âHe was also injured. But even with four Celestial Venerables, they couldnât catch him.â
Qin Mu said, âHe will immediately return to the Great Void to fight Celestial Venerable Huo and Celestial Venerable Xu. Celestial Heavens will be badly battered.â
Heavenly King Tian Shu smiled as he shed tears, âHe is such a person! Not to mention the four Celestial Venerables, even the ten Celestial Venerables canât hold him back! No one can hold him back!â
Qin Mu got up and patted his shoulder with a smile, âBut he needs you. Heâs waiting for his old soldiers on the battlefield, waiting for his old subordinates.â
Heavenly King Tian Shu laid down on the table and cried, âIâm timid and a coward. I can only drink to strengthen my courage. My drinking always cause trouble. I even scolded him for being a coward who only dares to hide in Carefree Village... Actually, Iâm the coward...â
Qin Mu walked out of the wine shop and said to God Chi Xiu, âLetâs go.â
God Chi Xiu glanced at him and continued to lead him forward.
They came to King Qin Hall but the doors of King Qin Hall was tightly shut. Two green-faced, fierce-looking ghost kings stood guard outside.
God Chi Xiu knocked on the door and said, âKing Yama, Celestial Venerable Mu is here to visit.â
The sound of something being knocked over came from the hall, followed by King Yamaâs voice, âIâm not here... Forget it, let him in... Wait a moment, Iâll go and welcome him personally.â
The door of the hall opened, and King Yama was under the cover of darkness. His face couldnât be seen.
âCelestial Venerable Mu...â Although his expression couldnât be seen, the emotions in his voice were very complicated.
Qin Mu walked into King Qin Hall and examined his surroundings. He said with a smile, âKing Yama is still as impoverished as before. There are no treasures here that can catch your eye.â
King Yama was silent for a moment before saying, âDuring the Eternal Peace Calamity...â
Qin Mu interrupted him and said, âEternal Peace Calamity is already over, I wonât live in the past. The people of Eternal Peace have survived the calamity, and they are living very well now.â
King Yama said bitterly, âYou paid a huge price to protect Eternal Peace.â
Qin Mu turned around and said with a smile, âIâm also living well now, and Iâve walked even further compared to myself before the Eternal Peace Calamity. Iâve profited from a disaster.â
âYouâve suffered a lot.â
âIâm even stronger than before. My Dao heart is even firmer than before.â
King Yama said, âCarrying the fate of Eternal Peace by yourself...â
âNo!â
Qin Mu said with a smile, âIt is the people of Eternal Peace who carries the fate of Eternal Peace. I canât carry it alone, so everyone carried it together, and we finally got through the crisis. It was the same for Founding Emperor Era. The remaining survivors of Founding Emperor shouldnât be split into pieces anymore.â
King Yama fell silent.
Qin Mu walked around King Qin Hall and said with a smile, âThis place is too calm here and gloomy. You are like a little resentful woman that has been banished to the cold palace[1]. Even you have become gloomy and unsuitable for me. Iâll go meet the others.â
He walked out and said leisurely, âWhite hair sprouting from a youthâs head, yet his heart is still full of vigour. An old steed aspires to gallop thousand miles, letting out a long howl of sorrow?â
King Yama watched as he walked out of King Qin Hall. He lowered his head and took off his cloak, revealing his silver hair. However, his face was still that of a youth.
His gaze was cold, but flames danced in his pupils.
âHeavenly Teacher Fisherman should be fishing in the River of Forgetfulness.â
God Chi Xiu continued to bring Qin Mu forward and said, âThe mountain stream there is steep, but itâs a pity there are no fish. There are only some lonely souls and wild ghosts wandering in the water below the River of Forgetfulness.â
Not long later, Qin Mu saw Heavenly Teacher Fisherman. This elder was sitting on a small stool with a fish basket beside him. His two small red fish were lying in the basket as he looked around.
When they saw Qin Mu coming, the two little red fish immediately returned back into the basket. The little male fish even grabbed the cover of the basket and carefully covered it so as not to alarm Qin Mu. He whispered, âOld master will be beaten half to death...â
âNo way! I think heâll fully die, the completely through kind of death!â
âShh, quiet.â
Qin Mu came to the back of Heavenly Teacher Fisherman. Heavenly Teacher Fishermanâs body was stiff, and his fishing rod was unstable.
