Chapter 22: White Ape Seeks The Way
“Little Nine, your laugh is too restrained.”
Ye Qinghe’s voice rang out.
She walked to Ning Qi’s side, then placed her hands on her hips, gathered her qi in her dantian, looking arrogant as her loud laughter echoed through the sky, startling distant birds into circling endlessly.
“See? Laugh like this from now on, and enemies will fear you by three parts just at the sight!”
Ning Qi was covered in black lines.
Laughing so arrogantly, those who didn’t know would think it was you who had achieved enlightenment.
Seeing Ning Qi concede defeat, Ye Qinghe laughed even more freely, her earlier slight depression instantly dissipating.
“In terms of comprehension, I’m not as good as you, but in other aspects, Little Nine, you’re still a bit green.”
Ye Qinghe didn’t ask what stance technique Ning Qi had comprehended, though she was a bit curious, she didn’t want to be hit.
The two lingered on this stone platform for a long time.
Drinking monkey wine while appreciating the beautiful scenery had a unique flavor; Ye Qinghe was still not satisfied, feeling that the previous boredom had completely vanished.
“Little Nine, you’re really a lucky star. Next time you come out to play, you must bring Senior Sister.”
Ye Qinghe grinned.
Then she stopped the White Ape that was about to pour more wine, stood up, and patted the dust off herself.
“It’s about time to go back.”
Ning Qi nodded with a smile.
“Little White Ape, our encounter is fate. I hope next time we meet, you won’t be chased by a few gibbons anymore.”
Ye Qinghe chimed in with a laugh:
“Exactly, so embarrassing, little monkey.”
But she felt this Little White Ape was not simple; after eating several miraculous red fruits, it had extraordinary changes, perhaps just not developed yet.
The White Ape shyly scratched its head.
The two humans and one ape passed through the water curtain back into the cave, then through the cave into the mountain forest. By now, the sunset glow had faded, adding a touch of mottled shadow to the mountain forest.
The White Ape looked at the two reluctantly.
It waved its arms, wanting to keep them.
Ning Qi shook his head with a smile:
“We still have to return to the sect; it’s getting late, the mountain forest is dangerous, you should go back early.”
With that.
The two waved their hands and walked forward.
The White Ape drooped; it watched their backs, eyes showing some struggle.
It was spiritually aware and could distinguish good from evil.
Though their time together was short, it knew these two were good people.
Not only had they helped it teach a lesson to the gibbon group that often bullied it, but they hadn’t robbed its fruits either. If it had been those people it met before, they probably would have skinned it alive and pulled out its tendons.
Seeing their backs about to disappear at the end of the mountain forest, a spark lit in its mind; it recalled Ning Qi practicing his punches earlier, the scene of the golden monkey asking questions becoming more profound, making its eyes gradually firm.
The White Ape didn’t know where it got the burst of strength from; it screeched twice and rushed forward rapidly.
Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe were chatting and laughing.
Suddenly.
Both paused, eyes showing astonishment.
They saw the White Ape panting as it vaulted to stand in front of them.
Ye Qinghe grinned:
“Little monkey, you still want to stick with us!”
The White Ape panted twice to catch its breath.
Suddenly it knelt down and respectfully kowtowed to Ning Qi, its manner no different from the Human Race.
Ning Qi and the other were even more astonished.
Ye Qinghe clicked her tongue in wonder.
“Looks like it’s not sticking with us, but sticking with you, Little Nine.”
Ning Qi asked:
“You want to go back with us?”
The White Ape’s eyes lit up, nodding repeatedly, gesturing something nonstop, finally showing a cautious expression on its face.
Ning Qi was stunned.
He recognized it; this was the Myriad Manifestations Origin Stance he had created earlier; the White Ape had only imitated a few forms from it.
Ye Qinghe took a sip of wine:
“This little monkey was secretly learning earlier; now it seems it wants to go back with you to practice that stance technique of yours.”
Ning Qi chuckled helplessly.
The Myriad Manifestations Origin Stance was so difficult; even True Martial Sect’s most prodigious Qin Yun might not be able to learn it, let alone a Little White Ape. Ning Qi knew the White Ape had probably seen a few related ‘manifestations’ in it and thought it might suit itself.
After that, Ye Qinghe said discontentedly:
“This little monkey has no eye for talent; I’m much stronger than you, Little Nine, yet it chooses you over me, you dumb little monkey!”
The White Ape quickly showed a fawning smile and gave Ye Qinghe a thumbs up.
This amused Ye Qinghe into giggling, her mood delighted.
She looked at the pensive Ning Qi and advised:
“Little Nine, why not bring the little monkey back? True Martial Sect can easily afford one more little monkey.”
The Little White Ape being likable was one aspect.
Another reason was that she felt Ning Qi was somewhat lonely.
After all, he was young, practicing martial arts and reading alone for so long; if he became reclusive later, it wouldn’t be good. This Little White Ape was lively; if it could accompany Ning Qi, it would be a good thing.
This was the main reason she was persuading him.
Ning Qi nodded slightly.
The White Ape couldn’t learn the Myriad Manifestations Origin Stance, but perhaps he could simplify part of it to create a stance technique suitable for the White Ape.
What would happen if an exotic beast practiced Human Race martial arts?
Ning Qi suddenly grew curious.
Though this White Ape was a bit mischievous, it wasn’t some ferocious thing, and he quite liked it.
He looked over, and the White Ape immediately tensed up.
Ning Qi smiled:
“Very well, then come back with us.”
The White Ape’s pupils suddenly dilated, then it excitedly rolled and jumped, swinging through the jungle nonstop.
Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe couldn’t help but smile at each other.
……
True Martial Sect.
Fortunately, night had fallen, or else the combination of two people and one ape would attract quite a bit of attention.
Ye Qinghe first hid the scraped monkey wine, then circulated her inner strength to dispel the alcohol from her body, before saying:
“Let’s go, we’ll go see Master.”
After all, they had brought back an exotic beast White Ape, and it was to be placed with Ning Qi; she felt it necessary to tell her master.
Ning Qi nodded.
The White Ape, however, was a bit nervous.
In fact, since stepping into True Martial Sect, it had been nervous.
Ning Qi comforted it:
“Don’t worry, Master is kind-hearted.”
The White Ape relaxed slightly and followed Ning Qi closely.
“Disciple pays respects to Master!”
The two respectfully saluted, and the White Ape followed suit.
Dragon Mountain Daoist looked at Ning Qi, eyes full of kindness; after all, Ning Qi rarely came to him, usually only when puzzled. He glanced at Ye Qinghe and shook his head slightly; even though the alcohol smell had been dispelled, how could it escape him.
Ye Qinghe blushed immediately, fidgeting slightly.
Dragon Mountain Daoist looked behind the two; the White Ape hid half its body behind Ning Qi, but Ning Qi was only four years old now, and the White Ape was taller than him, making the action obviously unnecessary and rather amusing.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Ye Qinghe quickly said:
“I was just about to report to Master!”
With that.
She recounted their encounter in full detail, from meeting the Iron Arm Apes, to the White Ape offering the secret manual, witnessing the wondrous scene, to finally following them back, not omitting any details.
“This is the secret manual the Little White Ape gave us.”
Ye Qinghe gestured, and Ning Qi took out that Ice Silkworm Strength from his bosom.
Dragon Mountain Daoist listened, gradually falling into contemplation.
