Predicament

The cool sensation spread over his entire body again. The pain from his wounds was now almost negligible... as long as he did not move too violently and tear them open again.

His body was still weak... after all, he had gone hungry for so many days, and his body had been severely drained.

At over six feet tall, he probably did not even weigh ninety pounds. One could imagine just how frail he was now.

He was the sort who would have to flap like a butterfly just to do a push-up.

After applying the medicine, Old Wu packed up his things and prepared to leave.

"Elder Wu."

At that moment, Qin Fang suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Old Wu paused and looked at Qin Fang.

After taking a deep breath, Qin Fang said, "This junior wishes to remain in True Martial. May I ask what I should do?"

Old Wu raised his brows.

"You want to stay in True Martial County?"

Qin Fang nodded and bowed slightly. "I ask Elder Wu to guide me."

Elder Wu fell silent. He looked at Qin Fang for a long while before slowly saying, "I fear I cannot help you with this."

Qin Fang paused, then nodded. "Is that so... I understand. Thank you, Elder Wu, for taking such painstaking care of me these past days. Great kindness needs no words of thanks. If Qin Fang is fortunate enough to survive, I will surely repay you."

Elder Wu caught the meaning beneath his words and asked with raised brows, "You're leaving?"

"Yes." Qin Fang was utterly frank.

The rebel refugees had already left True Martial, so Wang Long's group would inevitably come looking for him next.

He was currently too weak even to truss a chicken. If they found him, he would have no way to resist.

But where was he supposed to find any "golden leaves" for them?

Once they discovered they had been deceived, one could easily imagine the fury of Wang Long's group.

He was merely a refugee, and this was such a sensitive time... if he fell into the hands of the enraged Wang Long and the others, his life and death would be hard to predict.

During his chats with Zhang Hao lately, Qin Fang had probed around and learned that Elder Wu was likely the only person who could help him at present.

Elder Wu was a senior resident physician at Spring Return Hall. Not only did he have Spring Return Hall, a major force famous even in True Martial County, at his back, but his miraculous healing skills had also earned him vast connections throughout the county. His position was quite detached; even Wang Hu was unwilling to offend him lightly.

If Elder Wu were willing to help him, Wang Long and the others presumably would not dare press him too hard.

And as long as he was given a little time to recover, then use his cheat to train some martial arts... the Iron Tiger Gang's trouble would eventually be resolved.

That was why he had spoken up to ask for help.

But regrettably, Elder Wu clearly had no intention of helping him.

Qin Fang bore no grudge over it... when others had asked him for help during his own flight, had he not refused them as well?

Helping was a favor; refusing was one's right.

At the very least, Elder Wu had spared no effort in treating his injuries and illness these past days, allowing him to survive.

He had to remember that kindness.

But since Elder Wu was unwilling to help, Qin Fang certainly could not remain at Spring Return Hall any longer.

Because Wang Long and the others might come looking for him at any time.

He could only leave first.

"The rebel refugees have only just departed. The entire city is under strict guard. Looking like this, anyone can tell at a glance that you're a refugee. Where could you possibly go? The moment you step out that door, you'll likely be arrested."

After a moment of silence, Elder Wu spoke slowly.

The refugee rebellion had made everyone in True Martial County extremely sensitive. At a time like this, if Qin Fang rashly went out, being arrested was almost a certainty.

Qin Fang calmly said, "Being arrested should not cost me my life."

Rather, this was his only way to survive.

Even if he were thrown into prison after being caught, it would still be better than falling into Wang Long's hands.

The good news was that Wang Long and the others had not taken his Identity Plate. He had kept it on him all along.

His Identity Plate bore the True Martial County entry permit seal from the first day he entered the city. That was enough to prove he was a lawful citizen.

And when the refugees later caused trouble, he had been at Spring Return Hall. Elder Wu and Zhang Hao could testify that he had not participated in the riot.

...As long as the authorities investigated even a little, they would know he had committed no crime. In the end, they would most likely send him back to his native place.

Naturally, Qin Fang did not want to be sent back to his native place.

