Chapter 430: "Celebration"

“Li Qi?!” Huang Si exclaimed in astonishment, then, with a joyful flip, he dismounted and walked forward: “Li Qi, you’re back?!”

He didn’t even bother with the injured attendant, nor did he care about the bride behind him. He took two steps at a time, his face beaming with joy, almost overflowing, even happier than getting married.

“Li Qi, you’re back. Have you told Sixth Uncle? Do the other brothers know? Or did you just arrive at the mountain gate?” He stepped forward, placing his hands on Li Qi’s shoulders, completely at ease.

This brought a slight sense of comfort to Li Qi.

After all, they were sworn brothers. Back in the Paibo Gang, the Gang was everyone’s home. They lived and died together, snatched food together, and shared a bond where they could entrust their lives to each other. It seemed this feeling hadn’t faded.

“Huang Si, I just arrived. Are you… getting married?” Li Qi’s expression relaxed, and he smiled, patting the other’s shoulder.

“Yes, it’s a double blessing! I’m getting married today, and you’ve come just in time for my wedding feast. Come on, let’s go up the mountain! I’ll show you our new home. You’re not leaving this time, are you? From now on, we brothers will be respected individuals, living the good life, all thanks to you bringing us the new cultivation method!” Huang Si said with a laugh, no longer riding his horse. He pulled Li Qi, ready to go up the mountain gate.

Then he gestured behind him: “Lads, let’s go! No more riding, Li Qi and I will walk up the mountain!”

It was Li Qi, however, who, with the hand on his shoulder, held him in place.

Huang Si looked at Li Qi in confusion.

Li Qi said, “Marriage is a big deal. If you don’t choose wisely, you’ll either be swayed by matchmakers or bring shame to your family. How can you know the beauty or ugliness of another family’s daughter? If you rush into marriage and end up with an ordinary woman whom you can’t divorce, how will you manage this lifelong matter? If you’re getting married, you should at least introduce me to the girl, shouldn’t you?”

Upon hearing this, Huang Si slapped his head: “Haha, Li Qi, you’re still as thoughtful as ever, but this time you’ve got it wrong. Marriage isn’t a lifelong matter these days! This is my sixth wife! No need to worry, just come up and have a drink with me!”

Li Qi was startled.

How long had he been gone? He had married six wives? One every six months?

Furthermore, he had left the Carp Current Intent with the Paibo Gang. Although the Paibo Gang’s previous Wave-Breaking Force was a fragment of the Carp Current Intent, meaning they all had a foundational understanding of the Carp Current Intent, their subsequent Cultivation should have been relatively smooth. Still, it would have taken several years to transition.

To Cultivate and transition for several years, then establish a successful enterprise—it would have been impressive to gain a firm foothold in just a few years. How could he have had time to marry so many wives?

“Six? I’ve only been gone a few years. Why did you marry so many wives?” Li Qi looked at the sedan chair behind him and asked.

“After gaining wealth, a man naturally marries many wives and has many children. Otherwise, what’s the point of risking your life outside? All right, don’t stand here. Let’s go up and talk while we drink.” Huang Si said with a relaxed expression.

“Wait for me a moment.” Li Qi shook his head, pulled Huang Si’s hand off his shoulder, and walked straight to the bride’s sedan chair, pulling back the curtain.

This action, however, enraged the attendants around them.

The groom hadn’t even lifted the veil yet! What was this man doing?! Even if he was Lord Huang Si’s brother, such an act was too shameless and disrespectful.

If word got out, it would be a rumor of infidelity, which could only be cleansed with blood.

“Stop!”

“Halt!”

“Presumptuous!”

Several people shouted at once, even rushing forward to try and stop Li Qi.

But at that moment, Huang Si himself rushed out.

His target, however, was not Li Qi, but the other Disciples and attendants who had made a move.

Huang Si’s martial arts were extraordinary. Although he hadn't yet entered a ranked grade, he was originally among the best practitioners of Wave-Breaking Force in the former Paibo Gang. His foundation was solid, so his Cultivation of Carp Current Intent progressed by leaps and bounds, quite smoothly. It was as if his efforts of over a decade could be transferred to a stronger cultivation method with little loss.

Therefore, when he made his move, a crackling sound directly erupted in the air! He moved not like a carp, but like a slender water snake, striking from elusive angles, darting left and right in the air. With just one move, the attendants and Disciples who had been about to strike fell to the ground, wailing incessantly.

“Master Si, you…!” Someone wailed on the ground, looking at Huang Si in confusion.

They had been loyal, so why were they beaten by their own boss?

