荒墟牧神 - 第759章 正道當行 - 錦書坊

"How could Mu Ping have died?" Mother still had not recovered from the shock. She remained heartbroken over Aunt Ping's death and had not truly heard what Shen Mu was saying. Shen Mu knew nothing of what had happened during the time Mu Ping had taken him from Youdu into the Ruins. Neither did Granny Zhu and the others. They knew only that by the time the woman delivered Shen Mu to the riverbank, she had already been dead for some time. Relying solely on the remnant of her obsession, she had insisted on taking Shen Mu somewhere safe. Shen Mu had seen her again before Mistwater Pass, where she had taken the form of a corpse-woman in the water. Only after hearing him say, "I've grown up. I've survived," had her obsession finally faded. She sank into the depths, utterly free of all attachments. From Youdu to the Ruins, Shen Mu had been no more than a two- or three-month-old infant, with no memories. The journey was not especially long, yet there must have been a hidden battle along the way. Someone had tried to seize him or kill him somewhere beyond Tu Bo's sight. Sadly, Mu Ping could no longer recount what had happened. "Mother, I will find Aunt Ping's soul myself. Wherever her spirit may be, I will bring her back." Shen Mu smiled as he comforted her. "Your son has some ability now, and I know many people. Even if Aunt Ping's soul has been scattered, even if someone has suppressed it, I will surely save her. Mother, my elder brother is here too. He very much wants to see you." "Your elder brother?" Consort Zhen looked at Shen Mu in confusion and concern. Shen Mu smiled. "Yes, my elder brother. When we were born, he was the one who protected you in Youdu. I will call him out." Shen Mu's body suddenly went still. He stood there without moving. "Fengqing?" Consort Zhen grew flustered and called out repeatedly, "Fengqing! What is wrong?" Within the Shen Character Continent, the big-headed baby folded his arms across his chest, twisted his head aside, and crossed his two short, chubby legs. "I'm not going! Mother is afraid of me!" Shen Mu came around in front of him and smiled. "You are the elder brother, yet you still have the temper of a child. Stop making a fuss. Haven't you wanted to see Mother again for ages? This is a rare opportunity." "I'm not going!" The big-headed baby twisted his head to the other side. "Mother likes you more. She doesn't like me. I was adopted, and you are her real son! I'm not going!" The Red Emperor's consciousness said, "Then don't go, you fat little lump. But could you get off me first? You have been pinning me down long enough!" The big-headed baby was sitting on him, leaving him face-down and unable to move. Far away, a white-browed, white-bearded incarnation of the Heavenly Duke hid behind the Shen Mountains and craned his neck to look over. Shen Mu laughed. "We are one body. Why would I be her real son while you were adopted? Stop making a fuss and go see Mother. She has been waiting anxiously. If you refuse, I will go out myself." The big-headed baby hurriedly got up and charged toward the world beyond, shouting, "Fine, I'll see her!" Seeing him leave, the Red Emperor's consciousness scrambled to his feet and brushed the dust from his clothes, though there was not actually any dust. He did it out of habit. At the same time, the Heavenly Duke's incarnation hurried out and glanced at Shen Mu before shaking his head. "You're finished. You're finished! You let the great demon king out. You will never reclaim your body! You're done for, boy!" Shen Mu smiled. "Heavenly Duke, he is my elder brother. We share the same breath and branches..." The white-bearded old man blew out his beard and glared. "That big-headed brat has already gone bad, do you know that? And who did he learn it from? From you, boy! Once he gets out, he will surely seal you and trap the three of us here!" Shen Mu's expression shifted. "My brother would not do that..." Outside, Consort Zhen's heart was filled with unease. Suddenly, Shen