Chapter 703 — The Supreme Sage
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
The Woodcutter Sage studied him carefully, and something stirred in his heart. "I know him," he said. "His name is Ning Jin. He was one of the many gods I dispatched to probe the source of the darkness. I placed a seal of the Creation-Heaven Demon Art upon him to ensure he would not be devoured by the monsters lurking in the dark. Is he still alive?"
Shen Mu said, "Neither living nor dead. Master, he has already completed his mission."
A flicker of emotion passed through the Woodcutter Sage's eyes, though he did not let it surface. He nodded slowly. "Can you wake him?"
Shen Mu shook his head. "When night falls, he will come alive within the darkness. You may meet him then, Master."
At that moment, a surge of darkness rushed forward. Yama moved, his body dragging the darkness with him, and it enveloped them all. The human skin suddenly fluttered like a paper cutout, and beneath it flesh and blood began to grow. Before long, the Divine Man of the Kaihuang Era was full-fleshed and standing alive before them.
"He can live in Fengdu." Yama's voice, from beneath the dark cloak, was obscure and heavy.
The Divine Man of the Kaihuang Era raised his own hands and examined them over and over, incredulity written across his face. He murmured, "The feeling of being alive—this is what being alive feels like... Twenty thousand years, and for the first time I feel that I am still alive..."
Shen Mu could not help but say, "Senior, you are in fact already dead. It is King Yama who brought the living realm of the dead to your side, and only thus do you feel alive."
The Divine Man of the Kaihuang Era was too overcome to compose himself and did not take in his words. Then, suddenly, he caught sight of the Woodcutter Sage. His eyes reddened despite himself, and at once he dropped to one knee, clasped his hands into a fist and raised them above his head, his voice ringing clear and powerful.
"Subordinate Ning Jin of the Heaven Division greets the Heavenly Master! After twenty thousand and six hundred years, I have returned to report to the Heavenly Master!"
"Report: Of the fifty-eight men of the Heaven Division dispatched by the Heavenly Master's command to probe the source of the darkness, fifty-seven are dead, their souls scattered and extinguished. Only this subordinate survives. This subordinate has been fortunate enough not to fail his charge—I have discovered the truth of the darkness. I request the Heavenly Master's permission to return to my post."
The Woodcutter Sage was silent. The light in his eyes rippled and flowed, but never once spilled over. After a long moment, he stepped into the darkness, took Ning Jin by the arm, and lifted him up. "Soldier of the Heaven Division, your mission is complete."
"Thank you, Heavenly Master!"
Ning Jin rose, his body ramrod straight, like a soldier awaiting his general's inspection. He said loudly, "Ning Jin requests to return to the Heaven Division!"
The Woodcutter Sage smiled, and said softly, "The Kaihuang Era has already fallen. I failed you all. The Heaven Division has been disbanded. Ning Jin—you are free..."
Ning Jin was dazed. His eyes widened, still unable to accept this truth. With immense difficulty, he said, "Heavenly Master, for twenty thousand years, I have waited to return to my post... Heavenly Master, Ning Jin has come back to report. I request to return to my post!"
The Woodcutter Sage frowned. "The Kaihuang Heavenly Court is finished. There is no Heaven Division anymore. You are free, Ning Jin..."
The Divine Man of the Kaihuang Era's voice trembled, hoarse and cracking: "Ning Jin requests to return to his post!"
The Woodcutter Sage was silent for a long while. His voice, too, trembled slightly. It was hard for him to reveal genuine feeling, yet in this moment he could scarcely hold back. He suppressed his Dao-heart with all his might and said, word by word, "Soldier of Kaihuang, Ning Jin of the Heaven Division—I grant you permission to return to your post!"