Chapter 812 — The Ancestor of Ten Thousand Methods
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
" The Black Tiger God reluctantly tore his gaze away. "That stubborn donkey—says ugly things, and lashes out with his hooves every which way. .
. " Just as he was speaking, hee-haw, hee-haw—the braying of a donkey came drifting over.
The woodcutter and the others were overjoyed, while Niu Sanduo, the Black Tiger God, and the two little Red Kun all pulled long faces on the instant. The male fish fumed, "Damned woman!
That's what comes of running your mouth! " "I'm late! " A scholar rode in on a donkey, sitting sideways as the beast swayed into Shen Mu's residence; the scholar sprang down from the donkey's back and came over flourishing a feather fan, saying with a smile, "First Brother!
And my two worthy younger brothers! " "When did Second Brother leave Wuyou Village?
" The old farmer assumed a solemn air and asked seriously, "How fares Kaihuang? Why has he not come out? " "Fine. " The scholar kept his smile and saluted the company, but did not answer.
Everyone hurried to return the salute.
The donkey switched its tail and ambled toward Niu Sanduo and the Black Tiger God. Niu Sanduo's body tensed; the Black Tiger God quietly retreated a few paces; the two little Red Kun in the fishbowl forgot to swim. The donkey reached the fishbowl, plunged its head in without warning, and gulped and gulped until in a trice the bowl was drained dry.
Only then did it pull its head out—with two little fish stuck in its nostrils, tails going slap-slap.
"Where did these little fish come from?
" The donkey blew out a breath, blasting the two little Red Kun flying, and broke into hee-haw laughter.
"Well, if it isn't the worthy couple!
I nearly ate you there. What were you two hiding in the water for? I eat vegetarian—eating you would break my precepts, wouldn't it?
Hee-haw-hee-haw. . .
Brother Ox?
Brother Ox! " The donkey bumped Niu Sanduo with its shoulder, laughing, "Brother Ox, what fine muscle! Bumping you has made my shoulder ache—solid through and through! By the way, I know a fellow who braises oxhide. You should go have him work you over; he'd have you gleaming like polished leather.
He sells beef and beef tendons too, and mighty fine they taste. The sight of that beef always makes me think of you, hee-haw. . . Why aren't you laughing? Too serious by half, you are; there's no talking to you. Little Blacky!
" The donkey reared upright, set its forehooves on the little black tiger's head, and roared with mirth.
The Black Tiger God hung his head, staring at the ground, then silently reached behind his back and drew two axes. His body trembled, but he dared not strike.
"Little Blacky, do you remember how we first met? You tried to eat me, and one flick of my hoof knocked you flat. You lay there for months.
I was beside myself with joy. .
.
" Old Ox's eyes shifted. He cut in, "Lu Zheng, enough. Let me introduce two good friends to you.
Long Pi, A Shui, come here! " The Dragon Qilin and the Water Qilin came scurrying over, took one look at the donkey, and shuddered in unison.
The donkey swept into their midst like a whirlwind, stretched out its hooves left and right to clamp them tight between, its shoulders all knotted muscle, laughing, "Worthy younger brothers, long time no see! " Long Pi and A Shui's faces turned ashen. After a moment, the Dragon Qilin quavered, "Brother Lu, would you care for a spirit pill? " Beneath the Yuanmu Tree, the woodcutter, the scholar, the old farmer, and the fisherman surrounded Shen Mu, pacing round and round him.
Before long the old farmer stepped aside, the fisherman halted, and the scholar tapped his forehead with his feather fan—all of them sunk deep in deliberation. The woodcutter examined the halo behind Shen Mu's head at length, then said, "The Earth Mother's Blessing is somewhat difficult, but this Earth Origin Dao Fruit can still be plucked off. " The scholar urged, "How?