Chapter 149 — The Mighty Martial Emperor
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
" A hundred-odd soldiers came out from the border pass escorting a white-haired old general, who looked the company over and said, "Which of you is Divine Physician Shen?
" Shen Mu said with a smile, "Shen is here, though I dare not accept the title of Divine Physician. General, you—" With a mighty clatter, the soldiers before him all dropped to their knees, and the old general too touched the ground with one knee, raising his clasped fists high above his head, and said, "Divine Physician Shen's gift of medicine saved the lives of countless soldiers at this border of ours. I, Bian, bound by duty to hold this pass, never managed to go to the capital to thank Divine Physician Shen; who could have thought the Divine Physician would come in person!
Pray accept this bow from me, Bian, and from all my soldiers! " Shen Mu hastily raised his hands and said, "Rise, General.
Did my Pure Yang Insect-Refining Elixir prove effective?
" The border general rose, white hair swaying, and nodded. "Effective.
However the great shamans of the Mandi Nation work their rites now, they cannot harm the soldiers in my army.
For the Divine Physician's grace, every soul at Qingmen Pass, high and low, is moved to tears with gratitude! " "You overpraise it; it was the work of a lifted hand. " Shen Mu said with a smile, "General Bian, this is Libationer Bashan of our Grand Academy, and this is the Seventh Princess.
" Bian Zhenyun smiled. "I have long heard the name of Libationer Bashan, and now that I meet him he is indeed no ordinary man.
As for the Seventh Princess—" His face darkened a little, and he sneered, "What does the Princess want in this wretched backwater of mine?
If any mishap befell her, who would answer for it?
" Libationer Bashan said with a smile, "It is I who wish to bring them out for tempering.
General Bian, do us the courtesy. " Bian Zhenyun's expression eased a little, and with poor grace he said, "Out of regard for the Divine Physician, I will do you the courtesy. Is it at my Qingmen Pass that you mean to temper yourselves, Libationer?
" Libationer Bashan shook his head.
"The Mandi Nation. " Bian Zhenyun started, and cried out despite himself, "You mean to enter the Mandi Nation?
Are you tired of living?
The two nations are at war — force your way over now and they will take your lives for certain!
And you have the Princess with you besides; if anything should happen, it would be enough to see your entire Grand Academy beheaded to the last man!
" Libationer Bashan said with a smile, "With me here, nothing will go wrong.
I have my own eyes and ears in the Mandi Nation as well.
" Bian Zhenyun said with a cold laugh, "And what concern is that of mine? This is your Grand Academy's affair; if anything goes wrong, it is your Grand Academy that bears it.
Divine Physician Shen, please enter the pass.
" Ling Yuxiu's heart quailed. Libationer Bashan had told them this outing was for tempering beyond the frontier, and she had thought they would go no farther than the border pass; she had never imagined Libationer Bashan meant to enter the Mandi Nation! Still, she had always been bold to the point of recklessness — she had once followed Shen Feiyue deep into the Desolate Ruins — and though hearing now that they were bound for the Mandi Nation left her a little uneasy, far stronger was her exhilaration.
That night a great banquet was spread in the general's residence; Bian Zhenyun led his officers and soldiers in inviting Shen Mu to the feast, and Libationer Bashan and the others were invited as well, though only as ornaments to the occasion.
At dawn the next morning Bian Zhenyun saw them out of the pass and presented a tray of gold ingots, saying, "The Mandi Nation will not honor Great Feng coinage; it honors only gold. Take this for traveling money, Divine Physician.
" Shen Mu thanked him. The company climbed onto the ox's back, and the azure ox walked out beyond the pass.