A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 77: Gathering Herbs and Reaping Rewards

Even though the autumn weather was cold, with heavy dew as the night grew late, it didn't affect everyone gathering around the bonfire to eat meat and chat. The lively atmosphere continued until a quarter past 9 p.m., when the gathering finally ended.

Back inside the house, Bai Qi warmed himself by the hearth while boiling water.

The village and manor at the foot of the mountain were colder than the city.

Every household had to have a hearth or heated brick bed, otherwise, they couldn't survive the winter.

"Where did Xiaotou go?"

In the middle of the large house, a pit was dug, solidified with soil around it, and dry firewood was set ablaze. Bai Qi hung an old copper kettle on a hook and looked back at Ah Di.

"He ate too much mutton and his stomach is upset, so he went outside to find a latrine."

Bai Ming was too embarrassed to say that he had secretly pulled the red string of Xiaotou's waistband.

"Wash your face and rest early. The mountain road of dozens of miles almost broke that ox-cart apart.

When we move into the Inner City someday, we'll live in a bigger house and build a stable in the backyard to keep a couple of well-fed and strong horses."

The dry firewood in the hearth crackled as Bai Qi casually said:

"You're small, you can buy a pony, and when you feed it tall and strong, you'll be grown up too."

Bai Ming's small face was full of anticipation; his brother had always been true to his word, never deceiving him.

"You've just sensed your Qi Blood, so take good care of it, and keep practicing standing exercises daily; don't engage in activities like drawing a bow and shooting arrows for now as they are too intense."

Bai Qi gave more instructions. Bai Ming's progress in martial arts was not slow and he was quite quick to catch on, understanding after hearing once.

Unlike Xiaotou, who every time he picked up a book, got a headache, and struggled to even memorize the fist manual.

"Brother, that Miss Zhu really likes you."

Sitting on a small stool, Bai Ming suddenly said.

"You little rascal, what do you know."

Bai Qi put down the fire tongs and flicked Ah Di's forehead with his finger:

"In such a rush to find a sister-in-law for your brother, you must be eager to split the family early?"

Bai Ming held his forehead, pouting:

"Brother Xiaotou said, men make big money to marry beautiful women.

Miss Zhu is so pretty, there's probably no one in Black River County who can compare, just perfect for Brother."

Bai Qi picked up the boiling copper kettle and poured two basins of hot water:

"Miss Zhu is from a big and prestigious family in the County City, pair her with me, a fisherman from Black Water River? How could you say that, really think your brother is some rare treasure?

If this gets to others' ears, they'll surely laugh at you for being like a toad wanting to eat swan meat."

Bai Ming frowned tightly, seemingly unwilling to hear such words, he wanted to say more, but Bai Qi interrupted him:

"Take off your own socks, soak your feet till they're warm, then get on the bed for a good sleep."

"Oh."

Bai Ming obediently did as he was told, while murmuring to himself:

"When I grow up and have skills, I'll definitely find the world's most beautiful woman for Brother as a wife, humph!"

He dipped his feet into the hot water, quickly pulled them out, and after several such attempts, finally immersed them completely.

Xiaotou, having just stepped over the threshold, saw the two brothers sitting on the warm brick bed and shouted:

"Why didn't you leave me some hot water!"

...

...

In the following days, Bai Qi stayed at the Ginseng Collection Manor, practicing archery during the day and standing exercises at night for his martial progress.

He would occasionally go to Longkang Mountain with He Tai, Song Qiying, and Zhu Ling'Er to enjoy the scenery of the old forest.

He had good luck, as his skills in identifying medicines helped him collect six or seven wild ginsengs around fifty years old.

For an ordinary medicine gatherer, this was a good harvest ensuring food and drink for nearly half a month.

"Brother, I found the Golden Thread Orchid you just mentioned again!"

In the depths of the forest, dense enough to block the sky, Bai Qi walked in front, Bai Ming in the middle, and Xiaotou followed last.

This is called "team support."

According to the ginseng picker's saying, there's a saying "leave alone, return with company" when going into the mountains.

Usually, it's three, five, or seven people going together, this is "leave alone."

As for "return with company," it means to grab good luck and treat ginseng and mountain goods as part of the count, indicating that this trip won't be in vain.

"Where is it?"

Xiaotou answered first, and the three stood in a straight line, each keeping a distance of more than ten steps.

This is also one of the mountain traveler's essentials, known as "arranging the stick."

The foremost is called the "head stick," the middle one is the "waist stick," and the one outside is the "side stick."

The head stick paves the way, the waist stick finds goods, and the side stick makes marks along the way, in their jargon, it's "making hooks," to avoid going in circles.

Each had their own task!

"It truly is Golden Thread Orchid. The veins on the leaves are clear, like flowing golden threads. Ah Di, you have keen eyes. You were the one who spotted that injured little sparrow hiding in the grass yesterday."

Bai Qi stopped walking and found a large patch of Golden Thread Orchid in the shade under the trees, just as Ah Di had pointed out. He quickly called Xiaotou to start digging.

This herb is neutral in nature and sweet in taste; it helps eliminate dampness and detoxify, and calm and relieve pain. It's an essential ingredient in the medicine used by practitioners to treat accumulated internal injuries.

"Another seven or eight taels of silver earned!"

