Seeing this strange scene, Xu Luo stood at the back window and never left.
He looked at Master Bai reciting the words of the saint with a glance, his silhouette was extremely lonely, and he also looked at the children who had not even turned a few pages of the book, but they were all happy and wanton.
Even during the break, Master Bai still couldn't let go of the book and couldn't take his eyes off it. It was obvious that he was really enjoying it.
The atmosphere in the hall was extremely dull. In the end, the children were obviously tired from playing, so they lay down on the wooden table and fell asleep.
Master Bai's hoarse and old reciting voice is just like the most beautiful lullaby.
It was not until the lecture was about to end that the bamboo whip in Master Bai's hand suddenly hit the desk hard.
There was a crisp snap, and all the children below were all excited, subconsciously sitting upright and looking up.
Mr. Bai looked around with eyes full of disappointment, lingered on an empty seat in the last row for a moment, and then quickly moved his eyes back to the book in his hand.
"What is a human being? A person who stands upright with heaven and earth, is benevolent, filial, propriety and trustworthy, is noble and virtuous, and is a benevolent person.
Don't decide on one thing, don't choose on one foot, good will not be determined by its category, evil will not be promoted...
As a human being, you should be a human being, and you are born a human being!"
Hearing these last words, Xu Luo looked a little moved.
This is a subtle statement, but it does mean something, but when I say it to these children under the age of ten below, it seems to be a bit ridiculous.
Although Master Bai lives a poor life, he speaks and behaves politely and obeys the rules. He is obviously a person with a story. Why does he still do such a thankless thing?
As the bamboo whip cracked again, the children couldn't wait to rush out of the bamboo building.
Mr. Bai stared at the book in his hand for a long time, then straightened his waist and suddenly stooped.
He let out a long sigh, immediately followed him out of the bamboo building, and sent all the children back to the shore one by one.
Xu Luo quietly watched him finish everything, and then returned to the tide viewing platform on the second floor, looking thoughtfully at the sea and sky in the distance.
"Your injury is not healed, so you can't let the wind blow. Why are you still standing here?"
Not long after, Master Bai's hoarse voice came from behind, clearly showing a hint of exhaustion. Xu Luo turned around and smiled.
"Thank you for your concern, Master! My health is fine now. I want to go out to sea in the afternoon to see how to cast a net. What do you think, Master?"
Master Bai was stunned for a moment, but he immediately thought of something and a look of resentment appeared on his face.
"Have you seen everything that happened this morning?"
Without waiting for Xu Luo to answer, he sighed again.
"Hey, I'm getting old. Every time I go to sea, my harvest is quite unsatisfactory. I can only teach people to read a few words and learn some etiquette to earn some money to live. It's just these children... Hey, it makes Xiao Luo laugh.
.”
His words were extremely vague, as if there was something unspeakable, and Xu Luo's expression became serious.
"Master, whatever you say, no matter which dynasty or generation, the transmission of rites and texts is the most respectable thing. Our human race can boast of being the best in all things, isn't it because of the accumulation of inheritance from generation to generation?"
Master Bai glanced at him gratefully, but did not refute his words. He turned around and started working in front of the stove.
The two of them drank fish soup and ate some food similar to rough flatbreads, then sailed the boat to the distant sea.
At this time, Xu Luo became more and more sure that he guessed that the so-called fish porridge he drank in the morning must be a very cherished thing, at least for Master Bai.
Originally, Xu Luo thought that Master Bai would not gain much because of his old age and weak strength.
But to his surprise, the sea was rich in fish and shrimp, and every time he netted, he gained a lot.
But Master Bai didn't even look at these plump fish and shrimps, but there was a look of disappointment on his face.
Xu Luo was afraid of showing his flaws, so he simply became a dull gourd and just immersed himself in his work.
On the other hand, Master Bai saw that he was sweating profusely from his work, but he still worked hard to throw away the nets. He felt too sorry to take the initiative to explain.
"You also know that those of us who guard this Po Konghai will have no worries about eating and drinking, but if we want to save more spiritual dew money, these ordinary fish and shrimps are not worth three melons and two dates, and we have to fish for some snow fish spiritual objects.
.”
Sure enough, they are trying to salvage spiritual objects. Is it any wonder that a fishing net has been refined into a magic weapon?
Xu Luo's thoughts changed rapidly, but he chuckled softly on his face.
"Master, save my life, what does it mean to put in some effort?"
Speaking of this, Xu Luo pointed to a small piece of reef that had just emerged not far away and smiled as if unintentionally.
"Snowfish has extraordinary spirituality and is extremely difficult to catch. Why don't we go to that reef and try?"
Master Bai thought he was just making random suggestions, but it was already approaching dusk and he hadn't caught a single snowfish, so he might as well go over there and try what he wanted.
