Chapter 514 — Greed Befogs the Heart

" Shen Mu laughed. "The Boundary Between Life and Death links Fengdu with the world of the living, so you, Second Patriarch, may also take money—a toll from the gods and demons who pass through onto the Boundary—and make a great profit besides. Even if I never burn incense or paper money for you, you will all be able to live in comfort. In a few years' time, every one of you patriarchs will be the richest grandee in Fengdu City! " The Second Patriarch gaped, and blurted out, "Collect money from both sides? Is there such a blessing? Won't people point at our backs and curse us?

" Shen Mu said, "The Boundary Between Life and Death is in our hands, and this is the only road that connects the netherworld with the world of the living.

Curse us as they may, they will still have no choice but to take our road and pay us. " The Second Patriarch hurried out at once, braving the pure yang true fire as he rushed straight to the First Patriarch's Five Yang Shrine, and heedless of the roaring flames that sprang up on his body, he burst into the hall and took out the Boundary Between Life and Death.

The two guardian beasts at the gate curled their lips.

"Second Master, this is all the substance the old Master's house has left; sooner or later you will empty it out! " The Second Patriarch laughed. "Would my own teacher stand on ceremony with me? When I prosper, you will get your share too. " Shen Mu took the Boundary Between Life and Death.

It was a small, long river, some ten feet in length, with boats and bridges upon it. The Second Patriarch instructed him: "Refine the Boundary Between Life and Death first.

When you raise it up, I will be able to sense it on my side. Remember: raise it at night. If you raise it in the daytime, it will be as it is now, and the gods in the sun will come to burn us; no business can be done.

" Shen Mu assented, hung the long river upon his body, and said, "Second Patriarch, only wait for my word. " The Second Patriarch remembered something and hurriedly said, "Business is a small matter; do not spend too much of your energy on it. Cultivation must still come first.

As for collecting money, leave it to others. " Shen Mu nodded.

"I understand. " That said, he took out some more Fengdu gold coins and gave them to him.

"Please pass these on to the other patriarchs and grand-patriarchs, Second Patriarch, so they may get through the next few days.

" "Shen the Human Emperor is thoughtful indeed. " Shen Mu took his leave and departed. The god Chi Xiu escorted him to the boundary stone of the Realm of the Dead and the Living, and said, "Once past the boundary stone, there is no more pure yang true fire. Take the boat back.

" Shen Mu thanked it, walked out of the Realm of the Dead and the Living, and his mortal body recovered completely.

He waved to the god Chi Xiu, and saw it suddenly spread both wings and fly away with a beating of pinions. Shen Mu came to the dock and summoned the lone boat in the Sea of Mist. Daoist Lingjing, in skeletal form, poled the boat over, took him aboard with the Dragon Qilin and the box, and steered toward the far shore of the Sea of Mist.

When they reached the far shore, Shen Mu disembarked and took out three gold coins to pay the fare. Daoist Lingjing was startled, and hastily said, "They are not human; they do not take money. " Shen Mu smiled.

"Daoist, just take it.

" Daoist Lingjing hurriedly pocketed it, and ventured, "Has the Human Emperor Shen struck it rich? " Shen Mu laughed aloud.

"About to strike it rich! Daoist, farewell.

" Daoist Lingjing watched him go into the distance, then hid the gold coins away carefully, thinking, "A few hundred more years of this, and I too can buy a house in Fengdu. .

. " The god Chi Xiu returned to the Shen King Hall, and saw that the collapsed hall had been restored to its former state.

It walked in warily, and saw Yama standing at the back of the hall, watching the flames beyond the door.

"The visitor from the Land of No Worries is most interesting.

" Yama suddenly laughed.

"Though he was not born in the Land of No Worries, his blood is after all that of Kaihuang, and there is much in him that is extraordinary. In this brief moment together, I have come to expect a great deal of him.

If his father had come, my expectations would have been great, but afterward my heart would have gone cold. Yet with his coming, though I was at first deeply disappointed, my expectations only grow greater. " The god Chi Xiu, puzzled, said, "This Cult Leader Shen, this Human Emperor Shen, is of a most restless and irrepressible temper.

Why should Yama expect anything of him?

He has spent most of the day in our Fengdu: he beat the Human Emperors of every generation, he smashed the palace of the Zuyang Cult Leader, he beat the Nether Demon Cult Leaders of every generation. Just now he ran off and extorted from the patriarchs one and all, then demanded the Boundary Between Life and Death, meaning to join the netherworld to the world of the living and do some sort of business! Is this not sheer folly? " Yama turned around and laughed. "Fengdu is too desolate. Let him stir things up; perhaps he will bring a change beyond all imagining.

I have never seen a man so amusing, so full of ideas; perhaps he can do what others cannot. And the secrets upon him are not so simple as he imagines—which makes me look forward to him all the more. . . " The god Chi Xiu was startled. "Does Yama truly indulge him, letting him link Fengdu with the world of the living and do business? " Yama waved a hand and said no more.

In the unfathomably dark Youdu, though the sun had already risen, all was still darkness: no sky, no land, no sun, moon, or stars. Xing'an drifted through the darkness, until a faint, spectral voice sounded and woke him. "Xing'an, wake up. . .

"