"How could Mu Ping have died?

" Mother still had not recovered from the shock. She remained heartbroken over Aunt Ping's death and had not truly heard what Shen Mu was saying. Shen Mu knew nothing of what had happened during the time Mu Ping had taken him from Youdu into the Ruins.

Neither did Granny Zhu and the others. They knew only that by the time the woman delivered Shen Mu to the riverbank, she had already been dead for some time. Relying solely on the remnant of her obsession, she had insisted on taking Shen Mu somewhere safe. Shen Mu had seen her again before Mistwater Pass, where she had taken the form of a corpse-woman in the water. Only after hearing him say, "I've grown up. I've survived," had her obsession finally faded. She sank into the depths, utterly free of all attachments.

From Youdu to the Ruins, Shen Mu had been no more than a two- or three-month-old infant, with no memories. The journey was not especially long, yet there must have been a hidden battle along the way. Someone had tried to seize him or kill him somewhere beyond Tu Bo's sight. Sadly, Mu Ping could no longer recount what had happened. "Mother, I will find Aunt Ping's soul myself.

Wherever her spirit may be, I will bring her back. " Shen Mu smiled as he comforted her. "Your son has some ability now, and I know many people. Even if Aunt Ping's soul has been scattered, even if someone has suppressed it, I will surely save her. Mother, my elder brother is here too. He very much wants to see you.

" "Your elder brother? " Consort Zhen looked at Shen Mu in confusion and concern.

Shen Mu smiled. "Yes, my elder brother. When we were born, he was the one who protected you in Youdu.

I will call him out. " Shen Mu's body suddenly went still. He stood there without moving. "Fengqing? " Consort Zhen grew flustered and called out repeatedly, "Fengqing! What is wrong? " Within the Shen Character Continent, the big-headed baby folded his arms across his chest, twisted his head aside, and crossed his two short, chubby legs.

"I'm not going!

Mother is afraid of me! " Shen Mu came around in front of him and smiled. "You are the elder brother, yet you still have the temper of a child. Stop making a fuss.

Haven't you wanted to see Mother again for ages? This is a rare opportunity.

" "I'm not going!

" The big-headed baby twisted his head to the other side. "Mother likes you more.

She doesn't like me. I was adopted, and you are her real son! I'm not going! " The Red Emperor's consciousness said, "Then don't go, you fat little lump.

But could you get off me first? You have been pinning me down long enough! " The big-headed baby was sitting on him, leaving him face-down and unable to move. Far away, a white-browed, white-bearded incarnation of the Heavenly Duke hid behind the Shen Mountains and craned his neck to look over.

Shen Mu laughed.

"We are one body. Why would I be her real son while you were adopted? Stop making a fuss and go see Mother.

She has been waiting anxiously. If you refuse, I will go out myself. " The big-headed baby hurriedly got up and charged toward the world beyond, shouting, "Fine, I'll see her!

" Seeing him leave, the Red Emperor's consciousness scrambled to his feet and brushed the dust from his clothes, though there was not actually any dust. He did it out of habit.

At the same time, the Heavenly Duke's incarnation hurried out and glanced at Shen Mu before shaking his head. "You're finished.

You're finished! You let the great demon king out. You will never reclaim your body! You're done for, boy!

" Shen Mu smiled. "Heavenly Duke, he is my elder brother.

We share the same breath and branches. . .

" The white-bearded old man blew out his beard and glared. "That big-headed brat has already gone bad, do you know that? And who did he learn it from? From you, boy! Once he gets out, he will surely seal you and trap the three of us here!

" Shen Mu's expression shifted. "My brother would not do that.

. . " Outside, Consort Zhen's heart was filled with unease. Suddenly, Shen Mu exhaled a breath of foul air, and his physical body began to expand with a series of popping sounds. He grew taller and larger, yet his age began to run backward.

Gradually, before her eyes, he became a fair-skinned, plump little boy.

Shen Mu's clothes were a treasure refined by Yu Zhaoqing. They expanded with his body, but on the enormous chubby child they looked baggy and ridiculous. Consort Zhen stared blankly at the transformation, unable to regain her senses. "Mother, wait a moment! " The big boy was so excited that he took off his two gluttony satchels and rummaged through them. Suddenly, all three of his eyes lit up.

He pinched out a willow leaf, slapped it onto his forehead, and beamed. "Bad little brother, you can't get out now! " Within the Shen Character Continent, Shen Mu was trying to fly out of that world and reclaim his body. Suddenly, the pattern of a willow leaf appeared in the sky.

The great Buddha's entire body shone brilliantly, its aura linking with the leaf and sealing the world. Shen Mu stood stunned.

"I.

. . Brother. . .

" "You're finished! " the white-bearded old man cried furiously. "You taught him to be bad! You're finished, and so are we! " Shen Mu blinked, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

The Red Emperor's consciousness muttered, "I think this is fine.

At least Shen Mu will not keep beating us for no reason.

" "Mother! I'm back!

" The big-headed baby excitedly clapped his little hands at Consort Zhen and reached out to be held, only to discover that he was too large to embrace her.

He hurriedly shrank himself again. Consort Zhen gazed dazedly at the infant in her arms. He was only two or three months old, the same age Shen Mu had been when she hung the jade pendant around his neck and sent him out of Youdu.

Yet the whole scene seemed utterly absurd.

Tenderness filled her expression. It felt as though Heaven itself had shown her mercy, granting her compensation by allowing her to witness her son's infancy. Just then, Vice Minister Zuo and the others returned from catching fish and field frogs. They stared blankly at the infant in Consort Zhen's arms.

When the big-headed baby saw the fish and frogs they were carrying, he grew excited, leapt from his mother's arms, and scuttled toward them at tremendous speed, his little arms and legs pumping wildly. "Something delicious! " The baby grew larger and larger. With one hand he seized Vice Minister Zuo, then opened his mouth until it was half the size of the sky, preparing to swallow the minister together with the fish and frogs.

More village girls arrived from outside, carrying vegetables and fruit and bringing along a crested fire pheasant-dragon they had caught.

They stared blankly at the scene. "Cluck! " The crested fire pheasant-dragon fainted.

Just as Vice Minister Zuo was about to be swallowed, Consort Zhen's gentle voice rang out. "Fengqing, you must not eat him. " The big-headed baby hesitated, then set Vice Minister Zuo down.

He gazed reluctantly at the minister, who had gone rigid with terror, and said in his clear little voice, "We have not seen each other for more than twenty years, Uncle. You have grown so robust. Your flesh must be springy and tender. .

.

" Then he turned and called, "Aunt Juan, hold me! " He flung himself into the arms of one of the village girls. Aunt Juan held him woodenly, her whole body trembling. The big-headed baby quietly licked her face, a murderous glint in his eyes.

Aunt Juan did not dare move. At that moment, however, the baby suddenly felt himself grow light as Consort Zhen snatched him into her arms. Shen Fengqing blinked slyly, looked up at his mother, stuck his thumb into his mouth, and waved his short arms and legs while babbling.

Consort Zhen's eyes filled with affection.

She kissed his forehead and smiled at the motionless crowd. "Our reunion is a joyous occasion. Go prepare some food.