Chapter 434 — How Could a Cooked Duck Fly?

The White Gap Deity had kept his eyes fixed on Shen Mu the whole while, and Shen Mu, for his part, worked with diligence and utter seriousness, reattaching the leg for him without a word of complaint, stitching the stump of the thigh to the severed limb.

"Senior Brother White Gap, you are not of the human race, are you?"

Shen Mu examined the nerves carefully, roused the nervous system at the severed ends, treated them with medicine, and said, "Your body's structure differs from a human's. What race are you?"

Light surged in the White Gap Deity's brow, and out from between his brows flew a soaring primordial spirit — a dragon-horse, wings sprouting from its back, horns growing from its head, mane streaming, white as snow from head to hoof, brimming with vigor; truly the spirit of a dragon-steed!

Shen Mu glanced up and praised, "A magnificent steed indeed! A primordial spirit like this is rarely seen!"

"'Magnificent steed' — that word fits me well enough."

The White Gap Deity's primordial spirit watched his every move and spoke: "But I seldom reveal my true form. Long ago, in the Kaihuang... ahem, in ancient times — when little creatures like you were not yet born, of course — a magnificent steed such as I could only run errands and carry people on his back. It was a sheer waste of talent."

Shen Mu's expression shifted slightly. "Then how did you, Senior Brother White Gap, come to the Upper Realm?"

The White Gap Deity sighed. "Heaven changed, earth changed, and even a deity of my originally lowly station found his day in the sun. Not long after the anomaly occurred, I surrendered. Later, when the Desolate Ruins appeared, many who had surrendered alongside me rose to prominence — better at scheming than I, they left this world to live in comfort, and only a handful of us stayed behind. Those fellows, they knew how to pat a horse's rump. Though I have the word 'horse' in me, I am still no match for them at flattery. Still, no matter — better the beak of a chicken than the arse of an ox."

He laughed. "For all their scheming, once they reach the higher realm they are still at the bottom, whereas we who stayed in the lower world can lord it over all, high and mighty, enjoying the worship and offerings of the masses."

"And yet, to this day, you are nothing but an errand-runner," Shen Mu said with a faint smile.

The White Gap Deity flew into a rage, his divine might erupting. "What did you say?"

Shen Mu smiled. "Don't flare up — mind that I don't misconnect a nerve, or even with the leg reattached you'll walk with a limp."

The White Gap Deity heaved a sigh. "You are right. I am indeed an errand-runner. Before, I ran errands and delivered letters; now I run errands and bring down calamities. The dirty work, the hard work — all of it falls to me, and the work is filthier than before. But what choice is there? If I do not do it, I cannot escape death. How formidable are the Four Lords of the Upper Realm? Their powers exceed mine, and are they not errand-runners too? Not only errand-runners — they must risk their lives! Who knows how many of them will survive."

Worry showed on his face. To this moment no other celestial omen weapon had been activated, which meant Lord Qiao and the others were more likely dead than alive.

Shen Mu said, "This time you have surrendered to me, and I can make you a mountain god, enjoying offerings. Why not be a mountain god beside the Surging River, keeping Lord Dragonkeeper company? Every year, those who hang themselves on the mountain or leap from its cliffs will be your fare. I have a fine place in mind: beside Deer County there is a mountain called Mount Hundred Years, lovely in scenery, a towering peak ten thousand zhang high. Go there and be its mountain god — it will be no disgrace to you."

"Bah!"

The White Gap Deity cursed with a laugh. "I am not that shameless Lord Dragonkeeper. I have surrendered once already — how can I surrender a second time? Have I no face left? Besides, I eat vegetarian, vegetarian from the womb; I do not eat people. I did once want to be a mountain god, but alas, I ran too fast, and so I could only run errands and carry letters. Had I run a little slower, perhaps I might have landed an official post."

Shen Mu did not know whether to laugh or cry. "So it is your own talent that has ruined you."

The White Gap Deity laughed. "You are not a bad man. You have a good heart, and I admire you. Mend my leg, and we can talk. Even if Jingping is destroyed, you may come with me to the Upper Realm. This much I dare promise: I can at least keep your whole family safe."

Shen Mu thanked him and said, "It is good to leave oneself a way out. I have long wished to go to the Upper Realm; alas, I have no divine incense and cannot make contact."

"That is easy. I have some."

The White Gap Deity's eyes flickered. "So long as you heal my wound and let me finish this calamity smoothly, I will take you to the Upper Realm."

Shen Mu sprinkled powder over the severed leg, and nerves began to grow at furious speed, waving their tendrils in the air like tiny earthworms. He smiled. "I intend to sign the Earth Lord's Pact with you, to make you forswear the calamity — and here you are, trying to talk me into surrender instead. Senior Brother, once your leg is mended we shall sign the Earth Lord's Pact at once. This time you must not go back on your word!"

The White Gap Deity watched his technique — his ten fingers flying, so swift the eye could not follow, and yet so delicate, like threading a needle, carrying the finger-methods of the medical art — and said in astonishment, "You have studied tailoring? Your hands move like a seamstress's."

"A little."

Shen Mu turned his vital essence into thread and joined the nerves at speed. "I studied it for a few years."

The White Gap Deity asked curiously, "What else have you studied?"

Shen Mu's fingers moved faster and faster. "Formation arts, boxing, eye arts, blade arts, movement arts, forging, calligraphy and painting, carpentry, poetry and song — a smattering of each."

The severed leg's every nerve was joined to the divine leg, and at once he could feel his leg returned to his body. Astonished and delighted, he stole a glance at Shen Mu and thought, "This lad's skills are not bad, and his heart is not bad either. I truly do not want to kill him like this... What a pity."

Shen Mu went on to reconnect the blood vessels, join the broken bones, and use the dragon saliva of the dragon-qilin to grow flesh and blood. "Only the marrow remains to be fused. That is the hardest part. Senior Brother, the marrow makes blood and is of great use. I must first cultivate it with medicine, then nourish the marrow of the severed leg so that it can make blood. But once your marrow makes blood, you and I will sign the Earth Lord's Pact: you will not bring down the calamity, and I will let you return to your Upper Realm."

The White Gap Deity scrutinized each medicinal ingredient, confirming that no trickery had been worked, and smiled. "Very well."

Shen Mu breathed a sigh of relief, ordered a great cauldron brought in, had the herbs steeped in water, and had a fire lit. "In about two days the marrow will make blood."

The White Gap Deity said hastily, "Move the cauldron closer. My hand cannot leave the Five Thunder Jar."

Shen Mu smiled. "Senior Brother White Gap, you do things without leaving the slightest crack. Do you really fear I would play some trick? The cauldron stays here. Your hand stays on the Five Thunder Jar — and I too worry that you might carelessly set it off."

The White Gap Deity looked at him. Their eyes met, and Shen Mu did not yield an inch.

The White Gap Deity, clear-headed and full of dragon-horse vigor, laughed heartily. "Fine, have it your way."