Chapter 124 Mt. Baiping

 

“Yes, Baiping mountain.” Qin Lang nodded his head and then asked again, “Does it have a Qiang village?”

The old man looked all around and then warned Qin Lang in a small voice: “Young man! You should be a city student who is travelling, right? You are going to Qiang village to view the scenery, right? Then go to government opened Qiang village, or Xiaozhaigou scenic area, or peach blossoms plateau, all these places are good. But, don’t go to Mt. Baiping.”

“Why can’t I go to Mt. Baiping?”

“Ai, how to explain it to you ---- there are bandits at Mt. Baiping!” The old man warned Qin Lang with good intentions, “I have nothing more to say if you don’t believe me!”

“Uncle, don’t be angry, I was only asking.” Qin Lang chuckled, “Right, give me one kg of apples and bananas, I will eat them on the road.”

Qin Lang bit at an apple while thinking of a way to go to Mt. Baiping.

Right at this moment, a youth wearing a black t-shirt walked towards Qin Lang and smilingly asked: “Little brother, are you here to travel? How about travelling in my bike?”

It was a motorcycle taxi driver coming to get a customer.

“Yes, I want to view old style Qiang village.” Qin lang indifferently said, “Right, do you know of the Qiang village in Mt. Baiping?”

“Bro, why are you going there?” The youth asked, slightly puzzled.

“Do you know the way?” Qin Lang said, “If you know, take me there.”

“If you want to go to Mt. Baiping, you need to give at least fifty, the road to there is not good to travel.” The youth used a bargaining tone to speak.

“Alright.” Qin Lang directly agreed. Actually, this youth’s bottom price was thirty five, even if Qin Lang cut down the price by ten yuan, he would have readily agreed.

The motorcycle took off, proceeding through Nanping county’s street.

After just travelling for a short time, the youth asked Qin Lang: “Little bro, do you want to go buy realgar wine in the herbal medicine store ahead?"

“Why would I buy it?” Qin Lang asked, “It is not Dragon Boat festival now.”

“Little bro, there are many snakes and insects in the mountains, even more so at Mt. Baiping. So to be on the safe side, all the outsiders will buy a bottle of realgar wine, not to drink them, but to smear it on their legs and body.” The youth said, “And it only costs around twenty per bottle.”

“Let it be, I am not afraid of snakes.” Qin Lang said.

The youth was forced to drop the subject, he had wanted to take the chance to sell some ‘travel souvenirs’, but Qin Lang was not afraid of snakes and insects, so he could only drop this notion.

The road to Mt. Baiping was really not good for travelling; not only was it completely hilly path, it was also a gravel road, even travelling with the bike was slow. After about an hour, Qin Lang reached the base of Mt. Baiping.

Mt. Baiping was more than two thousand meters above the sea level, it was one of the taller mountains of Nanping county. And as this place was not contaminated by industries, the air here was rather good. And since it was spring-summer time right now, the climate was very suitable for sightseeing. But Mt. Baiping’s road conditions were bad and it was also not a tourism development zone, so it wasn’t the first choice for travelling and only rarely, would there be tourists.

The young bike driver put his bike to a side and then pointed to a lane which led up the mountain: “If you go up that lane, you will reach Qiang village at halfway up the mountain. But I advise you not to go there.”

“Eh…..why?” Qin Lang handed the fee to the youth.

Perhaps seeing the fees, the youth driver continued to speak: “This Qiang village doesn’t engage in tourism development, so the people there don’t like outsiders. Not only that, the local people have the final say in this village, so in case something happens, the police won’t do anything. Since you want to travel, then travel, but only look at the village from outside and don’t enter it!”

“Alright, thank you.” Qin Lang said.

Broom!~

After a moment, the youth driver started his bike and disappeared down the road.

One couldn’t see any human habitation at the base of Mt. Baiping, but right at this time, an old Qiang person walked over, he was carrying a basket and looked to be about fifty, but his steps were healthy and strong. He approached Qin Lang and said: “Young man, it is going to be dark soon, what are you doing here?”

“I want to climb the mountain.” Qin Lang said.

“Climb the mountain? Such a coincidence, I am also going up the mountain to the village. Young man, let me accompany you.”

“Okay, thank you.” Qin Lang smiled.

Qin Lang started ascending the mountain with this Qiang old man. After exhausting themselves for nearly an hour, they finally saw the fortified village that was among the hillsides. The village was built on the mountain, there were streams of waterfalls all around the village, and many birds were flying over the woods. As one gazed at this scene from far away, it gave a feeling of Utopia.

Just then, the sun set at the horizon, dying the whole scene the color red, giving a feeling of indescribable uneasiness.

“Young man, our village is just ahead. It is getting dark, how about staying a night at the village? You can continue climbing tomorrow.” The old man said to Qin Lang.

“I say, old geezer, aren’t you tired of pretending for so long?” Qin Lang suddenly said, indifferently, “Your basket is actually empty but you have put leaves around the lid. Your purpose is to bring me to this village, right?”

Having been exposed by Qin Lang, the old man’s simple and honest appearance immediately changed to a malevolent expression: “Stinky kid, you are Qin Lang, right? Ahead is our village, if you have guts then follow me -----”

This old man then blew a sharp whistle, this whistle scared almost all the birds away.

Following the whistle, a desolate aura seemed to have pervaded the mountain.

“Lead the way! I will meet with Qing Heyun!”

Qin Lang then followed the old man towards the village.

The buildings in the village were made of tan colored stones, some were at higher level and some lower, there was a picturesque disorder to them. The terrain was very steep, the only way to enter was through the village gate. There were also two tall watch-posts which overlooked the whole village.

Qin Lang was not sure whether this was Qinghuan group’s main base or not, but no matter what, this place was really good, it wouldn’t have been a wrong choice if he had come here to travel. Unfortunately, this place had become a ‘bandits’ nest’.

The old man was leading the way, but when he reached the village gate, he felt something wrong, so he quickly turned around but Qin Lang was not there! When did he disappear? This old man didn’t have the slightest clue.

Wuuuuu!~

A horn sounded in the village and dozens of armed people rushed out of the village.