Chapter 241: The Next Human Sovereign
They returned along the same path. When they reached the empty village, Qin Mu walked into the room decorated with the double happiness character, picked up the infant's garment, and examined the character "Qin" embroidered on it.
Excessive care clouds judgment. The first time he came here, his emotions had been stirred, and he couldn't calm down for a long time, making it difficult to notice any clues.
The items the Medicine King had brought were almost identical to the "Qin" character on the infant's garment, as if stamped from the same mold. However, upon closer inspection, slight differences could still be discerned.
Qin Mu had studied calligraphy and painting with Deaf. If he could calm his heart and look with an ordinary mind, he could also see that the "Qin" character on the infant's garment was slightly different from the one on his jade pendant. But at that time, his heart had surged with great joy and great sorrow, affecting his judgment.
Now, as he examined it carefully, the "Qin" character on the infant's garment appeared to be traced from a pattern and then embroidered stitch by stitch onto the fabric. It was indeed different from the one on his jade pendant.
The other villagers were gathered around the Village Chief and the Patriarch, asking about their experiences—what they had encountered on that ship. The Village Chief shook his head. "It was too dangerous inside. We didn't go deep, only circled the outer areas, and nearly died. Fortunately, Mute was there, or we wouldn't have made it out safely."
Everyone immediately turned to Mute, asking how he had known the path to safety and how he had led the Village Chief and the Patriarch in and out.
Qin Mu walked out of the courtyard, sharing the same doubt.
Even the Dutian Demon King had said that even if his true form descended, it would take him a year or two to find a safe path into that broken giant ship. How had Mute managed to break in so easily?
After much pressing, Mute said nothing, only showing a simple, honest smile. When pressed too hard, he let out two "Ah ah" sounds.
Everyone immediately looked at Deaf. Deaf and Mute were close friends, and Deaf was the one who best understood Mute's intentions, often translating what others couldn't grasp.
But now, Deaf also looked bewildered, clearly not knowing what Mute's "Ah ah" meant.
"This mute won't say a word!" Granny Si fumed. "You'll suffocate yourself one day!"
The group rested in this small village, while the dragon qilin clung to the young Patriarch. The beast had become lively, rubbing against the Patriarch and nuzzling him.
The Patriarch made as if to strike it, driving it away for a moment, but soon it came back, wagging its tail covered in reversed scales, shredding the Patriarch's clothes into tatters.
"You're too fat!" the young Patriarch lamented. "I've already told you, I'm about to die of old age. I don't want you anymore. Stop rubbing against me… Don't think about jumping into my arms; I can't carry you now! Shoo, shoo! Go away!"
Blind was pestering the Dutian Demon King, asking about matters of divination and numerology. The Dutian Demon King, somewhat afraid of the villagers, answered diligently but only addressed Blind's questions, not offering to teach him any deeper knowledge.
The Medicine King bustled about, checking everyone's injuries and treating them.
Qin Mu walked into that house. Although it might not have been his parents' home, being there still gave him a sense of peace.
Mute also came in, looking around. His rough hand touched the small wooden horse, then picked up the garment. The burly, rough man's gaze was very gentle.
Qin Mu looked at him. Mute turned his head and grinned at him.
"Time to go!" Granny Si urged. "Back to the village for New Year's! Patriarch, that pig you raised is fat. We'll slaughter it for the New Year feast and share it! Butcher is a good hand, and his cooking is passable. He can whip up two tables of good food!"
"Don't you dare!" the young Patriarch said nervously. "Don't even think about it! When you were little, you looked at my dragon qilin with shifty eyes, always wanting to eat it… Go away, don't rub against me. I'm not patting your head… Enforcer, get it away from me!"
The Enforcer Elder drove the dragon qilin over to Qin Mu. The young Patriarch watched as the dragon qilin waddled toward Qin Mu, its rear so fat that both buttocks were round and plump, like a bloated rhinoceros in the water. Each round cheek trembled with every step.
"That thing must have been mooching food from the young sect leader, and the food must have been good. When I first met him, he was a little thing the size of a cat, rubbing against my leg to trick me into feeding him. The more I fed him, the fatter he got, and then he stuck to me and wouldn't leave…"
The young Patriarch sighed. Back then, the dragon qilin was so small, he could hold it in his arms and pat its head.
"What a huge ship!"
When they reached the Moon Ship, everyone marveled. Cripple intended to take the ship away, but Granny Si shouted, "You dead cripple! Even if you could take it, where would you put it? If you put it in the village, I'll break your other leg!"
Cripple had to give up. He asked Qin Mu how he had managed to sail the ship here. After hearing Qin Mu's account of the voyage, Cripple's mind started working again. "Becoming the Moon Guardian grants the power of a god?"
He dashed onto the ship and touched the giant pillar, but nothing happened, so he had to retreat.
The Great Ruin held countless unsolved mysteries, and the Moon Ship was just one of them.
They stepped out of the invisible barrier. Outside, the sun was high in the sky, and it was noon. The weather was cold, and it seemed another snow had fallen. The ground was covered in white snow, crunching underfoot, and the mountains were dyed white.
