Chapter 61 — The Frozen Tide
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 3
If the flood broke loose, who knew how many villages would suffer! "Granny Zhu and the others are still downstream clearing the river; they probably don't know a barrier lake is about to form here. Only the village headman is left in the village, and he can't move about easily.
Who else can help me deal with the ice tide? " Shen Mu pondered bitterly.
The ice tide had already passed by Hidden Remnant Village, blocks of ice knocking together with a crack-crack. With his strength, there was no way he could deal with the ice tide.
At the village entrance, the headman sat imperturbable, then suddenly stared wide-eyed as Shen Mu and the ice tide swept past before the village. He shook his head and laughed: "That rascal, up to his tricks again. .
. " Because the ice tide was blocking it, the river water was nearly at his feet.
Just then, at the place where his leg was severed, primal qi surged out and became two legs and feet; he stepped into the air, sat down, and gazed far off at Shen Mu. These legs and feet were made of primal qi and looked no different from real ones; when his qi dispersed, they too would vanish.
"Yes -- go find Sang'e! " On the river, Shen Mu's eyes lit up. He quickened his pace at once, leaping and springing over the water until he landed on an iceberg, then threw himself forward in a mighty leap and shot ahead, leaving the ice tide behind as he raced onward.
He ran swiftly, and before long he reached the oasis in the middle of the river. The oasis was like an island, and on it stood a temple, and in it was imprisoned that old demon, Sang'e.
In a few strides Shen Mu climbed onto the oasis, rushed to the crumbling temple, and went straight in.
Inside, the little girl with three braids was idly swinging her feet, waiting for prey to come to her door. Seeing Shen Mu rush in, the two foes met and their eyes burned -- but the little girl at once leapt down from the Buddha's hand and burrowed behind the statue, glaring at Shen Mu with hate-filled eyes. "Sang'e, I mean you no harm!
" Shen Mu said quickly, "The ice tide is coming here. I need your help -- to smash the ice tide!
" The little girl came out from behind the Buddha and leapt back onto the Buddha's hand.
"Not interested," she said listlessly. "This ice tide comes every year. The Buddha protects this place; the ice tide can't reach me here. " Shen Mu's eyes flickered.
"I can cut your chains and set you free!
" Sang'e's eyes brightened, then dimmed again.
She shook her head: "If a few of the elders from your family came, they could cut the chains. You can't. " Shen Mu's primal qi rushed out and whirled up the Chubao Sword from his back; with two fingers he struck!
Clang -- A great crash rang out, and one of the chains binding the great Buddha was cut with a deep gash.
Strange to say, the gash in the chain began to heal itself. Without a word Shen Mu stirred his primal qi and swung the sword again!
Clang, clang, clang -- a string of clear ringing notes came, and quickly one chain was hewn through by Shen Mu's sheer force!
Sang'e was stunned, and her heart filled with shock and delight.
But just then the bronze Buddha suddenly opened its eyes, and its voice was like thunder as it bellowed: "Wretched creature, do you dare ruin my cultivation, ruin my merit? "