A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 34: The Celestial Lord’s Wrath, Part 1
The East Market Shop was brightly lit, unlike Bai Qi’s poor household, where the cheap oil lamp with a straw wick was used, which easily strained the eyes.
The candles on the table shone brightly, illuminating the inner room.
"Truly extravagant."
Bai Qi remarked with emotion.
In these times, those who could afford to use candles belonged to extraordinary wealthy families.
Even the cheapest, poorest quality wrapped in birch bark cost twenty cents each.
The fancier ones, specifically used to display grandeur, could sell for the outrageous price of four hundred cents.
Burning candles throughout the night, making nighttime as bright as daytime, was a top-tier flaunting method exclusive to the County City’s lords!
The wealthy families of Black River County couldn’t emulate this, lacking the financial resources.
"Every shop opening below the fishery has a fixed quota of expenses issued according to the months and years."
Liang Laoshu’s face was slightly flushed, and he exhaled a strong smell of alcohol.
The East Market Shop taking in Ghost Pattern Fish solidified Liang Sanshui’s position as the substitute steward.
It was rare for his son to show such promise, overshadowing his nemesis Yangquan for once.
It was definitely worth celebrating!
If it weren’t for the announcement not yet being made public, Old Liang would have wanted to host a feast with dozens of tables.
Inviting the dock workers, laborers, and fishermen for a meal.
It was also a way to show off!
"Daily expenses?"
Curiosity rose in Bai Qi’s eyes:
"What are they?"
Liang Laoshu, slightly intoxicated, spoke unclear words:
"Regular clothes, candles, pine torches, summer ice, winter charcoal, medicinal material monthly fees... things like that.
They’re split into two tiers; the steward and chief steward’s specifications differ, with the former being more generous."
Bai Qi clicked his tongue twice, these items seemed few.
But if you really calculate carefully and add up the shops individually.
The resultant sum is by no means a small amount.
He completely understood why the people in the lower echelons of Black River County, operating lowly trades, all yearned to join the fishery, Chai Market, and fire kilns, seeing them as paths to success.
"Those wearing straw sandals, compared with those wearing cloth shoes; those in short outfits, following those in long robes, there’s indeed a difference, this is the disparity between classes.
But taking this path, one has to be exploited and squeezed by the owner until they slowly climb up to become figures like them."
Bai Qi pondered in his mind, no wonder Old Liang said, joining the Guard of the fishery, one must kneel to stand out.
If entering the Great Martial Arts Hall of the Inner City, it’s different.
The dependency between master and disciple, at least, isn’t as strong as that between master and household slave, nearly impossible to break free from.
What’s more reliant is one’s skill level and talent.
"The rain outside is so heavy, rest a bit before going back, or just stay for the night."
Liang Sanshui had drunk quite a lot tonight as well, his honest square face beaming with a smile.
Generally, from chief steward simmering to steward, unless one’s skills are strong and well-connected.
Otherwise, it’s difficult to be promoted without five or six years.
Especially someone like Yangquan with such a strong personality, if Liang Sanshui really becomes his subordinate.
He would probably be constantly troubled and strongly pressured.
So, he was truly grateful for Ah Qi’s help.
The fishermen all said Bai Ahqi was righteous and reciprocated blessings; indeed, it was true!
"No, my brother is waiting for me, leaving him alone at home worries me."
Bai Qi shook his head and laughed:
"Just lend me a rain cape, come morning I’ll return it, and then I’ll start calling Brother Shui ’Steward Liang!’"
Liang Sanshui stood up, earnestly saying:
"Ah Qi, from now on in the shop, your words are my words.
Between us, there’s no need for formality, the rafts and sculling boats rented by the fishery, as long as you can use them, you can take them all without a single cent.
If you have the intention to open a fish stall, those fishermen willing to switch their stalls, I can also exempt them from commission.
Once you get your business running, you will no longer be a humble fisherman!
I don’t have great abilities, but guarding this small patch of East Market is enough to ensure you have no worries!"
Perhaps it was the truth spoken after alcohol, Liang Sanshui was unusually talkative for once.
Even he had not expected that unknown young fisherman to repeatedly surprise.
Obtaining goods, capturing treasure fish, even his martial arts skills are extremely gifted, being good enough to be a direct disciple at the Great Martial Arts Hall.
Truly an encounter with storm clouds, capricious changes, just like dreaming!
"Brother Shui, I’ll have to count on your further care in the future."
Bai Qi smiled warmly and walked down the steps in his rain cape:
"I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s feast, don’t see me off, head back."
The wind and rain became more torrential, with dense raindrops exploding and forming a mist that enveloped the wilderness.
Bai Qi walked within it, instead feeling a sense of intimacy.
With each breath, he felt extraordinarily free.
Now with refining fishing skills, Ba Duan Gong advances, coupled with various benefits.
Ordinary fishermen dare not sail in such harsh weather, but he feared nothing.
Untying the ropes and treading on the raft, man and boat leaped into the roaring Black Water River.
"This good rain is truly like the Celestial Lord’s wrath.
If the Celestial Lord had a spirit, he might as well take away Yangquan and Wang Laizi.
It would be a fitting end to that ’worthless life’ of Old Yu."
...
...
Under the willow trees, Yangquan, leading a group of ruffians, hurriedly arrived.
They had been drenched in the cold rain for most of the night, their hearts already filled with rage.
