Chapter 63 — The Mystery of the Three-Character Fusion
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 3
Not long after, Shen Mu and Sang'e — once more in the shape of Qixia'er — sat on the cliff, leaning back with both hands braced against the ground behind them, gazing up at the blue sky and white clouds, a great stillness in their hearts. "Who was that bronze Buddha?
" Shen Mu asked. "From the Little Thunderclap Monastery.
A non-human who attained the Way — a monster, like me.
" Sang'e swung the golden rings on her ankles and said, "They say the founder of the Little Thunderclap Monastery first took refuge in the Buddhist order and became a disciple of the Great Thunderclap Monastery.
Later he turned traitor and left it, founded the Little Thunderclap Monastery, and styled himself the Little Tathagata.
I hear the Tathagata of the Great Thunderclap Monastery hounded him until he had not a patch of ground to stand on, and that was why he came into the Wilderness Ruins, and moved the Little Thunderclap Monastery in here with him. Every abbot of the Little Thunderclap Monastery has been a monster like me, and each has called himself the Little Tathagata.
The one who suppressed me in that old temple was this generation's Little Tathagata.
You cut his chains and set me free — heh heh, you have a fine reckoning coming to you! " "The Little Thunderclap Monastery?
The Little Tathagata?
" Shen Mu was startled.
"This Little Thunderclap Monastery — it is inside the Wilderness Ruins? " "Naturally. Monster monks are hardly rare. The monks of the Little Thunderclap Monastery are a petty lot, and they always repay a grudge — let alone their Little Tathagata. " Sang'e giggled. "With that old thieving bald one's temper, he will certainly come to settle accounts with you! " Suddenly an angry shout rang out: "A human being, consorting with a man-eating demon!
It seems we master and disciples must today subdue the demon and defend the Way!
" Shen Mu looked and saw several Daoists coming: men and women, one old man and a few young ones.
The old Daoist was stern with righteousness, while the young ones wore looks of excitement — plainly powerful cultivators from the outside world who had entered the Wilderness Ruins for training. "Reverend sirs, this demon and I have just averted a crisis, leveled this barrier lake, and saved countless lives downstream.
" Shen Mu rose and said gravely, "This demon has saved countless lives; she is not—" "Silence, castoff!
" The old Daoist, full of righteous wrath, cried sternly, "In league with demons, lending a tiger its claws — all the more deserving of death! Today we shall dispose of you together!
Disciples, form the formation — subdue the demons and destroy the evil! " "I'm hungry," said the little girl beside Shen Mu, licking her red lips. "Some people are worse than demons.
" Shen Mu, all interest drained from him, leapt down from above the river and plunged into the Yongjiang below, his voice drifting back: "Sang'e, today I set you free. You are free!
" He fell into the river and went off treading the waves.
Behind him, pitiful screams rose from the gorge.
Sang'e revealed her true form and began a great slaughter; before long the demon had eaten her fill, then dashed off at speed, soared into the air, wound her way through the sky, and vanished into the clouds. "Cowherd boy, we'll meet again if fate allows—" The demon cloud caught up with Shen Mu, Sang'e's cry came from within it, and then the cloud drifted far away.