Free Web NovelChapter 142: Chapter 142: Sights and Sounds
A dense fog shrouded the land.
Shui Ziming’s cultivation was profound, so he was unhindered. Bai Mo, however, could not move quickly.
Following the hazy silhouettes through the fog, Bai Mo finally reached the gathering of Cultivators by the North Canal Water. A quarter of an hour had already passed.
Bai Mo’s eyes widened at the sight of a bustling, lively scene.
Cultivators moved about, shouting constantly. Baskets of ore were being hauled around, and piles of Spirit Wood were stacked to the side, free for anyone to use.
The thick stench of fire and smoke filled the air, only to be carried away by the flowing water.
Cultivators bustled back and forth from the waterside. Some used wooden buckets, others submerged porcelain flasks in the water, yet it took a long time for any of them to fill up.
These were the ones fetching water.
Other Cultivators, holding tongs that gripped red-hot iron billets, hurried to the water’s edge.
HISSS!
The billet hit the water, raising a cloud of white steam.
A nearby Cultivator who was filling a container was scalded by a few splashing drops of boiling water and immediately leaped up, cursing.
The Cultivator quenching the metal remained expressionless. When he judged it was ready, he retrieved the billet and turned to leave.
He headed toward the thatched huts nearby.
One of the Cultivators dropped his wooden bucket. With a pained expression, he tried to console the one who was hopping mad.
"The sect offers many benefits, but you don’t get to enjoy them for free. We all have to perform our sect duties."
"These ’sect duties’ are like the corvée labor of the mortal world—disciples contributing their efforts to the sect."
Qin Yu snickered and pointed at the Cultivators fetching water.
"If you’re too slow and can’t snag one of the good jobs, you end up here as a helper for Artifact Refining. Not only is it back-breaking, sweaty work, but you also get ordered around."
"It’s not a good gig."
He swaggered forward and grabbed a burly man who was examining his newly forged Longsword.
"Brother, has anyone gotten lucky and forged something good lately?"
The burly man glanced at him before his gaze returned to the Longsword in his hand. He replied casually,
"Good things aren’t that easy to come by."
"It’s all standard-issue stuff like this."
Standing to the side, Bai Mo could see inside one of the huts through its open doorway.
A skinny Cultivator, drenched in sweat, was strenuously pumping a bellows while being berated by another man.
His face was black with soot, and the light from the forge cast a red glow throughout the hut.
Bai Mo mused to himself.
’These huts must not be ordinary. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to withstand such intense heat.’
’The huts seem randomly placed, yet they aren’t messy. I wonder if there’s a specific reason for their layout.’
"Why are you asking so many questions, kid?"
"Even if there were a great weapon, could you even afford it?"
Qin Yu was still pressing him, wanting to know if any treasures had been forged since he’d last been here.
The burly man was finally losing his patience.
Qin Yu planted his hands on his hips.
"Hey, don’t look down on me!"
"Just so you know, a treasure seal was once forged here by the North Canal Water. It sold for one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones."
"And I was the one who bought it and gave it to my aunt to make her happy."
Seeing that the smug look on Qin Yu’s face wasn’t fake, the burly man grew suspicious. His expression turned serious as he sized Qin Yu up again.
That’s when he noticed the several pieces of jade hanging from Qin Yu’s waist, strung together with an ornate tassel.
The burly man’s eye twitched.
’I almost completely misjudged him!’
"To be perfectly honest, this sword is my masterpiece. It took me forty-nine days and nights to forge out all the impurities..."
He brandished the Longsword. Its blade was bright as snow, reflecting his own soot-stained face.
Without a backward glance, Qin Yu grabbed Bai Mo and started walking away.
The burly man hastily called out,
"Hey, what about thirty Spirit Stones? It’s definitely worth that much!"
"..."
Bai Mo couldn’t quite make out what the man shouted after that.
He could only hear Qin Yu muttering complaints.
"This bunch of Cultivators, they’re barely even human!"
"It’s one thing to name any price they want, but each one is more crooked than the last!"
"Back when I... Ah, forget it. No point telling you about that."
