“Have you called the driver?” Wang Yao asked.

“Yes, he’s already here,” Zheng Weijun said with a smile.

“That’s good,” Wang Yao replied.

After drinking a few glasses of wine and eating some more food, Zheng Weijun rushed to get the bill. He was full of wine and food.

“What else can I do for you, Sir?” he asked.

“Nothing else.”

“Shall I take you back first?”

“There’s no need for that,” Wang Yao said. “It’s a short distance. Besides, taking a stroll is good for one’s health.” This restaurant was less than a mile from his village. With his speed, he would be home before long.

“OK, I’ll go back now,” Zheng Weijun said.

“Sure.”

After watching the car drive away, Wang Yao strolled back home. The moonlight illuminated his path. He went to Nanshan Hill.

The night passed peacefully.

In southern Yunnan, thousands of miles away…

The Valley of Thousands of Medicine was very lively. Almost every day, someone was entering the village. No matter who it was, they encountered various accidents. The internet was buzzing with speculations about the place. It was said that some unknown secrets were hiding within that hidden village. More mysterious news was also spreading on the Internet. Some speculated that there were prescriptions for prolonging life in that stockade, which allowed humans to live past 100 years old without a problem. People even provided convincing examples, such as the fact that there were many old people in their 90s living there who looked like the elderly in their 60s and 70s from the outside. They were still extremely healthy. Photos accompanied that post, so even more people were attracted to the stockade.

“Hey, do you think the things mentioned above are true or false?”

“It’s bullsh*t, of course. It has to be fake. How can there be so many people with that kind of longevity? As for that medicinal prescription for long life, who would believe it?”

“I don’t think so. Maybe there is indeed such a thing.”

Some might not have believed the internet rumors, but there were always some people who believed in it. Those people went directly to the Valley of Thousands of Medicine to inquire about the medicinal prescription for longevity. There were even some people who wanted to talk with Miao Xihe. Naturally, they were not able to meet him. Not only were they unable to meet him, someone was seriously and inexplicably injured as well.

Finally, the first dead man appeared.

“This is bad!”

Once someone died, the internet went abuzz with talk. This matter had been infinitely magnified.

“Someone’s dead!”

“Why did he die? Are there any poisonous creatures in the woods?”

“So many days have passed, and all those other people who went there were fine. Why did someone just die? Maybe he was not in good health.”

“Take a look at this news!”

There was a piece of breaking news on the internet. Miao Xihe, the leader of the Valley of Thousands of Medicine, did not want outsiders to disturb their peaceful life. Supposedly, he had arranged for men to release some scorpions, centipedes, and other poisonous creatures in the forest so people from the outside would retreat upon encountering those obstacles. He had also arranged for the villagers to poison the people who entered the Valley of Thousands of Medicine.

“That can’t be true.”

“What kind of person is he? How could he have such vicious thoughts?”

The discussions quickly turned heated.

“Chief, this news is not beneficial for you!”

This was only the first step. Someone else had received this news. In the end, the city would send someone to investigate. There was to be an official investigation.

“Chief, what do we about them?”

“We have to meet them,” Miao Xihe said.

He met with the investigation teams from the different city departments. He answered their concerns one by one, ensuring them that no one in their stockade did those things.

“The environment here is really good,” an official said. “Chief Miao, don’t you want to consider developing some tourism?”

“Well, the people in the stockade are not ready for that,” Miao Xihe replied. “After all, we have lived like this for hundreds of years and are used to it.”

“Well, that’s true and understandable, but it’s such a waste to hide such a good resource here.”

Miao Xihe did not have much else to say.

The group of people investigators stayed the night without any problems. Following that, they left the stockade.

“Chief?”

“Well, it looks like I’ll have to meet Secretary Guo,” Miao Xihe said.

“OK, I’ll arrange it.”

It was a bright and sunny day.