"It's up to you, it's up to you, it's not the old man who's doing the hard work anyway."
Xu Luo laughed and took the initiative to turn the boat to the reef. But as soon as the net was cast, the whole boat shook violently, as if there was a huge force pulling under the water.
Master Bai's expression froze immediately, but he immediately reacted and shouted.
"Yes, yes, be careful, drag it evenly, don't let it run away!"
After a night's rest, Xu Luo's body had already returned to normal, and at least his strength was definitely not inferior to that of an adult man.
His mind moved, and a slender black thread silently followed the rope around his fingertips again, and then he dragged the fishing net up bit by bit with great difficulty.
A strange scene appeared. There was obviously nothing in the fishing net, but it bulged and twisted from time to time.
With a look of ecstasy on his face, Master Bai carefully took out a piece of paper charm and threw it into the fishing net.
There was a soft buzzing sound, and a white fish with sharp horns was struggling wildly in the fishing net, but every time its sharp horn pointed somewhere, the fishing net would emit golden light to block it back.
Xu Luo picked up the wooden stick at his feet and subconsciously smashed it down. The joy on Master Bai's face suddenly turned into horror.
"Don't, don't, the snowfish has sharp corners... ah!"
But before he finished speaking, all his unfinished words turned into an exclamation.
As the wooden stick hit, it immediately fell into pieces, but the snow fish also trembled all over and lay motionless in the fishing net. Master Bai quickly came over and stared at Xu Luo closely.
"You, are you okay?"
Xu Luo shook his numb palms and shook his head.
"It's okay. This snowfish doesn't look heavy. I'm afraid it's not worth a few spirit dew?"
Seeing that he was indeed fine, Master Bai smiled and waved his hand.
"You are wrong about this. The sea area of Sanyanjing is rich in snowfish. It can only be transported to the nearest shipping market for a dozen pieces of spiritual dew at most. But if this treasure can be transported to Xuanwu City, it will be worth at least a hundred pieces.
More than one spirit dew."
"Ship market?"
Xu Luo asked subconsciously, and Master Bai's eyes flashed with suspicion, but when he saw his thin skin and tender flesh, he laughed to himself.
"Although you don't want to reveal your background, I think your family must be from a humble background, so it's not surprising that you haven't heard of this ship market.
The so-called boat market is a settlement formed by the spontaneous grouping of some boat people. I can't explain it in just a few words. I will just show you it when I go back later."
Xu Luo's heart trembled, and he was embarrassed to laugh a few times, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions.
Master Bai carefully put the two-foot-long snowfish into a jade box he found from somewhere, and explained aloud.
"A hundred pieces of spiritual dew can definitely convert more spiritual energy than this snow fish, but the snow fish has an advantage. The generated spiritual energy is mild in nature and is more suitable for young practitioners."
Xu Luo's eyes showed a look of realization. It turns out that this is the case. From ancient times to the present, all parents only spend money on their own children. They are never stingy!
However, he was secretly ecstatic in his heart. If the snow fish had such miraculous effects, wouldn't it be suitable for him to use to heal his injuries?
After collecting the snowfish, Master Bai turned the boat towards the northwest of Baisha Island.
Not long after, a huge city that seemed to grow out of the water appeared in front of their eyes. However, this city was a bit strange. If you looked closely, it was made up of countless large and small ships connected together.
It was approaching dusk now, and small boats were constantly surrounding the city and going in and out. From a distance, they looked like worker bees flying around the hive.
Master Bai did not approach the boat rashly, but just slowed down slightly and pretended to pass by, then tilted his head towards Xu Luo to signal.
"Well, this is the ship market. Almost all the transactions of the boat people wandering nearby are carried out here. Occasionally, island merchants will come here to collect some rare goods from the sea."
It was obvious that Master Bai was a little taboo about this place, so he just took Xu Luo to take a look at it from a distance, and then returned to Baishayu Bamboo House.
After instructing Xu Luo to stay at home and rest first, Master Bai hurriedly picked up the snow fish and rushed to Baisha Island in his boat.
Seeing him leave, Xu Luo walked back to the tide-watching platform and flicked his fingers at the sea below.
The Xuanming River submerged directly into the sea water below, and the next moment the entire sea area seemed to be boiling.
Snowfish came to the surface one after another, and the smallest ones were several feet long.
Xu Luo didn't even bother to close it, a blue light flashed between his eyebrows, and countless snow fish disappeared in an instant like an illusion.
At the same time, waves of gentle spiritual energy came from the sea of consciousness, slowly nourishing the injuries in Xu Luo's body.