The two of them walked back to Shui Ziming, who was gazing at the water’s surface, deep in thought.
"The water level is quite a bit higher than usual."
A moment later, Shui Ziming looked away from the water.
"If the North Canal Water really rises high this year, a lot of good things could surface."
"Junior Brother Bai, you should take a good look around. See if you can find some Pill Furnaces."
They continued downstream along the North Canal Water, gradually leaving the weapon-forging Cultivators behind.
Bai Mo held out his hand, watching his fingers grow hazy as they were enveloped by the fog.
"The air is so damp here. Does it get foggy like this often?"
Shui Ziming nodded.
"There are always a few days like this every month. You’ll get used to it."
"When the weather is like this, don’t go out alone."
He added a warning, "A lot of Demon Beasts like to come out at times like this..."
Bai Mo was listening intently when Brother Shui’s voice suddenly cut off.
Confused, he looked over and saw Shui Ziming performing a Daoist salute.
"Greetings, Brother."
A hazy figure was approaching them. Their posture was impeccable, their steps steady and measured.
As the figure drew closer, a handsome, middle-aged Cultivator with an expressionless face was revealed.
"Fellow Daoist Shui."
Qin Yu flinched. "Third Uncle!"
The middle-aged Cultivator ignored him, speaking only to Shui Ziming.
"I must trouble you to look after him again, Fellow Daoist Shui."
Shui Ziming shook his head.
"Junior Brother Qin is always well-behaved. It’s no trouble at all."
The middle-aged Cultivator gave a noncommittal response and beckoned Qin Yu over.
His expression remained placid, his tone of voice flat.
"Your heart grows wilder the more time you spend outside. Do you truly wish to be confined?"
Qin Yu quickly forced a smile. "Third Uncle, I haven’t slacked off on my cultivation."
The middle-aged Cultivator ignored him. After bidding farewell to Shui Ziming, he led Qin Yu away.
Qin Yu didn’t dare to delay for a second. He hastily bid farewell to Bai Mo and Shui Ziming and hurried after his uncle.
Shui Ziming watched them disappear into the fog before speaking.
"We should get going as well. Let me tell you about some of the sect’s rules..."
The Xuandao Sect was different from the outside world; it had its own set of laws.
There were many things Bai Mo would have to keep in mind.
After walking for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a massive shadow loomed out of the fog, blocking their path.
"This is Beast Taming Peak."
Shui Ziming explained.
Bai Mo looked up at the mountain. It wasn’t particularly tall, but it was incredibly wide.
A peak this size could easily house an entire city’s population, with enough room left over to build a few racecourses.
’What a magnificent sight!’
"Beast Taming Peak is a special case among the outer sect peaks. They raise Spirit Beasts, so they need a lot of space for their daily activities."
Shui Ziming led Bai Mo straight up the path.
"They also lease other peaks to take advantage of the terrain for raising special Spirit Beasts, but the rent they pay is substantial."
"The Cultivators on some peaks can sustain their entire lineage on the rent alone..."
’Filthy rich landlords!’
Bai Mo was suddenly in awe.
’For a lineage of Cultivators with no future on the path of cultivation to develop their craft to such an extent... that’s truly rare.’
’It would be a waste of a trip if I didn’t find a way to squeeze some money out of a peak like this.’
"So, while you’re away handling things for a few days, I’ll be staying here?"
Bai Mo asked, his ear tilted to the chorus of cries and roars from the birds and beasts on the mountain.
Shui Ziming nodded.
"I have a decent relationship with them. It shouldn’t be a problem for you to stay here for a couple of days."
More importantly, Beast Taming Peak didn’t have many secrets.
Bai Mo could wander around freely and get used to the sect’s atmosphere.
"Once your status as an outer sect disciple is official, I’ll take you to see the other peaks."
"Which one you end up joining will be up to fate."
Shui Ziming added a word of caution, "Many of the disciples on Beast Taming Peak are lazy when it comes to cultivation, a fact for which they’re often criticized by other disciples."
"You can stay here, Junior Brother, but don’t pick up their habits. You don’t want to offend the Cultivators on the other peaks and find yourself unable to join them..."
