Dongzhou district was to the south of Jiang City and closer to the sea area. It comprised of 70% mountains and 30% fields. Several hundred years ago, a devastating natural disaster had caused the Heavenly Dao Religion to emerge, and they left behind a quite profound mark in the local history.
Located halfway along the slopes of several mountains were the temples of Heavenly Dao Religion, its vestiges. Each village's temple had the three words 'Heavenly Dao Religion' written on it with huge letters.
As for this day, when the Heavenly Dao Religion held the Dao Soldier Grand Ceremony, it was called as the Myriad Dao Festival by the locals.
Tang Zhenshan hadn't come this time as he was already old. His arm was also crippled, so he couldn't endure the arduous journey and therefore left it to Tang Wenchong to accompany Jiang Xiu.
Mountains roads appeared once the car passed into Dongzhou. This place was 10 years backward compared to Jiang City. Some of the movies and television shows which had an 80's or 90's setting were actually filmed at this location.
Today was not only the Myriad Dao Festival but also the day several of the underworld powers of Jiangnan arrived here, and the time when the underworld powers of Jiang City vied for the top position.
"Young Master Tang, you've finally arrived."
The Tang family had already made arrangements before they arrived. The car drove till a rural temple-like memorial hall.
Before the car could stop, a middle-aged man came running over. It was Big Lei. A beautiful woman who appeared to be in her thirties was beside him, who seemed like a native that had come to receive them.
"Young Master Tang!"
When he saw Jiang Xiu alight, he called out in an even more respectful manner, "Mr. Jiang!"
Seeing this, a glint flashed in the gaze of the quick-witted woman as she looked towards Jiang Xiu. She assumed that Jiang Xiu must be some big shot. She even noticed that Tang Wenchong stood a little behind Jiang Xiu and the manner with how he looked from behind revealed that he held Jiang Xiu above himself.
"Grandpa Lei, this is?"
"Jiang Luoxia, Mr. Jiang…" Big Lei wasn't willing to introduce Jiang Xiu to this woman as he believed she didn't have the qualifications, but as he was in front of Jiang Xiu, he couldn't act rashly and could only give the name.
"So it's Mr. Jiang, welcome to our place. It's an honor to welcome you."
"You're too polite!"
Jiang Xiu replied. These words of courtesy were common. However, Tang Wenchong and Big Lei looked at each other with astonishment after hearing Jiang Xiu, who held disdain for everything, say them.
As they went inside, Big Lei said in a quiet voice, "Young Master, something's wrong. Mr. Jiang has never paid attention to anyone, but he acted politely towards this woman. Does Mr. Jiang fancy her? I noticed that Mr. Jiang checked her body out a moment ago."
Tang Wenchong replied, "Maybe Mr. Jiang likes this type?"
That woman was in-and-around her thirties, it was the age when women matured fully. She wore a tight-fitting cheongsam which emphasized her curves. Her snowy thighs were revealed outside through the cheongsam's slits, and she wore black low-heeled shoes, which all-together brought out her charm.
The two of them revealed an understanding smile.
They schemed in their minds about how to deal with this matter appropriately.
"Mr. Jiang, over here…"
"I'm familiar with the roads here."
"So Mr. Jiang has been here before!"
Jiang Xiu knew this place quite well as he had spent more than half of his childhood here.
Actually, his fate with Dongzhou was quite profound.
The origin for all this was his childhood. His home was still well-off then. Jiang Yi was busy, and so was Lin Yueling, no one was available to take care of Little Jiang Xiu, so they had hired a nanny who had come from Dongzhou.
After the Jiang family had fallen, Lin Yueling was too busy to attend to her own matter. This nanny had remembered the kindness the Jiang family had shown in the past and raised Jiang Xiu instead of them for free. Jiang Xiu had studied from elementary school to 8th grade here, right until Jiang Yi was released from prison. He had returned back to Jiang City during his 9th grade and to prepare for the high school entrance exams.
Jiang Xiu had never heard about this Myriad Dao Festival when he was here, but he thought that it might've been so because he was too young back then and that it was kept in secrecy.
Entering between the mountains revealed a pleasant country scene with creeks passing by.
After three millenniums, though Jiang Xiu felt as if all of it happened a lifetime ago, this place hadn't changed even a bit.
"No need to follow me, I'll go alone!"
A smile rose up on his face. He naturally wanted to find his best friends during his childhood.
Tang Wenchong called out in worry, "Mr. Jiang…"
Jiang Xiu had already left by then.
"I wonder how Mama Xiang is?"
"Chu Qiancheng and the rest, are you all well?"
When Chu Qiancheng looked at him, he came dashing over and delivered a punch to Jiang Xiu's torso, saying in a rage, "Brat, you finally returned? It's already been 3 years since you left."
