Chapter Thirty-Four: The Mountain Beast

At night, lying in bed, Qiu Yuxia tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Her mind kept speculating about the relationship between the village chief and that woman named Yao Handong.

She’d heard that Tang Long had once been a soldier, just an ordinary grunt. How could he possibly know such an attractive woman?

She couldn’t quite explain what kind of woman Yao Handong was, but one thing was certain—she was far from ordinary, definitely not the child of a typical family.

Could it be that she had misunderstood, that there was nothing special between the village chief and Secretary Xiue?

She didn’t want to be a gossip, stirring up trouble behind people’s backs. So she decided to act as if she knew nothing about the village chief’s affairs in the provincial city, and not mention it to anyone when she returned. Still, she couldn’t help but let her mind wander.

For example, would Tang Long be spending the night with that woman named Yao Handong tonight?

...

The next morning, Tang Long opened his eyes to find the sky outside just beginning to lighten.

He was about to sit up quietly when a slender, fair hand pressed down on his scarred, eight-pack abdomen.

"Do ordinary people really need to get up this early?" Yao Handong’s ethereal voice drifted over.

Clang!

With a soft sound, Tang Long lay back down.

He folded his arms behind his head and said with a smile, "Most people don’t get up this early."

"Which is why you’ll never be just an ordinary man," Yao Handong replied, her voice tinged with emotion.

Perhaps that was true.

Tang Long smiled and said nothing. Some things, even if spoken aloud, are meaningless—they must be left to fate.

"Why don’t you come with me to the market?" Tang Long suggested with a grin.

"The market?" Yao Handong’s eyes lit up as she asked, "Are you going to buy supplies for Fish Head Village?"

Tang Long nodded. "That’s right. We can’t waste a trip to the provincial city. Normally, Secretary Xiue would handle buying supplies while I stayed in the village, but since I’m here, the job falls to me."

He’d be staying in the city for a few more days, and Yao Handong clearly wasn’t going anywhere, so even if he didn’t explain, she’d know what he was up to.

"I’m starting to get a bit curious about this Secretary Xiue you keep mentioning," Yao Handong said with a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips.

"I doubt she’ll have any interest in you," Tang Long replied with a wry smile as he sat up. After a moment’s hesitation, he added, "Zhang Xiue is someone worthy of your respect. I hope you’ll keep that in mind before you do anything."

He got out of bed and began dressing.

Yao Handong rolled her eyes. She understood what Tang Long meant but didn’t like his tone.

She pursed her lips but said nothing. She knew Tang Long could tolerate her whims and her spoiled temper, but he had his limits.

This "battle dragon," when riled, could be truly fearsome.

After leaving the hotel, Yao Handong sat in the front passenger seat, looking at Tang Long. "So, what exactly do we need to buy?"

Tang Long thought for a moment. "Tents for lodging, tables and chairs for daily use, dining utensils, that sort of thing."

Those were the essentials—tents, tables, chairs. For the tables and chairs, he’d just buy the hard plastic kind used at food stalls: cheap and easy to set up.

After Tang Long finished his brief explanation, Yao Handong frowned. "Doesn’t that seem a bit shabby?"

Tang Long could only offer a bitter smile. He knew it was a bit shabby, but what else could he do? Fish Head Village had limited resources.

And if it weren’t for him and Secretary Xiue, even these modest preparations would be out of reach for the villagers.

"We don’t have any experience, so we’ll have to take it slow," Yao Handong said thoughtfully, nodding in agreement. She didn’t offer further suggestions—without firsthand knowledge, she couldn’t propose anything better.

There was a large wholesale market in the provincial city, and Tang Long could find everything he needed there, though he wasn’t buying much.

Fifty plastic tables like the ones used at food stalls, two hundred chairs—technically enough for four people per table, seating two hundred in total. They were brightly colored, not unattractive, especially when new.

But such plastic furniture would last a year or two at best; after that, scratches and stains would mar their appearance.

When it came to dinnerware, Yao Handong suggested disposable utensils. They were convenient—no need for sterilization equipment, just collect and discard after use.

"Buy higher-quality ones. Fish Head Village may be short on funds, but I think attention to detail leaves a good impression," Yao Handong advised, stopping Tang Long from choosing the cheapest disposables.

Tang Long accepted her advice without hesitation, buying star-rated disposable tableware, toiletries, all from major brands.

"As for tents, we can order them directly from the manufacturer," Yao Handong said with a smile.

Tang Long had considered custom orders, but with only a hundred camping tents needed, the order was too small, and suppliers might not accept it. Even if they did, it might take too long.

Fish Head Village needed the tents urgently, so time was tight.

