Chapter 127

126. Chapter 126: The Eight-Treasure Deer

Li Yi and Zhao Qian chatted in the garden; through Zhao Qian’s words, Li Yi learned more about cultivation in this world, heard of rare treasures and strange beings, yet some tales of precious spirits and monsters stirred his curiosity about the universe’s energy here.

Places capable of nurturing heavenly treasures must surely be rich in cosmic energy.

And this isn’t Earth—cosmic energy here is likely unpolluted. Wouldn’t it be better to cultivate the White Bone Contemplation Technique here?

Thinking of this, Li Yi’s eyes lit up.

If cosmic energy is abundant here, it’s a tremendous stroke of luck—he could refine his martial path while also evolving and transforming, walking both cultivation roads at once, and his strength would surely surge forward. When he grew strong enough, no grudge would matter—whether his master’s enemies or his own clash with Yang Yi, he’d knock them all down with a single punch.

“Wait a moment—I’ll practice the White Bone Contemplation Technique at night. By day, I should train with my master.”

Though excited, Li Yi wasn’t impulsive; he needed to schedule his time wisely to maximize efficiency.

While he and Zhao Qian chatted, Zhao Ge soon arrived with his disciples Rong Niang and Shou Hou, leading horses and knocking on the courtyard gate.

Zhao Qian heard the noise, cautiously observed, then opened the gate once she confirmed who it was.

“Father, how did it go? Was it smooth?” Zhao Qian hurried to take the reins and led the horses to the stable.

Zhao Ge shook his head: “You’re Water Town is too small—such fine bows, crossbows, and steel blades won’t fetch a good price. But those ten or so horses sold well. Enough. In these troubled times, we can’t be picky. Let’s sell everything at once. After all, they’re stolen goods; keeping them serves no purpose.”

Shou Hou grinned: “But I convinced Master to keep Jin Bu Feng’s blade—it’d be a waste to leave such a treasure in You Shui Town.”

He then patted the fine blade at his waist.

“Jin Bu Feng’s blade is good, but carrying it invites trouble. Since we’re planning to strike back anyway, if we find them, we’ll kill them all and take their wealth again. That way, we’ll get another payday.” Zhao Ge said: “We did get some silver this time, but expenses are high. Almost all the good medicine in the small town has been bought up—I estimate it’ll be enough for our group’s food and drink for now.”

“Rong Niang, sort through the goods on the horses. Didn’t you say you wanted to buy Meng De a coat? Take it out and see if he likes it.”

“Yes, Master.” Rong Niang responded, and together with Shou Hou, they unloaded the purchased goods into the house, then brought out a red cloak and, with a girl’s shy smile, handed it to Li Yi.

“Brother, does this cloak fit you?”

“Thank you, Rong Niang.”

Li Yi smiled, took it, shook it open, and draped it over himself—it fit perfectly, neither too long nor too short, neither too big nor too small.

The five-clawed black dragon on his fish-scale robe was now hidden beneath the cloak, less conspicuous, yet the red cloak itself still stood out. Still, as a gift from Rong Niang, he was delighted.

“Excellent. Meng De looks even more majestic in the cloak. With this bearing, he’ll draw every eye.”

Zhao Ge, seeing Li Yi’s vibrant, heroic, and extraordinary presence, couldn’t help but praise him.

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Indeed, youth is wonderful.

His future is boundless.

Unlike me, old and worn, my blood and qi in decline.

The future head of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall will be this man before me.

Zhao Ge thought silently—he’d already decided: after avenging his family and rebuilding the hall, he’d retire and hand it over to Li Yi. He believed that under Li Yi’s leadership, the hall would only grow more prosperous.

“Too bad I don’t use blades. If I had a Brocade Uniform knife, I’d be an Embroidered Uniform Guard.” Li Yi smiled, then took off the cloak, preparing to put it away.

“Brother, what’s an Embroidered Uniform Guard?” Rong Niang walked over, took the cloak from him, and carefully folded it.

Li Yi said: “It was an institution in my world’s Ming Dynasty—overseeing officials, granted imperial authority to execute first and report later. Every member was a martial arts master, equipped with fish-scale robes and Brocade Uniform knives. But the Ming fell, and it became history—nothing remains except historical records.”

“I see. Similar to the Divine Warrior Envoys of the Divine Warrior Gate here,” Zhao Ge said, stroking his beard. There was a similar organization across the Four Seas and Eight Provinces.

It recruited martial artists from across the land to serve the court. He’d once been recruited into the Divine Warrior Gate but refused—it was better to run a martial hall at home, free from power struggles. That wasn’t his ambition.

“Brother, your world’s court could actually be overthrown?” Shou Hou, having finished tending the horses, walked over curiously.

Li Yi said: “Of course. Dynasties rise and fall. When a court grows corrupt, treats lives as worthless, heroes rise from the wilds, rebel, and proclaim themselves kings. In my world, for thousands of years, there was never peace—either rebellion was brewing or already underway. Beggars became emperors, imperial princes murdered brothers and fathers, traitors ravaged the harem, foreign tribes invaded. Chaos ruled. As they say: the throne rotates; this year, it’s my turn.”

These few words left Zhao Ge and the others stunned.

This—this was too thrilling.

People in Li Yi’s world had rebelled for thousands of years?

“Meng De, you don’t have rebellion on your mind, do you?” Zhao Ge asked, still astonished.

