Chapter 451 — After the Founding Patriarch

" Yue Qingshan abruptly cupped his hands, turned, and went down the stairs. With his departure, the others rose one after another to take their leave, and soon only Shen Mu and Geke were left in the tower.

Geke asked curiously, "Sect Master Shen, you have come this time with no experts at your side, only a dragon qilin of Heaven-Man realm strength, while the Western Lands have experts aplenty. Are you not afraid of falling here? " Shen Mu's look was half a smile. "Brother Geke knows of the dragon qilin?

" Geke did not answer. Shen Mu smiled. "Many wish to kill me; so far none has succeeded. This journey of mine is not to challenge the talents of the world, but to wander about and take a look. Brother Geke, do you know where the Palace of True Heaven is? " "The Palace of True Heaven is the holy land of our Western Lands; everyone knows it.

" Geke smiled. "If Sect Master Shen wishes to go there, I can point the way.

" Shen Mu thanked him and said with a smile, "The Palace of True Heaven has a warrant out for me, yet Brother Geke treats me as an honored guest. Are you not afraid the Palace will make things hard for you?

" Geke laughed heartily and shook his head. "The Palace of True Heaven is overbearing, but not so far as to act wantonly.

Though the Western Lands have only this one holy land, it is not the Palace that rules the Western Lands, but Heaven Above. The Palace would not trouble Heaven Above over such a trifle. Someone, bring a map of the Western Lands and give Sect Master Shen a copy!

" A chill went through Shen Mu's heart.

Geke's words had revealed something important: the relationship between the Palace of True Heaven and Heaven Above seemed somewhat delicate. A servant came forward and presented the map of the Western Lands to Shen Mu. He took it, but could not help asking, "City Lord Geke, this estate of yours seems to have the style of Jingping. " Geke smiled.

"Sect Master Shen, you should go.

You killed Tingfang of the Palace of True Heaven and Yu Jinfang of the Yu family — that alone is a great calamity.

And those who hurried off just now did not go to the Huashan Festival; they went to spread word and fetch reinforcements. If you do not leave now, you will never leave at all.

" Shen Mu gave him a deep look. "How long did the Patriarch stay here? " Geke was silent. After a moment he said, "Not long. He came once a year and taught me many things.

The last time he left, he told me he probably would not come again.

Sect Master Shen, has he gone? " Shen Mu was silent a while, then went to the window and looked down at the dragon qilin below.

At that moment the huge creature suddenly pricked up its ears — plainly eavesdropping on the conversation above. "No. " Shen Mu smiled.

"The Patriarch has probably become a god. " Below, the dragon qilin's ears drooped again; it lay on the ground, tail spread flat. Geke came to his side and looked down. Xiong Qi'er was climbing up to the tip of the dragon qilin's tail; then the big fellow raised its tail, and Xiong Qi'er slid down, the little girl giggling without stop.

"I saw a dragon qilin when I was small, but he no longer knows me.

" Geke shook his head. "You are carrying the little princess of the Palace of True Heaven, and you still hope to walk alive to the Palace? No wonder the Palace is set on taking you in.

Do you truly not need my help? That I could become a city lord means I have some skills and means!

My father taught me many things!

" Shen Mu walked toward the stairs and shook his head.

"You have your own household; I will not drag you in.

Long Pang, Qi'er, let us go. " Geke watched them leave the mansion and waved. Shen Mu seemed to sense it, turned, and waved farewell.

Geke could not help saying, "Will I see him again?

" Shen Mu raised his voice. "When you become a god, you will probably see him! " Geke smiled, watching them go far, then his face dimmed. "Every time he speaks of my father, he says 'probably.

' Father must truly be gone. .

. "