Chapter 44 — The Dark Demon Ancestral Court Appears in the Mortal World
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
Shen Mu had long looked forward to this day; only, the run-in with the Crested Fire Pheasant Dragon had dampened his mood somewhat. He had no sooner stepped out of the village than he saw, coming toward Hidden Remnant Village, an old man and a youth, looking like two itinerant Daoists.
The pair stopped at the village entrance. They looked at the headman and the alchemist, who were drinking tea, offered their salutations, and asked, "May we beg a cup of tea?
"
The headman raised an eyebrow. "A guest arrives from afar—how could I presume to be remiss?
"
The alchemist poured tea for the old man and the youth.
The two sat down, the youth across from the headman, while the old man stood off to one side. "Is this the youth who slew the serpent?
" The old man's face was kindly as he looked at Shen Mu and asked with a smile.
Shen Mu was about to answer when the headman said mildly, "Shen'er, this has nothing to do with you. Go and see to your own business.
"
Shen Mu nodded and walked toward the mountain woods.
When he was well away, the youth across from the headman spoke, in a voice infinitely aged. "We have met before, have we not?
"
The headman nodded.
"We have. "
The youth smiled.
"Of our generation, those still alive are few and far between.
It is rare to meet you. I am very glad.
"
"And I as well," the headman said flatly.
The youth smiled. "I came to see Granny Zhu.
Our sect has had no leader for forty years.
Granny Zhu owes us an explanation. "
The headman shook his head. "Once one enters this village, one is done with the outside world. "
The youth's gaze flickered.
"Then I shall not enter. Have her come out—I have questions for her.
"
The headman shook his head again. "She has gone out.
"
The old man could no longer contain himself and was about to speak, but the youth raised a hand and smiled. "We have waited forty years; there is no need to be impatient. Disciplinary Elder, since the Sect Leader's widow is not in the village, summon the strongmen. Build a manor here—we will spend the night. "
The old man bowed and acknowledged.
A column of demonic qi shot from the crown of his head into the sky, where it gathered into one enormous word: Command. The youth drank his tea with slow deliberation.
After two hours, the villagers of Hidden Remnant Village set down their work one after another, walked out of the village, and looked up. In the mountain woods, towering giants with sinewy, savage bodies strode among the trees, and the forest fell where they passed.
Four of these giants labored together to carry each stone statue—four statues in all—and they came gasping for breath. Wherever their feet trod, rocks were crushed like mud, oozing up between their toes! The sixteen giants' faces were flushed crimson; the statues were plainly so heavy that even strongmen such as they could barely bear the weight. The sixteen giants set down the statues with the utmost care, placing them at the four cardinal points, right beside Hidden Remnant Village. Before long, another towering ship came, moored by the river, and more than a hundred carpenters came ashore. They felled timber beside the village and built houses.
An hour later, wooden towers had been raised, furnished with everything one could need. The carpenters returned to the ship, carried down gold and silver vessels, pots, pans, and bowls, then boarded again, and the towering ship drew away from the bank and sailed off.
Next, another towering ship arrived. Some lacquerers came ashore, painted the furniture and the wooden towers, and when they were done, boarded and sailed away. Then came a boat of stonemasons.
They quarried rock, carved statue after statue, ground stone slabs smooth, and leveled the manor's grounds before likewise departing by boat. After another moment, a strapping man with a curly beard arrived, travel-worn and dusty, and bowed.
"Patriarch!
Enforcement Senior Brother. "