A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 117 - 107: Cutting Flesh, Raising Horses

Han Yang's proposal, like a dull knife cutting into flesh, was straightforwardly agreed to by He Wenbing.

He slightly turned his body, facing Bai Qi who was seated at the upper left, revealing a bittersweet smile:

"The fishery was robbed, my son died tragically, all because I raised Yang Meng, that ungrateful wolf, causing everyone to suffer.

No matter how good the business is, there will always be an end. I've come to terms with it; the five shops in the East Market, along with the three nearby ferry docks, I might as well hand them over to Brother Bai to manage. He is young and robust, enough to bear this responsibility."

The final sentence was directed at Han Yang.

Song Lin, the master of Chai Market, had a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Is this old fox, He Wenbing, truly disheartened and planning a strategic retreat?

Even willing to let go of the ferry docks?

Nowadays, the connection between villages and territories relies entirely on the waterway and the road.

The mountain roads are rugged and difficult to traverse, dense with perilous forests, making them unsafe, whereas using the ferry on the water route is much more convenient.

Therefore, wherever there is a ferry dock, various markets often form around it, allowing small trades for peddlers and hawkers.

Especially in a bustling place like the East Market, where black-awning boats and sampans dock, there are inns, warehouses, taverns, and theaters, making it quite prosperous.

The fishery controlled five or six such ferry docks and piers, creating a continuous source of wealth.

Is He Wenbing really willing to hand it over to an outsider?

Did the sun rise from the west?

Han Yang, stroking a dainty cup, was also taken aback. The ferry docks are the lifeline of the fishery, yet they are given away so easily.

What trick does He Wenbing have up his sleeve?

He did not underestimate this Fishery Owner, who was almost relegated to Black River County and yet built a significant business from being a sideline descendant of the high-ranking He Family in Yihai Prefecture.

How could he be an ordinary person?

It's important to know that when He Wenbing first took over the fishery, there were merely twenty ships and dozens of people at most.

There was no grand scene of controlling ferry docks, oppressing fishermen, and keeping henchmen as there is today.

"Master He..."

Looking at He Wenbing's hunched body, Mu Chun suddenly felt a tinge of empathetic sorrow.

To lose a son in his later years is already a world-shattering tragedy; now to have his business divided, truly evokes melancholy.

"Brother Mu, no need to say more, this is my own decision, unrelated to others.

Being able to do some work for Black River County gives me peace of mind."

He Wenbing, with trembling hands, took something out from his bosom.

Previously, he was captured by the Eight-armed Ape, and that scoundrel Yang Meng took the opportunity for revenge, breaking He Wenbing's arm's tendons and bones with the Tiger Crane Ten Extremes Hand, almost crippling him.

If not for his martial arts training in earlier years, with a solid foundation, he might still be bedridden now.

"This is the path I secured for Tai'Er, an appointment letter from the Zhi Xin Temple in Yihai Prefecture, stamped with the Daoist official's golden seal.

With him killed by Yang Meng, my hopes vanished as well. In my hands, it's nothing more than wasted paper."

The bright torches, blown by the night wind, caused flickering shadows and wavering thoughts.

Song Lin, the master of Chai Market, catching sight of the clear writing on the letter, had a slight movement in his throat, with an unconcealable heat emerging in his eyes.

Tax collector! Half an official!

A promising position to step into the Yihai Prefecture Government Office and carve out a promising career!

For these local bullies of Black River County, there are only two paths to County City: join the Pai Bang, become a hall master or squad leader, wielding power at will;

Or be under the wing of the Daoist official, become an attendant boy, and if fortunate, receive a training talisman, with a future hope to cultivate Daoist arts.

Apart from this, there are no other ways to even slightly graze the threshold of the three-registers.

Instead of hitting a wall and suffering losses, it's better to thrive in Black River County, reigning in this mire, for swifter satisfaction.

The sitting hall masters of the Inner City Martial Arts Association are mostly of this situation.

In a proficient martial world of Yihai Prefecture, at best known figures, they rarely enjoy top respected treatments.

"Master He, this gift of yours is really quite heavy."

Zhu Wan's gaze shrank; if it's indeed an appointment letter for a tax collector, it undoubtedly values at a hundred gold pieces.

Being unable to find the temple with pig's head meat is all too common; having money also requires a place to spend it. Even with one hundred taels of Yuanbao gold, it might be hard to enter the Daoist temple and secure such a paper stamped with gold and silver.

He Wenbing, quietly arranging such an envious career for his son, surely hoped for He Tai to achieve success and bring honor to the family.

Unfortunately, all the plans were smashed by Yang Meng's vicious foot.

"It's merely making the best use of things. Brother Han, my injuries haven't healed, and I cannot endure the cold; tonight, I've had what I'm supposed to eat and drink."

With a cane, He Wenbing slowly stood up and bowed:

"Excuse me, everyone. Brother Bai can come anytime to retrieve the deeds for the shops and ferry docks at his convenience, and as for this appointment letter, it's up to Brother Han to handle it. I won't meddle anymore."

After saying this, he bent his back and walked down from the Rain Praying Platform.

Mu Chun, feeling a pang of regret, looked at that lightweight paper disdainfully, grunted, got up, and left the table to support He Wenbing out of the temple gate.

"Old Mu, this reckless man now surely considers us as opportunists taking advantage of the fire for robbery."

Zhu Wan scoffed, raised his glass, and drank it all up:

"I have no children, so I don't need to worry about trivial matters. Reorganizing the Guard, the Divine Hand Sect will follow Brother Han's lead. The rest, you can discuss behind closed doors. Farewell!"

