Chapter 320 — A Family Matter

" Shen Mu meant to look for another road, but the only safe passage through the basin nearby was this one; to go around, they would have to cross a great marsh. He looked toward the marsh, and suddenly the waters churned: a colossal crocodile rose upright, standing upon the surface, smoke jetting from its nostrils as it picked at its nails, sharp as knives.

This beast lord was not to be trifled with; to go around by that way would be to seek death.

On the other side lay the ruins of a city, with towering temples beyond counting, where many cranes with vermilion crowns and black necks flew to and fro, dancing gracefully, and all looked serene. But within the city a pair of great cranes, one male and one female, were refining swords; a single beat of their wings filled the sky with countless sword-lights, ringing as they arrayed themselves into a circle — and from the speed with which those sword-lights moved, Shen Mu judged these two crane chieftains more dangerous still than the giant crocodile lord.

"There is only this one road!

" Shen Mu let out a foul breath and said in a low voice, "The family affairs of the True Heaven Palace of the Western Land are none of our concern; I am not a man who loves fighting and killing or poking his nose into others' business. We will slip past in a moment. .

. " The basin was noisy and bustling. Four rhinos came over, clad in heavy bone armor, white all over without a trace of another color, their small eyes warily eyeing Shen Mu, the Dragon Qilin behind him, and the white bats that flew about and kept hanging upside down from the trees.

One of the females spoke in human tongue: "That big dog's grown as fat as a pig, and it can still walk. " The rhino chieftain at their head went ashen, hastily rolled on the ground, and transformed into a small giant with a rhino's head and a man's body, all knots of muscle beneath his bone armor; he clasped his two forehooves in salute and said to Shen Mu, "Fellow cultivator, my old woman loves to wag her tongue; take no offense!

" Shen Mu laughed. "No offense taken.

Dragon Fatty has indeed put on a bit of weight.

" The rhino chieftain breathed a sigh of relief and hurried off with the three females, grumbling, "Couldn't you see? These creatures are all vicious characters, every one of them a fiend; especially that human and those two white bats — heaven knows how many wronged ghosts cling to them.

" Shen Mu was surprised. The Dragon Qilin said, "They say white rhinos are spirit-sensitive and can see the netherworld and wronged ghosts — impressive indeed.

But they still misjudged: I am no big dog, and I am not fat, I am sturdy.

. .

" Suddenly from ahead came the sound of divine abilities clashing with primal weapons, fierce and explosive. Shen Mu called the two white bats back and crept forward cautiously. They had not gone far when a battlefield appeared before them: the mighty ones of the True Heaven Palace were besieging the treasure carriage, every one of them wounded.

Seeing them arrive, the divine-ability wielders of the True Heaven Palace abruptly stopped, ceasing their attack, and all turned their heads to look at them, motionless.

"Fellow cultivator. " A youth stepped out from among them and saluted Shen Mu: "A family matter.

" Shen Mu returned the salute. "I am only passing through. " The youth smiled and waved a hand.

"Make way.

Let them pass. " Shen Mu nodded smilingly to either side and went past with the Dragon Qilin and the two bat brothers. Ahead of them the treasure carriage was already broken, its wheels and canopy smashed; of the two plum-blossom deer, one had taken human form and sat slumped beside the wreck, while the other, surely the doe, had reverted to her true shape and lay there covered in wounds.

And the mother and daughter they had been protecting had also come out of the carriage: the young woman was drenched in blood, panting for breath, shielding the child behind her.

"Righteous one. . .

" The man who was the stag suddenly reached out and caught the hem of Shen Mu's robe, raising his head with difficulty, his breath a thread: "Righteous one, I beg you. . .

" Shen Mu lifted his hem, broke free of his hand, and walked on. Passing the doe, he paused slightly: the doe with the little red flower in her hair was already dead, no breath left in her.

Shen Mu drew back his gaze and walked on, when suddenly the woman called "Naikui" seized his hand, looking at him with desperate hope, her voice hoarse: "Take my child away. Only let her live.

. .

" Shen Mu's steps halted.

Behind him the youth of the True Heaven Palace raised his voice: "Fellow cultivator, this is the family affair of my True Heaven Palace!

" Shen Mu broke free of her hand and walked on, nodding smilingly to the divine-ability wielders of the True Heaven Palace on either side, leading the Dragon Qilin and the two white bats across the battlefield.

The Dragon Qilin caught up in a few strides, turned his head to look at Shen Mu's face, and said hesitantly, "Cult Master.

. . " Shen Mu's face was expressionless. "Another's family affair — not mine to meddle in.

. .

" The Dragon Qilin said, "Better not to meddle.

The Patriarch said you were always stirring up trouble; it seems you have truly grown up. " Shen Mu was startled.

"Grown up?

Is this what growing up is? " "To know gain and loss, to choose and let go — that is surely growing up.

Very rational. " The Dragon Qilin said, "Before, you were very irrational, beating this one and that, never fearing to offend anyone; for those few months the Patriarch cleaned up a lot of messes for you. " Shen Mu fell silent.

Behind them came the cries of battle. "This is growing up.

. .

I do not want to grow up like this.

.

.

" Shen Mu gave a sneering laugh and walked on.

From the Taotie pouch small swords flew out one by one, soundless, planting themselves all around; more and more flying swords fell, forming a sword formation.

He walked on, and the eight thousand swords spread forward with him, sword-strides over mountains and rivers — and these swords too planted themselves into the shapes of mountains and rivers. Ding — the last sword-light touched the ground.

Shen Mu halted, pressed down with his hand, and the eight thousand swords sank into the earth as one.

Then he suddenly raised his robe to cover himself, and his figure vanished!

"I will not grow into such an adult! "