Mount Emei belonged to the Shu Mountain range, strictly speaking, this was already Li family territory.

However, this was not a location that interested the Li family; it was too heavily developed, long past being a secluded sanctuary, and even other internal energy cultivators rarely visited this place.

After spending a day touring Mount Emei and experiencing its Buddhist culture, Zhang Yang and the other two immediately set off.

They had only come to Mount Emei for a look; the feeling it gave them was not as profound as the Leshan Giant Buddha. The Buddha had given Long Feng an epiphany, but Mount Emei had not.

It must be said that Long Feng was a bit greedy; sudden enlightenment was not so easily achieved, and encountering it once was already a massive stroke of fortune.

Heading northwest from Mount Emei, after a day, the trio arrived at Mount Qingcheng. Li Changfeng had walked in this direction; it was uncertain if he had reached home yet, and if he had prepared that monkey wine for them.

They didn't stop at Mount Qingcheng, continuing directly northwest, entering Qinghu Province.

Qinghu Province was situated in the northwestern region, an area where human habitation was already sparse.

That van had been following them the whole time. Long Cheng had paid the driver handsomely, and the man was happy to trail such a wealthy patron.

The large cargo bay was now half-filled with goods—all gifts that Long Cheng had purchased. Each item held considerable value, and these presents had cost him a significant sum of money.

“Zhang Yang, Elder, we’ll enter the grasslands not far ahead. The road below will be even more deserted!”

Around noon, they stopped in a small town to rest. There was only one very ordinary restaurant, where they were currently eating.

While eating, Long Cheng pointed at the map, speaking to Zhang Yang and Long Feng. Previously, they had always been in bustling areas; even where it was sparsely populated, there were still many people, and they could always find a city to stay in during meal times.

Unlike now, when it was already two in the afternoon, and they had only found this small town.

Without entering the Northwest, one couldn't truly experience the sense of vastness and abundance of resources.

Long Feng glanced at the map, then smiled and said, “It doesn't matter, we’ll keep pushing forward. We have plenty of supplies; if we can’t find lodging, we’ll pitch tents ourselves. Don’t you have a hunting rifle? Perfect for bagging some game; Zhang Yang’s cooking is superb!”

“Sure, no problem. I can’t compare to Wu Zhiguo, but I definitely won't disappoint you!” Zhang Yang nodded with a slight smile.

When it came to the best cook, Wu Zhiguo was top-tier, especially concerning the preparation of game; his skill surpassed Zhang Yang’s by a long shot.

He was forced into it; he loved to eat too much, and what others cooked never satisfied his palate, so he had to do it himself.

“Then it’s settled. We drive straight ahead; we stop wherever we reach by nightfall!”

Long Cheng immediately affirmed. The reason he said this was concern for Zhang Yang and Long Feng; all their accommodations on this trip had been five-star hotels, and he worried they wouldn't be accustomed to sleeping in tents.

“Squeak squeak!”

“Chirp chirp!”

Lightning and Shadow were also making noises now. These two little ones had been very active these past two days, jumping out to run around wherever they went.

For them, such opportunities for outdoor training were rare. Unfortunately, as smart as they were, being spirit beasts, they hadn't gained any insights at the Leshan Giant Buddha; they had been playing in the water then.

Lunch was not great; even the truck driver didn't eat much. After a simple meal, everyone set off again.

The traffic on the road became even scarcer from then on. Unlike before, where cars were everywhere, it was normal not to see a vehicle for ten or fifteen minutes.

The roadside was no longer lined with rice paddies or houses. In the distance, one could see endless grasslands. The grass here wasn't very tall yet, looking like a vast green carpet.

Fewer cars meant the road wasn't bad, and their speed remained high. As evening approached, they had already traveled several hundred kilometers.

As expected, they found no accommodation for the night. Zhang Yang and Long Feng took their hunting rifles to hunt, while Long Cheng and the truck driver set up the tents.

They pitched three tents in total. The truck driver had a sleeping area in his truck; sleeping in the vehicle was safer for him.

“Boss, honestly, we shouldn’t have taken this route. Going further west on the Xiqing Highway would be better; there are more cars there, and it's safer. This is a newly repaired road; there are fewer people, but the road itself isn't safe!”

The truck driver, named Huo Li, was forty-six and usually quiet. He only offered a few reminders to Long Cheng while setting up the tents.

“Old Huo, what do you mean by ‘not safe’?”

Long Cheng looked up, slightly surprised. He hadn't been here before either, only hearing whispers, and he was equally unfamiliar with the local situation.

“There are wolves here, poachers, and people who simply rely on highway robbery. If you run into any, your cargo won’t be safe!”

