180 A Guest from the North, Travelling South over the Mountains

"Hmmm, my second aunt and her husband's salary is not enough to spend in Beijing," Wang Yao said.

It wasn't the first time he heard about his second aunt's family from his mother. Their family earned about 10,000 yuan every month. Such an income was manageable in a small county like Liangshan County, but in Beijing, it was simply not enough. It was fortunate that they already owned a house. Otherwise, the rent for accommodation would eat up all their cash.

"I've told your second aunt before, living in Beijing is too tiring. Fast paced lifestyle, poor air—it's much better to move over here to Haiqu City. Just from selling the 70 square meter house he owns there, he could buy a seaside villa in Haiqu City!" Zhang Xiuying said.

"Hmm, there will probably be excess cash too," Wang Yao chipped in.

"But Mom, did you think about this; Beijing's healthcare, education, and public facilities far exceeds ours. Just talking about the national examinations, the admission lines are more relaxed than ours by tens of points. My younger cousin, now living in Beijing, has also started high school, hasn't she?"

"Yeah, you have a point."

"Alright, don't think too much. Later on, help me give your second aunt a call. Ask them when they will reach the station so I can pick them up."

"Sure."

After dinner, Wang Yao once again gave his parents a massage to loosen up their bodies. This time, however, he utilized a small amount of essential Qi.

"Yao, why is your hand so warm?" During the massage, his mother asked curiously.

"Is it? Maybe it's because of all the rubbing?"

After completing the massage, he returned to Nanshan Hill. On the way up the mountains, he received a call from Tong Wei. He had not given her a call for many days already.

"Are you still on the hilltop?" A pleasant female voice came from the other side of the phone.

"Nope, but I'm on my way up the hill now," Wang Yao replied.

"Aren't you bored always being on the hill? What have you been busy with these days that you couldn't give me a call?" On the other side of the line, Tong Wei pouted her lips in a coquettish manner.

"I went to Cangzhou a few days ago."

"What did you go to Cangzhou for?"

In an office on the island, Tong Wei was talking on the phone with Wang Yao. She was reclining on a bed in a Chinese dress in a rarely seen graceful posture.

"Helping to look at some patients."

"What kind of illnesses?" Tong Wei asked curiously.

"Strange illness."

"Tell me about it, why don't you?" Again, acting coquettish.

There were many effective ways for women to deal with men, for example, crying and acting cute. Especially when beautiful women used these techniques, it would be extremely effective, and almost no man could resist them.

Wang Yao was still a man, and even though he was one with some special abilities, Tong Wei was a beauty, a great beauty. Therefore, he began to recount his whole experience in Cangzhou. Of course, he omitted the part where he had fought off two assassins.

"I never did realize that your medical skills were that great?!"

"It's average," Wang Yao said, smiling.

"Who did you really learn from?"

"I learned it from the heavens," was Wang Yao's reply.

After not talking for a few days, not only did they not drift apart, they actually got closer. The mood of their conversation became even more like a pair of lovers.

"Will you be back on May 1st?"

"I will. Will you come to pick me up?" Tong Wei replied.

"Give me an estimated time then." Wang Yao considered for a bit after hearing that because he had to travel to Huaicheng too. This was promised to his mother first.

...

Miles away in Beijing, in a room, behind a gauze curtain, amidst a curious fragrance.

There sat a seventy-year-old man before a sick bed, making a diagnosis of a patient wrapped up in bandages.

The old man sighed before straightening his body.

"What's wrong, Mr. Chen?" a young man sitting by his side asked.

"I'm sorry," Mr. Chen said while shaking his head.

With such a strange illness, which had already entered the Gaohuang accupoint, if it wasn't for her family's support and for her own strong will, the patient would have left the world long ago. Perhaps passing on might even be a form of release for her.

She truly wanted to cry, but no tears came out.

Why! Why do I have to suffer this illness? Why do I have to bear with this pain? I could have been wearing beautiful clothes and going around the world; I could have experienced a sweet romance, and find someone I fancy, marry him and give him children. I could have accompanied my parents, talking and laughing and being happy.

