Chapter 769 — The Right Path Must Be Followed
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
. . " Outside, Consort Zhen's heart was filled with unease. Suddenly, Shen Mu exhaled a breath of foul air, and his physical body began to expand with a series of popping sounds. He grew taller and larger, yet his age began to run backward.
Gradually, before her eyes, he became a fair-skinned, plump little boy.
Shen Mu's clothes were a treasure refined by Yu Zhaoqing. They expanded with his body, but on the enormous chubby child they looked baggy and ridiculous. Consort Zhen stared blankly at the transformation, unable to regain her senses. "Mother, wait a moment! " The big boy was so excited that he took off his two gluttony satchels and rummaged through them. Suddenly, all three of his eyes lit up.
He pinched out a willow leaf, slapped it onto his forehead, and beamed. "Bad little brother, you can't get out now! " Within the Shen Character Continent, Shen Mu was trying to fly out of that world and reclaim his body. Suddenly, the pattern of a willow leaf appeared in the sky.
The great Buddha's entire body shone brilliantly, its aura linking with the leaf and sealing the world. Shen Mu stood stunned.
"I.
. . Brother. . .
" "You're finished! " the white-bearded old man cried furiously. "You taught him to be bad! You're finished, and so are we! " Shen Mu blinked, his eyes filled with bewilderment.
The Red Emperor's consciousness muttered, "I think this is fine.
At least Shen Mu will not keep beating us for no reason.
" "Mother! I'm back!
" The big-headed baby excitedly clapped his little hands at Consort Zhen and reached out to be held, only to discover that he was too large to embrace her.
He hurriedly shrank himself again. Consort Zhen gazed dazedly at the infant in her arms. He was only two or three months old, the same age Shen Mu had been when she hung the jade pendant around his neck and sent him out of Youdu.
Yet the whole scene seemed utterly absurd.
Tenderness filled her expression. It felt as though Heaven itself had shown her mercy, granting her compensation by allowing her to witness her son's infancy. Just then, Vice Minister Zuo and the others returned from catching fish and field frogs. They stared blankly at the infant in Consort Zhen's arms.
When the big-headed baby saw the fish and frogs they were carrying, he grew excited, leapt from his mother's arms, and scuttled toward them at tremendous speed, his little arms and legs pumping wildly. "Something delicious! " The baby grew larger and larger. With one hand he seized Vice Minister Zuo, then opened his mouth until it was half the size of the sky, preparing to swallow the minister together with the fish and frogs.
More village girls arrived from outside, carrying vegetables and fruit and bringing along a crested fire pheasant-dragon they had caught.
They stared blankly at the scene. "Cluck! " The crested fire pheasant-dragon fainted.
Just as Vice Minister Zuo was about to be swallowed, Consort Zhen's gentle voice rang out. "Fengqing, you must not eat him. " The big-headed baby hesitated, then set Vice Minister Zuo down.
He gazed reluctantly at the minister, who had gone rigid with terror, and said in his clear little voice, "We have not seen each other for more than twenty years, Uncle. You have grown so robust. Your flesh must be springy and tender. .
.
" Then he turned and called, "Aunt Juan, hold me! " He flung himself into the arms of one of the village girls. Aunt Juan held him woodenly, her whole body trembling. The big-headed baby quietly licked her face, a murderous glint in his eyes.
Aunt Juan did not dare move. At that moment, however, the baby suddenly felt himself grow light as Consort Zhen snatched him into her arms. Shen Fengqing blinked slyly, looked up at his mother, stuck his thumb into his mouth, and waved his short arms and legs while babbling.
Consort Zhen's eyes filled with affection.
She kissed his forehead and smiled at the motionless crowd. "Our reunion is a joyous occasion. Go prepare some food.