Following the foothills of Lieshan west, the journey on the mountain path brought them back to the main highway after about a hundred kilometers.

Around dusk, the convoy reached Sushan County, located sixty kilometers from the base of Wildman Mountain. The drive had been remarkably smooth, encountering virtually no trouble along the way.

Sushan County was the final settlement before they reached Wildman Mountain; the only place left for them to go was a small town nestled at the mountain's foot.

Wildman Mountain was desolate, inhabited by numerous wild beasts. Few people ever willingly ventured into its depths. Those who lived around the mountain would only enter out of sheer necessity, gathering some forest goods to trade for money to supplement their meager household income.

"You all eat first; I’m stepping out for a moment!"

Long Cheng was quite familiar with Sushan County; the idea of coming to Wildman Mountain this time was his suggestion. This was not Long Cheng's first visit here.

After arranging the best accommodations at the hotel for everyone, he drove off alone. He didn't even permit Li Ya to accompany him, leaving the others with no choice but to proceed with dinner at the hotel.

"Old Wu, don’t stew in silence. Brother Chang already promised you he’d help you vent that anger!"

After Long Cheng left, Li Ya cheerfully beckoned Wu Zhiguo. The slap he’d received yesterday in Lieshan still had him holding quite a bit of frustration inside.

"I know, I’m fine. Let’s eat; everyone’s hungry!"

Wu Zhiguo shook his head, saying that, but his expression didn't shift in the slightest.

He still harbored a lingering anger that currently had nowhere to be released; he could only wait until tomorrow.

"Zhang Yang, tell us about that incident in Lieshan last time—how did your car even get smashed up?"

Li Ya glanced at Huang Hai before cheerfully asking Zhang Yang, a clear attempt to shift the focus.

As expected, mentioning Zhang Yang’s troubles immediately lifted Wu Zhiguo’s spirits, and even Chang Feng looked at Zhang Yang with some surprise.

He had known a little about the events in Lieshan County previously—the reports had come from the municipal bureau up to the provincial department—but he never imagined the incident involved someone he knew, however recently acquainted they were.

"Let me tell this story..."

Before Zhang Yang could speak, Su Zhantao interjected, clearly intrigued. He took the initiative to recount the whole affair.

The car that was smashed belonged to Zhang Yang, which Su Zhantao himself had given him, so he felt he had a strong right to speak. He described how those people, fueled by jealousy over Mi Xue, had gone looking for trouble with Zhang Yang and proceeded to utterly demolish his vehicle.

He placed special emphasis on the part where Zhang Yang single-handedly took down all thirty-plus thugs.

One man against over thirty, all armed, yet Zhang Yang had managed to fell every single one of them. Moreover, every opponent suffered severe injuries. This left the others wide-eyed.

Li Ya and the others had only known vague outlines of these events before. Now, with Su Zhantao’s detailed account, they realized just how formidable Zhang Yang was.

Chang Feng, in particular, studied Zhang Yang with mingled astonishment and doubt.

One man against more than thirty, even if they were just petty gangsters, demonstrated an exceptionally fierce level of combat ability—stronger, even, than armed SWAT officers. An officer could take on thirty, but only with strategy; they would never directly charge towards armed individuals.

Seeing their reactions, Long Feng gently shook his head.

Given Zhang Yang's true strength, never mind thirty thugs, even three hundred wouldn't pose a challenge. Someone of Zhang Yang's caliber couldn't be handled by sheer numbers.

If Lightning were added to the equation, it wouldn't matter how many came. Using only cold weapons, they posed zero threat to Zhang Yang.

Su Zhantao’s narration was vivid and exhaustive; he didn't finish recounting everything from the previous incident until after they had eaten dinner.

It was only then that everyone learned the previous bureau chief had been replaced, and the one they had encountered this time was the new appointee.

However, they all knew the fate of this new chief. Having offended Wu Zhiguo, and with Chang Feng present at the scene, that new chief’s tenure was effectively over.

Long Cheng had still not returned after dinner, so everyone retired to their rooms to rest.

They would only begin their trek into the mountains the following morning. This was their last night at the hotel; afterward, they would have to stay in the small town below the mountain. That place lacked a proper hotel, boasting only a small, private inn whose conditions they found utterly unacceptable.

For the next few days, they would likely be sleeping in tents or driving back to the county seat.

Although it was only sixty kilometers, the drive back would take at least two hours, mostly over difficult mountain roads. If it rained, they might not return for four or five hours, or could even end up stranded on the road entirely.

The next morning, Long Cheng roused everyone early.

In the parking lot, Long Cheng retrieved a large bag from his vehicle. Inside were ten brand-new hunting shotguns and over a thousand rounds of various ammunition.

These were all double-barreled shotguns, capable of holding two shells at a time. The ammunition included several different types, suitable for various kinds of game.

These shotguns were substantial in weight, packing considerable stopping power, and were easy to master. Using buckshot, even someone with poor aim would likely hit their target. The drawback was the cumbersome reloading process: only two shells at a time, requiring the user to eject the spent casings and reload anew.

