Chapter 26 — One Arm Holds Up the Heavens, Strength Grows Ever Mightier
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Everyone in the smithy stood struck dumb.
Shen Mu's Overlord Body vital essence had actually taken on an attribute — and a fire attribute at that, unmistakably the vital essence of the Vermilion Bird!
The Deaf Elder was about to cheer when the Headman said, "Deaf Elder, hold on. Shen'er, contemplate the water again.
Do not think too much; keep heart and mind guarded as one. " Shen Mu did as he was told and contemplated the water once more; the vital essence that surged up from the Spirit Treasury of his Origin Fetus turned into murmuring streams that tempered his spirit fetus. The little smithy was packed with villagers who had rushed over at the news; Old Master Huo, the Lame Elder, the Butcher, the Alchemist and the Blind Elder had all squeezed inside, and watching Shen Mu as he contemplated the water, they scarcely dared to breathe. The Headman's voice came: "Do you remember the spear art the Blind Elder taught you?
Imagine that just such a spear is in your hand — thrust it forward! " Shen Mu raised his hand and thrust out a spear; the tip flickered, shaking out one great circle after another, and in that instant as he thrust with an empty hand, his vital essence rushed forth and became snow-white water vapor, taking the shape of a long spear in his grip, while at the same time came the murmur of flowing water, the vapor like a water dragon shaken by him into circle after circle!
"It's done, it's done. . . " Old Master Huo wept for joy, tears falling as he said, "It's finally done. All these years of hardship were not for nothing.
.
. Shen'er, you've grown up.
.
. " He could not help but turn his head away and wipe his tears with his one remaining arm. A plain, honest smile hung on the Lame Elder's face as he murmured, "Our Shen'er can survive in the Ruins now. .
.
Damn it, Old Ma, stop wiping your eyes — you're about to make me cry too! Old Lady Si has gone to Crimson Dragon City to buy things and isn't here; if she were, she'd be the one crying hardest! " "What is there to cry about?
" The Alchemist's eyes were red-rimmed, but he smiled.
"We ought to laugh!
Even if we grow old and die, Shen'er will be able to live on his own. That is a blessing from the heavens — we should laugh aloud!
" "Exactly, exactly! " The Deaf Elder roared with laughter.
"Alchemist, there's much I won't concede to you, but that remark of yours I concede! " Earth-shaking laughter burst from the little smithy and rang to the heavens.
Looking at the excited old men around him, warmth surged again and again in Shen Mu's heart.
These old men, every one of them maimed in some way, every one with flaws more or less, every one looking so fierce and fearsome — they were his kin, his dearest kin! Suddenly Granny Zhu's voice came from beyond the door, laughing: "What are you old things crowding in there and cackling about like ghosts? " Shen Mu was startled and delighted — Granny Zhu had finally returned from Crimson Dragon City!
Soon the Lame Elder blurted out the great news, and Granny Zhu too could not help being startled and overjoyed; her eyes reddened a little as she smiled and said, "Good news, good news. . .
Shen'er has finally grown up. . . This is good news.
. .
" Thinking of the eleven years of bitter toil she had borne, she could not hold back her tears.
The little old woman sat down and wiped her eyes: "If we die in the future, Shen'er will be able to live on.
. .
Don't touch me — my eyes are big, and the wind has blown sand into them.
. .