Chapter 22: The White Ape Seeks the Way

"Xiao Jiu, your laughter is too restrained."

Ye Qinghe's voice rang out.

She walked to Ning Qi's side, planted her hands on her hips, and drew a deep breath into her dantian. With an arrogant posture, she let out a boisterous laugh that echoed across the sky, startling the distant birds into continuous circling.

"See that? From now on, laugh like this. When enemies see you, they'll surely feel a sense of dread!"

Ning Qi's face was covered in lines of exasperation.

*Laughing so arrogantly—if people didn't know better, they'd think you had attained enlightenment.*

Seeing Ning Qi concede defeat, Ye Qinghe laughed even more wildly, her previous slight frustrations instantly vanishing.

"In terms of comprehension, I am no match for you, but in other aspects, Xiao Jiu, you're still a bit green."

Ye Qinghe did not ask what kind of stance Ning Qi had mastered. Although she was curious, she didn't want to face a blow to her ego.

The two of them lingered on the stone platform for a long time.

Sipping monkey wine while admiring the beautiful scenery was a unique pleasure. Ye Qinghe felt unsatisfied, feeling as though her previous boredom and monotony had completely evaporated.

"Xiao Jiu, you really are a lucky star. Next time we go out to play, you must bring your Senior Sister along," Ye Qinghe said with a grin.

She then stopped the white ape from continuing to pour wine. She stood up and brushed off the dust.

"It's about time we head back."

Ning Qi nodded with a smile.

"Little White Ape, our meeting was fate. I hope the next time we see you, you aren't being chased by a group of gibbons."

Ye Qinghe chimed in with a laugh: "Exactly, exactly! It's too embarrassing, little monkey."

However, she felt this little white ape was likely not simple. Having eaten several of those miraculous red fruits, it possessed divine transformations; perhaps it just hadn't developed them yet.

The white ape scratched its head bashfully.

The two humans and one ape passed through the water curtain to return to the cave, then walked through the cave and into the forest. The glow of the setting sun was fading, casting mottled shadows across the woods.

The white ape looked at them with reluctance. It waved its arms, wanting them to stay.

Ning Qi shook his head and smiled. "We have to return to our sect. It's getting late and the forest is dangerous. You should head back early."

With that, the two waved and began to walk forward.

The white ape felt dejected. It watched their retreating backs, its eyes filled with struggle. It was intelligent and could distinguish good from evil. Despite their short time together, it knew these two were kind. Not only had they helped it teach the gibbons a lesson for bullying it, but they also hadn't stolen its fruit. Had it been anyone else they encountered before, they probably would have skinned it alive.

As their figures were about to disappear into the depths of the forest, a sudden realization struck the ape. The scene of Ning Qi practicing his fist technique—the "Golden Monkey Asking the Way"—became even more vivid in its mind, and its gaze gradually turned determined.

Drawing strength from an unknown source, the white ape let out a few chirps and rushed forward at high speed.

Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe were chatting and laughing when suddenly, both froze, their eyes filled with astonishment.

They saw the white ape, panting heavily, scramble in front of them.

Ye Qinghe said teasingly, "Little monkey, you want to latch onto us too!"

The white ape paused to catch its breath. Suddenly, it knelt down and kowtowed respectfully to Ning Qi, its mannerism no different from that of a human.

The shock in Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe's eyes deepened.

Ye Qinghe clicked her tongue in wonder. "It seems it's not latching onto us, but onto you, Xiao Jiu."

Ning Qi asked, "Do you want to come back with us?"

The white ape's eyes lit up, and it nodded repeatedly, gesturing wildly before finally showing a cautious expression on its face.

Ning Qi was stunned. He recognized it—those were the movements of the *Myriad Manifestation Origin Stance* he had created; the white ape had merely imitated a few of the forms.

Ye Qinghe took a sip of wine. "This little monkey was just stealing your moves. Now it looks like it wants to go back with you to practice that stance of yours."

Ning Qi laughed helplessly.

How difficult was the *Myriad Manifestation Origin Stance*? Even Qin Yun, the most talented genius of the Zhenwu Sect, might not be able to learn it, let alone a little white ape. Ning Qi knew the ape had likely perceived a few related "manifestations" within the movements and felt it might be suitable for itself.

After speaking, Ye Qinghe said indignantly, "This little monkey has no tact! I'm much stronger than you, Xiao Jiu, yet it chooses you instead of me. You silly little monkey!"

The white ape quickly flashed a flattering smile and even gave Ye Qinghe a thumbs-up. This sent Ye Qinghe into fits of giggles, her mood brightening.

She looked at the contemplative Ning Qi and advised, "Xiao Jiu, why not take the little monkey back? The Zhenwu Sect can afford to raise one more little monkey."

The white ape's lovability was one reason, but another was that she felt Ning Qi was somewhat lonely. After all, he was young, and spending so much time practicing martial arts and reading alone might make him socially withdrawn in the future. This white ape was full of spirit; if it could accompany Ning Qi, it would be a good thing. This was her primary reason for persuading him.

Ning Qi nodded slightly. The white ape wouldn't be able to master the *Myriad Manifestation Origin Stance*, but perhaps he could refine a portion of it to create a stance suitable for an ape.

*What would happen if an exotic beast practiced human martial arts?* Ning Qi suddenly felt curious. Although the white ape was a bit mischievous, it wasn't a ferocious creature, and he quite liked it.

As his gaze shifted toward it, the white ape immediately grew nervous.

Ning Qi smiled. "Very well, then you shall come back with us."

The white ape's pupils dilated instantly, and it began to roll and jump excitedly, darting through the forest. Ning Qi and Ye Qinghe couldn't help but smile at each other.

***

Zhenwu Sect.

Fortunately, night had already fallen; otherwise, the combination of two humans and one ape would likely have drawn significant attention.

Ye Qinghe first hid the scavenged monkey wine, then circulated her internal energy to dispel the scent of alcohol from her body before saying, "Let's go. Let's go see Master."

Since they had brought back an exotic white ape and intended to keep it by Ning Qi's side, she felt it was necessary to inform her Master.

Ning Qi nodded. Conversely, the white ape grew nervous. In fact, it had been nervous since they stepped into the Zhenwu Sect.

Ning Qi comforted it, "Don't worry, Master is a kind person."

The white ape relaxed slightly, following closely at Ning Qi's heels.

"Disciple pays respects to Master!"

The two bowed respectfully, and the white ape followed suit.

Daoist Longshan looked at Ning Qi, his eyes full of kindness. After all, Ning Qi rarely visited him, usually only coming when he encountered confusion. He then glanced at Ye Qinghe and shook his head slightly; even if the smell of alcohol had been dispelled, how could it escape his notice?

Ye Qinghe's face flushed, and she acted a bit bashfully.

Daoist Longshan looked behind the two. The white ape was hiding most of its body behind Ning Qi. However, since Ning Qi was only four years old and the ape was taller than him, the gesture was clearly redundant and somewhat humorous.

His gaze sharpened slightly.

Ye Qinghe hurriedly said, "We are here to report to Master!"

As she spoke, she recounted their experiences in detail—from meeting the long-armed gibbons to the white ape offering the manual, witnessing the strange sights, and finally following them back. Not a single detail was omitted.

"This is the manual the little white ape gave us."

At Ye Qinghe's gesture, Ning Qi pulled the *Ice Silkworm Strength* from his robes.

As Daoist Longshan listened, he gradually fell into deep thought.