Chapter 22: The White Ape Seeks the Dao |
"Little Nine, you're smiling way too reservedly."
Ye Qinghe's voice rang out.
She walked up to Ning Qi’s side, then put her hands on her hips, took a deep breath from her dantian, and laughed wildly. Her arrogant laughter echoed across the sky, startling the birds in the distance into circling endlessly.
"See that? From now on, laugh like this! The moment your enemies see you, they'll be scared stiff!"
Ning Qi's face was full of black lines.
Laughing so arrogantly... anyone who didn’t know better would think you were the one who just comprehended the Dao.
Seeing Ning Qi admit defeat, Ye Qinghe laughed even more unrestrainedly, the little bit of gloom she’d had earlier instantly vanishing without a trace.
"In terms of comprehension, I can’t compare to you, but in other ways, Little Nine, you’ve still got a ways to go."
Ye Qinghe didn’t ask what Stance Ning Qi had comprehended. Though curious, she didn’t want to get discouraged.
Drinking Monkey Wine and enjoying the view had a special kind of charm. Ye Qinghe was reluctant to leave, feeling like all her previous boredom had been swept away.
"Little Nine, you really are a lucky star. Next time we go out to play, you have to bring your Senior Sister along."
Ye Qinghe said with a cheeky grin.
Then she stopped the White Ape from pouring more wine. She stood up and patted the dust off herself.
"It’s about time to head back."
Ning Qi nodded with a smile.
"Little White Ape, meeting you was fate. I hope next time we see you, you won’t be running away from a bunch of Long-armed Apes."
Ye Qinghe added with a laugh:
"Exactly, exactly! That was so embarrassing, you silly little monkey!"
Still, she felt the Little White Ape wasn’t ordinary. After eating several mysterious Red Fruits, it had shown some miraculous changes—perhaps those changes just hadn’t been fully developed yet.
The White Ape scratched its head bashfully.
The two humans and one ape passed through the waterfall and returned to the cave, then walked through the cave into the forest. By now, the glow of the setting sun had grown faint, casting the forest in fragmented shadows.
The White Ape looked at the two of them with reluctance.
It waved its arms, as if trying to get them to stay.
Ning Qi shook his head with a smile.
"We still have to return to our sect. It's getting late, and the forest is dangerous. You should head back too."
With that—
The two of them waved and continued walking ahead.
The White Ape slumped in dejection, watching their backs with hesitation in its eyes.
It was intelligent, capable of distinguishing good from evil.
Though their time together had been short, it knew these two were good people.
Not only had they helped it teach a lesson to the group of Long-armed Apes that often bullied it, but they also hadn’t tried to steal its fruit. If it had been anyone else it met before, they’d probably have skinned it alive by now.
Seeing their backs about to disappear into the end of the forest, something suddenly clicked in its mind. It recalled the scene of Ning Qi practicing his punches earlier—the Golden Monkey Seeking the Dao. That image grew clearer in its memory, and its eyes gradually filled with resolve.
The White Ape didn’t know where the strength came from, but it let out two strange screeches and suddenly dashed forward at top speed.
Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe were chatting and laughing.
Suddenly—
They both stopped in their tracks, surprise flashing in their eyes.
The White Ape had huffed and puffed its way around in front of them.
Ye Qinghe grinned and said:
"Little Monkey, are you trying to cling to us?"
The White Ape took a few breaths to calm down.
Then it suddenly knelt down and kowtowed respectfully to Ning Qi. Its posture was no different from that of a human.
The astonishment in the eyes of Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe deepened.
Ye Qinghe clicked her tongue in amazement.
"Looks like it's not trying to cling to us, but just to you, Little Nine."
Ning Qi asked:
"You want to go back with us?"
The White Ape’s eyes lit up. It nodded repeatedly and gestured wildly. Then a cautious look crept onto its face.
Ning Qi was stunned.
He recognized it—that was the Origin of All Phenomena Stance he had created earlier. The White Ape had just mimicked a few of its moves.
Ye Qinghe took a sip of wine and said:
"This little monkey was secretly trying to learn from you earlier. Now it looks like it wants to go back with you to train in your Stance technique."
Ning Qi chuckled.
The Origin of All Phenomena Stance was extremely difficult. Even the most talented Qin Yun in the Zhenwu Sect might not be able to learn it—let alone a little White Ape. Ning Qi figured the White Ape must’ve seen some aspect of the “phenomena” within it and thought it might suit it.
Then Ye Qinghe added indignantly:
"This little monkey really has no taste. I’m way better than you, Little Nine, yet it chose you over me. Stupid monkey!"
The White Ape quickly put on a flattering smile and gave Ye Qinghe a big thumbs up.
Ye Qinghe burst into laughter, utterly amused and in high spirits.
She looked at the thoughtful Ning Qi and tried to persuade him:
"Little Nine, how about bringing the monkey back with us? The Zhenwu Sect can handle raising one more little monkey."
The White Ape was certainly likable.
But there was another reason.
She felt Ning Qi was a bit lonely.
After all, he was still young, and had spent such a long time practicing martial arts and reading all by himself. If he ended up becoming withdrawn, that wouldn’t be good. This lively White Ape could be a great companion.
That was her main reason for suggesting it.
Ning Qi nodded slightly.
The White Ape wouldn’t be able to learn the full Origin of All Phenomena Stance, but maybe he could extract and refine parts of it to create a new Stance suitable for it.
What would happen if an exotic beast trained in a human martial art?
Ning Qi suddenly felt curious.
Though the White Ape was a little mischievous, it wasn’t dangerous, and Ning Qi had taken quite a liking to it.
As he looked over, the White Ape immediately tensed up.
Ning Qi smiled and said:
"Alright then, you can come back with us."
The White Ape's eyes widened in excitement, then it started somersaulting and leaping, swinging through the forest in pure joy.
Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe exchanged a smile.
…
Zhenwu Sect.
Luckily, night had already fallen—otherwise, a group consisting of two people and one ape might’ve drawn too much attention.
Ye Qinghe first stashed away the Monkey Wine she had scavenged, then circulated her inner energy to dispel the alcohol from her body. Only then did she say:
"Let’s go. Time to see Master."
After all, they had brought back an exotic beast—a White Ape—and were keeping it at Ning Qi’s side. She felt it was necessary to report this to their Master.
Ning Qi nodded.
The White Ape, on the other hand, was getting nervous.
In fact, ever since they entered the Zhenwu Sect, it had been on edge.
Ning Qi reassured it:
"Don’t worry, Master is kind and gentle."
The White Ape relaxed a little and followed Ning Qi closely, step for step.
"Disciple greets Master!"
The two of them bowed respectfully. The White Ape followed suit.
Daoist Longshan looked at Ning Qi, his eyes full of kindness. Ning Qi rarely came to see him—usually only when he was troubled. Then he glanced at Ye Qinghe and shook his head slightly. Even if she had dispelled the alcohol, how could she hope to fool him?
Ye Qinghe immediately blushed and fidgeted.
Daoist Longshan then looked past the two of them. Most of the White Ape’s body was hidden behind Ning Qi—but since Ning Qi was only four years old and shorter than the ape, this gesture was obviously unnecessary and rather amusing.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
Ye Qinghe quickly said:
"Master, I was just about to report to you!"
Then—
She explained everything in detail—from encountering the Iron-armed Ape, to the White Ape presenting a secret manual, seeing strange sights, and finally choosing to follow them back. She didn’t leave out a single detail.
"This is the manual the Little White Ape gave us."
Ye Qinghe signaled to Ning Qi, who pulled out the Ice Silkworm Force from his robe.
Daoist Longshan listened, gradually falling into deep thought.