Qin Mu said with a smile, âHeavenly Teacherâs Dao heart is unstable, be careful the fish will escape.â
Heavenly Teacher Fisherman snorted and stood up to put away his fishing rod. He took off his bamboo hat and turned around, âWhether I retreat or advance, I will still be cut. Are you here to beat me or scold me?â
Qin Mu was astonished, âWhy do you say that?â
Heavenly Teacher Fisherman sighed and said, âDuring the Eternal Peace Calamity, when you needed us the most, we ran away. I let you down. No matter if you beat me or scold me, I wonât retaliate or talk back.â
In the fish basket, two little red fish looked out through the gaps in the basket. The little female fish whispered, âWhen they fight later, should we try to persuade them?â
âNo.â
âWill we become cooked fish?â
......
Qin Mu raised his fist and punched Heavenly Teacher Fishermanâs chest, âLet this matter pass. Eternal Peace Calamity is a scar inflicted on my Dao heart. Now that Iâm in Fengdu, all of you are re-opening this wound. My heart is also made of flesh, and it hurts a lot. Donât mention it again.â
Heavenly Teacher Fisherman looked at him in a daze, âYou... Alright, letâs not talk about it.â
Qin Mu revealed a smile and said, âThe first reason Iâm here is to see you guys, and the second is to find Heavenly King Di Yiyue and borrow her Mingdu Heavenly Gate to deal with Son of Heavenly Yinâs divine art. Does Heavenly Teacher know where she is?â
Fisherman Heavenly Teacher probed, âArenât you going to meet other people? For example, Old Man Qing Huang, Sakra Buddha, and Woodcutter.â
Qin Mu hesitated for a moment and nodded, âI will meet them.â
He took his leave, and God Chi Xiu brought him to the village where Martial Arts Heavenly Teacher was staying. Beside him was Bullfighting World, and Martial Arts Heavenly Teacher had even moved the rice fields and big willow trees into Fengdu.
Under the willow tree, Niu Sanduo was puffing on his water pipe. When he saw Qin Mu coming, he hurriedly stood up, not knowing what to do.
Qin Mu walked forward and smiled. âSenior Brother Sanduo, how have you been?â
âIâm fine, Iâm fine!â
Niu Sanduo hurriedly said, âDuring the Eternal Peace Calamity...â
Qin Mu raised his hand and smiled, âThereâs no need to mention it again.â
Niu Sanduo could only swallow his words back down and said, âOld master still doesnât know you are coming. If he knew, he would definitely be so ashamed that he wonât have anywhere to hide.â
Qin Mu gave a slight smile, âMartial Arts Heavenly Teacher, using the Martial Path to attain godhood; naturally, his abilities are remarkable. How could he not sense thta I had come to arrived in Fengdu? He might hide for a while, but after he hides, he will still come out to see me.â
Right at this moment, Martial Arts Heavenly Teacher Guan Chaâs voice came from behind him, âAfter hearing the news of you coming here, I indeed hid. However, after thinking about it, I still have to come out to see you. I have let you down, and if I still hide, I will be even more impotent.â
Qin Mu turned around and smiled. âHeavenly Teacher...â
Suddenly, Martial Arts Heavenly Teacher fell to his knees and kowtowed a few times to him. A huge pit also appeared on the ground!
âIâve always thought that I can stand upright and look up to Heaven and Earth with a clear conscience! However, I can never get over the Eternal Peace Calamity!â
Qin Mu was about to help him up when Martial Arts Heavenly Teacher used his vigorous cultivation to suppress him and force Qin Mu to accept his kowtow. He said solemnly, âThe people of Bullfighting World are the descendants of the soldiers that died in Founding Emperor Era. Their divine bridges were destroyed, and generation after generation of people couldnât avoid death. You saved them, but I left when you were in trouble! This isnât the actions of a gentleman, itâs the actions of a villain!â
Qin Mu could only let him be.
If he stopped him from making amends, it would become an obstruction to his heart of martial arts.
[1] The cold palace is where unfavoured concubines of an emperor stays. It is usually the most desolate palace.