Chapter 857 — Strange Tales of the Southern Realm
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
They looked up and saw a great blue-winged bird come beating toward them, a thousand zhang from wingtip to wingtip, its talons like cast metal and stone, and in those talons it held a demon god of imposing majesty. The demon god stood one or two hundred zhang tall, a demigod by the look of him, mighty beyond the common run; yet caught in the blue bird's grip he could not stir, his face drawn with grief, a creature waiting only to die. Shen Mu, the Lord of Heaven Yu and the rest stared open-mouthed at the sight.
From the blue bird's beak came Yan'er's voice, a clear ringing cry: "I have found food! Fat Dragon, you eat the most — open your mouth and I will drop it in!
" The Dragon Qilin opened his mouth, found he had no appetite, and hastily shook his head, crying, "Sister Yan'er, I eat spirit pills!
How could I eat blood-food? Besides, this demon god is raw — not yet cooked. .
. " The blue bird folded her wings and came down, one talon pinning the demon god flat.
"Wait a moment," she said.
"It will be cooked soon. " She opened her beak, divine fire blazing in her throat, and made to roast the demon god done.
Everyone was horrified. The Dragon Qilin looked at Shen Mu. Shen Mu's head was splitting, and he said hastily, "Sister Yan'er, we do not eat this.
" The blue bird hesitated, released the demon god, and said, "It is very good. I ate it often when I was small.
Would you not like a taste?
" The demon god trembled and lay flat, not daring to move.
Not knowing whether to laugh or weep, Shen Mu said, "Gods and demons are not on our menu, Sister Yan'er. There is no need to trouble yourself over our rations.
" The demon god's eyes darted this way and that; he crept quietly away, and was at once pinned down again by a talon of the blue bird. The blue bird said doubtfully, "You truly will not eat it?
" Shen Mu, the Lord of Heaven Yu and the Dragon Qilin shook their heads together.
The Water Qilin hesitated; he had a mind to eat, but when even his own lord shook his head, he could hardly go his own way, and so shook his head too, thinking, "What a pity. I have never eaten a demon god.
.
.
" The blue bird pecked down, took up the demon god, and under the aghast gaze of them all tossed back her head and swallowed it whole. Then with a shake she became a blue-robed girl, clinging and sweet as a little bird, and leapt onto the Dragon Qilin's head, sullen and downcast. Cold sweat rolled down the Dragon Qilin's brow. He muttered inwardly, "Wherever did the Sect Master spirit this girl away from?
So strong, so savage. . .
" Before long the blue-robed girl flew off again and came back with many fruits to feed them. The Dragon Qilin and the Water Qilin did not care for the fruits, but they had no choice but to brace themselves and swallow them down.
At last they came to Lanjiang Academy. It stood near the Southern Sea; beyond a few divine mountains lay the domain of the Chiming Remnant Clan, and since that clan was exceedingly powerful, the country round about was fairly peaceful.
Shen Mu went to call on Libationer Bashan. He had barely explained his errand when he heard the Dragon Qilin beating Libationer Bashan's green ox until it bawled.
Shen Mu pretended not to hear. Then he heard the Water Qilin beating the green ox until it bawled; and the Lord of Heaven Yu, sitting dutifully before Libationer Bashan, likewise pretended not to hear.
Libationer Bashan hurried outside, and seeing the Dragon Qilin and the Water Qilin holding the green ox down and beating it, his face went black. He turned and glared.
"Junior brother, will you not pull them apart? " Shen Mu and the Lord of Heaven Yu hastily shouted them apart. The green ox scrambled up and cried, "Just you wait!
I am going to fetch my godfather!
Don't you leave! " With that he stormed off in a fury.
The Dragon Qilin and the Water Qilin stood up on their hind legs, hands on hips, smug as you please. "Fetch your godfather, it makes no difference!