A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 102 - 97: Lay Down the Butcher’s Knife—Become a Buddha or a Demon? (Part 2)

Why has the world become like this?

Bai Qi was speechless. Uncle Dao's tone remained calm throughout, showing no trace of grief or anger.

Actually, with his experience and insight, he had imagined even more brutal scenarios.

For instance, the gold being embezzled, leading to him being expelled from Pai Bang, stumbling back to Daye Town, only to find his home in ruins and deserted.

But stories and personal experiences are two different things, separated by a massive chasm.

If such a tragedy were to happen to him, could he still rely on sheer determination to survive?

It's hard to say.

"...Later, I never returned to the county city. With the silver earned from Pai Bang, I set up a blacksmith's shop for my younger brother to run, bought a few acres for farming, and practiced martial arts daily.

When the brothers from the mines were bullied, they sought my help. I agreed, and if they wanted to learn martial arts, I was also willing to teach them.

Gradually, more and more people knew my name, and they came to join me. I had to trade the thatched cottage for a larger compound.

The once fierce overseers began to flatter me, calling me 'Brother'. The prominent local families treated me with great courtesy.

Because hundreds of brothers from the mine respected me, willing to heed my words, I broke through to the second level before turning twenty-five."

Local Bully Brother Dao from Daye Town!

These words suddenly popped into Bai Qi's mind.

In times like these, you really need skills to stand firm!

"Apart from not marrying, I feel life is almost complete. But then the mine collapsed."

Lao Dao shook his head, smacking his lips:

"I led a bunch of brothers down to rescue people and got buried inside, without food or water for several days, nearly died of thirst and hunger.

I barely managed to crawl inside. Hey, maybe fate didn't intend for me to die, and I found a long-dead Unicorne Viper, its flesh dried up but left a bright red core, remarkably hard.

I nibbled it bit by bit, tasted like cow dung, you know? I lived by eating cow dung for fifteen days.

After that, I shed my skin five times, my tendons grew twelve inches, bones as hard as ten rounds of iron tempering, mastering any martial arts swiftly, within half a year, nobody in Daye Town was my match.

Six months later, I broke through the third level; my reputation spread across ten miles and villages, and replaced the original large compound with a grand estate.

Local gentry and clan elders saw me and had to call me 'Master'."

Have I ascended from a Local Bully to a figure like those in Fish Market and Wood Market?

"Such a destiny, even if eating cow dung, many would rush for it."

Bai Qi sighed. From "Ah Dao" to "Brother Dao," then to "Master Dao," this transformation is incredibly similar to his own experience.

"I forgot how I waved the flag, but you should know there once was a calamity in Yihai Prefecture, not the first time, it happened before, with refugees everywhere.

Plus the monster disaster, people couldn't eat, and no one in the county city offered aid. So I bought rice and grain, but prices soared, built some shelters serving bowls of porridge, but ultimately it was like a drop in the ocean. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Gradually, word spread, and all the brothers from the Green Forest Dao sought me out, asking me to become their leader."

Tongwen Hall was in sight, Lao Dao gazed at the large compound, and despite the chaos in Black River County, it always remained tranquil.

As for the reason?

The dozen bodies strewn across the entrance explained everything.

In the corner of the gate hid a sneaky figure, Bai Qi looked closely, it turned out to be the horse-faced Jiang Liu.

"Why are you here?"

Jiang Liu's face was full of bitterness:

"The city is full of killing, I dare not run around, Doorman Uncle wouldn't let me in, so I hide by the wall."

Bai Qi chuckled silently, this guy has some cleverness. At present, in Black River County, there's no safer place than Tongwen Hall.

He entered the front yard, seeing Ah Di Bai Ming, Xiaotou's family, Elder Liang, and Brother Shui.

As expected, with such a big commotion.

Everyone instantly thought of Instructor, thought of this Tongwen Hall!

"Ah Brother!"

Bai Ming's worried face finally relaxed, clinging to Bai Qi's sleeve, unwilling to let go, fearing the only relative in the world would disappear.

"Ah Qi, as long as you're okay."

Xiaotou, who came to report the news in time, exhaled deeply, and loosened his grip on the steel knife.

"That Heaven-defying Saber water thief leader is really fierce, I was really afraid you…"

Uncle Changshun slapped Xiaotou on the head, scolding:

"Ah Qi is safe here, what nonsense are you saying! This is called fortune favors the good-natured!"

Liang Laoshu supported by his son Liang Sanshui, his face was bloodied, and full of murderous intent:

"Yang Mang, that scoundrel, caused such a big scene, unless troops from the county city arrive, it's hard to end this."

Bai Qi, seeing everyone was safe, felt his tense nerves relax.

But he wondered if Uncle Dao's status was still of use.

As the saying goes, people leave, tea cools.

The Red Eyebrow Leader's presence has been cool for ten years, might not be able to handle this situation.

...

...

"Big Brother! He's still alive? What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xu Sanyin, calling himself Zhongzi Hall, arrived at the cleaned-up He Family Mansion, where the Eight-armed Ape sat in the hall drinking tea. His eyebrows raised, killing intent emanated.

Years ago, because Big Brother died at Chaotian Sect, the Red Eyebrow Banner was cut short, morale collapsed, allowing Daoist Official and Pai Bang to destroy them, reduced to like stray dogs.

In that battle, besides Big Brother Heaven-defying Saber dying.

Third Brother Divine Arm Spear, Sixth Brother Cyan-faced Tiger, Seventh Sister One Foot Red, all were ambushed and killed.

If it weren't for such heavy losses, they wouldn't have fallen to the point of relying on monsters, seeking a living in such destitution.