Early in the morning, white mist engulfed Rong Town, and Li Mo opened his eyes.
The others were still deep in sleep. He got up briskly and went to the courtyard, washing himself with water from the well while stretching his limbs to activate his blood flow.
Rong Town lacked the crowing of roosters, but the buzzing sound of insects filled the air.
Li Mo caught a cricket to inspect its condition. Apart from the cricket being lethargic due to late autumn, he didn't find anything unusual.
He was certain that Rong Town had cultivation techniques since ordinary mortals wouldn't have the ability to suppress the Death Disease.
By the time it was 5:00 AM, the children began to wake up one after another.
Li Mo pretended to have just woken up as well and joined Zhao Zhu in splitting water and eating dry rations, casually chatting about their observations in Rong Town.
Accountant Wu arrived late. His deformed spine made his walking somewhat labored. Behind him were four stewards with varying appearances, followed by a group of odd-job laborers.
Li Mo's heart pounded violently. Wu Wanfeng gave off an extraordinarily eerie sensation, perhaps because of his bone-chilling aura.
The children lined up to receive the stewards' scrutinizing gazes.
Wu Wanfeng pointed at two children, gesturing for them to stand in the corner.
The children didn't dare to object.
Li Mo quickly noticed that the chosen children displayed obvious signs of premature aging. He recalled that their physical constitution had been frail since childhood, almost leading to early death.
Wu Wanfeng's lips curled into a smile, and he licked his exposed gums with his tongue.
"Unable to survive even the **Fetal Period**, you were born with a lowly fate. After this, you two will come with me to the Chores Hall."
Li Mo's pupils dilated. Memories from the Heart Beast Sect surfaced from the Creation Book, mainly containing information about certain cultivation realms.
The Fetal Period was likely comparable to the mortal martial masters from seven thousand years ago.
Wu Wanfeng let out a peculiar laugh as his gaze swept across the children. He said with satisfaction, "Humans, from the moment of their birth, are destined to suffer from Death Disease."
"However, Death Disease can vary."
"When an infant remains inside the Palatial Form, they undergo the Fetal Stage Death Illness."
Wu Wanfeng spoke each word deliberately in his uncanny tone, "Fetal Stage Death Illness is unavoidable. Being born with complete internal organs is the sole means of survival."
Li Mo glanced at the two isolated children. Apparently, their frail constitution from a young age was due to incomplete internal organs.
This world was truly bizarre.
To be born with congenital incomplete internal organs and still survive—with the price being merely the inability to cultivate.
Wu Wanfeng narrowed his eyes, his expression a touch manic, as he remarked, "Don't feel fortunate. Death Disease comes in nine forms, emerging at different stages of life."
"Have you noticed your slowing pulse?"
"The Death Disease you are currently experiencing will cause exhaustion of the internal organs. It is called **Childhood**, erupting fully by the age of twenty, and worsening to its peak by fifty. Ke ke ke."
Li Mo's scalp felt numb.
Eternal life intertwined with everlasting misery. Nothing could be more ironic than this.
He felt deeply despondent. Even if he survived the Childhood Phase Death Disease in Rong Town, he might face yet another new disease decades later.
Li Mo scanned the group of children. Most of them were still foggy about the concept of Death Disease, except for Ma Ergao, the oldest one present. Ma Ergao's expression was extremely tense, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
The terms Fetal and Childhood were originally ancient names for life stages.
Fetal refers to unborn infants.
Childhood refers to children with hair tied up into two twisted knots resembling horns atop their heads.
But in a world of immortality, these have become synonymous with Death Disease.
Ma Ergao couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Wu, what... what happens if someone doesn't survive the Childhood Phase Death Disease?"
Wu Wanfeng's face displayed a look of delight as he savored Ma Ergao's terrified expression.
The tallest steward among them, a man with a large frame, attempted to reassure him, "As long as you survive the Childhood Phase Death Disease, you won't need to worry for the next thirty years. Of course, the drawbacks of each disease differ."
