Chapter 919 — Illusory Blossom of the Western Realm
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
At last Shen Mu understood why he had been a step behind. His face betraying nothing, he smiled and said: "We most likely opened them at the same moment. When I opened the Celestial River Divine Treasury, the prodigies were quite terrifying! Let this be a draw, and next time we shall have another contest."
Xu Shenghua smiled faintly and did not argue with him. To Jing Yan, who had come hurrying over, he said: "Wife, Sect Master Shen and I are going into seclusion together for a time. In these days all you need do is bring us meals; let nothing else disturb us."
Shen Mu bowed and said: "I trouble you, sister-in-law."
Jing Yan said with a smile: "Bringing meals is no trouble. Only do not overwork yourselves."
"Rest assured, sister-in-law. Your husband will not be overworked."
The two entered a great hall. Xu Shenghua's hands flew, and countless runes streamed down from the roof of the hall like a river of light, like a great bell turned upside down over them, sealing the hall. "Jing Yan understands my divine arts and can come in; no one else may enter here. Sect Master Shen, you may now pass the law on to me."
Shen Mu yawned and said with a smile: "I will pass it to you in a dream." With that, he lay down on his side and fell sound asleep.
Xu Shenghua was astonished. He said with a smile: "Is it the cultivation art of the Great Brahma Heaven King Buddha? I have long heard of it, but never seen it."
He too lay down, beside Shen Mu, and before long had fallen into deep sleep.
The darkness before Xu Shenghua's eyes was like a curtain drawn open from left to right, and bright sunlight shone through.
Xu Shenghua raised a hand to shade his eyes from the glare; when his eyes had grown used to it he lowered his hand and walked into that sunlit world, where he saw Shen Mu coming toward him, saying with a smile: "Brother Xu has come. Then let us begin the transmission."
"We?"
Xu Shenghua was startled. Then he saw Shen Mu after Shen Mu come walking toward him, until they were a hundred and more, and behind them still, in swarming crowds and sheets, Shen Mu after Shen Mu sat at desks, writing with flying brush, setting down the fruits of the Jingping Reforms.
Xu Shenghua was aghast and blurted out: "How long will it take to learn all of this?"
"I learned seven or eight tenths of the fruits of Jingping's reform, and it took me two or three years."
One Shen Mu raised his head: "You will need two or three years as well. But in my dream, you need only sleep a few times. Begin now!"
Xu Shenghua calmed his mind and set himself to learn with all his heart.
From time to time Jing Yan came with meals. She entered the hall and saw the two lying on the ground, snoring loudly; she could only shake her head, set the basket of food down beside them, and quietly withdraw.
When Shen Mu and Xu Shenghua woke from one sleep, ravenous with hunger, they hastily ate everything in the basket.
Shen Mu meant to wash the bowls and dishes as well; Xu Shenghua did not know whether to laugh or to cry: "Sect Master, you need not force yourself so. Leave the bowls and chopsticks here; my wife will come to clear them away. Let us go back into the dream."
Shen Mu nodded.
The two lay down. After a moment Xu Shenghua scrambled up: "I cannot sleep without washing the dishes. Better to get up and wash them."
Shen Mu could not enter the dream either; he rolled over and rose, laughing: "I cannot sleep either. Unwashed dishes weigh on my mind."
The two used the art of Creation to conjure clear water and washed the bowls and chopsticks clean; then Xu Shenghua mopped and wiped the floor of the great hall as well, and at last they had nothing left on their minds, and only then could they sleep soundly.
"I really wonder how the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping and Emperor Yanfeng got through their days in that great prison, in such filth..." Shen Mu muttered, and his snores began to rise.