Shen Mu shook out the "sweat cloth" and studied the weave of the silk. "I thought there was a familiar fragrance about you," he said. "Turns out we use the same fabric.

" The instant Ling Yuxiu saw that "sweat cloth," her face went scarlet. She snatched it from his hand, mortified and furious. "That's mine! How did it end up with you?

And you've been using it as a sweat cloth!

I'm not speaking to you!

" The girl stormed off to crouch atop the dragon's head, chin propped on both hands, staring into the distance.

Shen Mu was dumbfounded.

"That's your sweat cloth?

" "It is not a sweat cloth! " Ling Yuxiu raged. "It's my, my. .

.

I'm not talking to you! " "If it isn't a sweat cloth, then what is it? " Puzzled, the youth said, "Grandpa Cripple gave it to me.

He said it was for wiping off sweat.

The material seemed fine, so I kept it on me. Since it's yours, I'll simply give it back.

Is that worth getting angry over? " Ling Yuxiu flung the chest wrap down at him. "I don't want it back either! " Shen Mu sent out his primal energy, rolled the chest wrap up, and laughed. "If you throw it down, someone will pick it up and use it to wipe their sweat.

Better it comes to me. I sweat a great deal when I train.

" Ling Yuxiu cried out in angry reproach, "Give it back!

" More bewildered than ever, the youth said, "If I give it back, you'll only throw it away again. What's the point? Better to let me wipe my sweat with it. .

. " Ling Yuxiu hurriedly snatched it away, thought for a moment, then took out a handkerchief and pressed it into his hand. "This is a girl's thing.

Aren't you ashamed, a grown man like you, using it? Here, this scented handkerchief is for you.

It's woven of Tianxiang silk too, and there's a picture on it embroidered by my own hand. Use it to wipe your sweat.

" Shen Mu took the handkerchief and saw that what had been embroidered on it was a lopsided pig's head. He laughed.

"That's an ugly piece of embroidery. " Flustered and angry, Ling Yuxiu reached out to snatch it back.

"If you don't want it, give it back! " Shen Mu hastily tucked it away, then walked over and sat down beside her.

"You took my sweat cloth, so giving me one in return is only fair.

Mine was bigger and the one you gave me is smaller. If you ask me, I've come out the loser.

" The sun had climbed high by now, and the early-spring light carried a sweet warmth. The youth felt utterly at ease, and he lay back to watch the white clouds drift slowly past. Ling Yuxiu blinked. "Do you think that plump Seventh Young Master is handsome? " Shen Mu considered. "His looks are passable enough. It's just that he has too much of a soft, feminine air about him. Not like a man, more like a woman. " Ling Yuxiu could not help laughing. Smoothing the hair at her breast, she said with a grin, "Then do you think I'm pretty? " Shen Mu looked at her in all earnestness. "Your face is a little round, but you're not bad looking.

" Ling Yuxiu was quite satisfied. Curiously she asked, "You killed Fu Yundi's son. Why didn't you flee the city? Why did you come back? " "I came back because I have business here. " Shen Mu closed his eyes and said calmly, "Jingping's great army will soon be here.

I've come back to resist Jingping's invasion. " Ling Yuxiu's heart gave a faint jolt. Her expression grew grave, and slowly she said, "Do you know you're throwing eggs against a stone? Besides, what's so bad about being ruled by Jingping? Its people live in peace and work in contentment. Every sect and school obeys the imperial court, and everything is kept in good order.

There's no war within its borders, only minor quarrels. In what way is it inferior to the Wasteland? What sort of chaotic place is the Wasteland? The people can't make a living. Every day it's kill or be killed. You eat one meal without knowing where the next will come from. You can't even keep body and soul together. When I came to the Wasteland, I saw I don't know how many families selling their sons and daughters.

You can see how wretched their plight is. Jingping's great army is the army of justice. You ought to abandon your resistance and go out to welcome the king's army of Jingping.

" Shen Mu opened his eyes, his gaze deep. "The people of the Wasteland don't want to live here either.

But I've heard that the people of the Wasteland are called the Forsaken of the Gods, and that if they leave the Wasteland, they're seized at Jingping's border passes. Some are executed on the spot, and others are sold as slaves to dig mines, and within a few years they're dead too. " He sat up, laced the fingers of both hands over his knees, and said with a calm face, "They want to live better too. But going to Jingping only means dying faster. Better to stay in the Wasteland, where at least they can barely stay alive. If Jingping's army takes the Wasteland, how will they treat us Forsaken of the Gods?

Kill us, or make us slaves? Sister Yuxiu, what Jingping's emperor and Jingping's Imperial Teacher covet is not the people here, but this land, the land the gods have forsaken.

The Forsaken live in that land forsaken by the gods, and even though darkness invades every night, and every day they go out hunting they meet every manner of deadly peril, at least they can stay alive, can keep their sons and daughters alive. But if Jingping rules here, they won't even have a place to live. " Ling Yuxiu was struck dumb. She had never once thought of such a thing. She had simply taken it for granted that Jingping was justice, and had never considered what the people here would have to face.

She could not help saying, "Do you know? In fighting Jingping's army you have only one road open to you -- death. There's no way you'll survive! " A brilliant smile broke across Shen Mu's face, brimming with confidence. He lifted his head toward the east.

"No!

Jingping's emperor and Jingping's Imperial Teacher will stub their toes on a hard stone here. They'll run into a wall here, and their wings will be clipped!

They have no idea what they are about to meet on this mysterious land!

Jingping's undefeated myth ends here! " Ling Yuxiu rose to her feet, furious. "You're obstinate beyond all reason!

You will certainly die in this city. Why bring it on yourself? " Shen Mu stood and looked straight into her eyes.

"For the Forsaken, going to Jingping is a dead end. Jingping wants to invade this place and make it Jingping's territory, and then the Forsaken are certain to die. If not resisting means death, and resisting leaves a thread of hope, then why shouldn't the Forsaken resist? " Ling Yuxiu felt her heart thrown into turmoil by that gaze.

She stepped down from the dragon's head and stood upon the platform, looked back at him, and said through clenched teeth, "I am from Jingping. The purpose of my coming here is to seize the Wasteland and make it Jingping's territory. " Shen Mu nodded.

Ling Yuxiu said, "I can't betray Jingping. Anyone who opposes Jingping will be my enemy! " Shen Mu nodded again. "I'm one of the Forsaken.

I can't betray the Wasteland either. " Ling Yuxiu turned and walked toward the steps at the edge of the stone platform. Her figure vanished, but her voice came from within the stone pillar: "On the battlefield, if I meet you, I won't hold back! " Shen Mu looked into the distance, where dust was beginning to rise, drifting toward them like a fog that shrouded a hundred li of land.

In a low voice he said, "Neither will I. " Within the fog, thousands of monstrous beasts cleared the way ahead. Their bodies were as sturdy as mountains, with long tusks and bone armor over every inch of their hides, and they bore heavy loads, yet they moved at no slow pace; as they walked, their bone armor knocked together with a clatter and clang.

Behind the beasts came an army stretching beyond sight, steeped in a killing air, banners streaming.