Chapter 1861 — Must Be an Old Acquaintance
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
Shen Mu heard many unkind voices. Ling Yuxiu looked at him with some worry, but Shen Mu was quite calm. He smiled and said, "Qingliu—or perhaps the little bamboo horse of the Ling Heavenly Venerate's household, come to life. I stopped caring about such things long ago."
"You gave people too much. When you suddenly stop giving, it breeds resentment. That is human nature," Ling Yuxiu said.
"Human nature is thus. So there is no need to force it."
Shen Mu said, "What worries me are the gods. They gave mortals too much, and mortals will demand more of them because of it, taking those gifts as their due. If a god works himself to death in office, it will be considered only fitting, and gratitude will be lacking."
Ling Yuxiu smiled. "Husband, you forget—you are no longer Jingping's Imperial Preceptor, and I am no longer Jingping's emperor. Leave these matters to others."
Shen Mu was taken aback, then laughed heartily. "Yes, it is time to leave them to others."
Many gravely wounded Dao-attainers returned from the Ancestral Court battlefield. Among them were people from Yincan Village. When Shen Mu heard, he went to see them. When Granny Zhu saw him, tears she could not stop streamed down her face. She wailed, "We thought you were dead—that's why our Dao hearts wavered, and we were crippled by others..."
Shen Mu smiled and listened to their scolding, healing their Dao wounds. The village head, the pill master, and the others took turns berating him. Shen Mu listened with a smile, nodding all the while.
"If you go back, go see the Lame Elder."
At last Mojiang spoke. He poured out the murky water from his water pipe, tapped the pipe clean, and said, "Did you not say he returned to a past universe? Perhaps it is true."
Old Deaf looked up at Shen Mu, eyes glistening, voice hoarse. "Perhaps."
"Yes."
The village head's voice was somewhat weak. "We cannot stop you from becoming the Seventh Young Master. Since that is so, then go and see. If he lives, bring him back."
Shen Mu nodded solemnly.
He healed the villagers of Yincan Village and lived with them for a time. Then the village elders seemed to tire of him and urged him to leave.
"You little scoundrel, freeloading meals and drink—off with you! No one here will cook for you or wash your clothes. Go back to your wife!" They shooed him away.
Shen Mu left. On the road, he stopped, staring curiously at a girl in a schoolroom.
The girl was strangely made—one eye was deep darkness, the other a brilliant starry sky.
The girl noticed his scrutiny, was startled, and quickly lowered her head, her eyes darting about.
When class ended, the girl steeled herself and walked out of the classroom, head down, and came to his side.
"No puppy love!" The schoolmaster poked his head out of the classroom and said fiercely.
"I know!" The girl turned her head and shot back fiercely.
"Second Sister, is that your father?" Shen Mu asked curiously.
The girl kicked a stone hard, sending it flying, and said sullenly, "You saw through it? Are you here to kill me?"
Shen Mu smiled. "Second Sister, I said I would give you a chance. How could I raise a hand against you?"
"No talking to dye-haired delinquents!" The schoolmaster poked his head out again and shouted.
The girl, furious and embarrassed, cried, "This is the Seventh Young Master! What do you mean, dye-haired delinquent? Dad, this is none of your business—go back!"
She turned back, raised both hands, and tugged at the two braids hanging before her chest. With a half-smile she said, "You won't kill me? Aren't you afraid I'll destroy the world you worked so hard to protect?"
She was elated, eyes shining. "You came to see me—you must be going back, right? After you leave, who will be my match? Lan Yutian? Xu Shenghua? They're all little brothers, not worth a single blow! When you return, you'll see me sitting cross-legged on the Sea of Chaos, waiting for you!"
"Girl!"