Chapter 118 — The Supreme Sovereign
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
To have such strength at your age is rare indeed.
Where are you from? " Shen Mu bowed; he was about to answer Lizhou Prefecture when he suddenly changed his mind and answered honestly: "This subject comes from the Wasteland.
" The words had scarcely left his lips when a young general stepped out from among the ministers and bowed: "Your Majesty, I beg you to order this man's arrest!
He is a castoff of the Wasteland!
" At these words the whole hall erupted in uproar.
Shen Mu followed the voice and looked; his heart misgave him a little, for that young general was none other than young General Shen Feiyue, to whom he was of course no stranger — the two had met more than once, and had even conversed in an inn in Crimson Dragon City. Shen Feiyue knew something of his background.
Just then an old minister at his side said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, this young fellow is the Flower Lane divine physician whom this subject sought out. " "The Flower Lane divine physician — so young?
" Emperor Yanfeng was briefly startled, then laughed: "Withdraw, young General Shen.
The man has already said he comes from the Wasteland; why make a fuss over nothing?
" Shen Feiyue protested: "Your Majesty, this man's origins are unfathomable and he is entangled with the Nether Demon Sect. I beg Your Majesty to look into the matter! " Emperor Yanfeng frowned slightly: "The Nether Demon Sect is a sect under my rule, and its people are my subjects.
If you bid me seize my own subjects, how am I then to rule the Nether Demon Sect? " Shen Feiyue would have argued further: "But—" Emperor Yanfeng's face darkened, and he waved a hand: "Step back.
Among my court officials are the finest elites of every sect and school; if you reckon by origin, half of them come from demon sects and demon paths.
Young General Shen, you go too far!
" Shen Feiyue had no choice but to withdraw. Emperor Yanfeng glanced at Shen Mu and smiled: "All under heaven is the king's land; to the shores of the land, all are the king's subjects.
My realm is not Jingping alone; subjects who come from the Wasteland are my subjects too.
Are you a disciple of the Nether Demon Sect? " Shen Mu bowed: "Yes.
" Emperor Yanfeng laughed heartily and looked around at the civil and military ministers: "The Nether Demon Sect has always come and gone like ghosts and shadows, and now even its disciples have entered the Grand Academy to study.
Grand Libationer, your merit is great!
" The young Patriarch bowed slightly: "It is Your Majesty's good fortune, which reaches to heaven.
" A minister to one side said: "Your Majesty, this boy may be a castoff.
.
. " "A castoff?
" Emperor Yanfeng was unconcerned.
"The gods' castoffs need not be mine. The gods may cast off all living beings; I cannot cast off the living.
Once within my realm, whatever his origin, he is one of my people — where is the castoff in that?
" An old minister stepped forward and bowed: "But Your Majesty, the sects have repeatedly stirred up trouble of late, and I fear the Nether Demon Sect is bestirring itself as well. If this boy should prove a Nether Demon Sect spy.
.
. " "These jianghu sects are forever trying to pull off some grand deed to frighten me.
" Emperor Yanfeng found it a headache as well, and said with a cold laugh: "In name they oppose the Jingping Imperial Preceptor; in truth they oppose me!
They mean to shift my backside aside so that their own backsides may sit upon the dragon throne.
Vain delusion!
In former days the state was a vassal of the sects, and who became emperor was decided by the sects; the sects fastened themselves upon the state and sucked its blood, fastened upon the common people and sucked theirs, and any emperor who failed to please them was replaced or killed. Times have changed: the sects can only be vassals of the state!