A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 92 - 91: Beyond Seven Steps, the Arrow Outpaces the Fist

The night was as dark as ink, covering the plains, while the shantytowns outside the city ignited into blazing fires, licking the makeshift wooden houses made of straw. The cold wind howled fiercely, pushing the fire even stronger, quickly spreading wide.

"Fire!"

"Quick, save the fire!"

"Nannan! My Nannan is still inside..."

Various cries for help, desperate shouts, cries, and sinister laughter intertwined, creating a chaotic mess.

As the gates of the outer city broke open, dozens of Red Eyebrow Bandits swept in with hundreds of forced laborers, as if a giant rock had been thrown into a calm lake, causing a huge commotion instantly.

Killing, arson, plundering, looting... Infinite malice ran rampant, engulfing one living life after another.

Whoosh!

The cow horn hard bow released, and the feathered arrow was as fast as lightning, piercing through a Red Eyebrow Bandit's throat, spurting a bloom of blood!

"Ah Qi, your archery is amazing!"

Xiaotou followed closely behind Bai Qi, like a shadow, timely handing over one feathered arrow after another.

"Let's head to the East Market Shop to meet up with Brother Shui and Elder Liang, avoid those bandits in the Inner City, and then circle back to Tongwen Hall."

Bai Qi raised his eyebrows. He aimed at the chest, so how did he hit the throat?

Superior archery is true, but there's a huge difference between a stationary target and a live person, especially if the target has practiced martial arts.

He must continue pushing forward, striving to break through to the minor success stage as soon as possible.

"Alright, my dad should also be at the East Market Shop. He went to the temple fair today, hoping to finish his deliveries early to watch the performance..."

Concern flashed in Xiaotou's eyes, but he didn't slow down. As he retrieved a feathered arrow, he casually picked up a steel knife used by a Red Eyebrow Bandit for self-defense.

The shops and stalls on both sides of the long street were either turned over to the ground or looted empty.

Trampled fruits, crumpled rattles, with a few candied haws stabbed into an overturned haystack... the outer city of Black River County quickly fell, and the guards of the three major families, including those raised by wealthy households, hardly cared for the suffering lower-class residents.

At this moment, shouting to the heavens brought no response, and calling to the earth got no answer.

Bai Qi, holding the hard bow, quickly traversed the narrow long street, with the half-burnt sky behind him and thick smoke billowing high. Ahead were five or six fierce bandits with scarlet eyebrows.

"Here, take this."

Bai Qi put down the hard bow in his hand. These dirty scoundrels who weren't even practitioners weren't worth wasting arrows on.

When he fought his way out of the shantytown, he encountered one or two groups of roaming Red Eyebrow Bandits repeatedly, consuming a lot.

The qi and blood within his tall body boiled, quickly circulating with his breath, flowing through his limbs and bones.

"Martial Arts Hall brat?"

"Tie him up?"

"Hack him up!"

Whoever had been a Red Eyebrow Bandit for ten years had taken a blood oath; whose hands hadn't been stained with blood?

Looking at Bai Qi's seemingly harmless and gentle appearance, they directly swung the steel knife at him.

"Just in time to boost my martial arts progress."

His feet sunk, aligning waist and hips, and the trouser legs crackled explosively as he leaned forward with explosive speed!

He dashed forward like a giant python, hardly visible stepping on the ground, yet swiftly reaching the Red Eyebrow Bandit's vicinity!

Before the steel knife could swing down, Bai Qi's eyes turned cold, and his five fingers, like dragon claws, reached out to grip an arm, forcefully surging his strength!

Crack!

The ferocious face of the Red Eyebrow Bandit trembled, eyes wide to the point of tearing, blood almost spraying from all seven orifices.

Then, his body suddenly soared in the air, tumbling several times like being struck by a catapult, flying out nearly two meters away.

After encountering practitioners of the Tiger Form, and Dog Fist, Bai Qi found that the Arhat Hand and Dragon Palm techniques, reflected in the dark seal, progressed significantly, with insights turning into deep experience much faster than self-training.

That's why seeing the Red Eyebrow Bandits was like spotting walking treasure fish.

It's beneficial for martial training!

These living stakes, which didn't care about life or death, were far more exciting than wooden stakes!