He County…

In Guo Zhenghe’s office…

“Secretary Guo, I hope you weren’t surprised by my sudden visit,” Miao Xihe said.

“Not at all,” Guo Zhenghe said with a smile. “I haven’t been able to thank you properly for the last time when you brought men over to help, Chief Miao. Now, I can take this opportunity to express my gratitude.”

His smile was very bright and sincere.

“Thank you. I’m here to ask you for help,” Miao Xihe said.

“Please tell me about it.”

“Recently, there have been many rumors on the Internet that are not good for our village,” Miao Xihe said. “I wish to ask you to come out and disperse them.”

“Me?” Guo Zhenghe was stunned.

“Why not go to your county or city council?”

“Well… Regarding that, I’m afraid they won’t be able to help,” Miao Xihe said.

“It’s not easy for me to settle this either,” Guo Zhenghe replied.

“Secretary Guo, although there were some contradictions between us, there was no hatred between us, right?”

“Of course not. There aren’t even any contradictions. Where would the hatred come from?” Guo Zhenghe poured him a cup of tea with a smile.

“Have some tea.”

“Thank you.”

“After thinking about this thoroughly, you are the only one who can settle this matter.” Miao Xihe stared at the teacup while uttering the shocking sentence.

“Huh?!” Guo Zhenghe was stunned.

“Chief Miao, you think too highly of me.”

“Please settle this matter. If you can help us through this storm, our entire stockade will be grateful to you.”

After a moment of thought, Guo Zhenghe said, “Since you have said that, I’ll give it a go. But I can’t guarantee success.”

“Ok, thank you.”

After he had delivered his message, Miao Xihe left. He had declined Guo Zhenghe’s invitation to stay for dinner.

“Uncle Xu, what do you think?” Guo Zhenghe asked as he stood by the window. He was watching the people from the village leave the yard below.

“Young Master, I suggest you immediately make a trip to the King Pharmacist,” Xu Xinyuan, who was beside him, said.

“Do you suspect that he has already poisoned me?”

“Yes, it’s quite possible that he came here just because he was already suspecting you,” Xu Xinyuan said. “I suggest that you use your connections and move away from here. It’s too dangerous.”

Guo Zhenghe didn’t look very good after hearing that.

“Chief?”

“He was the one who did all those things,” Miao Xihe said.

“Well!”

“I’ve poisoned him. Let’s see what he does before taking our next step.”

“Yes.”

That day, Guo Zhenghe went to the stockade where Wu San was. However, he learned that Wu San had left the stockade seven days ago. No one knew where he had gone.

“Has he escaped?” Guo Zhenghe suddenly felt a pounding headache. A warm heat gushed out of his nose. He put out his hand and wiped it. It was blood.

Not good!

He frowned.

It was poison produced by poisonous insects.

He was certain that he had been poisoned by poisonous insects. The person closest to him who could save him was not available.

There were two places left to detoxify this poison: Valley of Thousands of Medicine and Wang Yao’s clinic.

“Make arrangements to immediately go to Lianshan County, Qi Province,” Guo Zhenghe said.

“Yes, Sir!” When Xu Xinyuan spoke, he swayed a couple of times before falling to the ground.

He had also been poisoned.

In the Valley of Thousands of Medicine…

“Chief, he went to Master’s Uncle’s place.”

“Where is Wu San?”

“He disappeared two weeks ago.”

“Well, this martial junior of mine is an understanding person,” Miao Xihe said.

“Chief, how can we face the possible counterattack coming next?” Miao Qingfeng asked.

Now that things had already reached this point, the two parties were standing on completely opposite sides. They were almost to the point where only death would end this feud.

“Jing?” Miao Xihe stood up and looked out with an unprecedented dignified face.

He didn’t want to face such an influential giant.

If he couldn’t handle it, he would have to use that move.

Early in the morning, snowflakes begin to drift down. They fell the heaviest near dawn. They were much lighter in the early morning.