Chapter 194 — No Common Ground

That being so, one ought not to fish at all, but to administer a strong medicine and rid the water of the leeches! " The old man said no more. Imperial Teacher Jingping said no more either. When words do not meet, half a sentence is too many.

They had already exchanged several, and each felt he could not convince the other; to argue on would only be a waste of breath. Since their principles differed and neither could persuade the other, then it was better simply to kill the other and extinguish his principles — cleaner and more satisfying. The old man rose, reeled in rod and line, and planted the rod upright beside a great tree. He took off his bamboo hat, shed his straw cape, waved a hand to signal the brat at his side to withdraw, and said: "Go to the other side of the mountain.

" Imperial Teacher Jingping said to Shen Mu and the others, "Cross the mountain and wait for me.

Elder — you have passed on all your skills, I trust?

" The old man nodded: "All passed on. And you, Imperial Teacher Jingping?

" Imperial Teacher Jingping said calmly: "I have no need. In my early years I had a fiery temper and killed too many; many sects were wiped out, and their unique arts were lost with them.

After I established the Heavenly Register Tower I often regretted it. So ever since, when I kill, I have made a habit of asking first.

" Shen Mu was minded to stay and watch this battle, the like of which was rarely seen; but a clash between existences of Imperial Teacher Jingping's level would surely send out shockwaves fiercer than even the Demon King Dutian's, and to watch from so close would mean nothing but death.

"We cross the mountain!

" Shen Mu said in a low voice. He led the others over the high mountain, and looking down, the two men beneath the waterfall were already hidden by the mist, indistinct. The brat who had thrown the stones rode his great stag not far from them, blinked, and said, "You're from the Imperial Academy?

" Shen Wanyun nodded: "How should we address you, brother? " "Muran — Wang Muran! " He was about Shen Mu's age, but unlike Shen Mu's composed bearing, this Wang Muran was extremely restless, unable to sit still; the moment things grew the least bit quiet he felt bored.

Even astride his great stag he was fidgety, and smacking the stag's rump he came trotting over.

Shen Mu asked, "Which sect does Brother Wang hail from?

" "Little Jade Capital. " "Little Jade Capital?

" Shen Wanyun, Yunque and the rest were somewhat at a loss — they had never heard of this sect.

The Jingping Kingdom had three great holy lands; though there were still sects of enormous scale that were not inferior to the three holy lands, Little Jade Capital was not among them.

Shen Mu was startled inwardly. The two words 'Jade Capital' were not for just anyone to use: Jade Capital meant the capital city where the Heavenly Emperor resided, and this Heavenly Emperor was not a god but an immortal — the Heavenly Emperor of the immortals. What sect was so audacious as to take the name Little Jade Capital?

"We live in the Little Jade Capital holy land.

There are very few people there — a pack of old men and old women, and hardly anyone my age.

" Wang Muran said: "This time someone came calling, found my master, and asked him to come and have a meeting with Imperial Teacher Jingping, saying that Imperial Teacher Jingping practices the demonic way and means to destroy every sect under heaven.

My master was none too willing at first, but he could not refuse the favor, and so he brought me out for a trip, to look around. The sects of the world have been all but wiped out by Imperial Teacher Jingping; his conduct truly is no different from the demonic way. " Xue Hu'er said doubtfully, "Are we not the righteous side?

I think Imperial Teacher Jingping walks a very upright path! " Wang Muran shook his head: "You are all court hawks and hounds, Imperial Teacher Jingping's claws and fangs, and your reputation stinks to heaven.

" Shen Mu was perplexed.

He thought Imperial Teacher Jingping's conduct was acceptable, was the righteous way; and moreover Imperial Teacher Jingping had about him a bearing of stern righteousness. Everything he did, in Shen Mu's eyes, was entirely normal, entirely the righteous way.

How was it that in others' eyes it had become the demonic way? And how was it that they, the scholars of the Imperial Academy, had become the court's hawks and hounds, Imperial Teacher Jingping's claws and fangs, of infamous reputation? "Right and wrong, perhaps, are only a matter of the angle from which one looks," Shen Mu thought. Xue Hu'er said, "Muran, if your master dies, what will you do? " Wang Muran was full of confidence, shaking his head: "No one can kill my master.

His old man's skills—" Just then Imperial Teacher Jingping came over and said to Wang Muran, "Go and collect his body.

Before he died he said he had passed all his skills to you — very good.

Practice well. " Wang Muran was stunned. Then he leaped down from the stag and ran at a swift pace toward the waterfall.

A moment later his wailing cry came floating back.

"Little Jade Capital is no small matter.

I have heard of this sect — it has certain connections with the heavens.

" Imperial Teacher Jingping looked at Shen Mu and said, "Ahead lies Licheng.

I am injured; you must gather herbs for me and refine elixirs to heal my wounds.

" Shen Mu nodded: "Imperial Teacher Jingping's injury will be very hard to treat. The prescription I write is bound to be very complicated.

"