Chapter 97 — The Song Beneath the Waters
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
"Incense Master, is there a way to slip past the scrying mirrors and get into the Kingdom of Jingping? " The innkeeper said, "There are two passes into Jingping nearby: Yanbian and Mishui.
Both Yanbian Pass and Mishui Pass are heavily garrisoned, with scrying mirrors hung from their gate towers; any outcast of the Wastes will be revealed by them, and then either shot down or shipped off to the mines as a slave. Crossing over the mountains would be more perilous still. The Wastes and Jingping are joined by the God-Severing Mountains, perilous and dreadful to begin with — hardly even birds can cross them. And to guard against the mob of the Wastes, Jingping has planted Xuanji crossbows in ambush along those ranges; anyone who tries to cross will only be shot dead by the Xuanji crossbows. " Shen Mu frowned. "Is there truly no way into Jingping at all? " The innkeeper smiled. "Others may have none, but our Holy Cult has ways aplenty. Before the two lands opened trade, the cult smuggled goods, and to that end we secretly disabled two of the Xuanji crossbows in the God-Severing Mountains, crossing the range by way of the Barren Silence Ridge gorge and down into the Wastes.
Now that the Wastes and Jingping trade openly, that route has fallen into disuse, for entering Jingping has become far easier.
If you wish to enter Jingping, young master, you may go through Mishui Pass — many of the officers guarding it are our own people. " Shen Mu's expression stirred. The Nether Demon Cult's power was truly colossal — worthy of its standing as the foremost sect of the demonic path! He thought a moment. "Prepare maps of Jingping for me. I'll study them on the road — best to familiarize myself with the kingdom's mountains and rivers first. " "As you say.
" The innkeeper withdrew. Shen Mu and Xue Hu'er ate their supper, bathed, and retired for the night.
The next day the innkeeper brought a thick stack of documents: maps of the whole Kingdom of Jingping as well as detailed charts of its prefectures and counties. Shen Mu stowed the maps in his bundle.
"Who will take me to Mishui Pass?
" The innkeeper smiled.
"Set your mind at ease, young master. Your meal is ready — please eat. Once you reach the river, brothers of the Holy Cult will be there to guide you.
" After breakfast, Shen Mu and Xue Hu'er came to the Yong River, where a tower ship lay moored at the bank. A young woman in blue-green robes stood upon it and greeted them with graceful courtesy, saying in a gentle voice, "This humble one pays her respects to the young master.
Please, come aboard. " "No need for ceremony. " Shen Mu boarded with Xue Hu'er and asked the woman, "Can you truly take me into the city past the scrying mirrors, sister?
" The woman in blue smiled.
"I could hardly deceive the scrying mirrors myself. But I am Feng Xiuyun, a Thousand-Commander of Mishui Pass, charged with inspecting all who pass in and out of the gate.
I can naturally bring you into the city — and bring you out again as well. " Shen Mu was astonished: this girl looked scarcely grown, yet she was already a Thousand-Commander holding a frontier pass. "My thanks for the trouble, Sister Feng," he said at once.
Beneath the tower ship a great beast surfaced and bore it down the river. They traveled who knew how far; the river grew ever wider, and a mist began to rise from the water.
The moment the ship entered the mist, the beast towing it grew restless and uneasy, slowing little by little, as though something at the river's bottom filled it with dread. Feng Xiuyun said uneasily, "Why is the creature suddenly throwing a tantrum and refusing to pull?
" Xue Hu'er abruptly grew anxious too, and whispered, "Young master, I sense something drawing near us — a cold, baleful presence. .
.
" At that very moment Shen Mu dimly felt that something was watching him. Behind him the fish-dragon leapt out, opening its jaws to spit out half of the Chubao Sword.