But when weighing two harms, one chose the lesser.

If he fell into Wang Long's hands, he would most likely die.

If he fell into the hands of the authorities, he would at least have a sliver of hope.

How to choose was naturally self-evident.

Through Zhang Hao, he had learned that although the Iron Tiger Gang was vicious, it could only be considered a small gang in True Martial County. They mainly ran rampant in the countryside, and there were quite a few similar gangs in the county... their influence likely was not great enough to reach into the yamen prison.

But in that case, Qin Fang's life and death would no longer be in his own hands at all. They would rest with those lords of the authorities.

If he encountered someone with a bit of humanity who thoroughly investigated everything, he could still emerge whole and unharmed before being sent back home.

If he encountered someone without much humanity, or someone who simply did nothing... then it would be hard to say.

They might even brand him a rebel...

To be honest, Qin Fang felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

Right now, he was like a butterfly trapped in an invisible spiderweb, able only to struggle bitterly within it.

Frail and powerless.

But naturally, he could not give up.

As long as there was even a sliver of life, he had to struggle for it!

Qin Fang's words left the room quiet for a moment. After a brief silence, Elder Wu nodded slightly. "Then I wish you all the best."

With that, Elder Wu tucked his small bag under his arm and left.

Qin Fang let out a soft breath, then sat up and began packing his things.

There was not really anything to pack... he was a refugee, utterly alone.

He took out his Identity Plate from beneath his pillow and tucked it close against his body. Then he put on the cloth shoes Elder Wu had brought him that day. Qin Fang exhaled softly and walked out of the room.

By now, the sky had grown dark. His eyes flickered as he calculated in his heart.

Looking like this, he was simply too conspicuous... although he had bathed, he was so thin he resembled a bamboo pole. Anyone who glanced at him would notice something was wrong.

And once he opened his mouth... his identity as a refugee would likely be impossible to conceal.

...Though they all spoke the official language of Great Yu, the accents of Pingjing County and True Martial County still differed somewhat.

After chatting extensively with Zhang Hao these past days, Qin Fang had long made some plans. The best course was naturally to have Elder Wu's help; the worst was to enter the yamen prison.

The middle course... was to successfully evade all eyes and ears, settle down temporarily in some corner of True Martial County, nurse his body back to health, and make further plans.

Zhang Hao had been born and raised in True Martial County and knew the county extremely well. He also understood its various major powers.

After deliberately making inquiries, Qin Fang had gradually gained a rough understanding of True Martial County as well.

So for him, the best place to go now...

Was the docks.

The docks were the territory of the merchant associations. The Iron Tiger Gang had always wanted to get onto the docks, but had been driven back time and again.

There were many merchant associations, their powers tangled and varied. Each kept some thugs and workers under them, forming a huge force in True Martial County that could not be ignored.

And among those people were travelers from north and south alike.

If Qin Fang could blend in among them, his accent would not stand out so much.

The only problem was... with his current physical condition, how could he gain a foothold at the complicated docks?

The road ahead was unclear, and Qin Fang's heart was heavy. Yet after taking a deep breath, his gaze gradually hardened.

He had traveled thousands of miles, risking life and death all the way from Jingping to this place.

Then he had to survive!

Months of natural disasters had not taken his life, which meant his fate was not yet spent!

He refused to believe that in such a vast True Martial County, there was not a single place for him to shelter?

With that thought, he stopped hesitating and stepped out of the small courtyard where he had recuperated for more than ten days for the first time.

Then he headed north.

Spring Return Hall's main gate lay ahead. Night had fallen, and there was no one in sight. Qin Fang took a deep breath and was just about to move forward.

Then he suddenly noticed a figure standing beneath the lantern by the main gate.

Qin Fang was slightly stunned upon seeing that person's back. The other person turned around and looked at him as well.

"Elder Wu?"

Qin Fang was surprised.

Elder Wu nodded at him and said calmly, "Come with me."

With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and walked out through the gate on his own.

Qin Fang was stunned at first, but then his eyes lit up slightly, and he followed.