A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 62: The Fisherman of Yesteryear, Today’s Honored Guest
[Strengthen the body to resist enemies, parry fists and kicks, Golden Core Great Strength Skill progress increases]
[As if wearing iron armor, depleting power, Golden Core Great Strength Skill progress greatly increases]
[Qi and blood surge wildly, muscles grow three inches, Golden Core Great Strength Skill breaks through to minor achievement...]
Bai Qi panted heavily, sweat pouring down like rain, almost soaking his robe through.
Feihua Sect, Six Vehicles Sect, Tiger Capturing Sect...
With seven martial arts halls remaining, he challenged them one by one, and through successive matches, he nearly exhausted his internal strength.
As his chest rose and fell, his entire body trembled as if he could collapse at any moment.
"Getting through the street was not easy! Thankfully, I kept my money pouch without any loss!"
Bai Qi steadied himself, clasped his hands into a fist, and, following martial etiquette, bowed deeply.
Then, amidst the envious or jealous gazes of those in the martial arts hall, he walked out of the broad door adorned with a sign, head held high.
Facing the remaining seven martial arts halls, he changed his tactics once again.
Instead of using Beng Fist for strong attacks, he firmly guarded his vital spots, waiting for his opponents to lose patience before seizing the opportunity to engage closely.
The Golden Core Great Strength Skill, also known as Vigorous Qi Iron Cloth Shirt, allowed him to swell his muscles inch by inch, serving the purpose of parrying and blocking.
Bai Qi thought to himself, since it’s a contest of fists and kicks without any weapons, there’s no need to worry about getting injured or bleeding.
He simply used this tactic, much like a turtle retreating into its shell, and by relying on superior endurance, he outlasted seven practitioners.
"For those with exceptional perception, they can become direct disciples in the martial arts field. With flexible and varied fighting tactics, not relying solely on techniques but thinking strategically, one can be truly considered a rare talent.
Just because you managed to get through the twelve houses on Xinyi Street today, I, as your master, will exempt you from the expenses of medicinal supplements and nutritional food before achieving a great success in Skin Cultivation."
As the sun set to the west and the twilight deepened, Ninghai Zen sat at a food stall outside, the admiration in his eyes growing stronger, as if he’d found a treasure.
From the morning’s noodle soup, eating till the evening’s lamb stew with bread, this instructor seemed leisurely on the surface, but was quite attentive to the battle situation.
There’s a consensus in the martial arts circle that being skilled in kung fu doesn’t necessarily mean strong fighting skills.
In various martial arts halls and sects, there are always direct disciples who are skilled in fists and kicks but lack combat experience, failing when facing strong adversaries.
That’s why the paths of nurturing, training, fighting, and killing are clearly distinguished.
"Thank you, Master."
Bai Qi pulled out a bench and sat down, slowly regulating his breathing before speaking.
After battling twelve practitioners with refined power, he was genuinely exhausted.
If not for relying on the Demon Fish Inner Pill and precious fish blood and flesh to mend his deficits recently, building up his physique and muscles, he might not have sustained round after round of combat.
"A fighting method is to make good use of advantages, using one’s strengths to attack the opponent’s weaknesses.
With courage, vigor, and intuition, mastering these three points can lead to repeated victories and cultivate momentum."
Bai Qi took a sip of the bitter and astringent coarse tea, listening to the instructor summarize with obvious approval.
"Very good, your perceptiveness in fighting is far superior to nurturing and training."
Ninghai Zen pushed a large bowl of lamb stew towards his apprentice, nodding as he said:
"You must remember that nurturing and training lay the foundation, like a tree’s roots. Only with deep roots can it grow robustly.
Fighting and killing are like the branches and leaves, lush and broad, able to shield from wind and rain.
If you only know nurturing and training, it’s just flowery but weak; if you only know fighting and killing, it will all be in vain as you age.
Your senior brother is decent at fighting, but his nurturing and training are insufficient, so he may never achieve great accomplishments in this life.
You must learn from his lesson and strive for perfection."
