Chapter 380 — The Inheritor

"He is the leader of the Dark Demon Cult, and I had long kept a careful guard against him. Though the Dark Demon Cult bears the word 'demon', it is the foremost sect of all—in name a school, but in truth a nation, a nation within my Jingping. In promoting him to high office I could never set my mind at ease. And now he has become the Human Sovereign of this age, which puts me even less at ease. " He sighed deeply. "The Dark Demon Cult's leader is so outstanding, so far above the common run; such a man is hard to control.

My sons and daughters could never contend with him. After my allotted years are spent—heh, heh—this Jingping will likely be his for the taking. So yes, I did stir for a moment toward killing him. " He stood there watching Shen Mu and the others go far off, and said with a calm face, "But now it is gone.

" Emperor Yanfeng lifted his head and looked at the sky, his tone growing calmer still. "Imperial Preceptor Jingping, though you and I are sovereign and subject, in truth we are brothers, heart bound to heart, and both of us so outstanding that the like is rarely seen in a generation.

Even with the two of us working in concert on reform and change, it has been so hard—like a small boat that may be capsized at any moment in wind and wave. I have been thinking: what if we fail? What if we die? Who will inherit our unfinished will? " He turned around, his manner fervent, and raised both hands to grip the Imperial Preceptor's shoulders hard, his eyes blazing. "I should not think of my own Ling clan—I should think of the nation of Jingping, of your cause and mine, of the reforms! So I cannot harbor a killing intent toward him!

Your cause and mine need an heir—an heir for after we fail! My sons and daughters lack the means, but he has them! Is that not so, my fellow Daoist? " When the Imperial Preceptor Jingping heard the words 'fellow Daoist', something seemed to stir in his heart, and he nodded gently. "He has that ability. " Everyone knew him as the driving force behind the reform, wholeheartedly devoted to change, wanting to be a sage who establishes words, establishes teachings, and establishes merit. But no one knew that he too had his moments of weakness, of bewilderment, of wanting to retreat.

The one who gave him the greatest support, who kept him walking on, was this closest friend of his. Emperor Yanfeng was his best friend, his most reliable comrade-in-arms!

Such a friendship, no one else could comprehend. A fellow Daoist. In a lifetime, to meet one such fellow Daoist was enough for this life. "I will stand at your side.

" The Imperial Preceptor Jingping looked into the distance, his heart utterly calm, and said, "Always at your side.

" Shen Mu and the others returned to the palace that was almost bathed in spiritual qi and spiritual power.

No sooner had they landed than they saw that several people were waiting for them within.

"Shen'er, come back to the Wasteland with us.

" The Blind Elder rose to his feet leaning on his cane, walked over to Shen Mu, seized his hand, and said decisively, "Butcher, Village Head, there is no need for more talk.

Back to the Wasteland—back to the Wasteland at once!

" Butcher rose abruptly, two blades thrust behind him, and said coldly, "Blind Elder, are you afraid?

" The Blind Elder sneered. "Afraid?

Half of me is already in the grave—what should I fear?

It is you who are afraid, I think. " Butcher was enraged, like a mad lion. "When have I ever feared anyone?

" "That year, when you alone survived, were you not afraid?

" the Blind Elder mocked. "You lay in the mud and crawled all the way here on your two arms!

I am blind, but I am not unable to see—I know the terror in your heart!

" "Damned Blind Elder, you were no better off than I that year!

" Butcher drew his blades, and the Blind Elder let go of Shen Mu's hand and gripped his bamboo staff. The two bristled with killing intent. Shen Mu hurriedly slipped between them lest they truly come to blows.

The Village Head, lying in a rocking chair, said with a headache, "Enough, stop quarreling!

The two of you have always been the closest of friends; do you think it worth falling out over this?

Old Butcher, the Blind Elder sees most truly; if he wants Shen'er to go back to the village, it is for Shen'er's good. Silent Craftsman, you have always spoken little, but your words carry weight—what do you say? " The Mountain Hermit waved, signaling Wang Muran and the others to come over. The three of them hurried to his side and asked in low voices, "Martial Uncle, what is going on? " "Emperor Yanfeng blasted Lord Yu of the Heavens Above to death," the Mountain Hermit said softly. Mu Qingdai said doubtfully, "We know of this.

But why have these grandfathers started quarreling? " The Mountain Hermit sighed.

"If Lord Yu of the Heavens Above had died at the hands of our Little Yujing, or at the hands of the Old Human Sovereign, it would be nothing—at most a grievance between us and the Heavens Above.

But to die at the hands of Emperor Yanfeng makes it a calamity for the nation of Jingping. The Blind Elder wants the Human Sovereign to return to the Wasteland—a gentleman does not stand beneath a tottering wall—while Heaven's Blade wants to stay in Jingping, and calls him a coward.

They have been quarreling over this for some time. " In the great hall, the Silent Craftsman sat on a wooden chest, took out a water pipe, lit it, drew a mouthful, blew out a cloud of white smoke, and, squinting, said, "Ah. Ah, ah. " "The Silent Craftsman speaks reason. " The Village Head nodded. "Sons and grandsons have their own blessings.

We are all old things that will not die, and there is no need for such worry. How many years can we live? Can we protect Shen'er for a lifetime?

" The Blind Elder, neck stiff, said, "I want him back in the village.

Find him a woman, let him father children, and live an honest life! The things you could not do—by what right do you make him do them? Your limbs were hewn off; that big simpleton lost everything below the waist!

If Shen'er does what you did, he will lose everything below the neck! Shen'er, we are going home! "