"Leave it to me. In return, you have to spend the day with me," Yao Handong said triumphantly.

Tang Long rubbed his nose and replied with a wry smile, "Miss, are you treating this like a transaction for my company?"

Yao Handong raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Don’t act coy after getting what you want. If I want your company, you should consider it an honor."

"I’m grateful for your favor, Miss Yao," Tang Long replied with a mock bow.

"As long as you understand. Hmph." Yao Handong’s lips curled upward.

Yesterday, Tang Long had mentioned on Gao Peng’s car that he would take Ermao to the amusement park and zoo today. She’d remembered.

...

"Excuse me, is this Fish Head Village?" A woman carrying a camping backpack appeared at the entrance of the village, smiling as she asked for directions.

The villagers thought she was just another tourist headed for the "Ghost King Cave" in the mountains and greeted her warmly. Lately, there hadn’t been many like her, but she wasn’t the first.

Some came from the county, others from the city, having heard about the "Ghost King Cave" and making a special trip.

"Yes, this is Fish Head Village. The Ghost King Cave is halfway up the mountain behind us. Just follow this road and the signs, and you’ll find it. If you get hungry, you can come to the village for lunch—just two yuan for a full meal. If you want to play in the water, head that way toward Liangou Hollow!"

The villager gave her detailed directions, taking note of her camping attire.

"Is your village chief up in the mountains or at Liangou Hollow?" the backpacked woman asked with a slight smile.

"Our village chief?" The villager looked puzzled, then shook his head. "He’s not in the mountains, nor is he at Liangou Hollow."

The woman frowned. "Where did he go?"

"He’s gone to the provincial city. He won’t be back until mid-month. If you need anything, you can talk to our Party Secretary—she should be over at Liangou Hollow now," the villager replied.

"Thank you!" The backpacked woman pulled a hundred-yuan note from her pocket and offered it with a smile. "Please take this as a thank you for the directions."

"Oh, we can’t accept that! People here don’t charge for giving directions!" The villager waved his hands, his eyes lingering on the bill with a hint of longing, but he firmly declined.

"If you need anything, just come to the village!" the villager added with a smile before turning to head back to his work.

The woman watched his retreating figure, momentarily stunned, then slowly slipped the money back into her pocket.

After a moment’s thought, she shouldered her pack and set off in the direction of Liangou Hollow described by the villager.

She had thought this "mission" would go smoothly, but now it seemed there might be some complications. Nevertheless, this little mountain village was indeed beautiful—staying a few days to relax might not be so bad.

Her name was Shan Qiu, stage name "Little Flower." She was a dancer who walked the razor’s edge, taking lives for money. In ancient times, she would have been called an "assassin;" today, people called them "hitmen."

Before coming here, Shan Qiu had already grown weary of her way of life. Since the age of eight, she’d followed her mentor around the world, killing both villains and good men.

At first, she killed for money; later, for the thrill; now, it was simply a mechanical act to complete her assignments.

Gradually, she found herself tired of the bloodshed. Yet everything she’d ever learned or experienced was tied to killing; beyond that, she had no idea what else she could do.

She sometimes wondered what she would become if she ever stopped—just a walking corpse?

She’d thought about quitting, turning her back on her old life, but she hadn’t found the resolve.

Shan Qiu wasn’t short of money. She had plenty, both from her own earnings and her mentor’s. Five years ago, her mentor died—killed not on a mission, but in a car accident, a completely random twist of fate.

Shan Qiu had secretly watched the driver for two years and concluded that it was indeed a freak accident.

Her mentor’s death made a deep impression on her.

She’d wanted to kill the driver, even went to his home and saw his young daughter, just a few years old.

In the end, Shan Qiu couldn’t bring herself to do it and walked away. From that moment, she began to feel a weariness—not just with her work, but with herself.

Her mentor, right up until his death, would never have imagined that a lifetime of perfecting the art of killing could be undone by a single act of fate.

Whenever Shan Qiu thought of this, she found it almost laughable. She wondered how she herself might die one day.

Could anyone guess that behind the appearance of a young woman just past twenty, there was already a heart grown old?

"Hello there!"

Zhang Xiue approached, greeting the woman in camping attire with a smile. Her clothing made it clear she was here for leisure.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Zhang Xiue asked.

Shan Qiu was taken aback for a moment. The honest villager earlier had greeted her with the same words. Did these people particularly enjoy helping others?

"I’d like to stay here for a while, if that’s possible," Shan Qiu said after a moment’s hesitation.

Zhang Xiue was surprised, then smiled. "Of course, you’re welcome. But I should warn you—the facilities in Fish Head Village are rather basic. Staying here might take some getting used to."

"That’s fine," Shan Qiu replied, shaking her head.