Old Huo pointed at his truck. He had been helping load up these past few days and knew that Long Cheng had bought valuable gifts. Even though the truck wasn't overloaded, the value of the contents surpassed several full loads he usually hauled.

“Highway robbery, I understand. Don’t worry, nothing will happen!”

A smile returned to Long Cheng’s face. He had thought ‘unsafe’ meant something else; it turned out there were bandits here too.

In fact, bandits existed everywhere in the country, though things were much better now than a decade ago when there were far more. These bandits weren't like the robbers of legend, pillaging and burning houses.

They were purely interested in snatching some goods, and if the vehicle had many people, they would usually leave voluntarily.

Some fierce bandits were akin to outright robbers, but such individuals were always suppressed by the government; they had almost vanished in recent years, existing only in remote places like this.

“I know you have hunting rifles, but they have them too. It’s better to be cautious if these things come out!”

Seeing that Long Cheng wasn't taking his advice, Old Huo was somewhat disappointed. After speaking, he grumbled a few times while helping Long Cheng secure the tent supports before retreating to his truck.

The goods weren't his; he was just hired for transport. If Long Cheng didn't listen, there was nothing he could do.

The bandits here weren't utterly vicious criminals; generally, they only robbed valuables, not lives. Even if they did encounter them, they wouldn't want his beat-up old truck.

Despite this, he preferred not to meet them. Drivers were very wary of such people. He knew this because he had driven this route before.

Long Cheng was unaware of Huo’s thoughts, and even if he knew, he wouldn't worry. With two top experts accompanying them, if any bandits dared to try anything, they might as well find a wall to dash their heads against.

Not only Zhang Yang and Long Cheng, but Lightning alone could handle a whole gang of bandits. He felt absolutely no concern.

It was only when these bandits showed up that they would be the unlucky ones.

With the tents pitched, Long Cheng immediately started a fire and set up the grill. Just as he finished, Zhang Yang and Long Feng returned.

Given their speed, the prey wouldn't escape even without the hunting rifles; they only brought the rifles to satisfy the urge of hunting with a gun.

They hadn't been gone long, but their haul was rich: six wild rabbits, two roe deer, and they had even bagged an antelope, which was rare here.

Such a bountiful catch even drew Old Huo out of his truck to help them clean the game.

These provisions were enough for dinner. They also had ham, canned goods, and other food items in their vehicle. Long Cheng brought some out, along with a box of wine, and they dined splendidly on the game roasted by Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang grilled two haunches of lamb and two rabbits. It was already a lot of food, and they finished every last bit of it, with Old Huo even coming over to share some wine and food.

This was their first day in the grasslands. Though somewhat monotonous, the first day hadn't disappointed them; everyone felt a sense of novelty.

The next day, after a simple breakfast, they continued their journey.

The further they went, the fewer vehicles there were, but the variety and number of animals increased. After two days of travel, they had reached the heartland of Qinghu Province.

The road here was no longer as smooth; they had to drive carefully. Their vehicle even broke down once, but fortunately, Old Huo knew how to fix cars, and it was a minor issue quickly resolved.

Such roads made the journey more tedious. When there was no one around, Zhang Yang and Long Feng cultivated in the car. They even each took a bottle of Essence Blood Pill to absorb its medicinal power.

As for the two little ones, they could only watch wistfully. They had only eaten the pills a few days ago, and the effects hadn't fully dissipated; giving them more now would be a waste.

“Fellow villager, fellow villager…”

Long Cheng was driving when suddenly a person ran out of the grassland ahead, waving frantically at him.

Seeing someone abruptly emerge in this desolate wilderness startled Long Cheng, and he immediately slammed on the brakes.

“What are you doing?”

Long Cheng got out of the car, asking the person blocking the road with clear displeasure. The man blocking them was about thirty, tall at 1.8 meters, looking at Long Cheng with a simple, open smile.

“Fellow villager, I’m terribly sorry. Our car broke down inside; could you possibly help us pull it out?”

The man reached into his pocket, pulled out a pack of 35 cigarettes, and offered a few to Long Cheng. Unfortunately, Long Cheng didn't smoke, so the man tucked the cigarettes back in.

“Inside? Why would you drive your car that far inside?”

Long Cheng’s brow twitched slightly. The grass here was thick, and there was also desert terrain. Driving a vehicle deep into the grassland was asking for trouble; even high-performance SUVs couldn't travel far in such grass.

“It’s our first time here; we were curious, so we drove in. Please help us out, fellow villager. Here is five hundred yuan; if you help pull the car out, this money is yours!”

The man pulled out a wad of ten-yuan notes from his pocket, his face still wearing that simple smile.

Long Cheng didn't take the money, merely looking at him coldly. After a moment, he said, “Whether I help you or not, I can’t decide. Wait a moment!”

