Chapter 76 — An Army of Tigers and Wolves
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
There's no war within its borders, only minor quarrels. In what way is it inferior to the Wasteland? What sort of chaotic place is the Wasteland? The people can't make a living. Every day it's kill or be killed. You eat one meal without knowing where the next will come from. You can't even keep body and soul together. When I came to the Wasteland, I saw I don't know how many families selling their sons and daughters.
You can see how wretched their plight is. Jingping's great army is the army of justice. You ought to abandon your resistance and go out to welcome the king's army of Jingping.
" Shen Mu opened his eyes, his gaze deep. "The people of the Wasteland don't want to live here either.
But I've heard that the people of the Wasteland are called the Forsaken of the Gods, and that if they leave the Wasteland, they're seized at Jingping's border passes. Some are executed on the spot, and others are sold as slaves to dig mines, and within a few years they're dead too. " He sat up, laced the fingers of both hands over his knees, and said with a calm face, "They want to live better too. But going to Jingping only means dying faster. Better to stay in the Wasteland, where at least they can barely stay alive. If Jingping's army takes the Wasteland, how will they treat us Forsaken of the Gods?
Kill us, or make us slaves? Sister Yuxiu, what Jingping's emperor and Jingping's Imperial Teacher covet is not the people here, but this land, the land the gods have forsaken.
The Forsaken live in that land forsaken by the gods, and even though darkness invades every night, and every day they go out hunting they meet every manner of deadly peril, at least they can stay alive, can keep their sons and daughters alive. But if Jingping rules here, they won't even have a place to live. " Ling Yuxiu was struck dumb. She had never once thought of such a thing. She had simply taken it for granted that Jingping was justice, and had never considered what the people here would have to face.
She could not help saying, "Do you know? In fighting Jingping's army you have only one road open to you -- death. There's no way you'll survive! " A brilliant smile broke across Shen Mu's face, brimming with confidence. He lifted his head toward the east.
"No!
Jingping's emperor and Jingping's Imperial Teacher will stub their toes on a hard stone here. They'll run into a wall here, and their wings will be clipped!
They have no idea what they are about to meet on this mysterious land!
Jingping's undefeated myth ends here! " Ling Yuxiu rose to her feet, furious. "You're obstinate beyond all reason!
You will certainly die in this city. Why bring it on yourself? " Shen Mu stood and looked straight into her eyes.
"For the Forsaken, going to Jingping is a dead end. Jingping wants to invade this place and make it Jingping's territory, and then the Forsaken are certain to die. If not resisting means death, and resisting leaves a thread of hope, then why shouldn't the Forsaken resist? " Ling Yuxiu felt her heart thrown into turmoil by that gaze.
She stepped down from the dragon's head and stood upon the platform, looked back at him, and said through clenched teeth, "I am from Jingping. The purpose of my coming here is to seize the Wasteland and make it Jingping's territory. " Shen Mu nodded.
Ling Yuxiu said, "I can't betray Jingping. Anyone who opposes Jingping will be my enemy! " Shen Mu nodded again. "I'm one of the Forsaken.
I can't betray the Wasteland either. " Ling Yuxiu turned and walked toward the steps at the edge of the stone platform. Her figure vanished, but her voice came from within the stone pillar: "On the battlefield, if I meet you, I won't hold back! " Shen Mu looked into the distance, where dust was beginning to rise, drifting toward them like a fog that shrouded a hundred li of land.