A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 101 - 96: Lay Down the Butcher’s Knife—Become a Buddha or a Demon? (Part 1)

The powerful sound of the wind, the vast ink-colored sky, swallowed all the subtle noises as Lao Dao stepped forward.

The smooth green stone shattered into pieces, as if plowed open, with powerful joints and strong hands stretched wide, akin to a copper seal pressed down heavily on Zhang the Fifth.

The latter was shocked beyond measure, raising his hand wanting to parry, but completely unable to keep up with Lao Dao's swift palm.

In the eyes of outsiders, it looked as if he was scared stiff, standing there with closed eyes waiting for death.

Thunk!

A light press, Zhang the Fifth's head did not explode like a watermelon, instead his body trembled, muscles and bones breaking inch by inch, eyes widened, and he fell limp to his knees.

Lao Dao seemed indifferent, like pulling out a bunch of weeds, taking another step to stride into the crowd.

With crossed palms, like a great blade sweeping across, those Red Eyebrow Bandits toppled like haystacks, dying silently.

Not even screams or wails sounded before meeting King of Hell.

In almost an instant, thirty people were cleaned out completely.

Leaving only a Red Eyebrow Bandit with nothing at his waist, hands empty, holding a paper lantern.

Having slaughtered the filthy scoundrels, Lao Dao suddenly stopped, halting his stance.

Crash!

The fierce long wind split like waves, sweeping and billowing towards both sides of the street, overturning numerous stalls in an instant.

"Tell Lao Er, Lao Si, and Lao Wu, I'm waiting for them at Tongwen Hall. If they still regard me as their elder brother, they should come to see me."

The scrawny Red Eyebrow Bandit's legs trembled, gazing up at Lao Dao, who had his hands behind his back and was turning to leave, unable to suppress his surging excitement:

"Leader! You really are the Leader! Red Eyebrow, Zhongzi Hall, Xu Sanyin! I even fed your horse once!"

Lao Dao's back straight, shoulders like a mountain, his steps did not pause:

"There are no more Red Eyebrows, all are bandits, all are thieves, all... should be killed!"

...

...

"Young Master Qi, I'm sorry for startling you. I should have come for you first, but Tongwen Hall had many people that needed proper arrangement."

Lao Dao took the sable hat and securely put it on his head, rid of the red lotus and disciplinary scar, reverting to the Doorman Uncle of Tongwen Hall.

"Uncle Dao, I didn't realize your background was so prominent."

Bai Qi marveled quietly, though he often said that Doorman Uncles and Sweeping Monks belonged to the hidden professions prone to producing experts.

But he could never have guessed, this kind-hearted old man fond of sunflower seeds and snacks was the Red Eyebrow Leader who terrorized Fulong Mountain and dominated the Nu Yun River!

"The past disgraceful deeds are not glorious and don't warrant mention."

Lao Dao, smiling warmly, led Bai Qi towards Tongwen Hall:

"Ever since I received twelve disciplinary scars, there's no more Heaven-defying Saber in this world."

Bai Qi was filled with doubts, recalling the Martial Arts Secret Record stating the Red Eyebrow Leader was besieged by Pai Bang and Daoist Official, dying beneath Chaotian Sect at the Nu Yun River.

Uncle Dao also said, the Heaven-defying Saber was struck half dead by Ninghai Zen's three punches.

"Young Master Qi, indeed I was struck half dead, but... there was still a breath left."

Glancing at Bai Qi's changing expression, Lao Dao softly said:

"Actually, Young Master's three punches were not a big deal.

They merely knocked me from circulating Qi enough to rupture my Qi Blood, making me a cripple."

"..."

Bai Qi's lips slightly parted, hesitating to speak.

Uncle Dao, you were crippled from the fourth practice, yet why is your mouth still so hard?

"My background is similar to Young Master Qi, though not from a lowly household, I was impoverished. You were a lowly fisherman; I was a miner, my father and grandfather, generations digging ironstone and coal in Daye Town.

Coal, you know? It can be lit for warmth and used for refining iron, a basket full would net seventy cents."

Lao Dao's tall figure gradually walked down the derelict long street, like a mighty mountain, even though Bai Qi grew fast in stature, he still stood shorter beside him.

"I started working in the mines at eight, and by twelve I was carrying three large baskets a day, earning over two hundred cents. The villagers of Daye Town all said I was strong and capable, and many proposed marriage matches for me."

Bai Qi grinned:

"After I caught the treasure fish, Xiaotou's mother, Aunt Zhou, also said that many families asked if I wanted a wife."

