Chapter 191 — Really a Bit Aroused

Shen Mu was taken aback, not knowing who this fellow Daoist he spoke of might be.

Yet that the Imperial Preceptor Jingping should confide his heart to him sent a chill through him; he felt he might be killed at any moment, silenced for good. "You need not worry.

" As though he had read his mind, the Imperial Preceptor said unhurriedly, "I merely felt something stir in my heart and wished to talk with you.

You are a very good listener. Had it been the Duke of Wei with that loose mouth of his, I would not have dared say so much; otherwise, whatever I let slip would be known throughout court and country by the next day. " "The Duke of Wei? Wei Yong seems to be of the Duke of Wei's household. " Shen Mu blinked.

The Duke of Wei, a first-rank minister of the present court, was a loose mouth too?

Wei Yong's loose tongue was already headache enough; so it ran in the family. The Imperial Preceptor said, "Besides, though you are an Erudite of the Imperial Academy of the sixth rank and hold office, you are not of the court. It is quite safe to speak with you.

" He smiled and said, "Most crucially, you are the cult master of the Youmo Cult. Whatever you say, no one will believe it. " Shen Mu's face darkened.

The Youmo Cult enjoyed a fine reputation among the common folk, but in court and in the jianghu its name was somewhat notorious. Several generals approached, and one of them bowed and said, "Imperial Preceptor, Tianbo City has been pacified.

" The Imperial Preceptor nodded. The generals looked at Shen Mu with suspicion, and Shen Mu nodded to them with a smile.

"This is the first Erudite of the Imperial Academy of our dynasty," said the Imperial Preceptor. "Shen Mu, Erudite Shen.

" Seeing that Shen Mu was honest and upright, of dignified appearance, and though young inspired confidence, the generals could not help praising him: "Erudite Shen is indeed mature beyond his years. Worthy of being the first Erudite of the Imperial Academy, a man of great learning and talent.

" Shen Mu returned the salute and said with a smile, "You gentlemen overpraise me.

" The Imperial Preceptor turned and looked south, saying, "This battle was but a trial of the blade; the fighting to come is what matters.

Cough, cough. . . " The generals were startled and hurried forward: "Imperial Preceptor, your wound.

.

. " The Imperial Preceptor waved a hand.

His face was somewhat pale, then returned to normal.

"Perhaps I was shaken by that demon god when I slew him. It is nothing serious. The rebel army and its traitorous faction are entrenched in the south. I intend to give them two choices.

He Zhuguo.

" A square-jawed general bowed and said, "At your command, Imperial Preceptor! " "You go south and tell those traitorous ministers and rebels there that I have come, and that I give them two paths.

" The Imperial Preceptor raised his hand, pointing toward the Southern Wilderness, his face cold: "The first path: I lead thousands upon thousands of troops and horses over there, trample everything flat, destroy their cult, destroy their sect, destroy their school, destroy their nine kindreds. This is the court's rule; such is the fate of traitorous ministers and rebels. " General of the Pillar of State He Xiaopeng listened carefully. The Imperial Preceptor continued, "The second path is the jianghu's rule. I bring the court's officials over, mark out a place, and everyone challenges according to the jianghu's rules.

If they have the ability, they kill us; or we kill them. Two paths—let them choose. " He Zhuguo hesitated: "Imperial Preceptor, following the jianghu's rules—I fear that may be somewhat improper? " The Imperial Preceptor smiled: "Before I entered court as an official, I too was a man of the jianghu. What is improper about it?

And were you not the same, General of the Pillar of State? In those years you too came into the court from the jianghu, did you not?

" He Zhuguo assented: "I will go to the Southern Wilderness at once! Only, Imperial Preceptor, do take care to heal. If they choose the jianghu's rules, I fear you may be wounded by their hidden arrows.

" The Imperial Preceptor waved a hand, and He Zhuguo departed. "Wei Zhuguo. " "At your command, Imperial Preceptor.

" "Mobilize the troops and horses, cross the river, spread out in a fan, from the Eastern Sea in the east to the Wasteland Ruins in the west, and push straight across.

Cross a lake, fill the lake; cross a river, fill the river; cross a city, destroy the city.

Push south for me.

" The Imperial Preceptor said without expression, "Let these rebels feel the pressure. " "Wei Wenju receives the Imperial Preceptor's command! " "Duke of Wei.

" "At your command, Imperial Preceptor.

" "The Duke's cultivation is formidable and he is skilled at leading troops.

You shall lead an army straight for Daxiang in the Southern Wilderness.

Grand General of the Champion, Grand General of Huaihua, you shall each command an army and set out from the Duke's two flanks, destroying the two cities to the left and right of Daxiang.

Supreme Pillar of State, you shall lead an army and strike toward Dayu. " Having finished deploying his troops and generals, the Imperial Preceptor heard the Duke of Wei say with a laugh, "Imperial Preceptor, we are all off to do the work—and you? " The Imperial Preceptor smiled: "I will follow behind you at a gradual pace, waiting for the rebels to make their decision. Besides, I have a wound upon me and need to recuperate.

" "Your wound still has not healed? " The Duke of Wei said in a loud voice, "Then you had better rest a while longer.

Isn't the little divine physician at your side? Let him treat you. My old woman ran off behind my back to the flower lanes of the capital.

I thought the wench was out seeking flowers and willows, that she liked women.

Turns out she went to find the little divine physician for treatment. Damn it, gave me quite a fright—and got me a bit aroused, too. I thought she was into that sort of thing. . . " The Imperial Preceptor coughed dryly twice, somewhat embarrassed: "The Duke should be deploying his troops and setting out. Daxiang is a vital military ground of the Southern Wilderness, a hard bone to crack.

" The Duke of Wei nodded, turned, and walked off, then looked back at Shen Mu: "Little divine physician, prescribe him some medicine to cure that stiff face of his. Not a shred of a smile can be squeezed out of that stinking face. Heh heh, don't look at me like that—I know you.

When my old woman went to you for treatment, I secretly followed. I was worried she was sleeping with women. Got me really aroused. . . " Shen Mu's expression stiffened, and he waved to him.

The Imperial Preceptor let out a turbid breath: "Pay him no mind.

The men of the Wei family are all like that—mouths big enough to swallow a few oxen. " Shen Mu did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Clearly the Imperial Preceptor had suffered the same, for the Duke of Wei had done no small amount of raving in his presence. "Imperial Preceptor, let us part here," Shen Mu said with a smile.

The Imperial Preceptor shook his head: "Part?

What for? You are still coming with me to the Southern Wilderness.

Without you at my side, how will you treat my wound? " Shen Mu said awkwardly, "Imperial Preceptor, don't jest. The state of your wound—you know it better than I. Besides, I came out to lead the scholars in their training.

Now I have lost several of them and must go find them, lest they die in the chaos.

" "You must come with me. " The Imperial Preceptor's face darkened slightly: "Those scholars of yours—I will help you find them.