"The Dragon Palm's strikes are fierce, quick in movement, an ordinary practitioner's defense cannot withstand a few hits, the Arhat Hand's grappling is vicious, leg work brutal, unbeatable in direct combat."

Bai Qi circulated his strength, his spine undulating like a great dragon. With nimble steps, he weaved through like a dancing flower, easily dodging two knife-wielding Red Eyebrow Bandits.

While simultaneously launching both palms aggressively, as if malevolent spirits were pounding on the door, a few quick strikes landed on their temples.

Blood seeping from their ears and nostrils, as if their brains were shattered, they fell powerlessly forward.

With mastery of two superior techniques, Bai Qi killed people as easily as mowing grass, with a kind of ease and joy.

Long muscles, substantial qi, and great strength!

With a body nurtured by treasure fish, inner pill, and ripe huangjing, combined with the top skills of Tongwen Hall, facing ordinary muscle-training martial artists was almost a one-sided oppression.

"In life-and-death struggles, the decisive factors are the strength of the physique, the quality of martial skills, and the presence of mind when confronting the enemy.

I lack in none of these three, enough to rampage through the outer city!"

Bai Qi thought again of what Ninghai Zen told him when teaching fighting techniques for the first time: "sharp eyes, quick hands, and steady courage," feeling increasingly that it was wise advice.

In one breath, taking down and killing three Red Eyebrow Bandits, leaving two looking at each other and turning to run.

They had fought their way here from the outer city, not without encountering martial hall disciples willing to resist.

Those little brats fought well, but they were soft and, showing slight ferocity, they became frightened and confused.

They and their brothers, swinging the steel blades quickly, could chop them down in no time.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Within fifty steps, Bai Qi's archery accuracy was still reliable, the bowstring quivering, and two arrows hit home!

The cone-shaped arrowheads pierced through the flesh, directly nailing their thighs, and the Red Eyebrow Bandits, who were fleeing, fell immediately.

"Where is your leader planning to attack with the men?"

Bai Qi looked down and asked.

"Screw your mom..."

Someone gritted his teeth in response, these highwaymen weren't as easy to intimidate as hooligans.

"Another one likes to play hero."

With a crack, Bai Qi nudged with his toe, expressionlessly snapping the Red Eyebrow Bandit's neck, then turned his gaze to the other:

"And you? Are your bones just as hard?"

"The Fourth Leader's headed to the Fishery He Family! The Second Leader's aiming for the Song Family at the Chai Market! The Fifth Leader... I don't know, only heard he wants to kill a few experts to feel satisfied."

The second-in-command Blood Vajra, fourth-in-command Ghost Head Monk, and fifth-in-command Eight-armed Ape, all possess Water and Fire Immortal Robe, Skin Cultivation Great Success, and each has their own expertise.

"One focuses on horizontal training, one is skilled with the Zen Staff, and the other is aggressive in combat, with Innate Divine Power.

I hope the masters of Black River County live up to their reputation."

Regarding the Red Eyebrow Bandits who once swept through Yihai Prefecture, Bai Qi actually knows little, only having glanced at the Martial Arts Secret Record a couple of times.

The seven chairs are led by Heaven-defying Saber; the first-in-command is also the only one with 'four practices.'

The rest are "heroes" with some fame in Green Forest Dao, including disciples abandoned by major sects, wanted brigands, deserters from the army, in short, a mix of various elements.

"I've said everything I need to, Hero, spare my life!"

The Red Eyebrow Bandit, with an arrowhead piercing his thigh, causing blood to flow nonstop, pleaded with a face full of despair.

"You've already called me Hero, I will certainly keep my word, I will not kill you. Oh, you look young, are you also part of the Red Eyebrow Bandits from ten years ago?"

Bai Qi appeared very amiable, totally showing no signs of having quickly dispatched three men and shot down one bandit.

"I came from another village, just swore my allegiance..."

Bai Qi's mind stirred slightly, it seems like these Red Eyebrow are not a resurgence, just a few remnants using the flag of ten years ago for big operations.

But attacking cities and plundering has violated Dragon Court's taboo, when the news reaches Yihai Prefecture, it will undoubtedly cause a huge uproar.

How dare a few 'three practices' challenge the colossal presence of Pai Bang, and the Daoist Official with methods nearly as mysterious as ghosts and gods?

Who lent them their courage?

Bai Qi silently pondered, stepping over the Red Eyebrow Bandit lying on the ground, fortunate to have saved his life.