Xiaotou was full of excitement. He was less interested in fishing and throwing nets, but as soon as he entered the mountains, he seemed especially spirited.

Carefully, he lay on the ground, used a ginseng picker method to dig up the moist soil, and then used a stick made of deer bone to scrape around.

After everything was cleaned up, he lifted the Golden Thread Orchid out and put it perfectly into the empty basket.

His technique was becoming more proficient, almost like a genuine mountain dweller.

"The weather's getting late. Let's head back."

Bai Qi estimated the hour and decided to go down the mountain along the original route.

It's one of the rules not to venture deeper than five hundred-mile mountain paths.

The deeper you go, the heavier the miasma, and the more savage the beasts become.

Just like the Fisherman on the Black Water River, who generally doesn't casually enter Mihun Bay.

Unless led by an experienced ginseng picker, the maximum trip is a hundred miles, lasting a few days, even if it yields nothing, it's time to turn around.

"These customary sayings are conclusions drawn from generations of mountain people at the cost of their lives."

Bai Qi recalled the Mountain-Rushing Secret Technique exchanged with He Tai. By performing a sacrificial ritual to the Mountain Deity and establishing a connection, one could become a Mountain Traveler, also known as Leader.

They possess extraordinary abilities. For instance, the Ginseng Leader from Ginseng Collection Manor had a series of ominous dreams after entering the mountains, heard funeral music, and saw a tiger eating a man. Thus, he hurriedly led the whole team to leave.

Sure enough, days later heavy rain suddenly fell, causing flash floods, burying many unfortunate hunters who hadn't descended in time.

Xiaotou, carrying the large basket, said joyfully:

"Golden Thread Orchid, mountain ginseng, Iron Thorn Ling... these mountain goods are everywhere. Earning one to two hundred Wen Coins a day is so easy. It feels easier than fishing!"

Bai Qi, holding the spear, swept aside the dense bushes and said:

"Fishing on the Black Water River, even if you lack skill you can catch some cheap-priced fish and shrimp, but the five hundred-mile mountain paths are thick with forests, often with poisonous snakes and wild beasts lurking. You might be eaten with nothing left. If you're unlucky and inhale the miasma, surviving is slim."

That's why the Ginseng Leader holds such a high position. Medicine gatherers have their heads tied to their belt, going solo is hard to sustain long-term; they must stick together with the Leader to ensure safety."

Bai Ming nodded his small head. He had collected many pine nuts and bracken shoots, amounting to several dozen Wen Coins:

"Moreover, without the spear provided by the Ginseng Leader to scare off poisonous snakes, we would not have been so lucky. The mosquito bites alone are enough for us to endure."

The spear is an essential tool for every ginseng gatherer, primarily used to ward off snakes, insects, and mice. It can also knock on tree trunks to create vibrations, intimidating approaching beasts,

Each stick is made of red pine, measures five feet two inches, and is adorned with red strings and copper coins.

At any time, the stick head can't fall.

Even when sleeping or resting, it must be neatly lined up, standing next to the stakes.

It's said to prevent Chong Ghosts from haunting, ensuring peace and safety.

"Brother Bai, we're going autumn hunting mainly for wild boars and tigers. Why did you run into the mountains as a medicine gatherer?"

On the way down the mountain returning to the manor, they just happened to meet Song Qiying, carrying the Hundred Refinements Bow.

His several attendants carried an adult spotted leopard with bamboo poles, and their baskets were still full of wild chickens and roe deer.

Bai Qi didn't care. Competing with these young masters was too tiring. He didn't have a large number of attendants to do chores, being unfamiliar with the five hundred-mile mountain paths. To enter the mountains with Ah Di and Xiaotou to hunt would be utterly foolish.

"Looks like tonight we have some game to enjoy. Eating meat every day makes one irritable. I'll pick some wild vegetables for everyone to cool down the inner heat."

Song Qiying smacked his lips. Since Bai Qi had won that gambling match and made a slight sensation, he wanted to regain face but found the other party giving him no opportunity, verbal provocations completely ineffective.

"Grandfather often talks about the art of nurturing one's spirit; perhaps this is it."

The second son from Chai Market had more and more apparent admiration in his gaze, and without further ado, he bid farewell with a fist salute, shook the reins, and rode off.

"Ah Brother."

"Hmm?"

"Doesn't Second Young Master Song seem to like you too?"

"Huh?"

"He looks at you just like Miss Zhu does."

Bai Qi flicked his fingers and hit Ah Di's forehead, making him stagger:

"Am I some kind of tasty bun that everyone wants to bite after seeing?

If you keep rambling, you'll be punished to practice standing post for an extra half-hour tonight."

Bai Ming covered his forehead and chuckled:

"Great then, make it another half-hour!"

Snap!

Another flick to the forehead.

"How many times have I told you, practicing requires a down-to-earth approach? Even your Ah Brother, a direct disciple, is patiently honing his skills. Why hurry? Just don't be weaker than Brother Xiaotou; he still hasn't mastered his Qi Blood."

Bai Qi suddenly felt a headache; he never expected his Ah Di to be such a diligent practitioner, practicing every day without fail.

While Xiaotou was happily calculating how much Wen Coins he earned today, he suddenly felt wronged. Why involve me in your brotherly bickering!