Chapter 29 — A Small Lie Draws Out an Old Mystery
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 3
If it does, and that old demon breaks free, he will surely take it out on you. " The Dark-Fanged Demon Ape shook its head, looked at the wild deer and wild oxen in the valley, and said nothing. Basically, the livable places in the wasteland were all taken, whether by humans or by other strange beasts. If the Dark-Fanged Demon Ape moved with these animals, it would probably find no place to settle for a time, and when the darkness came, death would be certain.
Shen Mu was at a loss as well.
Hidden Remnant Village was too small; there was no way to squeeze in so many animals.
"Little Bean, come. " The Dark-Fanged Demon Ape walked forward, and Shen Mu followed. The ape led him to the foot of a cliff and pointed to a palm print on the cliff face, its expression expectant.
The palm print on the cliff had been left by the Dark-Fanged Demon Ape itself. Its palm was enormous, and it had pressed its hand into the cliff, leaving a deep print.
This palm print meant that the Dark-Fanged Demon Ape was lord of this place; other strange beasts who saw it would know this was the ape's territory and take a detour. If another strange beast wished to claim the place, it would come to challenge. If the Dark-Fanged Demon Ape were defeated, the print would be wiped away by the new lord, who would leave a new mark.
"You, print," the Dark-Fanged Demon Ape said expectantly. Shen Mu was puzzled and did not understand. The Dark-Fanged Demon Ape took his hand and placed it beside its own print.
"Print.
" Shen Mu understood, and was moved.
He struck hard beside the ape's print, and at once his own palm print appeared on the cliff.
The Dark-Fanged Demon Ape smiled and pointed at the valley, saying in its rumbling voice, "Mine, yours. " The emotion in Shen Mu's heart turned into hearty laughter, and the Dark-Fanged Demon Ape too began to chortle and snort.
Just then, a voice suddenly came from midair.
"Master, there are people below. " Shen Mu hastily looked up and saw a paper boat flying through the air.
It was about sixty or seventy feet long, with ample room on board, and several men and women in blue robes stood upon it. Then he saw more strange things: several paper cranes, flapping their wings, escorted another paper boat, and upon the cranes stood several strange middle-aged men and women, each carrying a long sword on his or her back.
On the second paper boat there was only one person, and the boat was loaded with cargo that could not be made out clearly. That paper boat halted, still floating in the air. An old man sat there and said, "Yanqing, ask the way.
" "Yes. " A young man on the paper cranes looked down and said, "Boy, do you know the way to Hidden Remnant Village? " Shen Mu, uneasy, pointed in the direction of Hidden Remnant Village.
The young man bowed courteously in thanks, then a gold ingot dropped from the paper cranes, and the cranes escorted the paper boat away.
Shen Mu picked up the gold ingot and said doubtfully, "What are these people going to our village for? Could they be merchants passing through?
But should merchants not go to Crimson Dragon City?
"