Chapter 208 — Tubo's Nine Oaths

Snow Fox said listlessly: "The Imperial Preceptor Jingping still owes us a thousand Dafeng coins. It is time he paid up..."

Shen Mu shook his head, went to the storehouse to buy some materials, and carried them into the courtyard.

Carving the divine images was no difficulty for him either. In half a day, under the Demon King's guidance, Shen Mu carved five different wooden statues, all of them images of demon gods.

"These five fellows are all unruly sorts who will not submit to my discipline. Summon them and destroy them, and you will have done me a favor." The Demon King of Dutian laughed.

After finishing the wooden statues, Shen Mu cooked a meal and called Snow Fox in from the doorway to eat. Snow Fox's eyes were vacant, and halfway through the meal she said dazedly: "Young Master, the Imperial Preceptor Jingping still owes a thousand coins."

Shen Mu took from the Taotie Pouch a smelting furnace he had looted from Loulan's Golden Palace, and worked the dark iron and cold crystal, forging the components the divine-image mechanism required. He worked late into the night, until the scholars all around, kept awake by the noise, complained to the Imperial Academy. Several officials of the Academy came in person and made courteous inquiries.

Shen Mu had no choice but to stop and go to bed.

The next day, Shen Mu pushed open his door and washed up. He kept feeling that something was missing, and after a moment's thought recalled what had been absent from his bedclothes the night before.

"It seems Ling'er did not crawl into my blankets to sleep last night..."

Shen Mu pushed open the courtyard gate and saw Snow Fox standing atop the head of the dragon-qilin by the gate, gazing toward the entrance of the Scholars' Lodge. Her eyes were red and rimmed, clearly from a sleepless night.

"Young Master, the Imperial Preceptor Jingping still owes a thousand Dafeng coins." Snow Fox said, somewhat distraught.

Shen Mu did not know whether to laugh or cry. He picked her up, tucked her into the blankets, and went on forging the divine-image mechanism.

On the third day, Snow Fox still kept watch at the gate, and only at nightfall did she return listlessly and eat her dinner without spirit. The little fox sat there in a daze for a long while, then suddenly said vacantly: "The Imperial Preceptor Jingping still owes us a thousand Dafeng coins."

On the fourth day, Snow Fox said nothing more, nor did she go to wait at the gate. She looked thoroughly unhappy.

Shen Mu asked after her with concern, and Snow Fox said: "Perhaps the Imperial Preceptor Jingping truly will not pay the money back after all."

Shen Mu finally finished the divine-image mechanism: a statue of a demon god with four heads, eight arms, and two feet, its body jointed at every part so that it could move freely, its surface branded with all manner of totemic patterns. Yet he did not let the Demon King of Dutian crawl inside just yet.

Just then, a knock came at the door. Shen Mu glanced at Snow Fox and saw that the little fox was still staring blankly, not going to answer. He shook his head and went to open the door himself.

Before the door stood an old man. His clothes were worn but clean. He smiled: "Are you the young master Shen Mu? This old servant is the steward of the Imperial Preceptor Jingping's household. My surname is Fu. I have come at the Imperial Preceptor's command to repay the money."

Shen Mu said in surprise: "Old Fu, has the emperor's reward come through?"

Old Fu said: "Yes, it has come. The emperor has rewarded the Imperial Preceptor Jingping with a hundred palace maids and a million coins, and the Imperial Preceptor accepted them. Those hundred palace maids will be a headache for the Imperial Preceptor; he cannot afford to keep them at all. Fortunately there is still some money, though after he repays his creditors I expect only half will remain... Young Master Shen, this is a thousand coins..."

Shen Mu was just about to turn and call Snow Fox over when he saw a streak of white light fly past his eyes. Snow Fox rushed over like the wind, snatched the money pouch from Old Fu's hand, and said with a sweet smile: "The Imperial Preceptor Jingping is a man of credit after all. Thank you for your trouble, Old Fu."

Old Fu was startled, but said no more, only: "Young Master Shen, with your vast wealth, you must be on your guard. Thieves have been running wild in the capital of late, and many nobles and officials have suffered. What misery! Imperial Physician You wept so hard he could not rise from his bed for days. Several other high officials' households were also robbed, and having lost too many treasures to make an outcry, only their servants dare whisper of it..."

Even as he spoke, two old men came walking over from the Scholars' Lodge, brightly dressed, adorned in gold and silver, exceedingly opulent, and came to Shen Mu's door. One of them was the Lame Old Man; the other looked like a lay Buddhist of middle years. Both had the air of men of great wealth.