Chapter 402 — Spirited Away

Shen Mu closed his eyes. After a moment, Xue Hu'er's and Yan Jingjing's vision gradually returned.

"Inside the Xi Spring, I saw Ziqing's Sacred Pupil."

Shen Mu did not dare open his eyes. "And then many things appeared in my eyes, as though her eyes had branded something onto them."

Yan Jingjing asked in a panic, "Can you see now?"

"Yes."

Yan Jingjing's eyes, tended by Shen Mu, had recovered almost fully; she could see, though her body was still somewhat thin and frail. She at once swam to his side, pressed both hands on his shoulders, and said softly, "Our Muri clan also has an eye-cultivation art, called the Pleiades Star Ring. Wait until I activate the Pleiades Star Ring, then open your eyes, and I will take a look for you."

Shen Mu waited a moment, and Yan Jingjing said, "Ready."

Shen Mu opened his eyes, and the divine radiance burst forth once more, flooding the surroundings in blinding white. He saw the frail girl leaning in close before him, earnestly studying his pupils; her own eyes seemed veiled by ring upon ring of stars, the star rings rotating ceaselessly, resisting the might of his Sacred Pupil. Yan Jingjing examined him most carefully, leaning in until she was almost touching him, distinguishing one vein of pattern after another.

Shen Mu did not dare breathe, for fear his breath would brush her face.

"It is a rune mark, woven into a formation."

Yan Jingjing's breath was sweet as orchids. As she examined him, she mused, "The outer patterns resemble our Muri clan's Pleiades Star Ring, but there are more patterns within. Two layers, three layers, four layers..."

She peered deep into Shen Mu's pupils and saw layer upon layer of space within. These rune marks formed a strange formation, like tier upon tier of solar rings stretching endlessly backward. How many layers there were, she could not tell.

"Within your pupils, at the very center of the layered Pleiades Star Rings, there seems to be a sun — though it may also be formed of star rings..."

When her examination was done, she said, "I will teach you the Pleiades Star Ring, this pupil-art divine power. Try and see whether you can control the mark in your eyes."

Shen Mu nodded with difficulty.

Only then did Yan Jingjing notice how close her face was to his, nearly pressed against it. Shen Mu had not dared nod for fear of touching her. Their gazes met, the star rings in each of their eyes shimmering with light.

Just then, Xue Hu'er's voice came: "Young Master, are you two done examining? Why has it gone quiet?"

Shen Mu said hastily, "Not yet!"

Yan Jingjing burst into a giggle, her breath brushing his face.

Hearing this, Xue Hu'er grew suspicious. She at once swam over with hands and feet, splashing noisily, her tails raised above the water. Shen Mu's gaze was too bright; she could not see where the two of them were, but she still followed the sound and swam between them, half her body rising above the water. She shook her several tails, splashing water onto the faces of the boy and girl beside her.

Shen Mu and Yan Jingjing hurriedly drew apart, suppressing the strange feelings in their hearts, and Shen Mu closed his eyes. Xue Hu'er sat between them, keeping them separated.

Yan Jingjing said quickly, "I will transmit the Pleiades Star Ring to you. Listen carefully." With that, she taught the Pleiades Star Ring to Shen Mu.

Shen Mu asked whenever he did not understand, and soon mastered the Pleiades Star Ring. He tried to activate it; layer after layer of star rings in his pupils winked out, though a few marks still surfaced in his eyes. Shen Mu opened his eyes: the terrifying radiance no longer shot forth, though from time to time a flash of light still gleamed from the deepest recesses of his pupils. The Pleiades Star Ring had not shut down the sun mark at the very core of his eyes.

Yan Jingjing swam over from the side and studied his pupils. She mused, "The Pleiades Star Ring must be only part of this Sacred Pupil's art, not the whole of it, which is why the Sun Radiance Mark cannot be fully shut down..."

Xue Hu'er leaned in on Shen Mu's right, imitating the other girl as she studied his right eye. "Young Master, you have stars in your eyes!"

Shen Mu did not know whether to laugh or cry. "That is the Pleiades Star Ring. Jing'er and I are looking into this matter — do not make trouble. Jing'er, the brand that Ziqing the deity's eyes left in mine should be the mark of her Sacred Pupil. Perhaps I can master her Sacred Pupil from these marks. Her Sacred Pupil was surely the foremost Sacred Pupil of the Kaihuang era. If I could master it, it would be no small matter!"

Yan Jingjing mused, "To master the foremost Sacred Pupil from marks alone is impossible. Though I have learned the Pleiades Star Ring, I cannot use it to deduce the art of the foremost Sacred Pupil. To deduce it is far too difficult..."

"There is one person who can do it!"

Shen Mu's eyes lit up, brimming with confidence. "My family's Blind Grandpa can surely use these marks to reproduce Ziqing the deity's art!"

"Blind Grandpa?"

Yan Jingjing asked curiously, "He cannot see, can he?"

Shen Mu was full of faith in the blind old man. "He is blind, but his eye is excellent. He is the most accomplished in the Sacred Pupil of anyone I have ever met!"

Yan Jingjing grew even more doubtful. "His eyes are blind — how can his eye be excellent?"

"My family's Blind Grandpa has an excellent eye. Silent Craftsman Grandpa speaks little but is fierce and ruthless. Lame Grandpa runs the fastest. One-Armed Grandpa Huo has the best fist techniques. Half-Bodied Grandpa Tu fights the fiercest. Deaf Grandpa, though he cannot hear, is the most understanding of others." Shen Mu laughed. "And the most beautiful Granny Zhu, and the most adorable Alchemist Grandpa, the finest hand in the world at both poisoning and healing. But the most remarkable of all is the village head with neither arms nor legs — his swordsmanship is number one under heaven!"

Yan Jingjing was dazed, then said excitedly, "I want so much to go out and see!"

"When you are well, I will take you out!" Shen Mu said. "The New Year is almost here. This year, I expect I will spend it at Granny's. Will you come along?"

"Yes!"

Yan Jingjing was indescribably excited, then her face fell. She shook her head. "I must stay with the clan. The Xi Boat cannot be left untended — if the demon were to attack..."

Shen Mu laughed. "It is fine. I fished up a new sun, and I killed the Many-Bodied Demon God. There should be no outside enemies invading for some time. After the New Year, I will send you back."

Yan Jingjing was glad at heart, yet also uneasy. "I have never left my clansmen to go out alone..."

"With me here, you can rest easy!"

...

Xue Hu'er could not get a word in, and muttered to herself. After a moment, a woman of the Muri folk came over, set down a stack of clothes, and said with great respect, "Your Highness, the new garments are ready."

Shen Mu stood up, and suddenly felt a chill on his backside. He hurriedly sat back down. "Ling'er, Jing'er, turn around. I need to change."

Yan Jingjing and Xue Hu'er turned around as told. Shen Mu hurriedly climbed out of the pool. Xue Hu'er peeked back, and Yan Jingjing said hastily, "No peeking!"

Xue Hu'er whispered, "I am checking whether the Young Master has grown a tail."

Yan Jingjing asked curiously, "Did you see a tail?"

Xue Hu'er said with some disappointment, "No. His backside is bare."

Shen Mu finished dressing. The garment was sky-blue, with sun-and-moon patterns embroidered along the collar and dragon-and-phoenix patterns along the hem. The cut was most tasteful, at once luxurious and understated, elegant and reserved.

"This outfit is not bad at all."

Shen Mu was surprised; the clothes were very comfortable to wear. He tried to activate the Nine Dragons Imperial Art, his sinews and frame swelling, his muscles like dragons — yet the garment grew along with him, still fitting perfectly.