Chapter 493 — Human Life Weighs More Than Heaven

Better to kill them all—then we might have a chance to escape! Sect Master Shen, you agree with me, don't you? " Shen Mu looked at Bai Qu'er and said gravely, "Qu'er, give the Dragon God Pearl to these people.

The rest of you follow my chest—I'll lead you out, and there may still be a chance to live.

Otherwise, we really will be dragged down by these common folk! " Bai Qu'er shook her head.

"How could I forsake the common people for my own life? There is no one like that in the Bai family! Brother Mu, the Supreme Emperor's Heavenly Court was founded for the common people; the gods exist for the common people.

The Supreme Emperor has said, human life outweighs heaven!

" Her voice was soft, yet it struck the ear like a bell.

"If we cannot protect the common people, what use are the gods? The Supreme Emperor said that before human life, even the gods must stand aside. " Shen Mu was deeply shaken.

"Human life outweighs heaven? " Ban Gongcuo laughed in fury.

"He who does not serve himself is condemned by heaven and earth!

Human life outweighs heaven? I say even the Supreme Emperor, faced with this, would run for his own life first! " Bai Qu'er shook her head. "The Supreme Emperor would never do such a thing.

" More and more outer-realm demons came surging from behind. Shen Mu went to the rear of the column himself, fighting off the outer-realm demons to cover the group's retreat eastward. Shen Mu at last saw the "outer-realm demons" clearly—they were human, no different from themselves. He could not help but wonder, "They are human too?

" Neither side hesitated or held back. The moment they met, they struck with the most vicious killing moves, fighting to the death. Shen Mu's vital essence erupted; he drove his sword core at the onrushing "outer-realm demons. " Flying swords flew out from the sword core one after another, sword forms shifting unpredictably, cutting down one enemy after another.

"Kill these traitors! " The "outer-realm demons" shouted back, "Win merit and establish our place—return to the Heavenly Court soon! " Both sides fought in blood.

Bai Qingfu and the others could not kill them fast enough, and more outer-realm demons kept pouring in.

Everyone was wounded, more or less. Suddenly someone was struck into the darkness and devoured by monsters in the dark, turning to white bone in an instant. A pang of grief rose abruptly in Shen Mu—it was the girl he had fought in the Bai residence.

They fought as they retreated, until at last the final outer-realm demon fell beneath their swords.

All at once the world grew still, with only the monsters of the darkness whispering. Shen Mu healed the others. Bai Qingfu grinned.

"Brother Shen knows medicine too? A man of many talents. " His left arm had been cut off, and still he could smile—it commanded admiration.

"No need to heal me. " Shen Mu came to the side of the youth who had challenged him—the one with Shen's Overlord Body. The youth's chest was torn open in a great hole; his breath was a thread. He raised his head and smiled. "I can't be saved.

I feel my soul is shattered.

I was greedy for merit and tried to kill my opponent, and took his blow instead. Don't carry my corpse—just leave me here.

Don't let me drag you down. .

. " Shen Mu examined him, but before the examination was done, the youth had already stopped breathing. Shen Mu stared blankly, then rose to tend the wounds of the others.

The column moved on. That night was exceedingly long. From the darkness all around came the sounds of slaughter—other refugee groups ambushed and killed.

They also met pursuers in the dark, hanging behind them like a pack of wolves, striking again and again. Their numbers dwindled.

Ban Gongcuo had to fight too, and even the Dragon Qilin joined the battle.

Shen Mu finished binding Bai Qingfu's severed arm.

Bai Qingfu held his son in his right arm, coaxed the boy to sleep, and handed him to his wife, then said quietly, "A little farther on there is a post station. A deity is enshrined there; the god will protect you. Brother Shen, may I borrow the chest for a while? " Shouts of killing came from behind—another band of pursuers was about to arrive. Shen Mu said, "I'll go with you. " "No need.

" Bai Qingfu grinned, his face relaxed. "You're only at the Six Harmonies realm; I'm at the Heaven-Man realm.

I can take back what I've lost—you wouldn't make it back.

Just wait here for me. Take care of my son.

. .

" He turned, and the chest remained at his side. Shen Mu embraced him, then turned and moved on with the column.

Bai Qu'er and her sister-in-law looked back, and saw Bai Qingfu and the chest disappear into the darkness. Not long after, the chest came racing back to catch up with them, covered in blood. Bai Qingfu's wife coaxed the child awake, and as she coaxed, the child fell asleep again. "Brother Shen, there aren't many left here who can still fight. " Bai Qingfu's wife handed the sleeping child to Bai Qu'er, smoothed the hair that had fallen over her face, and smiled.

"Someone still has to hold off the pursuers.

May I borrow your chest?

I may not be able to return it.

" "Sister-in-law Bai, we'll go with you. " Several youths, missing arms or legs, rose to their feet. Shen Mu nodded and left the chest.

Bai Qu'er opened her mouth but said nothing.

The column moved on. Before long, the chest caught up with them again, and once more the sounds of killing came from behind. Shen Mu's face broke into a smile.

He stood atop the chest and said with a laugh, "Fatty Long, come—it's our turn.

Venerable One, you go on with them. " "Damn you!

" Ban Gongcuo propped himself on both hands and walked over to the chest, cursing, "I came here with you!

If you die, how the hell am I supposed to get back? In all my life I've never done a good deed—let this be the exception. . .

Damn you! " "Don't.

.

.

" Bai Qu'er looked at them and burst into tears.