Chapter 1395 — Holding Each Other in Check
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 3
"There is no power so fearsome as men's words. Rumor is an arrow, and it can shoot a man dead."
Wei Suifeng, being the more mature of the two, lowered his voice to Crown Prince Youming: "Your Highness, this matter had best not be spoken of. I know you grieve over Earth Mother's death, and I know you understand Celestial Master Mu's intent and comprehend his deeds. But when the world is at peace, there will be many more to censure Celestial Master Mu, and in the end it will be his name that is damaged, his reputation that is ruined. This matter is best hidden from the world."
Crown Prince Youming hesitated a moment, then nodded.
Shen Mu shook his head. "Eldest Senior Brother, it cannot be hidden. There are traces of our battle left here, and Long Xiao, Heavenly Consort Qiang, Celestial Master Gong and Divine Emperor Langxuan were here too. How could they not speak of it? There is no need for such alarm. I did it; why should I fear what men say?"
Wei Suifeng frowned. Words were words, and yet when a heroic deed goes uncomprehended, when the thinking of later ages no longer accords with the times of war, men still pass judgment on those who came before, and censure the deeds of the sages and worthies of old.
The forebears blazed too brightly. But the brighter the figure, the more sharply drawn its blemishes; even a stain of no consequence will be magnified, as flies find the wound on a brave warrior's body and buzz and lick at it.
Wei Suifeng had seen much of this.
Crown Prince Youming had seen too little of the world to understand why such things should be; Shen Mu cared nothing for it; but on Shen Mu's behalf, Wei Suifeng felt a certain grievance.
"The war of the Celestial Masters has reached its end, has it not?"
Shen Mu went to the highest divine mountain nearby and climbed to its summit, gazing far into the distance. Crown Prince Youming and Wei Suifeng came to stand beside him, and the three looked out. There, Celestial Master Gong, Divine Emperor Langxuan, Heavenly Consort Qiang and Long Xiao still fought bitterly on. Heavenly Consort Qiang had at first been losing, but with the aid of the Great Emperor's head and fist she at once seized the upper hand; in a surprise assault she struck Celestial Master Gong, Long Xiao and Divine Emperor Langxuan until they vomited blood again and again.
The Great Emperor's head had little strength left in it. Shen Mu had worn its cultivation down to almost nothing, until it was no more than an existence at the Imperial Throne realm. Yet its divine consciousness was fierce and overbearing.
His fist, too, was the last limb remaining of the Great Emperor's fleshly body. It was no conjuration of visualization, and its power was therefore immense.
But Heavenly Consort Qiang soon suffered a heavy loss. Celestial Master Gong, Long Xiao and Divine Emperor Langxuan turned upon her, and three Celestial Master-level beings attacking together dealt her another grievous wound.
And so a strange situation took shape: whoever was strongest, whoever was least wounded, became the one the others joined to attack.
Yet the result of this was that all four were left maimed, and in the end none could seize the final victory.
"Is there a chance we might pick up the scraps?"
Wei Suifeng's heart thumped wildly. He murmured, "If those four are all left maimed, each with little strength remaining, then if the three of us join hands, could we do away with them?"
At these words, Crown Prince Youming's heart likewise began to thump, and his dao heart grew unsteady.
Shen Mu shook his head. "If all four are maimed, the final victor will be Long Xiao. Celestial Master Gong, Divine Emperor Langxuan and Heavenly Consort Qiang are all figures who have lived from the most ancient times down to the present; they will not give Long Xiao that chance."
Wei Suifeng was briefly startled, then understood his meaning.