Walker Of The Worlds
Chapter 3196: Gratitude Of The Pastorals

The trio set out toward the north east, flying low to avoid alarming the clans.

Even Little Shrubby shrank down to his kitten form, so as to not scare the animals away.

The wide expanse of the steppes stretched endlessly before them, dotted with tents, corrals, and herds of grazing animals. The wind carried the faint scent of livestock and fresh grass. It did not take long for them to find one of the clans, a large encampment of dome-shaped tents made from felt and hide.

As they descended, several herders looked up in alarm, shielding their eyes from the glow of Lin Mu’s immortal aura.

The sight of immortals descending from the sky was rare in these parts, and the people quickly gathered near their tents, whispering among themselves. While they did have cultivators among them, they were mostly spirit cultivators, with only a few immortals among them.

The animals they reared might be immortal beasts, but due to them being rather docile, even spirit cultivators could handle them with ease.

As Lin Mu landed, an older man, tall and broad-shouldered, stepped forward. His clothing was thick and lined with wool, and his weathered face showed both caution and respect.

"Honored immortal cultivators," the man said with a deep bow. "Might I ask who you are? Were you sent by the Imperial Court?"

Lin Mu gave a faint smile and inclined his head. "Something like that," he said. "We were investigating the unnatural cold that had settled in this region. The cause has been dealt with, so the danger should pass soon."

The man’s eyes widened in relief. "No wonder!" he exclaimed. "No wonder the chilly winds died down since this afternoon. Our children were saying the snow was melting faster than ever. You have our deepest gratitude!"

He quickly turned and shouted for the younger herders to bring something, and within moments, several strong youths came leading a small group of livestock. Five plump Great Steppe cows and three sturdy Thousand Mile Steppe horses were presented before Lin Mu and his companions.

"Please," the clan leader said earnestly. "Accept these humble gifts as thanks from our clan. You have saved us from what we thought was a curse of the heavens."

Lin Mu raised his hands slightly and shook his head. "There is no need," he said. "We only did what needed to be done. Keep your herds. They are your livelihood."

But the man was insistent, bowing repeatedly. "It would bring shame upon us if we offered nothing to our benefactors," he said. "Please, take them."

Lin Mu hesitated, prepared to refuse again, until... he noticed the looks his beast companions were giving the animals.

Little Shrubby’s tail was flicking eagerly, his eyes glowing faintly as he stared at the cows. Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang, perched around Lin Mu’s shoulders, had also lifted their heads, their tongues flicking out as if savoring the scent already.

Lin Mu sighed inwardly.

The beasts rarely asked for anything, and it was clear they were interested. "Very well," he said at last, his tone resigned. "I will accept the cows. But keep the horses. We have no need for them."

The leader’s face brightened with joy, and he clapped his hands together in gratitude. "Then it is settled! May your journeys be blessed!"

After ensuring that the livestock would be temporarily cared for until they returned, Lin Mu shifted the topic. "We are also looking into the disappearances that have taken place around these parts," he said. "Do you know anything about them?"

The clan leader’s expression darkened.

His shoulders sagged slightly as he nodded. "Yes," he said quietly. "Two of our young herders vanished about a month ago. They had taken one of our herds, nearly a hundred Great Steppe cows out to graze just a few kilometers north of here.

But before sunset, a blizzard came out of nowhere. The wind howled so fiercely that no one could see beyond their hands. When it passed, both the boys and the entire herd were gone."

Cattaleya frowned, exchanging a look with Lin Mu. "No traces at all?" she asked. "No footprints, no remains?"

"None," the leader said grimly. "We searched for days. It was as if the storm swallowed them whole."

Lin Mu’s brows furrowed as he processed the information.

A blizzard appearing suddenly and vanishing just as quickly sounded far from natural. "The storm itself..." he murmured. "Could it have been responsible?"

Meng Bai shifted uneasily beside him. "For not even a single corpse to remain... it feels like something unnatural was within that storm," he said.

Lin Mu nodded thoughtfully before looking back to the clan leader. "Do you know if the other clans have suffered similar losses?"

The man sighed. "Yes. There are many clans across the steppes, but four have suffered the most. They all lost herders and animals in the same way. I can tell you where they are encamped if you wish to visit them."

Lin Mu thanked him and accepted the directions. The trio took to the air once more, traveling swiftly to the other clans.

Each clan they visited told the same story. Herds vanishing without a trace. Young herders disappearing in the heart of sudden blizzards that came from clear skies. In some cases, entire groups of animals were gone within moments, as though the world itself had swallowed them.

No bodies, no remains, not even broken tools or footprints left behind.

After hearing the same tale for the fourth time, Cattaleya’s expression turned cold. "This cannot be coincidence," she said. "Whatever caused those storms must have been linked to the corruption we found earlier."

Lin Mu folded his arms, gazing toward the horizon where distant clouds loomed faintly. "It seems the agent this time was not a person," he said slowly. "But a phenomenon itself. The blizzard."

Elyon’s earlier words echoed in his mind about the sequence of snowfall. The pattern was becoming clear.

Meng Bai looked troubled. "So the storm is not just weather, but something alive or at least controlled?"

"Possibly both," Lin Mu said. "Either way, it means the Ephemera Sect has learned to shape nature itself into a weapon."

The realization settled heavily among them. The cold wind blew again, carrying faint flakes of snow from the south, as though mocking their discovery.

Whatever force they were chasing, it was far from done.

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