A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 60: Senior Brother, the Ghostwriter

"Just one type of bait can attract all kinds of big fish, even treasure fish?

This is even more effective than the enchanted fishing rod I had in my previous life!"

Looking at the fully loaded sampan, Bai Qi couldn’t contain his excitement. Is this the power of the art?

"The Sea Driving Skill in Wang Laizi’s hands is truly like a pearl covered in dust.

With fragrant bait and worm bait, how could the fish stall’s business not flourish!"

Bai Qi was full of energy and eagerly collected the two heavy fishing nets.

In the dim night, the water shimmered with waves as he made his way to the East Market Pier, where the dock was already deserted. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

In the cold weather, the fishermen had returned home early, making the scene desolate.

"Brothers, come give me a hand!"

After securing the sampan with ropes, Bai Qi called over a few strong workers to weigh and calculate money with the fish baskets and cages.

Since joining the Tongwen Hall, he was prepared to face any storm.

With the support of Ninghai Zen, a great patron, he didn’t even worry about earning hundreds of taels a day attracting trouble.

This is the benefit of having a mentor.

No matter what happens, someone will always have your back.

"Wow! So many treasure fish!"

"Brother Qi, did you hit a big jackpot?"

"The Dragon King must be showing his power with such good luck?"

"Nonsense! It’s clearly Brother Qi’s skill..."

The workers were all astonished. They’ve worked at the shop for years but have never seen such a scene.

The basket was piled high with lively treasure fish, as common as cabbages, truly overwhelming.

It’s known that a big catch over three jin is worth several dozen silver taels.

How much money can this exchange for?

Truly a fortune!

A night’s work equating to a year’s earnings!

The workers’ eyes were full of envy, and some even asked proactively:

"Brother Qi, are you hiring at your fish stall? I’d like to learn fishing from you! Just provide me a meal!"

Bai Qi smiled but didn’t respond.

The human heart is a mystery, and one can’t easily recruit just anyone.

At this time, it wasn’t too late, and the East Market Shop hadn’t yet closed.

Liang Sanshui, busy with accounts, heard the commotion, came out, and was surprised:

"Ah Qi, you’ve hit the jackpot!"

Bai Qi pointed to the bamboo basket filled with treasure fish:

"Brother Shui, have the workers pick out the Silver Sand Carp and take it to Elder Liang for soup.

Also, save a Horned Pompano for my Ah Di to nourish himself, and convert the rest into money."

Liang Sanshui couldn’t close his mouth from smiling, joyfully saying:

"All right, all right, this time I’ve benefited from you, Ah Qi."

Being the steward of the East Market, having his own shop’s increased revenue and flow is undoubtedly good news.

In the future, speaking at the fishery would be more confident.

Moreover, every treasure fish caught attracts the Inner City’s Great Martial Arts Hall to flock over.

Invisibly, it boosts reputation and brightens the signboard!

"This one catch of yours equals almost half a year’s fishery income for the shop.

I’m afraid the cash isn’t enough. It might be difficult to get it together, but if you don’t need it urgently, Ah Qi, I’ll personally gather it for you by tomorrow morning."

Liang Sanshui finished calculating the accounts and sighed with a wry smile, as typically, the shop doesn’t hold many silver taels.

It’s settled every ten days and cleared at month’s end to avoid attracting thieves and substantial losses.

"It’s not a problem."

Bai Qi understood the situation, picked up the Horned Pompano threaded through with straw rope, exchanged a few pleasantries, and went home.

The one he caught wasn’t as heavy as Liang Sanshui’s real nephew’s and was only suitable for a clear stew.

"Ah Di... Master Ning!"

Bai Qi took out the key, opened the door, and saw two figures, one large and one small, sitting in the main hall.

Ninghai Zen remained in his sky-blue satin cloud dragon brocade, holding a small teacup:

"Finally back at this hour? My good disciple, being a fish stall owner isn’t easy for you.

Bai Qi was quite surprised, as Ninghai Zen’s whereabouts were unpredictable, and he hadn’t been at Tongwen Hall for some time.

"Why did this suddenly pop up today?"

"Hey, what a fine Horned Pompano! Ah Qi, I’m telling you, this is best used for a clear stew. Once the timing is right, pair it with a pot of yellow wine and some braised duck and braised meat for an amazing taste!"

Ninghai Zen looked at the treasure fish Bai Qi was carrying, smacking his lips as if he hadn’t had enough.

"Brother, I’ll go to the shop at the street corner, get a pot of yellow wine, and buy some appetizers."

Bai Ming was quick-witted, immediately understanding the meaning, and hurriedly ran out the door.

"Your brother looks like someone who has insight, with clear and delicate features and a touch of spirit, but it’s a pity his body is too weak."

