Chapter 82 — The Mystery of the Young Man's Surname
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
Shen Mu scratched his head, took down the butcher's knife, then brought out the bamboo staff, the brush and ink, and a bag of dragon coins, and stammered: "Pick whichever you like.
.
. "
"Forget it, forget it. The great iron hammer, then.
"
Ling Yuxiu, her head aching, hefted the great iron hammer and walked out of the inn.
Outside, a crowd of power-wielders stood guard on either side of the gate, and Shen Feiyue stood there holding a fine horse by the reins. Seeing Ling Yuxiu come out, he glanced in surprise at the hammer in her hand. Doubt stirred in his heart, but it was not the place to ask, so he said hurriedly: "The tower ship is ready. Please, Seventh Lord—Seventh Princess, mount your horse! "
Ling Yuxiu swung up into the saddle, blinked at the dumbstruck Shen Mu inside the inn, and stuck out her tongue. Shen Mu stared, and stuttered: "You, you.
. .
"
"I am that plump, fat Seventh Young Master you spoke of!
Cowherd, we will meet again in the capital! "
Ling Yuxiu giggled, her voice like a crisp little bell, the great iron hammer gripped in one hand and the horsewhip flailing in the other as she spurred her horse away.
Shen Mu was stunned, clutching the scented handkerchief in his hand, unable to speak. Shen Feiyue waved his hand, sending the many power-wielders of Jingping hurrying after Ling Yuxiu.
He glanced into the inn, then walked inside, sat down before Shen Mu, looked him straight in the eye with a gaze bright as snow, and said: "Your surname is Shen? "
Shen Mu steadied himself, forcing down the shock that Ling Yuxiu was in fact the "plump, fat Seventh Young Master," and nodded. "The general's surname is Shen as well. I have heard others call you the Little General Shen. "
"The world is vast, and there are many who bear the surname Shen.
"
Shen Feiyue poured tea for himself and said mildly: "Some are born lowly, lowly from the moment they enter the world. Some are born noble, noble from the moment they enter the world. The surname Shen signifies nothing.
You may be surnamed Shen, but you are a cast-off, a base commoner of the Wasteland.
Little brother, do not harbor excessive fancies. You cannot climb so high. " With that, he drained his tea in a single gulp, left a gold ingot on the table, and turned to walk out of the inn. "Little General Shen, I do not understand what you are saying. "
Shen Mu stood up and followed him out of the inn. The innkeeper hurried out and stood bowing low. "Young Master, are you returning home?
"
Shen Feiyue was slightly taken aback.
He had thought the innkeeper was addressing him, but the innkeeper had bowed to Shen Mu instead. "Before outsiders, there is no need for such courtesy.
"
Shen Mu waved a hand and looked around him. The vast Jianglong City, its towering buildings, prosperous and flourishing.
This place was his city!
He walked on toward the City Lord's mansion. When he reached the gambling house, a crowd of sturdy men bowed low.
"Young Master!
"
He passed the brothel; the madam and her girls bowed, saying in unison: "Young Master! "
He passed the bookshop, the flower market, the vegetable market, the butcher's shop, the tavern, the antique shop, the vessel shop, the apothecary, the blacksmith's, the weapons shop—and one figure after another came out and bowed to him.
"Young Master! "
"Young Master!
"
"Young Master! "
. .
.
Shen Feiyue frowned as he watched Shen Mu walk the whole way to the City Lord's mansion of Jianglong City.
Its gates swung open, and the City Lord of Jianglong, Fu Yundi, laughed heartily, strode out, and came forward to welcome him, ordering those at his side: "Have you no eyes?
Hurry and address him as Young Master!
"
The power-wielders at the gate bowed one after another, their voices loud: "Young Master! "
"From this day on, this whole city is ours! " Fu Yundi laughed, and walked with Shen Mu into the City Lord's mansion. Shen Feiyue's brow furrowed deeply.