Bai Qi’s hungry stomach growled as he relaxed his tense mind, feeling so famished that his eyes went blurry:
"Master, fighting relies on engaging with people, training courage, strength, and skills. How does one hone killing techniques?"
Seeing his young apprentice wolfing down food, Ninghai Zen raised an eyebrow, grinning as he said:
"Killing techniques are simpler than fighting methods. After rolling through heaps of corpses and seas of blood, you’ll be there.
With five hundred miles of mountain roads and eight hundred miles of Black River, there should be no shortage of practice opportunities."
As Bai Qi took a big bite of lamb, he froze, feeling that his master’s words carried a murderous aura.
Reflecting on Lao Dao’s mention that the instructor often went into the mountains, he guessed that demon creatures within five hundred miles likely had little chance for a peaceful life.
"By the way, that Health Cultivation Skill you’ve been practicing seems noteworthy, but it’s somewhat incomplete.
Let me have a look. Perhaps I can find the complete version in the True Tower."
Ninghai Zen casually remarked.
"Sure."
Bai Qi buried his head in his soup.
...
...
Half-satiated, Bai Qi returned to the Tongwen Hall to soak in a hot bath, feeling somewhat rejuvenated.
Sitting in the bathtub, he fought off the drowsiness from feeling too comfortable and calmed his mind to call forth the ink plaque.
[Skill: Golden Core Great Strength Skill (Proficient)]
[Progress: 75/800]
[Effect: Body like an iron plate and golden bell, not fearing heavy blows]
"It’s indeed a great skill for taking hits!"
Bai Qi took a deep breath, the fascia beneath his skin pulsated like nimble little mice scurrying around.
His ordinarily soft skin rubbed vigorously against the hardwood, scratching an itch and providing an unusual comfort.
And this was just using thirty percent of his power. If he exerted full force, his waist, back, and abdomen would almost twist into solid blocks, with even steel wires scraping without leaving a mark.
Especially after the breakthrough of Golden Core Great Strength Skill, the fascia grew another three inches, making his strength increasingly formidable.
When exchanging blows with others, an ordinary practitioner might not be able to withstand a single punch.
"I wonder if Master Ning can complete the latter part and enhance this Health Cultivation Skill."
Bai Qi was filled with anticipation as he washed off the sweat and put on the clean robe from Tongwen Hall.
He was about to return to the residence at Erxian Bridge when a worker from the Fishery, holding a note, waited outside:
"The Young Master wishes to invite Brother Qi to Donglai Tower, where food and drinks are already prepared."
The Young Master of the Fishery?
Wasn’t he the one Yangquan had flattered before?
The son of He Wenbing, He Tai?
Bai Qi’s thoughts turned, and he smiled as he accepted the invitation, letting the worker lead the way.
Donglai Tower is the top restaurant in the Inner City, famed in Black River County for its all-fish banquet, and is the first choice for large families to book a table.
At this moment, the main hall was crowded, with diners coming and going, creating quite a noisy and bustling atmosphere.
"This is Brother Bai Qi from the East Market Shop, a distinguished guest invited by my young master, please do not neglect him."
The worker from the Fishery said to the servant.
"Please come to the second floor."
The server tossed a towel over his shoulder, bowed, and eagerly led Bai Qi upstairs.
"Brother Bai, you are truly hard to invite; I’ve called on several occasions, and only today have I been fortunate enough to meet you."
Upon reaching the second floor and passing the landscape screen, it became much quieter inside.
Two banquet tables were set up, and seven or eight young people gathered around, talking and laughing.
There were both men and women, all dressed impeccably, looking glamorous, the oldest being no more than twenty-five or twenty-six.
Among them were a few familiar faces, Deng Yong from the Broken Blade Sect, and Han Li from the Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall.
The young man in luxurious robes greeting them was He Tai, the Young Master of the Fishery.
He had never met Bai Qi, yet he seemed very friendly, as if they were old friends:
"Second Young Master Song from Chai Market, a direct disciple of the Divine Hand Sect, has a Minor Achievement in Muscle Training."
