Chapter 1021 — Reunion with the Old Demon of Dutian
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
The demon god had eight arms, four faces, and twelve eyes; he was mighty and imposing of bearing. Bowing, he said, "The Demon King of Dutian pays his respects to Venerable Mu! " Shen Mu hastened forward and said with a smile, "Old Brother Dutian, how did you come to be here?
" That demon god was none other than the Demon King of the Dutian World. Ashamed, he said, "The Dutian World has been destroyed.
We could not make a living there, and so we wandered the starry void.
After we left, Tubo took the Dutian World and forged it into a horn. These days, countless of us demons of Dutian have starved or worked ourselves to death. Hearing that the Heavenly Court meant to send troops against the Great Void, and with nowhere else to turn, we thought to seek refuge with the Heavenly Court.
I never expected to hear that there was a Venerable Mu in the Heavenly Court—I found it rather strange, and upon inquiring, it was indeed you.
" Shen Mu laughed.
"And who else should it be?
" The Demon King of Dutian was overcome with feeling. "Who would have thought that the young sect master of those years would be today's Venerable Mu? To come and seek refuge with you, I had to bribe the guards of the Jade Capital City with a great sum before I could even enter the city.
Now the common folk and subjects of the Dutian World have no way to live.
I beg Venerable Mu, in memory of the pleasant days we once shared, to grant them a way to live. " Shen Mu looked him up and down and said with a smile, "Was it not your wish to seek refuge with the Heavenly Court and march against the Great Void? " The Demon King of Dutian hesitated, then said in a low voice, "I suspect the Heavenly Court means no good. If the Great Void were so easy to conquer, there would be no end of gods and demons in the Heavenly Court scrambling for military merit. The reason they select gods and demons from all the heavens and myriad worlds is likely that they mean to send them over as sacrifices to the banner. " Shen Mu roared with laughter and raised a hand to pat him on the shoulder, but alas, he could not reach.
The Demon King of Dutian hastily stooped, and Shen Mu finally patted his shoulder, well pleased.
"Indeed. Old Brother Dutian is as sharp-witted as ever, seeing through it at a glance. This campaign against the Great Void is simply the Ten Heavenly Venerables unwilling to expend their own power, deliberately sending some to their deaths. " The Demon King of Dutian's face was weathered as though carved by knife and axe; clearly these years had not been kind. He forced the wrinkles of his face into a smile and said timidly, "Then, Venerable, might I ask you to shelter the common folk of my Dutian?
" Shen Mu's gaze rested on his face, and he said nothing.
The Demon King of Dutian dropped to his knees with a thud, bowing his head deeply. "The demons of the Dutian World are few enough now. I beg the Venerable to grant them a way to live!
I know well that in earlier years I wronged the Venerable and offended you; I am willing to bow my head and await execution.
" Shen Mu shook his head. "Rise. My Jingping can scarcely protect himself—how would he have territory to settle your clansmen? " The Demon King of Dutian said hastily, "Venerable, first help me guard my clansmen; I shall go to the Great Void and win merit.
With military merit comes territory, and then I shall bring my clansmen back! " Shen Mu laughed despite himself. "Going to the Great Void—you would be going to your death.
Never mind you; even beings of the Lingxiao realm or the Imperial Throne realm would not dare claim they could retreat unscathed from the Great Void.
Military merit—you would not gain the least bit of it. "