Chapter 728 — A Great Ship Capsizes in a Ditch
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
" Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly. "This Senior Brother Niu Sanduo's insight and vision surpass many gods and demons by far. It seems the Farmer Heavenly Master truly deserves his title as the Martial Heavenly Master. Even an ox can be trained to this level, not inferior at all to a realm lord like Furi Rā. " They came to a small mountain village in the wasteland, about six or seven li from the rice paddies.
Shen Mu surveyed the village scenery. The little mountain village was graced with clear mountains and lovely waters, nestled against the hills, with a clear spring flowing down from the green mountain—most picturesque.
Yet though the village had a hundred or so households, there was not a single stone statue. "See for yourself whether the one lying in the ditch is your teacher. " The old ox swished his rear and walked into the village. Shen Mu came to the ditch at the village entrance.
Sure enough, in that stinking water ditch a man lay face-up, his face blanched white from soaking in the filth. The stench from the ditch was foul beyond words, enough to make one retch.
The man dressed as a woodcutter had both hands and feet broken, and from the look of it, who knew how many other bones in his body were broken too. Only his skull seemed relatively intact. Shen Mu watched for a moment.
The man lying in the ditch finally noticed him, and with a splash he turned over, burying his face in the stinking water. A few rotting cabbage leaves still clung to his hair, and a chicken bone, gnawed perfectly clean, was stuck in his backside. Shen Mu crouched by the stinking ditch, unhurried, and said leisurely, "Teacher, why are you in such a sorry state? To the point of capsizing a great ship in a ditch?
" The Woodcutter Sage turned over again with a plop. Even his stubble had soaked white. Slowly he said, "The heavens have unforeseen storms. The wind was strong and the waves high, and so the ship capsized. " Shen Mu smiled.
"Can teacher climb out of the ditch? " "Every bone broken, cultivation sealed. I cannot struggle.
" Shen Mu asked again, "Does teacher have a grudge with the Martial Heavenly Master? " The Woodcutter Sage said, "We have never gotten along. " Shen Mu nodded, stood up, and walked toward the village.
In a clear voice he called, "Shen Mu, Shen Fengqing, one hundred and seventh generation descendant of Kaihuang, requests an audience with the Martial Heavenly Master!
" In the village, the farmers and farmwives stopped their work and looked toward him.
An old farmer, broad and sturdy but somewhat short in stature, was brushing the mane on the old ox's neck.
Hearing this, his ears twitched, and he too looked toward Shen Mu.
Shen Mu walked into the village with the Dragon Qilin. There was no sound at all around them. Only a hundred or so people staring at them with wide eyes.
The Dragon Qilin was frightened out of his wits. He followed close behind Shen Mu with tiny quick steps, lowered his voice, and said, "Sect Master, there's something strange about this village. Except for that old farmer, there are no old people or children here. They're all young. .
. " Shen Mu looked ahead with a smile on his face and walked toward the old ox and the short but robust old farmer. In a low voice he said, "Fatty Long has grown up.
To notice such details. There are only able-bodied adults in the village, no old people or children. It is indeed strange. " "Could they have been eaten by the old ox?
" The Dragon Qilin shivered. Shen Mu peeled the willow leaf from his forehead and swept the area with the third eye at his brow. He shook his head. "Of course not. The reason there are no old people is that they never grow old.
Gods—how could they grow old?
" "Gods? " The Dragon Qilin was startled. He looked around timidly. The hundred or so people of the little mountain village were all staring at them.
Could everyone in this village be gods and demons?