Chapter 98 — The Hidden Waters
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Feng Xiuyun steered the tower ship into a side canal instead and moored it there, then led Shen Mu ashore. Snow Fox hurried after them, and in a few bounds leaped onto the bundle on Shen Mu's back and burrowed inside, leaving only its little head poking out, gazing about in curiosity. "Young Master, there is the Vision Mirror.
" Shen Mu looked where she pointed. A flying bridge spanned the waterway, and at its center stood a mirror gleaming with bright light, turned toward the channel; whatever passed through that waterway would be reflected in it. Every merchant ship going by had to halt beneath the bridge, and every person aboard had to pass under the mirror's shining.
But Shen Mu had already come ashore, skirting around the Vision Mirror, so he need not fear being discovered by it.
Mishui Pass was guarded at every third step and fortified at every tenth; the inspections were severe. Fortunately, with Feng Xiuyun leading the way, they met no challenges along the road. Feng Xiuyun brought him to the merchants' quarter in the fortress.
"Young Master, rest here in the fortress tonight," she said.
"Tomorrow a caravan leaves Mishui Pass; once the wharf gates open, you may set out with them. " She hesitated, then said, "Jingping has been unquiet of late.
If you travel alone, Young Master, I fear it will not be safe. It would be best to go with a caravan.
" Shen Mu was surprised. "Unquiet? " The girl glanced cautiously around, then leaned close to Shen Mu's ear.
"Some of the powerful ones in the kingdom heard that the Imperial Teacher of Jingping had invaded the Wasteland with a great host and met with defeat, so they seized the chance to assassinate him on the road. They say the Imperial Teacher was gravely wounded and nearly died.
When word of this got out, the people fell into panic, and certain sects that will not submit to the court's authority took the chance to make trouble — some carving out their own domains, some seizing territory, and bandits are everywhere.
. . " The fine hair at her temples brushed the youth's collar, tickling him, and Shen Mu's ear was tickled too by the breath of her words. Seeing his earlobe redden, Feng Xiuyun realized she had been too familiar, and hastily drew a little away from him. This youth was the future Holy Hierarch, a personage of the highest honor; how could she be so frivolous with him? "There is one more thing. " Feng Xiuyun steadied herself, looked Shen Mu up and down, and smiled.
"Young Master, that outfit of yours needs changing. Jingping is not the Wasteland; there is no need to wear clothes so sturdy.
" The garments on Shen Mu's body were sewn of animal hide. Grandma Zhu had thought he wore out his clothes too fast, tumbling and fighting in his daily training, and so had dressed him in hides since he was small; and though they were hide garments, the material was of the finest.
His clothes were made from the pelt of the snow-cloud marten, a strange beast; strip away the fur and keep the lining, and worn against the body it was warm in winter and cool in summer. The cut was fine enough, but the look of it was nothing to admire.
After Shen Mu learned to make clothes himself, he too used the snow-cloud marten, and every garment on his body was of his own making.
Ordinary silk or cloth would be torn to rags in less than a day, given his daily training and his bouts with the Blind Elder and the Butcher. "Sister, do you know where good cloth can be found? " Shen Mu asked.
Feng Xiuyun led him to a cloth shop, and together they went in to choose fabric. After a turn around the shop, Shen Mu had found nothing to his liking. He called the proprietor over and said, "Does your shop carry cloth like this?
" He took out the handkerchief Ling Yuxiu had given him. The cloth-shop proprietor was startled at the sight and shook his head in haste. "That is woven of Tianxiang silk, tribute goods, for the imperial house alone.