A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 171 - 142: Galloping into the Mountains

After the New Year, most people have to start busying themselves with their livelihoods again.

In the past two days, Bai Qi handled the business at Bai's Fish Stall, going over the accounts recorded by his younger brother, Bai Ming, to confirm the income and expenditures, staying well-informed.

Uncle Changshun managed it quite well, and there haven't been any unruly situations for the time being.

After all, both inside and outside Black River County know that the young boss of Bai's Fish Stall is the deputy leader of the local militia, someone whom even the Sitting Hall Master of the martial guild and the Master of Chai Market must treat seriously as a top-tier prodigy.

Who would dare to cause trouble or use any underhanded tactics? They might find themselves in a sack, thrown into Black Water River as fish bait the next day.

Even though many vagrants and rogues are eyeing the business at the fishery hungrily, no one dares to be the first to stick their neck out.

Moreover, recently, the owner of the kilns, that hammer-wielding Master Li, personally came to kneel in the wind and snow, begging to take on an apprentice, a rumor that spread throughout the streets.

Counting things carefully, this young master not only owns a fish stall and controls the ferry crossing but is also likely to become the young master of the kilns.

He is clearly becoming another powerful figure in Black River County!

"Let's wait until spring to launch the boats; the weather is still too cold. Uncle Changshun, you can take a few reliable workers and just bait the nest near Datian Bay every five days or so to supply a few old patrons."

Bai Qi instructed:

"Xiaotou has also grasped Qi and Blood Power and begun to refine his strength. He is strong and fit, and can help.

Pay him the usual wage; if there are any troubles, go to Old Xu first, and if that doesn't work, seek Senior Brother Deng Yong of the Broken Blade Sect."

Although Xu Sanyin is just a horse breeder at Fulong Mountain and not a full-fledged Red Eyebrow, he has trained in martial arts, and handling seven or eight Xiaotous with one hand is no problem.

As for Deng Yong, he is the second senior brother of the Broken Blade Sect and could effortlessly mobilize hundreds to sweep through half of Black River County with just one order.

Facing someone like Song Qiying, the young master, there's not much confidence, and punishing rogues is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Uncle Changshun acknowledged with a nod and said:

"Got it."

After finishing the trivial matters at hand, Bai Qi took Bai Ming to Tongwen Hall once again.

His younger brother was deeply obsessed with becoming stronger, constantly thinking about the Vocabulary Fragment, one of the Twelve Scrolls of the Martial Scripture of the Great Yan Dynasty, as mentioned by Uncle Dao.

In a past life, Bai Qi, who deeply disliked the patriarchal style, had serious conversations with him a few times and ultimately chose to respect Bai Ming's choice.

His younger brother has frail bones, and despite the obvious drawbacks of the Vocabulary Fragment, which does not nourish Qi and Blood, it only strengthens the nature of Yang Fire, effectively cutting him off from the Martial Dao.

However, if combined with Taoist arts of meditation and visualization, they complement each other.

Thus, after careful consideration, Bai Qi agreed to let his younger brother train with Uncle Dao using the Vocabulary Fragment.

"Young Master Qi, don't worry; the Vocabulary Fragment is the gentlest and won't cause any problems, except for differences in pace."

Lao Dao didn't shy away from showing Bai Qi as he began instructing Bai Ming in training:

"Life is said to be easy, aligning its virtues with the heavens and earth, its brightness with the sun and moon, its order with the four seasons, its omens with ghosts and spirits. As the heavens cover and the earth bears, all things grow without harming each other; life is said to transform, extremity is said to change, the changer enters from having to nothing, and the transformer enters from nothing to having; in the ebb and flow, increase and decrease lie the meanings of ease…"

Bai Qi listened for a while, feeling he hadn't gotten much insight, then got up and left for Dezhen Tower.

No matter how formidable the Vocabulary Fragment might be, it didn't suit the current era.

The Four Great Martial Arts Practices nurture Qi and Blood and cultivate strength.

If all this were to be converted into healing and detoxification, nurturing a Yang Fire of nature, it would be a waste of a refined and perfected body.

"Ah Di has decent comprehension, maybe he really could achieve something."

Bai Qi sat in Dezhen Tower and continued reading, soon delving into the world of words and characters, immersing himself in it due to the usefulness of literacy and comprehension techniques.

When he looked up again, the sky outside had darkened, a vast inky blackness spread across the sky, concealing all things, leaving only sparse dots of stars.

"Ah Brother, Uncle Dao says I have great talent!"

