Second update, please subscribe~~~

...

Just like that, over the course of a meal, Qin Fang tricked Monk Wukong, an expert even more formidable than Song Qingshan, to his side.

This wasn't really deception, but rather a mutually willing cooperation, fulfilling each other's needs...

Monk Wukong was relatively easy to accommodate, being a monk, he had originally planned to reside in a Buddhist temple in Ninghai, and with his identity as a disciple of Shaolin Temple, it was easy to arrange.

However, after reaching an agreement with Qin Fang, his place of residence naturally had to be arranged by Qin Fang, so without hesitation, Qin Fang threw this task to Mouse Qiang.

Now, Mouse Qiang's status was no ordinary matter, after the time when Qin Fang's people cleaned out Eighth Elder's turf and severely slapped Li Rui in the face, Tiger also took advantage of the victory and directly occupied the territory, and out of respect for Qin Fang, Mouse Qiang had become the boss of this area.

And since Qin Fang's Fang Feixue was also in this area, throwing Monk Wukong to Mouse Qiang to handle was naturally the most suitable arrangement.

Not only that, but Qin Fang also specifically instructed Fang Feixue to treat Monk Wukong well and to consider him a distinguished guest!

So, before Monk Wukong even did anything for Qin Fang, he first enjoyed treatment akin to that of the Buddha...

Why say he hadn't done anything?

Because just as things settled down, Qin Fang had to leave Ninghai once again, going out of town on business.

"Don't worry, the old lady will be fine..."

Qin Fang tenderly comforted Wen Yan as he embraced her shoulders.

The news just received was that Wen Yan's grandmother was seriously ill and seemed not long for this world; all the old lady wanted was to see her granddaughter one last time. It was said she had been struggling, muttering about not being able to see her granddaughter's wedding day...

Speaking of which Qin Fang actually felt quite ashamed, Wen Yan had been with him for a while, and their relationship had always been lukewarm; Wen Yan's presence had become increasingly inconspicuous, even among the trio of Tang, Xiao, and Wen, she always seemed to be the least important.

But Wen Yan herself never had any complaints, nor did she ever ask for anything, until this incident occurred, and she hesitated for a couple of days before discussing it with Tang Feifei, and only then did it reach Qin Fang's ears.

The sisterly bond among the trio of Tang, Xiao, and Wen was quite strong, being the first small group among Qin Fang's women, having gone through many hardships together, their affection was even deeper.

Upon knowing the situation, Tang Feifei immediately told Qin Fang and strongly requested that he accompany Wen Yan back to her hometown. Although Qin Fang and Wen Yan were only nominally boyfriend and girlfriend, without a substantial relationship, it made sense to go and bid farewell to the elderly lady as it was only proper.

If it wasn't for the fact that Tang Feifei and Xiao Muxue's identities were inappropriate, the two of them also wanted to go together.

Wen Yan was not from Ninghai but from Jiupan City in Yanggui Province of the vast Southwest. Though she grew up in a city, her old home was located at the foot of the vast mountains.

Yanggui Province is an economically underdeveloped province in Dragon Country, especially in the mountains, which are quite backward with very poor conditions.

However, this wasn't a problem for Qin Fang, who had grown up enduring hardships, and wasn't someone who couldn't handle adversity...

Monk Wukong had just come out of the mountains and was enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city. Although he promised to protect Qin Fang's safety, he didn't want to go back to the mountains and suffer so soon and naturally did not accompany Qin Fang.

Of course, it was also because Shen Wuben hadn't made a move against Qin Fang yet, and it was absolutely safe for Qin Fang to leave for now, as Monk Wukong could also get information on Shen Wuben himself.

"I'll go with you guys..."

It was Song Qingshan who took the initiative to offer to accompany them; the Flying Eagle Sect was located in the mountains of Yungui, and although the place Qin Fang and company were heading to was not close, it was still much closer than from Ninghai.

Song Qingshan's joining the trip not only was for protecting Qin Fang's safety but also because he was planning to visit his Sect after the task was done, as he had mysteriously disappeared a few months ago due to amnesia, probably worrying the entire Flying Eagle Sect...

Qin Fang naturally would not refuse, Song Qingshan had spent much more time in the mountains than him, having such a person by his side would definitely be of many benefits.

This time, Shen Liang did not accompany them, staying behind with Chen Da and others to watch for Li Rui's counterattack, as just then Tang Cheng went with his special forces to the Jincheng Military Region for joint military exercises between two military regions, going on a mission to the southern border...

Without Tang Cheng holding the fort, Tiger alone definitely wouldn't be able to withstand Li Rui's counterattack, Qin Fang had just made a move on Li Feng, and Li Rui was furious, and with Qin Fang away, there was no telling when Li Rui would make a move on Qin Fang's assets, Qin Fang could only rely on Chen Da and the others, naturally, the more people there were, the better!

