Chapter 775 — Charging Straight into the Celestial Gate of the Nine Heavens
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 5
This was what Tubo had undergone in his reincarnation, the memory of the Life-Slaying Cauldron; yet Shen Mu was seeing it now through Tubo's eyes, and feeling it as if it were his own. The Feathered Serpent had bound his wife, had clutched his two children, and held Tubo's softest place, his one fatal handle, gripped fast in its hand.
Many of the demon-gods were elated.
In Youdu, Tubo was invincible — not merely invincible in strength, but invincible in spirit; in Youdu there was no one who could defeat him. But the reincarnated Tubo was no longer invincible.
The reincarnated Tubo was frail in power, and his spirit, too, was riddled with flaws. And the greatest flaw of all was his family!
The reincarnated Tubo was no longer the true Tubo; he was his mother's Achou, his wife's Aniu, an honest, simple, ugly man of the village, and the father of two children besides.
He was not Tubo — nothing more than Achou. "I was reborn as a man.
I told no ancient god, nor did I inform the Celestial Court.
How did you learn of my reincarnation, and how did you learn that I was reborn here? " Achou did not look at the demon-gods; his gaze passed over them and fixed upon the empty sky, and he said in a low voice: "Only the Celestial Court could discover that I had been reborn, and discover where I was reborn.
So then — who is it that covets my power? " There was no stir in the sky. Achou was somewhat disappointed.
"Achou, do you no longer want your wife and children to live?
" the Feathered Serpent demon-god cried.
"Take your own life!
The kind of death that scatters soul and spirit to the four winds!
" Achou gave no answer. He picked up his iron plow and shouldered it. The Feathered Serpent demon-god flew into a fury and was about to cut down his wife and children when suddenly a little paper boat appeared behind Achou; its lamplight fell upon the Feathered Serpent demon-god's face, and without so much as a grunt the creature's soul tumbled down into Youdu.
In the boat stood a youth, a ghost-face mask worn on the back of his head, lifting a storm lantern and casting its light in a circle; one demon-god after another became a vast corpse and toppled like mountains. The youth hung the lantern on the prow and glanced at Achou: "What came this time were small fry.
Next time it will not be small fry that strike. I cannot protect you all your life. Come back soon.
" Achou looked back at his wife, his children, his aged mother, and shook his head: "I have feelings now.
I cannot go back. " The youth tilted his head and thought for a moment, then said: "I am not strong enough yet. Among the demon-gods are many terrifying beings, and I am no match for them.
And there are the ancient gods — if the ancient gods hidden behind it all come forth, I will be beaten.
How much of your power can you use since your reincarnation?
" "This is the world of the living; I cannot use the power of Youdu. " Achou shook his head. "I feel a power hidden in my brow, but the third eye will not open.
" The youth looked at his brow.
There was a vertical scar of blood there, but no third eye to be seen.
He had no choice but to urge the little paper boat to sink into the gloom, and said: "You are no longer Tubo. You are only Achou.
Come back soon. " Achou watched him vanish, and only after a long moment did he show a simple, foolish smile: "I cannot go back.
. . " His wife came over with the children in her arms. He told her he was still Achou, and that the family need not worry.
This place was no longer safe to live in.
Though thick-set, he was deft of hand, and he made a carrying basket lined with soft cotton; his aged mother sat in the basket upon his back.