Sensing a slight bulging sensation in his body, Xu Luo knew that it was too much to go too far. No matter how gentle the snow fish was, it couldn't hold him to death all at once.
After finishing the most important thing, Xu Luo couldn't wait to go to the school hall. In the morning, he noticed a row of bookshelves against the wall.
He didn't dare to ask Master Bai more about it, so the best way to understand it was to read the book himself.
There are not many books on this bookshelf, and most of them are obviously hand-copied and full of errors and omissions.
But Xu Luo refused to accept anyone who came, and did not let go of almost every book. He swallowed it all and kept it in his mind before talking about it.
Just after he finished flipping through all the books, there was a slight muffled sound of the boat hitting the shore.
Xu Luo rearranged the books neatly, but a trace of doubt flashed between his eyebrows, because along with Master Bai's hearty laughter, there was an extremely unfamiliar clear female voice.
As soon as he walked out of the gate, Xu Luo saw Master Bai walking over with a little girl of about ten years old with a doting look on his face.
"Master, this is..."
Master Bai was obviously in a very good mood, and he pulled the little girl.
"Xiaoya, this is your brother Xu. The snow fish today is all his own fault."
Bai Xiaoya has delicate features, and her dark pupils looked at Xu Luo with a curious expression.
Seeing Xu Luo looking over, she quickly bent down and saluted, but strangely she didn't say a word. Xu Luo's eyes flashed with confusion and he looked towards Master Bai.
A hint of bitterness flashed across Master Bai's happy eyes, and he didn't say anything, but silently pointed at his throat.
Xu Luo understood, and the pity flashed in his eyes. He saw the little girl's elegant but extremely clean and tidy clothes, and then looked at the ragged and skinny Master Bai. Finally, he understood why he was taking risks at such an old age.
Going to sea to search for spiritual objects?
"Sister Xiaoya, don't be too polite. Compared to your grandfather's life-saving grace, what are mere spiritual objects?"
At this moment, Master Bai suddenly interrupted Xu Luo's pleasantries.
"Let's go back first. I bought some green tooth rice today, just in time for you two to make up for it."
Only then did Xu Luo realize that he was carrying a large package, so he took it conveniently.
A faint spiritual energy went straight to the Dantian along his arm, and the pattern he just saw popped into Xu Luo's mind.
The so-called green-toothed rice is also called spiritual rice. It only grows in places where spiritual energy gathers. One grain is the size of an adult's thumb. It is one of the most important foods for all practitioners of Kukai.
The bowl of fish porridge he drank in the morning must have been made from green tooth rice.
Under the dim candlelight, the three of them were sitting at a simple wooden table, eating some fried fish and drinking fish porridge. From time to time they let out cheerful laughter and Xiaoya's happy ah-ah sounds. This scene was inexplicably warm.
With Xu Luo's cultivation level, he can understand the so-called sign language just by reading it a few times, so there is no problem in communication.
With the innocent and lively Bai Xiaoya making jokes in it, not to mention Mrs. Bai's great comfort, even Xu Luo felt a little lighter.
But Xu Luo didn't know if it was an illusion, but Xu Luo always felt that Xiaoya seemed to have noticed something. Even though she was laughing happily, there was a trace of worry between her eyebrows, and she even had a faint sense of fear towards him.
In the next few days, Xu Luo, in addition to his daily homework, followed Master Bai on fishing trips. As long as he followed him, he would gain something every time he went out to sea.
However, Xu Luo didn't do much. For Mr. Bai and his grandson, sudden wealth may not be a good thing.
Bai Xiaoya has been staying in the bamboo house these days, studying with the children in the morning. When she has free time, she will weave clothes with a kind of seaweed, and she gradually becomes familiar with Xu Luo.
Xu Luo finally knew why Bai Xiaoya was not at home a few days ago. Although she could not speak since she was a child, Master Bai never gave up hope and would send her to Baishayu Medical Center for treatment every once in a while.
It's a pity that after so many years, even Master Bai, a master of the Ningsha Realm, spent all his money to ask others to take a look, but he still couldn't tell the reason.
Late at night, Xu Luo sat cross-legged on the tide-watching platform on the second floor. In addition to continuing to exercise to heal his injuries, he was quietly thinking about his future itinerary.
By reading those books, he finally has some understanding of Pokukai, or Xuanwu Continent. If he could sum it up in one sentence, it would be three words "Begging for Life"!
There is no official power from the imperial court in Pokukai, and there is no other power on the surface.
Everyone, all the islands, and all the spiritual resources are gathered under the behemoth of the Begging Union.
What surprised Xu Luo was that the people here were artificially divided into two categories. One category was the cultivators and their families who could live on various islands.
One category is the largest group of so-called boat people. These people live on various boats and can only drift on the sea for most of their lives.