Chapter 70 — Specters and Monsters
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Shen Mu was astonished, then bent his head to the food before him.
Ling Yuxiu tittered. "That young general keeps looking at you.
Does he know you?
"
Shen Mu swallowed what was in his mouth and thought it over. "We've met twice. There was a plump, portly Seventh Young Master with him as well — I don't know where he's gone. "
Ling Yuxiu flared up and pinched his arm.
Shen Mu did not know what the girl was angry about.
He thought, "This girl is strange indeed, and that General Shen Feiyue is strange as well — when she pinched me he nearly leapt up, and then held himself back. I was the one pinched, not him.
What was he hurting for. .
.
"
Suddenly an elder spoke. "City Lord, is that your son outside? Truly great skill.
I have long heard that Young Master Tingyue is the strongest martial artist of the younger generation in Crimson Dragon City, and now it seems he is indeed uncommon. "
Fu Yundi laughed. "Elder Baishan overpraises him.
My son has only learned a few crude methods; he makes a laughingstock of himself.
"
That Elder Baishan said with a smiling face, "Not so. I have long heard that Young Master Tingyue is the foremost martial artist for a thousand li around. Last year he met three hundred and fifty-two challenges and killed three hundred and fifty-two martial artists from every quarter; not one of them could escape his hand. To possess such battle strength at so young an age is truly remarkable.
"
Shen Mu's brows lifted, and he went on eating with undivided attention.
Fu Yundi said hurriedly with a laugh, "The ones my son killed were all forsaken folk of the Wasteland. Had they come from elsewhere, my son would still have shown mercy.
"
Elder Baishan laughed. "Among the forsaken there is no lack of strong men.
Young Master Tingyue's skill is indeed remarkable. " And with that he sighed in admiration without end. Fu Yundi chuckled. "My son is an honest fellow. He never forces anyone to match skill with him; he only goes out into the streets to invite these forsaken folk of the Wasteland to come and fight in the arena, promising them money. But alas, men die for wealth as birds die for food, and these forsaken came in an endless stream to challenge my son, and all of them lost their lives.
Those hundred dragon coins of my son's have never once been spent.
When you come down to it, my son truly knows how to live frugally. " And with that he roared with laughter. The others laughed along with him.
Just then, a black-faced elder's smile snapped shut, and his voice came like thunder, drowning out the laughter of them all: "Widow of the sect master — madam, you have studied the Great Nurturing Nether-Demon Sutra for many a year. May we not have a look at it now?
"
This gaunt, black-faced elder sat opposite Shen Mu, withered of countenance, his eyes dull, sitting there like a half-burnt stick of charcoal — yet his voice was enormous. The moment he spoke, every eye in the tower fixed upon the alluring sect master's widow beside Shen Mu.
Shen Mu hastily set down his ivory chopsticks and sat motionless, his mouth shut, yet he could not keep from secretly chewing the food in his mouth.
The food in his mouth went down into his belly; the youth hesitated a moment, then could not resist, and taking up his ivory chopsticks, caught a slice of slippery lung-fish and slipped it swiftly between his lips. That charcoal-like elder flew into a rage and glared at Shen Mu: "Stop eating!
"
The sect master's widow beside Shen Mu burst out laughing.
"So it is the Black Venerable. Why should the Black Venerable be angry? The city lord invited us here to eat; why may he not eat?
City Lord, is that not so? "
Fu Yundi coughed once and said with a smile, "This grand gathering is a banquet as well; we ask you all to taste the delicacies of Crimson Dragon City.
Naturally everyone must eat until guest and host alike are satisfied. "