Chapter 421: Worry
Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Worry
As Su Qing entered Xiqing Mountain, the Li family in Beijing was also worried about her safety.
"Look at you! You didn’t even ask for the details. Those mountains are so dangerous, and now we don’t even know where Qingqing is. We don’t know if that child is taking care of herself, or if she’s in any danger."
Mrs. Li slammed her hand on the table, glaring at Li Fenghuo with annoyance, her face filled with worry.
Mr. Li also frowned and said, "Find out where Qingqing is right now and if she’s in any danger. It’s been over a month."
"I’ve already sent people to look into it. It’s all my fault. I never thought that child would go so deep into the mountains!" Li Fenghuo was also full of regret. This time, Su Qing had asked him to request a leave of absence from her school, using official business as the reason. After all, Su Qing held a position at the city’s Public Security Bureau, so the excuse was more than sufficient. The school wouldn’t have denied it.
But of course, Li Fenghuo knew perfectly well that the city’s Public Security Bureau hadn’t sent Su Qing on any official business. He naturally pressed her for the real reason she needed leave, and Su Qing didn’t hide it, telling him about her plan to go into the mountains to search for medicinal herbs.
Li Fenghuo knew Su Qing was capable, with formidable martial arts skills, and that she had often gone into the mountains before. He was still worried about her going to find herbs and wanted to stop her. However, Su Qing was far away, so he couldn’t persuade her even if he wanted to. He could only agree, but he instructed her not to go deep into the mountains and to prioritize her safety above all else.
He had told Mr. Li, Mrs. Li, and the others that Su Qing was away on official business precisely to keep them from worrying. But who could have known that the truth would eventually come out?
Who would have thought that Su Qing would go straight into the heart of Da Hu Mountain! Not only did she enter its depths, but she also brought back He Zhimin, a man the Chuncheng Public Security Bureau had presumed sacrificed in the line of duty three years ago.
This could be considered a great merit. Qiao Wensong naturally reported Su Qing’s contribution, and Director Zhou from the municipal Public Security General Bureau, unaware of the inside story, called to report the good news.
Mr. Li was the one who answered the phone. After a bit of back and forth, the secret was out. The result was predictable.
The news sent the entire family into an uproar.
"Never thought?" Mrs. Li slammed the table in anger. "Qingqing went into the mountains all by herself, and you lied to us, saying it was for official business. Hmph, if she was on official business, how come Director Zhou didn’t know?"
"Well... I was just afraid you’d worry." Li Fenghuo shrank back. Don’t be fooled by his current high position and authority; he was still terrified of his own mother.
Li Wan nervously wrung her hands. She was worried about Su Qing, but her parents were already so anxious that she didn’t dare say anything that would make them worry more. Gu Xinsheng gently patted Li Wan’s shoulder and whispered, "Qingqing is very capable. She’ll definitely be okay."
"Mm," Li Wan nodded lightly, but the worry in her heart didn’t lessen in the slightest.
Li Huan said with regret, "If I had known, I would have dragged her back, kicking and screaming if I had to."
Shang Yuqi sighed. She knew in her heart that her daughter could never have stopped Su Qing. After a moment of thought, she said, "I think that girl, Qingqing, knows her limits. She definitely wouldn’t put herself in a dangerous situation."
"That’s easy for you to say, but we’re talking about the deep, old forests. Who can say for sure what will happen?" Mrs. Li just couldn’t feel at ease, no matter how she thought about it. ’Oh, my sweet, precious granddaughter. What if she runs into danger in the mountains?’
At that moment, dozens of scenarios of Su Qing in peril were already playing out in Mrs. Li’s mind. The more she thought, the more worried she became. She turned to Li Fenghuo and said, "This won’t do. You must find out where Qingqing is right now and ensure her safety."
"Mom, don’t worry, I’ve already had people look into it," Li Fenghuo said quickly.
"That’s right," Gu Xinsheng added. "Didn’t they say Qingqing went to Guang City later? I’ve also asked my colleagues over there to help investigate."
"When can we expect results?" Mr. Li asked sternly.
"Well..." Before Li Fenghuo could finish, the phone on the table rang. He quickly stepped forward and picked it up. Listening to the news from the other end, his brow furrowed tightly. Finally, he nodded and said, "I understand. Continue to track her movements closely."
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the phone in Li Fenghuo’s hand. After he hung up, he looked at the expectant faces around him, sighed, and said, "The latest report is that Qingqing took a train from Guang City to Lan City."
"What is Qingqing doing in Lan City?" Li Wan couldn’t hold back any longer and asked quickly.
"She’s probably looking for herbs again," Li Fenghuo said. "The news from Yun Province was that Qingqing likely didn’t find the herb she needed on Da Hu Mountain, so she went to Gansu Province."
"What mountains in Gansu Province are known for their medicinal herbs?" Mr. Li asked quickly.
"They say she might be heading to Xiqing Mountain," Li Fenghuo said. This was the latest information; further details were still unclear. They didn’t know yet if Su Qing had actually gone to Xiqing Mountain, let alone entered it.
"Xiqing Mountain!" Upon hearing this, Mr. Li’s eyes went wide. "That’s part of the Kunlun Mountain Range! That mountain is even more remote!"
The Kunlun Mountain Range is one of the most mysterious mountain ranges in Hua Country. Leaving aside the countless myths and legends that originated there, its complex terrain and topography alone are enough to make one shrink back in awe and fear.
And Su Qing was actually planning to enter Xiqing Mountain all by herself!
"Dad, you know about Xiqing Mountain?" Li Fenghuo was quite surprised to hear Mr. Li’s words. He had never heard his old man mention Xiqing Mountain before.
Mr. Li nodded slightly. "A little, but not much."
"Grandpa, hurry and tell us, is there some kind of danger on Xiqing Mountain?" Li Huan asked anxiously. "If we find Qingqing quickly, can we get her to come back right away?"
Li Huan grew even more flustered. She had never heard of Xiqing Mountain, but she certainly knew of the Kunlun Mountain Range. ’Such a mysterious mountain range must hold countless unknown dangers. No matter how capable Qingqing is, she’s still just one girl. How capable can she really be? What if she runs into a danger she can’t handle?’
Thinking of Su Qing facing danger with no one to turn to for help, Li Huan felt as if her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
"You all know of Qi Bo, don’t you?" Mr. Li asked.
Li Fenghuo said, "Dad, I actually don’t know who that is."
Everyone turned to look at Li Huan.
Li Huan blinked. "Why are you all looking at me? I don’t know either. Who is this Qi Bo?"
Mr. Li sighed. "Never mind. It’s normal that you don’t know. If I hadn’t experienced certain things back in the day, I wouldn’t know of him either. He was a famous Divine Doctor in ancient Hua Country. Later generations refer to him as the ’Forefather of Chinese Medicine’."
Li Huan exclaimed in awe, "He was that amazing!"
Mr. Li nodded. "Indeed. Extremely amazing. So amazing that even the Japanese coveted his legacy."
"What!"
Hearing Mr. Li’s words, everyone was startled. ’Those shameless Japanese, all they know how to do is covet other people’s things!’