Mianyin City is located at the southern end of Chuanxi Province, surrounded by mountains. A large river flows through the city, providing ample water while also threatening it with floods.
Xiao Ming was driving his stretched Lincoln, nearing the greater Mianyin City, when he encountered a torrential rain. The highway was closed, forcing him to take a detour.
After exiting the highway, he drove a short distance along a provincial road when he encountered a mudslide, necessitating another detour.
He followed the muddy road, bypassing village after village. Luo Tianshui, sitting in the passenger seat, kept searching for passable roads on his phone's electronic map.
When the car entered Aitou Village, the road was once again blocked. They were less than a hundred kilometers from Mianyin City.
The road ahead was under repair, so Xiao Ming and the others had to stop by the roadside like other vehicles, waiting.
They waited for four hours. The road remained unrepaired, and it had grown dark.
"It looks like we'll have to spend the night in the car," said Old Dao Xiao, taking a drink from his wine gourd.
Luo Tianshui sighed and put away his phone. "What terrible weather."
Mei Ling glanced at Xiao Ming. Seeing him looking down at his phone, she said, "Xiao Ming, shouldn't we eat something?"
The mention of food made Xiao Ming feel hungry too. The two of them opened the refrigerator and took out a pile of food.
Just as everyone was about to eat, a Hummer stopped behind their car.
Two young men jumped out of the vehicle. Seeing the pile of food Xiao Ming and the others had, they walked over.
One young man, wearing a windbreaker, took out a wad of cash and threw it into the car. "We'll buy this food."
Xiao Ming looked at the two young men, picked up the cash from the car, and threw it out the window.
The pink banknotes scattered on the muddy road. The faces of the two young men gradually turned cold.
"Don't push your luck! Give us the food immediately, or you'll regret it," said the young man in the windbreaker.
Xiao Ming tore open a roast chicken, took a bite, and said, "Brother Luo, you deal with them. I'm hungry."
Luo Tianshui took a bite of a chicken claw he was holding. "I can't be bothered. Daoist Xiao, why don't you do it?"
Old Dao Xiao threw a peanut into his mouth and chewed. "These scumbags aren't worthy of this old man's attention."
Mei Ling lowered her head and ate, pretending not to hear their conversation.
Ignored, and with no one willing to even beat them up, the two young men felt deeply insulted.
"Did you hear me? Are you waiting for me to take action?" the young man in the windbreaker shouted loudly.
Ye Mei turned and looked at the two young men. "So noisy, what a bother. Scram."
Ye Mei was sitting closest to the car door. The young man in the windbreaker reached out and grabbed for Ye Mei's shoulder.
Ye Mei flinched, dodging the young man's grasping hand, and waved her right hand. "Go back to your car and die. Don't bother me."
The two young men felt a numbness spread through their eyes. The young man in the windbreaker shouted, "Third brother, you're poisoned! Hurry, let's go."
The other young man took a step back, looking at the people in the car with surprise. "Who are you? How dare you touch someone from my Nangong family."
Upon hearing that they were from the Nangong family, everyone in the car stopped eating and looked up at the two men.
The young man in the windbreaker said, "Scared now, aren't you? Hand over the antidote and apologize, and you might still have a chance to live."
Ye Mei looked at Xiao Ming. "I don't have an antidote. Xiao Ming, why don't you give them some medicine."
Xiao Ming nodded, took out a medicine bottle, poured out two pills, and threw them to the two young men.
The two young men hurriedly swallowed the pills. Their numbness was getting worse. They knew that if they didn't take the antidote soon, they would be beyond saving.
A few minutes later, the numbness in the two young men disappeared.
"Apologize now, and we'll spare your lives," said the young man in the windbreaker.
Xiao Ming waved his hand and slapped him across the face. The young man in the windbreaker quickly retreated, but he didn't expect Xiao Ming's hand to pursue him. He retreated over ten meters but still couldn't dodge Xiao Ming's hand.
With a crisp smack, as soon as finger marks appeared on the young man's face, Xiao Ming was already back in the car, eating.
The two knew they were no match for Xiao Ming, but they relied on their status as Nangong family disciples to threaten the people in the car.
"We are from the Nangong family. You dare to lay hands on us, do you know the consequences?" said the young man in the windbreaker.
*Smack!* Another slap landed on the young man in the windbreaker's face. This time, it was Luo Tianshui who struck.
The young man in the windbreaker cupped his face and dared not speak again. The other young man said, "Fine, I've got you all marked..."
Before the young man could finish his sentence, a greasy little hand slapped him across the face.
"If they all hit and I don't, aren't I at a disadvantage?" Mei Ling said.
Xiao Ming and the others hadn't used much force. Although the two young men's faces were swollen like steamed buns, they only had minor injuries.
They stumbled backward on the muddy road, wanting to get away from here as quickly as possible and call for backup.
Chuanxi was the territory of the Nangong family. Here, the Nangong family was supreme. Anyone who dared to hit someone from the Nangong family in Chuanxi was seeking death.
Old Dao Xiao took a sip of wine and capped his gourd. "Did I say you could leave?"
As Old Dao Xiao spoke, a powerful aura covered the two young men. They felt as if they had fallen into a swamp.
Cold sweat soaked through their clothes. They finally realized why these people dared to hit members of the Nangong family.
External manifestation of Qi was a sign of the Heaven Realm. Although the Nangong family had Heaven Realm experts, the family head and the Nangong ancestors would not step in for them if they got beaten up outside.
Old Dao Xiao withdrew his aura and continued drinking and eating. The two Nangong family disciples stood on the muddy road, looking at Old Dao Xiao tremblingly, not daring to move.
Half an hour later, after everyone had finished eating and drinking, Old Dao Xiao said, "Come here. I have something to ask you."
The two came to the car, trembling. Their previous arrogance was completely gone. They kept their heads down, not even daring to look up at Old Dao Xiao.
"What are your names?" Old Dao Xiao asked.
"My name is Nangong Ren."
"My name is Nangong Yi."
Old Dao Xiao nodded and said, "Tell me everything you know about the Nangong family."
Nangong Ren and Nangong Yi dared not conceal anything. They told him everything they knew about the Nangong family.
As they were from a collateral branch, they were unaware of many secret matters.
They were going to Mianyin City to rendezvous with several Nangong family nephews and nieces in Mianyin City, and then head to Funiu Town to attend Nangong Tianming's wedding.
They did not know the detailed circumstances of the wedding.
After the two finished speaking, Old Dao Xiao said, "We're going the same way. Let's travel together."
When Old Dao Xiao said they would travel together, neither of the two dared to refuse. They quickly nodded in agreement.