Chapter 722 — The Good Man and the World-Destroying Fiend
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
To trade my life for the lives of the people of Li Zhou — even if I die, it will have been worth it. And besides, I have gravely wounded the Yin Son of Heaven, saved the Heavenly King Di Yiyue, and halted the descent of the great calamity; it is worth it.
I have three disciples, and they. .
. are all very good; without me, they can still walk on.
' The bleakness in his heart faded, and he waited to meet his final fate.
The boat sailed up to the gate in the darkness, and the old man at the bow rose, took down the storm lantern, and shone it at the Woodcutter Sage. Under the lamplight the Woodcutter Sage's primordial spirit grew unsteady, yet he went on chanting the Youdu tongue, not daring to slacken in the least, hoping only that before the Yin Courier made his move he might summon back every soul of the people of Li Zhou who had died unjustly. The boat moved outward, and the old Yin Courier, lantern in hand, was about to pass from Youdu into the world of the living; the Woodcutter Sage's heart went cold, and he halted his arts and said, "Lord Prefect of Youdu, might you grant me a moment's grace, until I have fulfilled my wish? " The old Yin Courier was about to speak when suddenly Shen Mu poked his head through the gate to look around; seeing him, he was overjoyed and laughed, "So it is the Prefect Lord! " The old Yin Courier's face darkened.
"I took you for the one summoning souls, so I meant to come and have a look; but it was not you, and I thought to myself, whoever dares to summon souls has no small nerve.
These past two days many have been summoning souls, kicking up a foul mess of it, and Tu Bo is most displeased! " Shen Mu laughed, "Pray forgive me, Prefect Lord; it was I who told them to summon souls.
You have not done anything to them, I hope? " The old Yin Courier's face was grim, and he gave a snort. Shen Mu said hastily, "The one summoning souls this time is my teacher.
I am busy and have no leisure for summoning souls, so I had him do it. He does not understand it, he muddles through, and he has disturbed you, Prefect Lord — I beg your pardon. Or else, shall I do the soul-summoning myself?
" The old Yin Courier was silent a moment, then said stiffly, "No need. Though the seal is firm enough, you must still act with care, lest every soul you summon end up feeding your elder brother.
" Shen Mu laughed, "Rest easy, Prefect Lord. The willow leaf on my brow is stuck fast; I never peel it off, and my brother cannot get out. " The old Yin Courier's expression eased a little, and he instructed, "Best that you never peel it off.
Let your brother out and the disaster that follows will still be Tu Bo wiping your backside for you.
This time I will not pursue the matter of the soul-summoning.
There is a rule in Youdu: within the first seven days the dead are not yet reckoned dead, and may still return to the living. So it is not that Youdu fears you, nor that I am doing you a favor; the rule truly exists. Watch yourself.
" Shen Mu assented again and again, "I respectfully see you off. " The old Yin Courier took his little boat and withdrew into Youdu, vanishing into the darkness.
Shen Mu trotted back again, leaving the dumbstruck Woodcutter Sage hanging upon the Heaven-Gazing Terrace, unable to collect himself for a long while. "Daoist brother, I truly envy you such a remarkable disciple — he can even thrive in Youdu.
" Vajra sighed with endless feeling and boundless envy. "How did you cultivate him to such excellence? Might you teach me too? " The god Chixi hurriedly pricked up his ears, not daring to miss a single word. The Woodcutter Sage opened his mouth.
"I.
.
.
" and could say no more.
"This fellow! He shames the name of a Sage, hoarding his secrets before us!
" Chixi seethed inwardly.
He had thought little enough of the Woodcutter to begin with, and now he thought even less.
The Woodcutter could not explain, and could only go on summoning souls, thinking gloomily, 'What did I ever teach him?