Chapter 836 — The Moon Mirrors the River's Heart as the Rusted Banner Flies
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
He looked at Shen Mu and smiled. "That the lowly commoners of the lower realm call you the Hegemon Body is truly laughable. One can well imagine how short-sighted these base races of the lower realm must be. If you are the Hegemon Body, then what physique am I, born of the imperial clan? Do you know why, when I was ordered down to the lower realm, you were the first I had to kill?"
Shen Mu shook his head. "I do not know."
"I came down to the lower realm to kill the Three Heroes of the Jingping Reforms, and you stand first in line—precisely because of your title as the Hegemon Body."
Prince Qiuming leisurely admired the night scene of the Yong River and said, light as wind and thin as cloud, "Once you are dead, one of the Three Heroes of the Jingping Reforms is gone. Only then will these commoners know the majesty of heaven, know terror, bow their heads and kneel as subjects, accept the present state of things, and harbor no excessive longings—no more thoughts of that wretched reform. So you are the first to be eliminated."
Shen Mu asked curiously, "Then who is the second person the Prince means to eliminate?"
"Jiang Baigui, Imperial Preceptor of Jingping."
Prince Qiuming said gravely, "Jiang Baigui is revered as a sage who appears once in five hundred years; killing him will carry great shock as well. Let these foolish folk of the lower realm know that their so-called sage is not worth a fart in the eyes of the Heavenly Court—something to be crushed at a whim. The last I shall kill is Emperor Yanfeng. He must die on his knees, and he must die kneeling before these lowly commoners of the lower realm."
His expression turned cold. "A mud-turtle emperor of a tiny, trifling country, ignorant of heaven's grace, ignorant of the height of heaven and the depth of earth, vainly coveting the sacred instruments of state—naturally he should be made to kneel and die after every last hope is shattered!"
"Well said!"
The two visitors from the Heavenly Court behind him clapped their hands in praise. "That is how it should be—only so can the majesty of heaven be made manifest!"
"The Prince is brilliant and martial; to have the Prince personally handle the trifling matter of the Jingping Kingdom is to waste great talent on a small task!"
Prince Qiuming, his face full of smiles, looked at Shen Mu. "Hegemon Body Shen, do you dare accept the challenge?"
Shen Mu was about to agree when the Village Chief said in alarm, "Shen, there is no need to agree. We have the numbers now—with the Divine Son Chiming and the First Ancestor, we have him for certain! Why risk yourself and fight him to the death?"
Prince Qiuming said leisurely, "The two behind me are masters of the Jade Capital realm of the Heavenly Court, charged with my safety and with aiding me in quelling the Jingping rebellion. And the Luoshen Blade of the Lingxiu Army is likewise a subordinate of the Heavenly Court—you surely know the strength of the Luoshen Blade; I need say no more. You have only two Jade Capital experts. I have one more."
The Village Chief frowned deeply.
The First Ancestor frowned slightly as well and looked at Luo Wushuang.
Luo Wushuang said nothing, looking at Zhe Huali with suspicion.
Zhe Huali pretended not to see, his gaze resting on Shen Mu the whole while.
Shen Mu laughed. "Rest easy, Village Chief. He is merely a prince of the Heavenly Court—it is not as though I have never killed one before. I will be back in no time."
The Village Chief said in a low voice, "Be careful. Probe his skills first—do not open with a killing move. Once you have seen through his abilities, then take your time."
Shen Mu nodded and raised his hand. "Prince Qiuming, after you."
Prince Qiuming's aura suddenly surged. His qi and blood erupted like an iron-blood banner raised in the air, fluttering in the river wind.