Shen Mu looked at the suppressed incarnation of Tu Bo. In the Longhan Era he must have been an incomparably mighty demon-god, yet burdened with a whole body of sin, he had no choice but to endure ceaseless torment in the karmic fire. Tu Bo was selfless; even if the one who erred was himself, he would never show mercy.

Yet from this, too, one could glimpse just how many ancient gods and half-gods had died at Tu Bo's hands in those years.

The karmic fire had burned for a million years and still blazed fiercely to this day. Tu Bo had used hundreds of karmic-fire merit steles to suppress himself, hoping to wash away his own sins.

"The reincarnated Tu Bo of that time must have been in a state of boundless rage. The rage let him break through his shackles; in those days he was completely controlled by his demonic nature. "

Shen Mu thought of the brother at his side and drew a comparison.

The Tu Bo controlled by demonic nature held only the desire to kill in his heart — and in this, Shen Fengqing was still somewhat different. Shen Fengqing was more like a savage yet innocent child. Though many people told Shen Mu that Shen Fengqing was controlled by demonic nature and knew only slaughter, Shen Mu still felt that his brother was not controlled by demonic nature — rather, he controlled it.

Now, weighing the deeds of Tu Bo's incarnated body against the way Shen Fengqing handled things, he grew all the more certain of this. "A little farther ahead lies the place where Shen Fengqing's punishment was suffered. "

The Deputy Soul-Suppressing Envoy hesitated, then said, "I will escort you only this far.

I will not go in. "

Shen Mu smiled. "Walk with me a little farther. Once we arrive, I will not press you to stay, Daoist Brother.

"

The Deputy Soul-Suppressing Envoy had no choice but to steel himself and continue on. Ahead, karmic-fire merit steles stood thick, a dense forest of them.

After traveling three or four li, the surroundings suddenly opened up: verdant green hills, a small river flowing down from the mountain, winding through a stretch of paddy fields before emptying into a lake.

Several plumed-crested fire pheasant-dragons were racing through the fields, chasing a three-legged toad, cackling without pause. The toad plopped into the lake, and the pheasant-dragons stood at the shore, furiously clucking and clacking at the toad as it floated up in the water.

Shen Mu was stunned. In this barren, desolate Youdu, no green could be seen anywhere; everywhere were volcanic lava, everywhere demons, fiends, and monsters, ghosts covering the ground.

And yet here, at the renowned Yusuo Pass of Youdu — a forbidden ground where the most vicious criminals were suppressed — there was such a stretch of green hills and clear waters. What a strange, absurd thing! He looked down the mountain and saw several households; a woman was spinning yarn before her door, turning a loom, and several farm girls were picking mulberry leaves to feed silkworms. In the fields, several farmers were picking vegetables. This did not look like Youdu, nor like a forbidden ground holding hardened criminals; rather, it looked like a peaceful, tranquil little village in the Barren Wastes.

"There is no karmic fire upon them — or if there ever was, it burned out long ago. "

The Deputy Soul-Suppressing Envoy said in a low voice, "After they broke into Youdu back then, it was almost walking into a net. In Youdu, the Heavenly Court's four great military commissioners, and other powers besides, lay hidden. After they broke in, they hid here and there; within a few days, you were born, and then the Heavenly Court's pursuers found them.

What happened after, you should still remember, shouldn't you? "

Shen Mu shook his head and said, his voice rough, "My brother remembers. I had not yet been born then.

"

"Everyone who struck Mother, I ate them all! " Shen Fengqing said viciously. "Back then, you made too much havoc.

You destroyed the great armies of the Heavenly Court's four military commissioners in Youdu; the four commissioners were badly wounded and have not recovered their strength to this day. "

The Deputy Soul-Suppressing Envoy said, "None of these four commissioners were virtuous men. In Youdu they had wide circles of acquaintance; they sought out friends and called upon other giants of Youdu.

Those giants were beaten, killed, eaten, and that drew out many ancient beings, who were in turn beaten, killed, eaten.

At that time Youdu was in too great an uproar; many beings that did not belong to Youdu slipped in to watch the commotion. Because the disturbance grew too great, Tu Bo had no choice but to act, to suppress you.

Your mother bore the punishment in your stead and willingly let herself be sealed here.

Shen Fengqing, go and acknowledge your kin. "

He paused, then said, "Do not think of taking her out. Back then, Tu Bo went to no small trouble to preserve your life; otherwise you would long ago have died — and it would not have ended with merely letting your mother bear the punishment in your stead. Those who slipped into Youdu back then were not there simply to watch the commotion; in truth, undercurrents surged and killing intent lurked on every side. "

Shen Mu fell silent. More than twenty years ago, that upheaval in Youdu had indeed drawn many mighty beings to watch the commotion.

From what he alone knew, there were the Brahma Heavenly King Buddha and the Heavenly Duke, each sending a clone. Besides them, the Yin Son of Heaven had also slipped into Youdu.

And this was only what he knew; those he did not know of must be even more numerous!

"Moreover, Tu Bo did not make things difficult for you and your mother. This time, do not make things difficult for Tu Bo. "

The Deputy Soul-Suppressing Envoy said, "Do not try to take her away.

She is well here; in the outside world she would be in greater danger. Also, be careful on your way out. "

Shen Mu bowed and said, "Thank you, Daoist Brother! "

Shen Fengqing hesitated, then said, "I won't eat you this time. Next time you meet me, run faster; if I can't catch you, I won't eat you. Remember — you must run fast! "

The Deputy Soul-Suppressing Envoy smiled and turned to leave. Shen Mu looked at the little village at the foot of the mountain. For a long while his heart could not settle.

At last he steadied himself and stepped forward. His body grew smaller and smaller; soon, from an incomparably towering giant, he shrank to ordinary size. His steps grew faster and faster. Suddenly he stopped — Shen Fengqing was unwilling to go any farther. Shen Mu was surprised and said in a low voice, "Brother, isn't seeing Mother what you wished for most?

"

"She does not want to see me.

"

Shen Fengqing lowered his head and said, a little bitterly, "It was she who put the jade pendant on me and sealed me. I have always remembered the terror in her eyes when she looked at me. I don't want her to feel afraid.

I'm going back into the seal; you go see her yourself.

Tell her that I am well inside the seal, that I cannot come out, and that she need not be afraid.

. .

"

An indescribable feeling rose in Shen Mu's heart. Then the power receded, and he felt the other self within him dissolve. Shen Fengqing had already returned to the Shen-Character Continent.

Shen Mu sat staring blankly.

In the Shen-Character Continent, the big-headed doll sat on the ground, also staring blankly. After a moment, the doll scurried off at great speed to take out its anger on the Heavenly Duke's clone and the Red Emperor's consciousness. Shen Mu collected himself, dispersed his three heads and six arms, and walked toward the little village.

He drew closer and closer to the little village.

All was peaceful within; a farmer in the vegetable plot straightened up and stared blankly as he approached. Shen Mu smiled and nodded in greeting.

The farmers, baffled by his smile, could not help but nod and smile back. "So alike.

. .

"