None of them were novices to hunting; they immediately began familiarizing themselves with the weapons by checking them over. Long Feng moved closer to Zhang Yang; these shotguns posed a considerable threat even to them. Though they were allies, he maintained his necessary vigilance.

This was his duty as a bodyguard; he was perfectly clear on his role. Three years of service in exchange for one spirit medicine was well worth it to him, and he wouldn't honor that medicine if he didn't perform his duties flawlessly.

"Brother Cheng, I knew you’d bring the good stuff. These guns are excellent!"

Chang Feng said this with a smile while loading a gun and taking aim, not forgetting to address Long Cheng.

"Brother Chang, it’s fine when others say that, but coming from your mouth, I always feel you’re being rather irresponsible!"

Li Ya chuckled, also holding a shotgun. Having guns was essential for a hunting trip into the mountains. Of their group, only Long Cheng and Chang Feng possessed firearms licenses; the others did not. Even if the others had licenses, the weapons they carried weren't shotguns; hunting was far better suited to these.

"I’m just out here for leisure now; don't think about my job. If I were truly responsible, how would you all get to have fun?"

Chang Feng paid Li Ya no mind and quietly added his retort.

Li Ya and the others burst out laughing. They were well accustomed to Chang Feng’s personality and knew he wouldn't take such banter seriously. It was precisely because of this familiarity that... //Fastest text updates from Book Fan Tower

"Brother Cheng, can I try firing a couple of shots?"

Su Zhantao asked excitedly, holding one of the guns. This was his first time out for a recreational hunt, and his first time handling a shotgun.

Boys always harbor a strange affinity for guns, much like for cars. Wanting to fire a few rounds to get a feel for the weapon when handling one for the first time was perfectly normal.

"Not here. Wait until we’re in the mountains; you can shoot as much as you like!"

Long Cheng replied with a smile. He had previously arranged for people to purchase these guns and had personally picked them up yesterday.

In addition to the firearms, there was also a type of repeating crossbow. While less powerful than a gun, the crossbow could fire multiple bolts consecutively, making it useful in crucial moments or for taking down smaller game, like wild rabbits.

Moreover, the crossbow was lightweight, easy to reload, and more manageable to operate. Pairing the crossbow with the shotgun was the most suitable gear combination for their venture into the mountains.

There were only eight of them in total, with ten shotguns, meaning the ten crossbows would not all be needed. The extra two were spares, just in case one broke down and became unusable.

Since everyone was there to enjoy themselves, being without a weapon while watching others hunt would naturally dampen their spirits and interest.

Before entering the mountain, Long Cheng distributed the guns and crossbows. The path into the mountains wasn't entirely peaceful, and these items served as self-defense as well as hunting tools.

Zhang Yang and Long Feng also each received a set. Long Feng was initially hesitant, but Zhang Yang persuaded him to accept.

Their martial arts were formidable; even if others used firearms, they were unlikely to be harmed easily if they maintained caution.

Unlikely, but not impossible. No matter how fast they were, they couldn't outrun a bullet. Carrying weapons would only augment their combat effectiveness.

Six vehicles, all luxury models, naturally attracted considerable attention in this remote county town.

Sushan County was a provincial border town with diverse ethnic populations, known for its robust local customs. Long Cheng distributing the weapons beforehand stemmed from his concern about potential roadside incidents; some people would stop at nothing for money. Just by looking at their convoy, anyone could tell this group was wealthy.

Shortly after leaving the county seat, the road drastically worsened, turning into rutted, uneven dirt tracks typical of the countryside, which significantly slowed their progress.

This dirt road was relatively easy. Soon after, they encountered more mountain passes, which were even more challenging to navigate. Some sections featured sheer drops on one side, and the road itself was narrow, barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass at most.

Under these conditions, even Long Feng drove with heightened concentration. They were masters of internal arts, but not superheroes; falling off such a high cliff would spell certain doom.

The journey was tougher than anticipated. It took nearly three hours to cover the sixty kilometers to the small town at the base of Wildman Mountain.

Upon arrival, Zhang Yang and Su Zhantao finally understood why they had prepared so many supplies and brought so much food. This place, called a town, was essentially a large village.

The settlement boasted only one main street, a single restaurant, and a small inn converted from a private residence. Were it not for the occasional traders coming to collect mountain produce, even this small inn might not exist. Visitors purely interested in hunting and recreation, like Zhang Yang’s group, were exceedingly rare. This was Wildman Mountain, a primitive range. Hunters usually preferred managed hunting grounds carved out in the surrounding mountains, which were safer and offered better chances of success. It was only spoiled young masters seeking thrills who deliberately chose a place like this.

As they entered the village, Long Cheng’s tension finally eased.

He knew the town's mayor, having visited twice before and established a good rapport with the locals. They could set up their tents here, store their gear, and head into the mountains before returning in the evening.

"We’ll rest at midday. We enter the mountains this afternoon. You all wait here; I’m going to find Mayor Wang!"

After parking, Long Cheng gave the instructions. He then headed towards the only two-story building in the village. The others nodded, got out, and began unloading and setting up tents—this wasn't their first outing, so they were all familiar with the routine.

………… Sixth update, six updates complete! Please remember—, —brings you the text. Book Network