlock the secrets of this divine art! " The Angler rose, folded up his little stool, and came over. "Let me have a look.
" Yan Jingjing hurried to her feet and handed him the Book of Life and Death.
He flipped through it once, and his head swam and his eyes blurred. Shaking his head, he said, "Can't make it out. Perhaps the Woodcutter could.
He understands a great many things. " Shen Mu looked toward the Soul Spring, and saw that many small moons had been tethered beside it, shedding a bright and limpid radiance. The Angler had actually fished out so many moons in so short a time—his skill was truly out of the ordinary.
The Angler stowed his hook and line, and the two little red fish leaped back into his creel.
He waved a hand. "The sun and the moon have been fished out; it is time I took my leave. Will you ride the red kun back with me, or return by way of the Soul Spring?
" Shen Mu and Yan Jingjing conferred, then Shen Mu said, "The Fisherman Heavenly Master keeps staring at the eye in the center of my brow. I fear he may not be able to resist lifting his hook and pulling my brother out. So we will go back through the Soul Spring into the Star Sea—that road is shorter.
" The Angler waved his hand and turned to go, the fish creel on his back.
"Be loving and harmonious, you two!
" The two little red fish poked their heads out and waved their fins at them. Shen Mu and Yan Jingjing blushed faintly, and the mood turned a little awkward.
The Dragon Qilin was licking the basin, licking it with a sand-scraping rasp, breaking the brief silence.
Once the basin was clean, it rolled its tongue, and the washbasin vanished—no one knew where it had hidden it.