My Apprenticeship to Uncle Jiu: I Was a Warlord in the Republic of China

After discussing this matter, Uncle Jiu said to Jiang Li, "Have you been practicing hard this month? Has your cultivation level fallen behind?"

Jiang Li said awkwardly, "Master, I have been busy teaching those young men how to cultivate fungi and promoting Huang Silang's reputation, so I haven't had much time to practice, and therefore my progress has not been great."

Uncle Jiu frowned and said, "Can't you spare some time in the evening?"

Jiang Li scratched his head and said, "It's really because I've been away from home for a long time and neglected Tingting. During this period of time, I have been keeping in touch with her whenever I have time, but I have reduced my cultivation."

"But Master, rest assured that I have realized my mistake. From today on, I will concentrate on my training and make up for the progress I have missed."

Uncle Jiu sighed and said, "I knew it would be like this. I have said before that it is difficult to be a human being, difficult to raise a family, difficult to practice, and even more difficult to take care of all three. Now it has come true."

Jiang Li nodded thoughtfully after hearing this. After thinking for a while, he raised his head and said firmly to Uncle Jiu, "Master, don't worry. I know that my determination to practice is not as strong as yours."

"But I am not on the path of hard training. With the help of the elixir, I think I will not fall too far behind the master. In addition, I have already realized my mistakes. I will definitely pay more attention in the future and live up to the master's high expectations."

Uncle Jiu frowned and nodded when he heard this, "I hope so!"

He sniffed and said to Jiang Li, "Okay, Wencai will soon prepare dinner. Let's practice after dinner. Even if your progress is slow, it's better than doing nothing."

Sure enough, at this time, Wencai brought out a large pot of mutton and shouted, "Master and Junior Brother, come and eat."

Jiang Li, Uncle Jiu, Aqiang and Ade all sat at the table after hearing what was said. As for Jiang Youxiao and Jiang Youti, they did not sit down because they were responsible for guarding the carriage and keeping watch.

Jiang Li did not forget about them either. He served each of them a bowl and then brought them a large bowl of steamed buns.

Returning to the table, Ade said, "Third Senior Brother is really generous. He brought such a big piece of mutton to see the master. Otherwise, how could we have such a good fortune?"

Ah Qiang Wencai agreed repeatedly, but Uncle Jiu said with a dark face, "Eat your mutton. You're talking so much. Have I ever missed out on food and drink for you?"

Wencai, who was so ignorant, dared to answer. She said heartlessly, "Master, you have indeed never lacked food and drink for us, but what kind of food do we usually have? It's great to have bacon and egg soup. How can we eat meat and drink soup like today?"

Jiang Li, Aqiang and Ade looked at each other and shook their heads. They really didn't understand how someone could be so tactless as to ruin their master's show in front of him.

As expected, Uncle Jiu got furious when he heard this and said, "You little bastard, I provide you with good food and drink, and you still dare to complain. Now kneel down in front of the Grandmaster and recite the sect rules ten times. You are not allowed to eat until you finish reciting them."

Wencai immediately became timid upon hearing this, and begged for mercy, "Master, I was wrong, please forgive me this time!"

Uncle Jiu ignored his pleas for mercy, picked up a stick from a pillar and was about to beat him. Wencai hurriedly crawled to the portrait of the founder, knelt down, and recited the rules of the sect in a low voice.

Uncle Jiu heard his muffled voice and couldn't help but ask loudly, "Didn't you eat? Speak louder."

Wencai really answered heartlessly, "It's true that I didn't eat!"

Uncle Jiu became even more angry and was about to hit him, but Jiang Li quickly spoke up to save him, "Master, calm down. You know that our eldest brother has this kind of personality. Why bother with him?"

Seeing that there was such a way out, Uncle Jiu quickly stepped down, put aside his restraints and continued to eat mutton, while he ate, he kept talking about how ignorant Wencai was.

