บท 29: Breeding Stallion Apprentice
บรรณาธิการ: Dragon Boat Translation
After leaving Qingde City, Fang Zhou returned to a life of sleeping in the open and eating on the go.
In this era, traveling in the wilderness was no easy task. The daily meals consisted only of dry food and unfiltered water, and even going to the toilet required caution against snake bites from the bushes.
At night, when he was cultivating, the swarming mosquitoes seemed almost to drain him dry, forcing him to wrap himself tightly to keep them at bay.
In comparison, Ling Xiaoyue seemed as relaxed as if she were on a leisure trip. Her clothes never gathered dust, mosquitoes didn't bite her, and since she was able to fast, she neither ate nor drank. Every day, she simply lay on the horse's back, drinking wine, sleeping, and basking in the sun, completely at ease.
Fang Zhou was extremely envious, but he also considered this harsh life as a form of training. He could feel his cultivation progressing smoothly. Although he was still in the Qi Refining Realm (entry level), he could feel his Stamina slowly strengthening each day. His original 8-point Stamina had already increased to 9 points.
With a Stamina of 9 points, he had far more stamina and endurance than ordinary people. It was also twice the result with half the effort for his cultivation.
After leaving Qingde City, they passed through several small towns and villages, but the master and apprentice did not stop and continued to head north.
According to Ling Xiaoyue's estimation, they had already traveled half the distance. In another half month, they would be back at their sect.
...
In the nameless valley.
"Bah ~"
Li Dahong spat out a chewed-up root from her mouth. She looked up at the afternoon sun, and wiped the sweat from her forehead, feeling agitated.
She looked back and saw that her underlings were lying haphazardly on the ground They were either hiding in the shade or throwing their weapons to the side.
A surge of anger welled up in Li Dahong, and she couldn't help but shout, "Get up, all of you! You're not standing straight and not sitting properly, you don't look like bandits at all! You're tarnishing the reputation of our Black Wind Stronghold!"
The bandits responded lazily but remained glued to their spots. Li Huanghua, a fellow villager, looked at Li Dahong with a pained expression and said, "Big Sister, it's too hot today. Let the sisters rest a little longer."
Li Dahong angrily replied, "Rest, rest! Our Black Wind Stronghold hasn't raided for more than a month. Haven't you rested enough? If this continues, we'll all be starving soon."
Li Huanghua sighed, "There are demons and monsters in these mountains. Fewer travelers and merchants are passing by. It's pointless for us to wait here."
She looked up at the sky and continued, "Big Sister, nobody will be traveling through the mountains at this hour. Let's head back today. Once it gets late, the monsters will come out to prey on humans and animals."
Li Dahong hesitated, but at that moment, a scout bandit ran back excitedly, "Big Sister, there's a fat sheep coming, a fat sheep!"
Hearing this, Li Dahong quickly raised her big knife and shouted, "Sisters, follow me, it's time to strike!"
The other bandits hastily picked up their weapons and followed Li Dahong in a flurry.
In the winding valley, two horses were walking along the mountain path. Ling Xiaoyue was lying on her horse with her legs crossed, swaying gently and humming an unknown tune.
Fang Zhou took this opportunity to cultivate, since his horse was intelligent enough to follow the other without straying.
Whoosh—
The sound of a piercing arrow came suddenly, and an arrow swiftly lodged itself in the ground before the two horses.
Following that, accompanied by shouts, over ten bandits rushed down from both sides of the valley, surrounding Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue.
Ling Xiaoyue remained on her horse, sunbathing, not even bothered to open her eyes at the arrival of the bandits.
Fang Zhou, however, was more cautious. During their journey, they encountered several groups of bandits. At first, Ling Xiaoyue had dealt with them, but she later delegated this responsibility to Fang Zhou.
This group of bandits, however, was truly an eyesore to Fang Zhou. They were all women, and apart from the leaders who were dressed decently, the rest wore only trousers, exposing themselves without concern in broad daylight.
If they had attractive bodies, Fang Zhou wouldn't have minded, but either their breasts hung down to their navels, or they could sling them over their shoulders.
Fang Zhou felt that the more he looked, the more likely he was to go blind.
"Hahaha!"
Li Dahong let out hearty laughter. Being a bandit, the two things she feared the most were: one, not being able to win a fight, and two, letting a big catch escape.
