Chapter 275 — Sorcery Claims a Life

. He has most likely heard of this by now, and he must have a worse headache than I do. You are the Sect Master of the Dark Demon Cult, and a man of merit besides; that throne of his was won for him by you. He can neither beat you nor scold you.

.

. And there is more! " His face turned grave. He said in a low voice, "If Ban Gongcuo is that old monster, then tonight you had best be careful. That old monster, knowing a name, can work sorcery to kill!

After you have seen the Crown Prince, tonight I will come to your room! " Shen Mu nodded. A being who could make even Zaifu conceal his true name was indeed not to be taken lightly.

As Libationer Bashan had guessed, that afternoon Crown Prince Ling Yushu sought out Shen Mu.

What differed from Bashan's guess was that Ling Yushu did not summon Shen Mu, but came himself to the Imperial College, in person, to see him. "Your Highness comes in person; this humble servant is overwhelmed with trepidation," Shen Mu said, making his salute. Ling Yushu glanced at him and sighed: "I see no sign of trepidation in you — you look perfectly calm.

Sect Master Shen, this business today gives me a headache, a very great headache.

I have thought all noon and still cannot find a way to explain it away. You have always had ideas; teach me how to explain it. " Shen Mu laughed: "Simple. Your Highness writes a letter to Khan Luan, saying that the two Qiankang envoys of Mandi refused instruction, their wild nature untamable, and dared raise a hand to kill in a holy place like the Imperial College, intending to murder the Court Counselor.

This Court Counselor is none other than Sect Master Shen of the foremost holy ground of the demonic path of Jingping, and Sect Master Shen, in his wrath, has already killed the two envoys. Then Your Highness says that Sect Master Shen's fury is hard to appease, and Khan Luan must send apologies — otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable! " Ling Yushu was dumbstruck. After a moment, he let out a breath of foul air and sighed, "Very well, it shall be written so. If Khan Luan flies into a rage and brings his army to invade, you shall take the vanguard for me, and go charging forward with your head in your hands. " Shen Mu's face went black. Ling Yushu laughed: "So the Sect Master of the Dark Demon Cult has a day of fear too?

Enough, let us not speak of it.

Sect Master, I think there is little point in your staying on at the Imperial College forever. There are three to five hundred foreign envoys in the college; if one day the whim takes you and you kill a few more, am I, the Crown Prince regent, to keep governing or not? Writing letters to other nations' emperors every day to wipe your backside would take me half a day.

" Shen Mu said sullenly, "I do not kill often.

Was there not cause this time? " Ling Yushu laughed: "You are a man of divine power now, and your skills are high. My imperial father once appointed you Court Counselor, but only a nominal post, a name hung on you, without real authority. Better this: I will give you a real office. My imperial father and the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping have awakened; in a few days I shall no longer need to direct the government, and I will surely go out to relieve the disaster victims. You come with me.

This journey I must also bring along certain officials of the Ministry of Works, and certain scholars of the Imperial College.

" He truly did not trust Shen Mu. To leave him here, he reckoned, would breed some new mischief; better to keep him at his side. Shen Mu thought it over. Staying in the Imperial College, he had indeed nothing to do; no fighting allowed, no killing allowed, too many restrictions. Better to go out wandering with the Crown Prince. Ling Yushu walked on beside him, and suddenly said, "I hear my sister slept in your rooms last night? " Shen Mu gave a start and said sternly, "Your Highness, there is absolutely no such thing — do not listen to the slander of petty men and ruin the fair name of myself and the princess!

" Ling Yushu's gaze rested on his face. Seeing that his expression showed no falsehood, he set his mind at ease and let out a breath: "I believe you.

Well then, this affair of killing the Qiankang envoys, I will settle for you; I will write to Khan Luan with a brazen face. You make your preparations too; in a few days you will leave the capital with me.

" Shen Mu watched him go far off.

Libationer Bashan came over, and said with an air of mystery, "I overheard the Crown Prince just now saying that Sixth Princess Ling Yuxiu slept in your rooms last night? Come to think of it, this morning I did indeed see the Sixth Princess going down the mountain with two maidservants carrying lanterns.

You two are not. . . " Shen Mu's head ached.

He said flatly, "Absolutely no such thing! Senior brother, it is because your mouth is too big that Grandpa Tu runs the moment he sees you, and dares not meet disciple to master. Rein yourself in — do not believe every wind that blows. " Libationer Bashan mumbled, "I was merely curious, that is all.

Rest assured my mouth is the tightest; I am not like that broken-down Duke of Wei who shouts everything at the top of his lungs. . .

If Ban Gongcuo is the old monster, then tonight you are in danger. Tonight we two share a room, so we may look after each other. When you sleep, be sharp; do not sleep too deeply. " That night. Libationer Bashan snored like thunder.

He slept on the floor; Shen Mu slept in the bed, and the snoring rattled the bed till it hummed.

Shen Mu's body was shaken numb, and he did not sleep a wink all night. That night there was nothing unusual — until the fourth watch, when suddenly a baleful wind blew in and threw open both window lattices.