Chapter 355 — Young Fox Demon

" Shen Mu carried the rocking chair down from the Dragon Qilin's back; the Village Head did not rise from it, but eyed Ling Yuxiu with a smile. "These are the elder immortals of Little Jade Capital — Immortal Qingyou, Immortal Youyun, and Immortal Youhe. " Shen Mu introduced the three elders of Little Jade Capital, then said, "These three are my senior disciples from Little Jade Capital: Wang Muran, Long Yu, Mu Qingdai. And this mother and daughter are the mistress of the True Heaven Palace of the Western Lands, Palace Master Xiong Xiyu, and the little princess Xiong Qi'er. " Ling Yuxiu greeted each in turn, and the others hurriedly returned the courtesy.

Shen Mu said, "My place is not big enough to house so many.

Little sister, do you have spare rooms? " Ling Yuxiu laughed.

"The girls can stay at my place.

I live right next door. " Shen Mu thanked her: "Little sister, while I was away, thank you for keeping my house in order. " Ling Yuxiu shook her head. "It was not me — it was your little fox.

" "So Ling'er really has come?

" Shen Mu was surprised and delighted; he missed the little snow fox dearly. "She ran off to attend a lecture just now; her class has not let out yet.

" Ling Yuxiu smiled with studied reserve.

"That little girl is quite the go-getter. While you were away, she was the one trotting off to lectures every day, and the folk of the Directorate who stayed behind all dote on her.

" In front of the Village Head, she still did not dare laugh too freely.

"Little girl?

" Shen Mu was taken aback, but did not think much of it.

He arranged lodgings for Immortal Qingyou and the rest. His courtyard was not small and had many rooms, so each had a house to themselves; as for Xiong Xiyu and her daughter and Mu Qingdai, they stayed next door in Ling Yuxiu's rooms. Once Shen Mu had settled everyone, Ling Yuxiu said in a low voice, "A few days ago a group of Daoists came to the Academy, saying plainly that they had come looking for you. Grand Libationer Pei Wujiu has been entertaining them — he has been pale-faced for days, never once looking well.

" Shen Mu laughed.

"So the Daoist sect's masters of the arcane arts have arrived. " "My father the Emperor also issued a decree promoting you to Superintendent of Divine Armaments, to oversee the forging of some divine cannon or other. Your little fox has the decree. " Ling Yuxiu went on, "Father says he will assign the Academy's and the court's masters of the arcane arts, along with the five great armament foundries, to await your command.

And the Jade Heaven King and the Master Heaven King of our Holy Cult — they did not find you in the Nether Valley and are nearly frantic searching. " Shen Mu's head ached; since returning to the capital there was much to handle, and hardly a moment of peace. "Oh, and there is one called Xu Shenghua. A couple of days ago he came looking for you with two girls, saying he was waiting for you to treat him to wine.

" Ling Yuxiu thought a moment, then added, "The Imperial Teacher of Jingping's wife has given birth.

She sent an invitation, saying she wants Sect Master Shen to be the child's godfather. " "The Imperial Teacher has a child?

" Shen Mu said in surprise. "A boy or a girl? " "A boy. " Shen Mu laughed.

"Make me a godfather? Really, the Imperial Teacher's wife — I am still a child myself.

How can I be anyone's godfather? " The Village Head glanced at Ling Yuxiu, coughed once, and said, "Shen'er, you are not so young anymore.

You could be having children of your own. " Shen Mu's face went red at once, and he stammered, "To jump straight to having children — I am not ready.

.

.

Village Head, I am only fifteen this year! " Ling Yuxiu said with a grin, "Fifteen is not young.

My mother the Empress and the Empress Dowager are always urging me to choose a prince consort. And my father is very easy to persuade — one need only mention it to him, and he will agree.

. .

" She was quite bold; she blinked and looked at Shen Mu, hoping he would respond. "The Emperor is so casual about it? " Shen Mu shook his head.

"That is not right of them.

How can matters of marriage be treated so lightly?

" Ling Yuxiu glared at him; Shen Mu was baffled.

He rose and went to the Academy Hall. When Pei Wujiu saw him come, he was at last relieved. "Sect Master, take these ox-noses out of my house, and I will be endlessly grateful!

" The Daoist sect's many priests were all lodged with him, and these days they had left him unable to sit or lie at ease. The Daoist sect was the leader of the righteous path, while he was a grand master of the demonic path; he feared at every moment that these ox-noses might slay demons and defend the Dao.

Shen Mu was in no hurry to meet the Daoist masters. He sat down and said with a smile, "What of the Grand Libationer's attainments in the arcane arts?

" Pei Wujiu laughed. "I am, after all, a titan of the demonic path.

How could my attainments in the arcane arts be poor? " "Good!

With Magistrate Gu and the Daoist masters, I can breathe easy again.

" Pei Wujiu's face turned ashen.

"I still have to be with those Daoists? " Shen Mu consoled him: "The Emperor has ordered me to oversee the forging of the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon — a great gun meant for the gods. The Daoist folk are not without sense; they will not turn on you.

" Pei Wujiu remained restless, feeling that working alongside those old ox-noses was hardly safe — his reputation, after all, stank to high heaven. Shen Mu went to see Daoist Master Lin Xuan, exchanged pleasantries, and said, "Once I have everything arranged, I will have to trouble you all.

Wait for word from me. " "As you say.

" Shen Mu left.

As he passed the Array Prime Hall, it happened that classes were letting out; a dozen or so scholars came out, among them a little girl of seven or eight, lovely as ice and snow, skipping along, while behind her a demon wind carried several books, neatly stacked, not a single one out of place. The little girl was short, yet from behind her rose three long, furry, snow-white tails, swishing this way and that. "Is that Ling'er? But I thought Ling'er could not read. .

. " Shen Mu stopped in his tracks.