Chapter 64 — One Staff Stirs Rivers and Mountains
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
He saw a massive block of black ice, within which a Black Water Dragon Pearl hung suspended, and a hand was gripping the pearl! That was all he could see; what lay below the ice was blocked by the ship's hull. Even so, he knew where the black ice and that hand had come from.
Clearly, the general and his party, while charting the Yong River, had discovered the Dragon Palace at the river's bottom, found their way there, and then discovered Pei Wujiu and the young Black Dragon sealed by the Black Water Dragon Pearl!
At this moment, the young Black Dragon was likely also within the black ice.
The general had probably not slain the Black Dragon Mother's soul—rather, he had collected it, keeping the black ice from melting. His purpose must be the young Black Dragon within the ice—if the black ice melted, the young dragon would die.
He likely intended to bring the ice to Jingping Kingdom and seek a master to heal the young Black Dragon, which was why he had not freed Pei Wujiu. "It's that youth who stood on the mountain top with the Xuanliao Demon Ape.
" The plump youth said in surprise, "I never expected his vital essence to be so vigorous—even a bit stronger than mine.
" Suddenly, Pei Wujiu's voice came from within the ice: "I can sense my Chubao sword! General Shen Feiyue, stop the ship—my Chubao sword is nearby, and that brat who tricked me is nearby too!
" The tower ship halted. General Shen's gaze fell upon Shen Mu.
"You tricked the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian out of his Chubao sword? " Shen Mu said, "He wanted to eat me, so I tricked him out of his sword. You got him out of the Dragon Palace—could you get the scabbard out for me too?
With the scabbard it's a complete set. " Shen Feiyue's eyes flickered. "Give it to you?
This is the court's sword—impossible. Please return the Chubao sword to the court. " Shen Mu shook his head, puzzled.
"I tricked it away with my own skill—why should I return it?
" The plump youth was none other than the "Seventh Young Master. " Hearing this, he burst out laughing.
"This youth speaks quite amusingly. " Shen Feiyue gave a cold snort and said calmly, "Do you know how great a crime it is to deceive a court official and scheme to seize his treasure? " "There is no court in the Wasteland.
" Shen Mu said, perplexed, "In a lawless place, who can convict me? " "You are so fearless—it seems you have something to rely on.
" Shen Feiyue looked toward the riverbank, his pupils contracting sharply. He said in a low voice, "This junior is Shen Feiyue, disciple of the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping, Loyal and Martial General of the fourth rank of Jingping Kingdom. How should this senior by the river be addressed?
" The blind old man leaned on his bamboo staff and chuckled. "Just a blind old man—how else would you address me?
A crippled old fool, nothing more.
" Shen Feiyue's expression darkened. He glanced around and caught sight of the Hidden Remnant Village.
He smiled. "Three years ago, Ling Hanchuan, prefect of the Seven Li Prefecture of the Southern Wasteland in our Jingping Kingdom, led many experts of the Lanjiang Sword Sect into the Wasteland, said to be seeking revenge.
Later, someone found his body and those of the Lanjiang Sword Sect experts beneath the river.
I personally examined the corpses of Ling Hanchuan and the others—they were killed by spear thrusts, but the killer did not use a spear.
He used a bamboo staff.
Senior, you also use a bamboo staff? " The blind old man held his bamboo staff and said with a smile, "If a blind old man doesn't use a bamboo staff, what else would he use? This staff is for feeling the road, lest these blind eyes fail to recognize the way and I kick a hard stone—that would not be good.
" Shen Feiyue heard the implication in his words and grew all the more certain of his guess. He sneered, "Senior, Ling Hanchuan must have died nearby, yes?