A party of three took a direct flight from Ninghai to Yanggui Province, then transferred to a car bound for Jiupan City...

Qin Fang and Wen Yan were naturally the protagonists of the trip, while the pitiful Iron Claw Divine Eagle Song Qingshan became their hapless bodyguard and driver.

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie..."

When Qin Fang met Wen Yan's parents, he greeted them somewhat awkwardly. To his surprise, Wen Yan's father turned out to be a martial artist as well – though with limited cultivation, only at Level 3.

"Xiao Qin, I'm really sorry, there has been an issue at home, and we have to ask you to accompany Wen Yan back..."

Wen Yan's mother is actually related to the Songs, sharing the same surname, and is a middle school teacher, who is knowledgeable and reasonable, endearing herself to Qin Fang.

"Auntie, Wen Yan's grandmother is also my grandmother. With such a significant event, how could I stand by and do nothing? If there's anything I can help with, just let me know..."

Qin Fang immediately said so, very courteously. He felt somewhat guilty towards Wen Yan, and even more so towards her parents.

"It's fine, let's not stand on ceremony. Let's go back and talk about it..."

On the other hand, Uncle Wen, Wen Yan's father, seemed quite satisfied with Qin Fang, especially after discovering that Qin Fang was also a martial practitioner. His eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

Qin Fang heard that Uncle Wen's profession was the same as Ning Yumo's – a policeman – currently working at the Jiupan City Criminal Police Brigade as the deputy captain.

In his younger years, Uncle Wen had encountered some martial arts experts and developed a particular interest in martial arts. Hence, he sought out a master and began his cultivation. Unfortunately, his master was not truly skilled, leaving Uncle Wen's progress quite limited.

Yet he had gained some degree of fame, and he was fearless even against special forces soldiers. It was said that he ranked among the top three fighters within the police system of Jiupan City.

Perhaps influenced by her father, Wen Yan had been interested in martial arts from a young age. As a girl, she wasn't suited to wielding knives and guns, and without a master to teach her, it remained just a hobby.

It was only when she went to university that she became the external relations head of the Martial Arts Association, where she met Qin Fang, which led to where they are now...

"Xiao Qin, Wen Yan's grandmother lives in the mountains, so the conditions might be quite rough..."

Now that the elderly woman didn't have much time left, if it weren't for Wen Yan and Qin Fang's visit, her parents would still be in the mountains with her. Naturally, they couldn't stay in the city for long. After picking up Wen Yan, they were ready to head straight into the mountains.

"Uncle and Auntie, don't worry, I also come from the countryside, I'm not afraid of hardship..."

Since the old lady had always doted on Wen Yan, Qin Fang naturally couldn't let his own reasons cause any delay. He promptly indicated that he had no objections and proceeded to enter the mountains with the Wen family of three.

Song Qingshan closely followed them, silent all the way. He was not the talkative type to begin with, and since this matter didn't concern him directly, he was even less inclined to speak.

Yanggui Province is an underdeveloped region in the southwest, situated on top of the Yungui Plateau. The mountains here stretch for thousands of miles, and it's one of the few remaining places with primitive forests.

Wen's mother, Auntie Song, belongs to an ethnic minority, and also one with a relatively small population, all residing in these mountains.

This area is home to a mix of different ethnic groups, with the Miao ethnicity being the largest, along with others including the Tujia, Dong, Yi... Nearly more than half of the country's fifty-six ethnic groups can be encountered here.

The conditions in the mountains are rather backward, with many areas lacking even decent roads. Although the country has reformed and opened up for decades, according to Auntie Song, children in the mountains still go to school just like they used to, walking tens of miles through mountain roads to reach their schools... After school, they walk tens of miles to return home.

Years have passed, and there hasn't been any significant improvement. Therefore, those who have left the mountains are often reluctant to return.

The poorer it is, the more backward; the more backward it is, the more barbaric its people...

It is said that the Dragon Country's feudal society persisted for thousands of years before leaping into socialism, a considerable step indeed. Many ethnic minorities, however, have made an even greater leap from slave society or even primitive society to this level.

With such a large step, people's awareness may not necessarily keep up quickly. Many ethnic groups deep in the mountains don't even know who's in charge on the outside.

The deeper into the mountains, the more apparent this situation becomes: extremely poor, very backward, and even stuck in tribal rule – quite backward, ignorant, barbaric...

In such tribes, the chief is the highest authority, the sacrificial priest is sacred. Falling ill means seeking out the priest or a witch doctor; as for traditional Chinese medicine or Western medicine on the outside... They have never heard of it.

Even the most basic aspects of life depend on hunting wild animals in the mountains or growing some simple crops for subsistence.

Although Auntie Song's tribe is not as barbaric, it is just slightly better off by a small margin. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.