Chapter 49 — A Crimson Heart Shines Through Ten Thousand Veils of Mist
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
" Pei Wujiu snorted. "The White-Browed Monk's Ximilo is very fine indeed, and the Great Thunderpeal Monastery is a famous sect rarely matched under heaven—but can a treasure forged by the strength of one sect be spoken of in the same breath as a treasure forged by the strength of an entire kingdom? In the Kingdom of Jingping there are two or three great and famous sects like the Great Thunderpeal Monastery. " Shen Mu was somewhat shaken, and also puzzled. "Since you possess such a treasure, senior, why did you not cut down the Dark Dragon Mother's soul yourself? " Pei Wujiu was speechless. After a moment he said, "I had not thought of the crux of the matter at first.
When I saw the Dark Water Dragon Pearl, I meant to rid later generations of this hidden peril, and in a moment of carelessness I fell into the trap.
By the time I found I could not break free of the encasing ice, it was too late. Once frozen, I could only hold fast to my vital energy and keep myself from freezing to death; to command this sword was already beyond my strength. Do you know how many years I have been sealed here? " He sighed. "Two hundred years!
For two hundred years I have been sealed here. That I have kept myself alive to this day is already no small feat.
" Shen Mu was filled with sympathy. "Two hundred years of ice—had it been me, I fear I would have gone mad long ago. That you have endured until now is truly admirable, senior. " Pei Wujiu sighed. "It is lucky you came. With the last of my vital energy I will send this Chubao Sword out of the dark ice.
Slay the Dark Dragon Mother's soul for me and free me from this trap! " Shen Mu nodded and said gravely, "This junior will do his utmost!
" Pei Wujiu roused his last remaining vital energy, and the sword at his waist began slowly to move within the ice—but its progress was very slow. After more than an hour, the Chubao Sword had barely revealed its hilt.
After a while longer, the whole hilt emerged, though the scabbard was still sealed in the dark ice. Pei Wujiu seemed somewhat exhausted. His voice hoarse, he said, "My vital energy is nearly spent, boy.
Slay the Dark Dragon Mother as quickly as you can!
" Shen Mu answered, and a strand of vital energy as thick as an arm flew out and coiled around the hilt. With a clang, the Chubao Sword left its scabbard, and in an instant cold light flashed out in all directions! Shen Mu and Snow Fox both felt a pang in their eyes, as though the sword's radiance had wounded them; only after some time did their eyes recover and they could see the things around them clearly again.
"What are you doing?
" Pei Wujiu watched Shen Mu's exceedingly thick strand of vital energy coil around the Chubao Sword and chase the Dark Dragon Mother's soul, hacking at it again and again without ever landing a blow. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he said, "What are you doing?
Is that how one drives a flying sword with vital energy? Who taught you the art of sword control?
Who taught you swordsmanship? " Shen Mu stopped, embarrassed.
"I do not know the art of sword control, and I have never learned swordsmanship.
" Pei Wujiu was half dead with fury, his head swelling with rage. "You do not know the art of sword control, you have never learned swordsmanship—then why do you carry a sword-hiding satchel on your back? " Shen Mu said shamefacedly, "The sword satchel is very heavy. I wear it on my back as a kind of training.
.
. " Pei Wujiu nearly spat blood.
That clumsy swordsmanship made him long to leap out of the dark ice.
"Very well.
I will teach you the art of sword control—of driving a flying sword with vital energy—and swordsmanship as well.
" Suppressing the anger in his heart, he said, "Once you have learned it, you will be able to slay the Dark Dragon Mother.
" Shen Mu shook his head.
"I will not learn it. " Pei Wujiu was so enraged that his three corpse-spirits nearly leapt from his body.