Chapter 1671 — I Held a Dream: The Youth Chapter
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
Shen Mu said mildly, "Celestial Master Meng, you are of the human race, are you not? As one of the human race, you do not think on the human race's behalf—why then speak for the demigods? Over these million years, the lot of the human race has been bleak indeed; you have not failed to see it. We have risen; we have had a few days of better living. We do not ask to live greatly—only to be equal with the demigods. And even this humble wish is denied us?"
Meng Yungui opened his mouth, but Shen Mu did not wait for his rebuttal and went on: "Besides, we have not relied on the demigods' charity; we have relied on our own abilities! The people of Jingping have come this far by their own diligence and sweat! Every coin the people of Jingping earn is won through honest trade! We have already come this far."
He looked at Meng Yungui with a smile and said softly, "Celestial Master Meng, we have already come this far. We cannot go back to kneeling."
Meng Yungui's body trembled slightly; his voice was hoarse: "You would rebel? Have you not seen the fate of these four great heavens? The human race will surely be utterly destroyed at your hands!"
Shen Mu patted his shoulder and walked past him: "When I was young, I walked out of the Wasteland Ruins and saw Jingping. I came to know the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping, came to know Emperor Yanfeng, came to know many plain and simple people who nonetheless had pursuits. It was then that I had a dream. I have a dream: it is the way of the sages, it is the daily use of the common folk, it is that everyone strives and presses forward, seeking a better life and a better future."
"I hope that the people of later days need no longer fear whether they can live. I hope they can discover their talents and their interests in their youth, and tirelessly pursue their own dreams."
Shen Mu turned back, looked at him, and said with a smile, "Have you ever had such a dream?"
Tears suddenly welled in Meng Yungui's eyes, but he forced them down, walked past him, and said icily, "You will not succeed!"