"Young Brother Li from the Fire Kiln; his father is the old artisan from the Weapon Forging Shop, where many of Black River County’s swords and sabers come from."
"Young Hall Master of the Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall, Brother Han Li; his skills are the highest among us here, having reached the second rank, a tiger’s father does not beget a dog for a son!"
"Miss Zhu from the Divine Hand Sect..." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
As Young Master He Tai introduced everyone one by one, he seemed quite familiar with everyone, showing that he was skilled in socializing and had considerable means.
"People from the Fishery, Chai Market, and Fire Kiln, along with someone like Han Li whose father owns a Great Martial Arts Hall, sit at one table.
While Deng Yong’s family deals in private salt and sells salted fish, they are wealthy but lack sufficient status, incomparable to the rice landlords who monopolize various industries, so they can only sit at another table.
Though all in the elegant room on the second floor, a hierarchy still exists, indeed, indeed."
Bai Qi didn’t show any signs of being reserved, his face carried a gentle smile, and his attire that displayed his robust physique made him not seem like a Fisherman of humble origin at all.
Compared to He Tai beside him, whose ordinary looks relied entirely on clothes, he looked more like the Young Master.
"Come, come, Brother Bai, please sit here; you are indeed a rare guest.
Big Brother He of the He Family has hosted several feasts and often mentioned inviting Brother Bai, but always in vain, leading us to joke about it for quite some time."
The Second Young Master Song from Chai Market spoke warmly, but with a hint of sarcasm hidden in his words.
It was merely suggesting that Bai Qi was too pretentious and that He Tai’s face was fairly insignificant, unable to invite people.
"I recently joined Tongwen Hall, and Master Ning is quite strict; I dare not wander everywhere dining and carousing."
Bai Qi casually and openly sat down, using the instructor’s name to suppress these young scions from either wealthy or noble backgrounds.
In such gatherings, it’s all about who’s got a powerful father or a strong backing; nothing else matters much.
His ability to make it to the second floor of Donglai Tower, and even sit next to these Young Masters, was merely because he basked in Ninghai Zen’s glory.
Were he just the Fisherman Bai Ahqi, he could never have set foot in here, let alone take a seat.
"Tongwen Hall isn’t a regular place; Second Brother Song, I remember you once wanted to become an apprentice there but didn’t succeed in the end."
He Tai’s face darkened a bit as he replied nonchalantly.
"Haha, both of you wanted to enter Tongwen Hall, and now with the disciple of the instructor right here, why not take this opportunity to toast and intoxicate Brother Bai, to relieve the resentment in your hearts."
Han Li from the Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall stepped in to ease the tension; he was the highest skilled among them, one of the four great experts of the hall - the Bear Eagle Tiger Leopard, and the direct son of Han Yang.
In terms of status and strength, he was undoubtedly at the top among both tables of people.
"Just lucky, recommended by Elder Liang; speaking of true talent and scholarly learning, how could I compare to all of you."
Bai Qi proactively raised his glass and downed it in one go, so effortlessly that it took everyone by surprise.
This little gathering had entertained impoverished youths who suddenly gained prominence.
Most of them would arrive for the first time, restrained and cautious.
The reason was simple: their backgrounds limited their perspectives.
With insufficient confidence, facing these privileged young gentlemen, how could they engage in normal conversation?
Someone like Bai Qi, the Fisherman who could talk and act so naturally after stepping into the tower, was indeed unprecedented.
"Let’s toast to Brother Bai!"
He Tai initiated the toast, and all chimed in.
The event was filled with clinking glasses and joyful chatter.
Bai Qi, who had not yet sated his hunger, took the opportunity to eat while listening, feeling quite relaxed.
These young gentlemen and ladies from wealthy families need not worry about their livelihood.
So their topics of conversation often revolved around martial arts training, family businesses, and their hopes and aspirations for the future.
The term mentioned most frequently among them was "Yihai County Pai Bang."
