Chapter 207 — Cunning as a Ghost

The Demon King said: "True Youdu arts use the Youdu script. That script is far more complex than the runes of your world. Your runes are merely simplified Youdu script."

Shen Mu's heart shook. He looked at the phantom scroll in his hand—were the characters in this book written in the Youdu language?

The Soul-Pulling Charm could bring the dead back. If one could master the Youdu language and use it to cast spells, to what heights might their power reach?

There was one more thing: the Demon King had said that Youdu characters must be read aloud, and that one must master the language to wield it. This statement was no lie either.

That day on the Yong River, the Daoist of the Nine Nether Sect who used the Soul-Pulling Charm to summon souls had chanted an obscure verse, causing black mist to surge forth and a terrifying dark gate to surface in the middle of the river.

Many of the Demon King's words were false, but some were true.

"Demon King, one night I saw an old man by the river guiding the dead across. Someone told me that old man was a Yin Courier. What is the connection between such couriers and Youdu?" Shen Mu asked, recalling something.

The Demon King said: "Merely a messenger god under Tubo's command, responsible for maintaining order. Do you want to learn the Youdu language or not?"

"I do!"

Shen Mu blinked: "Teach me quickly!"

The Demon King chuckled: "You summon the demons—summon a few of my subjects—and then I will teach you."

Shen Mu hesitated: "After I summon them, if you do not keep your promise, will I not be the loser? How about this: I will build a wooden puppet mechanism, and you dwell within that puppet; then you can summon the demons yourself and bring them over. You first pass the Youdu language on to me, and you summon the demons yourself—would that not please everyone?"

The Demon King sneered: "A fine idea. But the moment I come out of your body, you can call someone to kill me. Am I that stupid? I will stay inside your body, and you will preside over the great demon-summoning rite! After you summon the demons, I will pass on the Youdu language to you!"

Shen Mu sneered: "After I summon your subjects, what if you do not teach me? Your subjects will kill me in an instant, and you will be free—while I will be dead and my soul returned to Youdu! Do not forget, last time I summoned you with demon-summoning, you paid no heed to whether I lived or died!"

Silence fell.

After a moment, the Demon King smiled: "Little fellow, cunning as a ghost—not easy to fool. How about this: I will swear a pact with you. You summon the demons and bring my subjects over, and I will teach you the Youdu language. If either breaks the oath, Tubo himself will descend and seize the soul of the oath-breaker! What say you?"

Shen Mu calculated for a moment and said: "Agreed! But do not think you can fool me—I understand some of the demon tongue as well. Do not think of playing tricks in the wording of the oath!"

The Demon King smiled: "Filthy little wretch, sharp as a ghost. Fine, I will be generous this once and not play tricks."

An exceedingly obscure demon tongue sounded in Shen Mu's mind. It was awkward and difficult to understand, and even Shen Mu could comprehend only half of it. The youth's heart pounded: "Steady, steady—do not let this Demon King see that I am only half a bucket..."

Soon after, the Demon King finished reciting the oath. In Shen Mu's mind, the shape of half a doorway slowly emerged, as if it were half of a Gate of Youdu.

"Your turn," the Demon King said.

Shen Mu steadied himself and carefully pondered the meaning of the other half of the demon tongue he had not understood. The Demon King grew somewhat impatient and urged him: "Hurry, or the Gate of Youdu will disperse!"

Shen Mu sneered: "You are tricking me. I will not swear this oath."

The Demon King smiled: "Little brat, so you do understand some of the demon tongue after all."

The half Gate of Youdu dispersed, and the demon tongue sounded again. This time Shen Mu understood most of it, though some words he could not be certain of and continued to ponder.

The Demon King smiled: "Enough, enough—I grant you have some skill." With that, he dispersed the half Gate of Youdu again and once more established the oath in the demon tongue.

Shen Mu suddenly smiled: "Demon King, you are always playing tricks. Why not establish the oath in the human tongue instead?"

The Demon King was silent for a moment, then cursed: "Cunning as a ghost! You little wretch—you only half understand the demon tongue and are using this chance to secretly learn my demon language, are you not?"