Tales of Herding Gods

Elder Messenger of Death took a glance at Qin Mu and said, “Earth Count, I’ve already added, it’s on the one thousandth and eighth page of the eighth book. Every debt is recorded clearly and won’t be left out.”

Earth Count put the book in his hands down and picked up the eighth book. He flipped through it and said, “Have you recorded down every time he opened Gate of Heaven Influence?”

“I have.”

Elder Messenger of Death said, “He keeps scaring me out of my wits, so I have to record them down. Also, every person that dies from his hands is also recorded down clearly without a mistake. We can only clear the list with him once he dies. However, all of these are small matters, and I’ve recorded them down in the miscellaneous books.”

Earth Count put down the eighth book and asked, “Where are the miscellaneous books?”

Elder Messenger of Death replied, “There are too many miscellaneous books, so I’ve created another room to store them. It’s almost full now. Should I bring the miscellaneous scrolls for Earth Count to take a look?”

“There’s no need.”

Earth Count also felt a slight headache and shook his head. “As long as it’s recorded clearly, it’s fine.”

Thump.

Tian Shu just collapsed straight to the ground, and his goat head hit heavily on the ground, stopping only after bouncing twice. Qi Jiuyi couldn’t resist saying, “Big Brother Tian, Earth Count shouldn’t be saying you; he’s talking about Brother Qin Fengqing.”

Tian Shu said weakly, “I know he is talking about him, but I thought he had a good relationship with Earth Count and now it looks like he’s has a good relationship with Earth Count based on the bad things he has done. I was still anticipating for Earth Count to give him face and now I think the result of Earth Count giving him face would be an additional charge to my crime! Just let me lie here for a while, all of a sudden I feel so weak…”

Earth Count looked at Qin Mu who was standing there uneasily with his head down. He would try to sneak a glance from time to time and pulled back his gaze as though he was shocked.

Earth Count said, “Shielding Criminal Tian Shu and releasing him to cause misfortune on the world, this misdeed will be recorded on your head, do you accept it?”

Qin Mu hurriedly said, “I don’t…”

“Put it on his head,” Earth Count said to Elder Messenger of Death.

Elder Messenger of Death said yes gladly and recorded it down with his brush. He said to Qin Mu, “Earth Count is impartial and he’s not asking for your opinion, he’s just informing you so you would have no grievance after you die in the future.”

Qin Mu was instantly at ease. He said with a smile, “In the future? In that case, Earth Count won’t kill me this time.”

Earth Count shot a glance at him and said, “Your lifespan in the world of the living still hasn’t ended so we won’t touch you for now. However, the longer you remain in Youdu, the weaker your corporeal body will get, you will still die. You aren’t the main focus of the summon today, he is.”

He raised his hand to point at Tian Shu, and a whip lashed out and coiled Tian Shu. Tian Shu couldn’t break free, and his face was ashen.

Qin Mu took a step forward and stood between them. He asked loudly, “May I ask Earth Count, what crime has Tian Shu committed?”

“Severing my horn, stealing my Youdu, separating my territory to form Fengdu—this is a huge crime.”

Earth Count asked seriously, “Are you standing out for him? Are you going to take his punishment for him?”

Qin Mu said solemnly, “Founding Emperor designed the Imperial Gate Divine Knife, and the order was given to him by Founding Emperor. Tian Shu is merely following orders, is it wrong for a subject to follow the order of his ruler?”

Earth Count said, “The person who bears the knife is already committing a mistake from the start.”

“So Earth Count is bullying the weak and afraid of the strong?” Qin Mu asked.

Tian Shu’s blood ran cold, and Qi Jiuyi was also uneasy. ‘Why does Brother Qin dares to say anything and everything? Even though he is the Son of Youdu, even that identity can’t protect him!’

Earth Count frowned slightly, and flames swirled between his horns.

