Chapter 5: Immortal Master Hard to Find

Mortal World

With much difficulty, he coaxed Chun Tao back. Bai Jianglan then ordered someone to help Qin Sang up.

"Brother Qin, Miss Chun Tao was only worried about our young lady's safety; she had no choice, so please don't take it to heart. I apologize for having you rest in the stern cabin tonight. I'll have someone bring you some food later, and we'll send you off the ship once we reach Sanwu City Ferry. Sanwu City is a north-south thoroughfare, a necessary stop for merchants, so you might even find some fellow villagers there..."

Qin Sang was immensely grateful. Remembering the two money pouches on him, he pulled them out and said, "Brother Bai, Qin Sang can't repay your life-saving kindness. These gold and silver are from the two bandits I killed. I only hope you don't find them distasteful..."

"No!" Bai Jianglan's face showed displeasure as he pushed Qin Sang's hand back. "When I, Bai, was young, my martial arts were weak, and I often received help from righteous individuals while traveling the martial world, which is why I am here today. Now, I am merely following the example of the ancients by performing a small act of kindness. Do not mention money again, or I will throw you off this ship!"

Qin Sang looked embarrassed, holding out his hands awkwardly.

The person assisting him laughed, "Boss Bai's annual salary is over a thousand taels of silver. How could he be greedy for your small amount of money? You risked your life for that; keep it and go home to marry a wife."

The stern cabin was divided into several compartments, originally for the boatmen. Now, they were filled with miscellaneous items. They found one that was relatively clean, piled high with straw, and a quilt was brought down for him. Though simple, it was something Qin Sang hadn't dared to dream of for the past month. After settling Qin Sang, Bai Jianglan and his men returned to the upper deck. Soon after, someone brought down a set of old clothes and a hot meal. Qin Sang wolfed it down, barely tasting anything. Changing into the clothes, wrapping himself tightly in the quilt, and letting his thoughts wander for a long while, Qin Sang finally fell into a deep sleep. Before falling asleep, he touched his ebony sword and a few items against his chest, resisting the urge to take them out and look at them. He slept without dreams all night.

Qin Sang opened his eyes, feeling the gentle sway of the cabin. His spirits were higher than ever before. His stomach rumbled again. He had no idea what time it was. Qin Sang sat up, found a wooden stick, and slowly stood. Leaning on the stick, he was surprisingly able to walk slowly, once again marveling at the wonders of internal energy. He shuffled step by step to the ladder in the stern cabin. He heard shouts and grunts from above, and then a head peeked out—it was the man who had helped him yesterday.

"Brother Qin, you're awake!" The man jumped in, chiding, "Your leg isn't healed yet, how did you get up by yourself? I was guarding the deck; if you'd just called, I would've come down. Come on, it's stuffy down here. Let me help you up. It's still early, not yet time for breakfast. Boss Bai is teaching the brothers martial arts. The ship has passed Jiudie Gorge, and it's not far from Sanwu City. We can send you off the boat after breakfast..."

Qin Sang subtly observed the man. He was about the same age, lively, and talked nonstop. "How should I address you, brother?"

"My name is Zhou Ning. I'm good in the water, so everyone calls me Water Monkey. The currents will calm down after Sanwu City. It's a shame you'll be getting off soon, so you won't get to taste the river fish I catch. Let me tell you, the Nine-Whisker Fish in the Wuling River is the freshest, but it doesn't take bait, and nets can't catch it. Besides me, few people can even catch them..."

"So it's Brother Zhou," Qin Sang quickly interrupted, seeing his eyes light up as he spoke of fishing. "Brother Zhou, how much do you know about Sanwu City? I'm new here; could you give me some pointers?"

"No problem!"

As they spoke, the two climbed onto the deck. It was dawn, and a thick fog covered the river, obscuring the green mountains on the banks. All that met the eye was a vast expanse of white mist, and the river wind was bitterly cold. On the deck, the robust men from yesterday were all wearing standard short jackets with the character 'East' painted in white on their backs. Undeterred by the cold, they were practicing martial arts in formation, their steaming breath and sweat merging with the mist.

"Ninth form, Furious Dragon Destroys Mountains!" Bai Jianglan held a short staff, his expression stern. If anyone made even a slight mistake, they would receive a blow to the back, yet no one cried out in pain or resisted.

"Sanwu City oversees the Wuling River system. Due to its location, people from several southwestern countries must pass through Sanwu City when coming to Great Sui. Merchants are countless, and people from all walks of life can be found there, especially at the First Ferry, which is the most chaotic. Brother Qin, you don't have martial arts skills, so you must be careful after getting off the boat. Hide your money pouches well and don't reveal your wealth, or you'll surely invite trouble. It's best to find some fellow villagers and quickly return home..."

Under Qin Sang's subtle guidance, Zhou Ning became very enthusiastic and continued talking nonstop, and Qin Sang listened carefully.

It was then that Qin Sang realized he was no longer in Ning Country, his homeland. Great Sui bordered Ning Country to the northeast. Several treacherous mountain ranges and the natural chasm of the Wuling River separated the two nations, which had generally remained peaceful. For some unknown reason, those bandits had crossed mountains and rivers, traveling all the way north. At Sanwu City, the Wuling River branched into several mighty tributaries. The entire Wuling River system flowed through several countries, which is precisely why Sanwu City was so unique. Additionally, there was a prince's mansion within Sanwu City, where the Prince Zhenshui, one of the eight princes of Great Sui, resided. With Prince Zhenshui's army, the city was stable, and merchants from various countries were willing to trade there. The First Ferry was the largest ferry crossing in front of Sanwu City. If Qin Sang wanted to return home, it would be the easiest place to find merchants from his homeland. As Zhou Ning prattled on, Qin Sang's gaze kept lingering on Bai Jianglan and his men. He gradually noticed some clues: such strict discipline was something Qin Sang had only seen in soldiers. Moreover, last night, Chun Tao had inadvertently mentioned that they were sent by a prince to protect the young lady. Could these men be a prince's personal guards? Qin Sang glanced at the main hall. Zhou Ning had just said that Great Sui had thirteen prefectures and eight princes, whose status was noble, second only to the Emperor of Great Sui. He wondered what kind of identity that young lady possessed to warrant a prince sending troops to escort her.

"Zhou Ning!"

Zhou Ning startled, his demeanor suddenly becoming sharp. "Here!"

"Fall in!"

"Yes!"

Zhou Ning ran to rejoin the formation. Bai Jianglan walked over, and Qin Sang struggled to get up and greet him, "Brother Bai..."

Bai Jianglan waved his hand, telling Qin Sang not to be so formal. "Did you sleep well last night? Our brothers' rough skills are nothing to laugh at, Brother Qin."

"You brothers are all heroes and brave warriors; Qin Sang is very envious! Brother Bai, if I start learning martial arts now, could I become as powerful as you?" Qin Sang said earnestly. He genuinely envied them and wanted to learn.

Bai Jianglan chuckled and said, "What am I? Those Innate masters in the martial world can project true qi externally, and their internal energy can produce sword light. There's even a legend that an Innate master slew an Immortal Master. Now *that* is truly powerful."

"An Immortal Master can be slain by a martial artist?" Qin Sang was stunned, eagerly pressing, "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 as a dragon—seen only by their heads, never their tails. How many have truly seen one? Countless people in this world seek immortality, only to spend their lives wasting away in deep mountains and grand rivers, achieving nothing. You must not fall into such an obsession and waste your precious years."