CHAPTER 199: CHAPTER 120: BREEDING ANIMALS, YIN FIRE

The elderly shepherd had no clue what to make of the young man before him.

He instinctively took two puffs of his earthy tobacco, guessing this could be a runaway groom.

Or maybe this person was actually a woman with masculine features, born with a large frame, appearing as a man but indeed a woman.

Then there was the lavish red outfit, clearly from a wealthy family.

But why would a bride from a wealthy family end up in the mountains? Most peculiar, truly peculiar.

While the shepherd was scrutinizing the young man in wedding attire, Xu Qing was observing the flock of sheep before him.

There were about a hundred sheep, half of them being lambs.

By the creek, the lambs were lining up to drink, but before any could get more than a sip, they were driven away by the robust, horse-sized goats.

After watching the flock for a while, Xu Qing turned his gaze to the shepherd.

The old man sat on a high rock, casually smoking his earthy tobacco. He seemed relaxed, but his eyes never left Xu Qing.

As Xu Qing strolled towards him, the shepherd’s brow twitched and he instinctively called out to the flock. The horse-sized goats immediately drove the lambs back on shore.

Xu Qing considered testing the shepherd with his Fierce General, but his flags had suffered heavy losses battling the Daoist at Shuimen Bridge a few days ago, and were still recuperating at the villa.

Having just one Fierce General was a disadvantage; he wished he had several, or an entire army like the five Fierce Soldiers. How could he be short of troops to command then?

At the moment, the shepherd was clearly taking advantage of his lack of support, blocking his path with the large goats.

Xu Qing slowed his pace. The phoenix crown and wedding robe stayed pristine, causing the creek’s scum to roll off like raindrops on an oiled paper umbrella.

Letting his gaze pass over the horse-sized goats, Xu Qing finally spoke, "How much are these sheep, old man?"

Hearing this, the shepherd’s heart lit up with delight.

"The big ones are twenty taels apiece, the lambs aren’t for sale. But if you have something to trade, we can make a deal," he replied.

Xu Qing remained calm. "Why not sell the lambs, but only the big ones?"

The shepherd raised his tobacco pipe and pointed at the lambs. "They’re already spoken for and need to be delivered. If I sell them elsewhere, how could I explain to their owner?"

"I see." Xu Qing looked at the docile big goats and suddenly asked, "Are these big goats also transformed humans?"

"Rest assured, honored guest, these big ones are definitely transformed humans. If any isn’t, I’m willing to pay you several times over," the shepherd asserted.

Smiling, Xu Qing approached a big goat. They varied - some were as large as ponies, others so thin their ribs were visible through the skin.

"What’s odd is that these sheep, although transformed humans, instead of escaping, they guard the lambs for you..."

The shepherd descended from his rock, smiling as he stroked one goat’s back with a calloused hand.

"If a lamb escapes, I kill a big goat. So, the lambs are the big goats’ life, of course they help to keep an eye on them."

He grinned, showing teeth yellowed by years of tobacco.

It’s said the friend dies but not the poor man, a person not thinking of themselves, heaven and earth would destroy them.

Hearing this, Xu Qing finally understood how the shepherd managed such a large flock alone.

"It’s said to assist tigers, but more people help others for their own gain."

The shepherd didn’t refute. He took a puff from his pipe, smiling, "How many sheep does the honored guest plan to buy?"

Xu Qing glanced at Xuan Yu, who had been chasing butterflies and circling behind the shepherd, then narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Seems you’re in luck, having met a big patron like me today."

"I’ll take all the sheep," he declared.

"You mean the big ones or the lambs?" the shepherd asked, confused.

"All of them, naturally!" Xu Qing stepped forward, drawing the shepherd’s full attention.

The shepherd was stunned. He now realized the young man in the wedding attire was deliberately causing trouble.

"Young man, I’m not in the mood to waste time with you. If you’re serious, pick some big ones and take them. If you’re just playing with me..."

Before he could finish, he felt a knife-like gust of wind from behind!

Xuan Yu, who had been by the creek, had silently moved behind him.

Cats often cloak their tracks with their pads, leaving no prints even on muddy ground, making no sound in leaf piles.

Xuan Yu, seeing Xu Qing had distracted the shepherd, transformed into a black lightning bolt, claws extended, and slashed at the shepherd’s neck.

A grayish mist and a stench of corruption filled the air, sending chills down the shepherd’s spine.

Too fast - the cat was too fast for him to react.

"Rip—"

The sound of fabric tearing filled the air as the shepherd’s coarse garments shredded to pieces.

Xu Qing swiftly followed, his arm flipping, hidden sword sliding from his sleeve, with its tip aimed right at the shepherd’s heart.

"Pssh—"

The sword pierced leather, the sound chilling to the bone.

Only then did the shepherd react, blowing smoke from his pipe, which exploded into a swirl of embers.

In the smoke, a sharp yowl of a cat was heard.

Xu Qing activated his Qi Observation Skill, seeing the fiery embers on his wedding attire. But they caused no harm.