Ninghai Zen laughed heartily and then said:

"I heard from Lao Dao that Lei Xiong went to great lengths to kill that Demon Fish, and unexpectedly you got a bargain; the Black Jade Paste you prepared can be saved."

Knowing the instructor didn’t like formalities, Bai Qi didn’t accompany him and started cleaning the fish himself, scaling, gutting, and washing off the blood.

"Perhaps my river luck is good, I always have gains when I go into the river."

Ninghai Zen did not comment, and disciples encountering fortune was understandable.

Which Grandmaster who had unified four disciplines didn’t have extraordinary experiences?

"I think so too. You, lad, have water patterns on your forehead, as if blessed with fortune."

Bai Qi’s heart skipped a beat; the instructor could even see that?

The vertical line on his forehead only appeared when it encountered flowing water.

"When the four disciplines are practiced to the end, the tendons, bones, skin, and flesh are perfected, then one seeks to rule the body and mind from the outside in. I can see through your hair, bones, qi blood, and muscles at a glance; it’s no big deal."

Ninghai Zen spoke casually, appearing relaxed and reliant on the table and bench, without any demeanor, yet subtly exhibiting a strong presence that suppressed all directions.

"Mountains and great marshes, lakes, seas, rivers, all have spirits. You spend years in the river, so it’s natural to be favored.

Black River County is too small, and few practitioners of side arts are found. Otherwise, I’d weigh your destiny to see if you’re truly water-affinity.

Your Senior Brother miscalculated back then, came up with ’Travel Star Shines Empty, Kuigang Meets Sha,’ and indeed later traveled everywhere, working hard."

Bai Qi had heard Ninghai Zen mention the Senior Brother who entered earlier many times, so he curiously asked:

"What does Senior Brother do?"

Not staying at Tongwen Hall meant he had graduated.

As the instructor’s senior disciple, he shouldn’t be unknown.

"Ghostwriter. He’s a famous ghostwriter in Yihai Prefecture, last name ’Cheng’, Cheng Yuanlong.

I gave him that name, isn’t it decent?"

Ninghai Zen was quite proud.

This instructor cared about details, though no one knew why.

"Ghostwriter?"

Bai Qi was puzzled.

"Think about it, eight hundred li of Black River, five hundred li of mountain paths, and no Government Office, relying solely on local young guards. How can you suppress endless gangs of bandits?

Therefore, we have ghostwriters, who regularly check the wanted posters from the county city for bounty silver, occasionally accepting village invitations to sweep away bandit raiders, and kill demon creatures that have become spirits.

Your Senior Brother is doing well, ranked sixteenth among the three hundred ghostwriters in Yihai Prefecture, keeping up Tongwen Hall’s reputation.

If you ever visit the city, you can ask him out for a drink. If trouble arises, he can lend a hand."

After Ninghai Zen finished explaining, Bai Ming also returned with the wine and bought plenty of cooked meat dishes.

Bai Ming quickly finished preparing the fish, washed his hands, and cut some fresh tofu, cooking with the stove’s high heat to boil the water.

Then he added the marinated and pan-fried Horned Pompano, along with various ingredients, into the clay pot.

"You know how to eat, knowing to add tofu lastly. Too bad there’s no pickled vegetables to roll in the soup, otherwise not even immortals could compare."

Ninghai Zen poured himself a bowl of yellow wine without hesitation, grabbed two pairs of chopsticks worth of fish, eating with satisfaction.

Outside, the cold was intense, but inside, the steaming hot food embodied the feeling of a family of three reuniting.

"By the way, in the mountains, I occasionally encountered a black bear that had become a spirit, maybe four or five hundred years old, and I casually killed it and took a bear gall to soak in wine, here, catch."

While the instructor feasted without restraint, he threw out a green-skinned gourd, which gave a crisp sound as it swayed inside.

Bai Qi steadily caught it, opened the bung, and was greeted by a burst of rich wine aroma.

"The Broken Blade Sect’s Bear Gallbladder Strength Wine doesn’t compare to mine, even though I’m your master, at least I didn’t freeload your meal.

Drink a little to strengthen your qi blood.

Your brother can also taste a bit, nourishing the liver and spleen, boosting physical strength."

Ninghai Zen raised his eyebrows as he spoke.

Unexpectedly, the instructor was quite stubborn.

Bai Qi quickly expressed gratitude, knowing fully well that Ninghai Zen went into the mountains to kill the demon for the bear gall wine in the gourd; otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?

"Starting tomorrow, I’ll teach you combat techniques."

Ninghai Zen savored the delicious fish meat, his gaze sweeping across Bai Qi’s increasingly robust physique, revealing some satisfaction:

"Xinyi Street in the outer city has a total of twelve Martial Arts Halls. At dawn, visit each one and challenge them one by one."