Chapter 855 — The Youth Steals Peaches to Satisfy His Craving
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
She turned her head slightly, and a lock of hair slipped down at her temple; he could vaguely see a pearl hanging from her earlobe, swaying gently. "It has been a long time since a guest has come to my home.
By right, I should not see you—but Young Master Shen has shown me kindness in the past, and since you have sought me out, I could not refuse. " The woman laughed: "It is rare to meet an old acquaintance.
As your hostess, I have been remiss in my reception.
I beg your forgiveness.
" Shen Mu's gaze flickered as he tried to see through the screen. Yet the screen was a treasure of unknown origin—even his Nine Heavens Far-Seeing Art could not penetrate it, nor could the vertical eye between his brows make out the woman's face behind it.
"Sister, since we are old acquaintances, why not come out and meet me? " Two girls carried a small jade table over and set it before Shen Mu, brewed fragrant tea, and withdrew.
Shen Mu took a sip; the fragrance lingered on his teeth and lips, even finer than the tea of the upper heavens.
He laughed: "The Origin Realm has reappeared. It was no easy task for me to find my way here from the Origin Realm. Since this meeting of ours is so rare, why should you still hide behind the screen, sister?
" "I am no longer what I once was.
" The woman behind the screen sighed softly and said: "My legs are broken, and I cannot rise. I ask Young Master Shen's forgiveness. " Shen Mu rose and walked toward the screen, laughing: "I have some skill in medicine and the arts of creation—any ailment is cured the moment I set my hand to it, and even fashioning you a new body would be no trouble at all. Since you cannot rise, I shall come to you. " He reached the screen and went around it—then stopped short.
Before him was still the screen.
He circled it again, and again the screen stood before him. No matter which angle he came from, he faced the front of the screen, and the woman's silhouette was still cast upon it, as though he had never moved at all.
Shen Mu turned to look at the hall's entrance and shifted his steps sideways, yet no matter how he moved, he always faced the entrance. This woman's divine art must be a spatial divine art, profoundly mysterious. "Young Master Shen, please sit down.
" The woman behind the screen plucked a string and laughed: "My face is hideous now, and my body is broken—I would not want to frighten you.
As for the injuries on my person, I fear Young Master Shen does not yet have the skill to heal them. My wounds were inflicted by a divine art, and the remnant of that art still lurks within them, ceaselessly gnawing at my flesh and primordial spirit. You do not yet have a way to erase such a divine art.
" Shen Mu could only return and sit back down on the cushion. "Sister.
.
.
" The woman chuckled: "Just how many sisters does Young Master Shen have? " Two more girls came bearing a plate of fruit and set it on the jade table before Shen Mu. The plate held peaches, washed clean, their fragrance piercing deep and whetting the appetite. Shen Mu's face reddened slightly. He laughed: "I have never counted.
Sister, have we met before?
" "Of course we have.
" The woman said: "It was only later that I learned. . .
" Suddenly, the faint sound of a zither came from outside.
The woman's expression shifted slightly.
"I have a guest.
Yan'er, take Young Master Shen to rest behind the hall, and move the jade table over as well. " She said apologetically: "Please, young master, go to the rear hall to drink your tea and eat some fruit. " Shen Mu had no choice but to rise.
The girl called Yan'er and the other girls carried the jade table away.
The zither music from outside drew nearer, and the woman behind the screen plucked a string as well—pure and ethereal.
Shen Mu sat in the rear hall, listening.