Chapter 19 — The Mystic Body First Awakens, Shaking the Barren Village
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 3
"An oasis a hundred li downstream?"
Shen Mu returned to Yincan Village as the light was failing. The youth unloaded the treasures from the bamboo raft and carried them back into the village; the villagers, understandably startled, crowded round to ask their questions.
Shen Mu told the tale of what he had been through. The Blind Elder's face shifted a little, and the words burst from him: "What is pinned down in that oasis temple is a lord-rank monstrous beast -- a demon sprite, a master of transformation, and a formidable one at that. Her name is Sang E. You went into that temple? And you actually carried off the whole of her treasure?"
Granny Zhu blurted out as well: "That Sang E? I passed by that broken-down temple once, and when I saw how many people she had eaten, I gave her a thrashing. In the end she hid behind that Buddha statue of hers. The statue struck me as uncanny, and I thought it meant to bring me down, so I did not beat her to death. That statue is very strange..."
"I have seen her too. Formidable indeed -- a great demon, a match for a powerhouse of the Seven-Star realm."
The Lame Elder said, "Shen-er, how did you manage to steal Sang E's belongings and slip out of her hands?"
Seeing there was no hiding it, Shen Mu told them all of the demon tongue he had learned in the ruins of the hidden valley, and then laid out from first to last how he had roused the three voices -- divine, demonic and Buddha -- to refine Sang E.
The villagers were struck dumb, mouths hanging open. After a long while Grandpa Huo let out a breath of turbid air and said, "Young and accomplished. Young and accomplished."
The Lame Elder, the Deaf Elder and the rest all nodded, thumbs up, praising without end.
Sang E, a great demon with the strength of a Seven-Star realm powerhouse, had in truth been blackmailed and robbed by Shen Mu -- young and accomplished indeed, and worthy of their teaching, which brought them no small share of glory!
The Silent Smith picked up a few weapons, hefted them, made a pass or two, and shook his head, gesturing with his "ah, ah" sounds: these primordial weapons were of poor quality and not much use.
"Tomorrow I will take them to Crimson Dragon City and sell these primordial weapons off, and pick up some oil, salt, sauce and vinegar on the way, along with a little cloth and good wine."
Granny Zhu laughed. "Those few head of livestock of mine ought to be sold off too."
Shen Mu's spirits surged. To Crimson Dragon City?
He had grown up in Yincan since he was small, and only lately had he been permitted to go outside. He had only ever heard of Crimson Dragon City; he had never once been there!
"I cannot take you along. You are still young," said Granny Zhu, shaking her head.
Disappointed, Shen Mu hesitated, then gathered up his courage. "Granny, Grandpa Huo -- there is one more thing."
"My Overlord Body has awakened."
Everything around them went still.
A moment later Grandpa Huo, the Lame Elder, the Blind Elder and Granny Zhu all broke into cheers, and the Silent Smith ah-ahed without cease. Only the Deaf Elder, who had not seen what Shen Mu said, could not fathom why these old fellows had suddenly gone mad -- until he watched Shen Mu say it again, and then he understood, and burst out laughing!
The Blind Elder bawled at the top of his lungs: "Headman! Alchemist! Come quickly! The Overlord Body has awakened!"
The Butcher, stirred to the depths, roared at the sky: "Headman! Alchemist! The Overlord Body has awakened at last!"
When Shen Mu came back to the village, the Headman was in front of the house, and the Alchemist sat to one side, having brewed a pot of tea and poured for the Headman -- only the Headman had no hands, so the Alchemist lifted the cup to his lips.
The two often drank tea like this, leisurely and refined, perfectly at ease.