"Failing to pass the Fetal Period means that by twenty, your limbs will begin to atrophy until you completely lose mobility."
"Failing the Childhood Phase means that by fifty, your organs will rot entirely, leaving your body hollow and prone to infestation by Corpse Worms."
"Don't worry. At the pawn shop, there are techniques to help you survive the Childhood Phase Death Disease."
Li Mo knew he had guessed correctly. He then turned his attention to observing the four stewards. Their attire revealed plenty of information.
The large man stood at six feet three inches, his bone structure thick and solid. His palms showed no trace of flesh—only gray-black bone—and his waist badge was engraved with the word "Misc."
A woman who appeared demure and graceful had a face painted with thick makeup, resembling a corpse prepared for burial. Her waist badge bore the word "Painting."
A middle-aged man, whose bloated, pale skin exuded a nauseating fishy smell, had pupils resembling pinpoints. His waist badge read "Jade."
The last elder woman in the corner had arms half the normal length, tucked into her sleeves and folded in front of her chest. Her waist badge said "Ceramic."
Wu Wanfeng clasped his fists and said, "Please, stewards, each select three children. I have some errands assigned by the shopkeeper and will take my leave first."
The large man nodded politely. "As you should."
Wu Wanfeng led away the children who hadn't survived the Fetal Period. Their fate appeared to lie in becoming odd-job workers for the pawn shop.
"Then I will take the liberty,"
The large man promptly selected Ma Ergao, Zhao Zhu, and another child—choosing those with strong physiques—and quickly exited the courtyard.
"Xu Hu, what's the rush? It's been years since Ceramic Hall had new recruits. Give them a thorough inspection,"
The elder woman ran her hands over the children's backs, clicking her tongue repeatedly.
Li Mo hesitated briefly but then proactively approached the Mingzhuang Woman.
"Steward, I learned literacy and painting at home and can also do some woodworking tasks,"
The Mingzhuang Woman covered her mouth as she let out a soft laugh, accepting Li Mo's gesture of allegiance. She then selected his cousins, Li Qingfang and Li Zhuang, before leaving the courtyard with them.
Li Mo kept his head lowered. His photographic memory made his thoughts particularly active.
Upon observing the waist badges, he realized they represented categories of antiques. In his previous life, he had minor exposure and possessed some theoretical knowledge.
"Ceramic," "Painting," "Jade," and "Miscellaneous."
Li Mo didn't have time to delve into how these antique categories related to Beast Taming, but his photographic memory made Painting the most suitable choice for him.
Li Qingfang and Li Zhuang timidly clung to Li Mo's clothes.
Li Qingfang was just over five years old. Li Zhuang was slightly older, at seven. They were technically Li Mo's cousins, but they hadn't interacted much in the past.
"Follow Steward Hu and learn to work carefully. Just mind your own business and watch your mouths."
From the way odd-job workers greeted them along the way, he learned the Mingzhuang Woman's surname.
The Mingzhuang Woman glanced at Li Mo, her eyes reflecting a hint of admiration. She hadn't expected a mountain child to be so perceptive of the circumstances.
Li Mo guided his cousins, quickly arriving at the Calligraphy and Painting Hall located in the western district. Even before entering, the overwhelming smell of ink filled the air.
Steward Hu stepped into the Calligraphy and Painting Hall and handed Li Mo over to the painter before leaving without a trace.
Li Qingfang and Li Zhuang, being too young, had to start with learning to read and were taken by odd-job laborers to the pawn shop's affiliated school.
Li Mo surveyed the Calligraphy and Painting Hall. The atmosphere inside was terrifyingly oppressive. Around a hundred workers sat at their desks, repeatedly drawing.
At the center of the hall stood a wooden man marked with acupoints and networks of meridians, and a ceramic statue of a tiger beast crouched, looking for food.
Apprentices tirelessly traced the statues' forms, continuing to draw even as their fingers bled.
Once finished, they tossed their rice papers onto the ground, where layers upon layers accumulated. Only a few pieces managed to earn the painter's approval, bringing them some silver coins.