Jiang Xiu laughed, "Didn't I come back now?" He thought, Who could've guessed that this Deity would return to his region after three millenniums.
"Okay, okay. It's not like you didn't know the reason Young Master Jiang went to Jiang City is to study, that too in Jiang City's best Second High. It's almost time for the college entrance exam now." The youngster to the side was the same age as Jiang Xiu, called as Da Nian.
"You brat!" Chu Qiancheng felt unreconciled and gave another punch before dropping the matter. He had grown up together with Jiang Xiu and was Sister A'Xiang 's son. Before Jiang Yi had gone to prison, he also lived at the Jiang family's home. The two of them played together a lot in their childhood.
Looking at these fellows, a thought flashed through Deity Xiu's mind.
It's good that I've experienced a rebirth.
In the previous timeline, after the Jiang family had fallen, Jiang Xiu was in dire straits and felt ashamed to return. Afterward, he had lost connection with Chu Qiancheng. Many people were like this, they'd drift apart from their childhood playmates once they grow up and busy themselves in their own world. However, the happiness from that growth period is forever hidden in the bottom of their hearts.
Da Niang patted his sedan, "How is it?"
Jiang Xiu revealed an amazed expression, "Pretty good. You're even driving a car now, Young Master Nian. Looks like you've finally become a car owner."
Da Nian's father was the village head, so the amount of profit he made wasn't small.
Another important source of money was the Myriad Dao Festival.
"It's around 20k. It drives better on these mountain roads than other cars." Da Nian could be considered as one of the wealthy young masters of Dongzhou, although a third-rate one, it was still something amazing.
"Get on. I'll call some of the girls we used to play with before. Let's go to a restaurant."
Chu Qiancheng was also excited after hearing that, "Hey, I was just waiting for Young Master Nian to say this. Let's go eat barbecue today. The flavor of the countryside barbecue of A'Min's home is delicious."
"Let's go!"
Da Nian drove the car and began to chat, "Young Master Xiu, you've come at the perfect time. Do you remember that during some days, the adults didn't allow us to go outside?"
"We're allowed to do that now. It'll really broaden your horizons."
Jiang Xiu smiled faintly as he already knew what he was talking about.
Chu Qiancheng also agreed, "Right, Young Master Xiu, I was stunned when I saw it for the first time. Many big shots had come here and the amount they consider as chump change is enough to support us for a year. It's possible to make several ten thousands if the luck is good."
The car stopped outside a barbecue shop. Two beauties were already waiting at the doorway.
One was tall girl with a height which really stood out. She had perfectly straight legs, was around 170 cms tall, and wore tight jeans which fit her buttocks quite firmly. The other girl wasn't that tall, with a height around 155 cms. She had snow white skin, and pure, elegant features, seeming just like a lily.
The tall was Little Min, and the pretty one was called Chen Xue.
Dongzhou's water was quite good for the people, it was a place which produced many beautiful women.
"Two ladies, look who has come."
Little Min shouted as soon as she saw Jiang Xiu, "Jiang Xiu! You little baby. You still dare to return? Look at how this old woman lessons you!"
When Deity Xiu had left, he was in his 8th grade and wasn't that tall. As for girls, they matured faster. Little Min was initially tall and was a half a head taller than Jiang Xiu then.
Chen Xue acted in a more refined manner, giggling while covering her mouth.
Slap!
Little Min chased after Jiang Xiu, and Chu Qiancheng took this opportunity to daringly slap her perky butt when he saw it, causing Little Min to scream. "You're looking for trouble if you want to bully my brother."
"Damn Qiancheng. You dare to take advantage of this old mother?"
Little Min changed her target and started chasing Chu Qiancheng. Da Nian hinted to Jiang Xiu wretchedly, telling him to use this chance to slap Little Min's buttocks. Jiang Xiu quickly shook his head, thinking, Is it worth anything for this Deity to take advantage of a girl?
Da Nian saw him remain motionless and delivered a slap at Little Min's bootylicious butt himself, causing her to scream again.
Naturally, girls must not be hit in such a way after they grow up. But the countryside children were all quite wild in nature and took pleasure in such activities.
Youth… was really poisonous.
"Chen Xue, help!" Little Min gnashed her teeth in anger.
Chen Xue shook her head in a flurry.
At this moment, a party passed by the mountain road and arrived over here. Each one of them possessed an extraordinary presence and appeared to be someone with significant influence. The people leading the group was none other than Ye Bing's father, Ye Yiliang, as well as the old man.
Ye Yiliang was startled after seeing Jiang Xiu. He frowned when he saw Jiang Xiu look at him, "Why are you here?"