Qin Mu continued, saying, “If Earth Count is impartial, you should hold Founding Emperor responsible and find him. Earth Count not going after the mastermind and just taking in Tian Shu for punishment makes me suspect you are only bullying the weak and are afraid of the strong. I’m a junior, and junior also has a heart of righteousness. If Earth Count is impartial, junior cannot accept your decision and has to step out to express my opinion. If Earth Count isn’t afraid of the strong, in that case, the deaths of countless lifeforms in Supreme Emperor Heaven and Luofu Heaven, why didn’t Earth Count seek out the originator?”

Elder Messenger of Death frowned and said, “Son of Youdu, you don’t know the reason behind, let’s not talk about this…”

“Let him speak.” Earth Count raised his hand.

Elder Messenger of Death could only hold himself back and be secretly anxious for Qin Mu.

Qin Mu continued to speak, and said, “And who is the originator? That esteemed guest that just walked out from Earth Count’s palace! Son of Heaven Yin let his disciples do as they pleased and forced the remaining survivors of Crimson Light into Luofu Heaven, the territory of the devil, to invoke a bloodbath. Luofu Heaven was destroyed, and only Chi Xi was left from the remaining survivors of Crimson Light. To survive, the devils had no choice but to invade Supreme Emperor Heaven. The disciples of Son of Heaven Yin then used the Life and Death Book to sacrifice Luofu Heaven, crashing it into Supreme Emperor Heaven, which in turn caused Supreme Emperor Heaven to crash into the Great Ruins. This resulted in countless deaths. The originator of the true evil was right here so why didn’t Earth Count kill him?”

“My brother created havoc in Youdu, and Earth Count put it on my head, wanting to beat and kill me. I summoned the soul of Seven Kills Star Sovereign Wei Liao, and Earth Count put it on my head, wanting to beat and kill me. When I fought in the battlefield and killed enemies, Earth Count put it on my head, wanting to beat and kill me. And now, when the disciples of Son of Heaven Yin wants to bathe the entire Eternal Peace in blood and revive the stone statues by dropping calamities on Eternal Peace, countless lives would be lost again! Earth Count, how are you impartial? Have you wanted to beat and kill them?”

“You are clearly bullying the weak and afraid of the strong, you are bullying the kind and scared of the evil, so what is the crime of Tian Shu severing your horn? If it was Founding Emperor sitting at the top of the celestial heavens now, would you even dare to let out a fart?”

“You say I’m full of evil and put all of the troubles my brother has done on my head. It’s true that my brother commits all kinds of imaginable misdeeds, but he acts on his knowledge, yet you as the ruler of Youdu don’t act on what you preach—you are truly a disgrace to the reputation of a natural born sacred god!”

“You might as well let out your position and let my brother be the ruler of Youdu, at least he treats everyone equally at the minimum, unlike you who doesn’t!”

Tian Shu, the dragon qilin, and Qi Jiuyi almost shat in their pants from hearing what Qin Mu said. Even Elder Messenger of Death took a few gulps and thought to himself, ‘It’s over, it’s over…’

Earth Count’s three eyes stared at Qin Mu, and Qin Mu stared back without relenting.

“You are originally very smart and know how to guide the situation to your advantage, you know how to conform to the situation and yet why are you not backing down today? Why must you argue strongly for what’s right?” Earth Count finally spoke, and he asked.

Qin Mu bowed and said, “Everyone has accumulated rancor, and once the rancor goes on for a long period, one would still burst apart. I’m also a part of everyone; I seek your forgiveness if I have offended you in any way.”

Earth Count nodded slowly and said, “How do you know I don’t have a small booklet to record Son of Heaven Yin’s sins?”

Qin Mu said, “If you have it but don’t carry out the punishment, what’s the difference with not having it in the first place? I know Earth Count is in a troubled position and it’s none other than the power of the celestial heavens being too strong so you can’t act as you wish. Since Earth Count isn’t willing to make a move yourself, why stop other people?”

Earth Count’s expression was incomparably calm, and no change in expression could be seen at all. “What you mean is?”

“Evil must be fought with evil, I’m this evil, and Tian Shu is also this evil. In the current world, there aren’t many people that dare to fight Son of Heaven Yin to the death, but Tian Shu is one of them.”