Jiang Li was also eating mutton, occasionally agreeing with him. Seeing that he was talking nonstop, Jiang Li simply changed the subject and asked, "Master, have you finished drawing the blueprint of the Taoist temple? Have you calculated how much money, bricks, stones and wood are needed? Should we prepare first?"

Uncle Jiu stopped complaining when he heard this, and instead tried to suppress his smile, saying, "I've roughly calculated this, and it will cost at least a thousand dollars. As for the materials, it's not hard to buy them. Now we just need a big log as a crossbeam, otherwise the hall will be difficult to build."

Jiang Li smiled and said, "It's easy. When we get on the road, we'll go to Renjia Town and ask my father-in-law about it. I think it shouldn't be difficult to find a beam with his connections."

Uncle Jiu smiled and said, "That's fine, but I'll have to trouble Master Ren."

Jiang Li smiled and said, "It's okay. It's good to contribute to the construction of the Taoist temple. I think my father-in-law will gladly agree to it when he finds out. Anyway, he doesn't have to pay for it. He just helps to pass on the message."

Uncle Jiu nodded and continued eating mutton.

Jiang Li finished the mutton soup in his bowl and said, "Master, I'm done eating. Don't be angry. Let Senior Brother come to eat. If it gets cold, it will be bad for him to get a stomachache."

Uncle Jiu nodded and said, "Okay, if you really have a stomachache, it won't be good to drag your feet on the road tomorrow."

Jiang Li went to call Wencai over to continue eating, and then asked Uncle Jiu, "Is the eldest brother also going to Maoshan to receive the ordination?"

Uncle Jiu nodded as he ate and said, "Not only you, Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai haven't been ordained yet. I thought I'd take Qiu Sheng, Aqiang, and Ade with me so they can see the world. At the very least, let them get to know each other at Maoshan."

Jiang Li immediately reacted upon hearing this and thought, "This is not about showing off, it's obvious that he wants to show off, otherwise why would he bring several disciples with him, and even find an excuse to bring several spirit beasts with him as well."

But Jiang Li did not point it out. He just said hello to Uncle Jiu, paid homage to the ancestor, and went back to his room to practice.

Jiang Li really felt that he had been a little slack in the past few days, so he practiced for two hours. Even after his three fellow disciples fell asleep, he was still practicing the Qigong.

After practicing for more than an hour, I felt my brain was a little tired, so I stopped practicing and lay down to sleep.

Early the next morning, the four brothers were woken up by Uncle Jiu and practiced Zhengyang Fist with him for an hour. Then they had a simple meal, packed up their things, locked the door, and went to Renjia Town.

Jiang Li went to Ren's house to borrow two carriages, and by the way asked Ren Fa to help buy a big piece of wood to make a crossbeam for the Taoist temple. Then he reunited with Uncle Jiu.

Uncle Jiu first told Qiu Sheng’s aunt that he would take Qiu Sheng to Maoshan to meet the elders of the sect. After getting consent, he took Qiu Sheng to buy a lot of dried meat noodles as food for the journey.

When Jiang Li came back, everything was ready. The six masters and apprentices, two guards, a 200-pound gorilla, and a magic chicken, boarded four horse-drawn carriages and set off for Maoshan.

During the period, Jiang Li learned through inquiries that Maoshan is divided into South Maoshan and North Maoshan. North Maoshan is the birthplace of Maoshan, but the southerners are basically all disciples of South Maoshan. The destination this time is North Maoshan, located in Jiangsu in later generations.

Jiang Li couldn't help but ask curiously, "Master, how far have we come?"

Uncle Jiu said nonchalantly, "It's not far, just over 1,800 miles."

...

...

(Beimao Mountain is located in Jurong City, Zhenjiang, in the southwest of Jiangsu Province. It is located at the junction of Jurong and Jintan counties. It is the birthplace of the Shangqing School of Taoism and is called the "Shangqing Sect Altar" by Taoists.

Mr. Zombie was filmed in Taiwan, but this book made some changes and set Renjia Town in the southeast of Guangdong, 1,800 miles away from Maoshan, Jiangsu.)