A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 169 - 140: Reunion at the Year’s End
Demon lord?
Bai Qi couldn't help baring his teeth, feeling the depth of this world's waters.
Dao Asunder, Turbid Tide, he had heard these terms several times and glimpsed them in books, yet never grasped their meanings.
If the former is a millennial catastrophe, then what of the latter?
From descriptions, it seems like an incurable plague, where birds, beasts, grass, wood, and stones become "monsters" once tainted.
Mountain and Marsh Cultivators and itinerant practitioners who are invaded are regarded as "demons."
All are prime targets for Dragon Court's purges!
"What good is it to worship heretics? A prestigious Yihai Prefecture high family business, risking the crime of execution, still secretly colludes with demon lords?"
Bai Qi continued to probe, enthusiastic about improving his knowledge and understanding of the Red County Divine Land.
Even if apprenticed under Tongwen Hall, leveraging the library resources of Dezhen Tower could only partially compensate for having been confined to Black River County since birth, with naturally narrow horizons, yet it couldn't quickly match the heritage of the high chambers of Yihai Prefecture.
After all, their generations of accumulation, accompanied by good education from hearing and seeing, may not cultivate upright character, but their perspectives generally aren't shallow.
This is an inherent class gap that's extremely difficult to bridge through individual effort alone.
He Jingfeng tossed the medicinal wine to Uncle Yang, refilled his brocade robe, and casually replied:
"Who knows. It's said the heretic cultivators are skilled in dark arts and worship outer venerable deities capable of resurrecting the dead and prolonging life?
Though the Dragon Court Daoist officials denounce it as nonsense, ultimately some choose to believe, leaping into the fire pit one after another."
Not surprising, as heretical cults throughout history mostly use such narratives.
Bai Qi chuckled:
"Do you believe it?"
He Jingfeng shook his head:
"The Supreme Emperor only lived for four hundred years and needs to seclude himself to strive for immortality. For an earthly supreme being like him, what could he not achieve? In cultivation, he could become a Ghost Immortal, in martial arts, a Four Realms Great Perfectionist, with heavenly and earthly treasures piled like mountains before him, like taking bites of a giant white radish at will.
Yet, just four hundred years... It's been said that after Dao Asunder, the path to immortality was severed. In my view, that's likely true.
Believing those heretic cultivators is less feasible than believing I'm a descendant of the Great Yan Dynasty's imperial family, requiring a large sum to unseal the treasure vault. Once I master the Profound Mysterious Divine Soldiers that protect the nation's destiny, I shall overthrow the Dragon Court and grant you a hereditary, unchangeable position as the Grand Pillar of the Realm!"
Me, Qin Shi Huang, make a transfer, huh?
Bai Qi curled a corner of his mouth and dropped the subject.
Anyway, as long as he stays in the three square miles of Black River County, he needn't worry about safety.
With this in mind, he decided to consider exploring the County City map only after achieving the Second Training Great Perfection.
Unless Ninghai Zen leads a quest providing support, he would firmly stay put for steady growth.
"It feels like plenty of Three-Practice Old Yin Coin experts are lurking outside Black River County, just waiting for me to show myself."
Bai Qi felt a chill in his heart and planned to emulate Ninghai Zen, mastering several superior martial arts in poison, antidotes, disguise, and concealment.
His master used it for ambush and stealth, but Bai Qi was purely for survival.
The dangers of wandering Jianghu are high; a single misstep could lead to disaster.
Without witnessing the He Family's Long River Force or the Sunset Saber, Bai Qi felt disappointed and directly headed to the Broken Blade Sect, where his senior brother Deng Yong, who'd once received him, happened to be.
The two sparred together, the outcome self-evident.
"The First Training Great Success can't last a few moves in front of me."
Leaving the Broken Blade Sect, Bai Qi simply felt unfulfilled; using just around fifty percent of his strength already left Deng Yong, who had mastered the Dragon-Tiger Linked Fist, struggling to cope.
Trampling weaklings is no fun!
In the following days.
Bai Qi rose early daily to practice, then guided Ah Di Bai Ming and Xiaotou. By noon, with the sun high, he ventured out to meet true disciples of the Divine Hand Sect and Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall.
Figures like Han Li and Song Qiying, once considered youth talents in Black River County, were no match at all for Bai Qilang's Perfect Tendon Barrier.
In strength, technique, vision, and adaptability, the gap was notable in all aspects.
It was now that Bai Qi realized late:
"I've become the number one in Black River County?"
Excluding the likes of the Bear, Eagle, Tiger, and Leopard masters, there are virtually no more opponents.
There's no wall that doesn't leak rumors.
The news of Bai Qi visiting places for sparring and winning became a topic at nearby docks and ferries.
"I always thought Master Bai was extraordinary. Among so many fishermen, only he could read! That's called a natural talent!"
"I'm telling you, keep worshipping the Dragon King! Master Bai's water skills have surged dramatically; surely it's the Dragon King's blessing!"
"Then your family burns incense every day; when will you also take a step to amaze us?"
"Oh, shut it..."
Bai Qi turned a deaf ear, ignoring it. Once a muddied, poor person strides toward success, flattery inevitably follows.
The Dragon King's blessing?
Better to say, when my mother was pregnant, she dreamed of a white dragon circling in the sky, then transforming into light that entered her womb.
Bai Qi read in history books that before the Supreme Emperor unified the world, nobles described him as deep and few-worded, with a chilly disposition, not to be closely befriended.
Once he ascended the throne, though, it became a tale of purple qi filling the courtyard on his birth day.
It is even said with certainty that immortals came riding cranes, taking the Supreme Emperor as an infant from his cradle and raising him in the mountains, carefully imparting the great Dao.
