Chapter 108 — The Dragon-Driving Sect's Disciples
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
Wei Yong shuddered: "The Dragon-Driving Sect has grown monstrously bold this time, daring to attack a ship of examination scholars bound for the capital so near the capital itself. Once the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping recovers from his wounds, he will never let the Dragon-Driving Sect off!"
"You really think the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping is wounded?"
Shen Mu shook his head: "In my view, the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping is not wounded at all. He means to lure the snake from its hole—to draw out every force within the borders of Jingping that resists him, and take them all in one net. Hasn't the Dragon-Driving Sect been drawn out?"
Wei Yong was stunned, then blurted: "You mean... Impossible! I've heard there are no fewer than twenty rebellions now, seizing cities and territory, leaving countless common folk dead and wounded, and bandits running wild besides. How could the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping tolerate such a thing?"
Shen Mu said: "That is statecraft, of course. If he were not wounded, how could he draw out these traitorous ministers and rebels? So he is wounded. He suffered defeat in the Wasteland Ruins, and on the road home he was set upon by assassins and gravely hurt; both his reputation and his strength are much diminished. Who would pass up such a golden chance?"
He said flatly: "In my view, the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping has long since laid his plans. He will not move to put down the rebellion until every traitorous minister and rebel has shown his hand."
Wei Yong still could not accept it, and murmured: "But so many people will die..."
"But the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping's future troubles will be rooted out utterly, won't they?"
Shen Mu glanced at Wei Yong. The fat man was surprisingly nimble, able to keep pace with him—though plainly he had little understanding of wind, and could not ride its edge in flight. He said: "Once he has rooted out his future troubles completely, who will dare play tricks behind his back when he next takes the field? And besides—if the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping nets all his enemies at once this time, then should he wish to ascend the throne, who would dare object?"
Wei Yong shuddered several times and stared at him as though at a monster: "Brother Shen, you're about my age, aren't you? How can you dream up so many plots and schemes? Little Fox, he must be an old fox spirit who cultivated into human form, isn't he?"
Snow Fox hopped about in delight: "Fat Wei, you've noticed too? I long suspected the young master was a male fox who'd turned spirit!"
Wei Yong said: "Don't call me Fat Wei. The Wei clan of Jiangling is, after all, a great house of name and standing; if word got out it would be a disgrace."
The little fox said: "Then I'll call you Bloated Wei."
Wei Yong was silent a moment, then said sourly: "You'd better just call me Fat Wei. At least I'm only slightly fat."
Suddenly Shen Mu asked: "Brother Wei Yong, what is your cultivation?"
"I have already broken through the Five Luminaries Wall and opened the Five Luminaries Divine Treasury—though my cultivation seems not much higher than yours."
Wei Yong asked doubtfully: "And what is your cultivation?"
"The Spirit Embryo Realm."
Shen Mu gathered his primal energy and drew the Butcher's Knife: "Brother Wei Yong, you take two, I'll take two!"
Wei Yong was baffled by his meaning when suddenly four great serpents came gliding out of the forest ahead. With them came the sound of a flute—winding and melodious, quite lively, like a playful village girl teasing a green snake in the grass, the melody startling and sudden, now high, now low.
The flutist must be a disciple of the Dragon-Driving Sect. Shen Mu looked toward the sound but saw no master of the sect; they must be hidden.