Chapter 757 — Emperor of the Southern Domain
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
I will go ahead to the Lingxiao Hall; you wait here and continue the search—you must dig that fellow out! " He hurried off.
At that moment, light flashed, and Shen Mu, Kai Huang, and Niu Sanduo appeared in a hall of extraordinary grandeur. Shen Mu coughed repeatedly but, afraid of alerting others, hurriedly stifled the coughs until his face was crimson. "Where is this? " The old ox and Kai Huang both adopted defensive stances and looked around cautiously.
The hall was a sea of vermilion—pillars, floor, walls, and ceiling all red, even the curtains and screens being red. On the walls were carved the divine Vermilion Bird; on the floor were all sorts of strange Vermilion Bird patterns; on screens and curtains were embroidered Vermilion Birds in flight.
There were even scenes of the Vermilion Bird devouring demon insects and battling divine dragons. "This is the Vermilion Bird Palace," Shen Mu said, letting out a turbid breath. "It is where Zhu Que'er lives.
We know her, so we can hide here. " The old ox set his heart at ease and laughed. "You mean that Zhu Que'er who shares the same name as the Southern Emperor Zhu Que?
That girl is pretty, but she is bold—she even dares to use the Southern Emperor's name, and does not fear shortening her own life! " Kai Huang's expression was odd. He stared at a mural, silent for a long time, then suddenly said, "The woman in this painting—is she Zhu Que'er? " The old ox stepped forward and, sure enough, saw the woman called Zhu Que'er in the painting.
He laughed, "It is she! What a bold woman. " Kai Huang's expression grew stranger still. "Senior Niu Ben," he reminded, "she attends banquets with the likes of Tubo and Tiangong—her standing is not lower than theirs.
" The old ox looked at the painting.
It was a banquet scene: Tubo and Tiangong were both there, seated in the high places at the front, and that woman Zhu Que'er was actually sitting beside them! "You mean. .
. " the old ox probed.
Kai Huang sighed. "She is the Southern Emperor.
We have broken into the Southern Emperor's palace—walking right into the trap. And here.
.
.
" He glanced at the curtain; behind it was a vermilion jade couch shaped like a bird's nest, blazing with fierce holy fire. A vein bulged on Kai Huang's forehead, and he muttered, "And this is the Southern Emperor's bedchamber.
I think we can start thinking about how we are going to die. . .
" The old ox gave several shudders and looked at Shen Mu with pleading eyes. "You have a way, don't you?
You always have a way. .
. " Shen Mu was just about to speak when, all of a sudden, voices came from outside.
Zhu Que'er's voice reached their ears, laughing, "This Heavenly Court gathering has been one twist after another. In name it was to decide the Heavenly Court's title, but in actual fact it was those old fellows squalling over their own profits. Tubo and Tiangong are full of guts and refuse to split the benefits of Youdu and Xuandu; the leaders of the demigods are howling for more.
As for the Heavenly Court's title, that was the lesser matter.
. .
" "My Lady, you were in Heaven and did not know how the Jade Lake was seething. .
. " "My Lady, the Jade Lake has been stirred up nearly to ruin. First Heavenly Lord Mu and Heavenly Lord Shen fought, and Niu Ben stormed the Jade Lake; then Heavenly Lord Yu was assassinated, died, and came back to life, and he fought the demigods and Heavenly Lord Hao; the Empress's younger sister sent down her projection, and that General of the Golden Guard, Niu Ben, smashed it to pieces.
. .
" "Was it really so tumultuous? I should not have gone to the Heavenly Court gathering—I should have stayed here to watch the turmoil! " "It is even more tumultuous now—the star gods of the entire heavens have all come out. " . . . The women's voices drew gradually closer, talking about the Jade Lake gathering.
Zhu Que'er said, "I am a little weary and wish to rest.