The ink-colored mist was boundless, the smoke curling gently.
Tonight, the Ginseng Collection Manor at the foot of Longkang Mountain was particularly lively. At noon, the ginseng pickers returned from the mountain fully loaded.
They not only collected a basketful of wild ginsengs aged a hundred years but also nurous other herbs like polygonatum and kudzu root, fully eting this year's quota.
Just as fishern must pay fees to the fishery for stall space, berthing, and renting boats, mountain dwellers are no different.
In large estates like this, dicine gatherers, woodcutters, and even hunters are required to "pay their share".
This includes but is not limited to dicinal herbs, charcoal, and animal pelts.
Of course, they can also settle it with silver.
Every month, the manor also offers generous bounties for rare items unattainable by ordinary people, such as treasured plants or demon pills, to entice swordsn into the mountains.
As the saying goes, wherever poisonous insects lurk, there is surely an antidote within ten steps.
Conversely, wherever there are Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, there are surely fierce beasts guarding them, which only practitioners can handle.
If one fails to pay their share, they might be expelled from the manor, forced to either sell themselves at the Chai Market or go to other poor villages.
Hearing this news, Xiaotou clicked his tongue and sighed:
"A large manor is just like the city; it's hard to get by. Every year, a batch has to be cleared out. In this sense, mountain folks aren't much better off than fishern."
Bai Qi remained silent as he just finished cleaning the venison given by Song Qiying.
After blanching it in boiling water to remove the odor, he rinsed it in cold water and placed it on a plate. Next would be heating the pot, adding oil, caralizing sugar, and then adding seasoning for a slow braise.
Over the past few days, he had eaten plenty of wild ga at, even Xiaotou's lean little fra had beco sturdier.
"Didn't Bai Qilang go out to join the lively scenes? The ginseng pickers are planning to offer sacrifices to the Mountain Deity, and many people are watching."
The outer door was open, and Zhu Ling'Er stood there with her hands behind her back, exuding an aura of grace.
"The world is vast, but eating is paramount. Filling one's belly before watching won't be too late."
Bai Qi added firewood to the stove, not sparing a glance to enjoy the view.
"I heard from Second Young Master Song that you've had quite a harvest these past few days in the mountains, Bai Qilang."
Zhu Ling'Er's bright eyes sparkled, and she playfully laughed:
"Are you planning to change your profession from a fish stall owner to a mountain headhunter?"
Bai Qi cleared the irritating smoke with a wave, replying calmly:
"I earn nearly two hundred wen daily without ever coming down the mountain empty-handed. To be honest, Miss Ling'Er, I also feel I have the potential to beco the top mountain herder of the Ginseng Collection Manor."
Zhu Ling'Er was slightly taken aback, covering her mouth and chuckling softly.
The young masters she usually interacted with either aid to make a big impression or pretended to be courteous in her presence.
Earning a few hundred wen was not even worth ntioning.
In Yihai County City, no wealthy heir spends less than ten taels of silver per transaction.
To them, a hundred wen might only be worth a bite of food.
"According to etiquette, I should ask if you've had dinner, Miss Ling'Er.
But I just learned that Second Young Master Song has prepared a sumptuous spread of wild ga, inviting his friends. I suppose there's no need for
to be overly attentive."
The aroma of venison braised with star anise and cinnamon wafted in the air. Bai Qi asked Ah Di, who was fanning nearby, to bring out three sets of bowls and chopsticks, ready to serve the al.
"Since Bai Qilang issued a guest-eviction order, I shall not disturb you,"
Zhu Ling'Er wasn't annoyed; she smiled slightly and went elsewhere.
"Ah Qi truly is a role model for my generation!"
Squatting in the corner to wash herbs, Xiaotou quickly ca over, giving a thumbs up with eyes full of admiration.
"Want to know why my martial arts have progressed so rapidly?"
Bai Qi served a large bowl of venison, richly colored with a hot sauce, stewed until tender, tempting anyone at first glance.
Yet Xiaotou's gaze remained fixed, utterly unaffected, as he listened intently:
"Why?"
"With no distractions from won in my heart, practicing martial arts naturally becos divine!"
Xiaotou imdiately shuddered, then revealed a troubled expression:
"My father expects
to learn the Iron Crotch Skill and marry several wives to carry on the family line… Besides, looking at plump and fair young girls, how could one not be tempted?"
Bai Qi picked up the kitchen knife at hand, making a down-cutting gesture:
"To achieve greatness, why not castrate yourself."
Xiaotou quickly covered his crotch, shaking his head, still dreaming of one day mastering the Iron Crotch Skill to indulge in amorous adventures.
After so playful banter, Bai Qi kept eating while summoning the ink talisman.
Through diligent practice over the days, amid the nurous floating light points, a brand new skill had finally condensed.
[Skill: Archery (Beginner)]
[Progress: 17/800]
[Effect: Ape-arm draws the bow, hundred-step armor-piercing]
"The Mountain-Rushing Secret Technique hasn't been reflected. Is it a matter of level? The more basic the skill, the easier it is to form?"
Bai Qi pondered silently. He had practiced archery for several days, using two quivers of arrows daily to hone his technique, finally condensing the light point into a tangible skill that could be enhanced.
But despite heading into the mountains several tis to gather herbs, cut wood, and hunt ga, he couldn't fully develop the "Mountain-Rushing" skill.
"I need to explore further; I feel this ink talisman is more than it seems.
By mastering relevant skills and reflecting them as techniques, thereby becoming increasingly proficient, gaining insights, continuously improving myself..."
Bai Qi scanned over the various skills silently, with the larger and smaller light points resembling stars erging one by one.
Two skills at proficient level: fishing and Golden Core Great Strength Skill.
Three at small success: Eight Brocade Skill, literacy, plus the recently broken-through Arhat Hand.
The rest are mostly trivial skills that cannot be advanced.
"Including the newly added Dragon Palm and archery, I now have ten skills with ."
Bai Qi wiped his mouth and once again recited the sixteen words in his mind: "Attain the Tao, transcend the ordinary into the sacred, from beginning to end, finally reaching truth," faintly feeling the ink talisman trembling, as if about to undergo so unknown transformation.
Since arriving in this world, he often repeated this passage in hopes that one day, he might open his eyes and return to his previous life.
Sadly, it has no effect, no matter how many tis he recites it, only summoning the ink talisman.
However, today felt different; it seed to emit a brilliant glow, as if absorbing essence.
"Could it possibly advance in rank? Do I need to et certain conditions? Must I gather a sufficient number of skills? Or must the levels not be too low?
Currently, the skills most likely to break through to proficiency are literacy and Arhat Hand."
Sensing the formless tremor of the ink talisman, Bai Qi put down the bowl, his mind whirling with thoughts.
He exhaled deeply, temporarily suppressing his thoughts, and with Ah Di and Xiaotou, he went outside to observe the ginseng pickers offering sacrifices to the Mountain Deity.
His deanor showed no signs of impatience, doing things step by step, differentiating only between early and late.
With Tongwen Hall as his backing and Ninghai Zen as his ntor,
The once urgent, fire-at-the-brow sense of urgency had greatly diminished.
"Instructor once said that once I've achieved Muscle Training Great Success, with energy reaching the four limbs, the threat of Yang ng can be resolved."
Bai Qi squinted his eyes, imrsed in the bustling crowd, still the gentle young man.
"When I achieve small success in Dragon Palm, I'll be able to control and channel energy through the four limbs.
By that reckoning, it's only a matter of days."
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