Chapter 1064 — The Ancient Gods of the Five Stars
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 5
Many of the human race had already migrated into the shelter of the Xiaohan Heavenly Court, yet there were still gods of the human race who had come back with very few in tow.
"They do not believe us. They say the Xiaohan Heavenly Court is making a reckless fool of itself, that to defy the gods' arrangement is to invite heaven's punishment." Those gods were deeply helpless.
Heavenly Venerable Moon said, puzzled, "Do they not know that those who remain in Divine Emperor Langxuan's territory will sooner or later become sacrificial offerings?"
"They know. But they are used to it. They say their forefathers, generation after generation, have come through it this way."
"Oh."
Heavenly Venerable Moon went to seek out Shen Mu, only to find Dragon Qilin making ready the Heavenly Dragon Chariot. Shen Mu and the youth called Luo Xiao had already climbed aboard, while the girl named Yan'er, having planted a lantern on the chariot, came running over and kowtowed to her several times with the utmost reverence.
Startled, Heavenly Venerable Moon hurried to raise her up, but could not budge her, and cast Shen Mu a look that begged for rescue.
Shen Mu smiled. "One day you will understand."
Heavenly Venerable Moon came to the side of the chariot and asked, "You mean to leave?"
Shen Mu nodded. "Divine Emperor Langxuan will not move against the humans for the time being. My last visit to the Langxuan Divine Palace will have overawed him for a thousand years. But though he can do nothing against me himself, he can borrow the strength of the Heavenly Court to strike at me. I cannot drag you all into it. So I must go."
Heavenly Venerable Moon asked, "When will you return?"
Shen Mu paused, then smiled. "As Heavenly Venerable Mu, I should think I will not be coming back for some time. But as Heavenly Venerable Yun—Heavenly Venerable Yun will remain here always."
A complicated look came into Heavenly Venerable Moon's eyes. A long while passed before she said, "But Heavenly Venerable Yun is not you."
Shen Mu leaned against the window and waved farewell to her. "Do not disturb the others. We shall meet again in the future."
The Heavenly Dragon Chariot drove toward the Heavenly River, receding farther and farther, growing smaller and smaller in Heavenly Venerable Moon's gaze, and slowly vanished.
Suddenly Heavenly Venerable Ling's delighted voice rang out: "Moon! Moon! Come quickly, I have worked it out! The reason my hairpin disappeared was not that someone stole it—it was a hairpin that came from the future!"
She was elated, skipping with excitement, more feverish than ever.
Hearing her words, Heavenly Venerable Moon only grew more despondent. Just then a painted barge drifted down the Heavenly River from upstream. Heavenly Venerable Yun, with several attendants, leaped down from it, and seeing Heavenly Venerable Ling cheering and capering, he smiled. "Why is Sister Ling so happy?"
Heavenly Venerable Moon looked at Heavenly Venerable Yun, looked him up and down more than a dozen times, circled him several times, and scrutinized him over and over.
Baffled by her stare, Heavenly Venerable Yun stood there somewhat stiffly.
Heavenly Venerable Moon blinked and asked, "Senior Brother Yun, did you happen to come across a chariot drawn by six heavenly dragons, bound for the Heavenly Court?"
Heavenly Venerable Yun nodded. "I saw it just now—it passed my barge along the way. I was still wondering who could own such a magnificent chariot. Six heavenly dragons as draft beasts, what a fearsome sight! Had it been nine heavenly dragons, I would have taken it for the procession of beings like the Four Imperial Sovereigns of the ancient gods!"
"You truly saw that chariot?" Heavenly Venerable Moon was astonished and delighted at once.