Chapter 10 - The Human Rearing Sect.

"Fifteen, look quickly."

"These horses have such lively eyes, as if they have emotions, unlike ordinary livestock," Hua Erling whispered.

Li Shiwu's gaze was solemn, his tone unclear.

"Why do I feel like these horses aren't horses, but rather people?"

Just this light remark was surprisingly noticed by the ten men on horseback.

The leader among them was a middle-aged man, around forty, wearing a tall red hat and a goatee.

He rode closer, glanced at Li Shiwu's Daoist robe, and smiled meaningfully.

"Young friend, do you know who we are? And where we come from?"

"No," Li Shiwu shook his head, bowed, and saluted, "If I spoke out of turn and offended you just now, please forgive me."

"No matter!"

The middle-aged man with the goatee smiled and waved his hand, then uttered a few words, "We are from the Human Rearing Sect."

"Young friend, guess again, what kind of business do we usually do?"

Hearing this, Li Shiwu turned his head to examine the strange horses, still shaking his head, "Sorry, I can't guess."

The middle-aged man didn't blame him.

He just said, "Our Human Rearing Sect usually likes to raise some livestock to sell."

"For example, the 'Five-Fingered Horses' we are riding are raised by our sect. Look, aren't they quite spiritual?"

Li Shiwu nodded, "Yes."

"But according to what you said, why aren't you called the Beast Rearing Sect, but instead the Human Rearing Sect?"

As soon as these words left his mouth, the ten men on horseback burst into laughter.

The middle-aged man stroked his goatee, looking at Li Shiwu, "Young friend, the more spiritual the livestock, the better price it can fetch, isn't that right?"

"That's right," Li Shiwu responded.

"Humans are the noblest of all spirits, born intelligent, isn't that right?"

"That's right."

"If so, directly transforming humans into livestock not only saves time and effort but also fetches a good price, isn't that right?"

"That's..."

Li Shiwu's words trailed off, his eyes flickering, clearly shaken beyond measure by the truth inadvertently revealed by the other party.

The middle-aged man chuckled softly, then called out to his subordinates, leading the horses into the city one by one.

"Tsk, a novice who appeared out of nowhere."

"In this Great Yao Immortal Dynasty, they don't even know about our Human Rearing Sect."

"Pitiable, truly pitiable!" Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

It wasn't until they all entered the city that the pedestrians and common folk on the road resumed their previous bustling scene.

Li Shiwu lowered his head, his eyes complex.

"Erling, you heard it, didn't you?"

"According to him, those hundred-plus strange horses aren't horses at all, but people!"

"Humans have five fingers, so those horses are called Five-Fingered Horses."

Hua Erling was also panicking, "I... I heard it."

Li Shiwu sighed, "Alas, I hope this world isn't full of people like Qianyuanzi, otherwise, life would truly be unbearable."

Afterward, the two successfully entered the city.

The city streets were wide, lined with shops, red bricks and green tiles everywhere; everything was orderly.

In addition, there were crabapple trees visible everywhere, densely packed in large and small corners.

"So, that's where the name Tangcheng comes from," Li Shiwu mused, then he and Hua Erling went to a clothing store. After some selection, they each chose a brand new black Daoist robe to change into.

They also bought two pairs of shoes.

However, after trying them on, both of them felt awkward and uncomfortable everywhere. But there was nothing they could do; they had walked barefoot in the mountains since childhood and were unaccustomed to being restricted.

"I don't want them," Li Shiwu tossed the shoes onto the counter.

"Refund!" Hua Erling slapped his hand down hard.

The somewhat sleepy-eyed fat shopkeeper said impatiently, "Dream on. You've paid, now get out."

Seeing this, Li Shiwu said nothing, but mimicking Qianyuanzi's fierce demeanor, he slammed his woodcutting knife onto the counter.

"My master's surname is Qian, and his name is Yuanzi. Try not refunding? He'll chop you."

A moment later.

The two laughed and walked away.

Of course, they didn't get a full refund; they had tried on someone else's clean shoes, so some compensation was appropriate.

They continued to wander for a while and saw a white-bearded old man selling fortunes by the roadside, dozing off.

Li Shiwu approached and said, "Elder, I want to ask something."

"Ten copper coins, no bargaining," the old man didn't open his eyes.

"Alright," Li Shiwu took a deep breath, "Do you know where Qingyang Temple is located? And is Huoyan Zhenren there?"

"Oh, two questions," the old man opened his eyes, his cloudy pupils full of worldliness.

"Young man, you've really asked the right person."

"That Qingyang Temple is about 1,500 li east of the city, located on a low mountain."

"A few years ago, when this old man's legs were still good, I even went there to drink with those Daoists and eat meat."

He sighed with a tsk, then said, "As for Huoyan Zhenren, I've never heard of him. Who knows what wild Daoist he is." Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

Li Shiwu couldn't help but be overjoyed, having so easily found out about the Qingyang Temple recorded on the sheepskin scroll.

But staring at the old man in front of him, he felt he couldn't quite see through him.

So he bowed and asked, "Senior has dealings with Qingyang Temple, could it be that you are also a cultivator?"

The old man burst out laughing, "Young man, that Qingyang Temple is just a bunch of mortals, cultivating nothing!"

Li Shiwu's expression froze. He counted the copper coins and turned to leave.

But as he walked, his fists clenched, and veins bulged on his forehead.

He lowered his head, looking at the black soil that clung to his feet like maggots, and then at the Seed Immortal Temple that had encompassed him from beginning to end.

He absolutely refused to believe that Qingyang Temple, from which the concept of 'Planting an Immortal' originated, would be a mundane place.

"Fifteen, don't rush."

"We'll know the truth once we go and see," Hua Erling whispered.

"Mm."

After a simple meal, they bought some cooked meat and steamed buns and secretly put them into Coffin Master's belly.

Seeing that it was still early, Li Shiwu decided to go directly to Qingyang Temple to investigate.

However, as they passed a certain spot, they encountered the Human Rearing Sect group again. They were selling the hundred-plus Five-Fingered Horses they had brought into the city that morning.

Many people surrounded them, all dressed brightly, clearly wealthy families, young masters, and ladies from the city.

Their eyes gleamed with excitement, each shouting enthusiastically, seemingly all wanting to buy one of these strange horses.

"Whoosh..."

A whistle sounded, it was the goatee middle-aged man from the morning.

He wore a tall red hat and pointed to the horses behind him, "Two young Daoists, are you traveling?"

"Buy a horse. Once you leave this village, you won't find this shop again, after all, these things are rare and in high demand."

Li Shiwu gave an awkward smile, bowed, and quickly pulled Hua Erling out of the city.

As for the two barefoot young Daoists, the city folk merely scoffed and paid them no further attention.

Outside the city gate, under the sunlight.

Hua Erling covered his mouth, his eyes filled with horror.

"Fi... Fifteen, what's wrong with you?"

Li Shiwu's originally full head of black hair was now strangely withered and yellowish, as if it could fall out at any moment.

And his face, even the flesh on his body, was shriveled and wrinkled.

All of this happened in an instant as they left the city.