Chapter 228 — The Wish to Return Home

The Root Demon came on, and countless roots pierced into that pool too; the strange fish in the pool hastily leapt from the water and followed behind Qiu Yue and the rest, running as fast as if it flew, and soon it had outrun them all and was away ahead, leaving them staring. They ran on for ten li or more, and saw a row of trees pull themselves up root and all, put out their legs, and go rushing off with a whistling cry, fleeing the Root Demon that came killing behind them. "Demon King, the Barren Ruins are a dangerous place.

If there is no need, whatever you do, do not fly in the sky.

" Away in the distance Shen Mu sat on the dragon qilin's back, looking quite at ease, and laughed.

"Our Barren Ruins have their own peculiar rules. If you want to fly in the sky, you may — fly low, and don't make a show of yourself.

If you think your strength is great enough, you may fly higher, but if the beast lords take offense, they will knock you down and eat you.

" The Dutian Demon King sneered. "The weak are meat and the strong do eat — isn't that all it comes to? I know that rule.

My Dutian was the same. " "And one more thing: when it is dark, do not go out. " Shen Mu's face was grave.

"Unless you have the power of gods and demons, whatever you do, do not walk into the darkness; otherwise there is nothing but death. " The Dutian Demon King chuckled.

"What is there to fear in darkness?

My Dutian has been broken down to utter darkness; only a few places still have light, still can support life. In the darkness I am more at home than a fish in water. When night comes, I will stroll about and show you. " Xue Hu'er rolled her eyes mightily; in the little fox's eyes, the Dutian Demon King was already a dead man.

Shen Mu went on: "My Barren Ruins have no king's law, so no matter whom you meet, you must be courteous. Without courtesy, if you happen to offend someone, you may very easily be killed.

The more lawless a place, the more one must mind the proprieties.

And there are dreadful gods and demons in the Barren Ruins — some sealed, some pinned down, and some living very comfortably indeed. Do not go wandering about for no reason.

" The Dutian Demon King was startled. "This world still has gods and demons? " "Plenty.

I have met a few myself.

" Shen Mu said, "Once you have mastered the rules of the Barren Ruins, you will find it far more peaceable than Jingping Nation. If you don't believe me, ask Ling'er. " The Dutian Demon King looked at Xue Hu'er, and Xue Hu'er nodded and nodded, full of fellow feeling. "Jingping is far more dangerous than the Barren Ruins. The Young Master's coming out this time was to go to Jingping Nation for tempering.

In the Barren Ruins we do not even count that as tempering — you may judge from that how dangerous Jingping Nation is.

" Suddenly from behind them came a tremendous crash, as of mountains falling and the earth splitting.

Shen Mu turned to look, and saw numberless tentacles whirling through the sky, and a huge, dark, mountain-shaped bulk pressing toward them. Hanging from those tentacles were woman after woman, naked as the day they were born, and they were laughing horribly.

"That demon of Withered Silence Ridge — how has someone let it out? Who is such a fool? " Shen Mu shuddered.

The women hanging on the Withered Silence Ridge Root Demon had already seen him and were straining toward him; and numberless strange beasts were charging this way as well. "This demon is courting death, crashing about the Barren Ruins like that.

It will very easily be dead and gone.

" Shen Mu shook his head.

"Even a village headman would not dare to be so unbridled. " Even as he spoke, the earth suddenly shook violently, and a huge hand covered in golden fur thrust up out of the ground, flames burning all around it, and pressed down with all its force upon the Withered Silence Ridge Root Demon.

The Root Demon went flying like a black ball, and where it landed, no one knew.

The strange beasts that had been fleeing for their lives stopped one and all, turned to look, and then went back the way they had come, each returning to its own territory.

The Dutian Demon King stared, and for a long while could not speak. Shen Mu comforted him: "It is nothing, nothing.

The Barren Ruins are like this.

In some ancient ruins there are often gods and monsters hidden away; burn incense when you enter a temple, bow to the gods when you enter a shrine, and there will be no great trouble. That demon must have stumbled against some relic or other and offended the god or monster within.

" The Dutian Demon King's body went stiff; after a while he breathed out a mouthful of foul air and said, "Your place here is too dangerous.

I want to go back to Dutian. . . " This Demon King suddenly flew into a passion, his four faces and four mouths spraying out a few broken parts as he cried: "You rotten world — how is this the mortal realm?

There are monsters and goblins everywhere! I renounce my invasion, all right?

Let me go, I want to go home! " Xue Hu'er urged, "Our Barren Ruins really are peaceable, far more peaceable than Jingping Nation. Stay with the Young Master, and I promise you will come to no harm.

"