Chapter 1020 — Metamorphosing Into Fish and Dragon, Leaving No Trace
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 5
" Shen Mu halted, his heart in turmoil, yet he answered without a change of countenance: "Ah, it is my beloved Yan.
I have just come from my beloved Qiang's chambers. " The speaker was none other than Heavenly Concubine Yan — Heavenly Venerable Yan — one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables and a heavenly consort of the inner palace besides.
The woman was poised and elegant, of dignified demeanor, cradling a white cat in her arms, with a dozen or more maidservants in attendance about her. Not a single fleck of alien color marred the white cat's coat; it lay languidly in her embrace, a mass of snowy white, dozing through slitted eyes, and now and then it stretched forth a sharp-clawed paw in a lazy languid stretch, then turned its slitted gaze upon Shen Mu again.
Heavenly Concubine Yan said with a winsome, plaintive air, "Your Majesty goes to lavish affection upon Sister Qiang and yet neglects your servant — sorrow wells up in my heart at once. " Shen Mu's head ached. Heavenly Concubine Yan showed a look of eager expectancy and said sweetly, "Your Majesty, your servant's Palace of Lasting Joy is nearby — would Your Majesty care to sit a while there?
" The white cat in her arms ran out a tiny crimson tongue to lick the fur of its paw, cast a languid sidelong glance at Shen Mu, gave a mew, and nuzzled toward Heavenly Concubine Yan's bosom. Shen Mu hesitated. "I still must return to the Hall of Nourishing Glory to recuperate; I shall not be going to the Palace of Lasting Joy.
" Heavenly Concubine Yan laughed. "Your Majesty — did your servant not only just tend to Your Majesty's recuperation?
" Alarm rang in Shen Mu's heart.
*So it was Heavenly Concubine Yan who summoned me at the Hall of Nourishing Glory! This Venerable came to me before any of the others, asking after the Grand Void and Carefree Township — her sources run swift indeed; news reaches her faster than the other Venerables!
* Heavenly Concubine Yan looked down at his feet, saw them thick with bloodstains, and said with a smile, her lips pressed together, "Your Majesty made one trip to Sister Qiang's quarters and comes back covered in blood — indeed, you need to recuperate. I had not thought Sister Qiang so fierce.
Your servant will not disturb Your Majesty further.
" Shen Mu chuckled.
"Set your mind at ease, my beloved consort; in a few days I shall turn up your tablet again. " With that, he continued on toward the Hall of Nourishing Glory. Heavenly Concubine Yan watched him until he was far off, then abruptly laughed.
"To dare toy with me — you've no small courage. Little Seven, which Venerable was it who lurked within that fleshly body just now? I should dearly love to know what he intended by entering the Heavenly Lord's ancestral land.
" The white cat in her arms sprang down and took a few steps. Cat it was, yet it trod with a dragon's gait and a tiger's stride, its carriage exceptionally vigorous and uncommon.
From the white cat's mouth came a man's voice, deep and full of doubt: "He is none of the Heavenly Venerables. " Heavenly Concubine Yan was stunned and blurted, "Little Seven, do you mean to say that the one within the Heavenly Lord's fleshly body just now was not one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables? " The white cat called Little Seven said, "He is indeed not one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables.
I have never seen him before, nor can I make out who he is — but should I see him again, I will know him. " Heavenly Concubine Yan blinked, baffled.
"Could he be that whelp, Heavenly Venerable Mu?
But he should hardly be able to command the Heavenly Lord's fleshly body. If not Heavenly Venerable Mu, then who?
" The white cat's body gradually swelled, and then abruptly it stood upright on its hind legs, taking the form of a general in silver armor and white robes, with a heroic air that pierced the eye, a bearing beyond the common, and great handsomeness. "I can follow him and find out who he is. " Heavenly Concubine Yan stretched out a hand and laughed.