Chapter 286: Chapter 279 Lovebirds 1

He planned to release some of the poison insects and mysterious creatures he had caught that he had no use for into the forest.

In a few decades, that mountain would teem with all sorts of bizarre and venomous creatures and would become a dragon’s lair and a tiger’s den, where ordinary people dare not set foot.

As a result, he now had a relatively secluded private training ground.

The ancient banyan tree had already become his private property.

And now he had an Ice Lotus as well.

Having seen the Fang Family’s depth of resources, Qin Niu followed suit, constantly accumulating his strength to grow into a towering ‘great tree’.

“Xiao Qing, we haven’t been up the mountain for training in many days. Today, I’ll take you up the mountain to train,” Qin Niu said.

Looking at the sky, it wasn’t even noon yet.

He could still train under the ancient banyan tree for two or three hours.

Originally, he had planned to rest at home today and had arranged for Wang Wanyan and Tang Caixian to come over to learn the martial technique ‘Misty Rain Elusive Step’ and provide them with some cultivation resources.

But that would have to be postponed until tomorrow.

Because he was eager to go into the mountains to cultivate termites.

Also, he hadn’t collected banyan tree blood to nourish his sword in days, so he needed to get some Ancient Banyan Tree Blood for his Ink Blade today.

“Oh, yes, yes!”

Xiao Qing clapped her hands excitedly upon hearing this.

With Qin Niu away from home, she had been cooped up in the house all day and was feeling unbearably stifled.

Training under the ancient banyan tree, where the cultivation speed was dozens of times faster than in the outside world, was enough to enchant anyone.

The master and servant left the house, with Qin Niu carrying a large basket on his back.

He had brought all nine corpses of the Taiyin Yaoyao.

He planned to feed them all to the Ant Queen.

Passing by Wang Furen’s house, a pudgy head stuck out from the gate—it was Wang Furen himself.

“Master Qin, Master Qin, are you heading into the mountains?”

“Yes, Uncle Wang. Are you packing up to flee with all these bags and parcels?” Qin Niu asked, noticing several bundles and boxes on the ground behind Wang Furen.

“Hasn’t the Nine Insect Gang’s army advanced on Jade Stream Town? As you know, those demons do all kinds of evil and kill anyone they see. My daughter Wan Yan is quite beautiful. The idea of her falling into the hands of those devils is unthinkable. In my younger days, I traveled extensively on business and am quite familiar with many places, so I’m planning to take my family to hide somewhere else,” Wang Furen explained.

Wang Furen was somewhat conscientious.

Though prepared to flee for his life, he didn’t abandon the maidservants who had served him for many years.

He couldn’t give her a formal status, but he had already treated her as a concubine.

She had changed into coarse clothing and wrapped a headscarf around her head, appearing like an ordinary village woman.

In the end, she hadn’t done any laborious work for years, nor worked the fields, so her skin still appeared fair and tender. She followed closely behind Wang Furen.

“Uncle Wang, your foresight is admirable. However, from what I understand, there is no need for you to flee too far. Our Shuangfeng Village is far safer than places abroad. I’ve seen some wealthy people who have sold their property and smuggled their families into the Nine Insect Gang. They are some capable people who have obtained legitimate identities within the Nine Insect Gang.

Guess what happened to them in the end?

Every man, woman, and child was captured by the Nine Insect Gang’s troops.

The men were bound and used for breeding insects.

The elderly were killed on the spot, fed to the insects. The children were also used for breeding insects, while the women suffered all kinds of humiliation. Any slightly good-looking ones were sent first to be enjoyed by the higher ranks. All the valuables they carried were plundered.

If they hadn’t fled to the Nine Insect Gang, maybe they wouldn’t have met with such a catastrophe.

I’m telling you this because you’re my neighbor, and because you’ve taken great care of me over the years.”

Qin Niu knew that Wang Furen was a shrewd businessman.

Sometimes, being too savvy wasn’t a good thing.

Those who were too clever by half often died miserably.

“So… are you saying it’s safer to stay in Shuangfeng Village?”

Wang Furen wiped the sweat from his forehead repeatedly with his hand.

It seemed he had considered the idea of smuggling his family out of the country.

