Chapter 848 — The Blazing Heavenly Venerable
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
" Shen Mu stared at him and said, "You could catch me, so you can catch them too. " The old underworld courier said mildly, "I entrusted the Yu Heavenly Venerable to you. Where is the Yu Heavenly Venerable?
" Shen Mu said guiltily, "He is very well, living happily — happier than I am. He is with one of my elders, and this elder of mine is the very man who taught and raised me: a man of good character, of high cultivation, who never pockets a coin he finds, a model of the scholar and a pillar of the state in Jingping! " The old underworld courier's expression shifted slightly; he gave a cold snort. "A man who raised you into this — how could he possibly be a good man? You handed the Yu Heavenly Venerable to such a person; I am not at ease!
" Shen Mu said angrily, "What is wrong with me?
I too am a Heavenly Venerable, famed through ancient and modern times; whoever raised me must likewise be a paragon of virtue! " The old underworld courier said mildly, "I will go with you to Jingping and meet this paragon of virtue. " Shen Mu said hastily, "You are all ghostly and eerie — if you ran off to the world of the living, would you not frighten people to death?
Rest assured, I will never treat the Yu Heavenly Venerable shabbily; I am very good to him! Hurry and save my three friends, or they will suffocate. " Ahead, three more paper boats came flying, each with an old underworld courier standing at its prow, and in the boats were Dao Master Lin Xuan and the others. Shen Mu relaxed and laughed. "A sharp tongue over a soft heart — I knew you would rescue them. Just take us to the bank of the Yong River and that will do.
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" The old underworld courier sneered, "You are the only one who thinks I am a good man. Look at those three boats — is there one aboard who does not turn the color of clay at the sight of me? " Shen Mu looked toward the three boats, and indeed saw Lin Xuan, Xiao Chunfeng and Yu Hongxiu pale as death, huddled in the corners of the boats, terrified beyond measure. "What did you go to the Heavenly Court for?
" The old underworld courier slowed his tone. "Is the Heavenly Court a place you can come to?
Had I not sensed that you had opened the Heaven-Bearing Gate again, you would have died here! Reckless beyond measure, willful and unrestrained — I regret entrusting the Yu Heavenly Venerable to you!
" Shen Mu laughed.
"But you came the very first moment and saved me. I know you care about me. " The old underworld courier shook his head.
"I was only afraid you would carry the Yu Heavenly Venerable into the Heavenly Court. Had I known it was only you, I would not have come.
" Shen Mu's face darkened; he sneered, "Then take the Yu Heavenly Venerable back. I would like to see how you manage to teach him well.
" The old underworld courier's face darkened too; after a moment he mumbled, "I know no one else. Better that you teach him.
If you teach him yourself — I am not at ease with the people who raised you. .
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The Fire Heavenly Venerable is very dangerous. Do not go near him. " Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he said, "When the Yu Heavenly Venerable died, the ones who grieved most were you and the Fire Heavenly Venerable.
I could see it: he, like you, revered the Yu Heavenly Venerable from the bottom of his heart. Perhaps the Fire Heavenly Venerable was deceived by others as well; perhaps he could be drawn into our camp.
. .
" The old underworld courier cut him off, saying decisively, "People change! " Shen Mu was startled for a moment, then said, "Why would the Fire Heavenly Venerable change?
What has he been through all these years? In those days I exposed the murderers of the Yu Heavenly Venerable as the Hao Heavenly Venerable and Yin Tianzi, and behind them the black hand of the Heavenly Emperor. Even if his head is not clever, he can see that much!