Chapter 387 — The Art of Stealing Fortune
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
Shen Mu committed the syllables and written forms of the dragon tongue to memory, his head swelling as he did. The strokes of the dragon script were peculiar, seemingly composed of one dragon after another, with scarcely any discernible pattern.
And without pattern, there was no possibility of deducing the meaning of the other characters he did not know.
What was more, the dragon tongue was pronounced differently from human speech, carrying a peculiar rhythm; some syllables a human throat simply could not produce. To converse with dragons in their own tongue was well-nigh impossible.
Shen Mu memorized the dragon tongue Lord Dragon-Rearer taught him, then took out the Jade Tablet of the Heavenly Emperor from his breast. This time, looking at the Tablet, he could suddenly make out the meaning of some of the characters, symbols, and patterns — but Lord Dragon-Rearer's knowledge of the dragon tongue was incomplete, and he still could not recognize all the writing on the Tablet.
The dragon tongue on the Jade Tablet shifted ceaselessly, leaving him dizzy and muddled as he stared.
Shen Mu closed his eyes and shook his head, murmuring, "Only a true dragon can recognize all the script of the dragon race. Where am I to find a true dragon to teach me the whole of the dragon tongue?"
"There are true dragons in the Desolate Ruins," Lord Dragon-Rearer said quietly.
Shen Mu's spirits soared, and he looked up sharply. Ahead, Mishui Pass was in sight.
Lord Dragon-Rearer's speed was truly terrifying; in only half a day it had carried them to the Desolate Ruins.
Mishui Pass had been sealed off by the Jingping Kingdom's army, which had thrown up a fortified camp there. For Lord Dragon-Rearer to pass, it would have to destroy the great city. Shen Mu at once made Lord Dragon-Rearer stop, and everyone jumped down from the dragon's back and entered Mishui Pass.
Feng Xiuyun came out with a crowd to welcome them and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Sect Leader!"
Shen Mu said with a smile, "No need for such courtesy. It grows late; we'll rest here for the night, and enter the Desolate Ruins tomorrow. Hall Master Feng, see to the guest rooms."
The Blind Elder said with a grin, "The girl's not bad-looking... Prepare a fine feast. Tonight your Sect Leader weds a second time and bows in the marriage hall."