Huang Si, however, stood with his hands on his hips, shouting at the surroundings: “Presumptuous? Who are you talking about?! That’s my Elder brother! Forget a wife, I’d even give him my life! Whoever dares to make a move, don’t blame me for turning hostile!”

At these words, the surroundings were filled with astonishment and fear, and everyone looked towards Li Qi.

Who was this person? Why had they never heard of him?

One must know that the Paibo Gate had risen rapidly in the past two years, establishing a significant presence in Li Prefecture City. With their powerful cultivation method, their daring and ruthless spirit, and several Innate experts overseeing them, they had replaced the former Boshan Sect and become a formidable force.

Their cultivation method, though its name was unknown, could instantly unleash double strength without side effects, and even allowed them to hold their breath underwater. These advantages were enough for them to hold a significant edge over opponents of the same rank.

After all, Carp Current Intent was actually a cultivation method from Mount Luofu. Even if it was merely used as a minor technique by Mount Luofu, it was still far superior to ordinary Martial Dao methods.

And Huang Si was a core strength of the Paibo Gate, among the strongest. He was very likely to Breakthrough to the Innate realm within ten years and become an Innate Martial Artist, which was why he had so many Disciples and followers.

Now, a mysterious person, unknown to everyone, was called “Big Brother” by Huang Si, who even declared: “Forget a wife, I’d even give him my life.”

What kind of relationship was this? And who was this divine being? Could he be another Innate expert?!

Looking at the horse beside him, that horse was already very strong, probably only an Innate expert would be capable of taming it.

Everyone looked at Li Qi with fear and reverence, guessing his origins.

But Li Qi paid no attention to any of this. After lifting the curtain, he didn’t enter but squatted on the carriage: “Young lady, I won’t ask your name, nor will I lift your veil. Just tell me honestly what this marriage is about.”

Before Li Qi even finished speaking, the girl suddenly couldn’t hold back. She immediately began to sob.

Upon seeing this, Li Qi cast a Clear Heart Charm with his hand, then, using water Qi, winter Qi, and Yin Qi, mixed with the Divine Qi of his Nascent Soul, he formed a soothing Qi and sent it into her head.

The young girl felt a cool sensation fill her heart. Her sorrow and fear were all suppressed by a chilling sensation. Her mind became clear, free of distracting thoughts, and no longer troubled by other emotions.

Li Qi asked again: “What is this marriage about?”

“To answer, sir, my name is Zhang Quanlie. I am the legitimate daughter of the Zhang Family Manor’s squire. Recently, Zhang Family Manor was brought under the jurisdiction of the Paibo Gate. If we wish not to be harassed by mountain bandits and wild beasts, we must pay annual tribute, just as we did to the Boshan Sect before… However, the Boshan Sect’s methods required abstinence, so there was never such a situation in the past….”

“But the Paibo Gate is different. Most of them are bachelors, and their cultivation method has no abstinence requirements… So, in recent years, women from villages and settlements within a hundred li radius have married into the Paibo Gate…”

The young girl named Zhang Quanlie, with the aid of the Clear Heart Charm and Li Qi’s Nascent Soul Qi, quickly clarified the situation, systematically and clearly explaining what the Paibo Gate had been doing over the years.

The narration lasted for about ten minutes.

And Li Qi, connecting various clues and adding his own thoughts, simulated the development trajectory of the Paibo Gang over the past few years in his mind, deriving a clear outline.

It turned out that the Boshan Sect, whose Elder Li Qi had killed, was now annihilated.

The ones who did it were the Paibo Gang.

After obtaining the Carp Current Intent, the Paibo Gang was greatly invigorated. Everyone diligently Cultivated every day, utilizing the water Qi of the Li River and their previous foundation in Wave-Breaking Force. As a result, their Cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. In two years, everyone endured hardships together, pooling all the Gang’s resources onto one person. Finally, someone Broke through to the Ninth Grade.

This was what was known as an Innate Martial Artist.

Ninth Grade was already enough to establish a foothold in Li Prefecture City. The Governor of Li Prefecture was only Seventh Grade. Considering the vastness of the entire Li Prefecture, there was only one Seventh Grade.

Li Prefecture City, after all, was just a city. The strongest person there should be around Eighth Grade. Ninth Grade was already considered outstanding, enough to lead a local force.

And their first target was the Boshan Sect, which had lost a Ninth Grade Elder.

Clearly, the final outcome was the complete defeat of the Boshan Sect. As a cultivation method worthy of being recorded by Mount Luofu, Carp Current Intent was far more powerful than the Boshan Sect’s cultivation method, thus their combat strength was also greater.