Lao Dao chuckled:

"There's nothing wrong with marrying early, at least you can live a peaceful life. If I hadn't saved money to support my younger brother in learning a craft, I would have had several kids by twenty.

Back then, I didn't understand these things, just gritted my teeth, held my breath, and focused on earning copper coins, with no thoughts of women in my heart.

I'm the oldest in the family, with two younger brothers and a sister. My sister was sold by our parents at seven to a rich family as a child bride.

On the day she was taken away, she cried out my name. I grabbed a pickaxe, ready to rush out and snatch her back.

I have a stubborn temper. When I lose my head, not even my father could stop me. In the end, it was my mother, tears streaming down her face as she ran after me. The family was helpless, with four or five mouths waiting for rice to hit the pot. If we didn't sell my sister, we wouldn't have survived the snow-sealed mountain."

Bai Qi remained silent. When he first arrived in this world, there were several times when he and Ah Di almost perished in the bitter winter.

"Afterwards, I worked harder, carrying the weight of two, saving up money with the hope of sending my two younger brothers to apprenticeship at a blacksmith's as soon as possible, and to ransom my sister back.

Deep in the mountains, you'd find all sorts of things. Once, my father and uncle found a sparkling stone the size of a baby's fist.

My father, having some knowledge, felt it was a treasure and decided to keep it secret. He and my uncle conspired for my uncle to swallow it and pretend to have stomach pain, with us helping him to see a doctor.

The stone was so heavy it tore my uncle's intestines. He asked my father to cut open his belly to retrieve it.

The silver taels exchanged would be split, with half going to his wife and son."

Lao Dao spoke of these past events in an even tone, indifferent as if the frost on his shoulder could just be brushed off.

Yet every word was filled with bloody color.

"My father and I walked for four days and nights to reach Yihai Prefecture, with only thirty cents on us, handing over twenty cents to enter the city.

My father went to a pawnshop to inquire about the price. As soon as Old Chao Feng saw the thing, his eyes lit up, offering fifty taels.

Originally, we were going to agree, but while in the outhouse, I overheard two staff talking about 'Spirit Stone' and 'worth more than gold'.

So, I pulled my old man away, planning to offer it to Pai Bang through other channels…"

Bai Qi seemed to foresee the end: two miners from Daye Town recklessly finding a major power in Yihai Prefecture either get chewed up or hit sudden wealth only to be robbed.

"My father was cautious. When meeting the supposed Pai Bang steward, he didn't bring the stone.

As expected, he was betrayed and thrown into Nu Yun River. I was filled with hate but clueless about what to do. With no money, how could I face my uncle's wife and children?

Those days were torture. I dared not close my eyes while sleeping, afraid the stone would be gone the moment I awoke.

Fortunately, I had strength on my side. I carried large loads on the docks and slowly earned some copper coins. Then, through a brokerage, I sold myself into Pai Bang.

After enduring three to five years, I was twenty, and finally seized an opportunity when the Daoist Official from Yuanyang Temple came to listen to the opera.

That treasure called 'Spirit Stone' was always on me. I intentionally gathered information and learned that people in the path of cultivation needed it the most and it was worth a fortune."

Lao Dao's mouth twisted into a broad smile:

"Young Master Qi, do you know? The first time I saw that Daoist Official in Eight Trigrams Daoist Robe, with a Carefree Scarf, it was like a drowning man grasping a straw after wishing upon the stars and moon for so long.

In front of everyone's eyes, I presented the Spirit Stone, kneeling before him.

Then, can you guess what happened? The treasure fought for with the lives of my uncle and father, claimed to be used by Immortals, was pecked and eaten by the white crane kept by the Daoist Official before it changed hands.

He just said 'a nice little snack,' casually tossed a bar of Yuanbao Gold, and left to enjoy the opera.

Turned out, real Spirit Stones need refining by Dragon Court, and the impure ones mined would lose their spiritual energy with time, not considered rare anymore."

Bai Qi felt a mixture of emotions, uncertain of what to say, he silently noted down that the most celebrated cultivation accessory, a Spirit Stone.

It was not readily usable, filled with erratic energies, and had to be purified before it could circulate and be used.

"I had an enlightenment and presented that bar of Yuanbao Gold to a well-known Squad Leader of Pai Bang, learning a few skills. I returned to Daye Town for the New Year.

Uncle's wife had remarried with her son, one brother was injured from iron forging, the other exhausted himself mining coal to death. My mother cried herself blind, relying on support from my sister, who was a child bride, for years.

All for an impure Spirit Stone, a snack for the Daoist Official's pet spiritual bird, which caused the ruin of my family.

Young Master Qi, tell me, why is the world like this?"