Long Cheng turned and returned to the car, relaying what the man had said to Zhang Yang and Long Feng. He truly couldn't make the decision alone; he needed their input.

“If you ask me, we should leave immediately. Who drives into the middle of the grassland in such a remote place? Something must be wrong. Stopping here could cause trouble!”

The truck driver, Old Huo, also got out and approached the front of the car, whispering his concerns while warily watching the man nearby. He had driven this route before and knew a little about the situation on this road.

“Zhang Yang, what do you think?”

Long Feng got out of the car and looked at the man in the distance, asking with a smile.

Zhang Yang also got out, still holding Lightning. The area was desolate, and the road was dirt and sand, not asphalt. Meeting one person here was rare, let alone someone who drove their car into the tall grass.

“If we can help, we should. It’s hard for anyone traveling on the road,” Zhang Yang said calmly. Long Cheng immediately nodded; since both Zhang Yang and Long Feng agreed, he had no reason to object.

“Don't listen to the old man; if you go, I’m not!”

Old Huo looked extremely disappointed when they agreed, muttering to himself as he helped secure the last tent support before returning to his truck.

Long Cheng started the engine and drove into the grassland, the vehicle immediately rocking violently. Lightning let out an unhappy cry.

The man in the passenger seat glanced back at Lightning, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, followed by an undeniable greed deep within.

They drove for a solid ten minutes before Long Cheng spotted two vehicles ahead. One was a Jeep similar to theirs; the other was an older SUV with an unrecognizable license plate.

The two vehicles were parked separately, and six or seven tall, imposing men stood beside them.

These men stood up as soon as they saw Long Cheng’s vehicle approaching.

“Why two cars? You said one!”

Seeing the vehicles ahead, Long Cheng asked with slight dissatisfaction. Two cars meant twice the effort in pulling them out, though Long Cheng wasn't worried about his vehicle; he just felt it was a waste of time.

“Fellow villager, we came out together. One car broke down initially, but unexpectedly, it turned into two!”

The man in the passenger seat immediately responded with his familiar, simple smile. Long Cheng didn't pay much mind and continued driving forward.

A faint smile slowly spread across Zhang Yang’s lips. He had been paying close attention to the man who requested their help. He sensed that the closer they got to the other group, the faster the man’s breathing became.

This was clearly the behavior of someone with a guilty conscience; this man was likely problematic.

Since they were already here, Zhang Yang didn’t expose him. If they were truly stuck, helping them pull out would be fine, but if they had malicious intent, the ones suffering the consequences would surely be them.

Long Cheng finally brought their vehicle to a stop in front of one of the stuck cars.

Before Long Cheng could even get out, the men who had been standing around surrounded them. One of them produced a hunting rifle and pointed it directly at the driver's side window at Long Cheng.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Long Cheng paused momentarily, then shouted in anger, looking toward the man sitting in the passenger seat beside him.

“Fellow villager, sorry, our cars are completely broken down; we can only borrow yours. Get out quickly!”

This man’s simple, honest smile vanished, replaced by a terrifyingly fierce expression as he glared at Long Cheng. He then turned back to look at Zhang Yang and Long Feng in the back seat.

“You two get out as well. Don't take anything!”

As he spoke, two other men approached the rear doors. One even pulled the door open, while another rifle was pointed at them.

Long Feng was also stunned, his face turning ashen, looking even angrier than Long Cheng.

He was genuinely furious at this moment. He had shown rare kindness, only to be treated like this upon experiencing ordinary life. Long Feng couldn't accept this sudden change.

“We’re getting out!”

Zhang Yang reached out, lightly pulling Long Feng’s arm and shaking his head at him.

They weren't afraid of a few hunting rifles. The silver needles in Zhang Yang's hand could strike their hands before they could fire, ensuring they couldn't shoot, let alone Lightning, who could easily handle all of them.

Zhang Yang stopped Long Feng from acting rashly; he just wanted to exit the vehicle first.

Long Cheng also got out, glaring fiercely at the man who had tricked him there. He suddenly recalled Old Huo’s earlier warning; Old Huo had been right.

Fortunately, he had left a gun for Old Huo. With Old Huo armed and remaining in the truck, he should be safe.

As for whether Old Huo would drive off with the truck, Long Cheng didn't consider it. Old Huo was hired through formal channels, and his home address was known. Unless he wanted to become a fugitive, he wouldn't abandon the cargo.

Besides, this was merchandise, not cash. Most of the goods were medicinal herbs and toys, nothing like gold or silver. Although valuable, liquefying them wouldn't be easy.

“Old Liu, you’ve done great work! This vehicle is nice; fill up the tank, and we can drive off immediately!”