Seeing Bai Qi stepping out of Dezhen Tower, Bai Ming eagerly said:

"It only took me half a stick of incense to get initiated into the Vocabulary Fragment!"

Bai Qi raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise:

"That impressive? Is my brother a grandmaster in the making!"

Bai Ming, face filled with joy, couldn't hide his delight and, with his hands in his sleeves, prompted Lao Dao, who was watching the fun, to join in:

"Young Master Qi's younger brother is bright and eager to learn; the Vocabulary Fragment is indeed well-suited to his lively nature."

Used to reaching out to rub his younger brother's head, Bai Qi discovered that the kid had grown again, so he patted his shoulder instead:

"Train well; in the future, if Ah Brother gets injured, I'll rely on you to save my life."

Bai Ming suddenly frowned, pouted, and spat twice:

"Don't say things like that!"

Bai Qi laughed heartily, spitting twice in cooperation, signifying "children's words carry no harm," hoping the heavens wouldn't take it to heart.

...

...

In the following days, Bai Ming trained in the Vocabulary Fragment with Uncle Dao, and Bai Qi immersed himself in Dezhen Tower, wholeheartedly dedicating himself to the pursuit of reading, broadening his knowledge and horizon in all aspects.

About ten days later, Ninghai Zen finally returned.

The instructor maintained his habit of never taking the main road, silently appearing on the roof at some point, and his voice descended from the heavens:

"Ah Qi, how have the preparations been going?"

"Master…"

Bai Qi turned around and fortunately, it wasn't nighttime, and Ninghai Zen wasn't wearing white; otherwise, he'd have truly been startled if he appeared unexpectedly.

"Ready to enter the mountains anytime."

With Ninghai Zen leading the way, let alone traversing the five hundred-mile mountain path, even traversing and crisscrossing the three thousand miles of Fulong Mountain, he felt entirely secure.

"Then pack your things; I'll be waiting for you at Hunting Tiger Manor in the north."

Ninghai Zen's figure leapt and vanished, indeed dashing.

"Is this the Great Perfection of White Ape Skill?"

Bai Qi scratched his head, inexplicably recalling what Master Li mentioned: the skill Ninghai Zen put the most effort into back in the day was the body technique in the Five Grand Captures, the White Ape Skill.

Wall-Climbing and Roof-Running, leaping high and far!

Indeed impressive!

Bai Qi hurriedly returned home, carrying the still-unused Golden Python Bow, along with two bulging quivers of arrows, and hefted the prepared pack containing changing clothes, Discontinuity Ointment, Heart Nourishing Pills, and other injury medicine.

Though the master is steering this mission, knowing Ninghai Zen's nature, it's likely he'd be loath to act as a nanny, providing constant care.

"Ah Di, have Old Xu bring out the horse."

Bai Qi called out, and shortly after, Chasing Wind, the horse, well-fed and robust, appeared at the front door.

Its four hooves strong and muscular, it seemed even more spirited than before.

"You've done a great job, Old Xu!"

Bai Qi praised, slinging the bow over his shoulder, and leaping onto the horse's back.

With his Perfect Tendon Barrier, robust Qi and Blood Power, and a strength of a thousand pounds or more, taming a fierce horse was a simple task.

"Ah Brother…"

Bai Ming watched eagerly.

"I know you promised that little bird, and we'll drop it off on the way so Song Qiying can look after it."

Bai Qi lifted his younger brother up, squeezed his legs around the horse's belly, shook the reins, and raced away.

Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The intense sound of the wind roared by, making their robes billow, making it somewhat difficult to breathe through their mouths and noses.

Out of Black River County's city gates, Bai Qi no longer held back, directly galloping away, as the riverbanks and fields on both sides swiftly retreated, becoming blurred shadows.

The cold air, like a knife cutting against the face, couldn't suppress the thrill brought by Chasing Wind as it streaked by.

"No wonder those noble youths all love dressing magnificently and riding fine horses!"

Bai Qi, familiarizing himself with the nature of the fine horse, controlled its direction with the reins, and soon they traveled nearly a hundred miles.

Hunting Tiger Manor lies north of Longkang Mountain, and compared to the Ginseng Collection Manor from last time, the folk here are even more fierce.

The hunters entering the mountain often move in groups of three or five, wielding hayforks, whistles, even carrying steel knives.

Seeing strange faces, they often cast unfriendly glances, making one feel the odd sensation of being placed on a chopping block. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Of course, for someone like Bai Qi, a youth riding a tall horse with a bow and arrows slung over his shoulder, even if they had ten times more courage, they wouldn't dare provoke him.

Who knows which noble family's young master he belongs to.