A few bears were hiding in a tree hollow among some ruins. A mother bear was sleeping with her cubs. When she saw Qin Mu and the others suddenly appear, she opened her eyes in surprise but was too lazy to move. She just shifted her body and continued her hibernation.
Qin Mu looked back. The barrier had vanished. The unimaginably large ship sealed within, along with the Moon Ship and the incredibly complex cubic seal, had all disappeared without a trace.
In their place was the vast, boundless forest of the Great Ruin.
It seemed that only when night fell would this mysterious seal reappear.
"Let's go. Back to the village for New Year's," the Village Chief said calmly.
They set off on the return journey. It was far from the Village of the Disabled, a day or two away. The New Year had already passed, but fortunately, everyone was safe.
By the evening of the second day, they finally returned to the Village of the Disabled. Qin Mu, Granny Si, and Ma Ye busied themselves, decorating with lanterns and banners and preparing the New Year's Eve feast.
Qin Mu had brought red paper. Cripple was writing Spring Festival couplets and the character for "blessing." He called Qin Mu over and told him to paste them on everyone's doors.
"Also paste one on the chicken coop. And on the ancient tree at the village entrance, paste one that says 'Opening the door brings joy,'" Granny Si instructed.
After much labor, the whole village finally sat down together. They ate the dishes, drank the warmed wine, and laughed and talked happily. The young Patriarch and the Enforcer Elder also sat down. This belated New Year's Eve feast was very warm and heartening.
Early the next morning, the young Patriarch and the Enforcer Elder took their leave. "The Great Ruin still holds countless secrets. It will be a joy to see and seek them out before I die. Fellow Daoists, no need to see us off." With that, the old man and the young man walked away through the thick white snow.
The Dutian Demon King looked at Qin Mu. "Demon sect leader, it's time to fulfill your promise."
Qin Mu said solemnly, "Demon King, rest assured. I keep my word. I will definitely release you."
Blind, Cripple, and the others gathered around. The Dutian Demon King became nervous and shouted, "Demon sect leader, you're not thinking of releasing me and then having them capture me again, are you? How dare you!"
Qin Mu felt a bit awkward and shook his head at Cripple and Blind.
Cripple muttered, "This guy would be a great helper. If he stayed, I could steal a lot more…"
Qin Mu said gently, "Demon King, don't worry. I will remove these sealing runes from your body, and you will regain your freedom."
He began to undo the sealing runes on the Dutian Demon King one by one. The Dutian Demon King finally relaxed. "Young friend Qin, Dutian and this place are two different worlds. After today's parting, you and I may never meet again. After all, you mortals have short lives. Your lifespan is but a single snap of the fingers to me, passing in an instant. Perhaps by the time I think of you, you will have been dead for a thousand years. It's a bit sad to think about…"
Qin Mu smiled. "Demon King, I can still contact you often. I still know the Ghost-Summoning and Demon-Summoning Talisman Incantations of the Hongshan Sect."
The Dutian Demon King laughed heartily. "Your world is too dangerous. Even if you summon me, I won't come. After I return, I will go seek another new world, one where my people can survive."
Qin Mu removed all the seals from his body. "Demon King, you can go back now."
The Dutian Demon King tested it and found that the seals were indeed gone. He relaxed. "Never contact me again!" With that, a wisp of his consciousness drilled into the void and vanished without a trace.
Qin Mu looked up and smiled. "Who can say what the future holds?"
That wisp of the Dutian Demon King's consciousness returned to the Dutian World and merged with his true body. The majestic Dutian Demon King immediately absorbed the experiences of that wisp of consciousness. His mind shook greatly, and he exhaled a turbid breath. "A dangerous world, a place monitored by the gods. Indeed, it is not a suitable habitat for my Dutian people. It seems I must find a new world…"
"Mu'er, come here," the Village Chief called.
Qin Mu quickly walked over. The Village Chief hesitated for a moment, then said, "I've been thinking it over. There are some things I must tell you. On that ship, besides finding many 'Qin' characters, I also found other things. Medicine King, bring the item."
The Medicine King hesitated. "Is it appropriate to give it to him now?"
The Village Chief shook his head. "My lifespan is also running out. If not now, when?"
The Medicine King took out a mirror and handed it to Qin Mu.
Qin Mu took the mirror and looked into it, but found nothing unusual. The Village Chief said, "This mirror contains the route map to the Land of No Worries. We found it on that ship. Don't examine it now. I have sealed the mirror. You will only see the route when you are able to break my seal. That place is too dangerous. I don't want you to go there yet."
Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt down and bowed to the Village Chief.
The Village Chief quickly said, "Get up. There's one more thing. I suddenly feel that you already carry a heavy burden—the young sect leader of the Demon Sect, the orphan of the Land of No Worries. Perhaps adding my burden to yours won't make much difference. Today, I accept you as my disciple and entrust my burden to you. From now on, you will be the next…"
"Human Sovereign!"