Chapter 711 — Punished in Another's Stead
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Shen Mu went on, "If Lord Tu is just and impartial, then he ought to pursue Kai Huang's responsibility. To let the chief conspirator go and instead call Tian Shu to account — that smacks of bullying the weak and fearing the strong. I am your junior, but a junior may still have a sense of justice; if Lord Tu is unjust, then I am unconvinced at heart and cannot help speaking of it. If Lord Tu does not bully the weak and fear the strong, then when Taihuang Heaven and Luofu Heaven were destroyed and countless living beings died miserably, why did Lord Tu not pursue the chief villain?"
The old bailiff frowned. "Divine Son, you do not know the reasons behind this. Best not to speak of it..."
"Let him speak," Lord Tu said, raising a hand.
The old bailiff had no choice but to hold his tongue, inwardly sweating cold for Shen Mu.
Shen Mu continued, "Who is the chief villain? The honored guest who just walked out of Lord Tu's palace! The Yin Son of Heaven indulged his disciple, forcing the remnant clan of Chiming into the territory of the demon race in Luofu Heaven, touching off a bloody war. Luofu Heaven was destroyed, and of the Chiming remnant only Chixi was left alive. To survive, the demon race had no choice but to attack Taihuang Heaven. Then the Yin Son of Heaven's disciple used the Book of Life and Death to wreak havoc, sacrificing Luofu Heaven in blood to hurl it against Taihuang Heaven, and making Taihuang Heaven crash into Jingping, and countless living beings perished. The chief villain stood here just now — why does Lord Tu not execute him?
"My brother ran wild in Youdu, and Lord Tu recorded a fault against me — to kill or to beat, as he pleased. I summoned the soul of Wei Liao, Star Lord of the Seven Slayings, and Lord Tu recorded a fault against me — to kill or to beat. I fought on the battlefield and cut down enemy generals, and Lord Tu recorded a fault against me — to kill or to beat. And now the Yin Son of Heaven's disciple is about to drown Jingping in blood, wake the stone statues, and bring down calamity upon Jingping, and once again countless living beings will die miserably! Lord Tu, where is your justice and impartiality? Do you dare to kill or beat them?
"You plainly bully the weak and fear the strong, oppress the good and fear the wicked. You do no evil yourself, yet you are greatly evil. What crime was it for Tian Shu to cut off your horn? If the one seated in the Heavenly Court were Kai Huang, would you dare let out a fart?
"You say I am steeped in evil, and you dump my brother's filth on my head. My brother may stop at nothing, but he unites knowledge with action. You, though you are lord of Youdu, say one thing and do another — a disgrace to the name of a heaven-born divinity!
"You would do better to give up your seat and let my brother be lord of Youdu. At least he can hold a bowl of water level, instead of slopping it everywhere as you do!"
Tian Shu, Long Qilin and Qi Jiuyi were frightened out of their wits, and the old bailiff shuddered several times, thinking, "It's over, it's over..."
Lord Tu's three eyes fixed on Shen Mu. Shen Mu looked straight back into those three eyes and did not yield an inch.
"You were always clever, always able to turn circumstances to your advantage, always able to speak to a man as a man and to a ghost as a ghost. Why today do you not know when to advance and when to retreat, insisting on arguing your case to the end?" Lord Tu finally spoke, asking.
Shen Mu bowed. "The people of the world always have grievances; when grievances pile up long enough, they erupt. I too am one of the world's people. I have offended Lord Tu; I beg your pardon."
Lord Tu nodded slowly. "How do you know I do not have a little notebook recording the Yin Son of Heaven's crimes?"