The Greatest Village Doctor In The World

Chapter 1106: Old Hu’s Words

The project is progressing smoothly, and next we’ll just wait for the site to be leveled before moving to the next step.

But before Ling Feng could take a breather, Zhao Sanquan came looking for him and said, "Old Hu is back!"

"Really? That was quick. Where is he?" Ling Feng quickly asked.

"He’s at my house. Come with me and ask him yourself!" Zhao Sanquan said.

"Alright!"

Ling Feng nodded and said to Chen Yuhe, "It’s time for me to handle my primary task. I’ll leave this to you!"

"Go ahead, then!"

Chen Yuhe knew he came here for his mission, so she nodded understandingly.

Ling Feng followed Zhao Sanquan back to his house. Upon entering, he saw a weathered old man whose face was riddled with lines as if he were seventy or eighty years old, though Zhao Sanquan had mentioned the man—Old Hu—was only sixty.

Perhaps years of hard labor had prematurely aged his appearance.

Ling Feng greeted Old Hu as he entered the room and then sat down, saying, "Uncle Hu, I’m here mainly to ask you about Hu Tiesheng, also known as Prince Longyu."

"Young man, why are you asking about him?" Old Hu asked.

Ling Feng chuckled. "I’m very interested in that period of history, so I want to learn more. I heard Prince Longyu is your ancestor, is that correct?"

"That’s right. Although he’s not a direct descendant, he was indeed one of the outstanding members of the Hu Family. Our descendants are proud to claim him as an ancestor!" Old Hu replied.

Ling Feng acknowledged this with a sound of "Oh" and then asked, "Are there still many members of the Hu Family around?"

"Not many. They’ve all gone off to find their own livelihoods. Most of the younger folk couldn’t take staying in the mountains anymore. The old Hu Family Village has been abandoned for decades!" Old Hu said.

"Really? Where is Hu Family Village?" Ling Feng’s interest was piqued, and he quickly asked.

"Head north from here and walk about thirty miles. It’s deep in the mountains!" Old Hu said.

Ling Feng continued asking, "Was Hu Family Village the birthplace of Prince Longyu?"

Old Hu nodded. "That’s right. It was renamed Hu Family Village later because of his fame. The descendants even built an ancestral hall there back in the day."

Hearing this, Ling Feng became even more intrigued and asked, "Uncle Hu, could you take me to Hu Family Village for a look?"

"That village is completely deserted, and the ancestral hall has collapsed. What are you going there for?" Old Hu asked in confusion.

"Just to look around. I’m curious!" Ling Feng laughed.

He had expected the old man to readily agree, but to his surprise, Old Hu shook his head. "I’m too old to accompany you. This time, I had originally planned to stay longer in the mountains, but after just one night, I felt unwell all over. I’m getting old and can’t keep up anymore!"

"Uh..."

Ling Feng was about to offer him some medicine to help him endure, but Old Hu continued, "Don’t worry, I’ll draw you a map. Follow the route on it, and you’ll find the village easily!"

Ling Feng smiled. "That works too!"

He thought to himself that this was even better; traveling alone would make it quicker to get there. Thirty miles wouldn’t take long for him to cover.

With that, Zhao Sanquan fetched some paper and a brush. Old Hu drew a crooked map on it.

But the old man was meticulous, marking several landmark features that were easy to identify. Once spotted, continuing the journey would be straightforward.

After the map was complete, Ling Feng carefully folded it and asked, "Uncle Hu, can you tell me more about Hu Tiesheng? Like any legends about him?"

"Well..."

Old Hu hesitated for a moment, then said, "If I tell you, treat it as a joke and don’t take it seriously!"

"Don’t worry, I’ve heard plenty of folklore. They’re all just stories to me; how could I take them seriously?" Ling Feng chuckled.

"Good, that’s the right mindset!"

Old Hu nodded before saying, "There’s a legend in Hu Family Village that says Prince Longyu retired from military service and didn’t return home because he found some kind of immortal cultivation manual and went off to a secluded place to practice!"

"The stories grew more exaggerated later on. Some claimed Prince Longyu successfully cultivated immortality and achieved eternal life!"

"It gets even more fantastical. About ten years ago, someone who had left Hu Family Village returned from outside the mountains, claiming to have seen Prince Longyu in person!"

At this point, Old Hu scoffed. "Who knows what that person was thinking. Ten years ago, Prince Longyu would have been at least 150 years old by then—how could that be?"

Ling Feng also laughed. "Maybe he really succeeded in becoming immortal? By the way, did that person say where he saw him?"

"He did—said it was on the mountain near Hongqi Town!"

Old Hu laughed and continued, "That person’s tale was certainly extravagant, but everyone treated it like a joke. No one took it seriously."

Ling Feng, however, didn’t dismiss it as a joke, so he pressed further, "Do you remember any other details? Why did that person say Prince Longyu was there?"

"That kid was chopping wood on the mountain and spotted a group of people. They were riding tall horses and wearing ancient military uniforms. Among them was a man in Qing Dynasty official robes, with white hair and beard. The kid immediately thought it was Prince Longyu!"

"Oh, so that’s how it is!"

Ling Feng nodded thoughtfully, silently speculating that perhaps the man indeed returned to the mountains around that time and might now be hiding near his ancestral home.

Originally, this trip was meant to trace Prince Longyu’s whereabouts. But now it seemed that going to Hu Family Village could potentially lead directly to him!

Thinking of this, Ling Feng felt restless and stood up, saying, "Thanks, old man. Your story today has been quite enlightening. Sorry to have troubled you!"

"No trouble at all, young man. I heard from Third Brother that you’re investing in our village—I should be thanking you!" Old Hu said as he stood up.

Ling Feng grinned and didn’t say much more. He turned to Zhao Sanquan and said, "Third Uncle, I’m heading out now. No need to prepare dinner for tonight; Yuhe and I will handle it ourselves."

"Alright. If you’re heading into the mountains, take extra care. A wolf showed up near the village recently, and everyone’s been avoiding the mountains these days!" Zhao Sanquan warned.

"Got it. I’ll be careful!"

Ling Feng nodded and left Zhao Sanquan’s house.

He then made his way to the work site, where Chen Yuhe saw him approaching and walked up to him to ask, "Did you find anything?"

Ling Feng pointed towards the northwest. "There’s an old site of Hu Family Village over in those mountains. Apparently, it’s Hu Tiesheng’s birthplace. I’m heading into the mountains later to check it out!"

"Oh, then be careful. I’ll take care of things here," Chen Yuhe said.

"Alright. Have lunch at Nine Heavens later, and if I’m not back by evening, just head back on your own!" Ling Feng said.

Chen Yuhe chuckled. "Come on, I’m not a child. Why arrange everything so meticulously? I know what to do!"

"Okay, I’m off!"

Ling Feng nodded and turned, walking towards the mountains.