Return of the Celestial King

Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Village Outside the City

Qin Tuo couldn’t figure it out, so he stopped thinking about it.

’Maybe I’m just imagining things?’ he thought.

After getting off work, Qin Tuo had just returned home when he received a call from Chen Man Ni.

"Hey, Qin Tuo, when are you heading out? Do you want me to come pick you up?"

Qin Tuo nodded and said,

"Okay, you can come to my residential complex. I’ll be out soon."

With that, he took a shower and changed his clothes.

"Son, are you going out?"

Qin Hongguo and his wife were busy making dinner.

Qin Tuo nodded and said casually,

"Mom, Dad, I have to go out for something. I’ll probably be back late."

Just then, a bright red Ferrari slowly pulled up to the entrance of the complex.

The moment the Ferrari appeared, it immediately caught the attention of the surrounding neighbors.

"Look! I heard that’s a supercar. It must be worth millions!"

"What! Millions? I can’t believe a car can be that expensive!"

The neighbors from the complex discussed it amongst themselves, their voices full of envy as they pointed at the car.

Han Guixiang was also in the crowd.

Staring at the car before her, her eyes were filled with utter envy.

"I wonder who they’re here to pick up, driving a car like that... Do we even have someone that important living in our complex?"

Everyone was speculating about who could possibly know such a wealthy friend.

At that very moment, Qin Tuo appeared.

"Qin Tuo!"

Han Guixiang immediately smiled and called out a greeting.

In her eyes, Qin Tuo now held the status of a son-in-law.

"Aunt Han!"

Qin Tuo nodded back with a smile.

Then, he walked directly toward the Ferrari.

Everyone’s eyes gradually widened in utter astonishment!

"Oh my god, it’s actually here to pick him up?"

Qin Tuo got into the Ferrari as everyone stared, dumbfounded.

"See, Qin Tuo? Now everyone in your complex will probably recognize you!"

Chen Man Ni said with a teasing laugh.

Qin Tuo gave a wry smile.

"I’d rather not be so high-profile. Next time, just come pick me up in a normal car!"

Chen Man Ni replied with a mischievous grin:

"Isn’t this perfect? You get to be in the spotlight and become the talk of your neighborhood."

Qin Tuo shook his head, speechless. He had no desire to be that kind of celebrity.

"Qin Tuo, you’ll have to give me directions, right?"

Chen Man Ni dropped the playful tone and got down to business.

Qin Tuo nodded.

"Okay, head this way..."

The Ferrari’s engine then roared to life, and the car sped off into the distance.

Back in the crowd, Han Guixiang was already completely stunned.

Her face was a mask of confusion, and her mind started racing with wild thoughts.

Many people nearby were gossiping.

"That kid’s name is Qin Tuo, right? I thought he was really close with the Han Family’s girl. Weren’t they talking about getting married?"

"Yeah, I really don’t get kids these days. Is two-timing in fashion now?"

"Sigh, who would have thought? A kid who looks so honest and simple has gone and found himself a sugar mama!"

Hearing these words, Han Guixiang felt a pit in her stomach. Frowning, she hurried home.

She needed to ask her daughter, Han Zilin, what on earth was going on.

As Chen Man Ni drove, she gradually realized something was wrong.

"Qin Tuo, what kind of address did Mr. Ouyang give us? Why is it so remote?"

Qin Tuo frowned as well. According to the address, the location was in a remote suburb outside the city.

The road was getting narrower and narrower, flanked by desolate, uninhabited land.

"Qin Tuo, I’m starting to feel a little creeped out!"

Chen Man Ni said, her face sullen with worry.

Qin Tuo smiled and reassured her,

"What’s there to be afraid of? Even if the sky falls, won’t I be here to hold it up for you?"

Chen Man Ni’s eyes crinkled into a smile, a warm feeling spreading through her chest.

"Alright then. With you here, Master Qin, I’m not afraid of any ghosts or monsters."

After a full hour of driving, they finally arrived at the address Ouyang Tianqi had given them.

The two of them noticed it was a dilapidated village on the outskirts of the city. The entire village seemed sparsely populated.

"How strange. Why would it be a place like this? Do people really live here?"

After getting out of the car, Chen Man Ni surveyed her surroundings with suspicion, an inexplicable sense of worry rising in her heart.

Qin Tuo waved his hand dismissively and said with a laugh,

"What’s the point in guessing? Let’s just go take a look and we’ll find out."

Just as they reached the village entrance, they saw Ouyang Tianqi already waiting for them.

"Mr. Ouyang, so you were already here."

Qin Tuo and Chen Man Ni walked up to greet him.

Ouyang Tianqi’s eyes lit up, and he came forward to welcome them.

"Mr. Qin, Miss Chen, I was starting to think you weren’t coming!"

Qin Tuo shook his head and said seriously,

"Since I gave my word to you, Mr. Ouyang, how could I possibly bail?"

Ouyang Tianqi nodded with a smile, his gaze toward Qin Tuo softening with a bit more kindness.

"Mr. Qin, let’s head straight there, then!"

Ouyang Tianqi made a welcoming gesture for Qin Tuo to proceed.

The three of them chatted as they walked.

They could see that a few people did live in this rundown village. When the residents saw strangers enter, they seemed a bit frightened and immediately ducked back inside their houses.

After a moment of thought, Qin Tuo decided to voice the question on his mind.

"Mr. Ouyang, with your status, how could you have a friend living in a place like this?"

Ouyang Tianqi wasn’t offended in the slightest. He explained with a smile,

"It’s a long story. This friend of mine is a dear friend I haven’t seen in years. He’s been living here for a very long time."

Hearing Ouyang Tianqi’s explanation, Qin Tuo understood there was likely a private story behind it.

And it wasn’t his place to press for details.

Qin Tuo asked another question,

"Mr. Ouyang, what is your friend’s name?"

Ouyang Tianqi smiled and said,

"My friend’s surname is Li. I’ve always called him Old Li. He and his wife are both very good people, which is why I really don’t want to see his wife end up like this."

As he spoke, he let out a long sigh.

After some more conversation, the three of them arrived at their destination.

Ouyang Tianqi slowly knocked on the dilapidated wooden door in front of them.

CREAK!

The door opened, revealing a disheveled-looking old man.

"Old Li, this is the Mr. Qin I told you about!"

Ouyang Tianqi quickly introduced Qin Tuo.

Qin Tuo gave a slight nod in greeting.

Old Li, in turn, quickly and politely extended his hand for a handshake.

"Oh, Mr. Qin, for you to take time out of your busy schedule to help, I’m endlessly grateful!"

After a few pleasantries, Qin Tuo followed them into the house.

The inside of Old Li’s house could only be described as having four bare walls.

Light shone through several holes in the roof above, and the ground was slightly damp.

Some old wooden cabinets and bed boards off to the side gave off a musty smell.

Walking across the floor produced faint creaking sounds.

Chen Man Ni immediately covered her nose, finding the environment a bit hard to take.

Then, Qin Tuo saw Old Li’s wife, who was said to be having frantic fits.