A man with a tattoo on his face, carrying a hunting rifle, approached and slapped the back of the truck, shouting excitedly.

The man called Old Liu was the one who had seemed so simple and honest before, the one who had tricked Long Cheng. He was rummaging behind Zhang Yang and the others' seats and soon pulled out two hunting rifles—the ones Zhang Yang and Long Feng had used for hunting a few days prior.

“The car isn't the only good thing; look what’s in that fellow’s arms?”

After slinging the rifle onto his back, he grinned again, though his smile now looked vicious rather than honest and simple.

“In his arms?”

The tattooed man looked confusedly at Long Cheng and the others before his eyes finally landed on Lightning in Zhang Yang’s embrace.

“A pet mink! That fur is exquisite!”

After just one look, the tattooed man was stunned, then his eyes lit up, and he shouted loudly.

At his cry, everyone else looked over.

“Haha! Didn’t some rich woman offer a high price for white fur a while back? I think this one will do. Though small, it can make a collar and surely satisfy her!” Old Liu laughed heartily, while Long Cheng’s face grew colder.

These people were eyeing Lightning. They had no idea how close they were to death.

Zhang Yang’s mouth curved into a slight smile. If Lightning hadn't been held by him, it would have already dashed over to scratch the guy for suggesting selling its pelt to some rich woman.

Long Feng was also smiling. This was his first time being robbed. After the initial anger, he felt only a fresh curiosity.

“Everyone stand over there; we’re only taking the valuables… Ouch!”

The tattooed man held his rifle, tilting his head back, shouting at Long Cheng and the others. He assumed Long Cheng was the leader; Long Cheng was the oldest, while Zhang Yang looked like a student, and Long Feng also appeared very young.

Unfortunately, he didn't finish his sentence before letting out a sharp scream. Zhang Yang finally let go, and Lightning immediately shot out.

The tattooed man’s face now sported not just a tattoo but a row of claw marks. He cried out once and collapsed to the ground, convulsing. Lightning’s claws weren't poisonous, but it had added a bit of toxic gas before launching—a mild toxin.

This poison wasn't fatal but was enough to incapacitate an adult male for a period.

As Lightning flew out, Zhang Yang and Long Feng moved too.

Two figures shot out like twin bolts of lightning. Before the surrounding men could process what had happened, they had all collapsed to the ground.

Long Cheng also moved, but he was astonished to find that the man who had pointed a gun at him was suddenly disarmed, and his body had gone limp as he collapsed.

The entire incident happened almost instantaneously. The six or seven standing men were all down. Besides them, the only one still standing was Old Liu, the man they had driven in to retrieve.

Old Liu stood there, holding the two hunting rifles from Zhang Yang and Long Feng's group, his mouth agape, staring blankly at the scene. It felt like a dream to him.

His supposedly strong companions, the ones with the guns, had all fallen in an instant, and he hadn't even seen how they went down.

“Ah!”

He pinched himself hard, and upon feeling the pain, he cried out. This wasn't a dream; it was reality. These people had struck like ghosts, taking down all his cohorts in a blink.

“Don’t come closer, don’t come near me!”

Old Liu scrambled backward in terror as Zhang Yang slowly walked toward him.

Lightning had returned to Zhang Yang's embrace, lying there squinting, looking completely harmless.

“Ah!”

Old Liu stumbled backward a few steps before falling to the ground, screaming in panic.

Zhang Yang smiled faintly, shook his head, took the hunting rifles from the man's grasp, and casually tossed them to Long Cheng before walking back.

The shotgun posed little threat to him or Long Feng, but it represented a significant danger to Long Cheng; it was best not to leave it in this person's hands, especially since those items rightfully belonged to them.

Zhang Yang, making his way back, did not approach Long Feng and the others. Instead, he walked directly to the disabled vehicle, stopping before the hood. Zhang Yang’s brow furrowed slightly once more.

He stood before the ruined Jeep. This vehicle was undeniably broken, and severely so; the front end had been struck by something with such force that a large section was deeply caved inward.

The engine hood had fractured open, revealing a chaotic mess beneath—it was clearly impossible to drive in this state.

The car looked as if someone had assaulted it with a sledgehammer, yet even the most potent sledgehammer, wielded purely by human strength, couldn't achieve this kind of damage, and there were no machines around.

Shaking his head, Zhang Yang moved toward the second vehicle. This car was as thoroughly wrecked at the front as the Jeep had been, its windshield entirely shattered. Such devastation would require immense power to inflict.

“Jee jee jee!”

Wu Ying suddenly poked its head out and squeaked urgently several times. Zhang Yang’s expression shifted violently; he whipped his head around instantly, vigilance etched across his face.