Chapter 1246 — Thick Skin, Vicious Heart
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 3
Yama changed the subject and said with concern, "There is something the Heavenly Venerable does not know: this Great Void is a wild and savage land, full of bandits and robbers. Traveling alone, one is easily taken advantage of by enemies. The Heavenly Venerable is a personage of the highest nobility — how can you venture into danger alone? I shall send some experts to escort the Heavenly Venerable."
Shen Mu understood perfectly and laughed. "Black Emperor..."
"The Heavenly Venerable had best call me Nether Emperor," Yama said with a smile.
Shen Mu nodded. "Black Emperor is most considerate. But yours is a vital pass that absolutely must not be lost. If I were to draw off part of your forces, and the Great Void's Dark Capital should fall, would I not be guilty of a monstrous crime? I will set out alone."
Yama said gravely, "The Heavenly Venerable's loyalty to the Heavenly Court and the altars of the state leaves this Yin prostrate with admiration. Since that is so, I shall not press the Heavenly Venerable to stay. Pray, Heavenly Venerable, be on your way!"
He escorted him with great solicitude, seeing Shen Mu out beyond the mighty pass of the Great Void's Dark Capital, and said, choking back sobs, "On the battlefield, life and death are ever uncertain. Zhaojin does not know whether he will live to see the Heavenly Venerable again and hear your instruction; sorrow rises in his heart unbidden!"
Shen Mu consoled him. "Rest easy, Black Emperor; I appreciate your good intentions. When I return, I shall discuss the matter with Heavenly Venerable Huo and Heavenly Venerable Xu, and have you transferred out of the Great Void, to live in comfort in the Dark Capital. The Earth Lord and Heavenly Venerable You miss you greatly."
Yama thanked him again and again, watched him walk far off, and still waved him on his way from afar, eyes brimming with tears.
Only when Shen Mu had vanished from his sight did Yama's face darken. He shouted, "Hu Mengdie, Yin Jiuzun, Yu Wufei — go and kill Heavenly Venerable Mu, and bring me his head!"
Hu Mengdie was his disciple, Yin Jiuzun his eldest son, and Yu Wufei the foremost of his consorts — all of them among the very finest in the Northern Heaven's Nether Capital, and all great generals in his army. Hearing his command, they stepped forward one by one and bowed in assent.
Yama's eyes flickered, and he said in a low, heavy voice, "Cover your faces. Carry nothing on your persons that might betray your identity. And once he is dead, wipe away every trace of your divine powers as well."
The three of them each removed whatever might betray their identities, mustered a handful of Nether Capital divine generals, and flew off.