Chapter 73 — Assassination in Flower Lane
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
Speaking of which, I came across something amusing tonight. I saw a big hen bird all dressed up nice go out for a little spree, and a little rooster tagging right along beside her on the same jaunt.
" Shen Mu was puzzled.
"They're just two birds—what's so strange about that?
Blind Grandpa, let's go back to the inn. " The two returned to their room at the inn. A startled cry came from Granny Zhu, and Shen Mu rushed in to find her holding a money pouch, utterly astonished. Shen Mu froze for a moment, then hastily opened the window lattice and looked out.
There in midair, the silver dragons formed from the Great Nurturing Nether Demon Sutra were still battling a host of fearsome experts above Crimson Dragon City. He turned back, and Granny Zhu was right there in the room—which left him thoroughly perplexed.
"Could the Sect Leader's widow I met in the city lord's mansion not be Granny Zhu?
" The strangeness grew in Shen Mu's heart, and he smiled and said, "Granny, did you just get back? I've brought something to eat for you and Blind Grandpa. " With that he took out an oilpaper parcel, set it on the table, and unfolded it. Granny Zhu's bleary old eyes showed a flicker of tender feeling. She sat down unsteadily and said with a smile, "Shen'er is quite filial.
But what is this pouch of dragon coins all about?
" Shen Mu looked into her eyes, suspicion stirring in his heart. Granny Zhu's gaze was indeed very like that of the Nether Demon Sect Leader's widow, and the scent of rouge on her was exactly the same.
But then why were there still silver dragons formed from the Great Nurturing Nether Demon Sutra outside? He collected himself and told her everything that had happened to him in the alleys. Granny Zhu's expression turned odd, and she tittered.
"You earned over three thousand dragon coins from a single one?
If I'd known you were that rich, I'd have been out living the high life long ago—I wouldn't have had to mooch meals and drinks. " Shen Mu told her what had happened with the beautiful woman in the city lord's mansion, then said, "Granny, I killed the city lord's son.
This place is no longer safe—we have to leave as soon as possible! " Granny Zhu pulled a jade hairpin from her hair and beckoned.
A fine thread suddenly flew in through the window, wound itself around the hairpin of its own accord, and in the space of a breath became a ball of thread, which she tossed into her basket. She laughed.
"I turned the wife of Crimson Dragon City's lord into a cow, and you killed his son—that city lord really is unlucky.
But worse luck is still in store for him.
He has done too much evil, and this is his due retribution. These dragon coins are yours, earned by your own hand. Keep them for yourself; they may prove useful later.
" From outside came a succession of earth-shaking roars, and one voice was the Black Venerable's, crying harshly, "The Sect Leader's widow has escaped! " "Search everywhere at once—you must find her! " "It's pitch dark outside—that witch can't get out of the city!
" . . . The blind old man listened sideways to the uproar outside, then suddenly said, "That young General Shen is staying here and won't leave. He carries the geographical map of the Yong River, so of course he is waiting for Imperial Preceptor Jingping. Imperial Preceptor Jingping is about to send troops against the Wasteland. This Crimson Dragon City will be the first to bear the brunt.
Since young General Shen is quartered in the city lord's mansion, it means the lord of Crimson Dragon City, Fu Yundi, has already come to terms with him. When the time comes, Crimson Dragon City will be the first stronghold for attacking the Wasteland.
The city is large enough to hold several hundred thousand troops.
" Granny Zhu said, beaming, "And so Fu Yundi must die.
" The blind old man nodded.