Predicament

A chilling sensation washed over his entire body once more, and the pain from his wounds had become almost negligible—provided he didn't move too violently and tear them open again.

His constitution was still incredibly frail; after all, he had been starved for days, and his body was severely overdrawn.

Standing at over six feet tall, he likely weighed less than ninety pounds, which gave some idea of just how weak he had become.

He was the type of person who would struggle like a butterfly flapping its wings just trying to perform a single push-up.

After finishing the dressing, Old Wu packed his things, preparing to leave.

"Old Wu."

Qin Fang spoke up suddenly.

"Hmm?" Old Wu paused, looking back at Qin Fang.

Qin Fang took a deep breath and said, "This junior wishes to remain in True Martial County. I do not know how I might go about it."

Old Wu raised an eyebrow.

"You want to stay in True Martial County?"

Qin Fang nodded at the words, bowing slightly. "I ask that Old Wu instruct me."

Old Wu fell silent, watching Qin Fang for a long moment before speaking slowly. "On this, I fear I cannot help you."

Qin Fang paused, then nodded. "I see... I understand. Thank you for your dedicated care during this time. Great kindness needs no thanks; if I am fortunate enough to survive, I will surely repay you."

Old Wu caught the implication in his words and raised an eyebrow. "You intend to leave?"

"Yes." Qin Fang was very candid.

The rebel refugees had already left True Martial County, so it was inevitable that Wang Long and his gang would come looking for him next.

He currently lacked the strength to truss a chicken; if they found him, he would have no way to resist.

But where could he possibly find "gold leaves" to give them?

Once they realized they had been deceived, one could only imagine the fury of Wang Long and his men.

He was merely a refugee, and in such a sensitive time... falling into the hands of an enraged Wang Long and his cohorts would likely mean his fate was sealed.

Through his chats with Zhang Hao, he had probed and realized that Old Wu was likely the only person who could help him.

Old Wu was a senior resident physician at Spring Return Hall. Not only did he have the backing of such a prominent power in True Martial County, but his miraculous medical skills had earned him vast connections throughout the entire county. His status was quite transcendent; even Wang Hu would not easily offend him.

If Old Wu were willing to assist him, Wang Long and his men would likely not dare to push too hard.

And as long as he was given a little time to recover his health and cultivate some martial arts through his golden finger... the trouble with the Iron Tiger Gang would eventually be resolved.

That was why he had asked for help.

But unfortunately, Old Wu clearly did not wish to help him.

However, Qin Fang held no grudge. When he was on the road as a refugee, hadn't he also refused those who begged him for help?

Helping was a favor; not helping was a duty.

At the very least, Old Wu had been diligent in treating his injuries during this time, which was the only reason he had survived.

This kindness had to be remembered.

But since Old Wu refused to help, Qin Fang certainly could not continue to stay at Spring Return Hall.

Because Wang Long and his men could show up at any moment.

He had no choice but to leave.

"The rebel refugees have just left, and the city is under strict martial law. You look like a refugee at a glance; where could you go? I fear that as soon as you step out this door, you will be arrested."

Old Wu said slowly after a moment of silence.

With the refugee uprising, everyone in True Martial County was on high alert. In such times, if Qin Fang were to head out rashly, being arrested was almost a certainty.

Qin Fang said calmly, "Being arrested shouldn't cost me my life."

If anything, this was his only path to survival.

Once arrested, even if he were thrown into a jail cell, it would still be better than falling into the hands of Wang Long and his men.

The good news was that Wang Long and his men hadn't taken his travel permit; it had remained in his possession the entire time.

The permit bore the entry stamp from the day he first arrived in True Martial County, which was enough to prove his status as a law-abiding citizen.

And since he had been at Spring Return Hall while the refugees were rioting, Old Wu and Zhang Hao could testify that he had not participated in the violence.

...As long as the authorities investigated even a little, they would know he had committed no crime. In that case, the most likely outcome would be that he would be sent back to his place of origin.

Qin Fang certainly didn't want to be sent back, but between two evils, one must choose the lesser.

Falling into the hands of Wang Long and his men meant he would likely die.

Falling into the hands of the authorities at least gave him a glimmer of hope.

How to choose was self-evident.

Through Zhang Hao, he learned that although the Iron Tiger Gang was vicious, it was merely a small faction in True Martial County, primarily running rampant in the countryside; there were many similar gangs within the county... Its influence likely hadn't reached the point of extending into the yamen's prison.

However, this meant that Qin Fang's life and death would no longer be under his own control, but rather in the hands of those masters in the government.

If he encountered someone with a shred of humanity who investigated the matter thoroughly, he might emerge unscathed and be sent back to his hometown.

But if he encountered someone heartless or negligent... that would be hard to say.

It was even possible they could frame him as a rebel...

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

He was like a butterfly trapped in an invisible spiderweb, struggling bitterly within it.

Weak and helpless.

But he certainly wouldn't give up.

As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he had to fight for it!

Qin Fang's words left the room quiet for a moment. After a brief silence, Old Wu nodded slightly and said, "In that case, I wish you all the best."

With that, Old Wu picked up his small bag and left.

Qin Fang exhaled, sat up, and began to pack his things.

In truth, there wasn't much to pack... he was just a refugee, all alone in the world.

He took his identity tag from under the pillow, tucked it away securely, put on the cloth shoes Old Wu had brought him today, and walked out of the room.

The sky was already pitch black. His eyes flickered as he calculated his next move.

His current appearance was far too conspicuous... even though he had bathed, he was so thin he looked like a bamboo pole; anyone could spot something wrong at a glance.

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

...Although he spoke the official language of Great Yu, there were still some differences between the accents of Pingjing County and True Martial County.

Having chatted extensively with Zhang Hao during this time, Qin Fang had already made some plans. The best strategy was Old Wu's help; the worst was entering the yamen's prison.

The middle strategy... was to successfully slip past prying eyes, settle down temporarily in some corner of True Martial County, recover his health, and then plan for the future.

Zhang Hao was born and raised in True Martial County and was very familiar with it, having an understanding of all the major factions.

Through Qin Fang's deliberate inquiries, he had gradually gained a rough understanding of True Martial County.

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

Was the wharf.

The wharf was the territory of the merchant guilds. The Iron Tiger Gang had always wanted to get a foothold there but had been beaten back many times.

There were many merchant guilds with complex and mixed influences, all keeping thugs and laborers on their payrolls; they were a massive force in True Martial County that could not be ignored.

And these people came from all over the place.

If Qin Fang could blend in among them, his accent wouldn't be so conspicuous.

The only problem was... given his current physical condition, how could he gain a foothold on the complex wharf?

The road ahead was uncertain and Qin Fang felt heavy-hearted, but after taking a deep breath, his eyes gradually grew firm.

He had traveled thousands of miles, surviving life and death to get from Jingping to here.

He had to survive!

If months of natural disasters hadn't taken his life, it meant his time had not yet come!

He refused to believe that in such a vast True Martial County, he couldn't find a place to call home.

Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated and walked out of the small courtyard where he had been recuperating for over ten days for the first time.

He then headed north.

The gates of Spring Return Hall came into view. It was dark and he didn't see anyone, so he took a deep breath and was about to step forward.

Suddenly, he noticed a figure standing under the lantern at the gate.

Qin Fang was slightly stunned by the back of the figure, and the person turned around to look at him.

"Old Wu?"

Qin Fang was surprised.

Old Wu nodded at him and said calmly, "Follow me."

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

Qin Fang was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up slightly, and he followed.