Chapter 15 — A Reed Treads the Waves Across the Yangtze
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Shen Mu ran faster and faster, the qi within him growing ever stronger. He covered countless li without knowing how far he had gone, yet the villagers of Hidden Remnant Village kept pace with him all the while. Even the Blind Elder moved as though walking on level ground, following steadily beside the others.
Just as Shen Mu charged into a stretch of woodland, a dark, hulking figure suddenly rose from the trees and roared, "You little bean sprout, die. .
. " It was the Dark-Tusk Demon Ape, and the sight of the little bean sprout trespassing in its territory once more had enraged it beyond measure. Lord Huo, with his single arm, cast the furious beast a sidelong glance. The Dark-Tusk Demon Ape shuddered, abandoned its territory without a second thought, and turned tail. There had not been the slightest trace of emotion in Lord Huo's gaze.
The colossal beast could not help feeling a chill of terror, as though death itself would claim it in the very next instant. It did not dare bluster and fled at once. None of the others paid it any mind.
Shen Mu raced onward, his qi surging vigorously through him, and only when he returned to Hidden Remnant Village did he awaken from his state of self-forgetfulness. That was when he discovered that he was covered in filth. At some point, a thick layer of grime had caked his body, though he could not tell whether it was black blood or slick, greasy fat. Granny Zhu instructed him, "Go wash yourself at the riverside, Shen-er.
Blind Elder, go with him. Take care not to let the monsters in the river drag him away.
" Leaning on his bamboo staff, the Blind Elder followed Shen Mu to the riverbank. Shen Mu stripped completely and jumped into the river, washing the filth from his body. The Blind Elder lightly tapped the water with his staff. A great fish that had been swimming up beside Shen Mu was startled and leaped frantically from the river, landing more than a dozen zhang away. It was a massive blue carp, more than two zhang long, its whiskers like eight tentacles each a full zhang in length. After washing himself, Shen Mu suddenly gazed upon the jade-green river, its waves rippling in the light, and a mighty spirit rose slowly from the breast of the young boy, blazing like a raging fire.
His qi instantly began to stir. It rolled and surged, rushing straight up into his throat, as though the treasury of divine music had suddenly been flung open. A deep, sonorous howl burst from his throat.
His long howl shook the mountain woods, and waves stirred across the river. Amid the cry, Shen Mu sprang from the water. In the next instant he was racing forward, his feet pounding across the river's surface.
The moment his first foot touched the water, the strength held within his sole merged with the qi descending through him.
The two forces fused and erupted. Wherever his foot landed, the water exploded in every direction.
Before the spray had even fallen, Shen Mu had already shot more than a zhang ahead, his other foot coming down upon the surface. Step, step, step, step. A string of clear footfalls rang across the river as Shen Mu ran straight over the water, soon covering more than two li. His howl grew ever more exhilarated, free and unrestrained, like heavenly music drifting down from above, an immortal orchestra performing, dragons and phoenixes singing in harmony.
His footsteps were equally bold and unrestrained, heedless and joyous, as though he were racing wild with delight across the river. A gentle breeze brushed the surface, raising ripple after ripple.
The boy's feet moved with frightening speed.
Before long he had run from one bank of the Yong River to the other, then turned and raced back across the water. The Blind Elder stood at the riverbank, leaning on his bamboo staff.