And yet these two "fat sheep" were standing foolishly in place, making no attempt to run.
"Sisters!"
Li Dahong pointed her knife at Fang Zhou, her eyes glowing, "Kill the women, but this tall and sturdy man will surely be tough and durable. Let's take him back as a breeding stallion!"
The bandits immediately cheered, each of them staring at Fang Zhou, eager to pull him down from his horse right then and there.
Fang Zhou felt a chill all over his body. Beside him, Ling Xiaoyue sat up, opening her eyes, and laughed along with the bandits: "Who would have thought that my apprentice actually has the makings of a stallion. This is great fortune for our sect. When the sect is short of money, we can have you breed; ten thousand taels each time, non-negotiable!"
"Shut up, you fool." Fang Zhou snapped.
Drawing his Evil Slaying Sword, leapt from his horse, and soared through the air for several feet, aiming his sword strike at Li Dahong.
Li Dahong was shock and quickly raised her long knife to block.
CLANG!
With a crisp sound, Li Dahong's long knife was instantly split in two, and a wound was cleaved across her chest, blood spilling freely.
Li Dahong screamed and fell to the ground, prompting the other bandits to rush forward, brandishing their weapons.
Fang Zhou channeled his Qi Gathering Technique, his spiritual energy enveloping his body, enhancing his speed and strength.
Fighting a bunch of bandits didn't require this, but Fang Zhou was using it to improve his proficiency with the technique, knowing that he shouldn't underestimate any foe.
The bandits lost sight of Fang Zhou in a flash and heard only the sounds of weapons being sliced. Their inferior weapons were no match for the Evil Slaying Sword.
Li Dahong, clutching her wound, scrambled up and fled.
Fang Zhou noticed and caught up with her, placing his sword to her neck.
Flop.
Li Dahong immediately knelt down and begged loudly, "Please, spare me, hero!"
The other bandits were stunned, standing frozen in place, while a few more nimble ones turned and ran. Fang Zhou casually picked up some stones and knocked them down one by one.
Moments later, the bandits were all kneeling obediently in front of Fang Zhou, like a group of primary school students waiting for a lecture from their teacher.
Fang Zhou planned to teach the bandits a small lesson, perhaps chopping off a hand or a foot.
However, Ling Xiaoyue had different plans. In her eyes, bandits were like buzzing mosquitoes, but even mosquitoes had a little meat.
She sat on the horse's back and smiled at the bandits kneeling on the ground. "If you want to live, you can pay for your life."
The bandits shook their heads in unison, eagerly claiming that they lived hand to mouth, spending any stolen money immediately and saving nothing.
Ling Xiaoyue's gaze fell on Li Dahong, who immediately forced a smile and said, "Honorable heroes, we are all struggling and poor. We took to banditry because we couldn't survive otherwise. We don't have any money."
Undeterred, Ling Xiaoyue pressed again, "Are you sure? Money is external to life; you can't take it with you when you die. Life is more important. Think carefully."
The bandits all shook their heads again, and Li Dahong smiled apologetically once more. "Really, we don't have a single cent. Taking care of my sisters and struggling to make ends meet has been incredibly hard. To look after them, I eat the coarsest food and don't even allow myself to buy extra clothes. How could I have any savings?"
"Big Sister!" the bandits said, their eyes filled with tears, as they looked at Li Dahong, moved by her words.
"How touching, the deep bond between sisters. You have moved me," Ling Xiaoyue said, clapping her hands lightly. Then, she raised a finger, the tip glowing faintly.
She pointed her finger at the bandits, and the glowing tip immediately flew out, circling around each bandit before disappearing.
Fang Zhou, who was watching, asked curiously, "What's that?"
Every once in a while, Ling Xiaoyue would bring out something new and fascinating, which always intrigued Fang Zhou.
"It's a kind of truth-telling spell. You'll understand soon," Ling Xiaoyue casually replied, then smiled at the bandits, saying, "Come, tell me, how much private savings do you each have? Don't rush. One by one, starting with you."
Ling Xiaoyue pointed to the bandit on the far left, who immediately blurted out, "Five taels!"
After speaking, she quickly covered her mouth, her face filled with shock.
The bandits next to her also began to tell the truth about their private savings. Then, the group of bandits began to count.
"Four taels!"
"Seven taels!"
"Three taels!"
"Five taels!"
"One tael!"
"Five thousand taels!"
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