“I’ve been to where the Nine Insect Gang resides, where the folk are fierce, and the weak have no standing whatsoever. Bringing Wan Yan and the others there would only harm them. The Shennong Sect might seem safe, but could actually be the most dangerous place. Shuangfeng Village might appear dangerous, but in reality, it might be a refuge from warfare.”

Qin Niu offered his own perspective.

Wang Furen wouldn’t listen, and there was nothing he could do.

“Dad, we definitely won’t go wrong listening to Ah Niu.”

Wang Wanyan’s voice rang out as the door opened.

She too had changed into a set of coarse clothes.

Yet, it still could not conceal her breathtaking beauty, her graceful figure, standing tall and slender. Her features were like a master painting, with a delicate nose and rosy lips, looking beautiful in whatever she wore.

Solely in terms of beauty, Tang Caixian was somewhat inferior to her.

However, both women had their respective charms.

Wang Wanyan was pure as snow, proud and cold, yet she also possessed the poise and intelligence of a lady from a prestigious family.

Tang Caixian, on the other hand, was bold and forthright, passionate and fierce as fire. She exhibited a charm and softness, without losing her inner pride and wisdom.

Qin Niu liked and respected both girls.

“The villagers were spreading rumors, saying that you abandoned Xiao Qing to escape the disaster alone. I never believed it. But my father insists that our family prepare to flee.”

Wang Wanyan explained to Qin Niu.

“Uncle Wang’s concerns are not without reason. Now that I am back, the rumors will naturally be dispelled. Uncle Wang, there’s no need to flee. If enemies really do come, 1 will surely notify you before I flee for safety.”

How could Qin Niu abandon Xiao Qing, Wang Wanyan, and Tang Caixian to flee for his life?

Though he might seem cold and ruthless, he valued loyalty deeply.

But in such precarious times, it was true that he didn’t meddle in affairs that weren’t his own.

This was also a form of self-preservation.

“It seems it was a false alarm, Ah Niu. I see that you and Wan Yan have feelings for each other. In these turbulent times, if you don’t mind, I’d like you to take Wan Yan as your bride. I’m old and truly cannot protect her.”

Wang Furen’s mentality had undergone a significant change.

In the past, he feared his precious daughter being led astray by Qin Niu, but now he was hoping Qin Niu would marry her sooner rather than later.

Because he felt that entrusting his daughter to Qin Niu was safer.

“I am more than willing, but 1 come from humble beginnings and fear that it would be unfair to Wan Yan.”

Qin Niu looked toward Wang Wanyan.

She blushed, her face turning red, and she glanced down bashfully, sneaking looks at Qin Niu.

Smiling upon hearing Qin Niu’s agreement to marry her, a smile blossomed on her face that could overturn kingdoms.

“I leave everything to my father’s decision.”

Being a girl, naturally she was too shy to directly admit her liking for Qin Niu.

She expressed herself in a rather demure manner.

“Ha ha, since both you young people agree, Master Qin can hire a matchmaker and set an early date to bring forth the engagement and complete the marriage.”

Wang Furen laughed heartily upon hearing this.

How times had changed.

The current Qin Niu had a startling potential for growth. The local powerhouse, the Yan Family, treated him with great respect.

Tang Yan of the Tang Family had also personally paid a visit to Qin Niu.

Additionally, Tang Caixian from the Tang Family was a well-known beauty far and wide, her family background was not a bit inferior to that of Wang Furen’s. She had taken the initiative to send a matchmaker to discuss marriage with Qin Niu.

Wang Furen also had his own calculations.

He feared that if he acted too slowly, Qin Niu would marry Tang Caixian first, and then his daughter would have to become a concubine, or marry someone else.

In these chaotic times, he did not trust anyone else.

On the contrary, he felt that marrying Qin Niu was the best option. Not only could he see his daughter every day, providing someone to look out for her, but also because he knew Qin Niu well and deemed him trustworthy.

“Then tomorrow 1 will find a matchmaker to propose officially. It’s just that my achievements are limited at the moment, and 1 would be putting Wan Yan at a disadvantage.”

Seeing how anxious the girl’s father was, Qin Niu naturally would not decline.

He wouldn’t put Wang Furen in an awkward position..