Chapter 37 — One Shout Startles Awake the Long-Deafened Soul
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 3
Say it though he did, Shen Mu still felt somewhat panicked. Everyone in the village was his kin, but the ones dearest to him, apart from Granny Zhu, were Old Man Ma — in those years it was Grandpa Ma who had carried the stone statue on one arm and, together with Granny Zhu, left the village and picked him up from the riverbank, saving his life!
If he were to lose, would he not be sending Grandpa Ma to his death?
At this moment Grandpa Alchemist too was frowning deeply. Old Man Ma believed Shen Mu to be a peerless Overlord Body and had faith in him, but Shen Mu was, after all, no Overlord Body.
He now somewhat regretted having helped the village head hide that kindly lie. Had they been told the truth earlier, Old Man Ma would never have staked his life.
It was precisely out of his trust in Shen Mu that Old Man Ma had bet his life against the old monk!
Suddenly, Grandpa Alchemist's eyes showed a fierce light. "If Mu'er loses, then kill this old bald donkey and the little bald donkey both — we cannot let Old Man Ma go to his death!"
On the platform, Shen Mu urgently wished to steady his heart, but when the lives of those dearest to him were at stake, how could that heart be steadied?
The Mute gestured with his hands and gave a few grunts of "ah, ah"; the Blind Old Man leaned on his cane and said unhurriedly, "No need to remind him. This temple fair is a trial. If he gets through it, he grows up. If he cannot, he is still a child."
After a while, Shen Mu slowly rose to his feet, looked at the tall, lean young monk opposite him, and said slowly, "Monk, is there a Buddha in your heart?"
Mingxing joined his palms and said solemnly, "My Buddha is ever in my heart."
Hu —
Shen Mu exhaled a breath of turbid air, and the vital essence within his body turned overbearing and fierce; a spirit that acknowledged neither heaven nor law seemed to surge out of his small frame.
"I!"
He stepped forward, and the momentum pouring from his small body gave one the stirring sense of heroic vigor and strong bones, standing firm as a god. His voice shook the ears of all present: "In my heart there is no god, no Buddha, no demon! I am god, I am Buddha, I am demon!"
The moment these words were spoken, the old monk seated opposite Old Man Ma showed a look of shock and turned his head to look at Shen Mu!