Qin Mu said, “Wouldn’t it be better if Earth Count let Tian Shu go and let him fight to the death with Son of Heaven Yin? Tian Shu indeed severed your horn, but there was also a reason for it. He was under Founding Emperor’s order, and since Founding Emperor isn’t here, I’ll bear his crime. Earth Count can just put this crime on my head! I only wish for Earth Count to let him off and let him fight with Son of Heaven Yin. Earth Count can just wait and reap the benefits.”

Earth Count’s three eyes kept staring at him, and he never shifted his gaze.

Tian Shu and the rest were uneasy. Qin Mu didn’t know how powerful Earth Count was, but Tian Shu knew it very well.

During Founding Emperor Period, he had been conferred the title of Mingdu Heavenly King because of his remarkable abilities that were honed to perfection. But comparing him to Earth Count, it was like comparing a grain of rice to a blazing sun.

He had a natural fear of Earth Count.

Yet Qin Mu could be so at ease in front of Earth Count and even have a heated discussion. He could even scold Earth Count and discuss the terms with Earth Count after scolding him. In his eyes, that was the path leading to death!

Right at that moment, Earth Count’s voice rang out. “Fine, I’ll give you this face and let him go.”

The whip around Tian Shu’s body loosened up, and he crashed onto the ground.

Tian Shu’s mind was blank, and he shook his head as though he hadn’t heard Earth Count clearly.

Earth Count actually agreed to Qin Mu’s terms and even said he would give him face.

That was something that could never have happened!

Qin Mu bowed and expressed his gratitude. “Many thanks, Earth Count, for granting my request.”

“No matter if they are a commoner or the celestial emperor, as long as evil is committed, I will be impartial and will record them down.”

Earth Count said calmly, “Everyone has their respective booklet, and the only difference is the thickness. I don’t blame you for stealing my power to revive the Goddess of Heavenly Yin; instead, I admire you very much. All beings grieve for their fellow beings, I also couldn’t accept Goddess of Heavenly Yin’s death, but I’m still the ruler of Youdu after all. There are some things that I can’t do, and I can only let others do it. There are some things that I can’t say, and I can only let others say. You have done it, and you have said it, however, to be fair, no matter how much I admire you, I will still need to record down and handle the problems according to the rules of Youdu. Do you understand?”

Qin Mu bowed. “I understand.”

Earth Count nodded his head and said, “You guys can leave now.”

Qin Mu hesitated for a moment. “Earth Count, can I meet my mother, I’ve never met her before…”

“She’s being punished for you.”

Earth Count’s face was expressionless as he said, “A few months after you were born, you committed a huge misdeed in Youdu and to protect your life, she sent you away. But to protect you and not let the big shots of Youdu chase after you, she took on all of your mistakes. If you want to meet her, I can arrange for it, but the disciples of Mingdu have already made their moves. The souls of the lives in Eternal Peace are currently being guided into Youdu. Are you sure you want to meet her?”

Qin Mu stood there blankly as though he was struck by lightning. He suddenly turned and said, “Tian Shu, Brother Qi, let us return to Eternal Peace now!”

Earth Count saw him off and saw that youth secretly wiping his tears away.

“He will be a good child,” Earth Count said softly.

Elder Messenger of Death bowed and said, “Of course he will be a good child. Let me send them away.”

On the paper boat, Qin Mu turned back and looked at Earth Count who looked cold and dark. There were countless dead people living there, and it was incomparably lively. His kin was also over there, and maybe there was even his father who was still driving the ship to find the traces of his mother in the darkness.

Yet he had the chance to meet them but couldn’t.

‘I will come back when the chaos in Eternal Peace is quelled. I will come back to meet both of you.’

Qin Mu revealed a warm smile and thought to himself, ‘I don’t remember what I did after I was born. It must have been older brother who did it, but what he has done is what I have done. However, I can’t bear to let mother suffer because of me. Mother, I will be back to fetch both of you. I won’t let you suffer in Youdu on my behalf…”