However, after successfully taking over the Boshan Sect’s territory, in just one or two years, the Paibo Gang transformed into the Paibo Gate. They had completely adopted the former Boshan Sect’s practices, and even intensified them.

After listening to the narration, Li Qi said, “Young lady, do you still wish to proceed with this marriage? If not, just say so directly. No one will hold you accountable, and today’s events will not be pursued.”

“Sir… I was indeed forced, but I dare not trust your promise…” the young girl responded calmly.

Under the enhancement of the Nascent Soul Divine Qi, her thoughts were very clear, and her courage also grew. Normally, she would never dare to say such words.

Even just speaking them out loud startled her family members standing nearby.

“Even if I am Huang Si’s Elder brother, you don’t believe me?” Li Qi said again.

“You cannot stay here to protect us forever. When you leave… how will we protect ourselves?” the young girl looked up and asked.

“After you’ve said what you just said, you can no longer protect yourself; you can only trust me,” Li Qi said.

The young girl was stunned.

The Clear Heart Charm and the Nascent Soul Divine Qi gave her calmness, but they didn’t increase her intelligence.

She was silent for a moment, then nodded: “Then I… I believe you.”

“Then leave it to me.” Li Qi stood up, jumped off the carriage, and walked in front of Huang Si.

“Li Qi…” Huang Si frowned. He could tell that Li Qi was very angry.

“You forcibly abducted a woman,” Li Qi said to him, not as a question, but as a statement, though his tone was calm, without much fluctuation.

“What’s wrong with that? Wasn’t that how it was always done before?” Huang Si was puzzled.

He had initially thought Li Qi was interested in the woman; if so, he wouldn’t mind giving her to his Elder brother. They were brothers, their lives were intertwined, what was a woman compared to that?

If three people were trapped in a valley with no food, he would definitely stab the woman to death first, and the two of them would share her, then figure out a way out.

“Before? When did we ever do such a thing before?” Li Qi frowned.

“Wasn’t it because we didn’t have the opportunity? But Li Qi, look at the past. Shan Dazhuang did it, right? Old Master Bai did it before, right? Not to mention the Boshan Sect directly occupied pleasure boats before. Even now, do you see the Qianji Gate having fewer such incidents? Everyone does it, what’s wrong with that?” Huang Si spread his hands, looking at Li Qi in confusion.

A series of rhetorical questions left Li Qi speechless.

Yes, it was everywhere.

In Baiyue, human laws did not exist, and the impartiality of Shamanes was absent. What remained was only the wild growth of so-called ‘human nature.’

It wasn’t their problem; it was this area of Great Deer Kingdom that had turned them into this. In this place where the Dao did not exist, what else could a group of Boat Towmen become besides drifting aimlessly with the currents? Could one expect them to have an Epiphany on their own?

Impossible.

“Enough. Let the sedan chair and these people disperse. Let today’s matter be as if it never happened. You and the others who joined the School follow me. We will go see Sixth Uncle first,” Li Qi sighed, then waved his hand.

Upon seeing this, Huang Si said no more. He waved his hand, telling the sedan chair and the wedding party to go back. He then tore off the large red flower from his chest and tossed the groom’s red robe aside.

“Although I don’t know what you’re troubled about, Li Qi, you’ve always been the smartest in the Gang, so there must be a reason. I’ll listen to you. Oh, by the way, Li Qi, what’s your Cultivation level now? Your Wave-Breaking Force was quite impressive back then. It must be very powerful now, right?” Huang Si’s tone held no resentment at all. After shedding his clothes, he moved closer to Li Qi, chatting happily with him.

“I… I’ve reached Innate, and I’m a bit stronger than an average Innate.” Li Qi opened his mouth, but finally decided to describe his Cultivation in terms that Huang Si would understand.

They might have heard some inklings of the Ninth Grade classification method, but they clearly hadn’t paid attention to it. For them, an Innate Martial Artist was the pinnacle of Cultivation.

“Haha! I knew it! The Gang now has another Innate! This means we can expand again! This means we’re even qualified to go into the city now, and we don’t have to obey the orders of those big Gangs outside the city!” Huang Si was overjoyed at the news. He vigorously patted Li Qi, praising him continuously.

The two of them, disregarding everyone else, ascended directly from the mountain gate. With Huang Si leading the way, naturally, no one dared to block them.

As they entered further into the mountain gate, many old members of the Paibo Gang saw Li Qi.

Suddenly, the entire mountain gate rejoiced; everyone knew.

‘Li Qi’ had returned.