Why…?

"Dad, just now, Mr. Chen came to look at her. Xiaoxue, she…"

Upon hearing this, the relatively strong elderly man appeared to have aged a couple of decades. He sat in silence for a while, then slowly raised up.

"Follow me for a while."

"Dad, there's no point."

"How would we know if we don't try?" the old man said.

...

In an averagely sized courtyard filled with flowers and plants and a small plot of vegetables towards one wall sat an old man on a rattan chair. He was reading the newspaper with a pair of glasses on his face.

"Elder, two elders from the Su family have come."

"They're here again. Let them come!" The elder sighed again.

He eyed the father-son pair who had just entered.

"Earlier, the doctor came by. Xiaoxue might not make it."

The elder's hand holding the newspaper trembled slightly.

"I'll give a call to Si Rou."

"Okay."

The father-son pair bade farewell and were leaving through the door. Then, they met a young man who had a bright smile plastered on his face.

"Grandpa Su, Uncle Su, I've found the person you have been looking for."

...

On Nanshan Hill, the dust was flying.

There was a figure amidst the lush trees and red flowers darting back and forth. His hands were waving around, at times fast, at times slow. This was from some inspiration that Wang Yao got after reading the martial arts book that Zhou Xiong had brought over. He started practicing in the forests.

After one round, his blood was pumping, and his body was energized.

"This art of the fist is truly profound."

Within the book was mostly knowledge containing bare-handed martial arts. Of course, there were also some broad explanations and guidelines. These types of ancient books, when read, helped people understand better and get closer to enlightenment.

...

On the road connecting Haiqu City and Lianshan County, there were three people in a car speeding by.

"Lianshan County, Song Bo District, Wang Family Village, Nanshan Hill." The one speaking was a middle-aged man with a serious expression on his face.

"The task is simple—invite this man to Beijing."

"Didn't Doctor Gu come the previous time?"

"It's not the same. Last time, he didn't even see the patient."

"Hmm?"

"Because the miss from the Guo family didn't even bring him in."

"Look, Song Bo District is just up ahead."

The car entered the district, then entered a small road entrance turning towards the north. Soon, it turned again, this time towards the east. The road conditions also began to change from asphalt roads to the village's dirt roads. The roads also began to narrow into a single lane, where even overtaking was difficult.

"Is this the right path?"

"Yeah, the village is just up ahead in the mountain ravine."

The car proceeded on the bumpy road until it had traveled for a couple of miles. Then, a village appeared in front, divided in two by a river.

"Head south."

The car proceeded into the village.

"Hey, what car is this? Seems quite stylish!" seeing the shiny black car, the villagers praised.

"It looks to be a Jaguar, I think?"

The car continued south until it reached the southern end of the village.

"Elder, could I find out something from you?" a middle-aged man got out of the car and asked an elderly man pulling along a cow.

"What is it?"

"Is there a person called Wang Yao in this village?" the middle-aged man asked while offering a cigarette to the old man.

"Yes, he's right over on that hilltop," the old man replied smiling as he received the cigarette. "What are you looking for him for?"

"I have something I need to trouble him with, thank you."

"No problem."

"Hilltop." Another man, about thirty years old, Got out of the car. His stature was rather average, and his build could be described as rather skinny. However, his gaze was sharp and piercing, just like a blade.

"This is a mountain village, not Beijing. Contain your aura," the middle-aged man instructed.

"Yes."

In a short moment, the man's sharp piercing gaze vanished, as though the blade had been returned to its sheath.

"Follow my instructions later."

"Yes."

The two men trekked along the rugged hill path, crossing one rocky outcrop. Then, Nanshan Hill appeared in front of their eyes, covered in lush greenery. Amidst the vegetation, one could faintly make out the shape of a small cottage.

"It's right over there."

The two men proceeded up the hill.

Bark! Bark! The dog in front of the cottage started barking.

"What is it, San Xian?" Wang Yao, who was reading the martial arts book in the cottage turned and looked up. He stored the book in the system storage and walked out of the cottage.