"Xiaotou, take care of him. Make the cut quick, don't make it too hard for this brother."

The Red Eyebrow Bandit was shocked, just about to say "you're not keeping your promise," but upon turning his head, he saw the raised steel blade come crashing down like chopping meat!

...

...

"Ah Qi, it's my first time killing someone, I'm so nervous!"

Xiaotou wiped the blood spattered on his face, his hands gripping the knife handle tightly.

"Feels like killing fish is no different, it's all work that gets easier with experience."

Although Black River County is not exactly poor mountains and bad waters, the folk customs are not much better, upon hearing Bai Qi's orders, Xiaotou raised the knife to chop off the Red Eyebrow Bandit's head, hesitating not at all.

It speaks volumes!

"Practicing fists can build courage, holding a knife feels even more impressive. Oh, remember to finish the job next time, beginners often fail to kill with one cut and need multiple tries, your performance was good."

Bai Qi praised Xiaotou with a couple of words, then walked briskly, finally arriving at East Market Shop.

Here, near the dock, many Red Eyebrow Bandits rowing sampans disembarked from this place.

Those nearly crazed mountain bandits and water thieves, almost hacking at everyone they saw, drawing blades and knocking down nearby fishermen assistants, slaughtering their way into the Inner City.

When Bai Qi arrived with Xiaotou, there were still rampant water bandits looting goods and loading them onto ships.

Several corpses lay scattered on the ground, the blood staining the river red, mostly fishermen, laborers, and assistants making a living.

"Give me arrows!"

Bai Qi's eyelids couldn't help but twitch, his chest boiling with the urge to kill, as he stepped onto a large protruding stone, his stance stable like a pillar, with a Cow Horn Hard Bow drawn open seven or eight parts, almost like a full moon.

Bang!

Like a thunderous crack, the feathered arrow pierced through the neck, blasting a burly man who was shouldering a woman and had a lecherous smile, causing him to stagger and fall back.

"A tricky target!"

"Kill!"

Two water bandits holding bamboo spears, shouted loudly as they charged forward, they may not have even grasped their Qi Blood, simply serving as cannon fodder in the chaos created by the Red Eyebrow Bandits.

Bang! Bang!

Bai Qi's expression remained unchanged, swiftly drawing the bow, shooting two arrows in succession.

The two figures close together were directly nailed through their hands and feet, Xiaotou with both hands gripping the steel knife, his throat moving, walked over in large strides, eyes fixed straight on the neck, another chop!

"You learned fishing from a young age, not chopping wood, why do you always aim for the head?"

Bai Qi silently complained, as the water bandits were shot one by one, at the Ginseng Collection Manor, he used up two pots of feathered arrows daily, and the entry-level skill he developed there was rapidly progressing.

[Skill: Archery (Small Success)]

[Progress: 5/800]

[Effect: Good at shooting with ape arms, ambidextrous archery, able to pierce through seven targets]

"Within seven steps, fists are fast, beyond seven steps, arrows are fast!

Both close combat and long-range attack skills must be mastered!"

After clearing the remaining water bandits at the dock, Bai Qi and Xiaotou stepped into East Market Shop, apart from a few familiar faces that no longer spoke, there was no one else.

...

...

Duijin Street, Yang Residence.

All the tea masters who came beating and blowing instruments had their throats slit.

Zhang the Fifth, with a pale face and wearing mourning clothes, laughed:

"This time, we consider it sending your son off, let him go in peace."

Yang Meng said nothing, holding a steel knife, lightly flicking his finger, looking at the people lifting weapons into the coffin:

"Above ten practices, well-forged iron, where did you get it from?"

Zhang the Fifth arrogantly said:

"Younger Brother Yang, some things, only after you truly get onboard is it convenient to make clear.

After all, we aren't offering our necks to the guillotine, seeking death. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Once this deal is done, not only can you receive the Demon King's reward, but your prospects will be even greater in the future!

You're lacking potential, unable to break through three practices? How much stronger am I compared to you? But now, I've already reached Skin Refining Entry Level!"

Yang Meng's pupils constricted, seemingly guessing Zhang the Fifth's implied meaning:

"You all... forge iron? Cast weapons? Even... able to do Alchemy!

The Red Eyebrow Bandits have truly embarked on the path of rebellion?"