Immortal Masters Are Hard to Find

After finally coaxing Chun Tao back, Bai Jianglan ordered someone to help Qin Sang up.

"Brother Qin, Miss Chun Tao was just worried about the young lady's safety and had no other choice. Please don't take it to heart. I'll have someone bring you some food later. We'll send you off at the Three Witches City ferry. Three Witches City is a major thoroughfare north and south, a necessary stop for merchants. Perhaps you'll find fellow townsfolk there..."

Qin Sang was immensely grateful. He remembered the two money pouches on him and took them out all at once. "Brother Bai, I have no way to repay your life-saving grace. This gold and silver is from the two mountain bandits I killed. I only hope Brother Bai doesn't mind dirtying his hands..."

"Hey!"

Bai Jianglan pushed Qin Sang's hand away, his face displeased.

"In the past, my martial arts were weak, and I traveled the jianghu, relying on the help of righteous individuals to get to where I am today. Now, I'm merely following the example of the ancients and doing a small act of kindness. Don't mention money again, or I'll throw you overboard!"

Qin Sang leaned on his hand with a sheepish expression.

The person helping him chuckled, "Brother Bai's annual salary is over a thousand taels. Why would he covet your meager sum? You earned this with your life, save it to go home and get married."

Several rooms were sectioned off in the stern cabin, originally for the boatmen to rest, but now filled with miscellaneous items. They found a relatively clean one, piled high with straw. A bedding set was then sent down. Though simple, it was something Qin Sang hadn't even dared to dream of for months.

After settling Qin Sang, Bai Jianglan led his men back to the boat. Before long, someone else delivered a set of old clothes and a hot meal. Qin Sang wolfed it down without tasting much.

Changing into the clothes and wrapping himself tightly in the bedding, Qin Sang finally fell into a deep sleep after a long period of restless thoughts.

Before sleeping, he touched the ebony sword and the items in his chest, resisting the urge to take them out and look.

He slept soundly through the night.

Qin Sang opened his eyes, feeling the gentle sway of the cabin, his spirit more refreshed than ever.

His stomach rumbled again. He wondered what time it was.

Qin Sang sat up, found a wooden stick, and slowly got to his feet. Standing on tiptoe, he used the stick for support and was actually able to move slowly. He couldn't help but marvel at the magic of internal energy again.

He shuffled step by step to the ladder leading to the stern cabin. He heard shouts of "Ha!" from above. A head popped out – it was the person who had helped him yesterday.

"Brother Qin is awake!"

The man leaped down, chiding, "Your leg isn't healed yet, why are you up by yourself? I've been waiting upstairs. Just call out and I'll come down. Come, it's stuffy down here, let me help you up. It's still early, not time for the meal yet. Boss Bai is teaching the brothers martial arts. The boat has already passed Nine Die Gorge, and we're not far from Three Witches City. After breakfast, we'll get you off the boat..."

Qin Sang calmly sized up the man. He looked about the same age as him, lively, and talked non-stop.

"What should I call you, Brother?"

"My name is Zhou Ning. I'm good at swimming, so everyone calls me Water Monkey. After Three Witches City, the water calms down. It's a shame you'll be getting off soon, you won't get to taste the river fish I catch. Let me tell you, the Nine-Bearded Fish in the Wuling River is incredibly fresh, but it doesn't take bait, and nets can't hold it. Besides me, not many people can catch it..."

"So you're Brother Zhou," Qin Sang interrupted as he saw Zhou Ning's eyes light up more and more as he talked about fishing. "Do you know much about Three Witches City? I'm new here, could you give me some pointers?"

"No problem!"

As they spoke, they climbed onto the deck.

It was dawn. A thick fog had risen on the river, obscuring the green mountains on the shore. All that could be seen was a vast expanse of white mist, and the river wind was biting cold.

On the deck, the burly men seen yesterday were all wearing standard short jackets. The character 'East' was painted in white on their backs. They were undeterred by the cold, practicing martial arts in formation, their steaming breaths merging with the fog.

"Ninth Form, Angry Dragon Crushes Mountains!"

Bai Jianglan held a short staff, his expression stern. If anyone made the slightest mistake, they would be struck on the back, but no one cried out in pain, nor did anyone resist.

"This Three Witches City controls the Wuling River system. Due to its location, people from the southwestern countries have to pass through Three Witches City to reach Great Sui, and there are countless merchants. You'll find all sorts of people there, especially at the first ferry crossing, which is the most chaotic. Brother Qin, since you have no martial arts, you must be careful after you disembark. Keep your money pouch hidden and don't flaunt it, or you'll surely invite trouble. Hurry home once you find your fellow townsfolk..."

Under Qin Sang's subtle guidance, Zhou Ning became more animated and continued to chatter. Qin Sang listened attentively.

It was then that Qin Sang realized they were no longer in his home country of Ning.

Great Sui and Ning Country were neighbors, with Great Sui located to the northeast of Ning. The two countries were separated by several treacherous mountain ranges and the insurmountable Wuling River, and had been relatively stable.

Those mountain bandits had crossed the mountains and traveled north for reasons unknown.

The Wuling River branched out into several tributaries at the location of Three Witches City. These tributaries were all mighty and vast. The entire Wuling river system flowed through several countries, which was precisely why Three Witches City seemed so special.

Furthermore, there was a royal residence within Three Witches City. King Zhenshui, one of the eight kings of Great Sui, was stationed in the city.

With King Zhenshui's army, the city was stable, and merchants from all countries were willing to trade there.

The first ferry crossing was the largest before Three Witches City. If Qin Sang wanted to go home, it would be the easiest place to find merchants from his hometown.

While listening to Zhou Ning's rambling, Qin Sang's gaze kept drifting to Bai Jianglan and his men. He gradually began to notice something. Such strict discipline was something Qin Sang had only ever seen in soldiers. Coupled with what Chun Tao had inadvertently mentioned last night about them being sent by a prince to protect the young lady, he wondered if these men were guards for some prince.

Qin Sang glanced at the flower hall. Zhou Ning had mentioned earlier that Great Sui had thirteen prefectures and a total of eight princes, whose status was extremely noble, second only to the Emperor of Great Sui. He wondered about the identity of the young lady, that she was worthy of a prince sending troops to escort her.

"Zhou Ning!"

Zhou Ning snapped to attention, his demeanor instantly becoming sharp. "Yes!"

"Fall in!"

"Yes!"

Zhou Ning jogged back to his formation. Bai Jianglan walked over. Qin Sang struggled to get up to pay his respects. "Brother Bai..."

Bai Jianglan waved his hand, telling Qin Sang not to be so formal. "Did you sleep well last night? My brothers' skills are rudimentary, I apologize if they offended you, Brother Qin."

"My brothers are all heroes, Qin Sang admires you greatly! Brother Bai, if I started learning martial arts now, could I become as powerful as you?"

Qin Sang said earnestly, truly envious and wanting to learn.

Bai Jianglan chuckled and said, "What am I? Those innate masters in the jianghu can release their true energy externally, their internal energy can manifest as sword light. There are even legends of an innate master who killed an immortal master. That's what you call truly powerful."

"An immortal master can be killed by a martial artist?" Qin Sang was astonished and eagerly pressed, "Brother Bai, have you ever seen an immortal master?"

Bai Jianglan shook his head, seeing through Qin Sang's intentions, and advised, "Immortal masters are elusive, rarely seen. How many have truly met them? Countless people seek immortality, but in the end, they spend their lives in vain in the mountains and rivers, achieving nothing. You shouldn't get fixated on this and waste your precious youth."