Chapter 692 — The Carefree Village of the Netherworld
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Within these skins there was no flesh or blood at all; they were occupied by dark matter, and their speed was inconceivable—yet shone upon by the Book of Life and Death, the dark matter drained away, and they became empty skins once more.
"Why do they eat flesh and blood?"
Shen Mu felt he had drawn a little nearer to the truth, yet the truth itself remained endlessly far: "To uncover the truth of the darkness, I fear there is no way but to explore the secret behind this Yin Realm."
He walked on. Suddenly came a rustling, creeping sound—a demon was drawing near him. Shen Mu was slightly taken aback: this demon gave him a familiar feeling.
"It is that god-man with the lantern from the Kaihuang era!"
The demon the god-man had become halted not far ahead of him. Shen Mu drew near, and the demon at once fled forward—yet before it had gone far it stopped again and looked back.
"His speed is like light, like lightning, far beyond mine. The reason he stops and starts is that he wants me to follow him!"
Something stirred in Shen Mu's heart. He quickened his pace and gave chase.
Man and demon raced across this gray continent. Shen Mu ran he knew not how long, until he was panting for breath; and the demon was considerate too—whenever he could not keep going, it slowed, and now and then it would even stop, the two of them only a hundred zhang apart, quietly waiting while Shen Mu recovered.
On they went, he knew not how far, when suddenly Shen Mu caught sight of other colors, and his eyes lit up.
There the mountains were green and the waters fair, birds sang and flowers gave forth fragrance, the lakes were a deep blue, and the air itself seemed to grow fresh.
There was even a town there—towers and pavilions, long bridges lying across the waves, double galleries spanning the air. From afar, the shadows of people moved in crowds, vivid and full of life. Who would ever have thought that such a place could exist within the Yin Realm?
The demon walked into that valley, and the gray upon its body seemed to fall away at once; it became a god-man radiant with spirit.
Shen Mu hurried after him, but did not step in right away. He first surveyed a full circuit, and only when he sensed no danger did he stride into the valley.
Along the streets went god-men and god-men alone, laughing and cursing, singing boldly—a veritable picture of market life.
"Young friend, you have come from afar, and I failed to welcome you. I beg your pardon!"
An aged god-man with a broad sash and a high crown came striding over from the distance, laughing loudly. He greeted Shen Mu and said with a smile, "Few outside guests come to our little place; I fear we have been poor hosts to an honored guest. Please, come in."
Though he seemed aged, he was hale and vigorous, his face glowing red, with no trace of decrepitude about him.
Shen Mu betrayed nothing, and smiled. "The elder is too kind. Elder, what place is this? I have seen only gray haze throughout the Yin Realm—this alone is vivid and full of life. There must be something extraordinary about it."
"This is the Village of Bliss within the Yin Realm—a place of bliss for gods and immortals."
The aged god-man's voice boomed like a great bell. He laughed. "Our little place is full of goddesses, beauties in abundance—some may soothe the troubles of your heart, some may ease the weariness of your flesh. Thus men linger and forget to leave, their hearts drunk here; to call it the Village of Bliss is no exaggeration."
Even as he spoke, goddesses beyond counting came walking from who knew where, orioles singing and swallows dancing, a riot of purple and red—the coy, the seductive, the sweet, the tart, the warm, the cold—all came surging over in a throng, laughing as they said, "An honored guest from afar, come to the Village of Bliss—of course you must be blissful here!"