Chapter 1141 - 177: Harvest Season and the Growth of the Flying Horse Herd (Part 3)

Chapter 1141: Chapter 177: Harvest Season and the Growth of the Flying Horse Herd (Part 3)

The castle’s heavy oak door is tightly shut in the cold wind, with the silhouette of sentinels on the tower moving like black cutouts in the bleak late winter sunlight, their breath instantly blown away by the wind. A thick, gray-white layer of ice, as wide as a palm, coats the stone walls of the castle, a testament to the relentless cold wind and moisture of the plateau.

The dominance of White Castle is not merely reflected in this sturdy fortress, but it extends to the expansive and harsh land of the plateau. Within the range of the castle’s sight and further into the plateau meadows, the most resilient shepherds of Hesse Territory and their livelihood — the sheep flocks — are scattered.

These plateau sheep are not large, yet extraordinarily strong, clad in thick, curly dark wool, capable of digging through thin snow to find the yellowed grass roots beneath. At present, in wind-sheltered valleys or stone-enclosed simple pens, flocks of sheep huddle together, resisting the biting cold wind.

Wrapped in layers of roughly cured sheepskin jackets, the shepherds’ faces bear the traces of wind and frost, ice dangling from their beards, silently guarding their assets. The long climbing staffs in their hands are both tools for driving the sheep flock and weapons against the occasionally appearing snow wolves or more dangerous threats on the plateau.

What sustains these sheep flocks through the long cold winter is a unique plateau plant known as "Bloodhoof Grass." It is not true grass, but rather resembles a low-growing, moss-like vegetation with extensive roots growing close to the ground. Even under the cover of ice and snow, its leaves still present a deep, almost purplish-red hue, containing tremendous moisture and nutrients.

During summer and autumn, shepherds will collect and dry as much Bloodhoof Grass as possible to serve as the most crucial supplementary feed in winter. It is thanks to this humble plant that the plateau sheep can survive such harsh conditions and provide precious wool and meat when spring arrives.

On this harsh land, the presence of nature spirits is more active than in the warm lowlands, and closer to the essence of survival itself. Besides the "Beast Master" spirits protecting livestock in the lowland pastures, the plateau shepherds devoutly worship a unique presence — the "Rock Crevice Guardian" or "Spirit of the Pasture Path." It is not a concrete image, but in the shepherds’ perception, it is the invisible force guiding sheep to find shelter and safe paths, enabling Bloodhoof Grass to grow robustly in stone crevices. Shepherds leave small offerings at specific rock fissures or ancient way marker stones — a few drops of sheep milk, a pinch of salt, or a snippet of cut wool — to pray for this silent guardian to continue to protect their flocks and guide the pasture paths from being buried by wind and snow.

Su Li, wrapped in a heavy cloak, stood on the highest lookout of White Castle. The cold wind tore at his robes, but he stood upright, his gaze sweeping the vast and desolate plateau below like a hawk. He could see the flocks moving like a grey-brown carpet in the distance, saw the shepherds working like ants in the cold wind, and saw the simple yet orderly settlement of shepherds below the castle, with the smoke from their cooking fires rising.

The northern livestock industry is arduous yet stable. Wool, mutton, and leather are important material supplements for Hesse Territory, and the shepherds under White Castle’s control are the most reliable eyes and shield on this barren land. On this land governed by ice and cold wind, survival itself is a silent victory.

Accompanying him in inspecting this place was Edmond, the Territory’s Pasture Master. The success of the work here concerns his performance, so he reported with spirited excitement: "My lord, this harvest season has seen a great bounty. Thanks to the lack of war and military disasters affecting our Territory, we enjoyed a full six months of peaceful times, with harmonious wind and rain."

"Thus, we were able to have a substantial military force and energy to patrol the Bloody Highlands. Collaborating with the shepherds’ intelligence, we wiped out over ten Green-skinned Warbands, 5 Beastman camps, and goblin tribes over the past half-year. The threats to the shepherds on Bloody Highlands have significantly reduced."

"In this harvest season, besides the abundance of crops from Bjorn Shallow Bay, we also had an immense harvest on Bloody Highlands. Especially since the roads have become peaceful, Extraordinary Grass, Moonlight Alfalfa from Heisen Castle, is continuously being transported to various pastures here."

"Our livestock herds have swiftly expanded, for instance, in the high mountain pastures of Range Fault Peak, our herds of flying horses have rapidly grown from 5 flying horses and 3 foals to 10 flying horses and 5 foals. Among them, 2 flying horses were even brought back by our flying horses when they flew out."

Su Li had a smile on his lips, embodying the saying ’a blessing in disguise’ in this reality.

Then he inquired, "How many more are there? Where did they come from? I remember no Flying Horse Knights have joined our Territory recently."

Flying Horse Knights are very rare!

Su Li has only seen three Flying Horse Knights so far. Generally, such knights seldom join mundane territories.

And Su Li’s pasture having such a significant growth in flying horses is because there are a few knights in the Eternal Light Knight Order who own flying horses.

But they are Church Knights, and commanding them is not always convenient.

It’s also because this pasture can meticulously care for flying horses, benefiting their lifestyle and growth, that those Flying Horse Knights from the Church Knight Order place their flying horses here to be cared for by professional shepherds.