Upon seeing Wang Laizi’s figure inside the battered shack, everyone showed a vicious expression:
"That damned bastard! I went through hell to find you!"
"Finally caught him! Brother Quan, how should we handle this?"
"Promised Brother Quan to catch Ghost Pattern Fish, but turned to Liang Sanshui instead, betraying from within!"
"This scum delayed Brother Quan’s important affairs, taking his life would be too easy..."
A group of ruffians shouted amidst the rain, eager to seize Wang Laizi and give him a good thrashing.
Yangquan wiped the water dripping from his face and asked the figure huddled by the riverbank:
"Wang Laizi, do you have anything to say?
I really want to know, what did Liang Sanshui offer you that you don’t even want your life?"
He never anticipated that Wang Laizi, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, would dare stab him in the back.
The steward role that was once a sure thing has now fallen into Liang Sanshui’s hands along with those Ghost Pattern Fish.
"Brother Quan, I can definitely gather the twenty fish quota, give me another chance!
I didn’t betray you... I don’t know which bastard stole my catch!"
Wang Laizi, wrapped in a straw raincoat, was so cold his face was pale, like a corpse soaked in water for days.
"You think you can fool me! In this ghostly weather, who could dive several fathoms deep to steal fish?
Did Liang Sanshui bring in water ghosts to help him?"
Yangquan’s anger erupted, striding forward and slapping heavily a few times.
His strikes were heavy, causing Wang Laizi to stagger, his mouth full of broken teeth mixed with blood, falling into the mud.
"Bai Ahqi, it must be Bai Ahqi, he’s skilled at fishing! Maybe it was him!
Brother Quan! You must believe me! I’ve already put bait down, big fish will appear soon!
A twenty-pound Fish King, I can catch it to honor the Young Master with!"
Wang Laizi knelt and kowtowed, just like Uncle Changshun whom he bullied before:
"This time, I’ve set a strong trap, I definitely won’t miss!"
Yangquan had no patience for such nonsense, the steward position had already been filled by Liang Sanshui.
Getting another decent job would be extremely difficult unless he was willing to join the Fishery Guard, escorting merchant ships and clearing out bands of water bandits.
But that life was too harsh, enduring wind and rain, nowhere near as enjoyable as staying at the East Market Shop.
"Go meet your mother, you useless bastard!"
Yangquan bent down, grabbing Wang Laizi by the back of the neck, with a fierce gaze:
"You ruined my big plans and you think you’ll get away with it? Dream on!"
The sudden mention of his deceased mother made Wang Laizi’s reddened eyes widen, suddenly gaining strength, headbutting Yangquan’s abdomen.
Maybe it was the muddy and slippery ground, but he managed to topple Yangquan’s burly frame, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"You’ve lost it!"
The knife at his waist slashed down viciously, nearly chopping into Yangquan’s neck, spurting a large gush of blood.
"What did you do to my mother! You bastard, I’ll haunt you even as a ghost!"
Wang Laizi suddenly went berserk, casting off his cowardice and humbleness from earlier.
The knife was knocked away, so he tightly strangled Yangquan’s throat.
"Get off!"
After all, Yangquan was a semi-refined practitioner, his forehead veins bulging, slapping down with a palm like a fan!
Wang Laizi spat out a mouthful of blood, his whole skeleton seemingly falling apart, flung away with a bang.
His whole body rolled a few times, covered in blood and mud.
"You wretched bastard still want to play the filial son? I’ll send your mother to heaven with one kick and send you to reunite with her!"
Yangquan was infuriated, as a Martial Artist of Refined Power, he almost got killed by the likes of Wang Laizi.
It was an utter disgrace!
"I’ll haunt you even as a ghost..."
Wang Laizi lay dying by the riverbank, glaring intently at Yangquan’s face.
The bright red blood soaked through his coarse clothes, being absorbed by the yellow paper.
"Wang Laizi, tell me your method for catching Ghost Pattern Fish, and I’ll spare you some pain!"
Yangquan touched his cool neck, not letting his anger cloud his judgment.
He still had hope for Wang Laizi’s secret method using people as bait and blood as lure.
"Ha ha, ha ha ha..."
Wang Laizi seemed possessed, his cheeks hollowing, laughing intermittently:
"You’ll find out soon enough! Yangquan, you can’t escape..."
His voice chilling like a night owl’s, sending shivers down one’s spine.
"Scaring me with ghost talk? Die!"
Yangquan furrowed his brows, with a "crack", he snapped Wang Laizi’s neck underfoot.
He turned and searched around the shack for a moment, finding only bits of flesh, limbs, and hair, like a slaughterhouse.
"What a mess!"
Facing the group of ruffians, Yangquan was about to order them to search around for the secret bait recipe.
But those usually fearless men now had intense fear in their eyes, as if they had seen a ghost.
"What is it?"
Yangquan turned his head, his pupils suddenly dilating.
Crash!
A gigantic catfish, several meters long, black all over, with whiskers, burst from the water.
Its mouth gaping like a bloody basin, chewing and swallowing Wang Laizi’s corpse with its sharp teeth.
Splurt, splurt, thick blood splattered all over Yangquan.
The horrific scene left him stiff with fear, wetting his trousers.
"A Demon Fish? It’s actually a Demon Fish! What kind of trap did that bastard Wang Laizi set..."
Boom!
Violent lightning illuminated the scene, drowning out all sounds by the riverbank.
