Volume Four: Fame Spreads Far and Wide Chapter 105: Three Temples County

Sanmiao County is the most barren district in Beihai City. Today happened to be market day, and the streets were bustling with crowds of people, creating a lively atmosphere.

On the side of a crude street sat a young man. His skin was dark, and his clothes were in tatters, lacking any sense of aesthetic appeal. This person was none other than Qin Yang.

His meridians were severely damaged, especially after Wu Jian’s self-destruction, which had triggered a localized spatial distortion. When he regained consciousness, he found himself on a hillside in Sanmiao County. Battling extreme exhaustion and hunger, he had forced himself to walk into the county seat. He had no phone and no wallet. He felt that today was truly the most miserable day of his life.

The small county was isolated from information, and he knew nothing about the incident at Nanshan South. Seeing that he had returned to Beihai, he knew he had to go home no matter what. He was quite familiar with Sanmiao County; once upon a time, he would run here whenever he was free. It had been many years since he last returned, and there had been many changes.

"Qin Yang?" A hesitant voice rang out.

A young man stood before him, staring at Qin Yang intently for several moments before finally calling out tentatively.

"Damn, it really is you, kid!" Wang Qiang patted Qin Yang on the shoulder and burst into laughter. They had lost touch after graduating from college, and he never expected to meet again like this.

Qin Yang looked at Wang Qiang. He had been his roommate for four years in college and the leader of their dormitory. After his initial excitement, Wang Qiang circled Qin Yang several times, looking puzzled. "Old Third, did you go to Africa to be a refugee, or did you go underground to mine coal?"

"Get lost." There were some things he simply couldn't explain. "Boss, I'm starving to death. Since this county is your turf, you have to treat me to a meal."

"Damn, brothers don't need to talk like that. Not just a meal—I’d even take you for a massage if you wanted." Wang Qiang paused, then added, "But seriously, don't you want to change into some fresh clothes?"

*Uh!* He really did need to change. It was quite embarrassing to have skin exposed everywhere.

After climbing into Wang Qiang’s Jetta, Qin Yang said, "Boss, I didn't realize you’d become part of the petite bourgeoisie now. Tsk tsk, you even have a car; that’s impressive."

Hearing the praise, Wang Qiang beamed. "Sigh, among our classmates, I haven’t done that well. I just run a nightclub and make a little pocket money. I bought this Jetta used for thirty-five thousand. It’s mostly for the sake of appearances. In our dorm, the Second went back to Jiangnan and disappeared, and the Fourth is doing great—he’s a precinct captain in the Beihai High-Tech Zone. Others are doing pretty well, too."

"By the way, Zeng Qian is getting married. Did you know?"

Hearing that name felt like a thorn piercing his heart, sharp and painful. Wang Qiang, previously excited, cooled down immediately, realizing he had said the wrong thing. After all, Zeng Qian and Qin Yang had broken up. The brothers didn't know the rest of the story—how he had been driven into a corner by the wealthy heir Zeng Qian had chosen over him. He had felt so lost and helpless, and Zeng Qian had been like a stranger, never offering a single word of support.

"When is the wedding?" His voice was low, laced with a thick, murderous intent.

Wang Qiang’s expression changed abruptly, and his hand shook so hard he nearly swerved into a utility pole. "Did something happen back then?"

"Heh, let's not talk about that. When are they getting married?" He shook his head, clearly unwilling to discuss it, and Wang Qiang didn't press the issue.

"The first of next month."

"Wait, what's today's date?"

Wang Qiang stared at him for several seconds. "Old Third, what is wrong with you? Have you been a miner for so long that you've lost track of the calendar? Today is May 20th."

He hadn't expected time to move so quickly; five days had already passed.

The nightclub was in a decent location within the county. Since it was daytime, there was no business. The second floor had a private washroom and a lounge area. Wang Qiang liked to stay on the second floor when he was free, and bringing a man up today startled the waiter. The second floor was only for Wang Qiang and his women. *Damn, Brother Qiang’s taste is getting more intense,* the male waiter thought, shivering and daring not to let his imagination run wild.

After taking a shower to wash away the stale smell and putting on some of Wang Qiang’s clothes, he stepped out. Wang Qiang was momentarily stunned. How could there be such a difference after a shower? His face had been so dirty before that it was impossible to tell what he looked like.

"What's wrong?" Qin Yang asked, puzzled.

"Damn, Old Third, did you go to be a miner, or did you go to South Korea