He gave a slight cupped fist salute and walked away briskly.

"It's getting late, I should also ask Master Li for money. A table of wine cost four thousand taels, much more expensive than at Donglai Tower."

Representing the Fire Kiln, Bao Daqing exchanged a few pleasantries, then quickly followed Zhu Wan out of the Dragon King Temple.

Among the guests invited to the table, only the Master of Chai Market, Song Lin, his sworn brother Hu Zhenshan, and Bai Qi remained.

"My master said that until I've completed the second practice, I must not set foot in the County City. Besides, I'm the junior here, grateful for your care that allows me a seat here.

The business given by Master He is more than I can handle for now, so I won't get involved in the promising future of the County City."

Bai Qi smiled gently, expressing his stance that the job as a tax collector holds the greatest value in its semi-official status.

With a position in the Dragon Court, one can enter the Government Office system, and with ten years of experience, hope to leap through the dragon gate.

Now having perfected the First Tendon Training Barrier and with the fishery business not yet flourishing or expanding, he need not aim too high or covet the prosperity of Yihai Prefecture.

Moreover, He Wenbing flaunted such an item in public, clearly with no good intention.

Whoever touches it will be put on the hot seat.

"Master He's kind intentions, Brother Han, you should accept it first."

Song Lin squinted and smiled:

"Tonight's conversation was delightful. The aftermath in Black River County, with Brother Han overseeing the situation, should go smoothly. I, Song Mou, have unfinished household matters and will take my leave first."

Moments later, at the Rain Praying Platform in the Dragon King Temple, only Han Yang remained, staring at the appointment document pressed under the wine cup, his expression uncertain, as if it were burning in his hands.

...

...

Back at Tongwen Hall, Bai Qi was feeding the horse in the backyard. The Wind Chasing Horse he won from Song Qiying, which the He Family sent over as soon as He Tai died.

"He Wenbing seems disheartened, appearing to hand over the fishery business, but his tactics are indeed shrewd, bringing out the tax collector's appointment document, more like a delaying tactic."

The banquet Han Yang set up was clearly a Hongmen Banquet.

Apart from discussing disaster relief and recruitment of Village Braves, the crux was about who would take the blame for the Red Eyebrow Bandits' attack on the city.

In the end, that master of the fishery was flexible, initially retreating to advance, handing over the profitable routes of shops and docks to silence everyone.

Finally, with an appointment document for a county tax collector, the originally cooperative Martial Arts Masters can no longer remain united.

"There must be more moves to come."

Bai Qi skillfully added feed to the manger, regardless of how the two factions fought, as a newcomer with backing strong enough, he would inevitably benefit.

With Yang Meng's death, he cleared all the names in his mind, feeling at ease.

Next, it's time to fish well, accumulate family business, and improve martial arts.

"Young Master Qi, your feeding is still too coarse. This Wind Chasing Horse can run eight hundred miles without issue. Just feeding it forage won't do; you should also prepare some soy milk, mixed with eggs and soybeans."

Lao Dao said softly, hands behind his back.

"They say a horse doesn't gain weight without night feeding, but how could I possibly wake up in the middle of the night to serve it? We'll make do for a few days and go to the brokerage to see if I can find a reliable groom."

Bai Qi turned around with a helpless smile, knowing a bit about raising chickens, ducks, and fish, but this was the first time raising a horse.

"The brokerage is often a foul place with a mix of good and bad, probably hard to find someone satisfactory. I found one for Young Master Qi, Xu Sanyin; from now on, entrust this horse to you."

Lao Dao gestured, and an old man in tattered clothes came over, half-bent at the waist, in front of Bai Qi:

"Master Bai, not to mention one, even ten horses, I can handle them. The famous night-illuminating jade lion that Boss Dao had was fed by me, never losing a pound!"

Lao Dao frowned, reminding:

"There's no Boss Dao here, just call me Uncle Dao. Had it not been for your decent skills and not too much wrongdoing, Tongwen Hall's doors wouldn't open for you."

Xu Sanyin grinned, missing two front teeth, spoke with a lisp:

"Understood, Boss Dao."

Lao Dao's temple twitched, looking at the stubbornness in Xu Sanyin's eyes, sighed, and said:

"Young Master Qi, I'll leave this person to you as a groom. Please settle him in, as Tongwen Hall is not a refuge."

Seeing an unruffled Xu Sanyin, Bai Qi agreed:

"Thanks to Uncle Dao for finding a groom for me. From now on, I'll call you Old Xu; there are quite a few clean rooms in the old house at Erxian Bridge, I'll prepare one for you later."

Uncle Dao had a profound attachment to Tongwen Hall, akin to a peculiar obsession with cleanliness.

When the Red Eyebrow Bandits attacked the city, the second in command, Blood Vajra, hadn't even set foot on the steps before being punched back.

Even close friends like Old Liang rarely stayed long there.

Once Xu Sanyin left, Lao Dao's eyebrows furrowed slightly:

"Indeed, the Red Eyebrows have done their share of evil deeds, but there are genuinely people inside who can't survive and just seek a way to live. He's just a horse caretaker, at most performing some farm tricks; that's why I accepted him for you, Young Master Qi, not causing trouble."

Bai Qi nodded; he didn't mind that Xu Sanyin had been a thief.

"Before the Young Master left, he didn't forget to leave the Silk Binding Strength and White Ape Skill of the Five Grand Captures.

After achieving the first perfect training, it's time to open the bone barriers and begin blood and marrow transformation."

Lao Dao handed over two booklets, and added:

"Oh, and the Young Master also said, have Young Master Qi think of a phrase or two with grandeur, to act as Tongwen Hall's.... examination."