Thus, the Supreme Emperor did not like to be close to people and was lofty and unconventional.
Even his unique appearance, which once invited fatal disaster, transformed into a "dragon jaw," five pillars entering the top of his forehead, eyes piercing outward, extremely noble.
It was an unparalleled majestic visage!
One can see the turning of public opinion hinges solely on whether one is strong enough.
On this day.
Bai Qi finished exchanging hands with Han Li, and also furthered his progress with the Dragon Palm. As he walked down the street, the shops in the Inner City were decorated with lanterns and streamers, and the festive atmosphere gradually thickened.
In a daze, it was already year-end.
...
...
"The term 'year-end' originally referred to the tenant families owing rent and external debts, needing to settle accounts, finding it as difficult as passing a checkpoint."
Bai Qi hung up large lanterns in the old residence, pasted couplets and auspicious words, while his younger brother Bai Ming carried a bucket of glue, standing on tiptoe to help.
"At least we brothers don't have to go through tough times now."
Bai Ming's small face lit up with genuine joy, remembering how in previous years, he and his older brother were ashamed to visit other houses to celebrate, fearing they would be mistaken for beggars asking for food, and be despised.
The earthen house by the Black Water River was also very quiet, except perhaps Brother Xia or Brother Xie would secretly bring some brown sugar and drop by with greetings, but no other villagers came.
"Big brother, you haven't told me any stories for a long time."
Bai Ming looked up and said.
He remembered clearly how his brother would sit by the fire during New Year's Eve, telling him strange and peculiar tales.
Like the fat cat with a round head and stubby limbs, which could produce countless magical treasures from its pocket;
The seven children with gourds on their heads, each with extraordinary talents, fighting scorpion spirits and snake demons in the caves to protect their grandfather…
"Tomorrow at New Year's Eve dinner, I'll tell you one—"
Bai Qi finished posting the big red couplets, stepped back a few paces to see if they were aligned:
"A monkey that burst out of a stone learned seventy-two transformations, causing chaos in the Heavenly Palace… Hey, Second Young Master Song, it's been a while."
He turned and saw Song Qiying from the Chai Market, carrying a long gift box wrapped in red paper.
"Brother Bai, the year-end has arrived, it is only proper to come and offer my congratulations, otherwise it would be too lacking in etiquette."
Song Qiying's expression was slightly awkward as he was still not fully accustomed to Bai Qi's change in status, the fisherman who barely mingled into circles, now the foremost hero in Black River County, even his own father had to treat with respect.
And all this within less than a month's time.
"As long as your heartfelt wishes are delivered, there's no need for gifts, Second Young Master Song is too courteous."
Entrusting the task of hanging lanterns in the front yard to his younger brother Bai Ming, Bai Qi led Song Qiying through the gate. But before he could cross the threshold, a hearty voice rang out:
"Brother Bai! I must return to Yihai Prefecture tomorrow to join my parents for reunion dinner. Before I leave, I wanted to congratulate you. You and I truly hit it off so well from the start… Hmm, who is this?"
He Jingfeng arrived cheerfully with a gift box, decorated with plum blossom paper cut to two inches wide, three inches long.
This is a popular custom in Yihai Prefecture known as "red slips," akin to business cards, detailing the recipient's name, address, and congratulatory words.
Among the high societies, exchanging New Year's cards has gradually become a way to flaunt wealth.
Like using red silk for cutting, scattering red gold words on top, or even taking a whole woven silk piece and having embroiderers stitch auspicious words one thread at a time.
Last year it grew even more excessive, using precious woods for boxes called "greeting caskets," engraved with patterns, adorned with gold and silver, signed and sealed, meant to hold the red slips, filled with antiques or even stuffed with silver notes. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
The contest is about who is more extravagant and luxurious!
He Jingfeng, residing in Black River County, did not indulge in such ostentatious ways.
Bai Qi introduced them to each other:
"This is the Second Young Master of the Chai Market's owner, Song Qiying. And this is the Seventh Young Master of the prestigious He Family in Yihai Prefecture, He Jingfeng."
Song Qiying felt even more bitter in his mouth and quickly clasped his hands:
"Greetings, Young Master He."
He had heard that Bai Qilang often mingled with He Jingfeng, but witnessing it first-hand stirred waves in his heart.
An esteemed child of the high family from the county city actually calls Bai Qi "Brother"?
"Oh, so it's Brother Bai's friend, we should grow more acquainted in the future."
He Jingfeng chuckled lightly, glanced briefly around, and continued talking with Bai Qi:
"In the gift box are some cultivation-related items, please accept them, Brother Bai. Persuading Master Li to create the rough embryo of a magical artifact for my big brother still requires your effort."
Seeing this, Song Qiying hastily added:
"My father knows of Brother Bai's extraordinary archery skills and specifically gifts you this Golden Python Bow from his collection. Brother Bai, being Black River County's top hero, a precious bow paired with great talent is most fitting."
Bai Qi was slightly taken aback, why are they scrambling to give him gifts?
A strange word popped into his mind, respect?
Before he could reply, the Second Miss Zhu's figure appeared in the distance, but before Zhu Ling'Er could step onto the steps of the old residence, several high-headed horses subjugating the snow and wind galloped forward, throwing off their riders with haste, shouting:
"Brother Bai! The year-end is here, Master instructed us to specially come to congratulate you… the New Year's gifts are loaded onto two or three carts, all behind us! From now on, we're sworn brothers!"
With careful concentration, Bai Qi noticed it was Lu Shiping and Chao Sanjing, along with several companions.
He looked at the bustling entrance of the old residence, exchanged a glance with his younger brother as he hung lanterns on wooden ladders, and they both couldn't help but smile.