Li Yi shook his head: “There are no emperors in my world anymore. No one rebels.”

“Good,” Zhao Ge exhaled slightly.

What kind of world was that? Terrifying.

“Brother, I don’t understand—rebellion is a crime punishable by extermination of nine clans. How could anyone dare do such a thing?”

Shou Hou scratched his head, utterly baffled. If he couldn’t survive, he’d die alone—he’d never risk dragging his kin to ruin.

“Extermination of nine clans?”

Li Yi paused, then said: “Then just rebel with your nine clans. If you win, you become imperial relatives, sharing glory for generations. If you lose, history remembers you. When survival’s impossible, what’s left to fear?”

“.”

Everyone fell silent.

Yet, upon reflection, the words made unsettling sense.

“Meng De, don’t say such things again,” Zhao Ge said, patting his shoulder solemnly.

Shou Hou grinned, secretly giving Li Yi a thumbs-up.

Big Brother truly lives up to his title.

Born with a rebellious soul, disdainful of kings and nobles, treating heroes of the world as mere grass.

The throne rotates; this year, it’s my turn.

That’s what true audacity looks like.

“All of you, stop talking. These are treasonous words. Our enemies aren’t yet defeated—don’t invite more trouble.” Zhao Ge then snapped, forbidding his disciples from discussing such topics.

“Alright, Master, we won’t talk about it anymore,” Shou Hou muttered sullenly.

But he still loved hearing Big Brother talk about rebellion.

Still, such talk here could easily bring disaster, so Li Yi said no more.

After a while,

the courtyard gate knocked again.

It was the broker from before.

“Honorable sir, are you in? Everything’s arranged. Two skilled butchers, twenty yellow goats, and the mountain treasure have all arrived.” The broker called from outside.

“Father, I bought some food and found one mountain treasure to replenish everyone,” Zhao Qian said at once.

Zhao Ge nodded: “Good. Thoughtful. We warriors need proper rest. Shou Hou, open the gate. Drive the goats into the stable. Have the butchers kill two fat ones and stew them—add the medicine we bought earlier. I want to see this mountain treasure up close.”

“You Shui Town isn’t the kind of place that produces mountain treasures—more like water treasures.”

He frowned slightly.

As the gate opened,

the broker bowed with a smile. Behind him, an old goatherd drove a flock of goats, and a butcher with his own tools stood respectfully waiting.

“Where’s the mountain treasure?” Shou Hou glanced around and asked.

“Bring it over,” the broker signaled.

Four laborers immediately carried a wooden cage, swaying as they approached, accompanied by a skin-refining martial artist who seemed afraid the treasure might break free.

Zhao Ge strode forward and stood before the cage.

Inside was an old deer, its body marked with five-colored patterns, unlike ordinary deer. Though trapped, its eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence—like a human’s, filled with hatred as it scanned its surroundings.

“So it’s an Eight-Treasure Deer.”

Zhao Ge recognized it at once, yet silently sighed: “This deer has lived long enough to transform into a mountain treasure. But its blood and qi have declined. Had it not been for recent mountain foraging, it would’ve died long ago. Now, even as an Eight-Treasure Deer, it’s useless—its flesh is aged, its marrow dried. For all its large frame, it weighs less than fifty catties.”

“What? An old deer on its last legs? Damn you—you tricked me!” Zhao Qian erupted in anger, ready to demand an explanation.

No wonder this mountain treasure hadn’t sold—it was this.

Zhao Ge waved his hand, signaling Zhao Qian to calm down.

Finding even one mountain treasure in You Shui Town was lucky. Now wasn’t the time to be picky.

Zhao Qian, seeing her father’s command, stopped and fell silent.

“How much do you want for this Eight-Treasure Deer?” Zhao Ge asked.

The broker, recognizing Zhao Ge as a seasoned expert, sighed: “Originally quoted two hundred taels, with ten taels deposit. If you’re serious, I’ll let you have it for one hundred eighty.”

“That’s not unreasonable. I won’t haggle. Two hundred taels. And add twenty more yellow goats. I’ll take the Eight-Treasure Deer.” Zhao Ge said.

At once, the broker beamed, agreed eagerly, and ordered the deer brought inside.

“Shou Hou, pay him. See the guests out.” Zhao Ge said.

Shou Hou paid the silver immediately, had the goatherd drive the goats in, and instructed the butchers to kill two fat ones and stew them well.

After everything was settled, Zhao Ge circled the Eight-Treasure Deer, studying it.

“Father, what’s so special about an old deer? Just kill it tomorrow—it’ll be wasted if it starves. We’ll use it to replenish everyone, and let Yi Brother taste Eight-Treasure Deer meat,” Zhao Qian said.

Zhao Ge snorted: “You don’t understand. An old deer has its wonders. A deer that survives this long in the wild has seen everything, known every danger. Now that it’s transformed into an Eight-Treasure Deer, its spirit has awakened. It’ll remember every precious thing it encountered in its youth. If tamed, taking it into the mountains could lead us to countless treasures and medicinal herbs.”

“Rebuilding the hall will require many treasures. Meng De, try to tame it. If you succeed, keep it alive. If not, kill it and eat it.”

He was already thinking about rebuilding the hall.

Clearly, he had full confidence Li Yi could kill the two Qi-Opening martial artists from San Yang City.

“I’ll try.”

Li Yi didn’t know how to tame beasts, and neither did his master—he could only grit his teeth and give it a shot.